https://www.theringer.com/2018/3/9/17100944/los-angeles-rams-2018-offseason-aqib-talib-marcus-peters

The Rams Are Already Winning the 2018 Offseason
With free agency still to come, Los Angeles has bolstered its defense, unloaded bad contracts, and turned itself into a bona fide contender
By Danny Heifetz


Getty Images/Ringer illustration

Rams Added: CB Marcus Peters, CB Aqib Talib, CB Sam Shields, Giants’ 2018 fourth-round pick, Giants’ 2018 sixth-round pick, unknown Dolphins mid-round pick, Chiefs’ 2018 sixth-round pick

Rams Lost: DE Robert Quinn, ILB Alec Ogletree, 2018 fourth-round pick, 2018 fifth-round draft pick, 2018 seventh-round pick, 2019 second-round pick, 2019 seventh-round pick

My goodness, this defense is going to force so many turnovers.

While the locker room may be more colorful this year, pairing Peters and Talib under Wade Phillips seems like a worthy gamble. Phillips’s scheme helped win the Broncos a Super Bowl after the 2015 season, and Talib made the Pro Bowl each year under Phillips in Denver, including first-team All-Pro in 2016.

The only defensive coordinator in football who is better at putting his defenders in position to make plays is Bill Belichick, which might be why Talib reportedly limited his trade destinations to Los Angeles and New England.

Phillips’s scheme forces quarterbacks to get the ball out quickly, evidenced by Aaron Donald’s league-leading 91 pressures last season, which creates opportunities for defenders to jump routes. Now, Phillips has two of the best ball-hawking corners in football to integrate into that game plan, and that’s before considering the team added Shields, who hasn’t played since suffering his fourth diagnosed concussion in Week 1 of 2016.

Unlike Quinn and Ogletree, who had big price tags but skill sets that didn’t dovetail with Phillips’s game plan, Peters and Talib complement what Donald and Michael Brockers do on the defensive line.

Together, the sky is the limit for this defense. Literally. Teams won’t be able to throw on these guys.

L.A. Might Not Be Done Yet
The modern blueprint for an NFL contender is a core of high-level players on rookie contracts that allows a GM to use extra cap space to plug holes elsewhere on the roster. Donald and Gurley, the defensive and offensive players of the year last season, have a combined cap hit of $11.3 million. Jared Goff takes up just $7.6 million of the cap this year.

The Rams front office understands those bargains give them the flexibility to compete now. Los Angeles led the league in points scored in 2017, but the team is betting that defense wins championships. It’s an old-school move for one of the youngest teams in the league.

The Rams seem to have gone all in for a Super Bowl run, but they’ve managed to keep some of their resources. While L.A. lost its next two second-round picks in trades for Sammy Watkins and Peters, flipping Quinn and Ogletree both replenished the team’s draft stock and improved its cap situation in anticipation of a record-breaking Aaron Donald megadeal. With free agency and the draft still to come, the Rams still have plenty of chips left to play with.

SteezyEndo said:

I'd Love to see Sherman play a uno year as a Ram and retire. He is a Socal boy I respect that...

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Won't happen just like Suh won't happen.

Sherman didn't want to take a pay cut which means he still sees himself as a prime CB.

Sherman isn't a slot corner. Neither are Peters or Talib. So, they'd rotate? With those big personalities? Not gonna happen.

Sherman also isn't likely to be ready for OTAs or even Training Camp. I can see him being a FA all the way until the season starts due to his rehab. He might play this year, but I am almost certain he's not going to play starting game 1.

Similar to Suh. He's likely to be cut because his cap hit is too high.

He may re-sign with the Dolphins (or they may just eat the cap hit), but if not, he's going to expect another big payday. There's almost no chance that he takes a 1 year prove it deal (in his case, proving that he isn't a full-on knucklehead). If that were the case, teams like the Rams or Patriots would be potential landing spots for just a year... same as Nick Fairley, actually.

Snead went a little crazy, that's true.

But even as wild as it got, it's beyond wild that some of these other guys would even be available.

There's zero chance we land Sherman.

Suh isn't zero, but it's close enough that it's essentially zero.

. . . and the NFL's #1 special teams battery remains intact---Johnny, Greg the Leg, and the Invisible Man, Jake McQuaide.

I imagine he would be cheap and more productive than Barwin in terms of generating pass rush.

I wouldn't mind bringing him in for a year.

yup, those are some damn good fans....
train

In the 68th episode of the podcast Jake is joined by Joe Curley to make sense of an unbelievable week for the Los Angeles Rams. The two discuss the pros and cons in depth then Jake gives you his Draft prospect spotlight. Auburn Safety & Rams fan Tray Matthews (53:27) joins the show!

Spreaker: https://www.spreaker.com/user/downtownrams/dtr-podcast-68


iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast...s-franchise/id1233567831?i=1000405001756&mt=2

Corbin said:

Hey guys, I'm just creating my own LLC and wanting to pick your brains of any of you which seem to be older(not a bad thing), wiser, and have experiences compared to myself. I'm not that ignorant to know that their is people out there that have been through some things before that I can use their advice to help me get through that obstacle without going balls deep in it before it's to late.



I've seen a lot of your posts and I see several of you own(ed) a business or managed one at some point. So technically the combined experience on this board is a potential wealth of knowledge and wisdom.

Anyways, for 4+ years I been sitting on the sideline watching the crypto markets learning trends, discovering the technology differences etc, mining networks, and trading as a novice etc. Made a handful of money but I've been able to predict a lot of the trends and alt cryptos that can be used to make money with. Needless to say I would have done very well if I just followed my heart and head and got into it years ago. I have many years of managerial experience in multiple industries and decided to go full force in IT( Info. Tech), Cyber Security, and C.S. in school once again.

Anybody else in similar fields? Experience? Interests? Advice starting a business/LLC? etc?

Do you have any advice on no no's or pitfalls you wish you knew 10, 20,30,40 years ago that you know now?

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sent you a pm

I love woods and Kupp but without a Sammy or a true number one, they cannot be running open all over the field. Watkins has to be brought back or someone like Richardson or my dream as you all know Allen Robinson. Yes this offense spreads the ball but you have to have a legit 1a to have it run smoothly maybe you can get away with a 1b but who is a 1b only dude I can think of with potential and with pieces around him is Richardson.

DaveFan'51 said:

Just heard the Browns Traded for Jarvis Landry, I have no details!

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Some details in the other thread

Prime Time said:

Added a ? to title. You're welcome.

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I just meant to the NFL, not the Rams.

The entire NFL should be worried.

Well, I want Deacon Jones...Sure, he's had a few years away from the game, but dude is rested, tanned, and ready!

C'mon Snead, don't let the grave get in your way!

I'd like to have him back, but Rams might not do it. Blythe looked good when subbing for him, and they could look to the draft.

I'd be shocked if the Rams pick a non-pass-rushing NT at 23. Think it's OLB or trade down. I still think the Rams might pick up a 2nd wave FA NT or ILB type before the draft arrives.

Mackeyser said:

I think Harold Landry is very much in play.

His film is reminiscent of Von Miller and he plays the front side like Miller.

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I would love to get Landry but I'm worried he'll go higher than any of use expect. The only thing helping us there is scheme fit as he's really more a 3-4 outside LB or Leo in the 4-3 and some teams will think he's a tweener.

thirteen28 said:

Personally, I think Les needs to trade around until we are down to three 6th rounders. Bruce Dickinson agrees:

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxnN05vOuSM


If not, he should try to get seven 7th rounders ...

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBtIcUfwHf8

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anytime we can work in Maiden on a thead, I'm all in!

PhillyRam said:

....any chance McVay intends to continue to fix D with FA, and then be in position to possibly move up a few spots to take his future LT in McGlinchy even if it means a red shirt year behind Whitworth. Probably would make McGlinchy a better player learning for a season behind Whitworth. Both are similar in stature and skill set. And McVay knows how important having a franchise LT to pair up with his young QB would be.

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I'd be cool with that. I haven't done the research, but I'm assuming most of the good LTs were high-ish draft picks? Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I think the idea of "coaching up 6th rounders", while nice in theory, probably doesn't work all that well in reality. Sure, coaching helps - but you gotta have talent too.

So drafting our future LT in the first round - even though we have other needs - would be okay by me. He can be first off the bench as a guard, or RT, if need be, all while learning behind Whitworth.

I agree with train, I think there’s a strong chance Barron won’t be back. Coming off injury, undersized, overpriced. Everything about this offseason so far screams, “If you aren’t a great fit for Wade’s 3-4, you are gone.”

IMHO I’d be happy if Barron stays or if he’s cut. Either way, I’m all-in for Mr. Snead’s Wild Ride

Psycho_X said:

:giveup: Good luck to whatever team does this for Tru. I'd take Sammy on a 1 year trial for $13 mil.
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be a good play to keep Watkins, which i would like
train

Talib or TJ...who cares. Let's rather talk about the Rams.

We got Peters...his side of the field is now closed for business...

We have Talib...taking on the #2 receiver, and therefore closed for business as well...

Hell to the yes!

ninedeuce said:

If he’s strong vs the run, sure why not.

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He does have serious character issues, but if Wade can control Attila's anger issues, you've got a very talented player.

Next up--Linebackers. And I bet Les goes all out here for Wade too.

Here I thought I'd have sit and wait for months before any real Rams action. Rams didn't wait long to get busy. Last off season it was the Offense. Now its defense.

Rams not phucking around. They think they are only a few players away from winning it all and I hope they're right.

I don't think there is anyone on the board that I'd give up a huge amount to move up and grab. Sure, I'd be happy to have Vea, Smith, Edmunds but not at the huge cost it would take. Honestly, I think Landry, Payne, Davenport, Alexander, Jackson are all good picks at #23, and we retain our draft capital. Honestly, I'd be more interested in trading back, because I think some of these guys can be had even later.