Category Archives: Los Angeles Rams
Transcript Of McVay;Snead Pre-Draft Pres Conference
Rams’ GM Les Snead and Head Coach Sean McVay held a pre-draft press conference on Tuesday. The following is an excerpt from the transcript which appeared on TheRams.com
(On how needs of the team play into building the draft board and when needs override best player available)
Snead:
“I think you always try to set your board with not taking needs into play. Obviously, if you really need something, you might be desperate and then all of the sudden, you’re making players better than what they are. So you try to do that, for sure. I always say this, ‘Best player available is always speculative.’ That’s our best player available, time will tell – it’s usually about three years later whether you were right. But I do think there’s a blend of common sense in this thing where there are some definite needs that will help us as a team in 2017 and the future. Then, there are some times where, guess what, a really good football player falls that may not be your A or B need, but you can always use a really good football player, especially if there’s buy-in and he’s going to start and help us. It’s a blend of that, I think.”
McVay:
“Yeah, I think exactly what Les said. When you look at free agency and the draft, you certainly evaluate your own roster and then you develop your needs based on your evaluation of your current players in place. I think the thing that he said that is critical is that you do have needs, but you don’t want to overreach for a need – meaning, if you have a specific player valued at that spot and you don’t get a certain guy at that spot, you don’t then go to the next guy because of it being a need. But I think when you look at it, there’s a certain position that might have a little bit more depth at, you’ll lean towards that need. But I don’t think you want to reach for it. He and his staff have don’t an excellent job of being able to listen to our coaching staff’s evaluation of our current players that we have and how that dictates and determines how we’ll move forward, both on offense and defense and with ‘Bones’ (Special Teams Coordinator John Fassel) on special teams. And I feel very good about where we’re at, collectively, as an organization, going into Thursday.”
The Rams Sign Four Defensive Linemen
On Tuesday, the Rams signed three defensive linemen Nate Bain. The Rams signed Matt Longacre, Louis Trina-Pasat, Ethan Westbrook.
DE Longacre has been with the Rams since 2015 after be signed as undrafted free agent. Last year he made six tackles in 2016.
DT Trina-Pasat was signed with the Rams in 2015.
DT Westbrook signed franchise tender with the Rams. The Rams signed him as undrafted free agent in 2014. and then to the active roster later that year in August. He has 24 tackles and 2 sacks in 2016.
You can read Bain’s article on the Rams website by clicking here.
Myles Simmons of the Rams Insider reported on Wednesday that Rams exercised the fifth-year option trust that will keep Donald a Ram until 2018.
The Rams Add Two More Players
The Rams remain active during this year’s period of free agency by adding more players. Yesterday, they add center John Sullivan who played for Rams head coach Sean McVay at Washington. Now today they sign LB/DE Carlos Thompson.
Center John Sullivan
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| Former Redskin now Ram John Sullivan- photo by Mark J.
Rebilas USA Today Sports |
Sullivan was drafted by the Vikings in 2009. He played for them until 2014. He spent 2015 out of football because of a back injury. He signed with Washington in 2016 after being released by the Vikings. This information comes from the Associated Press.
Click here to proceed the CBS Los Angeles website for the complete story.
Carlos Thompson
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| Former Texan LB/DE Carlos Thompson Photo Scout.com
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Thompsom played for one season for the Texans in 2015. He signed with the team as a undrafted free agent and played in two games and made two tackles. He was released in August of 2016.
For the complete story click here to proceed to the Turf ShowTimes website.
The Rams Need to Pass Over These Box Defenses to Todd Gurley for Him to Be Effective
Since the Rams have such a problem getting the running game going, why don’t they start targeting Todd Gurley as a receiver? This idea comes from Rams News’ Alden Gonzalez. I like this idea, but I would add to it, also. I would like to see Benny Cunningham and more play action plays involved as well. This should put a burn to these box defenses so bent on stopping Gurley.
Let’s face the fact that the Rams will be facing many teams that will be playing some form of a box defense to prevent the Rams from running Todd Gurley and trying force them to pass. Well, then we give them what they want until they choke on it.
Look I don’t like playing one-dimensional football by living by the pass, but the reality is the running game is off the table at least by using Todd Gurley. So, develop more passing plays that will get the ball in Gurley’s hands. Then he can put his moves on opposing players.
These are just a couple of suggestions. I sure that I will think of a few more.
Fitzpatrick NJ Home for Rent: Could This Mean That The Jets Could Come Knocking On The Rams’ Door?
Normally, I would have let this story go by, because it has nothing to do with the Rams. Yet, taken the Rams will have to move their quarterback Nick Foles, well could mean something.
The Daily News’ Mike Matvey has this story. He writes that apparently Jets’ quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has his house for rent. How does this affect the Rams? Well, I wrote a couple of posts concerning the stalemate in negotiations between free agent Fitzpatrick and the Jets, and judging from the for rent sign, the Jets maybe in need of a quarterback and a team willing to move one.
As of right now, the Rams need to either cut or trade Foles while the Jets need a quarterback. We will have to watch for any rumors concerning the Rams and Jets talking.
The Rams and Nick Foles are on the same page: He’s a Dead Man Walking
Remember back in the winter of 2015 when the Rams and the Eagles swapped their starting? The often injured Sam Bradford went to the Eagles and the Rams received Nick Foles in return. There was aRams quarterback Nick Foles by 101sports.com
honeymoon period between the Rams and their newly acquired quarterback. He impressed him so much that they gave him a contract extension. Well, honeymoons do end and their realities of the marriages begin to take over and you the person that you married has been taken over by some monstrous beast.
The regular season left the Rams in that same predicament. They thought they had a superstar. Someone, who would breathe new life into their almost dead offense. Instead, Foles turned out to be so bad that they pulled him late in and replaced with Case Keenum. Unfortunately, they pulled him to late in the season to even be able to try salvage it and at least end up and have their first winning season since the early 2000’s.
This all took place back in St Louis, but now, that they are in Los Angles things there seems that the marriage between the Rams and Foles seem to be ending. Right now, I would call this a separation before their divorce. Foles has been avoiding the voluntary OTAs. Why has he been avoiding them?
Because the Rams have found a new interest in younger quarterback named Jared Goff. Yes, Foles has been replaced.
Let me add that it is not only Goff that seems to be pushing out of the Rams’ home but also another quarterback named Dylan Thompson. He signed with the forty-niners last year as an undrafted free agent to their practice squad. They released him last month. Thompson could find a spot on this team should the Rams cut or trade Foles.
At this point, a divorce looks to be on the horizon, and Foles is helping to become a reality by avoiding OTAs.
I would like to share what head coach Jeff Fisher has to say about Foles avoiding OTAs.
“We’re on the same page and trying to work things out.” Said Fisher after the team’s workout. “That’s all I can say…” He adds “We talked again,” Fisher said. “I think Nick has the feeling that if things stay the same, he’s probably not going to be on the roster.” Josh Webb’s article at the LA Rams Report. Here is link to that article.
Fisher does also mention that the OTAs are voluntary and they have three quarterbacks to give reps. Fisher’s comment about Foles not making the roster fits nicely with his comment about them on the same page when you think about it. The Rams want Foles gone and he knows that they want him gone. I say they are pretty much on the same page.
Though I must be honest with you, I think the decision that the marriage between the Rams and Foles had been over since the end of last year. He showed them that he could not be trusted that is to run their offense. What makes me think so? Recalled that Rams’ GM Les Snead declared that Case Keenum would be the starting quarterback and not the incumbent Nick Foles. Even though this would be later walked back to going into preseason, it shows that there had been a discussion and decision made that Keenum had been chosen over Foles. Then the persistent pre-draft trade rumors involving Foles. Again even though they never materialized, the team never denied them nor was there no reassurance to Foles that he was still welcomed.
Yes, there is enough evidence that the marriage between the Rams and Foles will be ending in a divorce anytime now. The Rams have four quarterbacks now in OTAs and it is pretty crowded. Now if you add a fifth quarterback, it will be over crowded. Someone will be gone before camp and that person will be Foles and he knows that he will be the one gone from the team because he already admitted it. So, sometime between now and training camp he will be gone either by trade or cut. As for the money the Rams owe him well is another topic for another post.
Damn if You Do, Damn if You Don’t; the Plight of Fisher and Snead
The Los Angeles Rams traded all their 2016 draft picks to get the Tennesse Titans’ coveted first pick. While we all should be happy and full of hope, but the opposite has happened.
This Titans’ coveted pick cost the Rams their four picks in 2016 draft and their first and third in 2017.
With the first pick, the Rams most likely be picking a quarterback which should make the people who want a franchise quarterback happy but alas. These people just found another reason to tear into Jeff Fisher and Les Snead.
While they have a point of contention, here with the cost of losing draft picks, but how else do expect to get a franchise quarterback? Do they expect one to just pop up of the air by magic?
No, the reality is that it cost to have a shot a franchise quarterback, but this just somehow escapes them.
For, I don’t know how many times, I have heard the cries for a franchise quarterback, and now I hear complaints about the cost of getting one.
It is not just the cost, but they are now complaining about whether these the quarterbacks in this draft are worth the cost. Is any player worth what they cost to obtain them? In a trade or a draft, you are taking a risk. The risk is what you take to improve your team.
So, as far as I am concern these people just want to complain period.
Are the Los Angeles Rams Really Interested in The Texans’ Brian Hoyer or is There More?
I became very aggravated after reading a post that I received from Brandon Bates of Turf Show Times. Click here for the link to that post. Well according to Rams Wire, the Rams may be interested in the Houston Texans’ journeyman quarterback Brian Hoyer. Let’s be accurate when we describe Hoyer because he is journeymen. This man has taken his nonexistent act of playing quarterback to five teams in seven years. This man has worn is welcome out as Felix Unger. That last remark is for those who remember the sitcom “The Odd Couple.”
My last remark also describes his current situation with the Texans as per Ian Rapoport. (the following remarks made Rapoport does not come from the Turf Show Times post. It comes from this Roto World link.)
Per Rapsheet, “both sides sound OK with a fresh start.” The Texans have tried to claim this wasn’t the case, but it’s been the obvious endgame since they lavished $72 million on Brock Osweiler. Due $5.25 million in the final year of his contract, Hoyer can likely be acquired for a day-three draft pick. His status may not be resolved until Ryan Fitzpatrick and Colin Kaepernick know their 2016 fates. Mar 29 – 7:11 PM
Anybody can have Hoyer for third round pick, so whether it is the Rams or whoever wants him for a third round pick. If you read the first link I gave, the post mentioned this tweet.
Had heard a whisper the #Rams might look in this direction.#Jets & #Broncos names will get thrown out there, too.https://twitter.com/SInow/status/715185976029683712 …
The Jets also have an interest in Hoyer in case their already arduous negotiations with Ryan Fitzpatrick implode. Also, a trade or force retirement will be the way to settle the Colin Kaepernick situation, and from my point of view, a trade won’t happen. The Forty-Niners’ owner will want your first born for Kaepernick thus taking him out of the picture.
Now only Ryan Fitzpatrick stands in the way of moving Hoyer. Fitzpatrick and the Jets are at an impasse. How do you break this impasse? By forcing Fitzpatrick back to the table by using Hoyer.
In theory, this plan should work for the Jets, but this is not theory. Not only do the Jets want Hoyer, but also the Broncos who lost Osweiler to the Texans. So now, the Jets are in bidding war with the Broncos while also trying to break the stalled negotiations with Fitzpatrick.
Now, this how the Rams fit. If you look at the wording of Albright’s tweet. He mentioned that the Rams might be interested in Hoyer. He did not tweet they were interested. Also, Albright is a Denver-based radio host, so where do you think his allegiance will fall. Also, the Rams’ owner Stan Kroenke and the Broncos’ owner Pat Bowlen are friends. And, the twist to this is that Albright who tweeted the rumor is known to have the Rams pegged in the past. This makes him the perfect delivery person to float this rumor.
So, I think the Rams’ interest in Hoyer is to heighten the bidding war to drive the Jets away Hoyer.
Of course , this is just my theory and I could be wrong and there is truth to this rumor then I have some advice for the Rams. Keep their pick for the draft and not waste it on Hoyer. Any trading of picks that I want to see is for the purpose of drafting a quarterback.
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