Posts

Pupped · Dec 5, 2023

Merlin said:
Agreed. Defining the term bust is something we all probably differ on but for myself a second round pick should be a good starter. Kind of guy who routinely executes. Anything less isn't good enough in terms of was the pick a success.

First round you see teams come away with average starters at times, which is not the worst thing, but that round the goal is difference makers. Guys who flip the field. They say first round picks bust at just under 50 percent. But I wonder what the hit rate is on difference makers. Maybe 35%? Maybe less idk.

I liked the way someone else described recent second round picks… “underwhelming.”

“Busts” are clear busts to me. Guys who can’t play.

GoodBadUgly · Dec 5, 2023

Ramstien said:
Dude was playing lights out way over his head, but he can thank the Ravens for playing tons of zone coverage, which made things much easier for him.

It was the Jags (not Ravens), but yes I could not believe how easy they made it for him. He could literally do whatever he wanted on offense. The let the Bengals run, AND throw short/mid/long. I saw packs of Jags covering 15 yards of turf with nobody around, while 2 WRs would run to open spaces.

It was really weird.

Merlin · Dec 5, 2023

I'd like to see Daniels win it because his yards in air are impressive. He didn't pad his stats as much as the others underneath.

dieterbrock · Dec 5, 2023

As much as I'd like to see kids stay in school and get their degrees, I also believe that if you're a QB projected to get drafted in Day 1 or 2, you should go pro.
The NIL money is surely attractive, but I think the risk far outweighs the reward. Nowadays it seems like a player's prospect can only go down the longer he stays.
In the case of Ewers, between his history of being injury prone and the spector of Arch Manning looming large at UT he could find himself missing a lot of playing time and that could crush his draft stock.
Caleb Williams will still likely go #1 overall but it's not nearly as clear as it would have been had he been allowed to enter the draft in 2023

Loyal · Dec 5, 2023

Elmgrovegnome said:
Yes. I thought it was his neck though. Getting hooked around the neck is clear and blatant holding, but it was allowed to go on and nearly ended Quinn’s career.

What really bothers me about allowing blatant holds on AD, is it could have prevented him from getting a fourth DMVP award. That would clearly make him the GOAT of defense.

I believe AD is the greatest defensive player to ever wear horns. He might be in the conversation for the best ever in NFL history if the NFL called holding penalties (as they should). It's due to his very greatness that referees are ignoring these egregious penalties for whatever reason. The NFL press and public overvalues the Sack and the uncalled holding penalties prevent AD from being recognized as the greatest ever. I wish there was a way to measure how many uncalled holding penalties against him. He should have at least one more DPOY and his sack stats would be near the very top of the list. I don't think the sack is the single greatest measure of pass rusher greatness, but the rest of the World does.

We need a large bronze statue in front of SoFi of him pointing to his ring finger with an inscription, "The Greatest Ever."

Steve808 · Dec 5, 2023

What I don't understand is PI to begin with. Sometimes no contact draws a flag. Sometimes a mugging doesn't draw a flag.

I see wider receivers mug defenders on badly thrown passes which is almost never called but an underthrown or overthrown pass often gets called even with little contact.

Pupped · Dec 4, 2023

Yeah.. it was a fun listen.

Nate & Robert are very impressed with what the organization did this season.

OldSchool · Dec 4, 2023

Plus the kid has some skills

OntarioRam · Dec 4, 2023

Kupp just looks a little slower to me. He lacks that burst off the line, winning his route almost immediately with split second quicknes in tight space. He didn't look slow in his fist few games this year and was putting up great numbers then. I think it is obvious he has aggravated something and is struggling to play through it, at least to some degree. The dude is a warrior. I suspect he will come up huge when the Rams need him most, gimpy and all. In the meantime, good thing the Rams found Puka, who honestly looks like Kupp in many ways, despite being a different type of receiver.

Mackeyser · Dec 4, 2023

There’s apparently a huge issue with people being permanently suspended from PlayStation Network.

I was just watching YouTube and was suspended from PSN so the PS5 is essentially a brick until this gets resolved

If anyone has this issue, take heart, you’re not alone.

Reddit has a pretty long deal on it and I’m sure we’ll hear something soon… crosses fingers

OldSchool · Dec 4, 2023

Riverumbbq said:
Agree on Alt, but should the Rams be drafting in the middle of the first round, I just don't see a snowballs chance in hell that we can get him, ... although offering both our 2024 & 2025 top picks may get us closer.
I'm now leaning more towards DT Jer'Zhan Newton in the 1st and LT Patrick Paul with our 2'nd. jmo.

Agreed on where we likely draft he's there or not. Also Newton should go before where we're set to draft now. I'd trade back a little bit take Paul late 1st and add in a pick personally.

Selassie I · Dec 4, 2023

WarnerToBruce said:
Because I like tinkering, I found solution to the YouTube TV screenshot issues.

Here is the image of our beloved Ram giver of home wins:

View attachment 62614

SWA has the AD jersey on... he has his back to us in that pic.

Memento · Dec 4, 2023

In the running? He should win it, no doubt.

This team was not expected to be as good as it is right now. We were hearing 4-13 by some analysts. I picked 5-12. But even with the few faults, he's done well in supplementing his team with players that are playing pivotal roles (Akhello Witherspoon and Kevin Dotson, mostly, but Freeman, Robinson, and JJ3.

And the draft has been beyond any of our wildest expectations. Puka Nacua, Avila, The Conductor, Agent Zero, and Ethan Evans are home run picks. Desjuan Johnson, Davis Allen, and even Tre Hodges-Tomlinson have stepped in, mostly on special teams. Alex Ward has been a home run as a long-snapper. There have been Zach Evans, Ochaun Mathis, and even Jason Taylor II sightings (and I still believe in Hampton and McClendon, even though they haven't played).

Yes, Bennett hasn't played, but that couldn't have been foreseen. The only fault I have is the kicking situation, and the backup quarterback situation. Otherwise, Snead's done a masterful job.

Riverumbbq · Dec 4, 2023

PFF Grades: Alaric Jackson played pivotal role in LA’s third-straight win

Rookie Puka Nacua earned an “elite” grade for his performance versus Browns

www.turfshowtimes.com

PFF Grades: Alaric Jackson played pivotal role in LA’s third-straight win

Rookie Puka Nacua earned an “elite” grade for his performance versus Browns
By JB Scott Dec 4, 2023, 12:26pm CST

Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Rams are roaring back into the NFC playoff picture after blowing out the Cleveland Browns and moving back to .500. LA has now won three-straight games.
Who contributed the most on an individual level to keep the winning streak alive? Let’s take a look at the grades from Pro Football Focus (PFF):

Top five grades on offense:

1 - Puka Nacua, WR: 90.2

The rookie phenom broke the 1,000-yard mark on the season with an impressive 70-yard TD catch and run in the first quarter. He finished with four catches for 105 yards and added another 34 yards on the ground. It was yet another productive outing for Nacua, who now turns his sights to the NFL rookie receiving yardage record.

2 - Matthew Stafford, QB: 73.6

In his past two games, Stafford’s average depth of target (ADOT) had dipped down to around six yards. It was unclear whether this was a plan by the Rams to manage Stafford’s thumb injury or if this was a schematic pivot, but his ADOT ticked back upwards to 7.4 yards in this game. That again had an inverse and adverse impact on Stafford’s adjusted completion rate, which dropped to 70.6%. It’s worth keeping an eye on this mix moving forward, as it may be game plan specific.
All in all it was a positive outing for Stafford who finished with his most big-time throws in some time (3) and only had one turnover-worthy play. He completed 22 of 37 passes (60%) for 279 yards and three touchdown scores.

3 - Demarcus Robinson, WR: 73.2

Robinson has been more involved in the offense over the last two weeks, which seems to be coming at the expense of Tutu Atwell. LA has had the benefit of of salting away a fourth quarter lead, and it seems the plan is to substitute Robinson in for Atwell to give a bit more physicality in the run game. Robinson caught a touchdown pass at a critical moment in the game and finished with four receptions for 55 yards.

4 - Alaric Jackson, LT: 70.4

Jackson drew a difficult matchup in Myles Garrett no matter how limited Garrett may have been physical—he was rehabbing a shoulder injury leading up to the game. Jackson allowed only two pressures in pass protection. Rob Havenstein allowed a team-leading four for comparison.

5 - Cooper Kupp, WR: 65.8

While Kupp was largely ineffective in the passing game (he caught six passes for 39 yards and a score), he earned an impressive 77.7 run blocking grade. Even if Kupp is not producing at the level we expect from him through the air, it’s good that he’s still finding ways to contribute overall.

Other notes on offense:

One of the mainstays in terms of top five PFF grades on offensive is RG Kevin Dotson, but he had a rough outing in this game and finished with a 49.1 overall grade. He allowed two pressures in pass blocking but the struggles were mostly in run blocking. Rookie Steve Avila also had a disappointing game and had a 51.9 grade.

Top five grades on defense:

1 - Aaron Donald, DE: 84.8

Donald finished with a whopping eight pressures, tied for his most in a single game so far this season. He accomplished the same feat earlier this year against the Indianapolis Colts. Donald was consistently in the backfield and was the main disruptor of Joe Flacco while it was a relatively quiet pass rushing day for everyone else.

2 - Ernest Jones, MLB: 79.5

Jones had a very active date on defense and finished with a team-leading 15 total tackles according to the box score. PFF credited the linebacker with eight tackles and three assists. He forced four pressures on Flacco.

3 - John Johnson, DB: 72.6

The Browns targeted Johnson in coverage only a single time, and the veteran safety picked off Flacco and returned the ball deep into Cleveland territory to set up a game-clinching touchdown. It was sweet revenge against his former team that cut him two years into his big free agent contract, and Johnson has been coming on strong of late for LA.

4 - Kobie Turner, DT: 68.1

With four pressures, including two sacks (PFF does not credit “half sacks), Turner now has back-to-back games with multiple quarterback takedowns. The defensive tackle is now pushing to break Donald’s rookie sack record, which only signals that good things are in store for this promising individual.

5 - Keir Thomas, OLB: 67.0

Thomas played 15 snaps at outside linebacker. His playing time didn’t seem to come at the expense of Byron Young or Michael Hoecht, wo each played a similar number of reps—64 and 63, respectively.

Other notes on defense:

Russ Yeast had been a regular contributor on defense leading up to this game; however, veteran John Johnson has been emerging of late. Yeast played on 32 defensive snaps while Jordan Fuller and Johnson were on the field for every play (71 reps). Was this a game-specific plan or is Yeast potentially falling out of favor with respect to Johnson?

Elmgrovegnome · Dec 4, 2023

HX76 said:
Enjoyed this, tenacious little imp isn’t he? I bet the cheerleading dorises are all over him like a cheap suit!

Thanks. He is relentless. He never gets tired.

He has his share of girls chasing him but, he’s so dedicated to football and baseball that he says he never feels like he will have enough time to keep a girlfriend happy. So, he’s stayed single. I expect that will end eventually though.

I couldn’t be more proud of him. He works his butt off.

LARAMSinFeb. · Dec 4, 2023

I don't think I've ever seen anyone in sports with the intensity and energy of Nacua. That's got to be infectious af. That alone could take us to the SB.

oldnotdead · Dec 4, 2023

I hope they start giving fewer snaps to Skowronek and more to Robinson who is a better WR.

Bobby Brown made his presence felt when he was played as a one gap NT. That is true with all the DL. So why aren't they played that every snap?

DK continues to rack of penalties and be out run on double moves. His best plays are when he's used like an in the box SS. He simply isn't a boundary CB.

McVay's run game plan this week was very good and most of all he stuck to it. Two weeks in a row McVay stayed committed to the run. Hopefully next week Morris can contain the Raven's enough to allow McVay to continue to run Williams.

WestCoastRam · Dec 4, 2023

Merlin said:
I think Staley would be a better hire than Evero because nobody is going to touch Staley with a ten foot pole as head coach for a while. So hiring him you get a guy who is strong schematically in the Fangio scheme but who you don't have to worry about replacing if he kills it. And guys who get fired as HCs often kill it when they slot back to coordinator. Probably because it's so simplified in comparison they just get to work and deep dive that scheme.

But I'd be fine with Evero if McVay goes that route. One thing I don't think people realize is that McVay is very knowlegeable with that defensive side of the ball. He gets all in there to understand the rules so he can scheme against it. Everyone knows he wanted to run the Fangio system but he also wanted to know the rules by having a disciple in house so he could cook up shit to work vs it.

So whoever he hires on defense will almost surely be strong. I suspect this year though that he's going to need to promote from within. Because he has two position coaches who are killing it (Henderson and Pleasant). And Pleasant is the passing defense coordinator so he's integral to the back end that has kicked ass in spite of not too much pressure support. This means Morris takes one with him, and the other might leave too I'd expect if the DC job isn't offered.

Good points... I think we can probably start moving away from talking about the Fangio system though... so many guys (like Evero and Morris, now) have started to iterate from it that in a year or two it will evolve so much there will only be the bones of it.

Hell, apparently we two-gap our NT! Grrrrr.

Merlin · Dec 3, 2023

thirteen28 said:
Maybe, but we still had the lead and melted down against them. I consider the progress of our D to be pretty encouraging this year, but the 4th quarter of that game was definitely a big hiccup.

Fair enough. Just keep in mind the Steelers are not some shit team. They have an inconsistent offense but a very strong run game and that defense has them firmly in the playoff chase with a winning record. Losing to them how we did pissed me off but perspective kept me from getting too angry.

Now the Green Bay loss on the other hand... That one I was livid. That was a game we should have won, but our hubris with the backup spot did us in.

JimY53 · Dec 3, 2023

Most sacks by DT, rookie
1. A.Donald, '14 - 9.0
2. K. Turner, '23 -5.5
3. Sean Gilbert, '92, 5.0
4. Michael Brockers, '12, 4.0
Larry Brooks, '72, 4
*Bill Nelson, '71, 4
*Phil Olsen, '71, 4

*Nelson & Olsen 1st-yr players -'70 draft class

per Twitter

OldSchool · Dec 3, 2023

Post game menu is some kung pao chicken I made and Angels Envy to wash it down.

El Chapo Jr · Dec 3, 2023

Loyal said:
Did he get a TD?

Oh yeah

Merlin · Dec 3, 2023

For Michigan to draw Bama is rough. That's one tough 4 seed.

Texas vs Washington should be fun. Feel like either will lose to the winner of the Rose Bowl but you never know.

Memento · Dec 3, 2023

TORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly think 81 should be retired if 80 is. It just doesn't feel right.

Speaking of that, when are we going to have a Ring of Honor? Like a permanent banner, saluting all of the Rams, from Cleveland and Anaheim to St. Louis and LA?

Ramhusker · Dec 3, 2023

if Higbee misses time………..
….

Posts

Posts

PFF Grades: Alaric Jackson played pivotal role in LA’s third-straight win​

Top five grades on offense:​

1 - Puka Nacua, WR: 90.2​

2 - Matthew Stafford, QB: 73.6​

3 - Demarcus Robinson, WR: 73.2​

4 - Alaric Jackson, LT: 70.4​

5 - Cooper Kupp, WR: 65.8​

Other notes on offense:​

Top five grades on defense:​

1 - Aaron Donald, DE: 84.8​

2 - Ernest Jones, MLB: 79.5​

3 - John Johnson, DB: 72.6​

4 - Kobie Turner, DT: 68.1​

5 - Keir Thomas, OLB: 67.0​

Other notes on defense:​

PFF Grades: Alaric Jackson played pivotal role in LA’s third-straight win

Top five grades on offense:

1 - Puka Nacua, WR: 90.2

2 - Matthew Stafford, QB: 73.6

3 - Demarcus Robinson, WR: 73.2

4 - Alaric Jackson, LT: 70.4

5 - Cooper Kupp, WR: 65.8

Other notes on offense:

Top five grades on defense:

1 - Aaron Donald, DE: 84.8

2 - Ernest Jones, MLB: 79.5

3 - John Johnson, DB: 72.6

4 - Kobie Turner, DT: 68.1

5 - Keir Thomas, OLB: 67.0

Other notes on defense: