Very true. Saves them $2.18M if released. Or Howard could get cut- especially if they draft another ILB ... No one in that group (including Reeder, Kiser, etc.) is totally safe, really. And yet any of them could also end up starting in 2021.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Hopefully they can find another Nick Scott type on day 3.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Really was. I do wonder, though, how many more games the Rams may have won with him had his fumbles even been half what they were. 51 fumbles in 65 games is A LOT- even for as much as he touched the ball.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I don't think anyone is hanging their hat on Howard. But it is true that he entered 2020 penciled in as a starter and you would think there is an open competition between Young and him. At worst he should be considered a candidate to be a good backup and special teams player.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Always an interesting read. They go back a couple more seasons every offseason. Their latest being the 1984 season. Full read here. For the Rams that year (10-6, Dickerson breaks OJ's record, lose wildcard at home to NYG), a few notable things: - Rams finish 13th in DVOA overall that year (10th on offense, 16th defense, 3d on special teams), well below their other '80s playoff teams of 19by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I don't see pass rushing as his main skill and that's really what the Rams lack right now.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Yeah, I agree. While versatility is important in OL (especially any backups) it seems pretty clear by now that Noteboom and Evans are tackles and Edwards a guard.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Yeah, maybe so. My memory is he held up pretty well at RT in 2019 including his 1st start against Mack and the Bears. But admittedly I didn't focus on him that much and maybe he got a good amount of help. Though most of his starts coincided with when Higbee was putting up big numbers (so presumably not staying in to block as much).by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
At center, their best option will likely end up being signing a veteran FA like Mack (or even re-signing Blythe) for one year while drafting a kid like Meinerz to develop behind him. A question I have is about Evans. He held his own well at RT in 2019 and then quickly lost the LG competition to Edwards in 2020 and didn't really look good there when he got some time there late in the season. Iby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I agree. They could get a center with that pick. The problem is needing it to be a center with that pick which, if they don't address it in free agency, paints them into a corner they don't want to be in. I did some quick math and, going back to 2013, the first center came off the board on average by the 30th overall pick. The 2nd center by the end of round 2. So depends on who they like.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I remember that as well. My pound-the-table choice in the 1st round of the 2000 Draft was DT Cornelius Griffin.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
... the Rams top 3 WRs are all under contract through 2023 (as are their top 2 TEs for that matter). It's not like they need to look ahead and draft a WR with an eye on 2022. What they need is a pure role player with deep speed.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I just kept moving back and back.. Basically converted the 57th pick into the 84th, 86th, 119th, 151st, 220th and a 2022 5th round pick. Wasn't looking for a RB at all but at that points Harris was too good to pass up on.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
In 2003 I really wanted the Rams to trade back 10-12 picks and then take Iowa OG Eric Steinbach (who went on to a good 8-year career with CIN and CLEV).by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
If anyone has not seen the ESPN E60 episode about his injury and comeback do yourself a favor and watch it. It's amazing. Shows really clearly why- as soon as he trotted onto the field for WASH vs. the Rams last fall- he was hands-down the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Made me really nervous every time I saw him get sacked/hit.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Hopkins has potential for sure but Biadasz would have just been a better value and more strategic pick in my opinion. Would not have beaten out Blythe as a rookie but would be set up to start going forward.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
...last April was a BIG mistake in my opinion. Fell to the late 4th round, too.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I forgot that game was still tied in the late 2nd quarter and that the Saints didn't really blow it open until early in the 4th. Jeff Wilkins- best onside kick specialist ever....by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
He's been a steady, good-not-great piece to this defense for 9 years. Yet he's still only 30 years old. With another season he could end up in the Rams' top 20 all-time in games played. I really would like to see him kept for his 10th season (and then likely part ways in 2022 when there is a $9M cap savings).by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Which will be about 110th overall (after 3rd round comp. picks get added).by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Agree about Brown. He's been a nice player for them. But you don't/can't pay your RB3 $1.3M this year which was his 2020 cap number. I think they go with some combination of Jones, Calais and another draft pick at RB3.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Guys I think that have yet to peak and could be developed further for sure: Evans Anchrum Jefferson Hopkins Lewis Long Burgess Rapp Scott And some starters too: Edwards Corbett Akers Reeder Fuller If even half of these 14 guys take noticeable steps forward in development in 2021 the Rams will be in good shape.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
...of him returning under a one-year deal. A LOT of veterans will be signing one-year deals this spring (by choice or not) due to the lower cap. It will be interesting to see what the market is or is not for him. It is definitely a position that could be upgraded. At the same time you can't categorize Blythe as a 'liability.' Maybe they go try and get an Alex Mack or similar while drafting a centby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
"It's the OLB'ers where this defense is @ its weakest @ this time." Could they draft an ILB in round 2 or 3? Sure. Someone of real value may slip to them and be too good to pass up. And you can also use the argument about 2022 free agency when 3 of their 4 returning ILB will be FAs. But Reeder (who improved quite a bit in year 2), Kiser and Young combined for over 1,450 snaps last yeby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
WR is not where I would put free agent dollars. The Rams need a WR4 with deep speed that can play situationally- 15, maybe 20 snaps per game. I would much prefer to draft that guy in the middle rounds.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I really am curious how they will deal with the cap. There is managing numbers and there is managing numbers... I tried using the calculator on OverTheCap the other day and was having a hard time just getting them to zero. I restructured Donald, Ramsey, Woods AND Kupp plus traded Havenstein and cut Allen and Demby and was STILL a little bit over.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Chris Long on the Mina Kimes' podcast (which I really enjoy). Really insightful hour and toward the end she asks him a series of questions. One was about best/worst stadiums he played in... (on The Edward Jones Dome) "It was a bad stadium, but...I'm weird though, my favorite stadium was actually Candlestick." "I love the (LA) Coliseum, just because of the flame...I just likeby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I feel reasonably confident a 1st round RFA tender will keep him in LA for 2021. But between the unknown beyond that and uncertainty of who takes the 3rd CB spot (can Long handle coming in and playing 25 snaps/game?) I could see a scenario where they take a CB at 57 or soon after. Defenses excel with QB pressure and outside coverage. Rams would be wise to keep bolstering both.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
They clearly should draft a center this April. Whether it's s starter or not. Rarely does a team NEED to draft multiple OL in a single draft. Could happen. But I'd keep the pipeline full with one every year. 2022 I would guess a tackle but who knows.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com