At this forum personal attacks will be more tolerable from the Admins. Just keep in mind this forum is not to become a Smack Forum, it will be MONITORED. NO POLITICAL OR RELIGION DISCUSSIONS WILL BE ALLOWED!!! E-Mail The Admins - Chatroom - Rams E-Zine http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/list.php?5Tue, 21 May 2013 08:10:51 +0200 Phorum 5.2.13 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359418,359418#msg-359418 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359418,359418#msg-359418Pead’s Promise Should Bear More Fruit for This Year’s Rams
By Anthony Stalter

[www.101sports.com]

At some point between the moment he was selected with the 50th overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft and the end of his rookie campaign, Isaiah Pead lost his confidence.

In an April interview with the University of Cincinnati’s official website, Pead admitted that his rookie season was “miserable.” He talked about sitting alone in his house and throwing a tennis ball up against the wall, lonely and frustrated by failing to make an impact in his first year in the pros.

After averaging 5.3 yards per carry with 1,259 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns as a senior at Cincinnati, his rookie season with the Rams didn’t exactly go as planned. Due to a late graduation, Pead missed OTAs and then watched as seventh-rounder Daryl Richardson outperformed him during the preseason. While Pead was tentative and overwhelmed, Richardson was decisive and eager. This led to Pead gaining just 54 yards on 10 carries for the season.

But despite his lack of production, there’s plenty to love about Pead heading into his sophomore year. First and foremost, graduation won’t keep him from attending OTAs, so there’s no excuse for him to start slowly this summer. He also doesn’t have to worry about the face of the franchise being leery of taking his job.

Back in July of last year, Steven Jackson made it clear on PFT Live that he wouldn’t be too pleased if the Rams attempted to make Pead a big part of their offense. Said Jackson, “I actually see him being a backup. If it’s the way I want it, to continue to live out the legacy of my career, I will continue to be the workhorse. He can relieve me at times during the game, or when we need a change of pace against the defense.”

Did Jackson have a negative impact on Pead’s development? It wouldn’t be fair to speculate. Besides, the only person Pead has to blame for his lack of production is himself. Whether Jackson ignored him or treated him like a long-lost brother is irrelevant. The bottom line is that Richardson took his opportunities and ran with them. Pead didn’t.

Still, production is as much about opportunity as it is talent. And with Jackson now in Atlanta, there shouldn’t be a shortage of opportunities for both Pead and Richardson.

Pead is the perfect fit for the offense that Jeff Fisher and Les Snead have been building the past two offseasons. The additions of Jared Cook, Tavon Austin, Chris Givens, Brian Quick and Stedman Bailey show the Rams’ desire to spread the field. Fisher knows that the key to any offense is balance, and the Rams will still run the ball plenty. But he’s also not blind to the fact that the NFL has become a space game; if you don’t have playmakers that can create in the open field, your offense will be limited.

The smallish Pead won’t be able to continuously pound the ball between the tackles. That’s not his game. His strengths lie in his quickness, speed and ability to create in the open field. That’s why Fisher and Snead drafted him in the second round last year, and that’s what they hope to highlight in 2013.

The idea is to spread opponents out and make them pick their poison. A healthy and upright Sam Bradford should be able to accurately get the ball to his assortment of weapons in the passing game. And with the defense back on its heels, Pead should have the necessary space to do his thing. It’s just a matter of him putting the past behind him and keeping his bright future in focus.

This offseason the Rams had every opportunity to re-sign Jackson, or draft a potential workhorse back like Eddie Lacy with one of their first-round picks. They opted to do neither.

The Rams’ confidence in Pead remains. If his returns, then don’t be surprised if he’s on the verge of a breakout season.]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 06:25:49 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359416,359416#msg-359416 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359416,359416#msg-359416
The articles were so thoughtful and full of depth and general anticipation.

So I go to he post dispatch and what are hey talking about? Eric freakin Crouch.

I have yet to see an in depth article about Austin and what is being expected of him. No article with Braford discussing this his 4th year and how hes feeling or preparing for the season.

Seriously the Rams have the worst local group of guys covering them.

Oh and camp starts tomorrow.... So why talk about them right?]]> Speed_Kills Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 06:46:52 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359404,359404#msg-359404 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359404,359404#msg-359404www.101sports.com]]]> laram Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 03:32:36 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359399,359399#msg-359399 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359399,359399#msg-359399Speaking of Kelly, PHIL will be an outright jailbreak on O this year.
Peyton has already run it in INDY and has vowed to be even faster paced this year with the Broncos now that he is healthier and has more familiarity with this WR's/TE's.
BUF is holding practices that are closed to the public, the whispers being that they are installing a hurry up type O.
Reid has come right out and said he will try to run "10-15 more plays a game" on O in KC.

Why does this thread belong on a RAMS BB?
Because I think that Shotty & Jeff plan on running A LOT more spread/hurry up O this year.
I don't know why not. It plays to Sam's strengths.

Wouldn't it be great to be able to say: "All right. Our offense has the ball!" I know I haven't had that thought in quite a few years.

Kevin P.]]> guinnessram Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 03:21:21 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359398,359398#msg-359398 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359398,359398#msg-359398 Rampage2K- Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 03:20:26 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359386,359386#msg-359386 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359386,359386#msg-359386Quarterbacks Responsible for Taking Sacks

By Neil Hornsby
[www.profootballfocus.com]

I had a mini-glut of correspondence last week on quarterbacks who brought the most sacks on themselves or, to put it another way, those players who took too long to throw and got taken down or simply ran straight into a defender when other options were available.

Four seconds is the time over which we say the QB takes responsibility, but this excludes instances where they were pressured within that limit, had to take evasive action with no opportunity to throw the ball away, but got taken down after it.

As requested, here is the full list of “QB Responsible Sacks” which includes the playoffs (minimum 300+ drop-backs), and to add additional value I’ve also included the number of hits and pressures which we have logged as being down to that player too.

Quarterback Responsible Sacks

Rank Name Drop-backs Sacks % Sacks Hits Pressures
1 Jake Locker 387 8 2.1% 1 0
2 Russell Wilson 591 10 1.7% 3 10
3 Jay Cutler 529 8 1.5% 4 2
4 Aaron Rodgers 775 11 1.4% 3 6
5 Andy Dalton 659 9 1.4% 1 3
6 Christian Ponder 582 7 1.2% 5 0
7 Michael Vick 434 5 1.2% 3 0
8 Colin Kaepernick 372 3 0.8% 0 0
9 Robert Griffin III 511 4 0.8% 1 4
10 Mark Sanchez 530 4 0.8% 1 2
11 Matthew Stafford 801 6 0.7% 2 1
12 Ryan Tannehill 567 4 0.7% 2 1
13 Brandon Weeden 578 4 0.7% 1 1
14 Cam Newton 588 4 0.7% 0 1
*NFL Average 0.7%
15 Philip Rivers 619 4 0.6% 0 2
16 Matt Cassel 329 2 0.6% 3 0
17 Tony Romo 728 4 0.5% 0 3
18 Matt Ryan 778 4 0.5% 0 2
19 Andrew Luck 813 4 0.5% 0 3
20 Sam Bradford 638 3 0.5% 2 2
21 Matt Schaub 693 3 0.4% 2 2
22 Ben Roethlisberger 510 2 0.4% 2 2
23 Tom Brady 808 3 0.4% 2 0
24 Ryan Fitzpatrick 584 2 0.3% 0 2
25 Nick Foles 313 1 0.3% 0 3
26 Josh Freeman 632 2 0.3% 1 1
27 Blaine Gabbert 335 1 0.3% 0 1
28 Peyton Manning 696 2 0.3% 0 0
29 Drew Brees 725 2 0.3% 1 2
30 Joe Flacco 756 2 0.3% 3 2
31 Eli Manning 608 1 0.2% 1 0
32 Carson Palmer 625 0 0.0% 1 0
33 Chad Henne 372 0 0.0% 0 0


A word of warning though, being near the top of this list isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Certain players, like Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson, have a penchant for hanging in under pressure until the last second and beyond, and weigh the risk of the sack against the reward of the play.

What I thought would be interesting was to see if that holds any weight by looking at only plays in which the QB took over four seconds. Would some of the guys at the top of the list also be those who did the best? As QB rating is a blunt instrument at the best of times (never mind on smaller sample sets), though I included it, on this occasion I ranked players using our un-normalized ratings per drop-back.

Quarterback Rank When Throwing After 4 Seconds (minimum 20 drop-backs)

Rank QB Drop-backs Att. Com. Yards TD INT QB Rating Total PFF Rating Rating/Drop-back
1 Andrew Luck 116 67 26 441 2 0 71.8 20.5 0.177
2 Jake Locker 65 26 13 250 1 1 80.6 10.5 0.162
3 Kevin Kolb 32 17 9 159 0 0 85.2 5.0 0.156
4 Russell Wilson 171 89 40 744 5 3 79.0 26.5 0.155
5 Colin Kaepernick 85 39 15 285 1 2 51.8 13.0 0.153
6 Peyton Manning 28 22 13 138 0 1 58.5 4.0 0.143
7 Aaron Rodgers 169 107 48 762 7 2 83.2 23.5 0.139
8 Matt Cassel 46 24 12 163 0 1 54.7 6.0 0.130
9 Blaine Gabbert 22 10 6 58 0 0 76.3 2.5 0.114
10 Nick Foles 54 40 20 338 2 0 95.6 6.0 0.111
11 Robert Griffin III 122 62 24 411 3 1 71.4 13.0 0.107
12 Ben Roethlisberger 94 66 29 443 4 3 67.9 10.0 0.106
13 Alex D. Smith 45 14 5 154 0 1 47.9 4.5 0.100
14 Brady Quinn 32 10 3 75 0 0 58.3 3.0 0.094
15 Matt Ryan 67 38 16 201 0 0 59.2 6.0 0.090
16 Matthew Stafford 91 59 21 462 1 2 55.9 8.0 0.088
17 Carson Palmer 42 29 13 129 3 0 92.5 3.5 0.083
18 Joe Flacco 68 49 22 384 2 1 77.3 5.5 0.081
19 Drew Brees 67 55 22 360 1 1 61.2 5.0 0.075
*NFL Average 0.075
20 Ryan Fitzpatrick 52 16 4 34 0 2 0.0 3.0 0.058
21 Chad Henne 26 8 1 -6 0 0 39.6 1.5 0.058
22 Christian Ponder 84 36 10 108 1 4 9.3 4.0 0.048
23 Ryan Tannehill 69 46 17 331 0 2 44.7 3.0 0.043
24 Josh Freeman 82 53 17 387 2 2 56.1 3.5 0.043
25 Jay Cutler 74 35 16 210 2 2 60.4 2.5 0.034
26 Sam Bradford 69 41 16 176 2 0 68.8 2.0 0.029
27 Cam Newton 112 59 20 285 0 2 36.3 3.0 0.027
28 Andy Dalton 103 57 18 266 1 0 53.7 2.0 0.019
29 Michael Vick 92 41 12 274 2 3 40.7 1.0 0.011
30 Matt Schaub 57 49 15 183 2 0 56.8 0.5 0.009
31 Tom Brady 61 47 11 136 3 0 60.9 0.5 0.008
32 Tony Romo 78 56 22 470 5 3 77.2 0.5 0.006
33 Eli Manning 40 23 9 98 0 2 16.2 -0.5 -0.013
34 Brandon Weeden 65 46 16 210 0 2 32.0 -1.0 -0.015
35 Philip Rivers 61 36 3 24 1 2 25.7 -4.5 -0.074
36 Mark Sanchez 50 32 12 150 0 3 13.8 -4.0 -0.080

My first reaction when seeing the results was to think there will be some people out there asking, “is this just another way to show Mark Sanchez at the bottom of a list?”. OK — I get it — but making him look good is a lot trickier than it sounds, and not something I’d attempt at home without an adult auditor supervising operations.

On a serious note, what this suggests is, of the Top 5, Jake Locker, Wilson and Rodgers seem to have a reasonable balance of taking sacks on extended plays and making good things happen, while Jay Cutler and Andy Dalton may wish to reconsider their strategy.]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 02:03:29 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359374,359374#msg-359374 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359374,359374#msg-359374profootballtalk.nbcsports.com]

zach-potter-getty-2010-e1369089310206.jpg

Rams sign tight end Zach Potter

Posted by Mike Wilkening on May 20, 2013, 6:50 PM EDT

zach potter Getty 2010 Getty Images

The Rams have signed tight end Zach Potter, according to the NFL’s Monday transaction report.

The 6-foot-7, 265-pound Potter appeared in all 16 games for the Jaguars in 2012, catching two passes for six yards. Potter played 199 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus data.

Potter will likely be vying for a spot behind Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks on the Rams’ tight end depth chart. Potter’s blocking would figure to be one of the keys to whether he sticks on the final roster.

Potter, 27, is entering his fifth NFL season. A defensive end at Nebraska, Potter originally signed with the Jets after the 2009 draft before joining Jacksonville.
]]> Guard Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 01:15:54 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359373,359373#msg-359373 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359373,359373#msg-359373
Why did we bring in another kicker? Is Zuerlein on the hot seat? bwahahahaha.

Seriously, with the mid and late season misses, is Bear some sort of insurance?

No competition for Hekker......


-- Brett Baer PK 23 5-11 182 R Louisiana-Lafayette
4 Greg Zuerlein PK 25 6-0 187 2 Missouri Western State
6 Johnny Hekker P 23 6-5 227 2 Oregon State
-- Jorgen Hus LS -- 6-1 215 R Regina (Canada)
44 Jake McQuaide LS 25 6-2 247 3 Ohio State]]> 73Ram Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 01:15:32 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359354,359354#msg-359354 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359354,359354#msg-359354Listen to Gil Brandt Talk About the Rams and Sam Bradford

=========
Gil Brandt Interview Notes

** Bradford is a QB that can take you to a Super Bowl..they’ve finally put some people around him…Austin is a tremendous player to help you in the passing game….Cook is an excellent football player…you’ve helped Bradford a lot with the addition of those weapons

**Who will replace SJ? In order to be a successful QB you have to have some kind of running threat….will Richardson do it? Pead? I’m not sure.

** Zac Stacy played awfully good for a bad team.

**Les Snead and Coach Fisher know what they’re doing. I think they’ve had two very good drafts…they’re two people who know how to run the draft…and they’ve got very good people working for them. Hiring Teddy Monago from the Bears was a great move…one of the best player evaluators

**Tavon Austin–tremendous mismatch…may not be an every down player…put up 250 yards against Oklahoma as a running back….wherever you line him up and cause that mismatch it’s a plus for the Rams.

** Talks about the rest of the NFC West…very tough division…Rams did well within the division.]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 06:34:35 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359350,359350#msg-359350 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359350,359350#msg-359350
Rams, Cardinals took opposite approaches
By Mike Sando

[espn.go.com]

The St. Louis Rams said they would rather sign a couple big-money free agents than several mid-priced ones.

Quality over quantity was the rationale.

2013 UFA Additions by Contracts
Rank Team UFAs Outlays
1 Dolphins 8 $146.1M
2 Colts 8 $132.0M
3 Titans 10 $97.2M
4 Eagles 10 $95.6M
5 Browns 8 $87.1M
6 Rams 2 $69.1M
7 Chiefs 8 $62.4M
8 Bears 7 $60.0M
9 Buccaneers 7 $50.4M
10 Lions 3 $49.0M
Source: ESPN's John Clayton

That approach helps explain why the Rams rank sixth among NFL teams in contractual commitments for unrestricted free agents signed from other teams this offseason despite landing just two of them in Jake Long and Jared Cook.

Maximum potential contract value can be misleading, but in general, the more aggressive teams will commit larger total dollar values toward free agents. As the chart shows, St. Louis ranks relatively high in total dollar values despite signing fewer UFAs than any other team ranked among the top 10.

ESPN.com's John Clayton takes a closer look in his column Sunday. While the Rams focused their UFA resources narrowly, the Arizona Cardinals added a long list of players at relatively low cost. Clayton liked the approach from a value standpoint.

"Three winners emerged from the post-frenzy shopping market -- Arizona, Chicago and Tennessee," Clayton writes. "Based on playing time from last year, I'd give the Cardinals the slight edge from the post-March 17 market."

The chart below, updated from the version published here March 27, lists playing time and contract information for all the UFA players Arizona has signed or re-signed this offseason.

Note: I added Karlos Dansby to the chart below. Most of the additions were unrestricted free agents. Dansby was not. The Miami Dolphins released him.

2013 Arizona Cardinals Key Signings and Re-Signings Through May 19
Player Pos. Average Per Year 2013 Cap 2012 Playing Time
Yeremiah Bell S $905,000 $620,000 99.2%
Karlos Dansby LB $2,250,000 $2,250,000 98.0%
Antoine Cason CB $1,500,000 $1,500,000 96.7%
Jerraud Powers CB $3,500,000 $2,000,000 85.3%
Chilo Rachal G $715,000 $555,000 79.4%
Jasper Brinkley LB $1,750,000 $1,300,000 74.8%
Matt Shaughnessy DL $1,000,000 $1,000,000 65.1%
Frostee Rucker DL $905,000 $620,000 50.8%
Lorenzo Alexander LB $1,540,000 $1,165,000 27.7%
Rashad Johnson S $2,500,000 $1,133,333 15.0%
Rashard Mendenhall RB $2,500,000 $2,500,000 10.2%
Jonathon Amaya S $630,000 $630,000 0.4%
Drew Stanton QB $2,733,333 $1,666,666 0.0%
Totals All $1,725,256* $16,939,999* --
* Average for known APY, sum for known 2013 cap charges]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 22:04:08 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359349,359349#msg-359349 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359349,359349#msg-359349
Watching his highlights, he does the same things as Amendola however, he much flashier. He makes the one had grabs, runs well in track, shifty, but, out runs his competition.
[www.youtube.com]]]> OhioRam Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 05:42:44 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359346,359346#msg-359346 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359346,359346#msg-359346By Gregg Rosenthal
Around The League Editor
Published: May 20, 2013 at 02:48 p.m. Updated: May 20, 2013 at 03:15 p.m

The NFL's effort to change its offseason calendar is starting to make some progress.

NFL.com's Albert Breer reported Monday that the NFL and NFL Players Association are working toward a deal to move the 2014 NFL Draft to May. It likely would start as a one-year trial before deciding if the May move makes sense. NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that the likely target start date for the 2014 draft is May 15.

Pushing the draft back to May is something Breer reported weeks ago. But it's probably happening in 2014 because of a scheduling snafu. The Radio City Rockettes show "The Spring Spectacular" is scheduled to be held at Radio City Music Hall in late April, when the draft usually is held.

"We're actually getting bumped by the Easter Bunny. They're going to have an Easter show. We'll be prepared for that," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell previously said on "The Rich Eisen Podcast."

Rapoport reported that everything else on the NFL calendar probably would stay the same in 2014 at this stage. No other league calendar changes are yet agreed upon or imminent.

"None of that has been decided," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Around The League in an email Monday.

The league also has considered moving the date of the NFL Scouting Combine and the start of the league year.

Breer reported that Goodell and NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith still have not met to have serious discussions on moving the draft. Breer pointed out, though, that NFL can move events like the draft without union approval, but it cannot change the start of the league year.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.


[www.nfl.com] ... aft-to-may


Essentially the NFL wants to have the Combine in March, Free Agency start in April, and the Draft in May.

My thoughts? Draft all the way in May? And likely the end of May? I don't like it, too much time away from football]]> OhioRam Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 06:45:21 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359336,359336#msg-359336 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359336,359336#msg-35933605....8 2nd best
06...13 best year
07....5--only 12 games
08....7--only 12 games
09....4
010..6
011...5
012...4

56 Tds in 9 seasons]]> OhioRam Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 05:28:05 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359325,359325#msg-359325 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359325,359325#msg-359325
From the Bleacherreport
Former BYU offensive tackle Braden Brown was converted from tight end halfway through his 2009 season. He wound up starting all 13 games that season and 38 consecutive games thereafter.

Even though he was a right tackle while at BYU, most of his protection was on the blind side of left-handed quarterback Riley Nelson.

Brown has the athleticism and size to continue on at the right tackle position at the next level but will need some development to break into a starting lineup.

Currently, he would be a great late-round addition to add depth or, possibly, for a rotation on the line.



Strengths

Brown has a very long and athletic frame which makes him ideal for fast pass-rushers coming off the edge. His size allows him to contain these defenders around the perimeter of the pocket.

Being a former tight end, Brown has nice lateral agility when asked to stay ahead of quick ball-carriers that are heading to the outside.

He is able to come off the snap and set himself quickly while keeping his feet moving in pass protection. Along with his nice punch when his arms are extended, it makes him a very formidable opponent for pass-rushers.

Weaknesses

Brown does not have enough natural power to drive defenders back on their heels on a consistent basis.

He has a tendency to lock his knees in pass protection which makes him an easy target to stand up and blow past. He needs to keep his arms extended more consistently as he uses his shoulders and chest to block with frequency.

Brown needs to improve as a run blocker. He does not make sound decisions when asked to block a defender in space and struggles to anticipate the movement of moving blocking assignments.

Tools

Brown stands at an impressive 6'5" and weighs 310 pounds. He adds a very athletic and lean frame to his build. This is a prototypical size for a tackle at the NFL level.

His 34" arms are a great length for a right tackle who will go up against faster defensive ends. His length will allow him to keep these pass-rushers outside of the pocket.



Intangibles/Character

Like many BYU prospects, Brown comes in to the NFL with a great deal of maturity.

He spent a year on a mission to Ecuador to help build a school and irrigation system. While he was there, he taught the younger villagers how to play football.



System

During his collegiate career, Brown spent most of his snaps protecting out of the spread offense in shotgun formation.

He did not see many snaps in a traditional, pro-style offense with the quarterback under center. This will be something that he must be helped along with by position coaches at the next level.

Pass-Blocking

Brown's strongest suit is in pass protection. His length and athleticism make him an ideal candidate for the tackle position in the NFL.

While he needs to work on his technique, Brown can certainly develop into a starter at the next level based solely upon how well he has picked up the nuances of this position over the past few seasons.



Run-Blocking

This is the area in which Brown needs to improve. He needs to build upper-body strength to be able to push defenders back off the line of scrimmage.

He does not have great instincts when it comes to run-blocking and sometimes will miss his assignment entirely.



Blocking in Space

Yet another aspect that Brown must improve upon to be successful at the next level.

He does a nice job with his quickness and lateral movement to get to the outside and block for quicker running backs. However, when he is asked to block at the second level, he does not anticipate defender movement well and has trouble picking up his assignment.



Technique

Brown does some nice things with his technique on the offensive line. He generally keeps a nice pad level and has a great punch when he gets his arms extended. He does not overextend and has patience to sit back and punch at a defender to keep the pocket from collapsing.

However, he does not do any of these things on a consistent basis. These are things he must work on with position coaches in the NFL to shore up his ability to be continuously effective.



Future Role

Brown should catch on to a team late in this year's draft. If, for some reason, he is not drafted, he should be able to find a team in free agency.

He does have a nice chance to make a final roster or end up on a practice squad based on his high ceiling.

He will not start any time soon in the NFL, but with the right amount of coaching, he could become a starter in the future.]]> Ramdom Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 03:05:47 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359315,359315#msg-359315 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359315,359315#msg-359315Poll: Red Zone TD ranking . . .

Im assuming that Im not the only one who has been furious at our execution in the red zone over the past few years . .

So let's look at what we've done. We were around the 19-23 mark in the NFL last year If Im not mistaken, scoring a TD about half the time.

My question is where we think we will rank this year.

We have lost SJ. We have lost DA and Gibson. That is what we've lost.


We have our goal line back in Stacy at 216. We have replaced DA and Gibson with Austin and Bailey, both notorious for their ability to get into painted field.

We have added Jake Long for 3rd and goal from the one and protection for Sam for 3rd and goal from the 8 so that he has a split second more time to find a wiggly receiver.

We have added Cook, who is a threat on slants, stops, and fades.

We have developed Quick.


Now, personally I dont see Givens on the field in the red zone. His speed and big play threat is not available and his ability to beat coverage is not what Bailey's is. Bailey also has skilled ball control and can catch while being messed with.

Austin is arguably the biggest threat because he can go from covered to open in one step.


So . . now that we are able to run and pass from multiple sets with really capable players . . . . where do we rank in the NFL?]]> alyoshamucci Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 04:46:52 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359312,359312#msg-359312 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359312,359312#msg-359312
By Tevin Broner on May 17 2013, 2:01p



I'm knocking on the door baby - USA TODAY Sports


You don't have to be a 1st rounder to develop in the pros.



When Jeff Fisher came to town, he knew the first thing he had to fix was the defensive back situation. The St. Louis Rams lost a mind-boggling 10 defensive backs to injury. The Rams made three major acquisitions in the defensive backfield: Cortland Finnegan, Janoris Jenkins, and Trumaine Johnson.

Johnson was a surprising rookie corner from Montana for the St. Louis Rams last season. He was drafted last year in the 3rd round to help provide depth. Honestly, there was a lot of discussion about how the Rams would use Johnson, some scouting reports said that he would be a better safety than a corner back, but Jeff Fisher decided early on that Johnson would stay at corner.



More than likely the main reason that Fisher wanted Johnson to stay at corner was because former starter Bradley Fletcher was an injury waiting to happen. Fisher could depend on the current safeties - Craig Dahl and Quintin Mikell - to hold down the fort.

\

Last season, Johnson had a pretty :!: good season for a player who only played 366 snaps. he posted 8 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, and 31 tackles (29 tackles were solo).

Let's let PFF compare two players. Janoris Jenkins finished the season with 982 snaps, -7.9 total overall, and had a -11 pass coverage grade. Johnson finished with a 6.9 total overall, and his pass coverage grade was 4.1. It's important to remember a couple of things. Jenkins played off of receivers a lot and got beaten underneath. He's also a gambler.



Johnson "beat out" (Fisher probably wanted the snaps to go toward the future) Bradley Fletcher during the second half of the season. Johnson's role will be the same as last year, but with the departure of Fletcher he should see his snap count double. He's a bigger corner (6'1) and will be more equip to deal with the bigger receivers. He will be the outside corner when Finnegan plays nickel corner and replace Jenkins if he's hurt.

It's impossible to predict stats, but Johnson should easily be more productive this season, and that could mean bad news for Larry Fitzgerald week one.
[www.turfshowtimes.com] ... ne-johnson]]> Rams43 Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 19:16:25 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359310,359310#msg-359310 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359310,359310#msg-359310Poll: Which player will score most TD's in '13?

This is a very tough call for me.

We're not even sure which RB will get the most carries, although Stacy seems to be a fine goal line RB.

Can Bailey beat out Quick? If so, he sure has proven he knows how to find the end zone.

Or will the tall Quick fulfill his promise? He sure would make a fine red zone target, wouldn't he?

Perhaps Cook will become Sam's favorite RZ target? He certainly has the speed and height advantage over almost any defender. Is he Sam's new RZ "freak"?

Then there's Givens. He had a fine rookie year, showing scary speed. He picked up route running nicely which gave him separation. Sam threw in his direction frequently. And this year, Givens will likely get less attention from the D due to the addition of other new talent which will also require attention from opposing D's.

I guess I'm gonna give a slight edge to Givens.]]> Rams43 Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 18:54:15 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359308,359308#msg-359308 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359308,359308#msg-359308
[howardbalzer.lockerdome.com]#]]> CROMWELL21 Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 06:37:49 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359287,359287#msg-359287 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359287,359287#msg-359287Rams News Items From May 19

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

Former Rams WR Eric Crouch Looks Back on Brief NFL Effort –PD
Eric Crouch has no doubt he could have been an All-Pro receiver in the National Football League. But he never gave himself that opportunity.
Following a record-setting career as quarterback at the University of Nebraska that included the 2001 Heisman Trophy, Crouch was drafted by the Rams in the third round (95th overall) of the 2002 NFL draft.

Evan Silva Tweets on Rams WR’s Brian Quick and Chris Givens
What do you think of the prospects of Brian Quick for 2013? … Like him. Think he leads STL in receiving TDs.

Rams QB Sam Bradford Discussion from Pro Football Sunday –Radio Interview

Top 20 Games of 2012: #18: Rams at 49ers Week 10 –NFL.com
Tie goes to the … nobody. Well, that’s what we’ve been led to believe, at least when it comes to pro football. No one wins and we all go closure-less. Not exactly. When the St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers played to a stalemate last November, we got one heckuva football game, complete with hard hitting, clutch defense and two successful fake punts.

Going Inside Football’s Most Exciting Play: 2nd and 1 –D’Marco Farr
When I’m watching NFL games, every time I see an offense gain nine yards on first down I get as giddy as a school girl with a new iphone. Not because of the production of the play, but rather the possibilities the next play will bring.

Up And Comers: Rams CB Trumaine Johnson –TST
When Jeff Fisher came to town, he knew the first thing he had to fix was the defensive back situation. The St. Louis Rams lost a mind-boggling 10 defensive backs to injury. The Rams made three major acquisitions in the defensive backfield: Cortland Finnegan, Janoris Jenkins, and Trumaine Johnson.

Rams OG Harvey Dahl Healthy and Ready to Go –Radio Interview

Merlin Olsen and Rosey Grier Among Best Defensive Tackle Combos Ever –Pompei
Merlin Olsen and Rosey Grier, Rams, 1963-66. They were the guts of the Fearsome Foursome, which also included Deacon Jones and Lamar Lundy. That may have been the greatest defensive line in history.]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 08:15:09 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359285,359285#msg-359285 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359285,359285#msg-359285Eric Crouch looks back on brief NFL effort
• By Joe Lyons

[www.stltoday.com]

Eric Crouch has no doubt he could have been an All-Pro receiver in the National Football League. But he never gave himself that opportunity.

Following a record-setting career as quarterback at the University of Nebraska that included the 2001 Heisman Trophy, Crouch was drafted by the Rams in the third round (95th overall) of the 2002 NFL draft.

Convinced that Crouch, who stood 5 feet 11¾ and 195 pounds, was too short and lacked the arm strength to play quarterback in the NFL, Rams coach Mike Martz drafted the talented triple-option quarterback as a receiver.

But the Crouch experiment never got off the ground.

A hamstring injury and shin splints limited Crouch’s offseason training. He entered training camp at less than 100 percent physically and, after catching two passes for 30 yards in the preseason opener against Jeff Fisher’s Tennessee Titans, Crouch suffered a late-game thigh injury that lingered through the preseason.

Then, just two days before the Rams were to open the season, a frustrated Crouch announced that he no longer intended to play football. On Sept. 11, 2002, he made it official.

“I was 23, engaged to be married and trying to adjust to a new city, a new team, a new level of football and a new position,’’ Crouch, now 34, said last week via phone from the NFL’s Sports Journalism and Communication Boot Camp at Bowling Green State University. “And then there were the injuries that kept me from performing at the level I was used to. Everything seemed to be stacked against me.’’

Crouch continued: “Looking back now, I should’ve used my rookie year as a learning experience. I was in an ideal situation for a young receiver, working with Mike Martz alongside guys like Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Ricky Proehl.

“But I was never passionate about being a receiver.’’

‘I misled’ Mike Martz

Crouch made his name as an option quarterback at Nebraska.

After starting one game as a redshirt freshman, he took over three games into the next season and went on to a brilliant career that included 3,434 yards and 59 touchdowns on the ground and 4,481 yards and 29 touchdowns through the air.

“I guess I was born too early,’’ Crouch kidded. “With all the talk about the read-option these days, I’d be the perfect fit for a lot of NFL teams.’’

But that was not the case in 2002. In fact, even Jim Steiner, Crouch’s agent, tried to convince him that shifting to receiver was his ticket to the NFL.

“I remember him telling me to get my foot in the door (by playing receiver) and to see how things went from there.’’ Crouch said.

So Crouch went along, saying all the right things in his pre-draft meetings with NFL teams. But he never gave up on his dream of playing quarterback.

“There’s no other position in sports like it,’’ he said. “I like calling the plays, I like having my teammates look to me in the huddle to find out what we’re going to do next and I love the pressure that goes along with that.

“I tried to convince myself that I could become a receiver, but playing quarterback has always been my passion. I misled Mike Martz and the rest of the NFL, and that’s something I regret.’’

A couple of years ago, when Martz was with the 49ers, Crouch tried to reach out to his former coach to apologize.

“I left a voicemail and never heard back,’’ Crouch said. “I don’t even know if the message got to him and I don’t blame him if he decided not to respond. Coach Martz believed in me and I let him down. I made him and the Rams look bad and that was not my intention at all.’’

Post-Dispatch football writer Jim Thomas recently compiled a list of the best and worst 50 draft picks in Rams history. Crouch ended up No. 4 on the worst list behind running back Lawrence Phillips and offensive linemen Jason Smith and Jesse James.

Other top-50 notables from the Rams’ 2002 draft class were offensive lineman Travis Scott at No. 6, linebacker Robert Thomas at No. 14, quarterback-turned-safety Steve Bellisari at No. 22 and running back Lamar Gordon at No. 28.

Crouch, who never played a down in the NFL, tried to make it as a quarterback and safety with the Green Bay Packers in 2004 and was signed in 2005 by Kansas City. He played in five games as a defensive back in NFL Europe before the Chiefs released him.

Crouch spent 2006 and 2007 with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and was set to play with Team Texas of the All-American Football League when that league folded before its debut season in 2007.

As recently as 2011, Crouch was still pursuing his dream. Playing indoors with the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League, he hurt his knee in the fourth quarter of the season opener and decided to call it quits.

“As a pro, I could never stay healthy,’’ said Crouch, who had 11 football-related operations.

Life’s next chapter

Crouch lives in suburban Omaha with wife Nicole and a daughter, Lexie, 13, and a son, Carsen, 9. He helps run Crouch Recreation, a company that sells playground equipment, and is working toward a career in broadcasting.

That is what led him to the NFL Boot Camp in Ohio, where he and 22 other participants spent four days studying and working on their craft. The program included covering a Toledo Mud Hens baseball game.

“I’ve learned a lot, from the instructors and from the other guys in the program,’’ Crouch said. “It’s a chance to work on my writing skills and to also help me do a better job in forming opinions. I did about 12 games last year for Fox Sports and I’m hoping to expand on that. Like football, it’s a very competitive field and that’s why I’m thankful to the NFL for this chance to learn and hopefully improve. I’d like to try everything, from studio work to commentary to play-by-play.

“I love football, always have and always will, and I’m excited about the chance to stay connected with the game. I really feel like my life experience gives me a perspective that’s unique and hopefully that’s something I can work to my advantage in broadcasting.’’]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 20:58:48 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359284,359284#msg-359284 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359284,359284#msg-359284Evan Silva ‏@evansilva

What do you think of the prospects of Brian Quick for 2013? ... Like him. Think he leads STL in receiving TDs.

Regarding your Brian Quick take, where does that put Chris Givens in #Rams WR corps? ... He'll be the vertical wideout.

Who would you say are the best two divisions in football? ... NFC West & NFC North. AFC North & NFC South will be tough, too.]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 19:57:29 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359276,359276#msg-359276 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359276,359276#msg-359276
As pointed out by Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune, defensive end Bruce Irvin has become the sixth Seahawks player to test positive for performance enhancing drugs since 2011.

The others are cornerback Brandon Browner, safety Winston Guy, offensive lineman John Moffitt, offensive lineman Allen Barbre, and cornerback Richard Sherman.

Sherman’s suspension was overturned on appeal, based on irregularities with the sample-collection process. Officially, then, he tested positive but the league determined that he did not violate the PED policy.

Irvin’s suspension also proves that, no matter how good a team looks on paper in May, plenty of things can happen to derail what appears to be a certain Super Bowl run.

[profootballtalk.nbcsports.com] ... ince-2011/]]> OhioRam Ramsrule.com Football ForumTue, 21 May 2013 06:06:30 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359263,359263#msg-359263 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359263,359263#msg-359263 rfip the second Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 17:24:14 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359222,359222#msg-359222 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359222,359222#msg-359222 peter c Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 15:09:59 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359210,359210#msg-359210 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359210,359210#msg-359210Listen to Harvey Dahl Interview

==========

Notes from the Harvey Dahl Interview

**Healthy and ready to go…fully cleared for OTA’s

** Feels great…the best I ever have.

** We’ve got a bunch of professionals on the O-line who know what it takes to win.

**NFC West is tough….we did well in the division last year, so I don’t think anyone in the division will take us lightly…we’re ready for it.

** What Paul Boudreau brings as a coach? I’ve been with him both in Atlanta and here. He knows how to press your buttons and knows how to get the most out of his guys….he’s very clear on technique and what he wants done on every play. You have to be a little thick skinned. If you play hard and get after people…you’re doing the right thing.

** Loves running power, then complimenting it with zone…especially on the backside.

**Favorite O-line play? Pulling guard on power…getting a big hit on a LB…every O-linemen loves smash mouth.

**Softli says that Dahl is the tone-setter for the Rams O-Line.

=========



@St. Louis Rams (Wagoner)
Thanks to Rams guard Harvey Dahl for serving as the Honorary Chair at the Life Skills Walk Run 'n Roll today]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 00:14:33 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359204,359204#msg-359204 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359204,359204#msg-359204soundcloud.com]]]> laram Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 03:46:45 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359196,359196#msg-359196 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359196,359196#msg-359196But I am calling him a good starting NFL QB who has the tools and the intangibles to become elite or close to it.

1) He has the size and the arm.
2) He has the accuracy.
3) He has a cool, calm demeanor and exhibits patience.
4) His teammates love him and think the world of him.
5) Tough as nails.
6) Smart. Mature.
7) He stands big in the pocket.
8) He makes good decisions with the football.
9) He has good athleticism.
10) He's careful with the ball.
11) He's only 25 years old.

What I'd like to see:

1) More daring and taking the longer shots and not always the checkdowns.
2) A bit better movement in the pocket.
3) A bit more take charge, "it's my team" attitude


But anyone who has played ball knows that if every single year you have a new coach and new system, it really slows your development because you have to be more mechanical and you think every move through. So it's going to help to play 2 years under the same system and coach.

I don't think there's a better judge of a passing game as a color commentator than Mike Martz. And he echoes the same sentiments as Faulk, Aikman, and just about everyone else who has watched the Rams. You can't throw to air. Somebody has to get open. And when you have WRs that can't, and who also don't consistently catch the ball, you can't have an efficient or effective passing game. The Rams have just not had any WRs that could be any better than another teams #3 WR, for a long time. And DA notwithstanding, he was not a home run threat. He was more of a chain mover who could be doubled because no one else scared anybody.

Therefore with this new batch of WRs, I would expect that after some getting to know each other in a few games, we'll see some good things start to come of it.

Add to that the potentially best, most experience oline that they have had in some time, the ingredients are there.

Is Bradford a transcendent talent? No.
Can he be a top 5 or 6 QB in this league? Yes. But as with all QBs that achieve that high of a ranking you have to have system stability, a system that matches your skill set, and good players around you.]]> RockRam Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 04:03:15 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359187,359187#msg-359187 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359187,359187#msg-359187am back now.I went with players like Holt and Jackson in the past and talk my brother
into picking up Givins in a few games last year.
Along with bradford i will be looking to take Givins or Austin also.]]> OhioRam Ramsrule.com Football ForumMon, 20 May 2013 02:41:44 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359184,359184#msg-359184 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359184,359184#msg-359184

- With the 2013 NFL Draft finished and the scouting department looking ahead to next year, the Rams announced some major re-shuffling and changes in their scouting department on Thursday afternoon.

Below is the release from the team with all of the changes:



ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Rams have added six new members to the team’s personnel department, and two additional personnel executives have been promoted, General Manager Les Snead announced Thursday.

“Our Player Personnel department has done an outstanding job teaming with our coaching and football operations staffs the past two player acquisition periods in 2012 and 2013, including unrestricted free agency, the draft and with waiver wire claims,” Snead said. “These promotions and additions will make us even stronger going forward as we finish our task of building a consistent winner in a rapid and tenacious manner.”


Taylor Morton, who spent last season as the team’s Director of College Scouting, was promoted to Director of Player Personnel. Morton joined the Rams in May of 2012. With extensive experience in both pro and college scouting, Morton spent 12 seasons as an area scout with the Atlanta Falcons responsible for both the southwest and southeast regions. Prior to becoming a college scout, Morton served in pro personnel as an advance scout for the Falcons’ opponents. Also, Morton has coaching experience after coaching eight years in the college ranks with stints at Auburn University, Hinds and Pearl River community colleges in Mississippi.


Brad Holmes will serve as the new Rams’ Director of College Scouting. Holmes joined the Rams’ personnel department in 2004. He served as the National Combine Scout, covering the Midwest area. He worked as an area scout responsible for the Southeast region for six seasons before Snead promoted him to national scout in 2012.

In addition, Snead has hired Ted Monago as a national scout. Monago joins the Rams after spending the last 12 years in the Chicago Bears personnel department. From 2001-2012, Monago served as an area scout for the Bears before being named as an executive scout in 2012 and was responsible for the Southeast conference. Prior to working in Chicago, he worked as an assistant coach at Williams & Mary, where he was responsible for outside linebackers and special teams.

The Rams have also added scouts Danton Barto, George Foster and John Zernhelt, and Snead hired Brian Hill as a scouting assistant and Barrett Trotter as football operations/scouting assistant.

Barto, Foster and Hill recently completed internships with the Rams before their promotions. Barto, who played at the University of Memphis and in the Arena and Canadian Football Leagues, is a former head coach in the Arena League.

Foster was a first round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2003 and played six NFL seasons with the Broncos and Detroit Lions. He also spent time with Cleveland and Indianapolis during his playing career.

Zernhelt has spent the last 36 seasons in coaching at both the professional and college levels. He coached tight ends with the Tennessee Titans from 2006-12, and he was the head coach at The Citadel in 2004.

Hill coached at Baldwin-Wallace College in Ohio as a student and graduated in 2011. He held various football operations and scouting positions with the Browns, Chiefs and Titans prior to joining the Rams.

Trotter played quarterback at Auburn University and attended the Rams’ rookie minicamp in 2012 as an invited tryout player. Most recently, he worked as a graduate assistant at Arkansas State University.]]> OhioRam Ramsrule.com Football ForumSun, 19 May 2013 19:37:45 +0200 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359165,359165#msg-359165 http://www.ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?5,359165,359165#msg-359165
By Dan Pompei

[www.nationalfootballpost.com]

Best Defensive Tackle Combos Ever

Nick Fairley started a bit of a firestorm last week by saying he and Ndamukong Suh are the best defensive tackle pair in the NFL. Rather than looking at the best DT combos in the league, I looked at the best DT combos in league history. Fairley and Suh may be the best today, but they have a long way to go before they are listed with these duos. Here, in the order in which they played, are my Sunday best defensive tackle combinations. Do you think I miss any?

Artie Donovan and Big Daddy Lipscomb, Colts, 1956-60. The Colts won two NFL championships in the five years these two played together. Of course it also helped that Gino Marchetti was on the line. They were a force against the run and pass, and they also were two colorful characters.

Alex Karras and Roger Brown, Lions, 1960-66 (except for 1963, when Karras was suspended). Neither one of these players is in the Hall of Fame. But both could be and may eventually be. With Karras’ great quickness off the ball and Brown’s brute strength, they were a devastating pair. They may have complemented each other as well as any defensive tackle duo in history.

Merlin Olsen and Rosey Grier, Rams, 1963-66. They were the guts of the Fearsome Foursome, which also included Deacon Jones and Lamar Lundy. That may have been the greatest defensive line in history. Later, Roger Brown took Grier’s spot. Grier might have played his best football with the Giants before being traded to the Rams. Whoever was playing next to Olsen should have looked good.

Bob Lilly and Jethro Pugh, Cowboys, 1966-74. Of course Lilly is one of the all-timers at defensive tackle. Pugh, who never played in a Pro Bowl, may be one of the most underrated interior defensive linemen in history. He was a fine pass rusher from the tackle position, as he took advantage of attention paid to Lilly and used his athleticism and speed to defeat one-on-one blocks. Pugh later teamed with Randy White for a short period of time.

Buck Buchanan and Curly Culp, Chiefs, 1968-74. This is the only pair in which both players are hall of famers. They were a fine complement, as Buchanan was agile and athletic, and Culp could be the immovable object. Of course, he also had outstanding quickness. Both were listed as defensive tackles, but at times they were aligned in what was probably the first true 3-4 defense, with Culp at nose tackle.

Mean Joe Greene and Ernie Holmes, Steelers, 1971-77. Given the talent around him on the Steel Curtain defenses, Holmes didn’t get a lot of accolades. But people who knew the game knew he was a fine complement to the great Mean Joe. Given Holmes’ wild streak, he and Greene may have been the most intimidating pair of defensive tackles in history.

Alan Page and Gary Larsen, Vikings, 1967-74. Between them, they made it to 11 Pro Bowls and four Super Bowls as members of the famed Purple People Eaters. Page was the play maker, while Larsen did the dirty work. This pair was enhanced by two great defensive ends in Carl Eller and Jim Marshall.

Dan Hampton and Steve McMichael, 1981-90. They were the heart of what may have been the best defense in modern history. I can still see them there staring down the offense, hands on hips, steam blowing out from their facemasks. Hampton drew double teams and still wreaked havoc. McMichael made plays with surprising quickness and craftiness. Between them, they had 152 sacks (95 by the very underrated McMichael). They broke up as many saloons as they did offenses.

John Randle and Henry Thomas, Vikings, 1990-94. Both players were exceptionally quick and explosive. They made a lot of plays in the backfield, and when they weren’t making plays themselves, Randle and Thomas were helping teammates make plays.]]> RamBill Ramsrule.com Football ForumSun, 19 May 2013 22:44:23 +0200