To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
In comparison to his first half-decade with Hags ....yes his play has declined however he was a sizable upgrade over what the McVay has put on the field @ MLB since he arrived.
A proven Leader, a true class act & a professional in all matters!
From what is being said out of Carolina, he was a positive influence in the locker room. From his statements while in Carolina he has matured and isn't the locker room cancer he was in his early years. How he left Cleveland was a traumatic event, that he realized he needed to change. Apparently, he has.
McVay's tenure has always been tied to Stafford. But Baker will energize him to stay if Mayfield stays. From what I hear people close to Baker are telling him that the best thing he could do is spend a year maybe two as Stafford's understudy. When you look at Matt's contract the ability for the Rams to get out of the contract starts after 2024. In 2025 the cap hit on Stafford will be $50.5M but his dead cap would be only $24M something they could absorb in one year. By structure, both sides would view that as a natural out for either side. Even if he decides to retire in 2024 which is a very real possibility because of injury, the Rams could handle the cap hit. It's really only if he retires in January that the cap hit would be difficult.
If he wanted to retire next year then they could simply IR him in Sept. and carry him on the IR for the rest of the year (concussion and neck contusion). This would allow Stafford to be at the facility and attend meetings to mentor Baker. Or they will simply carry him on the roster as the backup. His cap hit would be $20M next year but if he retires it would be $49.5 M. Then he can officially retire in 2024 and the cap hit would be manageable ($36M split over 2 years). This would also allow them to draft a QB or for Stafford to work with. Then Matt isn't out there each week risking his health. IMO this would assuage Kelly's concerns and allow Matt to be with the team.
Baker would re-sign if he knew he was going to replace Stafford at some point if Matt is actually starting next year. McVay could talk to Matt and tell him that due to his health they would be looking to replace him with Baker in 2024, giving him one last shot at a second ring. AD will be retiring in 2024 as well.
Either way I see Baker as the next Ram QB no later than 2025 and more likely as 2024. All I know is that having both on the roster would be a huge advantage for any Super Bowl run. McVay wouldn't feel compelled to send his starter who might be less than 100% back on the field.
One thing to remember about next year. The level of competition will be lower, i.e. an easier schedule. Both Seattle and SF will be going through QB transitions and Kyler will be Kyler. The Rams will have a clear advantage with 2 starting caliber QBs.
Lol..
And.. we have the essence of your problem. You think there's something more manly about Staley's defense... which is high comedy.
You know what's manly? Winning the last game of the season.
And.. yeah.. personnel matters... might want to look at the players the Rams had in the secondary and on D and how healthy they were all season in 2020.
Donald got hurt one game... and they got smoked. With the same fucking play... over and over and over.
Over the last month, the Los Angeles Rams defense had struggled to contain opposing offenses. Quarterbacks like Colt McCoy, Andy Dalton, and Geno Smith all looked like MVP candidates despite being below average talents. Through the first half of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders, it appeared Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs would control the game flow. However, the momentum of the game shifted when Greg Gaines pushed the pocket and forced Derek Carr to throw a floated pass into the outstretched hands of Ernest Jones. Was Greg Gaines the main catalyst of the defense’s second half success?
In order to gain a sense of the performance of the roster and its direction, Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded out all the players from the Week 14 contest. Using the PFF grades and the eye test of watching the game, I will provide a weekly evaluation and grade of the defensive positions.
Aaron Donald: 90.5* (INA), A’Shawn Robinson: 64.4 (IR), Greg Gaines: 61.2 (+4.7), Marquise Copeland: 65.8 (-1.7), Bobby Brown III: 81.8 (+1.3), Jonah Williams: 48.9 (-6.8), Earnest Brown IV: 63.5
The storylines entering Thursday night were centered around Josh Jacob’s leading rusher status. However, Los Angeles narrowly kept him under 100 yards, limiting his production to just 3.7 yards per carry on 27 rushing attempts. Bobby Brown III did a fantastic job in limited action of winning along the interior. For the second straight week, he finished in the top-5 for the defense’s PFF grades.
I’m not sure what type of deal Gaines will command on the open market this offseason. Sebastian Joseph-Day cashed in a lucrative deal despite having limited pass rushing ability. Gaines figures to warrant more money but is he a scheme fit for other teams? The trouble becomes LA fitting his contract into a tight budget when players like Marquise Copeland, Bobby Brown III, and Jonah Williams continue to develop and warrant more playing time. I think Aaron Donald would like to have at least one of Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson return. This offseason will be trying in more ways than one for Les Snead...
Week 14 Grade: C+, Season Grade: C+, Trend: Neutral
ILBs
Bobby Wagner: 90.7* (+0.3), Ernest Jones: 66.8 (+0.4), Travin Howard: INA, Christian Rozeboom: 61.2, Jake Hummel: IR, Jake Gervase: 60.0 (DNP)
Once again, Wagner was the standout on the defense. Wags had a whopping 14 tackles (six solo) and was flying around from sideline to sideline. In the third quarter, the inside linebacker had a huge third down stop on a scrambling Derek Carr, knocking him out of bounds a foot shy of the first down marker. With 2:38 left in the game, Copeland and Wagner stuffed Jacobs on a 3rd & 1 to give the Rams the ball back and ultimately win the game. Login to view embedded mediaView: https://twitter.com/i/status/1601071829157675009
Ernest Jones was the benefactor of the Rams first turnover. He picked off Derek Carr in the Rams end zone, preventing the Raiders from scoring before halftime. This was one of his stronger games this year despite a limited box score of five tackles (one solo).
Week 14 Grade: A, Season Grade: A-, Trend: Slight Upward
EDGE
Leonard Floyd: 67.6 (-0.2),Terrell Lewis: 46.1 (DNP),Mike Hoecht: 64.1 (-7.2), Daniel Hardy: 40.9 (-20.6), Keir Thomas: 68.6 (+18.8)
Raheem Morris’s defense struggled to contain the edge in the first half. Josh McDaniels dialed up a few reverses that Michael Hoecht failed to keep containment, resulting in Mack Hollins rushing for 40 yards on three carries. On a positive note, he did have the final pressure and QB hit on Carr that forced an interception to Taylor Rapp.
Thomas (15% snap share) received a longer look and performed well, collecting the Rams only tackle for a loss.
Week 14 Grade: D-, Season Grade: D, Trend: Slight Downward
Troy Hill started on the outside and Cobie Durant got his first start at the nickel. Hill did not allow any receptions on the evening, receiving a grade of 83.2.
Week 14 Grade: C, Season Grade: C-, Trend: Neutral
S
Nick Scott: 59.8 (+0.2), Taylor Rapp: 70.3 (+4.0),Russ Yeast: 54.5 (+3.0), Quentin Lake: DNP, Jordan Fuller: 60.5 (IR)
Nick Scott chipped in four tackles as the other starting safety, while Russ Yeast (12% snap share) added one tackle.
Week 14 Grade: B-, Season Grade: C-, Trend: Slight Upward
Special Teams
Riley Dixon: 83.5* (-1.3), Matt Gay: 87.8 (+4.5)
Matt Gay was only 1/2 on field goal attempts, but he connected from 55 yards and missed from 61 yards.
Riley Dixon punted three times for 156 yards (52.0 avg) with one punt inside the 20 and one touchback.
Las Vegas did a good job of bottling up Brandon Powell on kick returns, utilizing a short kickoff each time. Powell only managed 18.3 yards per return.
Week 14 Grade: B+, Season Grade: A-, Trend: Neutral
Coordinators - Raheem Morris & Joe DeCamillis
After a shaky first half, Raheem Morris managed to shutdown Josh McDaniels in the second half. Derek Carr only passed for 11 yards in the second half. Josh Jacobs failed to eclipse the 100-yard mark. Overall, it was a significant improvement compared to the previous four games.
DeCamillis could look to improve the team’s kick return blocking after Las Vegas exploited a weakness.
Well @CGI_Ram, this feels awkward, but I somehow actually won this thing, so I'll accept the $5000. ROD Dollars whenever you are prepared to cut a check. Thanks
And it has to be a top 5 game for baker. You have his first NFL start in Cleveland, his first playoff game, first start for Carolina and then this. Such a boost and potential resurrection to his career when alot of people, myself included have been thinking he's a bust.
Now, this may be an anomaly but I'm now giving him the benefit of doubt.
The real report is Mayfield is going to go under concussion protocol after that & a couple other times he did it as well.
When he finally came to he was like what just happened the last 48 hours.
For me it isn’t what he chose as much as how he went about the whole thing. Run it back, daddy what should I do (after hanging the Rams out TJ dry in FA), sorry AD I was always about the money.
Soon enough? Like right now. The rams are going to have a losing record and should be figuring out who can play and who can’t. The only good news is the evaluation process can start now with real games against real teams not camp and preseason. McVay has to figure out how to get this offense going again as they misread the way defenses would attack them. I think the “other guys” have gotten a lot of valuable experience. If this team had any pass rush besides AD they would have several more wins.
He has gotten hurt and missed time every time he's played for the Rams. Without even discussing his lack of ability, there isnt really reason to think he could be counted on to play a couple games
Malibu is talking about career longevity, not contract size. Won't mean anything if OBJ rushes onto the field and ends his career bc he wasn't fully healed. If he is forced to wait, he may end up having to take a "prove it" deal, but he may then very much be able to prove it and get a larger co tract afterward.
Without a contract, there is no longevity
Going in to an age 31 season as a FA off 2 ACL surgery means there is no career longevity at this point, its about grabbing a paycheck
And he's not getting a long term high money deal. So would LA be a good spot? He showed what he could do in a good offense. If he wants to do it again there aren't that many teams.
