Merlin said:

Yeah Calais Campbell is ridiculous. He's the closest defender to Donald's level, albeit at a different spot. I actually think he played better than Donald in our game vs Jax this year.

Re: the cap space changing the NFL landscape, just wait until this offseason. Whiners have to sign Future Hall of Fame and Multiple Super Bowl Champion Jimmy Garoppolo, hopefully it's the richest contract ever too followed by him playing at a mediocre level but I digress. I expect the Whiners to drive up a lot of prices on players, and probably be in direct competition with us for some of them.

Good thing is the Rams have some good cap space, enough to retain the guys they want, sign AD, and maybe add one key piece who is an upgrade.

Overall though the potential for QB movement is what I can't wait to see unfold. Between that plus a draft that I like very much at the QB position, there's going to be a lot of team fortunes changing this offseason.

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Campbell also slowed way down as the year went on. The last half of the year his age started to show. He has like 3 sacks in his last 9 games. Where as Donald just got better and better as the year went on.

It's going to be Grudens offense, his system, his formations, his language etc. Olsen may get some input but he is going to basically be a puppet that helps implement the O and works with Carr.
Gruden has been studying for years supposedly. Will see if his O turns the NFL
on its ear or if it just another O.

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Riverumbbq said:

Can't remember after which game, but it wasn't that long ago that McVay blamed himself for not using Gurley enough and took the blame for the loss.

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I believe it was against Minnesota.

BonifayRam said:

I would agree with you fully that most all UFA's are just plain real bad deals in cost terms to the building of a team. You know my stance well on UFA's & its not all that positive unless its about Offensive Linemen. This is jrry's list not mine these these are the ones I thought were the best of his list.

One of jrry's listed UFA's the Washington center Spencer Long helped blow open numerous holes in our DL in the Rams loss to the Skins. He is a top 10 center in the NFL & far from being depth on this Ram team. He would be a great replacement for John Sullivan or Rodger Saffold or Jamon Brown take your pick not bad when you can be plugged in to any of the 3 interior posts. Long is every bit as good as Sullivan but is only 26 yrs old & has played all 3 interior posts.

Star Lotulelei is a natural NT type not a former DE like Ethan Westbrooks but I not going to pay him over 8 to 9 million year either if it were my decision. He is just the best NT type that will be a UFA . Star earned a near 7 million in 2017 he will demand big $$ not a good deal either. I would prefer to sign our own NT Tyrunn Walker back again go with our own good young prospect NT Omarius Bryant & draft a solid NT prospect. Then we still have Westbrooks under contract too. No real need to speed that cap cash on any UFA Nose IMO.

Now last night we watched two of the best college team battle for the Championship both these teams ran a 34 Defense. These two front five DL's were dominating. Most of the major college teams run 34 D's. Each & every season the college serves out copious amount of excellent 34 D edge rushers/ OSLB'er & very few 43 DE's or NFL ready OL'ers. I think it best for Snead & Wade to take advantage of this situation & draft from this glut of very special athletes & avoid overpaying for Edge Rushers like Rob Quinn over 12 million, Aaron Lynch & Ahmad Brooks who was making over 8 million for the 9ers early last season.

What do you think Merlin on the above ? or

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I agree. That has always been one of the benefits for teams like the Steelers that were running the 3-4. They could get those edge rushers in the late rounds because those dudes didn't fit the 4-3 for the other teams drafting.

I agree on the Spencer Long or Richburg play. Get younger at center. This is where I am heavily prioritizing my Free Agent pursuits after signing my own guys.

DTR Draft Profile: Marcus Davenport, EDGE, UTSA
January 9, 2018
| By::Jake Ellenbogen

Who is the 6-foot-7 and 255 pound EDGE rusher Marcus Davenport?

He is an extremely raw talent that might shoot himself up into the first round by the end of the draft process. Coming from a small-school puts him under-the-radar, but going to Senior Bowl will put him in the spotlight instantaneously. He might not be the most technically sound edge rusher in the draft but his raw talent and potential puts him in prime position to possibly mold into the next star pass rusher in the NFL.


Tape: Marcus Davenport vs. North Texas (2017)


Strengths

Davenport is a quick and twitchy athlete that can be a terror to block. Due to his unique size and his short-area burst he instantly becomes harder to block than the average edge rusher. Davenport doesn't have a ton of moves in his repertoire but that's alright for now seeing as he might have the best bull rush move in the entire draft. He's fast enough to chase down almost any QB that runs out of the pocket which is terrifying in itself on top of the fact he has a non-stop motor. This young pass rusher doesn't just do that well, he's also exceptional against the run. He is scheme versatile for sure and is going to add a lot to a defense once he is fully in tune with the next level.


Weaknesses

While he is an extremely exciting prospect, the one big knock on him is his level of competition. You love his aggressiveness, but he can be too aggressive at times and take himself out of the play. As long as he cleans that up and becomes more consistent nothing will stop him from becoming a top flight edge rusher.


How does he fit with Rams?

Well, imagine him on the same line as Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Samson Ebukam and maybe Robert Quinn. While the Rams have some uncertainty on their defensive line, Davenport would be a stud in Wade Phillips' scheme. It may take him some time to fully grow into his role but when he does the league would take notice. The last time the Rams drafted someone with enormous potential you could basically call "limitless" was Aaron Donald. Marcus Davenport has enormous potential and you could basically call it "limitless potential". However, do not get your hopes up with him starting day one and being a rookie of the year candidate. When you pick someone like this, a risk is involved, but it ends up being worth the wait in the end.


Draft Grade

Round 1


Player comparison

DeMarcus Lawrence



You could make the argument that Davenport's comp could be DeMarcus Ware, but Lawrence seems the most like Davenport on tape. With Ware, you have that small-school type of prospect comparison but outside of that you don't have the similar play like you get out of Lawrence and Davenport. Both are extremely quick, violent and powerful. Ever since Lawrence refined his technique he has been a force. Davenport could be that or even better when he is fully refined at the next level.

from all the pictures, great crowd, and those that attended deserve kudos
train

Merlin said:

I don't see why Quinn wouldn't restructure. He'd get a new signing bonus and help the team with a lower cap hit, not to mention get to hang around in what will be a very good defense for years under Wade. Plus, even though he struggled to adjust to OLB, he's got what you want in that role. He's not as fast as he was but the dude is still athletic and I expect the Rams to use him more and more on rush downs next year and beyond if he does stick around.

This draft has some disgustingly good edge rushers. Not sure how and where they'll all slot right now but there's a really good chance they draft one of them and we see the rook worked in with Quinn through the season.

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Pretty much agree with all you said here, doubtful Quinn is a three down LB'er any longer, but in a solid rotation he should have plenty of success left in him. If Barwin is indeed out of the 2018 equation, then we may be looking more towards finding competition for Ebukam than bolstering Quinn's side, especially with Longacre returning. Young Carlos Thompson and the new guy, Garrett Sickels will also want to weigh in on the battle for reserves. Our next camp will be fun to watch with so many of our young players now having a bit of experience. Drafting a quality pass rush OLB will be a priority, although probably not in the first round this next year. jmo.

Mackeyser said:

If the QBs and WRs storm up toward the top of the first, the Rams may be choosing between Da'Ron Payne, who I'm cooling on now that I've watched more film but is still an amazing athlete and Josh Jackson, the amazing Iowa CB who's my #1 pick for the Rams in the draft... well, other than Bradley Chubb who's def going in the top 5. And yes, above Minkah Fitzpatrick or Arden Key.

So I'm gonna keep hoping the WRs and QBs keep storming up the board.

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Well like @jrry32 pointed out the Bama dudes do tend to slide a little, or otherwise not get drafted where you initially think they will. This along with the general ability to find NTs into the midrounds should contribute to Payne being there at 23.

And yes chances are CB will have a helluva player available there, that's typically the case in most drafts late round 1 and this draft will be no exception. Also of late WRs definitely get snapped up/reached on as they seem to be pricier every year, and we can as always assume the LT types and QBs will gravitate sharply up as the media types catch wind of how the teams are slotting them.

IMO this is an important draft not only for Les, but also for McVay to put aside his offensive focus and get behind the defense gettin some TLC. So yeah we're pretty much on the same sheet of music wrt what we want. Invest in this defense, lower that PPG down well below 19, and watch this team run the MFing table.

Didn't really agree with you guys on the Stan comments.

He barely said anything, and everything he said is correct. But either way we have to learn to win at home, it's that simple. Being 4-5 (including the playoffs) at home is unacceptable.

I agree with many of you. Gurley should be hands down winner of either/both OPOY and MVP. Certainly not Brown. I also think Keemun is not getting enough love.

Took me a while to truly react. Had to process.

At the end of the day, I'm a big believer in yards and yards per play telling a story.

We outplayed the Falcons in this game. Didn't really feel like it. And it did feel like the defense didn't play well - but they really did. I actually thought Goff played well after the slow start.

At the end of the day, two special teams turnovers cost us the game. Take those away and I believe we win.

Credit to the Falcons - they had a game plan and they executed perfectly - but that confirms that we were the better team IMO. Atlanta came in with a specific game plan and still needed two random fumbles to win the game. If we played them 10 times, we would win 7 IMO.

-X- said:

"Your mom's on McVay."

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MOM!
What did I tell you about that!

What can I say?
McVay makes her horny baby.

I think Brady retires after this season.

NateDawg122 said:

https://www.sbnation.com/college-fo...s-missed-calls-national-championship-facemask

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Most of those are really blatant...someone should do a post on all of the holds against Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn

Of course, horrible officiating in the NFL is just derided as excuse making.

My main takeaway is that it took until January for them to set it up to where we can actually hear the reporters ask the damn questions haha

That Oakland game will be VERY interesting.

Jacobarch said:

Well you realize that the Rams defense was on the field for most of the first half tho right ? They almost put in as many minutes in the first half as they do in an entire game. They were gassed and it showed.

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http://www.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/57491/LA_Gamebook.pdf

If you told me going into the 4th quarter they were gassed (and they def. were) because of the 3rd, sure I could be that. It was like a 4 minute difference in the first half, maybe a possession difference, and I'm not buying that for highly skilled and conditioned athletes.

Jacobarch said:

Saints have about 10 players that have been in playoff games. Mostly FAs from other teams. Tedd Ginn etc etc.
Brees is the big one, he's the oil that helps that machine run. Goff is an essential rookie because last year was a Mulligan Imo.

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I'll give you Tedd Ginn and Max Unger along with the 4 I mentioned earlier. That's what, 7 important players? I don't count guys like Mike Hoomanuwani or that ST player that everyone thought his wife or girlfriend was giving birth.

The Rams had 5 or 6 on their own, so they had the experience too.

Jacobarch said:

If you rewatch the game take a look at how we were playing. Look at the body language and how it looked like our defense hit that adrenaline wall that inexperienced players get in big games.

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In the first half the O regained the momentum, and the D had rest + the somewhat extended halftime. They come out and get sliced drive after drive on defense. That's not inexperience, that's inability to execute.

Ellard80 said:

The saints have a coach and a qb that have won a super bowl.. .and 10 or so players that have playoff experience.

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IDK, that QB and coach combo damn near gave away the game yesterday, too. And again, it may be 10 total but about even with the Rams as far as significant contributors.

Ellard80 said:

Angry, boss your opinion comes from a good place - but your concept of what experienced is doesn't calculate.

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I don't agree, especially when the Titans come from behind and Minnesota favored with a QB with no playoff experience.

I don't think if the Rams played in a wild card game last year they would've suddenly won Saturday if they played like they did. Stop the run, they did not.

tempests said:

Two point attempts have increased. up about 30% the last three years. It's not the new norm that people thought it was going to be, though. The extra point attempt is just a little less automatic now.

Despite what the media was pushing when this change came into effect, there is little to no statistical advantage in trying for two more often. From 2015-17, two point conversion rates were 46%, XP rates were 94%.

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So 92 points versus 94 points out of a possible 100 points.

This would make it situational then.

Merlin said:

I like his hair contribution. Spunky, but understated. Then we have Les for the glamour side of things.

Best hair duo in the biz.

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We should start a thread with all 32 teams.

With a bracket..........like March Madness.

socalrams90 said:

If we have to go to London again I'm going to be ticked. Mexico city against the chiefs was the perfect compromise.

Now we're losing another home game vs an NFC opponent. Hurts more

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Yep.
Im sure this was all done as part of the LA deal. Its ok, the deal has been made for the Rams to win the Super Bowl in 2020 as part of this deal.

That's cool. I'm probably gonna pick this one up.

I honestly think the biggest problem is the physicality of this team. Seemed like physical defenses, particularly secondaries, gave our wideouts problems. I relate that back to the TE position underperforming in part as well as Kupp being a rookie and Watkins not being fully in synch.

But also on defense. Rams just gotta get tougher in the trenches on D, and have plenty other needs too at LB. Physicality steps up in the playoffs every year, that's gotta be addressed IMO.

EastRam said:

I don't have an issue with what Stan was quoted as saying. My issue is with posters on this board referring to the writers of the article as Butthurt St.louis fans.

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oops yeah I quoted wrong post.

JRobinson said:

I think it was a shot in the dark by Jake to really truly pick the Titans to win this game. We all saw that the Chiefs were dominant in the first half, but could not generate a pass rush in the second half which cost them the game.

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Honestly, it wasn't. I picked them to win the Super Bowl before the season, now that was a shot in the dark...