All DCs run the same shit in this league. It's about percentages and situational calls and how the DC elects to solve certain looks and opponents. Morris I think philosophically favors a cautious approach. It feels like his comfort zone. No idea what we're gonna get with Shula, but what we can assume is that the Rams will be all over league trends as per usual while he will call it the way his philosophy warrants and correct as he goes if necessary and as he learns.

One indicator we have is the recent offseason and draft that saw no real effort to upgrade ILB. This tells me our defense shouldn't change all that much in terms of the fronts and usage of safeties to pair with Jones. Given his background I was wondering if they would go get a good young backer for duo with Jones but that didn't happen. Now it could be because they had bigger fish to fry at Edge and DL. Almost surely it was that to some extent. But if ILB was a priority you could bet they would have found one, however the investment was at safety.

Our safety room looks significantly upgraded. Curl is a big upgrade first off, and will play in the pairing. Kinchens meanwhile was taken where I was thinking maybe they take a flyer on an ILB, and his ball skills suggest he's the other half of that pairing. But then you also have JJ returning as depth, as well as Yeast who now has some seasoning added. And you have Lake, who may be available to compete with the safety room if he gets bumped by the corners. Which bears watching, but either way I'd say the safety room is far and away our best room on defense. The deepest group and they also have upside.

So my guess (given the focus in upgrading safety) is we are going to see more quarters calls this year, by percentage, and they of course will come out of the other calls like cover 3. Also I expect we're going to see more blitzes and front end focus on manufacturing pressure. Which means philosophically that I expect Shula is going to be more aggressive as a gameday caller.

dang said:

Kittle was elite for about 3 years. Now he’s close to a JAG

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I hate defending a 49er but Kittle had one of his best seasons last year, and was 1st Team All Pro.

He's not Just-A-Guy. I wish he was. Hope he becomes one very soon ... but ... No.

AvengerRam said:

So…has this thread accomplished anything other than passing offseason time?

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You want accomplishments during this time? Silly boy.

Ramhusker said:

If he had top end speed, he would be RB1 in the entire league.

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He'd be right up there with Trung Candidate

10 Rams on the roster bubble ahead of training camp​

Training camp is a pivotal point of the offseason for every NFL team. Teams truly begin ramping up for the season and it's at this point you really begin to see players separate and prove themselves worthy of a larger role in the season ahead. Most of the depth chart for the Los Angeles Rams is pretty set, but some spots are left wide open to fight over throughout camp.

Here are my ten players on the Rams' roster who have to earn their spot in camp and aren't guaranteed to stick on the roster come the final 53-man roster cuts.

1. Tutu Atwell

I spoke about this last week, but Atwell shouldn't be a lock at all for the final roster. He had a leap in production in 2023, caused mainly by being on the field when Cooper Kupp was hurt. When Kupp returned, Atwell was replaced by Demarcus Robinson and averaged just 13 snaps a game over the last five weeks of the season (outside of the backup-led Week 18 game). Atwell's speed stands out versus the rest of the wide receiver room, but his lack of blocking and inability to play special teams lowers his value. With Jordan Whittington standing out and players like Tyler Johnson, Drake Stoops, and Sam Wiglusz vying for a spot, their ability to contribute in multiple phases of the game could give them the edge over Atwell.

2. Logan Bruss

A third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Bruss seemed like a lock to play at right guard as a rookie before a season-ending injury. The Rams (foolishly) tried to move him back to tackle, despite him not being an NFL tackle, and Bruss spent 2023 on the practice squad. Now with the Rams adding to their offensive line in the draft with Beaux Limmer and KT Leveston, both of whom can play guard, and Warren McClendon seemingly holding the edge for the backup right tackle spot, Bruss went from third-round pick to relative afterthought. He might spend yet another year on the practice squad, but the Rams should see if there is any trade interest first.

3. Russ Yeast

After the Rams signed John Johnson III, Yeast's future with the team feels uncertain. Only three safeties on the Rams have posted over 100 snaps over the last two seasons, and it feels like the Rams have their three in Johnson, Kinchens, and free-agent signee Kamren Curl. With reports that the team was trying to find spots for Yeast by trying him out at STAR, my doubts only grow. With 2023 seventh-round pick Jason Taylor II carving out a role on special teams last year, Yeast could find himself on the outside looking in.

4. Derion Kendrick

Kendrick has been benched multiple times in his career, and the Rams added Tre'Davious White and Darious Williams in the offseason. With Cobie Durant looking for a rebound 2024 season as the team's CB3 and the Rams already trying to find a different position for Kendrick, I'm not optimistic about his chances to make the final 53, barring an injury.

5. Zach Evans

The staff didn't trust Evans to do much of anything last year, even when Kyren Williams got hurt. After the Rams added Blake Corum and Boston Scott to the room, there's not a lot of hope that Evans deserves a spot in the room-especially with Ronnie Rivers being held in such high regard by the staff.

6. Larell Murchison

How the Rams handle the defensive line depth is worth monitoring, but Murchison hasn't been enough of a standout to feel like he has a spot. He's not produced much outside of the Rams' 2022 Christmas blowout of the Denver Broncos, and with the Rams adding both Braden Fiske and Tyler Davis in the draft, Murchison's spot is far from assured.

7. Ochaun Mathis

The Rams' pass rush room is suddenly stacked after adding Jared Verse and Brennan Jackson to this room. If the Rams still opt to keep five OLBs, Mathis will have to earn a spot, but his age and capital might put him behind Nick Hampton for that fifth spot.

8. Hunter Long

Acquired as part of the Jalen Ramsey trade, Hunter Long has done little to earn a spot on the roster since. With the Rams adding Colby Parkinson and their belief in second-year player Davis Allen, Long is seemingly the TE4. It helps that Tyler Higbee might open the season on the PUP list, making him the TE3, but it's a shaky position with plenty of young UDFAs looking to earn their spot over him.

9. A.J. Arcuri

Arcuri was selected with the second-to-last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, so it might not be fair to include him here, but he has a tough road ahead to make the roster. Alaric Jackson has the starting left tackle role held down and Joe Noteboom's contract will keep him as the primary LT backup. With Warren McClendon having the edge for the primary backup right tackle spot, Arcuri is already the fifth offensive tackle on the depth chart, depending on how the Rams feel about the aforementioned Logan Bruss.

10. UDFA pass rushers

I'm lumping Keir Thomas and Zach VanValkenburg together here for this final spot. Both played roughly 100 snaps down the stretch of 2023, but much like Mathis, there's no room for either of them on the Rams' depth chart. Both seem likely to be stashed on the practice squad.

She seemed to be doing better (mentally) in recent years.

Long admired her for her determination and toughness. It was a very demanding and punishing role in the Shining and Kubrick did not make it easy on her.

People complained long and hard about her portrayal but I am glad they eventually came around and appreciated what she put into it.

BigRamFan said:

Mods, can we please get a "shut your whole mouth" emoji? <light blue font>

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I just use this GIF

RamFanWA said:

Sort of a long video blog with Cooper and his wife, Anna - but you can and will learn about what makes Kupp tick - as well as (sadly) learn that he likely will not be a coach after his playing days, simply due to the time constraints on the family and their lives. Of course, that is today - maybe that changes...

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsjyl5x5CN4

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I tried, but his wife Anna speaks with so much vocal Fry that it's just too annoying for me. Not hating on her, as I think she's a great person. They are an amazing couple, but I have to say, their delivery immediately reminded me of this....

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/bPpcfH_HHH8?si=4d9ZJAZqMU8peRTO

Merlin said:

I'm extremely excited about Corum. Williams is excellent but he's not a bell cow. Corum should rectify the issues we've had in that regard since Gurley declined. We should have options for the first time in a long time in that backfield.

Might even see some 21 sets with both those boys in the backfield. Imagine KW moving around and threatening on jet sweeps with Corum as the run threat.

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And if Evans has improved (and yeah, I know you're not an Evans fan, Merlin, but he has natural talent) as much as Coach Gould says he has...we could have a hell of a backfield.

Here’s more dates

Gandalf said:

DOHC

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Mackeyser said:

Yes and no. Bird’s injury problems started when he injured his back installing a driveway at his mom’s house.

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Serves him right, cheap bastard could have paid someone to do it.

PARAM said:

Thanks.

Not 5th wheel. No kids. Want something that isn't too big (F150 pulling) but not too small. 24 ft?

I like Grand Design or Jayco. Looking for new and about 5400 lbs or less. Might have to settle for shorter than 24-25.ft. I would think light means cheap.

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You should be able to find a 24’ that can be towed by your f150, no problem.
If you don’t need a toy hauler, then stay far away. They are much heavier than a standard travel trailer.

JJ. White, Williams and Curl. I think the focus was more experience on the back end. There were too many mistakes leading to big plays last year. There are some young guys with potential. Maybe adding these guys can help them too.

AvengerRam said:

You’re talking about different plays. The play that was followed by the INT was an uncalled PI (the league later admitted it). That was the refs’ fault. The one that was the late throw was earlier in the game.

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Yes, I know.

Merlin was saying Goff's moment was in the first half on that late throw.

I'm saying Goff's moment was when the Rams were down by 7 in the 4th qtr and they needed a td. And cooks should have caught it. He was a $20m per year wr. That catch is part of his pay grade.

When your qb is struggling somewhat you gotta make a play for him.

.

I suggest ROD starts a "food Drive" where we can donate to their TC kitchen. I'll start by donating some old C rations, lima beans and ham, pork and beans, spaghetti and meat sauce, and my favorite, chili mac.

RamFan503 said:

I loved watching him play at THE OSU and was stoked when we drafted him. I so wish we would have put a good team around him. IMO he would have been a shoe in for the HOF.

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I still think that he deserves to be in the Hall. Even stuck on a terrible team, in an era not as kind to running backs as it was in the past, he still had eight consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, and is ranked above a ton of running backs already in the Hall in rushing yards and all-purpose yards.

S-Jax should be in the Hall, much like Holt should be.

Flint said:

It might be my rams colored glasses but I think these guys will come together pretty quickly. I don’t know if they expected everything to fall into place the way it did but could it be that the FO wanted to beef up the middle and they weren’t that upset when Shelton tested the market? There also hasn’t been that much change, new center and new guard and Avila already knows the system.

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I agree. There’s only one new face and he’s no rookie. The lions better be ready to stop the run opening night.

Happy (belated) Independence Day y'all!!!!

Hey Rhody, same article is all over let me get a link

NBC Sports
By Josh Alper


Sorry Bro
Have a great 4th

What speeds do the 5G WiFi offer?

I was at a Yankee game last summer. Every time Judge came to bat, this one jackass that looked to be about 40-50 stood up in front of my kid and recorded the entire at bat. I repeatedly told him to sit down so my kid could see and he acted like I wasn’t even there. He was a few rows up and over from me.

Whenever I walk through a parking lot and there's a panhandler he'll pass everyone else and come up to me and ask for money. Its like I got a sign that says "This is the guy!"

Has anyone watched the new Blue Angles special on Amazon Prime , from JJ Abrams and Glen Powell , I heard it's pretty good , but we don't get Amazon Prime , at this time

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bubbaramfan said:

My new bumper sticker---"Horn broken, watch for finger"

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lol or "finger broken, listen for horn"