SB Nation User Blog: 3k

GBCW? Not so much.

3k — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:42:25 -0000

It's been a while since I wrote my first diary back in July of '07, which if you read it should give you plenty of ammunition against any prediction I might ever make again. Since I'm leaving for a very comfortable new home on the other side of the Earth in about 24 hours, I thought it might be worth it to get some perspective from everyone.

In three seasons, we've gone from a team with hopes to a team of jokes. Coming off of an 8-8 season, the Rams had reason for optimism. It seems like an eon ago. Now, we're saddled with excuses, injuries and tenuous prophecies of future Ram stars. Not an inspiring trio. Still, I have cause to believe.

If we can fall so far in so short a time, we can rise just as quickly and beyond. Sure, there are players on the team that inspire us from time to time. We know the names. They're the few who avoid our weekly/daily/hourly/constant berating, and for good reason. What really inspires me though is this community. It's not that our dedication to the Rams makes them any better. It does, however, make them much more bearable.

Being a Rams fan in the south is brutal. I'm surrounded by SEC fans and NFL fans of successful teams every year. It's tough. (Especially since I went to UNT, who appropriately is on par for futility with the Rams, although we have one hell of a stadium being built soon.) Despite the hostility of so many south-tards who know so little about football and yet cling to such successful programs or franchises, I have a sanctuary of knowledgeable compatriots who share a singular goal: a competitive Rams team.

Van has his statistical analyses and segues. TackleBox and taiko have been two voices of even-keeled temperament that help turn Overreaction Monday into Semi-Rational Tuesday which leads to Partially-Reasonable Wednesday which inevitably becomes Optimistic Thursday. CoachConnors and VTRamsFan, the elder statesmen of optimism, provide an all-to-rare sense of true significance when it's most needed. There's the entire starting team of edpjr, james535, Carneros, TrojanRam, ram_rod, loyal2therams, AbsolutMoose, bruinfanbaby, CaliRamMan, Nbr1RamFan, stlcardinalsfang, jb22 and WaZuP cReAtOr along with a slew of people whos names escape me that contribute in so many ways to TST. So consider this a bit of a promise.

I promise that when I return around October of 2010, I will be as dedicated of a Rams fan as I have ever been, regardless of how many rehabilitated fair weather Steelers fans I come across. I swear to follow the Rams until, during and after our next Super Bowl victory. And I promise to make every effort to continue to be a part of this community despite my deployment.

Sure, I have bigger priorities: mission and family, in that order. But as long as those two are good to go, I'll make time for TST, because this is more than football. And one day, we'll be thankful.

And in case this is required reading for the Rams cheerleaders, I expect to see Michele around July. Make it happen, Devaney...

Holler at your boy.

Of course, before anyone goes out to buy a Null or Reilly jersey, bear in mind that the Rams are...

3k — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:31:05 -0000

Of course, before anyone goes out to buy a Null or Reilly jersey, bear in mind that the Rams are likely to draft a QB this April (just not with their Top 3 pick), and could be in the mix for free agent-to-be Jason Campbell. Campbell is likely done in DC, but he has a chance to rejuvenate his career in the right situation.

From ESPN's rumor mill (not exactly the height of credibility). I would be interested to see two things:
1 - Where are they hearing that we're not interested in using our top pick on a QB
2 - Where they've heard about seeing Jason Campbell in a Rams uni besides VanRam

2010 prospect watch (WR edition) - Dec. 9th

3k — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 06:21:56 -0000

More photos » by Jay LaPrete - AP

USC standout WR Damian Williams could be one of the top receiving prospects if he declares.

Browse more photos »

In my last two boards (DT & QB), the polls asked for, nay, demanded a WR board. And so thee demand, so the k provideth. Or something like that. While it might not be the most apt board for the Rams, given the talent coming out in the 2010 and 2011 drafts at WR, if you ask, you receive.

For reference along with my two earlier boards above, here's my most recent mock. A * denotes underclassmen, and either a small 'd' denotes that underclassmen has already declared himself eligible for the 2010 draft or a 'u', as you could guess, means they haven't yet declared. Oh, and Terrance Tolliver, LSU, isn't on my board because I'm guessing he doesn't declare until the 2011 draft. Without further adieu-ishness, here's my WR board as it stands right now...

1 - Dez Bryant*^d, Oklahoma St. (MTD)

In case you don't hit that MTD link, it's worth re-posting: Dez Bryant has humongous hands. In addition to the paws, Bryant has top level agility, which is why he's been on return duty for the Cowboys. He does exhibit lapses (whether it's mental or effort can be debated), and his route running could be improved, but his raw talents (strength and speed), hands and size (6'2", ~215 lbs.) make him my top WR.

Reminds me of: Terrell Owens

The rest of the board after the fold.

2 - Brandon LaFell, LSU (ESPN)

LaFell just wrapped up what should have been a much more productive career, if only LSU could recruit decent quarterbacks. When JaMarcus Russell if your modern standard bearer...I'm just saying. In any case, LaFell is a long, physical receiver whose experience shows. He needs to exhibit a bit more discipline in his routes and could use a bit more weight, but he could be a very reliable target immediately.

Reminds me of: Plaxico Burress

3 - Damian Williams*^u, USC

D-Will's stock continues to increase as scouts look not only at the precision he's displayed, but the offense he displayed it in. Whereas Bryant and LaFell need to work on their routes, Damian Williams might have run the best routes of any draft-eligible WR this season. I only caught three USC games this season, and I couldn't help but wonder why USC didn't try to involve him more in their offense. He did handle punt return duties this season, but he wasn't as explosive as Bryant in that aspect. He'll also need more bulk at the next level if he wants to handle physical corners in the NFL with ease.

Reminds me of: Torry Holt

4 - Mike Williams*^d, Syracuse (ESPN)

There might not be a greater enigma in the 2010 NFL Draft than Mike Williams. He was suspended in 2008 for cheating and missed the entire season. For a while, it looked like he might not return, something that was only exacerbated when he enrolled at a JUCO. In the end, he re-enrolled at Syracuse for this season and was playing very well. I say was, because on Nov. 2, after another academic incursion, Williams walked into his head coaches office and quit the team. Hell, just check out his timeline - pretty populated given how much football he missed.

Nevertheless, his talent is undeniable, and what's scary is that unlike the three aforementioned WRs, Williams has played on horrible Syracuse teams in completely anemic offenses. Pairing him with some talent at the NFL could produce as much headline fodder from his on-field heroics as his off-field exploits, much like the WR he remind me of.

Reminds me of: Brandon Marshall

5 - Arrelious Benn*^u, Illinois

Worst offense ever. Seriously. The Ron Zook Spiral of Doom continues. In his sophomore season, Benn finished with 67 catches for 1,055 yards including his performance in Illinois' loss to Minnesota in which he snagged 12 throws for 181 yards. He had a lot of people salivating to see what he could do this season, but the combination of Zook at the helm and senior QB Juice Williams ruined what could have been a banner year for Benn. He certainly hasn't done himself any favors with his hands, though. This season has seen Benn drop numerous passes. Easy comparison...

Reminds me of: Braylon Edwards

6 - Golden Tate*^d, Notre Dame

Reminds me of: Steve Smith

7 - Eric Decker, Minnesota (ESPN)

Reminds me of: Hines Ward

8 - Dezmon Briscoe*^d, Kansas

Reminds me of: Miles Austin

9 - Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati (ESPN)

Reminds me of: Santonio Holmes

10 - Demaryius Thomas*^u, Georgia Tech ()

Reminds me of: Javon Walker

Missed the cut

- Jeremy Williams (Tulane), Blair White (Michigan St.), Jordan Shipley (Texas), Danario Alexander (Missouri)

Poll

What big board do you want to see next?

QB (v2.0)

31 votes

WR (v2.0)

10 votes

TE

2 votes

OL

6 votes

DE

36 votes

DT (v2.0)

14 votes

OLB

24 votes

DB

19 votes

142 votes | Poll has closed

Fans seeking to lynch offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur should consider this: It's becoming...

3k — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:12:52 -0000

Fans seeking to lynch offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur should consider this: It's becoming increasingly apparent that Shurmur is merely executing Spagnuolo's desired offensive philosophy. In other words, following orders.

Jim Thomas pens a great piece over at the P-D that suggests Shurmur might not have that much flexibility in his playcalling. While I might disagree with some of the extensions of his argument, it's a great read, though thoroughly depressing.

2010 prospect watch - Nov. 27th

3k — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:52:15 -0000

More photos » by Michael Dwyer - AP

Georgia Tech's Jonathan Dwyer scampers for a 43-yard touchdown run against Boston College. Should the Rams consider drafting him to back up Steven Jackson?

Browse more photos »

The last full weekend of college football's regular season is upon us, although it's not really just a weekend sport anymore. Ball State downed Western Michigan on Tuesday, and Texas escaped College Station with their championship push intact after defeating Texas A&M last night. Some thoughts on those games and some stuff from around the college game after the fold.

And I haven't been showing as much love to Mocking the Draft as I should be. Dan runs a great site, and if you're reading this, you should stop by often. He's got his notes for today up here.

- Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller has really hurt his stock. Against the mid-tier teams, his efforts have been much less impressive than Central Michigan's QB Dan LeFevour. Take Ball St. On Tuesday, Hiller threw just 1 TD to go with 4 INTs in a 17-22 loss; LeFevour led a 35-3 stomping of the Cardinals by going 25 for 28 and tossing 4 TDs without throwing a pick. Or how about Michigan St.? Here's Hiller's line - 15/37, 111 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT (14-49 loss). And now LeFevour's - 33/46, 328 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT (29-27 win). So yeah.

- Yeah, with the Texas win, everyone's talking about Colt McCoy's place in the Heisman race, but the modern Heisman is a joke. More impressive to me, and more relevant to draftism, has been the play of redshirt sophomore WR Malcolm Williams (a converted high school safety) over the last two games - 15 rec, 235 yards, 1 TD. He won't come out this year, but if he can establish a good on-field relationship with freshman QB Garrett Gilbert, he could have a huge year next year and firmly place his stock in what could be the best top tier of WRs since the 1996 draft.

Friday action

- Illinois @ #5 Cincinnati (12:00pm EST, ABC): Tony Pike returns to helm the Bearcats in just a couple minutes. Pike is coming off a non-throwing hand injury, so it will be interesting to see if his approach is any different. He's got to get in a good game this week, because Cincy has their game of the year next week against #9 Pittsburgh. Speaking of Pitt, they're the other game I'll be watching today. (I'm skipping Bama-Auburn. I've seen plenty of Alabama, and Auburn is in a down year)

- #9 Pittsburgh @ West Virginia (7:00pm EST, ESPN2): Pittsburgh is a well-built team, though they don't have any signifcant 2010 draft prospects. They do, however, have a member in the potential 2011 WR class - Jonathan Baldwin. At 6'5", 225 lbs., Baldwin has the size to dominate the college game. His problem has been consistency. He's still just a true sophomore, so he has plenty to learn. On the other side of the ball, keep an eye on OT Selvish Capers. He could be a 3rd round pick for a team looking to fill the RT spot.

Saturday action

- #24 North Carolina @ North Carolina St. (12:00pm EST, ESPN2): This is a game in which DT Marvin Austin should shine. NC St. isn't very good, and Austin needs a big game to put himself in the first round. Also keep an eye on Tarheel OLB Bruce Carter; he just announced he's staying in school, but if the Rams go into the 2011 draft looking for a stud OLB, Carter would be a hell of a land.

- Georgia @ #7 Georgia Tech (8:00pm EST, ABC): As we continue to discuss the need to find a more credible backup for Steven Jackson (highlighted by his recent back stiffness), one guy to keep an eye on is Ga. Tech's Jonathan Dwyer. Dwyer has put together another incredible season, although he has stayed under the radar behind Clemson's C.J. Spiller and Cal's Jahvid Best. Dwyer is a bit smaller than Jackson, but he is a bit faster at top speed.

Holler.

Grading the Rams: Week 11 vs. Arizona

3k — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:11:40 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Curry - AP

Browse more photos »

I'm going to leave these on the front to make sure any dissidents see them. Let's jump right in...

QB: C-

- You can fault the Oline for not giving him the space to work. You could fault the quality of the receivers for not getting open. And you can fault the inexperience of Gibson and Avery for a lack of timing or "clutch" in the red zone series near the end of the game. Still, Bulger threw inaccurate passes when they were most unacceptable, and he certainly didn't put the team on his back for a last gasp drive.

HB: A-?

-This was the most unpronounced 116 yd, 1 TD game by Steven Jackson I've ever seen. Maybe that makes it the most impressive. Outside of bouncing a run up the sidelines for 48 yards, Jackson pounded the ball for 3 yards into the heart of the Cards' D all day. You can fault the playcalling and the Oline, but you can't fault Jackson. He's incredible.

WR/TE: B-

- The combination of Avery and Gibson produced just behind what Fitzgerald and Boldin did. That deserved a hand given the protection Warner and Leinart were given. Still, they each had a shot at a TD reception that would have opened the door for a game-tying 2-point conversion, and they both failed. On one hand, it's great to see them producing something at the WR position; on the other, it's tough to see them drop the ball, literally and metaphorically. I for one am anxious to see Laurent Robinson on the field with these two. The tight ends were nonexistent - decent blocking that made no effect on the running game, and two catches for 19 yards by McMichael.

O-line: D+

- It would be too easy to credit them for stepping up the game late; this unit suffered for three quarters, and, more blatantly, were absolutely dominated in the first half. This was a serious setback for a line that had been improving for weeks.

D-line: D-

- Ignore Chris Long's sack and the shared sack between James Hall and Leonard Little; this group was embarrassed by Arizona's Oline for much of the game. Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells combined for 184 yards on 28 carries at a 6.57 yard per carry clip. IMO, more than a QB, this team needs DT and DE help to be a contender. Without it, you're asking the secondary to do too much.

LB: B-

- They made tackles. Laurinaitis finished with a team-high 16 (ridiculous), Vobora chipped in 6 and Grant added 3. They covered relatively well given the quality of the passing offense they were facing. The problem was on the D-line - you can't expect LBs to hold coverage for as long as the Dline was giving Warner and Leinart.

DB: A-

- Be surprised, but you can't argue how well the Rams limited the Fitzgerald-Boldin combo given how much time Arizona's QBs had. The secondary stepped up big time in the second half, especially in the 4th quarter. I'm starting to worry if I can keep my optimism in check if we add a slew of defenders to this team in the offseason.

ST: A

- Amendola has earned return duties in 2010, hands down. He's got the vision to do so. Josh Brown is aging, but since the opening game against Seattle, he hasn't been a problem. Donnie Jones is a Pro Bowler.

Holler at me.

The PBP: offensive line basics, and the education of Jason Smith (pt. 1)

3k — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:34:43 -0000

Alright, boys. Here's how it works. I wear the hat. That makes me the coach. You all have perfectly styled hair according to the standards of the day. That makes you football players. Oh, don't look so sad, Jimmy! If you listen and work hard, one day you might get a hat of your own.

View full size photo »

It's back to the projector, TSTers. Today, we're going to look at the offensive line, some run blocking basics, Jason Smith and what makes Pro Bowlers different than albino bowlers. Not that I have anything against albino bowlers, but I don't see why they should have their own action figure and the great OTs in the history of the NFL don't. Just saying. Oh, and Sandra Bullock.

I smell... I smell a projector. A playbook projector! KA-BOOM!

So today all begins with Sandra. Dear, Sandra...

Sandra Bullock (you're welcome)

In case you don't watch television, or read, well, anything, she's playing the lead in the new movie The Blind Side, which I have no intention of seeing probably ever. On the other hand, the book, by Michael Lewis, is a great read. Not as good IMO as Moneyball and certainly less influential, but a good read nonetheless.

The Blind Side (the important version)

The book is essentially a human story (which you of course know is the compelling and sympathy-yanking tale of Michael Oher's rise to the upper echelons of college football prospect-ery) laid on top of his analysis of the evolution of the left tackle position and its' importance at the NFL level. Here's the quick rundown:

With the advent of the forward pass, the value of the quarterback skyrocketed, especially once Bill Walsh introduced his genius to his opponents. The real risk, as evidenced by Lawrence Taylor, was that right-handed quarterbacks were very susceptible to injuries, especially career-truncating ones, if a talented pass rusher could escape the left tackle and attack a quarterback from behind, i.e. "the blind side." The amount of money being poured into quarterbacks motivated franchises to protect their investments by getting the best pass-blocking left tackles money could buy. Consider this. From 1967-1985 (the last draft before Lawrence Taylor ended Joe Theismann's career), an average of 2.68 offensive tackles were taken in the first round. AT (that's after Theismann), 3.6. On to modern times.

In the first two rounds of the 2009 draft, eight tackles were selected, with the first being Jason Smith. Of course, in drafting him, we knew were getting a bit of a project; however, that term didn't necessarily apply to his pass protection. His athleticism lent itself very naturally to pass protection in being able to slide as well as anyone at the college level. It's something he's shown a proficiency for at the NFL level. What was a concern was his run blocking. Compared to Andre Smith, considered the best run blocker in the draft, Jason Smith was about 25 lbs. lighter. With Alex Barron still holding down the LT spot, Smith's run blocking skills (or lack thereof at times) have been on full display. As Van noted recently, he (and by extension the Rams) have gotten much better as of late. Let's look at what run blocking involves and how well Jason Smith has done.

Run Blocking 101 ("I'm kind of a big deal")

Bear in mind the terms of these blocks aren't universally set, so what one person calls a double or triple-team block, others call a "wedge" block.

The Drive Block

When you think of the most basic block, you're probably thinking of the drive block. The technique is relatively simple - get under your opponent, and "drive" him back. This block is the source of the verb "to decleat" which is when you lift someone off the ground, thus removing their cleats from the turf.

The Shoulder Block

Essentially, you have three areas you can block a rusher: through the shoulder pads, through the waist, and through the thigh. Going from head to toe, or in this case chest to thigh, this is the second progression. This term is the most oft repeated one I heard in high school levels in Texas, though it's confusing. A lineman can drive block with his shoulder and he can "shoulder" block with his hands. Still, the idea is to attacks the torso of the defender to gain leverage, driving him upwards and backwards as opposed to the drive block where you attack him at the shoulder level.

The Cut Block

The most controversial of the three, the cut block is designed for the offensive lineman to put his helmet or shoulder pad through the defender's thigh. I say again - the thigh. Not the knee. When you see quarterbacks delivering "dirty" hits (say Brett Favre in the preseason, Mark Sanchez in week _ or Brady Quinn against the Ravens), announcers often times categorize it as a cut block. Even offensive linemen are afforded that leeway when it's not warranted, giving the cut block a stigma it doesn't deserve. Cut blocks are often the blocks of choice in zone blocking, but we're comparing blocking styles to schemes, so lets look at that latter category.

BLOCKING SCHEMES

The Cross Block

In a cross block, a pair of linemen essentially swap positions. The more outside lineman will cross in front first while the inside lineman slides behind:

The Fold Block

A fold block is similar to a cross block, except that it is specifically designed to release a blocker against a LB. In a fold block, the lineman blocking the defensive lineman, or "down" defensive man, will engage first while the lineman assigned to "fold" will step behind his teammate and then press forward to engage the LB:

The Scoop Block

A scoop block creates a seal on a LB by allowing the lineman closest to the down lineman to initiate contact until the second O-lineman can engage. Then, the initial lineman peels off to drive block the LB:

The Trap Block

The trap involves a couple more players. In short, the scheme pulls a lineman away from the playside (the side where the ball carrier is expected to go) to "trap" an incoming pass rusher:

Obviously, in altering any of these slightly or combing them, you get some pretty complex blocking schemes. That's what offensive coordinators and offensive line coaches get paid for. In the end, though, it's up to the players to execute...and get paid even more. In the second part of this series, we'll look at how well Jason Smith has done in applying some of these in his rookie NFL season. Here's a preview:

The Application (turning potential into protection)

Week 2 @ Washington

1st & 10 at STL 40 - 12:57, 1st Q

After Bulger hits Laurent Robinson for quick first down (sigh), the Rams set up in the shotgun for a running play to the right side. Here's how it looks presnap:

The golden arrow is pointed at Jason Smith; the maroon arrow highlights veteran DE Philip Daniels who Smith has to block. Incognito is going to double with Jason Brown to move DT Cornelius Griffin out of the way. If Smith can deal with Daniels, Steven Jackson is going to have some room. Notice I said if, because this doesn't go well:

Smith's initial move is backwards, and I don't know why. He's isolated on Daniels, so he should have engaged him. Once he makes his initial step, it gives Daniels all the room he needs. At this point, the play is pretty much a done deal:

You'll only see one arrow - that's Jason Smith trying to push Daniels somewhere, anywhere but where he is. He's already disrupted the play, and Jackson has had the ball for a step and a half:

Everyone gets piled up in the middle as the play results in a Smith-Daniels-Jackson sandwich. A loss of 1.5, and a horrible way for Smith to get his day started in the run blocking game.

Don't worry - it gets better. Much better. See you guys next time, and don't be late to class!

Ask a Rams fan

3k — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:22:44 -0000

What's good, RotBers. I wanted to stop by from Turf Show Times and answer any questions you guys might have ahead of our game this weekend. You guys have a great community here. Andrew's from this morning on who you would grab from the Rams is a great discussion to have.

In any case, hit me up with any questions you have about the Rams. This first year of the Spagnuolo-led Rams has been a tumultuous one, but it certainly has its bright spots and has slowly fostered some optimism among Rams fans for our future. Hit me up.

The Bills have signed ex-Ram TE Joe Klopfenstein

3k — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:35:24 -0000

The Bills have signed ex-Ram TE Joe Klopfenstein

Yikes. Just a quick note for thought: DE Aaron Maybin, the Bills top draft pick in the '09 draft has 6 tackles through 9 games. Detroit TE Brandon Pettigrew, who I consisently mocked to Buffalo, has 23 receptions for 262 yards so far. Yikes.

A Rams source has confirmed the team will sign wide receiver Jordan Kent this afternoon to replace...

3k — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:43:47 -0000

A Rams source has confirmed the team will sign wide receiver Jordan Kent this afternoon to replace the injured Keenan Burton.
Kent (6'4, 219) played in nine games, with one start, for Seattle last season but has no career receptions. He did have three special teams tackles.

Per 101ESPN's Brian Stull, we get the above news. (h/t Sando)

SB Nation User Blog: 3k

GBCW? Not so much.

Of course, before anyone goes out to buy a Null or Reilly jersey, bear in mind that the Rams are...

2010 prospect watch (WR edition) - Dec. 9th

1 - Dez Bryant*d, Oklahoma St. (MTD)

2 - Brandon LaFell, LSU (ESPN)

3 - Damian Williams*u, USC

4 - Mike Williams*d, Syracuse (ESPN)

5 - Arrelious Benn*u, Illinois

6 - Golden Tate*d, Notre Dame

7 - Eric Decker, Minnesota (ESPN)

8 - Dezmon Briscoe*d, Kansas

9 - Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati (ESPN)

10 - Demaryius Thomas*u, Georgia Tech ()

Missed the cut

What big board do you want to see next?

QB (v2.0)

WR (v2.0)

TE

OL

DE

DT (v2.0)

OLB

DB

Fans seeking to lynch offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur should consider this: It's becoming...

2010 prospect watch - Nov. 27th

Friday action

Saturday action

Grading the Rams: Week 11 vs. Arizona

The PBP: offensive line basics, and the education of Jason Smith (pt. 1)

Sandra Bullock (you're welcome)

The Blind Side (the important version)

Run Blocking 101 ("I'm kind of a big deal")

The Application (turning potential into protection)

Week 2 @ Washington

Ask a Rams fan

The Bills have signed ex-Ram TE Joe Klopfenstein

The Bills have signed ex-Ram TE Joe Klopfenstein

A Rams source has confirmed the team will sign wide receiver Jordan Kent this afternoon to replace...

1 - Dez Bryant*^d, Oklahoma St. (MTD)

3 - Damian Williams*^u, USC

4 - Mike Williams*^d, Syracuse (ESPN)

5 - Arrelious Benn*^u, Illinois

6 - Golden Tate*^d, Notre Dame

8 - Dezmon Briscoe*^d, Kansas

10 - Demaryius Thomas*^u, Georgia Tech ()