Les Snead comments to ponder

[Psycho_X]

At least he sounds confident

View: https://twitter.com/LindseyThiry/status/1212146853845884939?s=20


Lots of options... not sure how great any are but options none the less. I stay with keeping Whit one more year at friendly contract.

View: https://twitter.com/LindseyThiry/status/1212146853845884939?s=20


Happy for the big guy

View: https://twitter.com/LindseyThiry/status/1212148148946243586?s=20

Rams GM: No regrets on huge Goff, Gurley deals

Rams general manager Les Snead said Tuesday that he doesn't regret signing quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley to record-setting contracts despite the fact the Rams missed the playoffs this season.

www.espn.com

Rams GM Les Snead doesn't regret record deals for Jared Goff, Todd Gurley

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead says he does not regret signing Jared Goff and Todd Gurley to their record-breaking contracts.

"Those are human beings that gave a lot to this organization and deserve to be compensated," Snead said Tuesday.

Snead met with reporters following a 9-7 season that resulted in the Rams taking third place in the NFC West and missing the playoffs a season after playing in Super Bowl LIII.

The Rams played inconsistently throughout the year on offense, defense and special teams. However, Goff and Gurley drew the most criticism because of their uneven play and the massive extensions that tie them to the Rams into the foreseeable future.

Before this season, Goff signed a four-year extension that included an NFL-record $110 million in guarantees that keeps him with the team through 2024. Gurley signed a four-year deal that included a then-NFL-record $45 million in guarantees before the 2018 season that keeps him with the Rams through 2023.

Snead pushed back on the perception that their contracts, along with those of defensive tackle Aaron Donald and receiver Brandin Cooks, have left the Rams with little room to maneuver and improve their roster in 2020.

The Rams also are without a first-round pick in the 2020 and 2021 drafts after sending both selections to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who will be looking for a record-breaking payday of his own as he enters the final season of his rookie contract.

"I do call it probably a false perception," Snead said. "Ultimately, I can see why that would be a perception, but maybe there's an element of staying a little too shallow."

The Rams are projected to have a league-high $108.75 million in salary-cap charges allocated to their five highest-paid players -- Goff, Donald, Gurley, Cooks and Ramsey.

It's projected that the salary cap will increase from $188.2 million to about $200 million in 2020.

"From a salary-cap standpoint, and I assume the cap does go up, there's a new collective bargaining agreement that's coming that's another variable that we don't know about," Snead said. "We've shown in the past that when you have commodities that you might could move on with via trade to collect draft capital that maybe the perception says you don't have and to clear cap space."

Snead declined to say if any of his players, including Gurley, were available to trade.

Gurley powered the Rams' offense in Sean McVay's first two seasons as coach, as he rushed for more than 1,200 yards in back-to-back seasons and last season scored a league-best 21 touchdowns.

But this season, amid reports that he's suffering from a degenerative knee condition or arthritis, he rushed for a career-low 857 yards and 12 touchdowns on 223 carries. His touches dropped from an average of 22.5 per game last season to 16.9 this year.

McVay throughout the season denied that Gurley was on a load-management program.

Snead pointed to the general state of the run game, an evolving offensive line and opponents' game plans as reasons for Gurley's decline.

"We didn't run the ball this year as well as we have," Snead said. "We definitely want to get back to being more efficient running the football."

When asked if Gurley was the same running back he'd proved to be in the past, Snead said, "This year, he wasn't."

Last season, Goff demonstrated significant progress in his development as he passed for 32 touchdowns, with 12 interceptions, and led the Rams to an NFC championship and Super Bowl.

But this season, he took an apparent step back as the offense relied more on his arm than the legs of Gurley. Goff passed for 4,638 yards and 22 touchdowns, with 16 interceptions. His Total QBR (48.3) ranked him 23rd in the league, between the Chargers' Philip Rivers and the Bills' Josh Allen.

 

[Selassie I]

Les is a master at speaking a large number of words... but really saying very little.

 

[Ellard80]

Only thing that made me raise an eyebrow was the Ramsey comment.

 

[Merlin]

"We didn't run the ball this year as well as we have," Snead said. "We definitely want to get back to being more efficient running the football."

They know what their biggest problem is, that's for sure lol.

And re: Ramsey... Snead better hope they sign him, otherwise he's gonna be tied to a very poor exchange and it might cost him his job.

 

[Legatron4]

It’s easy to jump on Gurley for not looking himself but I can’t help but to think back to 2016 when everyone thought he was washed. Get the Oline right and watch our offense work to perfection again.

 

[FaulkSF]

Only thing that made me raise an eyebrow was the Ramsey comment.

Guessing Snead doesn't want to necessarily overpay like he did for Cooks or Gurley. Sounds as if Ramsey's camp may be unwilling to take top 3-5 CB money, which is where I'd place him.

 

[Ram65]

I still think they gave Gurley more than they had too. Resigning Goff was a move they had to make before the cost went up even with an off-year. I think Rams will still get good mileage out of TG. He still can score TD on the ground and in the air.

Resigning Ramsey will be a priority even if Snead doesn't say so. I suppose the Rams can make cap space when they need it for other moves. It is going to be very, very interesting to see what and how the Rams make moves to get back into the Super Bowl hunt.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Only thing that made me raise an eyebrow was the Ramsey comment.

There is no immediate rush for Ramsey, Kupp or JJ3, they are all signed thru the end of 2020. Look for all 3 of them to be announced around the BYE or mid-season 2020. Wouldn't be a bit surprised if they have a handshake deal already in place. Re-signing Ramsey now means bonus money counts against the 2020 CAP, extending him mid-season and the new numbers take effect in 2021 and beyond, when we have far more CAP room available. jmo.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Rams GM Les Snead: "We do have a core here of players that are in their prime that can still contribute"

Rams GM Les Snead: "We do have a core here of players that are in their prime that can still contribute"

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. –Speaking to a group of Rams beat writers Tuesday morning at the team's facility, general manager Les Snead would much rather have been preparing for a playoff game rather than talking about the end of a 9-7 season that saw Los Angeles miss the postseason and began its offseason earlier than usual.

In spite of that disappointment, Snead believes L.A. still has a strong foundation to continue to lean on heading into 2020.

"There's always going to be changes, and there's changes needed for improvement," Snead said. "But (I) do think we have a core here of players that are in their prime that can still contribute and help us win like they have the last three years."

Indeed, the Rams have several players who are locked in for the foreseeable future.

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald and quarterback Jared Goff both signed extensions prior to the start of the 2018 and 2019 seasons, respectively, that will keep them under contract through 2024, while tight end Tyler Higbee later signed an extension prior to 2019 that will keep him under contract through 2023. Running back Todd Gurley, wide receiver Brandin Cooks and punter Johnny Hekker are also under contract through 2023.

Among that group, Donald led the NFL in sacks for the fifth straight season. Goff became the first quarterback in franchise history with back-to-back 4,000-yard passing seasons. Tight end Tyler Higbee single-season franchise records for catches and receiving yards. Gurley tied Eric Dickerson for most seasons (4) with 10 or more rushing touchdowns in club history and also tied Marshall Faulk on the franchise's career rushing touchdowns list (60).

Beyond the veterans, three of the Rams' eight-man 2019 draft class earned starting roles in their first professional seasons, including safety and second-round pick Taylor Rapp, offensive linemen and third-round pick Bobby Evans and offensive lineman and fifth-round pick David Edwards. Rapp started in 10 of the 15 games he played in, Evans seven of nine. Edwards played in all 16 games, logging 10 starts.

"They may have come on and played a little earlier than we wanted to, but give that crew as they were inserted," Snead said of Evans and Edwards. "I give Sean (McVay) and his staff credit, to be able to make adjustments."

The challenge, however, is figuring out what other core players to keep.

Among the other starters who have also shared in the success in recent seasons, left tackle Andrew Whitworth, defensive lineman Michael Brockers, outside linebacker Dante Fowler, inside linebacker Cory Littleton, kicker Greg Zuerlein and offensive lineman Austin Blythe are all scheduled to become free agents in 2020.

"What's his market moving forward? Can we afford that? Do we think he helps us?" said Snead, when asked specifically about Brockers. "That's where you got to get this passionate to 2021, 2022 however long we were to sign him. Is it best for us to to allocate those resources to another position in our human being? That's still yet to be determined."

Snead said the circuit of college all-star games starts in a couple weeks, so this week is a normal routine of trying to finish out draft meetings. The goal is always to get it done before Jan. 1 regardless of whether or not the Rams are playing in postseason.

After that, Snead will take the next week or two to let the negative emotions of a disappointing season dissolve in order to make sound decisions that will keep the Rams in a position to contend in 2020.

"That's that's our goal, we think we can accomplish that," Snead said. "I always say there's nothing ever guaranteed, especially in sports, but that's what we're betting on."

 

[Faceplant]

How did that ^^^ make it past the editor??

 

[tklongball]

How did that ^^^ make it past the editor??

As if editors are a thing on the internet. LOL

 

[den-the-coach]

Les is a master at speaking a large number of words... but really saying very little.

It's public relations 101 when speaking to the press....I had no issue with the contracts for Gurley or Goff, however, I would embrace a Gurley trade or an attitude adjustment and I believe that's going to start with the depature of RB Coach Skip Hicks...Gurley and Hicks are too close and time for someone else to come in and if Gurley is not on board, then trade him and I realize you need a buyer, but Gurley needs to understand, he's not the same back.

 

[Selassie I]

It's public relations 101 when speaking to the press....I had no issue with the contracts for Gurley or Goff, however, I would embrace a Gurley trade or an attitude adjustment and I believe that's going to start with the depature of RB Coach Skip Hicks...Gurley and Hicks are too close and time for someone else to come in and if Gurley is not on board, then trade him and I realize you need a buyer, but Gurley needs to understand, he's not the same back.

I call it GM Speak.

 

[den-the-coach]

I call it GM Speak.

I do quite a few presentations on a daily basis to large audiences and there are certain points you want to make, but not give up too much inside information so I get it....However, I have stolen a quote from LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron as now after every presentation I say "Go Rams." Funny I actually had a few people come up to me and ask if I attended Colorado State.

 

[fearsomefour]

Les is a master at speaking a large number of words... but really saying very little.

He really does mostly say nothing.

 

[Selassie I]

I do quite a few presentations on a daily basis to large audiences and there are certain points you want to make, but not give up too much inside information so I get it....However, I have stolen a quote from LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron as now after every presentation I say "Go Rams." Funny I actually had a few people come up to me and ask if I attended Colorado State.

This is an excellent idea. I teach a 3 hour class every Monday. I will start doing this myself. I almost can't wait till next Monday now.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[den-the-coach]

This is an excellent idea. I teach a 3 hour class every Monday.

Wow...For a 3 hour tour, a 3 hour tour!

 

[Selassie I]

Wow...For a 3 hour tour, a 3 hour tour!

Exactly. Hahahahahahaaaaa

I literally sing that part of the song sometimes on my way into, or out of, the classroom.

No shit.

 

[So Ram]

They know what their biggest problem is, that's for sure lol.

And re: Ramsey... Snead better hope they sign him, otherwise he's gonna be tied to a very poor exchange and it might cost him his job.

Really ?? Just thinking about having control over a player?? He can be franchised ??
RAMsey will get signed, it’s just a matter of when & at what cost ?? The sky is falling is a little much though.

 

[Merlin]

Really ?? Just thinking about having control over a player?? He can be franchised ??
RAMsey will get signed, it’s just a matter of when & at what cost ?? The sky is falling is a little much though.

GMs have been fired for less. I like Snead and his ability to find gems in the draft and UDFA, but the Rams' opinion of him is what matters and he might be too aggressive for Kroenke. Grasping at veteran talent is costly (in picks and cap space) and is not sustainable, the only way you can win every year in this league is by drafting and developing.

Just throwing that out there as a concern, there's no sky falling here. Most of his individual moves I have been behind, but the total sum of them is where there might be an issue.