I think Marquez starts the season as the 4th WR on the depth chart. May not see the field that much since they'll split out Higbee etc. a lot in four receiver sets. But that's where I see him for now. I'm not sure Cooper and Thomas/Williams are quite ready to contribute weeks 1, 2, 3. Spruce seems more game ready frankly. Whoever the 6th WR is probably is inactive on game days to begin with.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I think the top 5 now are: Austin Britt Marquez Cooper Spruce As a6th round pick Thomas is not untouchable. He and Williams are going to fight it out for that last spot on the 53. Whichever gets cut if they lose him they lose him. It's how it goes. Hopefully safe on the PS. I think North and McRoberts go on the PS too.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
The way I read that in the article was they didn't have veteran leadership at QB. Maybe I'm wrong. But I also think they do have leadership on the team in Hayes, Donald, McDonald, Saffold, Ogletree, Cunningham, etc. I don't think Fisher and Snead dump leaders. They dump players that aren't performing much anymore. There are lots of critiques fans can make about who the team does or doesn't siby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
On Keenum- he's a UFA after this year. So they can't trade him before the 2017 Draft. They either re-sign him (if he's OK settling in as a career #2 in this league) or goes elsewhere if he thinks he has a chance to start somewhere. I don't think he'd draw much free agent attention unless he ends up playing a good chunk of this season. I think it would be great if the Rams could re-sign him as a bby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I agree there are good signs. He's healthy, worked hard this offseason, had a good first preseason game, etc. But it's also time to get with it and lose those 11 lbs... It's not water weight at this point. It's maturity.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Hopefully Longacre keeps this up and he is one of those guys that does take the noticeable year 2 leap forward. I like him a lot. They could also keep him with an eye on him replacing Sims next year. Sims signed a three-year extension in March but there is zero cap hit if he's released next year. I know Sims is a bit of a do-it-all but he will be 31 next year and $3.25M (in 2017) is a lot toby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I think overall you're right. Most likely they yield 2-3 starters from this class, which would be great... Goff, Higbee, and either Cooper or Spruce. I just think the league has evolved and teams have more than 22 'starters' now. More like 27-28. To me a 3rd WR, nickel CB, 3rd DE, etc. are 'starters.' If you're playing more than 30 snaps per game from scrimmage you're a starter.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
It's true that through four seasons Fisher's defenses have been what I'd call inconsistent vs. the run. They've been top 10 once (2013- and 3rd in YPC that year) but last year were 14th in YPC and 13th in rushing yards allowed. The Rams have had plenty of strong games vs. the run- 28 of 64 games allowing under 100 yards (and they're 17-11 in those games). But they've also had far too many pby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Honestly, that alone (50% reduction in OL penalties) would make a big difference for them on offense. And that could happen. But I'm curious, what makes you think that they will? Development of the younger players?by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I agree. It has. I think that was the league bending a bit to the uniform thing. Same uniform. Adjusted color.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I don't know, I think it's still TBD between a 9th DL, 10th DB and 10th OL. And a big part of that decision comes down to ST contribution. By the way if there's a 10th OL I don't see it being Rhaney. I think he's toast. I hope... I think they're more likely to be able to stash a DB or two and an OL on the PS so they can keep Easley. Just my guess. He was very productive for New England last yeby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Not sure who the other would be.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I think Mannion's story is still very much TBD. He did play well, though yeah half the guys he faced Saturday won't be in the league this fall. I think he has potential to grow into the #2 role for 2017. His problem is from here on out his reps in even preseason games will be more limited. It would be nice to get him more work but realistically the Rams have to give 90% of the remaining preseasonby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Maybe it is the sunlight. But I swear to me the gold horns on the helmet and the jersey look much more yellow now.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Just curious if anyone keyed in on those two specifically because I didn't. I think each only played about 15 snaps.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I think those two could be just what the doctor ordered for the Rams abysmal 3rd down conversion rate. Of course part of it is also running the ball well on 1st or 2nd downs. Fewer whiff blocks by the TE (Higbee vs. Jared Cook...) would help there.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
If he really becomes what we all hope he can help add a layer of unpredictability to the offense. As an in-line TE or someone that splits out in the slot or wide, defenses can't key run or pass nearly as well. He could line up in-line and motion out, or vice versa while Kendricks is also in-line or even as an H-back. And so where do you key as a defense? The key of course is Goff executing atby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I haven't done the roster numbers recently but I think they'll keep 9 DL. If Longacre keeps it up he's in and could be an heir to Sims eventually. I think we'll see more from Easley and between him and Coples he's more likely to stick in my opinion. That kind of interior pass rush ability isn't common. He could really thrive as a rotation guy on passing downs.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I agree. There's plenty of room for both and they're in complementary roles. Kendricks can be the "starter" and Higbee could still be in there potentially for 80% of the passing plays. They run plenty of two TE sets and that will continue this year. A bonus will be if Higbee can become a decent blocker, something Cook was horrendous at doing...by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Yeah I used to watch Sunday (and Monday) NFL Countdown on ESPN like everyone else but stopped years ago and now, if anything, will watch NFL Network pregame coverage. Tom Jackson was the only one I could stand and now he's gone. Dilfer is terrible. I've also slowly converted at the Draft too and am now 100% an NFL Network guy on Draft weekend. Oh and Sean McDonough has big shoes to fill forby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I agree with that. I understand having Marquez, Reynolds, etc. in there but not McDonald and Barron. Whatever fringe players they feel they have at LB, CB, S, RB, etc. should be on the KO and punt teams these first couple games.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Not sure if this was already posted or explained but does anyone know anything about how the Rams got around the league's uniform change policy? Because the gold introduced in 2000 is gone and the old yellow is back...by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Goff needs a good 70 pass attempts to have a chance to be ready week 1. They pulled him after 9 which was a shame (but understandable) as he would have played that 3rd quarter. Get the kid 20 attempts each of the next 3 weeks. That last pass to Cooper that got dislodged should have fans excited. That was a great throw... I like our RB group a lot. Cunningham is such a Swiss Army knife.. Brownby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Britt, Spruce, Austin and Higbee could be a really interesting personnel group to run. They showed several looks with a RB spread wide and Higbee flanked out wide (like NE does with Gronkowski). I was encouraged by that because it shows a bit more creativity and trying to get personnel mismatches. I think Spruce can work the short/middle of the field well. he understands angles and positiby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I was wondering who that was. I saw someone go down hard and grab a knee and couldn't tell who it was.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
5 winners, 5 losers from NFL preseason Week 1 Biggest winners 1. Rams’ defensive line The rich get richer. The Rams already figure to have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, with the three-stud combo of Aaron Donald, Robert Quinn, and Michael Brockers alone. That’s why when a second-year undrafted rookie from Northwest Missouri puts on a clinic in the first half against Dallas,by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Yeah I think you sit Spruce the next two games and give him extensive work in game 4. At this point I think he's at least earned getting to the final cuts. But I still predict he's one of the 6 WRs on the 53. Even though it was against 3rd stringers they basically asked him and Mannion to help them win the game Saturday.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com