As we enter into the camp phase of the offseason, there are many roster spots yet to be won. It is tough to decide on a lot of these, but here's my early take on how the offensive position battles will shape up and who I think is the favorite to win.

Continue reading this post »

        As you all know, the Rams selected two similar type receivers.  I was not happy with them at first, but as I looked further into them, and took some time to think about it, I like the picks (even if I thought they could/should have been used on other positions).  While looking at these receivers, it also gave me an idea of who the Rams will keep and who they will cut.

Continue reading this post »

Rams acquire former first round pick Mark Clayton for "late round considerations."  Clayton is a guy I like.  He's not a big guy, (5'10'' 195 lbs) but he is an experienced veteran that can get open.  I like this better than Housh, which ironically is how we got him.  The Ravens had acquired Anquan Boldin, TJ Houshmanzadeh, and Donte Stallworth, making the need for Clayton very small.  We picked him up for cheap and now we have our experienced WR.  I like the move.  I think he will help our young WRs blossom, and I think he will help Bradford.   No word on the corresponding move.  I can only assume Curry is gone.

[Update]: Rams will get Mark Clayton and a future undisclosed pick and the Rams give up a future undisclosed pick.

Yesterday was the deadline to cut rosters down to 53 players.  Now there are over 700 players on the opening market.  The Rams should be interested in at least a couple of those 700+ players.  They should especially be interested in a running back that could be an improvement over Darby/Toston.

We have already added a couple of players to our practice squad.  WR Danario Alexander has been added as many expected.  Also Mortty Ivy, LB from the Panthers, has been added to our practice squad. 

Many were surprised by the release of Quincy Butler yesterday, well he has already been claimed by the Browns.

On the running back front, Andre Brown has been signed by the Broncos. 

In an unrelated note, Dan LeFevour claimed by the Bengals.

I was thinking this could be an open thread for all transactions that happen in the NFL today.

This isn't a trick

Adam Schefter Tweets:

Filed to ESPN: Rams reached agreement w/ Sam Bradford on a six-year, $78 million deal with $86 mil max value that includes $50 million guaranteed

I don't get the dollars.  50 million guaranteed, 78 million, with 86 max value.  So I'm guessing the 78 million will be roster bonuses and the 86 million  will be performance bonuses.  Not sure but that seems to make sense.  To me at least.

Finally.  Ton of money, but hopefully it will be worth it.

We'll get our first taste of Sam tomorrow.

There's really not one central theme to this post, just a bunch of small things I've noticed and/or want to say about the Rams while I'm awaiting the signing of Sam Bradford.

Continue reading this post »

Everyone is writing the Rams off as the worse team in the league. I don’t think that is the case. I think the team that is most likely to pick ahead of us next year is the Buffalo Bills. Here’s why:

Continue reading this post »

Many, including myself, would argue that the Rams do not have a very good front seven, mainly the D-line.  That may not be entirely true.  The Rams have made many changes to their front seven this year.  None of them will make huge impacts and collapsing the pocket and getting to the QB.  But if you look at all of the pieces, almost everyone's strength in the front seven is defending the run.  I think we could have a pretty good run defense this year.  I will look at all the pieces of the front seven.

Continue reading this post »

Alright. The Rams have a lot of improving to do as we all know.  Here are 10 things that could lead us to some success this year.  They are not numbered in any particular order (except for maybe 1) because they are all very important.

10. O-line- Tackles are the biggest key.  If Jason Smith can come back and give a healthy, productive season at LT, we will be in good shape.  Saffold is also important.  He needs to play immediately and do well.I think Fraley/Greco will be able to hold down the RG spot and I feel comfortable with the rest of the interior.

9.  Steven Jackson’s health and backup RB- Not much needs to be said about the importance of a healthy Steven Jackson.  What could prove to be even more important is having a decent backup RB, or the lack of a decent backup RB.  If we sign Westbrook, I’m guessing we have Jackson, Westbrook, and Ogbannaya as our RBs.  Toston may be a practice squad guy.  I also like DeMaundray Woolridge and hope he can stick on the roster or at least practice squad.

8.  Darell Scott-  Darell Scott could be a huge difference maker.  If he really shows up, our line could be a whole lot better with some interior pressure.  If he doesn’t really do anything our D-line could be in trouble.  Unless:

7.  Veteran DTs- These two kind of go together.  One of the two veterans need to step up if Darell Scott does not.   We just need one of these (Robbins or Hovan) guys to play really well.  If two or more of them do itd be a whole lot better as we could get a really good rotation going.  Gary Gibson doesn’t make the team and Clifton Ryan plays about like he has in the past in this situation.  Scott, Hovan, Robbins and Ryan are the DTs I predict.

6.  Rookie DE’s-  The Rams drafted three rookie DE’s.  I can’t see all three making the team and I’d guess Hall Davis and George Selvie will be the two that make it.  I see Sims as a practice squad guy this year.  If either one of these rookies can provide pressure opposite Chris Long, it will go a long way to helping our defense.   I’m predicting the DE’s are Long, Hall, Selvie, Davis, and Ah You.  Sorry Adeyanju, I don’t know if you’re going to make it. 

5. Chris Long- Chris Long needs to have a good year if our defense is going to have any success.  We need to get pressure on the QB for our defense to be effective.  That is why the first 4 keys to this season are all D-line

4.  Rookie TEs- Michael Hoomanawanui sounds like he is winning a job this year and is looking to be a great draft pick.  I think he could be a key contributor in  both protecting Sam Bradford and giving him a big target in the short passing game.  And of course there’s Fendi Onobun.  I love this guy and think he’s a real boom or bust player.  He’s big and fast.  He could turn into the next Antonio Gates, or be out of the league in a couple years.  If he really shows up and plays well, he could be a huge piece for the future of this team.  I predict the TEs will be Daniel Fells, Billy Bajema, Michael Hoomanawanui, and Fendi Onobun.   I don’t know if we will carry four TEs but I wouldn’t mind it.  If I had to get rid of one I would probably get rid of Bajema, then Fells, then Onobun, then Hoomanawanui.  Unless Onobun shows that he’s completely useless then we could get rid of him, which I don’t think will be the case.  I think Darcy Johnson will have a short-lived Ram career.  Eric Butler has about a .0002% chance of making the team.

3.  Secondary-  I really like our secondary this year.  I like it even better if it has Atogwe, which it is looking more likely that it might.  It is physical, talented, and deep.  If Bradley Fletcher can bounce back from injury and keep developing into what he showed flashes of in his time last year, our secondary is a lot stronger.  Jerome Murphy is another good addition.  Bartell I think will play better if he avoids the nagging injuries.   I think the secondary is the strength of this team albeit with a few question marks.  Kevin Payne, Craig Dahl, OJ Atogwe, and James Butler give us plenty of depth at safety.   

2.  WRs- Namely, Laurent Robinson.  If he can prove to be a go to guy like he showed last year before he got hurt, it will help us a ton.  Mardy Gilyard I think will emerge as our main slot receiver.  I think he may even  lead the team in receptions this year.  Brandon Gibson will be a possession type will be the fourth receiver I’m guessing.   The rest of the corps is tough to predict.  If we keep six, I think we’ll keep Robinson, Avery, Gilyard, Gibson, Foster, and Curry.  I think Burton and Amendola could easily be interchangeable with Foster and Curry.  Curry might stick on the practice squad.  That leaves McRae and Kent out for sure.  I think it will be tough to decide between those first eight I mentioned.

1.  Who do you think?- Sam Bradford is by far the biggest key to the success of this season.  First of all, he has to get on the field and stay on the field.  I don’t know when he’ll earn the starting job from Feely, but when he does, he needs to stay healthy.   I think he could have some decent success right away in our WC offense.   And I’m just reading that Bradford is expected to start by week 3 or 4 at the latest.  That estimate seems like all speculation but I can’t see us waiting much longer than that.

So if all these things turn out to be the absolute best case scenarios, we could easily win the Superbowl, as long as all these things work out perfectly and we have zero injuries.   Some of my biggest worries are lack of O-line depth, mostly the tackle position, and lack of backup RB.  DT will probably be a need again next year, although we may have enough to get us through the year.  This turned out to be more keys than I planned on, but a couple of them could be combined.

Here is a link to my projected roster for the beginning of the season.  It is also below. A couple of the backup O-lineman are pretty much guesses, but I have it narrowed down to the 55 players that I think have the best shot to make the roster as the season opens.  To cut it down to 53, I'd probably get rid of an O-lineman and a LB.

RT-                                                          TE-

Rodger Saffold                                   Daniel Fells

Phil Trautwein                                    Billy Bajema

                                                              Michael Hoomanawanui

                                                              Fendi Onobun

I was just thinking today about our receiving corps and how it lacks a true big #1 wide receiver.  Then I thought about Pat Shurmer's history with the Eagles and how they've never really had a big #1 receiver and have been very successful with the smaller receivers, just like what we have.  After the jump is every Eagle that had at least 15 receptions in a season and their height and weight.

Continue reading this post »

As many of you know, we have a 3rd- year CB named Justin King and we have a defensive minded coach named Spags.  Spags is more known for his D-line but I'm curious to see what he can make out of Justin King.

Continue reading this post »