Most "hyped" Rams players heading into 2019 Training Camp

The off-seasons most "hyped" up LA Rams players


HYPE (noun)
1. extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion.
2. promote or publicize (a product or idea) intensively, often exaggerating its importance or benefits.



We all know every NFL team has a handful of players that get more off-season media coverage or "hype" prior to the beginning of training camp and the new season.

The hype can be negative or positive depending on star power, injury history or simply stepping in some big shoes for the departed players' that they're replacing.

Some of the more talked about players are young second and third year veterans hoping to breakout and make a name for themselves. Others are veteran free agents added to improve rosters and possibly help change a teams culture.

For obvious reasons rookies can often be the most hyped because they are the shiny new additions and crucial team building blocks. Big name free agents also tend to get the lions share of the media coverage.

No matter what the motives, narratives or reasons that spark the off-season media and fan interest, some players and position groups will always get more publicity whether it's a negative or positive spin.

NFL Training camps are about to start soon and all of us have certain players we are keeping a close eye on that have gotten some degree of hype or attention during the off-season.

I know these were not the only talked about Rams players leading up the start of training camp, but they seemed to garner lots of coverage, chatter or some type of speculation from fans and NFL beat writers.

I assume most all of you remember the narratives and tid-bits from these articles that I chose to post in this training camp presentation.

I thought this would be a good refresher to select the more relevant write-ups since we're all getting pumped for another Rams training camp to officially begin on July 27, 2019.

Below in no particular order, I compiled a list of Rams players that received some off-season hype for various and obvious reasons.













Most "Hyped" players on the Los Angeles Rams heading into the 2019 NFL Training Camp.


ILB #59 Micah KISER "man in the middle"

He’s penciled in as Mark Barron’s replacement at inside linebacker, starting next to Cory Littleton.

Kiser has been taking first-team reps on defense, which is a good sign for his chances of being a key player in 2019.

“One of the things that you loved about him was the instincts, the awareness, the ability to anticipate – especially when so much of defense is reactionary based on some of things you can gather before the snap and then once that thing happens post-snap, it’s how quickly can I adapt and adjust based on whatever that call is defensively and what the offensive set, whether running it or throwing it dictates,” McVay said.

“When he played in the preseason games last year, he was active. He’s one of those guys, you hear us talk about it all the time, you feel players on defense. He arrives, he’s violent, he gets guys down in a hurry,” McVay said.

“I think Joe Barry does a great job getting all these inside linebackers up to speed and really having an ownership of the system and Micah’s definitely showing why he’s a pro and he’s gotten a lot better in Year 2 and we’re looking forward to seeing it translate when we actually play real football
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

“I think for where he is in his career and where we need him, it’ll be in those first and second-down plays for sure,” Phillips said of Kiser’s role during the offseason program.

“Cory is such a good coverage guy and then we’ve got a lot of safeties that can come in and help us on third downs, so I think his main role certainly right now will be first and second down as a base defensive player.”

And part of the reason why Phillips feels Kiser can be successful in that role is how he excelled on special teams — much like Littleton did for his first two years before transitioning to a full-time linebacker.

“Micah showed a lot of things last year, he came in, you always have high hopes I think, and he basically only got to play special teams. He was one of our best special teamers — you know Cory Littleton also went that path too, and turned out to be really good backer, and I think Micah is going in the same direction,” Phillips said.

“When they show things, they show the ability to get to the football on special teams and they carry it over to defense and he moves well, he’s a smart player, and he’s had a really good spring. He’s fit in really well.”
[www.therams.com]

“I think for where he is in his career and where we need him, it’ll be in those first and second-down plays for sure,” Phillips said of Kiser’s role during the offseason program.

“Cory is such a good coverage guy and then we’ve got a lot of safeties that can come in and help us on third downs, so I think his main role certainly right now will be first and second down as a base defensive player.”

And part of the reason why Phillips feels Kiser can be successful in that role is how he excelled on special teams — much like Littleton did for his first two years before transitioning to a full-time linebacker.

“Micah showed a lot of things last year, he came in, you always have high hopes I think, and he basically only got to play special teams. He was one of our best special teamers — you know Cory Littleton also went that path too, and turned out to be really good backer, and I think Micah is going in the same direction,” Phillips said.

“When they show things, they show the ability to get to the football on special teams and they carry it over to defense and he moves well, he’s a smart player, and he’s had a really good spring. He’s fit in really well.”

Micah Kiser, now in his second year after spending most of his rookie year on special teams, got a bunch of snaps with the first-team defense during OTAs. And while he looks bigger and stronger from this time a year ago – he more than looked the starter’s part during practice.

The depth behind Littleton and Kiser is mostly thin, save for Bryce Hager, a veteran backup who can provide capable work in short stints. It opens the door for youngsters such as Travin Howard, in whom the Rams invested a year of development last season, and rookie Dakota Allen, who they drafted in the seventh round this year out of Texas Tech.

The Rams were noticeably quiet on the ILB front during the offseason, which leads you to believe they’re comfortable that a combination of Kiser and others will adequately man the position.

Keep in mind, also, the amount of time they spend in their base defense is not extensive. Whatever learning curve Kiser might experience in pass coverage can be mitigated by sub-package looks, in which he yields his spot to a defensive back. [theathletic.com]


TE #81 Gerald EVERETT "turning heads"

Everett made a strong impression throughout the offseason program, including an emphasis on improving as a blocker, Clarence Dennis of the Rams' official website reports.

"I think the game's slowing down for Everett," coach Sean McVay said. "He's playing with some patience, he's got great aggressive hands where he can step to the football.

I think you're just seeing a guy gain confidence, gain experience."Tight end Gerald Everett seemed to make an impact play every day during OTAs and plenty of people noticed.

And now ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry has named Everett the surprise standout of the spring. From Thiry:

A second-round pick in 2017, Everett has had a few standout moments in his young career, including a 39-yard catch in the NFC Championship Game, but he has not been consistently called upon in coach Sean McVay's offense.

Through the offseason program, Everett was a clear standout as a target for quarterback Jared Goff. "He's just continuing to progress and take steps." McVay said.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Gerald Everett when the Los Angeles Rams selected him in the second round of the 2017 draft. He was their first selection of the draft and with Sean McVay coming aboard as a former tight ends coach, many thought he’d have a big rookie season.

He didn’t, and you could argue that he has yet to break out after two seasons. Surely, Year 3 will bring Everett’s best season yet, right? That’s the hope, and based on his comments, he’s becoming a more complete tight end in the Rams offense.

“I feel like a better version of myself in reference to last year,” Everett said, via the Rams’ official site. “Just older, a little bit wiser on the field, just more of a complete pro.

And I feel like I’m a way better blocker than I was last year, so just feeling like an actual tight end now more so than just a receiving tight end.”
[www.therams.com]

Gerald Everett played almost half the snaps that teammate Tyler Higbee did, but he outperformed him over the course of the season. Everett had the edge as a receiver in both yardage totals and grades, but it’s his improvement as a blocker that could elevate Everett’s playing time next season.

After mustering 54.7 run-blocking grade in his rookie year, Everett ended the 2018 campaign with a run-blocking grade of 76.3 which far outpaced Higbee – who is typically considered the team’s blocking specialist.

When he was targeted in 2018, Everett was fine, generating a 99.3 passer rating when targeted and going for a first down on more than half of his receptions (17 of 33).

That said, he wasn’t targeted much, with only 3.0 target per game in a Rams offense that focused more on its receivers than it did on its tight ends.

And there’s every reason to expect that to continue in 2019, with few changes in personnel on the Los Angeles offense, which is why Everett’s fantasy stock is essentially nonexistent.

2017 Overall Grade: 53.1,
2018 Overall Grade: 82.5.

Everett finished the 2018 season as our fourth-highest graded tight end, exactly one season after he ranked 50th out of 51 qualified tight ends as a struggling rookie.

The Rams’ 2017 second-round pick caught 97.4% of the catchable passes thrown his way as an NFL sophomore after he hauled in just 70.8% of catchable passes as a rookie, and he showed tremendous improvement as a run blocker, as he ranked fourth in the league last season with a 76.3 run-blocking grade, a grade that was over 20.0 points higher than the 54.6 run-blocking grade he earned as a rookie.
[www.pff.com]


RB #30 Todd GURLEY "arthritic knee"

Arthritis might mean bone-on-bone action, or at least a lack/deterioration of cartilage in and around the knee.

Short term it is obviously creating some problems, and long term it could be a major issue for Gurley.

Such an injury would be scary for the Rams because Gurley recently signed a hefty, $60 million extension. That contract is fresh enough and legit enough that the Rams don't have a realistic out until 2022.

Gurley will be locked into a total of $34.5 million guaranteed in money by the third day of the league year (by virtue of a $5 million base salary for 2019 that becomes fully guaranteed) plus another $9.5 million guaranteed for injury. That's a lot of cheese.
[www.cbssports.com]

Speculation over Todd Gurley's left knee injury, which hampered him down the stretch of the 2018 season, does not trouble the running back. As Gurley told reporters Tuesday, he's dealt with much worse before.

"I had bigger problems to worry about coming out of college," Gurley said Tuesday at the start of Rams mandatory minicamp.

"This is small." The Rams running back is referencing his injuries while at the University of Georgia from 2012 through 2014.

Gurley missed three games in 2013 with a high ankle sprain and most notably suffered a torn ACL in his left knee, the same one that was bothering him last season, in November 2014

Given all that, dealing with an reportedly arthritic knee -- or more accurately, reports of an arthritic knee don't bother Gurley none.

"I've be hearing stuff all my life. Just whatever growing up. Hearing comments or whatever that is. All of the stuff don't really get to me," Gurley said. "I feel like I do a great job, got a great supporting cast.

It's football. It's the game I've been playing my whole life, so it's nothing new to me. I know what I'm capable of. I know what type of person I am. No big deal to me."
[www.nfl.com]


Safety #32 Eric WEDDLE

Now in his 13th season, Weddle showed very little signs of decline last year with the Ravens while being an impact player both in the pass and run games.

According to Pro Football Focus, Weddle surrendered just 111 yards in pass coverage and was particularly effective when lined up against wide receivers, allowing just a 57.0 passer rating in those matchups.

Of his 68 total tackles, 54 were solo, and according to PFF, he missed on only five of 78 tackle attempts.

Weddle’s intellect fits perfectly on a Rams defense loaded with savvy defenders, and his communication at the back end of the defense will benefit the entire unit and guard against breakdowns.

His ability to line up as a potential pass rusher, only to drop back in pass coverage while waving teammates into position, creates nightmare situations for quarterbacks trying to read potential holes in pass coverage.

Weddle’s presence will also allow Phillips the confidence and freedom to use Johnson in even more ways than he did last season.

Weddle is also durable, having played all 16 regular-season games in nine of his 12 years and never playing less than 13 in any of them.

His 1078 defensive snaps in 2018 were the 14th-most at the position, while his 3193 snaps over the past three years are the seventh-most among safeties in that span.

As if that wasn’t impressive enough, his overall career grade of 94.7 ranks first among 253 safeties with at least 1000 snaps in the PFF era, while his run-defense grade of 95.1 and his coverage grade of 94.1 rank second and third, respectively.
[www.pff.com]

“He’s just an all-around player, he can do it all,” Johnson said when the team introduced Weddle as a Los Angeles Ram in mid-March.

“He blitzes, he can cover, he can play the middle post so he can do it all.

Phillips praised Weddle for the safety’s high-level knowledge of what L.A. wants to get done defensively when it comes to concepts, citing one instance in particular.

Phillips said during Los Angeles’ minicamp. “Weddle especially, I think in the secondary gives you a lot of things that you can do as far as changes and working against our offense, which gives you a lot of problems.”

The 71-year-old defensive coordinator pointed out a play where the offense sent a receiver in motion.

In Los Angeles’ scheme, the cornerback should’ve followed across the formation — but this time, it didn’t happen. “So Weddle went over and took his place and then hollered at him to go and take his place,” Phillips said.

“It’s those kinds of things that you don’t normally see, most players they just play their position, but he understood the concept and said, ‘Hey, he didn’t have to go, so I’ll go, but he needs to go back where I was.’ That’s what he adds, certainly.”

That’s the kind of veteran experience that can make a difference for key on-field situations.

In a recent interview, Everett was asked about facing Weddle in practice and how much it helps him develop into a better player. He was quick to offer praise for the veteran safety, marveling at his football intelligence and agreeing with Marcus Peters that Weddle is a “genius.”

“He is. He’s almost like having a McVay on defense,” Everett said. “He’s giving me some of the best looks I’ve ever seen. To see him out here and compete, I can’t say enough. I’m happy.

“I know for sure I won’t see guys like that on most game days, at least. He’s switching up his looks and giving me the best look I could possibly see and just letting me work around it.”
[www.therams.com]


RB #27 Darrell HENDERSON "rookie"

"Darrell Henderson is an awesome fit with the Rams," Chris Trapasso said on Wednesday's Pick Six Podcast, as he joined host Will Brinson to break down the NFL's best and worst rookie fits.

He's not someone who's super shifty, not gonna make five guys miss, but in Sean McVay's zone-blocking scheme, he'll make a cut and go.

"Henderson racked up 3,545 yards rushing at the University of Memphis. He averaged 8.9 yards per carry in each of the past two seasons.

"Henderson can be that 11 carries for 90 yards and a TD guy, a home run hitter, low volume but high efficiency."
[www.cbssports.com]

Yards per carry is an imperfect metric that fails to divorce offensive line play from running back play. Yards after contact per attempt, however, adds more context and gives a more accurate representation of a runner’s ability with the ball in his hands, independent of the blocking in front of him.

Since we began tracking college players in 2014, there have been 1,332 instances of a running back totaling at least 65 carries in a single season.

Of those 1,332 seasons, Henderson’s 2018 season (on 214 attempts) ranks best in yards after contact per attempt (6.16). His 2017 season (on 128 attempts) ranks second-best (5.60).

Among all running back seasons with at least 200 carries, Henderson’s 2018 season is 21.8% better than the next-best season on record.

15.2% of Henderson’s career carries gained 15 or more yards (tied for first in this class) and 62.9% of his career rushing yardage has come on carries of 15 or more yards (first in this class).

Henderson never reached 25 receptions in a single season in college, but I’m optimistic regarding his long-term receiving potential.

Among all 67 qualifying Division I running backs with over 75 career targets since 2014, Henderson ranks seventh-best (and best in the class) in career depth-adjusted yards per target (2.71). Henderson wasn’t just catching dumpoffs out of the backfield either – last season he ran 22 routes lined up in the slot as a receiver.
[www.pff.com]

“Well, I played Pee Wee ball and little league, and broke records in little league,” Henderson said in an interview with the Rams this week.

“Then I got to high school — I broke records in high school. Then I went to Memphis and I got records there. And it’s just been a humbling experience, and it just goes to show that hard work pays off.”

“I mean, it’s good. It’s a special opportunity, and it’s a great opportunity,” Henderson said. “But at the end of the day, I’ve flushed everything and try to stay focused because it’s easy to get big-headed and start messing up, and lose all the opportunities that you could have.”

Henderson has appreciated the way the coaches and veteran players have embraced him to aid in that process — particularly fellow running back Todd Gurley.

“It was a pretty good moment. He just told me to be ready to work,” Henderson said of the draft-night message. “And I talked to him yesterday, he was like, ‘Don’t be afraid to mess up, because the more you mess up, the more you learn from it.’

“It shows you that this organization takes pride in team bonding. And for him to do that — something that he didn’t have to do — was a great opportunity for me.”

So as the offseason program continues, Henderson is looking to keep his head down and prove he’s one of the players who can make an impact at the NFL level.

“I bring hard work,” Henderson said, “I’m a humble person, and I think I just fit in with this organization because I fit what they do.”
[www.therams.com]


LB #52 Clay MATTHEWS "rejuvenated"

Matthews signed a two-year, $9.2 million contract with the Rams in March to end an illustrious decade-long run with the Packers that included six Pro Bowls, a franchise-record 83.5 sacks, and a Super Bowl win.

But, after posting a career-low 3.5 sacks in 16 games last season, the 33-year-old pass rusher is showing signs of age and heads into what could be a pivotal season for his career:

Matthews’s contract contains $5.5 million in guarantees, but another underwhelming performance could precipitate a short stay with the Rams. If released after this year, Matthews would cost the team just $2 million in dead cap in 2020 while saving the team $3.75 million.

It’s not hard to see the former Packer rebounding in L.A. this year, though. His sack numbers dipped last year, but he notched a 26 percent pass-rush win rate, which was 27th among 91 qualifying pass rushers, per ESPN.

Playing in a rotation with Dante Fowler and Samson Ebukam should keep Matthews fresh throughout the year, and it never hurts to line up next to all-world interior defender Aaron Donald, who should garner the lion’s share of the attention from opposing offensive lines.

Plus, Matthews—who played in an off-ball linebacker role for the Packers in both 2014 and 2015—brings versatility to Wade Phillips’s hybrid scheme.

Matthews expects to play at outside linebacker on base defense looks (first and second down) while moving all around the team’s defensive front on third-down situations.

If Phillips can scheme up creative ways to free up Matthews on blitzes and stunts, his sack numbers will climb in 2019.
[www.theringer.com]

Wade Phillips has been impressed by Matthews thus far and doesn’t seem to think he’s lost a step at all. “Clay Matthews has looked really good.

His athletic skills are superb and he moves so well. And I told him he’s really only halfway through his career — his dad played 19 years, so he’s got nine more left,” Phillips said, via the team’s official site. “But he’s looked really good, too.”

Matthews played both outside and inside linebacker with the Packers, and he is expected to contribute at both spots in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips' scheme.

In the base defense, he will line up on the outside, and on third down, or any pass-rush situation, he said he would be flexible.

He also has welcomed a role as a veteran leader among an otherwise young, and somewhat inexperienced, group that includes third-year pro Samson Ebukam and fifth-year pro Dante Fowler Jr.

"Anytime we watch any game with him on the field, I'm looking at him," Fowler said. "If we do any drills, I'm looking at him. I love how he rushes.

It was really cool just to see a guy get sacks on TV and stuff and all that, but when you're really watching a person's craft and see why he's that good, it's amazing."
[www.espn.com]

"Our systems are always adapted to our players' strengths and when you have a player that has that versatile skill set, you can utilize him in a variety of ways," McVay said of Matthews.

"I think obviously what he does at an extremely level is when he's trying to go forward and affect and influence the quarterback, setting the edge in the run game, so I think you'll see a lot of that.

When you get into some of those known passing situations, you can get creative with where you move him around."

It remains to be seen how much of a factor Matthews will play in Wade Phillips' defense. The LB is joining a corps currently populated by starters Cory Littleton and Samson Ebukam. Matthews was on the field for 71 percent of Green Bay's defensive snaps in 2018.

Regardless of how much playing time he gets or what role he plays, Matthews promised to bring the same energy and play that propelled Green Bay to eight consecutive postseason appearances and a Super Bowl title in his time there.

"I look forward to showing to everybody here, you guys, the fans," Matthews concluded, "that what you saw these past 10 years is what you'll get these next two."
[www.nfl.com]


OL #70 Joseph NOTEBOOM "big shoes to fill"

With Rob Havenstein and Whitworth entrenched at the two tackles positions, there wasn’t much of a need for Noteboom to play last year.

But he shined during the preseason, allowing zero pressures through his first 71 pass blocking snaps. Noteboom also played in relief of Whitworth in a couple of blowouts, and he held his own in Week 17 against the 49ers when he played 64 percent of the offensive snaps.

When Los Angeles selected offensive lineman Joseph Noteboom at No. 89 in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the thought was that eventually Noteboom would take over at left tackle.

At this point, that’s still likely to be the case. Noteboom is penciled in to ascend into a first-team role — at left guard.

“Noteboom played left tackle at TCU, was drafted as a tackle prospect, but what we prefer to do in our offense at this organization is move our offensive linemen around if they’re not a starter because you dress seven guys on gameday.

So you need somebody who can backup both tackles,” Kromer said. “We felt last year, the best situation was no matter what position other than center, if we needed him, would be Joe.

And so Joe got the opportunity to practice at four different spots the entire year. So he was ready to play left tackle, right tackle, right guard, left guard.”

Noteboom told therams.com that he saw only advantages to sitting behind high-level veterans like Whitworth and left guard Rodger Saffold in his rookie season because he was able to learn so much.

“That’s been one of the best things about being here so far, is just kind of having those veterans to just guide me along the way, having the redshirt year to watch those guys and see how they do things on and off the field,” Noteboom said.

“Getting to sit behind those guys, getting to watch for an extra year, letting me sit back and kind of observe how they do things, I kind of modeled my game after that and got a bunch of practice reps for Whitworth and Saffold.”

So as the Rams get ready to begin their offseason program, Kromer feels Noteboom is prepared to take the next step to become a starter on Los Angeles’ offensive line — largely because of the experience the young OL gained in 2018 to be prepared to play anywhere.

“That’s what these guys want coming out of college — just put me on the field. I don’t care what position, I’ll go play,” Kromer said. “And Joe showed that ability that we feel like he can go in at left guard and hold his own.”
[www.therams.com]


OLB #56 Dante FOWLER Jr. "Signed 1 year contract"

Adding an extra weapon on the edge, Dante Fowler became a valuable contributor for the L.A. Rams during their run to the Super Bowl last season.

Acquired via trade from the Jacksonville Jaguars, Fowler will stay a little longer in L.A. as the team announced Sunday night that he has re-signed with the team. Fowler signed a one-year deal worth $14 million, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a source.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that $12 million is fully guaranteed, with another $2 million available in incentives.

Upon a path to the Super Bowl, the Rams traded for Fowler in October, sending a 2019 third-round pick and a 2020 fifth-round selection to the Jaguars, who used the 2015 third-overall pick on the pass rusher.

Fowler earned six starts in eight games with the Rams in the regular season, contributing a pair of sacks and 21 tackles. In the playoffs, though, Fowler's play improved with 12 tackles, four for a loss and 1.5 sacks in three games.
[www.nfl.com]

Wade Phillips quickly made him a full-time player as there was just one game where he played fewer than 44 defensive snaps. Dante Fowler Jr.’s 2018 season was a rollercoaster, of sorts.

After putting together his best year yet in 2017, the Jaguars were putting him on the field for less than 40 percent of their defensive snaps. He was merely a part-time player despite showing flashes of being a good pass rusher one year prior.

Fowler had his highs and lows in 11 games with the Rams, including the postseason, recording 3.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits. He finally began to look like the players Jacksonville drafted him to be in 2015.

This upcoming season is Fowler’s biggest to date after signing a one-year deal with the Rams. Sure, it’s worth up to $14 million, which is a large chunk of money. But if he wants to stay in L.A. as badly as he says he does, it’ll take an even better season than the one he put together in 2018.

Having a full offseason of work with the Rams will absolutely help and could make all the difference for Fowler.

“I wasn’t really feeling myself until I got here. I really started feeling myself, the coaches put me in a very great position, just letting me be me and letting me be the Dante Fowler that basically got me here,” he said.

“This is a full year that I’m going to be able to start and just go out there and know the playbook and [be] in really good shape and go out there and just be the Dante that I know I am. I’m very excited for that this year.”

He’s in attendance for OTAs and feeling good heading into his fourth full season in the NFL, excluding his lost rookie year due to a torn ACL. With all this extra time to learn the Rams’ playbook, get comfortable at outside linebacker and get acclimated to his teammates, Fowler should take a big step forward in 2019.
[theramswire.usatoday.com]


WR #18 Cooper KUPP's "ACL rehab"

Rams WR Cooper Kupp, on track to play in Week 1 in return from injury, says “I feel good about where I’m at.”

According to Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic, he feels he is on track to make a return by the time the season opener rolls around:

By all accounts, Kupp is on target to return for the Rams’ Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte.

While he didn’t get the green light to completely let loose during organized team activities, Kupp was available for some on-field work and even participated in 11-on-11 drills.

Not at full speed, mind you, but enough to show he appears on track to be ready by Week 1.

“I’m taking it day-by-day,” Kupp said. “It’s just about attacking this week, attacking the day as best as I possibly can.

And I feel good about where I’m at.” Kupp suffered a knee injury early in the year and was able to make his return before tearing his ACL.

He still finished the 2018 campaign with 40 receptions for 566 yards and six touchdowns through eight games.

His absence was heavily felt during the team’s abysmal loss in Super Bowl LIII.
[clutchpoints.com]


DT #69 Sebastian JOSEPH-DAY

“I’m getting better in every facet of the game: footwork, hand placement, deciphering blocks, everything,” he said.

“Even though I don’t play, I still go against one of the best offensive lines in the NFL every day. I know when my opportunity comes, I’m going to run with it.”

I think a lot of our second-year players have really stepped up too,” Phillips said Tuesday.

“They’ve been through it for a year and I think especially Sebastian Joseph-Day has really stepped up.

We thought he had potential last year, he kept working at it through the year.

He’s a real strong, powerful guy inside, so he’s stepped in there and looked good this spring, so we’re looking forward to him coming through the second year, too.”

Last year's 195th overall pick, Sebastian Joseph-Day, grew and improved throughout his first campaign and now has a chance to claim the starting job. “I’d watch AD, and I’d watch Suh, and I’d watch others and I’d write down moves,” Joseph-Day said.

“Because even though everybody thinks it’s so physical, honestly playing D-line is a lot mental, too. Seeing the moves, seeing things that people do — that’s how you learn, that’s how you pick up things.”
[bleacherreport.com]


C #55 Brian ALLEN "center of attention"

“Mel Kiper wasn’t talking about me when it came to draft time,” Allen joked in a recent interview with therams.com for Season 2 of Behind the Grind. “And I wasn’t some huge talent who ran fast or jumped high.”

Instead, Allen says, he was “just a football player.” Allen, of course, didn’t play much during last year’s run to Super Bowl LIII. As a rookie, he saw mainly mop-up duty for a few games — both victories over Arizona and the Week 17 win over San Francisco.

Kromer noticed the kind of detail Allen put into his study last year — despite the fact that he wasn’t playing. And that’s part of the reason why Kromer and the team are confident in Allen’s ability to become a starter.

“Brian Allen really paid attention and was working closely with John Sullivan, who — what a great vet,” Kromer told therams.com. “But Brian shows that he has that innate intelligence and that vision that he can see the defense.

But his number one overall trait is going to be his physical nature. He’s a powerful, quick offensive lineman who has the vision to see the defense. So we’re looking forward to him.”

“I mean, the season’s a long way away. I don’t want to say that it’s mine by any means. There’s the draft coming up, free agency is still going on,” Allen said. “But at the same point, I’m not here to be a backup.

That’s obviously the goal. I didn’t want to just get here and be on the team. I want to play, and I want to play at a high level.”

“So I’m excited for the opportunity that’s in front of me and I’m really just excited to be able to show what I learned this whole last year. I didn’t play a lot as you guys know, but I got a whole lot better from the last preseason game to the end of the year.

So a lot of time, a lot of knowledge that I’ve learned a lot of everything. And back to our O-line room, I wouldn’t be here without them. And I’m kind of mind-blown myself at the steps and progressions I’ve made, just understanding football, being in that room every day with those guys.”

“With a year under my belt with some really good teammates to go against and to have a couple of experiences in the game, I know what’s coming now,” Allen told media members after going against a defense for the first time this offseason.

Allen saw action in his first professional season mostly in practice, taking weekday reps with quarterback Jared Goff, while the seasoned veteran, former Rams center John Sullivan, took the reins on Sundays.

“Yeah, that was the same thing that I did in college, running a pro-style offense, and I had pretty good grip of the scheme and stuff,” Allen said, in review of year one. “Just having an opportunity here is the same thing.

It just forced you to know it better and know what everybody is doing and as the center that’s kind of your job.”

“Obviously Brian is being naturally thrusted into a role where you have to communicate and I think he’s done a really good job,” head coach Sean McVay said on Monday.

“Because there’s so much that goes on specific to the cadence up front, he and Jared’s rapport, and I think they are taking good steps one day at a time.”

“Just telling me about the situation and to get ready, get excited to keep working together,” Allen said, recalling his phone conversation with Goff — who was asked about the transition from taking snaps from a veteran to first-time starter after Day 1 of OTAs.

“Basically I could just lean on John so heavily and expect Brian to get there, but it’s just his first full year of actually playing,” Goff said. “It’s been good, it’s been helpful to my development. It’s been good.”

“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Allen added before heading into the locker room. “And this is what I’ve been working for my whole life — it’s here.”
[www.therams.com]


DL #94 John Franklin-Myers "gaining momentum"

“I like him because he’s 6-foot-4, 283 pounds and runs a 4.7 first,” Phillips said with a laugh.

“But he’s a development guy, a develop-quickly guy it looked like to me.”

Phillips and the Rams staff got an up-close look at Franklin-Myers through the NFL Combine, where his overall performance and skill set impressed many.

And with that in mind, Phillips was confident that the small school product would progress consistently throughout his first year in Los Angeles.

“We studied him a lot and he’s talented," Phillips said.

Defensive end John Franklin-Myers received the Carroll Rosenbloom Memorial Award, given to the team’s rookie of the year.
[www.therams.com]

Franklin-Myers wasn’t a huge contributor during the season. He only played 29.8 percent of the defensive snaps, had just 10 tackles and recorded two sacks. As a fourth-round pick on a team loaded with talent in the front seven, Franklin-Myers was never expected to have a massive impact as a rookie.

In the Super Bowl, though, he recorded a strip-sack on Tom Brady, which could’ve been a key play in the game had the Rams recovered the fumble. The moment wasn’t too big for Franklin-Myers, which was great to see.

Playing so deep into the season – especially coming from the college ranks where the season ends much sooner – made the Super Bowl more difficult for Franklin-Myers, too.

“That and being a rookie and having some type of role. I played on our dime package and a little bit on our base and just having that role in those game,” he said.

“The pace picks up so much more. Our coach told us all the time, ‘You think this is fast, just wait for the playoffs’. Well, we get to the playoffs and it’s nothing you can prepare for.

Experience is the best teacher. (At the Super Bowl) I don’t think we were outplayed, but sometimes it’s hard to beat experience.” Now with a year of experience and a Super Bowl experience on his resume, Franklin-Myers should be poised for an improved season in 2019.
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Kid is a player. I expect big things.

28 pressures in 242 pass rushes. 11.57% pressure rate. That is excellent.

For comparison:

Khalil Mack 73 in 505 = 14.45%
Von Miller 64 in 506 = 12.65%
Calais Campbell 53 in 502 = 10.56%
By_cool_hand_luke


QB #16 Jared GOFF "contract talks?"


Nobody on the offensive side of Los Angeles is immune to criticism after a 13-3 loss to the Patriots before 70,081 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium that saw Tom Brady create more New England history and Goff overmatched in his maiden appearance of a season’s final game.

“It sucked that it went that way,” Goff said. “I’ll use it as a learning experience.” He has a few semesters worth of homework coming. It was the lowest combined points in Super Bowl history, and a big part of that was Goff being confused, a masterful defensive game plan by the Patriots and coach Bill Belichik that swallowed the opposing quarterback whole.

Goff completed 19 of 38 passes for 229 yards, and his one interception was an awful underthrow when trying to rally the Rams from seven down with 4:17 remaining, picked by cornerback Stephon Gilmore at the Patriots’ 4-yard line. Belichick sent a safety blitz, and Goff lofted the pass skyward. Goff: “That’s all on me. I have to be better.”
[www.reviewjournal.com]

Sean McVay is sick of hearing it suggested that he is a magician who can succeed with any quarterback, therefore the Los Angeles Rams don't need to pay Jared Goff a Carson Wentz-type of deal.

The coach told NFL Network's Michael Silver on Thursday he's fed up with the suggestion that the Rams aren't committed to Goff long-term.

"Whether it ends up happening this year or next year, there is a zero percent chance this guy's not gonna get an extension he's worthy of," McVay said. "All the narratives out there are wrong. Jared and I couldn't be more connected, and I couldn't be more appreciative of him as our leader.

He is so vital and important to us and our success. That extension will get done. It's a matter of when, not if."

The lecture follows speculation that the Rams might be hesitant to lock down Goff because McVay is the puppet-master who is the sole reason for the quarterback's success, and therefore L.A. might balk at paying him $30-plus-million per season on a new deal, especially after his struggles in the Super Bowl.

After Carson Wentz inked his massive $128 million contract extension, eyes turned westward, to Los Angeles, where Jared Goff sits as one of the next young quarterbacks waiting for his payday.

The signal-caller insists he's not concerned about his next contract, which could reach another stratosphere.

"It's not for me to worry about," Goff said Tuesday, via the Associated Press. "It's for the team and my agent to work on, and keep doing what I've been doing on the field, and hopefully it will take care of itself."
[www.nfl.com]


Safety #24 Taylor RAPP "rookie"

Rapp projects out as a sub package box safety, & a reliable member of the special teams unit.

He was compared by some to his new teammate Eric Weddle during some pre/post-draft analysis, and by others to Harrison Smith. His statistics from a detailed perspective shows his versatility as well as impact.

In 2018 he was first in tackling efficiency via Pro Football Focus, missing 1 in every 55 tackles this previous season. That’s a promising DB when facing the likes of Alvin Kamara, Saquon Barkley, Zach Ertz, and Russell Wilson.

Rapp doesn’t solely boast the ability to make tackles, he also brings the ability to be productive in coverage.

His impact in the passing game was big. This past season Taylor Rapp forced incompletions on 27.8 % of targets (highest in PAC12 for safeties) while allowing only 2.9 yds per target in coverage in 2018(2nd among FBS safeties).

Don’t expect Rapp to struggle much when he is on the field, as he’s played quality minutes against a variety of high potency offenses in the PAC-12. Realistic expectations for Rapp should be 15-25 tackles as a sub-defender (he had 59 as a starter at Washington in 2018).
[www.sportsaldente.com]

Bucky Brooks of NFL.com sees the match between the Rams and Rapp as one of the best to come out of the 2019 draft. He ranked it the fourth-best fit of any team-player match in the draft.

Drafted 61st overall (Round 2) out of Washington. So Rapp isn’t a workout warrior. It is still undeniable that he is one of the best football players in the 2019 NFL Draft, based on his performance and production between the lines.

As a versatile defender with outstanding instincts, awareness and ball skills, Rapp is an impact player with the capacity to create turnovers between the hashes or near the line of scrimmage as a box-area defender with explosive blitzing skills.

If he can pick up a few tips from new Rams teammate (and two-time All-Pro safety) Eric Weddle, he could quickly become an all-star performer.

Rapp has exactly what the Rams need. He’s great near the line of scrimmage and has the size to cover tight ends, yet he’s also very capable in coverage with a passer rating of only 12.0 allowed last season.

The Rams’ third and fourth safeties played more than 40 percent of the team’s snaps combined last season, so if Rapp replaces Marqui Christian and Blake Countess in that regard, he’ll definitely be on the field plenty next season.
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

“I think I’m very versatile, the most versatile safety in this draft,” Rapp said in a February interview with Pro Football Focus. “I think I can do it all. I think I can play in the deep third. I can run the alley.

I can tackle. I have a high football IQ. I can rush the passer. I can blitz. I can cover. I think I’m the full package. I can do everything.”

Rapp doesn’t just talk the talk, either.

The three-year Washington product played 79 defensive snaps at the line of scrimmage, 364 in the box, 528 at slot cornerback and 1,271 at free safety in his collegiate career.

His combined grade over the past two seasons (2017-18) is 91.9, ranking tied for third in the FBS, and he earned the fourth-highest overall grade (90.1) among safeties in just his banner year in 2018.

Diving deeper into just his play at slot corner, Rapp led all primary safeties with at least 200 slot cornerback snaps over the last three years in passer rating allowed (41.5) and yards allowed per coverage snap (0.57).

Rushing the passer, Rapp recorded 15 total pressures across 72 pass-rush snaps in his career, all leading to a top-10 pass-rush grade (69.2) among qualifying FBS safeties. He also ranked sixth on the list in pass-rush win percentage (15.3%).

Rapp’s three-year run-defense grade (90.7) ranks tied for fourth among FBS safeties with 500-plus run-defense snaps in the last three years.

Slot coverage, pass-rush, run defense, Rapp’s ranging skillset mirrors that of James and Adams at the next level, but while he does see the duo as role models, he pulls bits and pieces from the games of many safeties to refine his craft.

“[James and Adams are] big role models, but I don’t model my game after one specific player,” Rapp said. “I try to take a little tad bit from all the players I look up to… I think I take a little bit from everyone, for sure.”

Rapp also credits his Dawgs for a lot of his successes, as he spoke highly of former Washington superstars Budda Baker, Kevin King, Sidney Jones, and Byron Murphy.

“They taught me how to prepare like a pro and how to practice like a pro,” Rapp said. “They pretty much taught me everything in terms of preparation before a season, preparation before an opponent every week, just stuff like that. Their influence on me was tremendous.”

Rapp missed just 12 tackles while recorded 164 combined tackles in his three-year career with UW, giving him the seventh-best tackling efficiency (14.7) among all qualifying safeties since 2016. He’s learned to secure tackles without losing power, as well.

He plays the game with a mean streak and takes pride in that. “Football is meant to be played violently,” Rapp said. “When you tackle someone, I always take pride in how you take that ball carrier down.
[www.pff.com]


OL #64 Jamil DEMBY "proving himself"

The Rams drafted offensive lineman Bobby Evans and David Edwards this year, and toward the end of last season, they poached Jamil Demby off the Lions’ practice squad.

Demby was originally drafted by the Rams in Round 6 last year, but he was shockingly waived.

Some regret must’ve set in because Los Angeles felt the need to get him back.

Now he’s become the Rams’ most versatile offensive lineman. On Tuesday, offensive line coach Aaron Kromer said Demby is working out at every spot up front – even center.

“He had the opportunity last year to go away and come back and we both appreciate each other more from that separation and coming back and that has allowed us to grow at a faster rate,” Kromer said.

“Jamil has played four or five spots, actually – he’s getting reps at all five at this point – so we feel strongly about what he’s done in this offseason. Obviously games are more important these practices in no pads, but we feel really good about him.”

Ideally, Demby can be a Swiss army knife, of sorts, and be backup at whichever position the Rams need him at.

He took first-team reps at left tackle when Andrew Whitworth was taking days off in OTAs, so the coaches are clearly confident in him.

Regardless of where he winds up, that versatility will be extremely valuable this season.
[theramswire.usatoday.com]


DL #97 Morgan FOX "healthy again"

May 29, 2018 Morgan Fox Out for Season with Knee Injury: The 23-year-old out of Colorado State-Pueblo was poised to take a significant step forward to play a key role on Los Angeles’ defense in 2018.

McVay had previously said Fox could be in the mix at outside linebacker based on his positional flexibility. Fox had been working with the club's first-team defense during OTAs.

“Certainly, that’s a big loss for us based on some of the projections that we had and plans in mind,” McVay said. Fox was a part of the defensive rotation for Los Angeles in 2017, recording 2.5 sacks while playing primarily as a 3-4 defensive end.

He also tallied two tackles for loss, three QB hits, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
[www.therams.com]

Defensive lineman Morgan Fox was on pace to play a significant role in Los Angeles’ defense last year, taking reps at outside linebacker during the offseason program. But then he tore his ACL in OTAs and missed the entire 2018 season.

Now a full year removed from the injury and a rigorous rehab process, Fox said in an interview with therams.com on Wednesday that he’s feeling like himself again, and ready to compete for a significant role in the defensive line rotation.

“It feels great,” Fox said of practicing during OTAs. “It’s hard to describe. You know, you don’t get to do anything and then you are back to moving around and getting after it.”

Now, Fox is back on the defensive line and once again appears to have a chance to play a lot of snaps in the rotation.

Back in 2017, Fox played just over 30 percent of snaps, making 2.5 sacks.

And even as he’s getting those critical 11-on-11 snaps, he’s spent time after practice every day getting in some extra reps with the sled or a tackling dummy.

Fox stood out during OTAs with his speed and athletic ability, which served to remind everyone why the Rams were so high on him before the injury.
[www.therams.com]


DT #91 Greg GAINES "rookie"

“I think Gaines obviously works hard at what he does, I think he’s a grinder, we said that, and I think he’ll be stronger in pads, where you can see his power and stuff,” Phillips said.

“He’s done a good job so far,” Phillips continued. “He’s a smart player and we always say smart players get better. So he’s one of those guys.”
[www.therams.com]

Greg Gaines’ senior year was something to behold not because he put up ridiculous pass rush numbers or made any kind of special jump from his junior year, but because the man simply showed up for work everyday with his hard hat and lunch pail and went to work, even without Vita Vea covering his backside.

Husky fans have a nickname for Gaines: GFG ... as in Greg “effing” Gaines. When you see how this man gears up for every snap, engages in hand to hand combat on every play and lifts the defensive line on his shoulders, you’ll soon be calling him the same thing.

Most UW fans will tell you that Gaines was the most consistent if not the MVP of UW’s dominating 2018 defense. I would be one of those. Gaines is a classic motor player with a low center of gravity and ridiculous strength. As such, he can move pretty seamlessly from one-gap to two-gap responsibilities with ease.

I like him as a two gap player taking on multiple blockers because he can create so much opportunity for his linebackers to make plays in the running game.

UW’s MIKE, Ben Burr-Kirven (now with the Seattle Seahawks) led the FBS in tackles this year on the back of Greg Gaines playing just this role. He is a blocker eating machine who has mastery of the fundamentals to make the tackle when it comes his way.
[www.turfshowtimes.com]

Gaines (6-1, 312) played in a school record 54 games over four seasons, tallying 148 tackles, 20.5 tackles for losses, 9.5 sacks, four pass breakups, an interception and a fumble recovery.

As a senior, Gaines produced 55 tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks and won the Morris Trophy, which is awarded to the Pac-12’s top defensive lineman based on votes from opposing players.

Gaines is considered a tough and active nose tackle who is tough to move at the point of attack, disruptive against the run and surprisingly good as a pocket collapser.

In fact, Pro Football Focus gave Gaines one of the top overall run defense grades among draft-eligible defensive linemen.

According to PFF’s draft guide, Gaines produced 36 total run stops (tackles constituting a situational defeat for the offense) and was surprisingly disruptive as a rusher, creating 45 total pressures, including nine quarterback hits and 33 hurries.
[packerswire.usatoday.com]



Head coach Sean McVAY "humbled by SB loss"

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said he had been "out-coached" by New England Patriots counterpart Bill Belichick after his team's Super Bowl defeat on Sunday.

A downcast McVay -- who could have become the youngest coach in history to win a Super Bowl -- entered the game as the hottest coaching property in the NFL after transforming the Rams into title contenders in two seasons.

"Coach Belichick did an outstanding job," McVay said. "There is really no other way to put it. I'm pretty numb right now, but definitely, I got out-coached."

McVay was left to reflect on what might have been had the Rams taken their chances. Twice receiver Brandin Cooks came within a whisker of scoring touchdowns only to be denied by the New England defense.

"I didn't do nearly good enough for our football team," a downbeat McVay said. "The thing that is so tough about all of this is the finality to it. This one is going to stick with you and it just stings in your gut.

"I love these players. And that is where it eats at you because you didn't feel like you did your part to help them achieve success."
[sports.yahoo.com]

McVay shared a story of a fan coming up to him in Vegas about the money the Rams cost him, and it wasn’t exactly pennies. It was a large chunk of change.

“When I went to Vegas a couple weeks after the Super Bowl just to have some fun, first guy I run into says, ‘Hey man, you lost me half a million on the over.’ I said, ‘Oh man, I’m sorry.’ I’m probably a wanted man. But you just gotta move on,” McVay said.

The Rams coach got more serious when discussing the fact that he may have done too much studying of the Patriots’ film leading up to the Super Bowl. This is something he admitted recently, saying he may have gone overboard in that department.

If he could do it all over again, he may have done it differently and worked smarter, not harder.

“When you look at those couple weeks, there’s an element of when you work, you want to work hard. But you also want to work smart and you can have so many different things and not be mindful of the progression of the season.

There’s usually about a 4-6-game span that you’re usually operating on while still being mindful of situations. And then you’ve got two weeks and you don’t want to short yourself.

“I’d be lying if I said that if things go a little off-track, you probably have too many thoughts in your head, and you would have a different rhythm. I don’t necessarily know if you’re working any less hard for the preparation, but you know, Coach Belichick and the Patriots are the standard right now.”
[theramswire.usatoday.com]



Player "Summaries & Questions"

LB M.Kiser- Polished enough to be a starting caliber 2 down ILB?
TE G.Everett- Ready for the next level or more of the same in 2019?
RB T.Gurley- Remain healthy & explosive in the final month of season?
FS E.Weddle- Enough gas in the tank to notch another pro-bowl?
RB D.Henderson- Will the home run hitters 8.2 career avg translate to NFL?
LB C.Matthews- A new team & familiar scheme. Can he turn back the clock?

OL J.Noteboom- Slotted to start at LG but will Saffold be sorely missed?
LB D.Fowler- Does a full off-season equate to double digit sacks?
WR C.Kupp- Enough time healing to regain 2018 form early in the season?
DT S.Joseph-Day- Did he steal some of Greg Gaines thunder in OTA's?
OC B.Allen- Smart blue collar former wrestler. Ready to be center of attention?
DL J.Franklin-Myers- Flashed in 2018. Talented or a career rotational player?

QB J.Goff- Stepped up his game every year. Does he continue the current pattern?
SS T.Rapp- Gifted tackler with natural instincts. Will he be as good as advertised?
OL J.Demby- Lots of ink about his versatility. 6th best OL on the depth chart or 9th?
DL M.Fox- Poised to break through in 2018 before injury. Is he talented enough?
DT G.Gaines- Considered a draft steal by many. Are high expectations a fantasy?
HC S.McVay- Can he prepare & convince this years team the SB hangover is a myth?



"Los Angeles Rams 2019 Training Camp Schedule"

Rookies report: July 24
Veterans report: July 26
Training camp begins: July 27

Joint Practices
Aug 01, Rams visit the Chargers at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex.
Aug 03, Chargers head to UC Irvine to practice at the Rams’ facility.
Aug 07 Rams visit the Raiders at their Napa facility
Aug 08 Rams visit the Raiders at Napa facility



I hope all of you super amazing Rams fans enjoyed this training camp presentation.


Go 2019 LA RAMS!