Welcome to our new message board system. We hope you enjoy the new features, and please post any issues or problems in the Help and Support forum. There are also several tutorial videos posted there to help you get familiar with some of the changes. Registration is required to post.http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/index.phpThu, 20 Jun 2013 13:12:30 +0200 Phorum 5.2.13 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,364034,364034#msg-364034 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,364034,364034#msg-364034
Growing up... and all of my adult life, until I retired, I worked outdoors, mostly. Some indoors stuff.... but very little. AND... where I live it's HOT... no really... amazingly hot. We not 'famous' like Phoenix, or any of the other desert locales BUT we ARE as hot.. .seriously... and if not HOTTER.

I loved it.. worked in it... tools lying on the ground that would literally burn a blister on your hand when you picked them up. If felt GOOD to me, the heat.. not the blisters. :)

But I'm retired now, as you know... and since I'm no longer outdoors as often.. and do much less, (work-wise), I have noticed of late that I'm running my air-conditioner more, quick to get into the 'cool' if I'm out in the heat... and so I knew.... I was becoming a weenie. NOT that that bothered me... I had EARNED becoming a weenie. :)

But last week I had some difficult manual labor to do... and it was HOT, well over 100... or was it two weeks ago? My point is.... when I began the work day I thought the heat would kill me... but no... I got into my rhythm, the old days came back.. the sweat began flowing and soon.. it was 1985 again and I was changing a disk blade in a field that was registering 120 plus on the thermometer. It felt GOOD... didn't bother me in the least... IN FACT.. it was energizing. My helpers, to a man... quit almost immediately... retired to the house and jugs of iced water.... I finished the job.

As my wife has done since we married she and my family called to me from inside the house to "GET MY ASS INSIDE" because I was going to die from the heat and especially since I had a heart attack earlier this year and couldn't do the crap I did when I was young".... WELLLLL, maybe... BUT...

Never felt so blessed good, clear headed, or energetic in YEARS.. since I retired and worked in the heat regularly in fact. Lying around in the house, with the air-conditioner running, I'm ALWAYS tired, and get little pains... last week, digging a trench in 100+ weather.. without a hat, I felt like I could do anything I did when I was in my 20's.

Ok.. so what do I surmise from all this... NOPE... I'm not 20 again if I'm in hot weather. :) BUT.. I AM a hot weather person... and by that I mean... VERY hot. What would kill you dead wouldn't even faze me. :)

Now I'd like to brag about that BUT... can't.. Because when the mercury dips.... and you are in a T-Shirt in 60 degree weather... I'm struggling to exist. :)]]> JamesJM Bucky's PubThu, 20 Jun 2013 08:29:06 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,364033,364033#msg-364033 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,364033,364033#msg-364033Rams News Items From June 19

Get Caught Up With Any Rams Articles/Videos You May Have Missed

Rams Rookies Set for Symposium –Wagoner
The Rams’ rookie class is spending this week getting to know St. Louis, attending various events around town, going out to eat at St. Louis landmarks and more. But when this week is over, the group still has more learning to do.

Long Snapper Jorgen Hus Wants to Make a Name at Rams Camp –PD
Jorgen Hus finds himself in a difficult position. A rookie free agent long snapper with the Rams, Hus plays a position where anonymity is considered a plus. After all, the only time you hear the long snapper’s name is after an errant snap.

Chris Long: The Rams Most Interesting Man –Video
Bryan Burwell talks to St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long to see if he will replace Steven Jackson as “Most Interesting Ram.”

Rams OC Brian Schottenheimer: ‘A thousand years ahead of where we were’ –Sando
The St. Louis Rams put two halfbacks on the field for a third-and-5 play at Seattle last season, an unusual personnel grouping. The Seahawks called timeout. The Rams came back with something more straightforward — a basic play offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, quarterback Sam Bradford and the Rams’ receivers had installed from the first day of training camp.

Rams: The Only NFC West Team Without a 1,000 Yd Rusher? –TST
The Rams’ most reliable player – over the past eight years – will no longer be lining up in the team’s backfield. Steven Jackson will carry the load for the Falcons, and the Rams now look to a trio of young running backs to move the team downfield.

Rams Safety Competition Just Getting Started –Wagoner
All across the Rams defense, at nearly every position, you can find a strong mix of veterans and youngsters, players in their prime and those headed in that direction. Every position, that is, except for one. After an offseason makeover in which veteran starters Quintin Mikell and Craig Dahl moved on, the safety position became one of the most inexperienced position units on the youngest team in the league.

Tony Softli Talks Chris Long and TJ McDonald –Radio Interview
Chris Long to take another step forward? Yes..when you watch him play…he’s getting double teamed..getting chipped…a TE to his side…that’s called respect….he’s gonna get his due…it’s coming..now that the line is solidified

Future Power Rankings: Rams and NFC West On Rise –Sando
The Rams finished 32nd in 2009, 19th in 2010, 31st in 2011 and 17th in 2012, defined by their position in the following year’s draft order (the team first in draft order finished 32nd the season before, and so on). The Rams ranked 24.8 on average over those seasons. We project them to rank eighth in 2016, a gain of 16.8 spots, largest in the NFL.

ESPN’s NFL Future Power Rankings: Rams –Video
Prim Siripipat is joined by Herm Edwards and ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates to discuss why the our experts moved the Rams up in the Future Power Rankings projecting to 2016.

Rams Players Participate in Paintball Fundraiser –Video
St. Louis Rams players participate in a paintball fundraiser to raise money for the St Patrick Center at Gateway Paintball Park.]]> RamBill The Original HERDThu, 20 Jun 2013 08:20:23 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,364032,364032#msg-364032 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,364032,364032#msg-364032Rams News Items From June 19

Get Caught Up With Any Rams Articles/Videos You May Have Missed

Rams Rookies Set for Symposium –Wagoner
The Rams’ rookie class is spending this week getting to know St. Louis, attending various events around town, going out to eat at St. Louis landmarks and more. But when this week is over, the group still has more learning to do.

Long Snapper Jorgen Hus Wants to Make a Name at Rams Camp –PD
Jorgen Hus finds himself in a difficult position. A rookie free agent long snapper with the Rams, Hus plays a position where anonymity is considered a plus. After all, the only time you hear the long snapper’s name is after an errant snap.

Chris Long: The Rams Most Interesting Man –Video
Bryan Burwell talks to St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long to see if he will replace Steven Jackson as “Most Interesting Ram.”

Rams OC Brian Schottenheimer: ‘A thousand years ahead of where we were’ –Sando
The St. Louis Rams put two halfbacks on the field for a third-and-5 play at Seattle last season, an unusual personnel grouping. The Seahawks called timeout. The Rams came back with something more straightforward — a basic play offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, quarterback Sam Bradford and the Rams’ receivers had installed from the first day of training camp.

Rams: The Only NFC West Team Without a 1,000 Yd Rusher? –TST
The Rams’ most reliable player – over the past eight years – will no longer be lining up in the team’s backfield. Steven Jackson will carry the load for the Falcons, and the Rams now look to a trio of young running backs to move the team downfield.

Rams Safety Competition Just Getting Started –Wagoner
All across the Rams defense, at nearly every position, you can find a strong mix of veterans and youngsters, players in their prime and those headed in that direction. Every position, that is, except for one. After an offseason makeover in which veteran starters Quintin Mikell and Craig Dahl moved on, the safety position became one of the most inexperienced position units on the youngest team in the league.

Tony Softli Talks Chris Long and TJ McDonald –Radio Interview
Chris Long to take another step forward? Yes..when you watch him play…he’s getting double teamed..getting chipped…a TE to his side…that’s called respect….he’s gonna get his due…it’s coming..now that the line is solidified

Future Power Rankings: Rams and NFC West On Rise –Sando
The Rams finished 32nd in 2009, 19th in 2010, 31st in 2011 and 17th in 2012, defined by their position in the following year’s draft order (the team first in draft order finished 32nd the season before, and so on). The Rams ranked 24.8 on average over those seasons. We project them to rank eighth in 2016, a gain of 16.8 spots, largest in the NFL.

ESPN’s NFL Future Power Rankings: Rams –Video
Prim Siripipat is joined by Herm Edwards and ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates to discuss why the our experts moved the Rams up in the Future Power Rankings projecting to 2016.

Rams Players Participate in Paintball Fundraiser –Video
St. Louis Rams players participate in a paintball fundraiser to raise money for the St Patrick Center at Gateway Paintball Park.]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumThu, 20 Jun 2013 08:19:09 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,364031,364031#msg-364031 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,364031,364031#msg-364031Long snapper Hus wants to make a name at camp
• By Joe Lyons

[www.stltoday.com]

Jorgen Hus finds himself in a difficult position.

A rookie free agent long snapper with the Rams, Hus plays a position where anonymity is considered a plus. After all, the only time you hear the long snapper’s name is after an errant snap.

At the same time, Hus is a 23-year-old Canadian looking to make a name for himself in the National Football League.

So the Saskatoon native put together a YouTube video.

“It was just something my brother and I did when we had a free afternoon,’’ Hus said of his trick-shot snapping video that has attracted nearly 12,000 views. “We had a blast putting it together.’’

The 21-second video features Hus knocking a cup off his brother’s head with a snap and launching snaps from the garage roof into a trash can in the middle of the street, into the rear window of a slow-moving car, through the rear window of a stationary car and off the cross bar and through the uprights from about 20 yards.

“I don’t know that it had anything to do with me getting seen or getting signed, but it probably didn’t hurt,’’ he said. “If nothing else, maybe it helps me stand out from the pack.’’

When asked about the video during the Rams’ rookie minicamp, head coach Jeff Fisher said he had not watched it.

“I have not got to that point of the research yet,’’ he said, laughing. “Someone told me (Hus) had 25 tackles or something like that. He’s an athletic guy who can go down the field and make plays. Their (Canadian) field is a little bigger so he might be better in space.’’

Hus, who stands 6 feet 1 and weighs 232 pounds, signed with the Rams shortly after the 2013 NFL draft. He and the rest of the team’s rookies are in the final week of organized team activities. When training camp opens July 21, Hus will continue his challenge of third-year pro and starter Jake McQuaide.

McQuaide, a former walk-on at Ohio State, had 139 consecutive clean snaps last season and has a streak of 289 consecutive clean snaps as a pro.

“Jake’s obviously very good and he’s been nothing but helpful to me during OTAs,’’ Hus said. “It’s a competition, but it’s not personal. We’re here to do a job and it’ll be up to the coaches to decide who gets to stay.

“I just want to do all I can to make the most of the opportunity. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me and all I want to do is go out and snap the best I can.’’

Looking to join current Seattle Seahawks punter Jon Ryan, ex-Saints running back Rueben Mayes and former Giants’ defensive tackle Arnie Weinmeister as the only Saskatchewan-born players to compete in the NFL, Hus turned to football when most of his buddies were playing hockey.

“People ask me all the time, but I never played hockey,’’ he said. “For some reason I just seemed to be drawn toward football.’’

He was a sophomore linebacker at St. Joseph’s High in Saskatoon when a coach introduced him to long snapping.

“He talked about it being a specialized skill and how the guys who can master it can really have a long and successful career,’’ Hus said. “I gave it a try, had a little bit of success and then really started taking it more and more seriously. It’s become my passion.’’

Hus played the last three seasons for the University of Regina Rams and was voted their special teams player of the year last fall. Over the last few years, he has also worked with Gary Zauner, a longtime college and pro special teams coach who specializes in working with kickers, punters and long snappers.

“I’ve done one-on-one sessions, camps and combines with Coach Zauner,’’ Hus said. “He’s a guy who really stresses the finer points of special-teams play and he helped get me the exposure that led me to hooking up with the Rams.’’

Zauner, the first full-time special teams coach in college football, spent 11 years at that level and another 14 in the NFL, coaching with the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals. He began his specialized training in Arizona in 2008.

“I wanted to make sure the specialists weren’t slipping through the cracks of the free agency system,’’ Zauner said. “And Jorgen Hus is a perfect example of that. Playing up in Canada, what chance does this kid have of being seen or scouted? But by taking part in our program and working extremely hard, he got a chance to be scouted and eventually signed by the Rams.’’

Zauner continued: “I’ve been working with Jorgen for a few years and he impressed me with the way he works. He’s an excellent athlete with speed to make plays down the field. He’s in a tough spot, trying to beat out the Rams’ starter, but he just has to focus on doing his best. You never know what can happen — guys get hurt, teams decide to make changes — so when you get a chance, you have to try to make the most of it.’’]]> RamBill The Original HERDThu, 20 Jun 2013 07:36:05 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,364030,364030#msg-364030 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,364030,364030#msg-364030Long snapper Hus wants to make a name at camp
• By Joe Lyons

[www.stltoday.com]

Jorgen Hus finds himself in a difficult position.

A rookie free agent long snapper with the Rams, Hus plays a position where anonymity is considered a plus. After all, the only time you hear the long snapper’s name is after an errant snap.

At the same time, Hus is a 23-year-old Canadian looking to make a name for himself in the National Football League.

So the Saskatoon native put together a YouTube video.

“It was just something my brother and I did when we had a free afternoon,’’ Hus said of his trick-shot snapping video that has attracted nearly 12,000 views. “We had a blast putting it together.’’

The 21-second video features Hus knocking a cup off his brother’s head with a snap and launching snaps from the garage roof into a trash can in the middle of the street, into the rear window of a slow-moving car, through the rear window of a stationary car and off the cross bar and through the uprights from about 20 yards.

“I don’t know that it had anything to do with me getting seen or getting signed, but it probably didn’t hurt,’’ he said. “If nothing else, maybe it helps me stand out from the pack.’’

When asked about the video during the Rams’ rookie minicamp, head coach Jeff Fisher said he had not watched it.

“I have not got to that point of the research yet,’’ he said, laughing. “Someone told me (Hus) had 25 tackles or something like that. He’s an athletic guy who can go down the field and make plays. Their (Canadian) field is a little bigger so he might be better in space.’’

Hus, who stands 6 feet 1 and weighs 232 pounds, signed with the Rams shortly after the 2013 NFL draft. He and the rest of the team’s rookies are in the final week of organized team activities. When training camp opens July 21, Hus will continue his challenge of third-year pro and starter Jake McQuaide.

McQuaide, a former walk-on at Ohio State, had 139 consecutive clean snaps last season and has a streak of 289 consecutive clean snaps as a pro.

“Jake’s obviously very good and he’s been nothing but helpful to me during OTAs,’’ Hus said. “It’s a competition, but it’s not personal. We’re here to do a job and it’ll be up to the coaches to decide who gets to stay.

“I just want to do all I can to make the most of the opportunity. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me and all I want to do is go out and snap the best I can.’’

Looking to join current Seattle Seahawks punter Jon Ryan, ex-Saints running back Rueben Mayes and former Giants’ defensive tackle Arnie Weinmeister as the only Saskatchewan-born players to compete in the NFL, Hus turned to football when most of his buddies were playing hockey.

“People ask me all the time, but I never played hockey,’’ he said. “For some reason I just seemed to be drawn toward football.’’

He was a sophomore linebacker at St. Joseph’s High in Saskatoon when a coach introduced him to long snapping.

“He talked about it being a specialized skill and how the guys who can master it can really have a long and successful career,’’ Hus said. “I gave it a try, had a little bit of success and then really started taking it more and more seriously. It’s become my passion.’’

Hus played the last three seasons for the University of Regina Rams and was voted their special teams player of the year last fall. Over the last few years, he has also worked with Gary Zauner, a longtime college and pro special teams coach who specializes in working with kickers, punters and long snappers.

“I’ve done one-on-one sessions, camps and combines with Coach Zauner,’’ Hus said. “He’s a guy who really stresses the finer points of special-teams play and he helped get me the exposure that led me to hooking up with the Rams.’’

Zauner, the first full-time special teams coach in college football, spent 11 years at that level and another 14 in the NFL, coaching with the Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals. He began his specialized training in Arizona in 2008.

“I wanted to make sure the specialists weren’t slipping through the cracks of the free agency system,’’ Zauner said. “And Jorgen Hus is a perfect example of that. Playing up in Canada, what chance does this kid have of being seen or scouted? But by taking part in our program and working extremely hard, he got a chance to be scouted and eventually signed by the Rams.’’

Zauner continued: “I’ve been working with Jorgen for a few years and he impressed me with the way he works. He’s an excellent athlete with speed to make plays down the field. He’s in a tough spot, trying to beat out the Rams’ starter, but he just has to focus on doing his best. You never know what can happen — guys get hurt, teams decide to make changes — so when you get a chance, you have to try to make the most of it.’’]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumThu, 20 Jun 2013 07:34:44 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,364017,364017#msg-364017 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,364017,364017#msg-364017
[www.stltoday.com]]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumThu, 20 Jun 2013 04:13:25 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,364013,364013#msg-364013 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,364013,364013#msg-364013 Blue and Gold Ramsrule.com Football ForumThu, 20 Jun 2013 07:29:56 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,364009,364009#msg-364009 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,364009,364009#msg-364009or movies.

He was 51.

This is insane.

sanfRAM]]> sanfRAM Bucky's PubThu, 20 Jun 2013 07:05:48 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,364003,364003#msg-364003 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,364003,364003#msg-364003
Listen to Softli Interview and/or Read Summary of Discussion]]> RamBill The Original HERDThu, 20 Jun 2013 00:40:08 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,364001,364001#msg-364001 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,364001,364001#msg-364001
Listen to Softli Interview and/or Read Summary of Discussion]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumThu, 20 Jun 2013 00:37:26 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363989,363989#msg-363989 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363989,363989#msg-363989www.nfl.com]


NFL's best defense? Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans in mix


Barkevious Mingo hasn't played a snap yet in the NFL, but felt moved enough after OTAs and minicamps to proclaim that the Cleveland Browns defense "could be the best in the league." We'll chalk that up to rookie exuberance, but it does bring up an interesting question: Which team will field the best defense in 2013?


Daniel Jeremiah NFL.com

Texans will be best defense because of Watt, Cushing, Phillips
I could make a strong case for any of the teams in the NFC West, but I'm going to predict the Houston Texans will field the top defense this fall.

Houston has the NFL's most dominant defender (J.J. Watt) and a creative defensive coordinator (Wade Phillips). Also, the unit will benefit from the healthy return of a top-five inside linebacker (Brian Cushing). The secondary is the only concern, but that group won't be exposed too much because of the Texans' ferocious pass rush.


Charley Casserly NFL.com

A great Seattle defense got even better this offseason
My choice is the Seattle Seahawks. When making a prediction at this time of year, the assumption is that the team you pick will be healthy, so I am banking on a clean bill of health for Seattle's two new defensive ends (Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett). Bruce Irvin is suspended for the first four games of the season, but ultimately Seattle will field an excellent outside pass rush. This will show up even more at home, with the added advantage of the crowd noise. I like the addition of fifth-rounder Jesse Williams, who can help solidify the inside run defense. I think the acquisition of cornerback Antoine Winfield provides quality depth at a position that is already stout. The Seahawks boast what is probably the best safety combination in the NFL in Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas. This gives them the best secondary in the NFL, with a good pass rush. That is hard to beat.

Also, this is a defense that should be well-rested, thanks to an offense that hit its stride down the stretch last season and will only get better in Russell Wilson's second year at the helm. (Not to mention, the offseason addition of Percy Harvin.)

I picked the Seahawks over the rival 49ers because Seattle has improved its pass rush from last year, while San Francisco lost underrated nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga and All-Pro safety Dashon Goldson.


Ian Rapoport NFL Network

Don't discount the Steelers, with Dick LeBeau leading the charge
I know this isn't an exciting answer, because there's nothing new or cool about it, but my expectation is the Pittsburgh Steelers will field the top-ranked defense in 2013 -- just like always.

Pittsburgh spent a first-round pick on pass rusher Jarvis Jones, who fits the team's tradition of employing hard-nosed, disruptive players. Troy Polamalu will be healthy for the first time in a while. And two new running backs from the draft should help the offense sustain drives and keep the defense rested.

Oh, and no doubt, the Steelers will have to listen to a preseason of everyone writing them off as old and slow again. Expect a loud response. Have we all forgotten how good Dick LeBeau is?


Gregg Rosenthal NFL.com

Seahawks have the best defense, but watch out for the rising Rams
The Seahawks are the safest answer and would be my pick. They have the best emerging talent. But a strong case could also be made for the defense of another NFC West team: the St. Louis Rams.

Chris Long and Robert Quinn rival any edge-rushing tandem in football. Michael Brockers is set for a breakout season at defensive tackle. James Laurinaitis and rookie Alec Ogletree are both dynamic linebackers. There are questions at safety, but I love the starting cornerback combination of Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins. This group is ready to dominate.


Adam Rank NFL.com

Improved pass rush will put the Seahawks over the top
The best defense will be played in the NFC West this season. All four teams will be pretty stout this year. But the Seattle Seahawks are going to be the best of a very good bunch.

The Seahawks were very good on defense in 2012, as they ranked fourth in yards allowed. But if there was one spot they could have improved, it was in their pass rush -- the team ranked 18th in sacks. Free-agent addition Cliff Avril, late of the Detroit Lions, should be a huge improvement in this area. Avril, along with the best secondary in the league (according to Earl Thomas), will make it tough for offenses to move the ball against Seattle this year.


Jason Smith NFL.com

Bengals' defensive continuity will serve franchise well for years to come
Who dey think gonna have a better defense dan dem Bengals? With a unit that finished sixth overall last season, the Bengals did a very smart thing over the last couple of months: keeping the guys they wanted, rather than going out and spending a ton of money in free agency on a pass rusher, shutdown corner, etc. The truly great defenses are the ones that stay together over a few years with as little turnover as possible. Hey, if you have a hole, by all means plug it. But wholesale changes hardly ever work -- just ask the Eagles. You have to let defenses simmer and bake for a while. Now, Mike Zimmer's defense is ready to take over the league and allow somewhere between 15 and 17 points per game.

Cincinnati has employed a great philosophy over the last couple of years: build depth on defense. Also, the Bengals haven't given anyone crazy long-term money that would imbalance the roster. (Only four players are making more than $3 million a year.) This gives Cincy good sub-package depth. For example, the Bengals boast a talented dime package; they're not just throwing the last two DBs on the roster into play because that's all they have. Lose a guy in free agency? Someone else is ready to immediately step in. Not only are the Bengals set up for success in 2013 -- they're equipped for many years to come.]]> Guard Ramsrule.com Football ForumWed, 19 Jun 2013 23:28:40 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363983,363983#msg-363983 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363983,363983#msg-363983
At their recent OTA's and mini-camp Vernon Davis ran routes with the WR's only. There has to be something to that.

Although a predominantly running team, SF is gonna miss Crabtree more than a lot of people think.

Another chink in SF's armor: While playing in 10 games, Kapernick fumbled nine times. The reason it didn't get much pub is because SF recovered all but two of them. Hopefully, the ball doesn't bounce their way as much this year.

Also, teams have had an entire off season to study the pistol offense. We all know that the wildcat went the way of the dodo bird after one season.

Kap in the pistol forces teams to play safety one, also known as safety middle. I think that's one of the reasons we are beating the bushes for S help this off season.

Any thoughts?

Kevin P.]]> guinnessram Ramsrule.com Football ForumWed, 19 Jun 2013 23:45:22 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363982,363982#msg-363982 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363982,363982#msg-363982
So safeties . .

TJ is in the #1 spot as far as Im concerned, he's smart, physically capable, driven, and as mentally experienced as a rookie can be. He's also healthy with no history of injury and has made every OTA practice.

Stewart is the 2 . . has starting experience . . is a hitter . . is young . . was brought back on purpose . . but has injuries in his history . .missed quite a few OTA practices this year . . has spent time in the doghouse.

Giordano is the 3 . . has starting experience . . most of which has been in the last couple years, where he has played his best football . .but . he's old . .at best a one year fill a la Mcintosh last year.

Then we get into weird spots . . .

McLeod is the 4. He has special teams acumen . . and will likely make the squad for that reason alone. He is smallish, but doesn't get injured, is rangy and instinctive, and has made all the practices.

C Davis is the 5 . . . He had some dings in training camp, but his physicality and speed and focus make him a very odds on kid to make the roster, which is weird because to keep him we'd have to keep 5, or cut someone ahead of him.

Daniels is the long shot. He has been injured . . was not ready last year, and is likely the least skilled of everyone in this list. Oops.



CBs

Jenks
Finn
Tru

---

Pointer is the 4 . . has a year in the system . . and is physical. He may not have the skillset to match upside with the guys behind him, and may be tradeable as a result. He's not crazy fast . . doesnt have crazy size . . but is solid, and likely to have a career as a backup somewhere. I think we were lucky to have him on the PS last year.

McGee is going to make the team, either as the 4th or the 5th best CB. He has special teams skills and is aggressive and crazy fast. Has great upside.

Steeples is an interesting story, though I wouldnt say a long shot. I would LOVE to have him on the PS . . his speed and physicality need some seasoning but he could very well be a solid asset . . tradeable for the right price? Yeah that too, though I'd bet Pointer goes first.


So, what I have here, and why I am asking a question, is 12 players for 9-10 spots.

I can easily let go of Daniels . . I have no attachment there. I would also love to keep Steeples on the PS . . . but given the demand for the position I dont know how we're going to hide him if he plays well.

So that leaves Pointer, Davis or Giordano to get down to 9 . . trade Pointer we still have to lose Davius or Giordano or we're carrying an extra DB . . which means we lose a LB, DL, or OL as a result.

So given that predicament above . . where is our value this year? Is itg in the DBackfield? LB? OL?

Im curious about my acquisition of the situation. Thoughts?]]> alyoshamucci Ramsrule.com Football ForumThu, 20 Jun 2013 08:29:14 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363981,363981#msg-363981 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363981,363981#msg-363981Future Power Rankings projecting to 2016. The Rams ranked 24.8 on average over 2009-11. ESPN projects them to rank 8th in 2016, a gain of 16.8 spots, largest in the NFL. (3:02)

Watch Edwards And Yates Talk Rams Improvements

========
Future Power Rankings: NFC West on rise
By Mike Sando

[espn.go.com]

Edwards and Yates speak at length about the Rams in the video above, citing some of the data I've reference on the blog.

The 49ers are #1 in the Rankings.

"The 49ers only problem is this: Long term, there is a team up north built similar to the San Francisco 49ers," Edwards said. "That is the Seahawks. They are really a carbon copy of the San Francisco 49ers. They run the ball very well, they are physical on defense, they have big players. You look at these two rosters, you notice they have big people who can run."

Both appear stable in key areas: head coach, general manager and starting quarterback. The St. Louis Rams can make some of those claims, albeit with less certainty and less on-field evidence collected to this point. Those three NFC West teams are either on the rise or perceived to be that way.

The chart below shows how perceptions about the future differ from what has actually happened in the recent past.

For example, the Rams finished 32nd in 2009, 19th in 2010, 31st in 2011 and 17th in 2012, defined by their position in the following year's draft order (the team first in draft order finished 32nd the season before, and so on). The Rams ranked 24.8 on average over those seasons. We project them to rank eighth in 2016, a gain of 16.8 spots, largest in the NFL.

The Rams, Seahawks (plus-13) and 49ers (plus-11.8) top the list. The Arizona Cardinals rank quite a bit lower, but perceptions change quickly. The Cardinals are just starting out under new leadership. They do not appear to have a long-term solution at quarterback. There isn't as much to analyze at this point.

2016 Projected Rankings vs. Where Teams Finished From 2009-2012
Team 2009-2012 Average 2016 Projected Difference
St. Louis Rams 24.8 8 +16.8
Seattle Seahawks 16.0 3 +13.0
San Francisco 49ers 12.8 1 +11.8
Kansas City Chiefs 23.5 12 +11.5
Washington Redskins 22.5 16 +6.5
Indianapolis Colts 13.5 8 +5.5
Denver Broncos 15.8 11 +4.8
New York Giants 11.8 7 +4.8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 22.8 18 +4.8
Green Bay Packers 5.8 2 +3.8
Cincinnati Bengals 16.3 13 +3.3
Atlanta Falcons 8.5 6 +2.5
Detroit Lions 22.3 21 +1.3
Miami Dolphins 21.3 20 +1.3
Baltimore Ravens 5.0 4 +1.0
New England Patriots 5.5 5 +0.5
Cleveland Browns 27.3 27 +0.3
Carolina Panthers 22.8 23 -0.3
Philadelphia Eagles 16.5 17 -0.5
New Orleans Saints 8.5 10 -1.5
Houston Texans 12.0 15 -3.0
Minnesota Vikings 16.0 19 -3.0
Buffalo Bills 25.5 29 -3.5
Pittsburgh Steelers 10.5 14 -3.5
Arizona Cardinals 20.3 26 -5.8
Jacksonville Jaguars 24.3 30 -5.8
Dallas Cowboys 16.0 24 -8.0
Tennessee Titans 19.5 28 -8.5
Chicago Bears 13.3 22 -8.8
Oakland Raiders 21.8 31 -9.3
San Diego Chargers 14.3 25 -10.8
New York Jets 12.0 32 -20.0
Source: ESPN Stats & Information]]> RamBill The Original HERDWed, 19 Jun 2013 22:05:41 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363980,363980#msg-363980 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363980,363980#msg-363980Future Power Rankings projecting to 2016. The Rams ranked 24.8 on average over 2009-11. ESPN projects them to rank 8th in 2016, a gain of 16.8 spots, largest in the NFL. (3:02)

Watch Edwards And Yates Talk Rams Improvements

========
Future Power Rankings: NFC West on rise
By Mike Sando

[espn.go.com]

Edwards and Yates speak at length about the Rams in the video above, citing some of the data I've reference on the blog.

The 49ers are #1 in the Rankings.

"The 49ers only problem is this: Long term, there is a team up north built similar to the San Francisco 49ers," Edwards said. "That is the Seahawks. They are really a carbon copy of the San Francisco 49ers. They run the ball very well, they are physical on defense, they have big players. You look at these two rosters, you notice they have big people who can run."

Both appear stable in key areas: head coach, general manager and starting quarterback. The St. Louis Rams can make some of those claims, albeit with less certainty and less on-field evidence collected to this point. Those three NFC West teams are either on the rise or perceived to be that way.

The chart below shows how perceptions about the future differ from what has actually happened in the recent past.

For example, the Rams finished 32nd in 2009, 19th in 2010, 31st in 2011 and 17th in 2012, defined by their position in the following year's draft order (the team first in draft order finished 32nd the season before, and so on). The Rams ranked 24.8 on average over those seasons. We project them to rank eighth in 2016, a gain of 16.8 spots, largest in the NFL.

The Rams, Seahawks (plus-13) and 49ers (plus-11.8) top the list. The Arizona Cardinals rank quite a bit lower, but perceptions change quickly. The Cardinals are just starting out under new leadership. They do not appear to have a long-term solution at quarterback. There isn't as much to analyze at this point.

2016 Projected Rankings vs. Where Teams Finished From 2009-2012
Team 2009-2012 Average 2016 Projected Difference
St. Louis Rams 24.8 8 +16.8
Seattle Seahawks 16.0 3 +13.0
San Francisco 49ers 12.8 1 +11.8
Kansas City Chiefs 23.5 12 +11.5
Washington Redskins 22.5 16 +6.5
Indianapolis Colts 13.5 8 +5.5
Denver Broncos 15.8 11 +4.8
New York Giants 11.8 7 +4.8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 22.8 18 +4.8
Green Bay Packers 5.8 2 +3.8
Cincinnati Bengals 16.3 13 +3.3
Atlanta Falcons 8.5 6 +2.5
Detroit Lions 22.3 21 +1.3
Miami Dolphins 21.3 20 +1.3
Baltimore Ravens 5.0 4 +1.0
New England Patriots 5.5 5 +0.5
Cleveland Browns 27.3 27 +0.3
Carolina Panthers 22.8 23 -0.3
Philadelphia Eagles 16.5 17 -0.5
New Orleans Saints 8.5 10 -1.5
Houston Texans 12.0 15 -3.0
Minnesota Vikings 16.0 19 -3.0
Buffalo Bills 25.5 29 -3.5
Pittsburgh Steelers 10.5 14 -3.5
Arizona Cardinals 20.3 26 -5.8
Jacksonville Jaguars 24.3 30 -5.8
Dallas Cowboys 16.0 24 -8.0
Tennessee Titans 19.5 28 -8.5
Chicago Bears 13.3 22 -8.8
Oakland Raiders 21.8 31 -9.3
San Diego Chargers 14.3 25 -10.8
New York Jets 12.0 32 -20.0
Source: ESPN Stats & Information]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumWed, 19 Jun 2013 22:04:16 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363979,363979#msg-363979 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363979,363979#msg-363979Safety Competition Just Getting Started

Nick Wagoner Senior Writer

[www.stlouisrams.com]

All across the Rams defense, at nearly every position, you can find a strong mix of veterans and youngsters, players in their prime and those headed in that direction.

Every position, that is, except for one. After an offseason makeover in which veteran starters Quintin Mikell and Craig Dahl moved on, the safety position became one of the most inexperienced position units on the youngest team in the league.

Darian Stewart was the “grizzled” veteran of the group, entering his fourth season in the league, until the team signed eight-year veteran Matt Giordano last week.

The cast surrounding Stewart and Giordano – the duo combined for all of the NFL starts amongst Rams safeties – are Matt Daniels and Rodney McLeod entering their second year in the league and a group of rookies headed by third-round draft pick T.J. McDonald.

Out of the group, only McDonald and Giordano are drafted rookies. But just because they might not be overloaded with experience doesn’t mean the group in place has expectations any different from the rest of the defense.

“I think it’s great motivation,” Daniels said. “You look around the entire defense; the safety position might actually be the youngest within the team, especially on the defense. We are stout at all positions but everyone does question the safety spot. But I don’t question it at all and neither do the coaches or the guys that play the spot. We are looking for the opportunity to go out and make an impact quick and show them just how good we actually are. It’s going to be fun come camp time to go out and see who really shines and who is willing to go out and make the plays.”

Indeed, the competition at safety figures to be one of the team’s most hotly contested by the time training camp kicks off at the end of July. As the roster is currently constructed, the Rams have a total of seven safeties on the roster.

In addition to Stewart, Giordano, Daniels, McLeod and McDonald, the Rams also have undrafted free agent rookies Cody Davis and Cannon Smith.

Through the organized team activities, the Rams began with Stewart and McDonald getting most of the first-team work but a soft tissue injury to Stewart opened the door for McLeod.

Daniels is still recovering from a knee injury but also figures in the mix upon his return. So while it might take a bit to sort out who belongs where, Rams defensive coordinator Tim Walton believes the talent in place can be successful.

“I’m excited so far,” Walton said. “You’ve gotten a chance to see T.J. come in and get a lot of reps right now. He’s been able to step in and pick up things fast. Then you have Rodney McLeod that’s showing a lot of good things. He was on the team last year and showed his athletic ability. I’m impressed by the way guys pick things up, the learning curve of those guys. Then you have (Darian) Stewart, that’s the same way. Those three guys, we think that we’ll have a great group of guys that will be able to help us a lot.”

Although Stewart and Giordano figure to get much of the attention based on experience and McDonald as well based on his draft status and ability to adapt quickly, the two undrafted rookies from last year’s class figure to be wild cards in the competition.

The 5’10, 183-pound McLeod was something of a revelation in last year’s training camp, quickly catching the staff’s eye for his ability on special teams and his speed and coverage skills on the back end of the defense.

Although he wasn’t well known when he arrived in St. Louis, he fought his way to a roster spot and finished the season as the team’s leading special teams tackler with 16.

That’s a role McLeod knows he must fill again but he’s setting his sights on something bigger given the available opportunity at the safety spot.

“I was more so just a special teams player last year,” McLeod said. “I am going to be the same guy this year but I’m looking forward to competing for possibly a starting spot or just having a bigger role on the defense this year.”

By the end of the season, McLeod had played in every game on special teams but had just a handful of snaps on defense. The offseason changes coupled with Stewart’s injury allowed McLeod to get on the field and give coaches a glimpse of what he can do.

While McDonald, Stewart and Daniels provide bigger, perhaps more physical options, McLeod brings a little different element to the table with his speed and coverage skills. The notion that he could fill a nickel corner role if injuries occur has also been kicked around. That could potentially make him an intriguing option should the Rams look for a more skill-diverse safety tandem.

Having started as an undrafted free agent himself, McLeod has no intention of relaxing or getting comfortable knowing that others could be coming for his spot.

“Coming in last year as a free agent, it’s almost like being a walk on in college,” McLeod said. “You have got to prove everything and every single day you have to prove yourself. I feel like this year it’s the same thing. Even though a lot of us are second year players we still have a lot to prove in this league.”

As McLeod got more comfortable as the season went along from his playing experience, his fellow rookie safety Daniels spent the second half of the season on the long road to recovery after he suffered a torn right Anterior Cruciate Ligament on Oct. 28 against New England.

For Daniels, who came to the Rams with a reputation as a smart, hard-hitting type, the injury came just as he was starting to get settled into his position and a previous knee injury was nearly fully healed.

Like McLeod, Daniels’ role to that point had been exclusive to special teams but seemed poised to be more involved before the injury hit.

“I was really starting to get to a point where my knee was starting to feel 100 percent,” Daniels said. “The swelling went away and I was getting a lot more playing time as far as special teams was coming along and making plays there and coaches were really starting to trust me and put trust in me. So I was feeling really great about where I was at and where I was going but football you are one injury away from being sidelined and on I.R. That’s exactly what happened.”

Daniels has been working furiously to rehabilitate the injury but through OTAs had not yet been cleared to return to football activities. For most of the workouts, he was present on the sidelines doing some running.

For now, Daniels feels confident enough in the knee to run full speed in a straight line but is still working on developing the confidence for the cutting and change of direction needed for his position.

Watching as his teammates went through the offseason program was especially frustrating for Daniels given the opportunity to thrust himself into the mix for a spot.

“There’s a big opportunity at the safety spot and it is frustrating at times knowing I can’t be out there to seize the opportunity that is in front of me but training camp comes around and it’s wide open,” Daniels said. “The best will play; it’s as simple as that. So all I can do at this point is just focus on getting 100 percent healthy and once I am healthy just go from there and do whatever it is I have to do.”

Daniels said he and the team’s athletic trainers expectations are that he’ll be ready to go by the time training camp starts and if he’s not he’ll at least be able to ease his way back into the mix.

Having missed the offseason program with a meniscus injury last year and still accomplished enough to make the roster, the idea of entering camp with something to prove is not foreign to Daniels.

Still, Daniels plans to spend all of his offseason time right here in St. Louis working to get back to full speed.

“For the next six weeks I am here,” Daniels said. “I don’t want to go away and come back not 100 percent and then they are sitting there wondering what I was doing. I’d rather put my health in their hands. I know this training staff will do what they need to do to get me back right and on the field.”

When that time comes and all of the Rams get back on the field in full pads with contact permitted, the competition at safety will only heat up further.

Considering the makeup of the safety group – largely underrated players who have earned every chance they’ve had at this level – it’s safe to say nobody is going to back down from the challenge.

The hope for the Rams is that competition will yield a group ready to contribute as much as any other position on the defense.

“A lot of people may think that us being younger is negative but we take it as a positive,” McLeod said. “A lot of guys are hungry and that’s one thing as younger guys, we have fresh legs and we are all just looking to compete, get better and prove people wrong. Even though we are young and may not be as experienced, we are tough and talented young players.”]]> RamBill The Original HERDWed, 19 Jun 2013 21:44:57 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363978,363978#msg-363978 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363978,363978#msg-363978profootballtalk.nbcsports.com]


Report: Hernandez recently was sued for allegedly shooting someone in the face

Posted by Mike Florio on June 19, 2013, 1:59 PM EDT


June is a slow month for football. It hasn’t been a slow month for a certain football player’s lawyers.

According to TMZ, Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was sued last week in a Florida federal court for allegedly shooting someone in the face.

The lawsuit, filed by Alexander S. Bradley, claims that Hernandez shot Bradley on February 13, 2013 while the two men were riding in a car. Bradley allegedly lost his right eye as a result of the incident, along with other injuries.

Per TMZ, the case was dismissed only four days after it was filed. Since it’s highly unlikely that any action was taken on the case that quickly, there’s a chance the case was settled.

Hernandez would have been much smarter to settle the case before it was filed. Between the lawsuit and the investigation in Massachusetts, Hernandez is now more likely to attract the attention of the league office, which is more apt to apply the enforce the personal-conduct policy when a player is involved in multiple off-field incidents.]]> Guard Ramsrule.com Football ForumWed, 19 Jun 2013 23:55:57 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363977,363977#msg-363977 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363977,363977#msg-363977Safety Competition Just Getting Started

Nick Wagoner Senior Writer

[www.stlouisrams.com]

All across the Rams defense, at nearly every position, you can find a strong mix of veterans and youngsters, players in their prime and those headed in that direction.

Every position, that is, except for one. After an offseason makeover in which veteran starters Quintin Mikell and Craig Dahl moved on, the safety position became one of the most inexperienced position units on the youngest team in the league.

Darian Stewart was the “grizzled” veteran of the group, entering his fourth season in the league, until the team signed eight-year veteran Matt Giordano last week.

The cast surrounding Stewart and Giordano – the duo combined for all of the NFL starts amongst Rams safeties – are Matt Daniels and Rodney McLeod entering their second year in the league and a group of rookies headed by third-round draft pick T.J. McDonald.

Out of the group, only McDonald and Giordano are drafted rookies. But just because they might not be overloaded with experience doesn’t mean the group in place has expectations any different from the rest of the defense.

“I think it’s great motivation,” Daniels said. “You look around the entire defense; the safety position might actually be the youngest within the team, especially on the defense. We are stout at all positions but everyone does question the safety spot. But I don’t question it at all and neither do the coaches or the guys that play the spot. We are looking for the opportunity to go out and make an impact quick and show them just how good we actually are. It’s going to be fun come camp time to go out and see who really shines and who is willing to go out and make the plays.”

Indeed, the competition at safety figures to be one of the team’s most hotly contested by the time training camp kicks off at the end of July. As the roster is currently constructed, the Rams have a total of seven safeties on the roster.

In addition to Stewart, Giordano, Daniels, McLeod and McDonald, the Rams also have undrafted free agent rookies Cody Davis and Cannon Smith.

Through the organized team activities, the Rams began with Stewart and McDonald getting most of the first-team work but a soft tissue injury to Stewart opened the door for McLeod.

Daniels is still recovering from a knee injury but also figures in the mix upon his return. So while it might take a bit to sort out who belongs where, Rams defensive coordinator Tim Walton believes the talent in place can be successful.

“I’m excited so far,” Walton said. “You’ve gotten a chance to see T.J. come in and get a lot of reps right now. He’s been able to step in and pick up things fast. Then you have Rodney McLeod that’s showing a lot of good things. He was on the team last year and showed his athletic ability. I’m impressed by the way guys pick things up, the learning curve of those guys. Then you have (Darian) Stewart, that’s the same way. Those three guys, we think that we’ll have a great group of guys that will be able to help us a lot.”

Although Stewart and Giordano figure to get much of the attention based on experience and McDonald as well based on his draft status and ability to adapt quickly, the two undrafted rookies from last year’s class figure to be wild cards in the competition.

The 5’10, 183-pound McLeod was something of a revelation in last year’s training camp, quickly catching the staff’s eye for his ability on special teams and his speed and coverage skills on the back end of the defense.

Although he wasn’t well known when he arrived in St. Louis, he fought his way to a roster spot and finished the season as the team’s leading special teams tackler with 16.

That’s a role McLeod knows he must fill again but he’s setting his sights on something bigger given the available opportunity at the safety spot.

“I was more so just a special teams player last year,” McLeod said. “I am going to be the same guy this year but I’m looking forward to competing for possibly a starting spot or just having a bigger role on the defense this year.”

By the end of the season, McLeod had played in every game on special teams but had just a handful of snaps on defense. The offseason changes coupled with Stewart’s injury allowed McLeod to get on the field and give coaches a glimpse of what he can do.

While McDonald, Stewart and Daniels provide bigger, perhaps more physical options, McLeod brings a little different element to the table with his speed and coverage skills. The notion that he could fill a nickel corner role if injuries occur has also been kicked around. That could potentially make him an intriguing option should the Rams look for a more skill-diverse safety tandem.

Having started as an undrafted free agent himself, McLeod has no intention of relaxing or getting comfortable knowing that others could be coming for his spot.

“Coming in last year as a free agent, it’s almost like being a walk on in college,” McLeod said. “You have got to prove everything and every single day you have to prove yourself. I feel like this year it’s the same thing. Even though a lot of us are second year players we still have a lot to prove in this league.”

As McLeod got more comfortable as the season went along from his playing experience, his fellow rookie safety Daniels spent the second half of the season on the long road to recovery after he suffered a torn right Anterior Cruciate Ligament on Oct. 28 against New England.

For Daniels, who came to the Rams with a reputation as a smart, hard-hitting type, the injury came just as he was starting to get settled into his position and a previous knee injury was nearly fully healed.

Like McLeod, Daniels’ role to that point had been exclusive to special teams but seemed poised to be more involved before the injury hit.

“I was really starting to get to a point where my knee was starting to feel 100 percent,” Daniels said. “The swelling went away and I was getting a lot more playing time as far as special teams was coming along and making plays there and coaches were really starting to trust me and put trust in me. So I was feeling really great about where I was at and where I was going but football you are one injury away from being sidelined and on I.R. That’s exactly what happened.”

Daniels has been working furiously to rehabilitate the injury but through OTAs had not yet been cleared to return to football activities. For most of the workouts, he was present on the sidelines doing some running.

For now, Daniels feels confident enough in the knee to run full speed in a straight line but is still working on developing the confidence for the cutting and change of direction needed for his position.

Watching as his teammates went through the offseason program was especially frustrating for Daniels given the opportunity to thrust himself into the mix for a spot.

“There’s a big opportunity at the safety spot and it is frustrating at times knowing I can’t be out there to seize the opportunity that is in front of me but training camp comes around and it’s wide open,” Daniels said. “The best will play; it’s as simple as that. So all I can do at this point is just focus on getting 100 percent healthy and once I am healthy just go from there and do whatever it is I have to do.”

Daniels said he and the team’s athletic trainers expectations are that he’ll be ready to go by the time training camp starts and if he’s not he’ll at least be able to ease his way back into the mix.

Having missed the offseason program with a meniscus injury last year and still accomplished enough to make the roster, the idea of entering camp with something to prove is not foreign to Daniels.

Still, Daniels plans to spend all of his offseason time right here in St. Louis working to get back to full speed.

“For the next six weeks I am here,” Daniels said. “I don’t want to go away and come back not 100 percent and then they are sitting there wondering what I was doing. I’d rather put my health in their hands. I know this training staff will do what they need to do to get me back right and on the field.”

When that time comes and all of the Rams get back on the field in full pads with contact permitted, the competition at safety will only heat up further.

Considering the makeup of the safety group – largely underrated players who have earned every chance they’ve had at this level – it’s safe to say nobody is going to back down from the challenge.

The hope for the Rams is that competition will yield a group ready to contribute as much as any other position on the defense.

“A lot of people may think that us being younger is negative but we take it as a positive,” McLeod said. “A lot of guys are hungry and that’s one thing as younger guys, we have fresh legs and we are all just looking to compete, get better and prove people wrong. Even though we are young and may not be as experienced, we are tough and talented young players.”]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumWed, 19 Jun 2013 23:31:29 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363962,363962#msg-363962 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363962,363962#msg-363962
Why can't they be allowed to utilize all 53 players?

It would be better for the fans, wouldn't it?

It would also be better for the players, too, wouldn't it?

The inactive players still draw their salary, so where is the savings to the teams?

The logic totally escapes me. Can someone please enlighten me here?]]> Rams43 Ramsrule.com Football ForumWed, 19 Jun 2013 21:18:25 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363959,363959#msg-363959 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363959,363959#msg-363959
I've always wondered why some team -- with a wealthy owner who really wants to win -- doesn't just hire a gazillion scouts, trainers, martial arts instructors (Kung Fu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wing Chun), yoga experts, hypnotists, kinecticists, dieticians and, of course, coaches, etc. etc. etc.

I'm exagerrating for effect. But, in general, why not hire scores of teachers, coaches and scouts that could radically improve athletic conditioning, performance, game focus, game mood, team cohesiveness and talent acquisition?

It has always struck me that most NFL teams have relatively small scouting staffs, for instance, and not really that many coaches, when you consider it's a multi-billion dollar sport.

At least hire ex-Rams greats. Sheesh.]]> Billy_T Ramsrule.com Football ForumThu, 20 Jun 2013 00:52:15 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363957,363957#msg-363957 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363957,363957#msg-363957
Rams: The Only NFC West Team Without a 1,000 Yd Rusher?

By Brandon Bate

[www.turfshowtimes.com]

The Rams' most reliable player - over the past eight years - will no longer be lining up in the team's backfield. Steven Jackson will carry the load for the Falcons, and the Rams now look to a trio of young running backs to move the team downfield. Jackson had rushed for 1,000+ yards for eight consecutive years; something only five other rushers [Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Thurman Thomas, Curtis Martin, and LaDainian Tomlinson] have ever done. It appears that streak - at least as it pertains to the Rams - will come to an end.

Jackson wasn’t the only rusher in the NFC West to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark last year. Both Marshawn Lynch [1,590 yards] and Frank Gore [1,214] easily surpassed the milestone, and have done so for two consecutive seasons. Contrarily, the Cardinals - who battled injury at the position - were lead by LaRod Stephens-Howling, who amassed 356 yards in 2012.

Consider their inability to run the ball addressed. One of the Cardinals’ less talked about [more so underrated] 2013 offseason acquisitions was grabbing free agent RB Rashard Mendenhall. New head coach Bruce Arians was on NFL Network’s "NFL AM" on Wednesday morning, and spoke very highly of a now healthy Mendenhall…

He took me personally to a Super Bowl, and I know what he can bring to the table as a runner and a pass protector and also a receiver. He's an every-down player. And I think he's looking forward to having an outstanding season.

It’s clear that Arians’ familiarity with Mendenhall - dating back to being his offensive coordinator in the Steelers' 2009 Super Bowl run - has set him apart from Ryan Williams. Williams was drafted 38th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, and has only played in 5 games since.

Mendenhall is looking to bounce back from an achilles tendon injury which kept him sidelined for the majority of the 2012 season. Prior to that, the Cardinals’ newest rusher was putting together consecutive 1,000+ yard campaigns of his own in Pittsburgh. From 2009-2011 [despite missing one game], Mendenhall rushed for 3,309 yards [1,103 yds per] and 29 TD’s.

Whether or not Mendenhall is able to get back to the caliber of play he was in Pittsburgh remains to be seen. If he’s able to stay healthy, he could join Lynch and Gore in the 1,000+ yard club in the NFC West. The Rams - barring a breakout season by one of their youngsters - will look to spread the ball between Isaiah Pead, Daryl Richardson, and Zac Stacy; making it unlikely the team will have a 1,000+ yard runner for a 9th consecutive year. (I won't mention the fact none of the Rams' current running backs have a single NFL touchdown between them...)

Does it really matter [to the Rams] whether or not Mendenhall is able to rush for 1,000 yards? In the grand scheme, no. Having a running back that can eclipse the 1,000 yard mark isn’t a prerequisite for a postseason run, though it can’t hurt your chances. What it does mean though, is the Cardinals have seriously bolstered their run game heading into the upcoming season, and are primed for a 2013 campaign that matches the impressiveness of their off season.

Having added a pair of guards [Jonathan Cooper and Earl Watford] in April’s draft, the Cardinals solidified their offensive front, and set the stage for Mendenhall to return to being one of the more productive rushers in the league.

And though cohesion won’t occur instantly, given a multitude of personnel changes, Mendenhall is one of the new offensive weapons that could make the Cardinals a dangerous team in 2013. Assuming the Rams are going to easily sweep the season series with the Cardinals would be a mistake.

The NFC West is a tough division.]]> RamBill The Original HERDWed, 19 Jun 2013 19:14:02 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363955,363955#msg-363955 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363955,363955#msg-363955
Rams: The Only NFC West Team Without a 1,000 Yd Rusher?

By Brandon Bate

[www.turfshowtimes.com]

The Rams' most reliable player - over the past eight years - will no longer be lining up in the team's backfield. Steven Jackson will carry the load for the Falcons, and the Rams now look to a trio of young running backs to move the team downfield. Jackson had rushed for 1,000+ yards for eight consecutive years; something only five other rushers [Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Thurman Thomas, Curtis Martin, and LaDainian Tomlinson] have ever done. It appears that streak - at least as it pertains to the Rams - will come to an end.

Jackson wasn’t the only rusher in the NFC West to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark last year. Both Marshawn Lynch [1,590 yards] and Frank Gore [1,214] easily surpassed the milestone, and have done so for two consecutive seasons. Contrarily, the Cardinals - who battled injury at the position - were lead by LaRod Stephens-Howling, who amassed 356 yards in 2012.

Consider their inability to run the ball addressed. One of the Cardinals’ less talked about [more so underrated] 2013 offseason acquisitions was grabbing free agent RB Rashard Mendenhall. New head coach Bruce Arians was on NFL Network’s "NFL AM" on Wednesday morning, and spoke very highly of a now healthy Mendenhall…

He took me personally to a Super Bowl, and I know what he can bring to the table as a runner and a pass protector and also a receiver. He's an every-down player. And I think he's looking forward to having an outstanding season.

It’s clear that Arians’ familiarity with Mendenhall - dating back to being his offensive coordinator in the Steelers' 2009 Super Bowl run - has set him apart from Ryan Williams. Williams was drafted 38th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, and has only played in 5 games since.

Mendenhall is looking to bounce back from an achilles tendon injury which kept him sidelined for the majority of the 2012 season. Prior to that, the Cardinals’ newest rusher was putting together consecutive 1,000+ yard campaigns of his own in Pittsburgh. From 2009-2011 [despite missing one game], Mendenhall rushed for 3,309 yards [1,103 yds per] and 29 TD’s.

Whether or not Mendenhall is able to get back to the caliber of play he was in Pittsburgh remains to be seen. If he’s able to stay healthy, he could join Lynch and Gore in the 1,000+ yard club in the NFC West. The Rams - barring a breakout season by one of their youngsters - will look to spread the ball between Isaiah Pead, Daryl Richardson, and Zac Stacy; making it unlikely the team will have a 1,000+ yard runner for a 9th consecutive year. (I won't mention the fact none of the Rams' current running backs have a single NFL touchdown between them...)

Does it really matter [to the Rams] whether or not Mendenhall is able to rush for 1,000 yards? In the grand scheme, no. Having a running back that can eclipse the 1,000 yard mark isn’t a prerequisite for a postseason run, though it can’t hurt your chances. What it does mean though, is the Cardinals have seriously bolstered their run game heading into the upcoming season, and are primed for a 2013 campaign that matches the impressiveness of their off season.

Having added a pair of guards [Jonathan Cooper and Earl Watford] in April’s draft, the Cardinals solidified their offensive front, and set the stage for Mendenhall to return to being one of the more productive rushers in the league.

And though cohesion won’t occur instantly, given a multitude of personnel changes, Mendenhall is one of the new offensive weapons that could make the Cardinals a dangerous team in 2013. Assuming the Rams are going to easily sweep the season series with the Cardinals would be a mistake.

The NFC West is a tough division.]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumWed, 19 Jun 2013 21:26:39 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363951,363951#msg-363951 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363951,363951#msg-363951
Watch Ram Players Play Paintball]]> RamBill The Original HERDWed, 19 Jun 2013 18:41:27 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363950,363950#msg-363950 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363950,363950#msg-363950
Watch Ram Players Play Paintball]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumWed, 19 Jun 2013 18:39:11 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363948,363948#msg-363948 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363948,363948#msg-363948'A thousand years ahead of where we were'
By Mike Sando

[espn.go.com]

The St. Louis Rams put two halfbacks on the field for a third-and-5 play at Seattle last season, an unusual personnel grouping. The Seahawks called timeout. The Rams came back with something more straightforward -- a basic play offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, quarterback Sam Bradford and the Rams' receivers had installed from the first day of training camp.

Bradford hit Chris Givens on a quick slant route. Givens ducked under cornerback Jeremy Lane, breaking free for a 37-yard gain to the Seattle 4, setting up a touchdown in a hard-fought game Seattle would win in the final 1:39.

Five-plus months later, Bradford sees in that play something that has been in short supply for the Rams in recent years: evidence of continuity. The Rams went with something familiar to everyone involved instead of getting cute with a call that might have seemed more formidable when drawn up on a whiteboard. The more time players and coaches have together, the greater number of plays they'll feel comfortable running in specific situations.

Bradford, a veteran of three offensive coordinators in three NFL seasons, will work with Schottenheimer for a second consecutive season. That doesn't mean the Rams will always gain 37 yards on third-and-5, of course, but familiarity can be a good thing -- not just in general, but when applied to specific situations.

"There were times last year, I remember sitting in meetings, maybe [Schottenheimer] was really comfortable with a play because they had run it in the past and had success with it, but it was new to me and I wasn't as comfortable with it," Bradford said. "Now, I think we have a much better feel for each other."

Every NFC West team but Arizona returns the same starting quarterback and same offensive coordinator from last season.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick enters his first full season as a starter in coordinator Greg Roman's offense after taking over for Alex Smith in Week 11 last season. This will be Kaepernick's third season with Roman overall, an advantage. But because the playing styles for Kaepernick and Smith differ so significantly, the 49ers adjusted their offense on the fly. They used the Pistol formation more frequently. Kaepernick was more likely than Smith to target receivers outside the yard-line numbers, where Kaepernick's stronger arm served him well. Kaepernick's passes inside the numbers traveled nearly twice as far past the line of scrimmage on average, another reflection of how the offense would be different with a new quarterback.

These are the sorts of things we can evaluate from the outside. Imagine how many subtleties must exist on the inside. Schottenheimer said Bradford is "a thousand years" ahead of where he was one year ago. Roman used the term "light years" to describe how far ahead his quarterback stands at this point in the offseason compared to one year ago. It's not just talk.

Think about how the 49ers' final Super Bowl possession ended, with Kaepernick throwing incomplete against pressure when only five yards separated San Francisco from a likely championship. One play earlier, on third down, the 49ers had suffered the type of breakdown we might expect with a young quarterback making only his 10th start in a highly advanced offense. They burned a timeout with the play clock running dangerously low, scuttling what coaches thought had been the perfect call against that specific Baltimore defense. Surely the odds of such a miscue repeating itself in a critical situation will diminish as Kaepernick and Roman have more time together.

A year ago, the Seattle Seahawks weren't sure whether Matt Flynn or Russell Wilson would be their starter. They committed to Wilson late in the summer and spent several games figuring out how much of the playbook to explore with him. Coordinator Darrell Bevell is back after attracting interest as a head coaching candidate. Even after 16 regular-season games and one postseason game last season, Bevell said the team was still "figuring out what we have" heading into its divisional-round matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

This offseason represents the first time Bradford, Kaepernick and Wilson have had time to explore in depth with their coordinators the plays and concepts each felt comfortable running in game situations.

"Sometimes you watch tape, you study things during the week, you see one look on tape that they played the week before and you try to draw up the perfect play to beat that coverage, but then you call it and don’t get that coverage and it’s like, what are we doing?" Bradford said. "None of the receivers have run it. We might have repped it two or three times during the week."

When in doubt, go with what you know, such as Bradford to Givens on the simplest of routes. Call it a starting point.

"The day Sam walked back into the building [this offseason] we started making adjustments," Schottenheimer said. "We are a thousand years ahead of where we were last year."]]> RamBill The Original HERDWed, 19 Jun 2013 17:53:16 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363947,363947#msg-363947 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363947,363947#msg-363947'A thousand years ahead of where we were'
By Mike Sando

[espn.go.com]

The St. Louis Rams put two halfbacks on the field for a third-and-5 play at Seattle last season, an unusual personnel grouping. The Seahawks called timeout. The Rams came back with something more straightforward -- a basic play offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, quarterback Sam Bradford and the Rams' receivers had installed from the first day of training camp.

Bradford hit Chris Givens on a quick slant route. Givens ducked under cornerback Jeremy Lane, breaking free for a 37-yard gain to the Seattle 4, setting up a touchdown in a hard-fought game Seattle would win in the final 1:39.

Five-plus months later, Bradford sees in that play something that has been in short supply for the Rams in recent years: evidence of continuity. The Rams went with something familiar to everyone involved instead of getting cute with a call that might have seemed more formidable when drawn up on a whiteboard. The more time players and coaches have together, the greater number of plays they'll feel comfortable running in specific situations.

Bradford, a veteran of three offensive coordinators in three NFL seasons, will work with Schottenheimer for a second consecutive season. That doesn't mean the Rams will always gain 37 yards on third-and-5, of course, but familiarity can be a good thing -- not just in general, but when applied to specific situations.

"There were times last year, I remember sitting in meetings, maybe [Schottenheimer] was really comfortable with a play because they had run it in the past and had success with it, but it was new to me and I wasn't as comfortable with it," Bradford said. "Now, I think we have a much better feel for each other."

Every NFC West team but Arizona returns the same starting quarterback and same offensive coordinator from last season.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick enters his first full season as a starter in coordinator Greg Roman's offense after taking over for Alex Smith in Week 11 last season. This will be Kaepernick's third season with Roman overall, an advantage. But because the playing styles for Kaepernick and Smith differ so significantly, the 49ers adjusted their offense on the fly. They used the Pistol formation more frequently. Kaepernick was more likely than Smith to target receivers outside the yard-line numbers, where Kaepernick's stronger arm served him well. Kaepernick's passes inside the numbers traveled nearly twice as far past the line of scrimmage on average, another reflection of how the offense would be different with a new quarterback.

These are the sorts of things we can evaluate from the outside. Imagine how many subtleties must exist on the inside. Schottenheimer said Bradford is "a thousand years" ahead of where he was one year ago. Roman used the term "light years" to describe how far ahead his quarterback stands at this point in the offseason compared to one year ago. It's not just talk.

Think about how the 49ers' final Super Bowl possession ended, with Kaepernick throwing incomplete against pressure when only five yards separated San Francisco from a likely championship. One play earlier, on third down, the 49ers had suffered the type of breakdown we might expect with a young quarterback making only his 10th start in a highly advanced offense. They burned a timeout with the play clock running dangerously low, scuttling what coaches thought had been the perfect call against that specific Baltimore defense. Surely the odds of such a miscue repeating itself in a critical situation will diminish as Kaepernick and Roman have more time together.

A year ago, the Seattle Seahawks weren't sure whether Matt Flynn or Russell Wilson would be their starter. They committed to Wilson late in the summer and spent several games figuring out how much of the playbook to explore with him. Coordinator Darrell Bevell is back after attracting interest as a head coaching candidate. Even after 16 regular-season games and one postseason game last season, Bevell said the team was still "figuring out what we have" heading into its divisional-round matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

This offseason represents the first time Bradford, Kaepernick and Wilson have had time to explore in depth with their coordinators the plays and concepts each felt comfortable running in game situations.

"Sometimes you watch tape, you study things during the week, you see one look on tape that they played the week before and you try to draw up the perfect play to beat that coverage, but then you call it and don’t get that coverage and it’s like, what are we doing?" Bradford said. "None of the receivers have run it. We might have repped it two or three times during the week."

When in doubt, go with what you know, such as Bradford to Givens on the simplest of routes. Call it a starting point.

"The day Sam walked back into the building [this offseason] we started making adjustments," Schottenheimer said. "We are a thousand years ahead of where we were last year."]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumWed, 19 Jun 2013 19:13:37 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,363945,363945#msg-363945 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?4,363945,363945#msg-363945www.latimes.com]

A 5th graders speech in the Bay area filled with Giant fans.]]> waterfield Bucky's PubThu, 20 Jun 2013 07:14:10 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363938,363938#msg-363938 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363938,363938#msg-363938ME: Yeah, he was a pretty good "sleeper" for us too.


[profootballtalk.nbcsports.com]


Saints think they found a sleeper in Jason Smith

Posted by Darin Gantt on June 19, 2013, 9:33 AM EDT

hi-res-90870197_crop_north-e1371648661907.jpg

Getty Images
In 2009, Jason Smith was the second player chosen in the NFL Draft.

This year, his latest coach is talking about him the way you’d talk about an undrafted rookie.

As MDS mentioned in the one-liners, offensive tackle Jason Smith is trying to shake the draft bust label that was rightly applied to him with the Saints, and they seem receptive.

“I think oftentimes, you take a peek at a player that was selected as high as he was and graded out as high as he was,” Saints coach Sean Payton said, via Mike Triplett of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “He is a tremendous worker and has athletic ability.

“So it’s another opportunity, and it’s oftentimes you are able to get a player maybe his second time around or third time around that can come in and find a niche.”

Smith never justified the pick the Rams invested in him, and the Jets let him walk after he was sent there in a swap of bad ideas.

Now, the Saints are letting him compete for the starting left tackle job with Charles Brown and rookie Terron Armstead, a competition Payton said was “absolutely” open.

Smith was reflective when asked about his journey, talking about religion and making his plight seem more dramatic than perhaps it is.

“Upon the moment I received salvation, I understood that my calling is now to suffer, just like Christ did. That’s who I am,” Smith said. “So therefore, what I went through, my experiences, whether it be football or life, it brought me to a point of patience. So with patience I have experience, and with experience I have hope. And hope makes me not ashamed of what I went through.

“So everything I went through has made me who I am as a person. As far as the football stuff, it’s still a day-to-day deal. As far as my life, it’s a day-to-day deal. So I desire to know God’s heart. That’s what my focus is.”

The Rams didn’t need him to save the souls of the world, they just needed him to block. The Saints are offering him another chance to do just that.
]]> Guard Ramsrule.com Football ForumThu, 20 Jun 2013 00:08:24 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363933,363933#msg-363933 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,363933,363933#msg-363933
Woman from ABC news who broke the story says "there are a few "rumors" floating around at present, none of which sound good for Hernandez..."

Wow...]]> RFIP Ramsrule.com Football ForumThu, 20 Jun 2013 05:48:26 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363931,363931#msg-363931 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?11,363931,363931#msg-363931Rams News Items From June 18

Get Caught Up With Any Rams Articles/Videos You May Have Missed

Tavon Austin showing off immense talents in St. Louis –WV Press
This will not surprise you if you’ve been in this neck of the woods the past three years, but it sure got those good folks in St. Louis fired up. Seems they are beginning to realize the special talents St. Louis Rams’ first-round draft pick Tavon Austin showed Mountaineer fans as he caught passes, ran reverses and, most of all, ran back kicks.

St. Louis CVC pays $2M to Rams for legal fees –AP
The St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission said Tuesday it has paid $2 million to the St. Louis Rams to cover the team’s legal fees for the dispute over upgrades to the Edward Jones Dome that resulted in arbitration.

St. Louis Rams: Team Report–Inside Slant
Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer knows he is in a unique situation. His starting quarterback, Sam Bradford, is 25, and entering his fourth NFL season.

Rams Add Safety Matt Giordano at Cap-Friendly Price –Balzer
The Rams’ recent signing of safety Matt Giordano adds a solid veteran at a position that needs depth and at a very cap-friendly price. Giordano signed a one-year, veteran qualifying contract for the minimum salary of $840,000 for a player with eight accrued seasons. As a qualifying contract, it counts just $555,000 against the cap.

Will Austin Pettis’ Recent Success Translate To Sundays? –TST
Performing well during OTAs doesn’t mean that a player will do the same when they are fully padded, or on game day. In fact, It’s important to take everything with a grain of salt, at least until the end of the preseason. Even then, being cautious about players and teams performance is important even though it’s hard.

Rams 2013 depth chart: Brian Quick is fourth and it doesn’t matter –TST
Brian Quick is fourth on the St. Louis Rams depth chart at wide receiver. It doesn’t matter. Why? Mostly because it’s June. The Rams are more than six weeks away from putting on pads for the first time this year.

Nick Wagoner Rams Mailbag Highlights –June 18
Quick Slipping Down the Depth Chart? I find it somewhat comical that people presume to know what the depth chart looks like when there really is no depth chart. The reality is that Quick got plenty of work with the first team. S

Rams’ Chris Long says he’ll keep tweeting as long as it’s fun –FSMW
Maybe it’s the Rams’ miserable 19-60-1 record since his arrival. Maybe it’s because he’s a lineman. Maybe it’s the limited media access in the NFL. Or maybe I’ve been too busy covering baseball to notice. Whatever the reason, Chris Long isn’t as big a deal around here as he should be.

Rams debut new training academy for area youth
Rams became the first NFL team to open up a team branded youth training center today, as they debuted the St. Louis Rams Training Academy. The academy is a new 20,000 square-foot indoor training and development facility featuring state-of-the-art video analysis labs and training equipment including a turf field, Olympic-style weight room with Rams branded power mats, and a 60-yard speed track with a laser timing system. Includes comments from Tavon Austin (:37)]]> RamBill The Original HERDWed, 19 Jun 2013 08:30:13 +0200