Hats off to Les Snead. He made out biggest off season need a strength position and probably the best in the NFL before the middle of March. And it did with without giving up a lot of resources. The costs of our secondary will be in the middle of the pack and probably the lower half and all we did is give up a few mid round draft picks. Love how we got here from many different perspectives.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
Les Snead is hitting the sales racks right now. There is not way that Peters and Talib are available for mid round picks unless they are on sale. The Rams are looking at the risk of bring these guys in and they are counting on their coaching staff to be able to manage them effectively. It these guys buy in and fit in we got a great secondary for a couple of mid round picks and 12 mil in cap coby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
Shields if healthy is going to play a lot. NRC will only be back if the price is right. We are no longer in need with Troy Hill the 6th DB and a bunch of young guys filling the last few slots.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
I think it will be next man up. Thomas and Reynolds will fight it out. Add in some low level FA, late draft picks and someone will emerge to replace Sammy. Perhaps they split Hemmingway out wide. I think Sammy will be gone. He wants to check the market and somebody will give him a big deal to be the man.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
A few weeks ago I said I was having trouble getting into the draft because I there seemed to be so many moving parts. Well I can say I never dreamed we woudl make the moves we have made and it is fun as a fan and quite impressive. The Quinn trade I did not expect I thought we would cut him but getting a mid round pick for him is a nice bonus. My thoughts at the time were that LB was a moreby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
The Peters deal I think is good but I sure would like to know what we gave up. Love the cap flexibility we now have. TruJo seems like a goner now for sure probably Barwin too. Austin will be cut even if it only saves up $3Mil this year. Critical FA Joyner, Watkins are still up in the air. Love to have both back. Even if we resign Joyner we are still a CB short unless you count Hill plusby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
Loved the way you filled the holes. Not sure on the Higbee comments but if you can get Graham for $7 mil I am all for it.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
Interesting ranking system that seems comprehensive. Notice that overall Rams rank 1st by a wide margin.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
Great coaching does go a long way toward winning. Look at the 3 QB in the playoffs that were terrible under Jeff Fisher. Look at the Rams offense versus the Jeff Fisher offense. Coaching really matters a lot. Another example is NE where Belichek continues to excel year after year. It sure has helped that he had Brady all those years. He got fired before he got the NE job. Great coachinby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
I am okay with Mannion as the backup. There is usually a vet hanging around that can be signed in an emergency. Someone like Tony Romo or this year it was Jake Cutler. Mannion playing with the first team offense would be okay once he settled in. Do not see paying big $$ for a backup. Would like to see drafting a developmental type guy like the kid from Louisville Lamar Jackson. I thby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
43 you nailed it. While his XO knowledge is off the charts it is his leadership, communications and organizational skills that make his so unbelievable. He is also very humble and always looking to learn and improve. He has so many qualities that are off the charts that you just won't find anywhere else. He will get so much better as he gains the only thing he is missing which is exby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
Snead goes out of his way to get the best players to fit what the coach wants. McVay is very articulate in the qualities that he desires in players which really helps Snead. McVay gets Bum involved in articulating what they need on defense. Snead will team with McVay and there will be consensus on needs and key players that they really like. I think we have the best of both worlds.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
The fact the Goff, Keenum and Foles are all in the playoffs and Keenum and Foles are in the championship round really points to the importance of coaching and a good offensive scheme. This year under McVay it really drove home how important great coaching is to the success of the team. Fisher did okay in managing defense, special teams and acquiring talent with Les Snead. He was terrible iby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
It seems pretty clear that Austin is going to be a cap casualty and that they will try and sign Watkins. It also seems they will try and sign TruJo and that they would like to keep Barron and Quinn if they can fit everyone in under the cap. Gotta see where the market goes with TruJo and Watkins but at least they said what their intentions were.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
It seems this is a decent year to draft a corner. Also it is probable that 3 QB's will be picked before us which also helps. Like to see Trujo and Joyner resigned.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
I really wanted the Rams to win and I thought they had the talent to win but I think they were star struck in the beginning of the game and that did not surprise me. McVay had a plan going in but was slow to make adjustments. I am sure he will figure that out going forward. Defense looked great early on but offense left the on the field to much. These guys will learn from this andby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
Thanks for your weekly posts and I am really looking forward to your draft evaluations. I am used to being excited about the draft around week 8 and this year I am just starting to warm up to the subject. Seems like defense is going to be the big thing for us next year especially DB and maybe LB. Wouldn't be surprised if all we did was draft defense this year. Looking forward to your drafby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
Agree we are set up pretty well but not sure who stays and goes. Out TA almost certainly. Maybe out Quinn, Barron, TJ, Watkins, Joyner: Quinn was great down the stretch maybe he stays, Barron had to be nursed along all season and Littleton looked good, TJ has been a tough sign for 2 years, Watkins may get a killer offer elsewhere, Joyner same as Watkins. Will probably figure out how toby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
I can't believe that NFL.com ranked Goff 15th. He leads the top offense in football. No respect given McVay and Gurely which is BS. Now where would you rank Goff if you had a choice of any QB in the league to keep on your team? The old guys like Brady, Brees, Rivers and Rothenberger will be discounted due to age. Goff would have to be near the top. May Wentz is higher, maybe Wilsby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
Saffold got 2nd team for Left Guard. Cooper got 2nd team for Punt returner. Great representation and it will be better next year if we do well.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
Goff is somehow underrated which is fine with me. He doesn't need such high expectation and the additional pressure that comes with it. He is still learning and has certainly played better than Jimmy Grap. While I think Jimmy Grap is a fine prospect he is less proven than Goff. Let's see how Goff performs in the playoffs. If we win a couple of games his stock will skyrocket in the eyes of thby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
I am glad to see Mannion get some game experience. Early on it seemed as if he was aiming the ball but once he got moving a bit he started slinging it okay. The receivers were terrible not sure what happened there. Anyway if God forbid Goff got hurt Mannion will be more ready to step in and contribute and this time he will have sure handed receivers, a first rate offensive line and a great rby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
I don't think it will hurt him catching those kicks so it would be best if he didn't get hit on his returns. Whatever we do we should not put TA back on punts.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
TA and Watkins are 2 different stories and I draw different conclusions on each of them. First Watkins who has done okay but not great. On the positive side he has been a team player and he has stayed healthy. Also considering all the other weapons we have it wasn't necessary to force feed him in this offense. I think that him missing all the OTA and training camp and having the trade happeby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
He needs to come back to the team about 2 weeks earlier than last time. Hall of Fame Talent who we need to figure out how to keep.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
I thought Hemmingway was making progress before getting hurt and I am look forward to seeing him compete next year.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
I agree being cool under pressure and playing the game while you mind is a peace is a good thing. It helps to have loads of talent and a bunch of weapons around you. Goff seems to keep plugging and if things don't go right he comes out with the same attitude and tries to do what had made him successful in the past. The big thing is when the pressure gets bad he is still thinking clearly and wiby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
With Watkins being a FA there must be a willingness on his part to want to rejoin the Rams at a reasonable price. If someone in the market goes wild and offers him 70 Mil I say you gotta let him walk If he will play for around 40 Mil I say you run and sign him up. Sammy Watkins type guys are very rare and he has proved healthy and I am sure with a full training camp he will prove to be oby David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com
One of the OL went on IR after game. That ought to help.by David Deacon - RamsFootballFans.com