Oakland Raiders: What we learned from the exhibition opener

By JIMMY DURKIN
PUBLISHED: August 12, 2017



Derek Carr suited up but never needed his helmet as only three offensive starters ever saw the field. Most of their starting defense was out there, as it should have been considering the work it needs, but Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin didn’t play.

Marshawn Lynch experienced an interesting night as he suited up for the Raiders for the first time. There was never a chance that he was going to play, but he did put on the pads for pre-game warmups.

Also a non-issue for Del Rio is the Gareon Conley injury situation. Conley tweeted on Thursday that he doesn’t have shin splints, which ran counter to what general manager Reggie McKenzie said 11 days earlier. It appears to be a minor mix-up with Conley dealing with an injury to his shin, but not specifically shin splints.

Here’s what we learned from the exhibition opener:

THREE IMPRESSIONS

1. Playing it safe: The Raiders could’ve given Carr a token possession with a few handoffs, but they didn’t bother. It was an automatic they’d sit guys who have been dealing with injuries like Amari Cooper, Mack, Irvin, Obi Melifonwu and Gareon Conley, who is still on the physically unable to perform list.

But they played it extra cautious by keeping out Michael Crabtree, Jared Cook, the starting interior offensive line of Rodney Hudson, Kelechi Osemele and Gabe Jackson and fullback Jamize Olawale.

Most of those guys will see action at some point in the exhibition season, but there’s no reason to expose them this early on.

2. Defense not fixed: The Raiders pegged so many of their defensive issues last season on poor communication they expected to have cleaned up this year. That wasn’t immediately evident.

On Arizona’s first drive, either TJ Carrie or Reggie Nelson blew the coverage and Jaron Brown was running free down the middle of the field. But Carson Palmer overthrew Brown as the Raiders escaped giving up a truly ugly play.

Two drives later, the Raiders only had 10 players on the field when fortunately an alert Karl Joseph called a time out. These are issues you expect to see in the exhibition season, but it’s easy to overreact so early when you consider the issues from last season.

3. Manuel maintains lead: E.J. Manuel has long held the apparent edge in the backup quarterback battle and that didn’t change Saturday. He played the first half and completed 10 of 12 passes for 107 yards despite not having Cooper, Crabtree or Cook to throw to. His best pass was a 30-yarder to tight end Clive Walford that he nicely dropped in.

Connor Cook was 10 of 21 for 82 yards, with his longest pass of 29 yards coming on a screen play that John Crockett turned into a big gain.

THREE WHO HELPED THEMSELVES

1. Safety Karl Joseph: The second-year safety is already a locked-in starter of course, but he showed the early signs of being more of an impact player. He raced in to deliver a big thumping hit on one of Arizona’s first running plays of the night and was highly active while he was out there — so much so that he looked like one of those key starters that should’ve been sitting on the bench.

2. Defensive tackle Treyvon Hester: It’s no secret the Raiders need some interior push on that defensive front. Hester showed he may be able to provide that. He received rotational snaps with the starting defense and helped anchor the second-team line and delivered a pair of sacks and a quarterback hurry.

3. Linebacker LaTroy Lewis: Where did he come from? An undrafted free agent out of Tennessee, he hasn’t really drawn any attention during training camp but proved to be worth watching a little more after coming off the edge to notch two sacks. Sure, he did it against backup linemen, but for a team in need of some secondary pass rushers behind Mack and Irvin, he could earn himself an extra look.

THREE WHO HURT THEMSELVES

1. Cornerback Sean Smith: The night couldn’t have gone worse for Smith, whom the Raiders gave a four-year, $38 million contract to last year. He looks more like a candidate to be cut — even with a guaranteed $9.5 million salary this season — than he does to start.

Smith was called for pass interference on his first snap of the night, then picked up an illegal contact penalty later in the game when the Cardinals’ Chris Hubert beat him deep and he just reached out and grabbed him.

He got beat another time on what should’ve been a touchdown but Arizona backup quarterback Drew Stanton overthrew the pass.

While he’s a sunk cost for this year, the Raiders might have to consider eating that money if he continues on this path.

2. Linebacker Marquel Lee: The rookie middle linebacker has a lot riding on him to help stabilize this defense and he didn’t get off to a great start. Lee, a fifth-round pick, was constantly getting blown out of run plays and chasing from behind in coverage on pass plays. He did have a fumble recovery, finished with six tackles and had a couple flashes in coverage, but overall it wasn’t the best debut.

3. Right tackle Vadal Alexander: The Raiders’ biggest leverage in the Donald Penn holdout is to have their line play well in his absence. Alexander, who would’ve been battling Marshall Newhouse for the right tackle job if Penn was in camp, was beat badly on a play that led to Manuel getting crushed for a nine-yard sack. The Raiders don’t want to see their QBs taking big hits like that.

EXTRA POINT

— The Raiders are already thin at offensive tackle with Penn’s holdout and David Sharpe dealing with an injury that kept him out and then saw Denver Kirkland leave in the third quarter with some type of leg injury. The versatile Kirkland started the game at left guard and was playing left tackle with the second unit when he got hurt.
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/08/...s-what-we-learned-from-the-exhibition-opener/


Raiders Renew Longstanding Preseason Series With Rams


By Jerry Knaak Team Historian


The Raiders have a long and varied history with the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason. Let's take a look at it.

The Raiders have a long and varied history with the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason. Although the teams have met just 13 times in the regular season since 1972, the Raiders and Rams have battled 19 times in regular season tune-ups since 1970.

The Raiders lead the all-time preseason series 12-7 and have won the last four meetings, all in Oakland.

The series has been played out in four different cities (Berkeley, Oakland, St. Louis, and Los Angeles) and in five different stadiums (Cal’s Memorial Stadium, the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Edward Jones Dome, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Anaheim Stadium).

The Raiders and Rams met annually in the preseason from 1970-73, traditionally in Week 3 of a six-game exhibition schedule. The Rams won the first meeting, 34-23, in Los Angeles, with the Raiders winning the next three.

The second meeting, a 20-7 Raiders win in 1971, was held at Cal’s Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, as was the fourth, a 16-3 Raiders victory in 1973.

Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel, who was originally drafted by the Raiders in the first round of the 1962 AFL Draft, as well as by the Rams in the 1962 NFL Draft, was a top NFL quarterback (1969 NFL MVP) for the Rams and played in this rivalry from 1970-72.

After a year off, the teams resumed their annual meetings with five in a row from 1975-79. The Rams won the 1975 and ’76 contests, with the ’76 match-up serving as the Raiders only loss of the 1976 preseason.

The six-game preseason schedule was shortened to four (with exceptions for American Bowls overseas and Hall of Fame games) after the 1977 campaign, and then Rams would go on to win the next three match-ups in the series, 1978, ’79 and 1992.

During the 1970s, numerous Hall of Fame players on both sides took the field in this preseason series.

For the Raiders: tackle Ron Mix, center Jim Otto, quarterback/kicker George Blanda, quarterback Ken Stabler, cornerback Willie Brown, guard Gene Upshaw, tackle Art Shell, linebacker Ted Hendricks, tight end Dave Casper, wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff, tackle Bob Brown, punter Ray Guy, and Head Coach John Madden.

For the Rams: Head Coach George Allen, defensive end Deacon Jones, guard Tom Mack, defensive tackle Merlin Olsen, tackle Jackie Slater, and defensive end Jack Youngblood.

From 1970-79, the Raiders and Rams each qualified for the playoffs seven times, and played in five conference championship games each during that span. The Silver and Black defeated the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 in Super Bowl XI after the 1976 season.

The Vikings defeated the Rams in the NFL title game that year. The Rams would go on to win the NFC Championship and lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl after the 1979 season.

The Raiders played in five straight AFC Championship games from 1973-77, while the Rams played in three straight NFL title game from 1974-76, and two straight from 1978-79.

The 1979 and 1992 contests featured rare preseason overtime finishes. The Rams won both, 20-14 in ’79, and 19-16 in '92; both games were held in Los Angeles with the Rams as the home team. Longtime Rams running back Eric Dickerson (1983-87) joined the Silver and Black in 1992 after playing for the Indianapolis Colts (1987-91).

The Raiders moved to Los Angeles after the 1981 campaign and set up shop at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The two teams only met three times in the 1980s, all in the regular season.

The Raiders won the next two match-ups against the Rams, both in Los Angeles with the Rams as the home team, 1993-94, which happened to be the last two times the teams would meet as the Los Angeles Raiders vs the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason.

They would face each other during the 1994 regular season.

Both teams would move after the 1994 season, with the Raiders returning to Oakland, and the Rams relocating to St. Louis. From 1995 – 2015, the Raiders won six of the seven preseason meetings between the two teams, with all but one of those match-ups taking place in Oakland.

The Rams only win during this time period came in 2000 in St. Louis, as Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner and the Rams celebrated their 1999 Super Bowl title, and the team unveiled new uniforms.

The Raiders won the last match-up, 18-3 in Oakland in 2015, in Jack Del Rio’s debut as Raiders head coach. The Rams returned to Los Angeles in 2016.

In the preseason, the two teams played twice in Berkeley, eight times in Los Angeles, twice in St. Louis and seven times in Oakland. Well over 30 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame have participated in this rivalry.

As for the regular season, the Raiders lead the series 8-5, with the Rams winning the last three in St. Louis and the Raiders winning the last two in Oakland. The two teams have eight Super Bowl appearances between them.

When the Raiders and Rams renew their preseason rivalry Saturday night in Oakland, the Rams will once again be wearing new uniforms, with the new look harkening back to the days when this series first began. And the next time the Raiders take to the road to face the Rams, it’ll be in Los Angeles where the whole thing began.

Raiders vs Rams Preseason Series:

Aug. 22, 1970: Raiders at LA Rams, L 34-23
Aug. 21, 1971: Raiders vs LA Rams, W 20-7, Berkeley
Aug. 19, 1972: Raiders at LA Rams, W 34-9
Aug. 18, 1973: Raiders vs LA Rams, W 16-3, Berkeley
Sept. 11, 1975: Raiders at LA Rams, L 6-0

Aug. 21, 1976: Raiders vs LA Rams, L 23-14
Sept. 9, 1977: Raiders at LA Rams, W 21-0
Aug. 6, 1978: Raiders vs LA Rams, L 28-3
Aug. 4, 1979: Raiders at LA Rams, L 20-14 OT
Aug. 15, 1992: LA Raiders at LA Rams, L 19-16 OT

Aug. 28, 1993: LA Raiders at LA Rams, W 20-19
Aug. 20, 1994: LA Raiders at LA Rams, W 29-20
Aug. 12, 1995: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 27-22
Aug. 7, 1999: Raiders at STL Rams, W 18-17
Aug. 5, 2000: Raiders at STL Rams, L 31-17

Aug. 8, 2003: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 7-6
Sept. 2, 2004: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 28-24
Aug. 24, 2007: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 20-10
Aug. 14, 2015: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 18-3

(Series Trend) The Raiders have won 8 of the last 9 preseason games vs the Rams
http://www.raiders.com/news/article...ith-Rams/1a85ea44-5736-4d42-b3a4-4e6892d47bbf


Jack Del Rio didn't leave the fans waiting on the status of the Raiders starters for their second preseason game.

By Jeff Smith
Published: August 18, 2017

So, it looks like Raider Nation will get their first look at the full 2017 Raiders starters, and it'll be for more than a quarter of action.

In the Oakland Raiders preseason opener, many big names like Derek Carr, Amari Cooper. Khalil Mack, Marshawn Lynch and Michael Crabtree were all spectators.

Apparently, that will all change in the team's second preseason game Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams.

In head coach Jack Del Rio's press conference after practice Thursday, he was asked about the starters playing in the game and said they would all play into the second quarter.
http://oak.247sports.com/Gallery/Oa...eed-to-bounce-back-in-second-presea-106297131
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Even though this is considered a meaningless 2nd preseason game by the general fan base and media, the Raiders should be a step up in class compared to the backup units the Cowboys put on the field last weekend at Los Angeles.

Other than the Cowboys O-Line last Saturday, Jason Garrett held out several of his regular season starters and the game overall had the look of a sloppy exhibition match.

McVay also held out some of his key players last weekend and according to NFL media pundits, he bubble wrapped Goff (only giving him limited snaps) as if he was a proven 5 year starter that didn't require any extra reps.

Regardless of last week, the match-up tonight at Oakland should display most of the projected starters for both teams in the first quarter and give us a few clues and answers heading into the more important 3rd preseason game.

August 19, 2017 at Oakland, California 7pm Pacific time..


AT



*Previewing* the obvious list of Rams things to watch for in the (first quarter) and maybe a series or two in the second quarter of tonight's 2nd preseason game at Oakland.

1) Will the starting offensive line (Center, Left & Right side) create running lanes that Gurley can see?

2) How will the O-Line look in pass protection? (especially in obvious passing downs)

3) Will Jared Goff

Throw a TD pass?
Have any fumbles?
Look like polished second year QB with his arrow pointing up?
Fling the ball too high over the heads of open receivers?
Fail to go through his progressions and just stare down his primary targets?
Show some leadership signs and make accurate throws?
Take unnecessary sacks when his WR's/TE's are covered because he holds onto the ball too long?
Over or Under throw his targets down the field of more than 20 yards?

4) Will Wade's defense in the first quarter hold up against the talented skill players of the Raiders?

5) Will Sammy Watkins, Woods and Kupp ever be on the field together in a 3 WR set?

6) Will Josh Reynolds get any receptions and have at least one target over 25 yards ?

7) Will rookie RB Justin Davis have the most yards per attempt again minus the fumbles?

8) How many flags will be thrown in the first half?

9) Will the surprise players on defense vs Cowboys last Saturday show up again at the Raiders?

10) Can the Rams offense score more than one touchdown in the first half?

11) Will Quinn, Barwin, Ogletree Barron, Brockers or Westbrooks make any impact plays in their limited snaps?

12) Will Higbee, Everett or Hemingway score a TD or at least make a splash more than than 15 yards?

13) Will Mo Alexander and L.Joyner both be on the field together and protect there areas of the field?

14) Will the peoples choice FB named Sam Rogers do anything in this game that we can talk about tomorrow?

15) Who will be the surprise players that weren't mentioned in last Saturday's preseason game?

No matter how good or bad this game goes, we all pretty much agree that the most important thing tonight is none of the projected starters get injured for either team.

Hopefully the first half of this game doesn't look like a sloppy preseason (comedy of errors) exhibition match.

https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/8/14/16141724/rams-los-angeles-coliseum-best-stadium

The L.A. Coliseum, Home of the Rams, Is the Best Stadium in the Whole NFL
An evening at the temporary home of one of L.A.’s two pro football teams
BY BRYAN CURTIS


Getty Images/Ringer illustration

What’s the best place to catch an NFL game right now? I’d argue the correct answer is the L.A. Coliseum, the rickety, temporary home of the Rams. As evidence, let me tell you what I saw when the Rams played the Cowboys on Saturday night.

The first thing to like about the Coliseum is that it’s the rare pro stadium that exists in a neighborhood rather than a parking lot. On Saturday, I exited the 110 freeway, turned right, and drove about four blocks. A man and a woman waved me into an office parking lot. The woman directed me into a space that said “Tow Away Zone.”

“I’m not going to get towed, am I?” I asked as I handed over 20 bucks.

“Don’t worry,” the woman said. “We’ll stay with your car all night.” That wasn’t a “no,” but close enough.

I walked east on 39th Street. I passed homeless tent cities and a 60ish man pushing an ice cream cart with a bell on it. The street was filled with enough fans in Cowboys jerseys that if you added a few 7-Elevens it could have been Arlington. I made a list of the Cowboys jerseys I saw before spotting my first Rams jersey: Dak, Dez, Zeke, Aikman, Zeke, Dak, Morris Claiborne, Witten, Romo, Ware, and Dak (the last with pink numbers). Only then did I see a Todd Gurley.

The Coliseum’s second redeeming feature is that it strips away the icy, dictatorial order you usually encounter at an NFL stadium. Last year, my pal Matt and I joined 89,000 other people at the Cowboys-Rams preseason game that marked the return of pro football to L.A. “You mean the night we were unorganized and ran out of water?” one Coliseum security guard asked me Saturday, when I reminded her of the marvelous chaos that ensued.

I have two indelible memories of last year’s game. The first came in the stands. When Matt and I sat in our seats near the 50, we sniffed the air, looked at each other, and said, “Is that pot?” The smell was stronger in the fourth quarter than it was in the first.

The second memory came after the game, when the Coliseum was overrun with a churning mass of humanity trying to squeeze through the exits and Matt and I came face-to-face with a terrified Michael Irvin.

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If you’ve never been to the Coliseum, you may not be aware of its lack of basic features. It has no upper deck. On Saturday, the usher looked at my ticket, noted I was sitting on Row 76, and pointed up a flight of steps toward what looked like the summit of Kilimanjaro.

On Row 76, I sat on a wooden bench with the seat numbers carved into the back. The bench was once red, but now it had the sun-scorched salmon color of a bench you see in a city park or at a highway rest stop.

The Coliseum will host the Rams for three more seasons until construction is finished on the Rams’ new stadium in Inglewood. (An extra year was added to the stay after construction delays.) This is the period when the Coliseum will be the most interesting stadium in America, because you can watch a fan base wrap its collective mind around a new-old team in real time.

The Rams desperately want L.A. to love them. Last season, they hired a PA man, Sam Lagana, who uses a booming, overwrought voice to sell an unappealing product. “Your Los Angeles Rams are coached by MR. SEAN MCVAY!” he yelled Saturday. He sounded like the late Rod Roddy hawking ant killer on the old The Price Is Right.

In the first half on Saturday, when the stadium’s videoboard asked, “Whose House?” only a few people answered, “Rams House!” As we’ll see, the reaction would be different as the game wore on.

In the stands, you can spot a few Rams old-timers in Jack Youngblood jerseys who’ve returned to the team’s fold. When Pharoh Cooper makes a catch (he has 14 in his NFL career), fans chant, “Coooop!” But I still remember the opener last year, when Rams old-timers were outnumbered by trolls in Raiders jerseys who showed up at the Coliseum screaming, “The Raiders are back!”

Where else in sports can you see fans forgiving their favorite team live? Or not, in some cases. On Saturday, the video board showed a tribute to Jerry Jones, who just got into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jones was instrumental in moving the Rams to L.A. At the end of tribute, everybody stood up and made noise—call it 70 percent cheers.

In the second quarter, the video board showed a tribute to Kurt Warner, who helped the Rams’ franchise win their one and only Super Bowl title. The Coliseum greeted that tribute with dead silence. Who’s Kurt Warner? I dunno. Some guy who played in St. Louis.

If the Coliseum lacks an upper deck, it also lacks a true undercarriage—the warren of tunnels and bathrooms and foodstands that lies under most stadiums. For eating, this has proved to be a godsend. The best personnel move the Rams made since drafting Aaron Donald is outsourcing their concessions to an army of independent food sellers who set up stands and even food trucks outside the stadium.

Walk around the exterior of the Coliseum and you find signs that are oddly specific (“Tacos, Burritos, and Carne Asada Tater Tots”). This is L.A., so the vendors’ names are achingly twee: Cheezus Designer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, say, or Lobsterdamus. Before Saturday, I was morally opposed to serving hipster food at a stadium. By the time I wolfed down a Kobe beef melt and chased it with a four-pack from Randy’s Donuts, I had gratefully converted. By the way, Randy’s also has two beers on draft.

I grazed inside a circle of food trucks parked under the old Olympic torch. It was a breezy night, and the palm trees around the stadium shook from side to side as they do in Jurassic Park. Inside the stadium, I could hear Lagana, the PA man, madly trying to get the crowd hyped up: “Here we go with the second half! Rams 7, Cowboys 3. Arrrrre you ready?!” I was ready for another doughnut.

On the asphalt track that circles the Coliseum, at least during the preseason, it’s possible to meet the kind of eccentrics you find on Hollywood Boulevard or in Venice Beach. I met a Zeke Elliott impersonator, who performed Elliott’s “Feed me!” bit as soon as I pulled out my camera. A few Raiders trolls were still lurking about with impish smiles. The coolest jersey on sale at the merch stands wasn’t Jared Goff’s but Irwin M. Fletcher’s.



By the time I made the ascent back to my seat for the fourth quarter, the sun had disappeared behind the grandstand. At JerryWorld or any other new stadium, the stands are so brightly lit that you feel like you’re sitting in an operating room.

At the Coliseum, I glanced at the note paper I held in my hands and saw that it was bathed in shadow. Shadow! In the age of the modern mega-stadium, that counts as a design feature. In the Coliseum, you sit in darkness and look at a field that’s fully lit. It’s more like watching boxing than pro football.

With the clock ticking down and the Rams up by three, the fans that had hung around decided to get into the game. When a pass was broken up by Michael Jordan (a second-year DB out of Missouri Western State), everyone went nuts.

“The GOAT!” someone behind me said.

“Whose House?” the video board asked.

“Rams House!” the crowd yelled, louder this time.

The Cowboys had the ball. It was third-and-short. The errant snap got by third-stringer Luke McCown, and the Rams recovered the ball in a dog pile near midfield. Every Rams fan in that place celebrated. It might be the best thing to happen to the team all year.

We probably underrate temporary stadiums. A decade ago, I spent a great afternoon watching the Washington Nationals amid empty seats at RFK. I wish I’d seen the Oilers’ one season at the Liberty Bowl and the Vikings’ cameo at the University of Minnesota.

Such a visit isn’t liable to produce grand, tell-your-kids-about-it history, but it is liable to produce weird, tell-your-sports-friends-about-it history. Between heaven and a seat bond is a temporary stadium.

After the game, I walked back down 39th Street to my car. The couple that sold me the parking spot were still standing sentry, just like they promised. My last image of the Coliseum was a heavyset Rams fan in an Aaron Donald jersey who was screaming at no one in particular as the clock ticked down. “You people think this is Texas?” he was shouting. “This is L.A.! This is RAMS HOUSE!” So it is, for three more years. Every thinking NFL fan ought to get here immediately.

McVay’s history shows Rams can’t afford to be pass-happy on offense

Rams head coach Sean McVay gives instructions to his players during a training camp practice at Crawford Field in UC Irvine in Irvine on Monday, August 14, 2017.(Photo by Kyusung Gong, Orange County Register/SCNG)

By Rich Hammond

OAKLAND >> Coach Sean McVay is a quarterbacks guru who loves tight-end mismatches and now gets to plan with receiver Sammy Watkins. But don’t forget the Rams’ running backs. McVay should not.

The Rams have Todd Gurley, who underachieved badly in 2016 but seems poised for a bounce-back season after a strong training camp. McVay, the Rams’ rookie coach and their play-caller, might be tempted to throw the ball a lot, but his recent history suggests that the ground game works.

McVay’s second preseason game as a head coach takes place today, when the Rams play at Oakland. Last week against Dallas, the Rams totaled 33 pass plays and 28 run plays.

“When you put together any offensive system,” Rams running backs coach Skip Peete said this week, “you try to have some form of balance, with the run and the pass. When you go back and look at Coach’s history, as far as his time in Washington when he was calling plays, that’s what he did. There was a balance between the run and pass.”

Sometimes, yes.

McVay called plays last season as Washington’s offensive coordinator. In the team’s eight victories, it ran the ball on 47.2 percent of its plays. In seven losses, Washington ran on only 29.1 percent of its plays.

Washington ran the ball more as the 2016 season progressed, but in total, the team passed on 61.6 percent of its plays, the seventh-highest average in the NFL last season. Washington averaged 24.8 points per game, only the 12th-highest average in the league.

Will that change with the Rams? They have a second-year quarterback in Jared Goff, and they don’t know exactly what to expect from Gurley or from an offensive line that seems upgraded but struggled badly last season in pass and run blocking, as the Rams compiled some of the NFL’s worst offensive stats.

The tendency, with a coach, quarterback and organization all attempting to make a good impression in Los Angeles, might be to sling the ball around the field, but that’s not always the most prudent plan. For instance, New England in 2016 averaged 34.4 pass attempts and 30.1 run attempts per game.

“It’s hard to be a dominant offense if you’re not balanced,” Rams center John Sullivan said. “You have to make teams worry about both facets. Obviously, everybody loves seeing big-chunk plays and throwing the ball down the field, but the way you open that up sometimes is by running the ball effectively. One feeds off the other.”

Sullivan should know. He spent most of last season in Washington as the backup center.

Washington started last season 0-2, and in those games attempted 89 passes and only 29 runs. So astounding was the disparity that McVay actually went before local reporters and said he would call more run plays.

He did. Washington won its next four games, in which it attempted 138 passes and 109 runs. Washington kept running the ball, even after a midseason injury to lead back Matt Jones. McVay turned to Rob Kelley, an undrafted free agent, who became a trusted option.





Now, McVay has Gurley, who averaged only 3.2 yards per carry last season behind a struggling offensive line and alongside a sputtering pass game.

McVay recently praised Gurley as a “violent runner” and certainly is talking a good game, in terms of making Gurley a focal point of his offense.

“He’s definitely a complete back,” McVay said. “I think he’s motivated in the right way. I can’t say enough about what he’s done right now and the challenge, just like anything else is, ‘Can we continue to sustain that over time?’ That consistency that we’re striving for and Todd’s been a great example of that for our team so far.”

McVay clearly attempted to line up his running backs upon his arrival. He inherited Gurley, then the Rams signed free agent Lance Dunbar to emulate Washington’s Chris Thompson. McVay regularly used Thompson as a pass threat out of the backfield, and Dunbar mirrors Thompson’s size and skill set.

The only problem is, Dunbar hasn’t made it onto the field in preseason practices because of a bad knee. Gurley has been getting more work as a pass-catcher, and the Rams like the effort of undrafted free agent Justin Davis, who is shifty in the open field.

So, the evolution of the Rams’ offense continues, and it will get a longer look Saturday, as the starters are expected to play into the second quarter against the Raiders.

“I think it’s about attacking and winning football games,” Sullivan said. “We scored a ton of points last year, and now that’s the expectation in Los Angeles, that we’re going to do the exact same thing. We’re going to use all facets of the game to attack teams, and we’re going to try to put defenses on their heels.”

ROSTER MOVES

The Rams on Friday signed outside linebacker Davis Tull and cornerback Carlos Davis, and waived receivers C.J. Germany and Justin Thomas.

Tull spent last season on Atlanta’s practice squad and most recently had been in the Canadian Football League. Davis went undrafted this year out of Mississippi.

[www.dailynews.com]

Right side of Rams’ offensive line under a microscope Saturday against Raiders

Rams tackle Rob Havenstein, left, and guard Jamon Brown listen to offensive line coach Aaron Kromer during a recent practice. (Photo by Kyusung Gong, Orange County Register/SCNG)

By VINCENT BONSIGNORE

OAKLAND – The Rams will push their starters into the second quarter Saturday against the Oakland Raiders. It’s the typical plan of attack the second week of the preseason, with NFL coaches extending clock time for starters as they chart their flight plan toward the regular season.

The primary objective is creating a smooth landing for the regular-season opener, as players prepare both their bodies and minds for the grueling 16-game schedule.

But there are underlying objectives that go along with preparation. Even for starters who will give way in the second quarter to backups looking to solidify jobs or simply survive to see another couple of weeks.

Which brings us to the right side of the Rams’ offensive line.
It’s two players in count – they would be guard Jamon Brown and tackle Rob Havenstein – but in overall impact they seem so much larger in the grand scheme of things.

The left side of the line was essentially locked down with the signing of All-Pro left tackle Andrew Whitworth. His presence meant Rodger Saffold could return to his more natural left guard position full time. And with the addition of veteran center John Sullivan, it meant the Rams offensive line from center to left tackle was set.

The right side was another story, with the Rams first experimenting with moving right tackle Rob Havenstein to right guard and guard Jamon Brown to right tackle.

Those changes happened in OTAs. But they lasted all of one week in training camp, at which point Havenstein returned to tackle and Brown went back to guard.

Havenstein seems to have settled right back in in his new “old” position. He looks natural and comfortable and while not overly dominant, certainly capable and reliable.

Brown, maybe not so much.

He wasn’t particularly sharp against the Dallas Cowboys in Saturday’s preseason opener, and while it was an extraordinarily short stint of action it was noticeable.

.And it sent the Rams into this week in major evaluation mode.

By Thursday, the right side of the offensive line still seemed a work in progress – as in changes could still happen – but Rams coach Sean McVay held hope the unit can solidify itself.

“I think really everybody is a constant work in progress, because we always strive for that improvement,” McVay said. “I think with our line as a whole, just continuing to get those guys to feel comfortable. That continuity that we talk about, that’s so important. But, with the right side of the line, I feel good about Rob Havenstein at right tackle and Jamon Brown at right guard and that’s what we’re going to be right now and that’s what we anticipate moving forward.

“I think those guys getting comfortable at those spots is the most important thing leading into (the regular-season opener) and that’s the lineup that we’ve got right now. I think they’ve done a good job kind of having played tackle and guard and then going back to it, it’s been good for us to evaluate and see that these are probably their most natural spots and that’s important for us as coaches to put these guys in the best situations for them to have success.”

The entire line faces a huge test Saturday night against a fierce Raiders defense.

But Brown, in particular, is under a microscope.

If he handles the challenge, the Rams will breathe a little easier.

If not.

Well …

“It’s big,” McVay said. “I think that experience, especially for younger players at any position, is extremely beneficial and that’s something that we don’t take lightly. We know we’re going to get an opportunity to go against a great front and great defense in the Oakland Raiders. They’ve got some premiere players on that side of the football that will pose a great challenge and it’s going to be a great evaluation tool for us.”

So while your eyes will naturally follow Jared Goff and Sammy Watkins and all the Rams offensive skill position players.

Keep an eye on the right side of the Rams offensive line against the Raiders.

It’s pretty important.

[www.ocregister.com]

It's Game Day!




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Game Preview: Rams, Raiders Gear Up for Week 2 of Preseason

The Rams are set to play their first road game of the 2017 season on Saturday following the team’s 13-10 win over the Cowboys in the preseason opener. In Week 2 of the preseason, the Rams will travel to the Oakland Coliseum to face off against the Raiders. Saturday’s matchup will mark the first time the two teams have met in the preseason since 2015.

In their win over the Cowboys, the Rams’ starting offense played for just two drives, ending in a fumble recovery for a touchdown, scored by wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Quarterback Jared Goff looked relaxed on field for the short span, completing three of four passes for 34 yards, while Sean Mannion went 18 of 25 for 144 yards.

After practice on Wednesday, head coach Sean McVay said the goal for Saturday’s game was to play their starters “through the first quarter,” easing them into the action over the next two games. The newest Rams’ wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who entered training camp just four days ago, will take reps with the first-team against the Raiders.

“Sammy’s going to be a guy that is a big part of our plans offensively [and] I think in the last couple days, he’s made a seamless transition,” McVay said. “We know that we’ve got to increase the level of urgency to get him where we needs to be by the time the regular season rolls around, [but] I’m looking forward to seeing him compete with these guys against Oakland on Saturday.”

For Goff, Saturday will represent his first time playing in the Bay Area since he was in college at the University of California. The quarterback said he was excited to build upon the win in Week 1 and create a “rhythm” heading into the second.

“That’s what I look forward to doing,” he said, “is just getting out there and stringing a few completions together, moving the ball and hopefully getting us in the end zone a couple of times.”

But that won’t be easy. In the Raiders, the Rams’ offense will face a top-tier defense led by the pass-rushing duo of Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin. The pair combined for 18 of the Raiders 25 sacks last season, and according to Pro Football Focus also led the NFL in stops with a combined total of 79.

In addition to the passing game, the first quarter matchup will allow McVay to get a good look at the progress of his offensive line, specifically Jamon Brown and Rob Havenstein — who made the switch to right guard and right tackle over training camp.

“It’s big,” McVay said of going up against the Raiders’ defense. “I think that experience, especially for younger players at any position, is extremely beneficial and that’s something that we don’t take lightly. We know we’re going to get an opportunity to go against a great front and great defense in the Oakland Raiders.”

After a strong defensive showing in the preseason opener where the Rams held the Cowboys to 48 yards rushing and just 10 points overall, Week 2 against the Raiders will bring the team a new set of challenges.

The Raiders ranked sixth in the NFL in total offense last season, averaging 26 points per game, led by quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Amari Cooper. And though the Rams will not face the Raiders in the regular season, linebacker Alec Ogletree said the game will still give the defense a chance to evaluate its progress thus far.

“Right now it’s still kinda early, so you’re definitely trying to focus on yourself and do things you need to do for the season. Luckily, Oakland’s not on our schedule this year,” Ogletree said. “[But] for sure there are things to work on — we did miss a few calls, but we were able to get the job done [last week], even with some of the mistakes.”

The Raiders are coming off of a loss to the Cardinals 20-10. But it is important to note that many of their starters, Mack and Cooper included, were held out of the preseason opener and are set to return in Week 2. Overall, Saturday’s game should be an exciting challenge for the Rams, who will land in Oakland fresh off of the conclusion to their 2017 training camp.

“I think in terms of what you what to get out of training camp, continuing to try to connect as a team, continue to get better in your offense and defense, and special teams systems, we’ve gotten a lot of things accomplished,” McVay said.“[But] Oakland has some premiere players that will pose a great challenge and it’s going to be a great evaluation tool for us.”

Kickoff is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. For more information on how to watch click here.

Madden NFL 18 Rams Season Simulation


The Rams are heading into week two of the preseason tomorrow where they will face off with the Oakland Raiders. Before anything is played, I felt it would be intriguing to delve into a Madden 18 simulation of the Rams season. The new Madden game comes out next Friday, but since the Xbox one happens to allow EA Access we can play it for a quick 10-hour trial. So here is how the brand new rosters in Madden 18 (Sammy Watkins included) feel about the Rams season.

The Rams started off red hot out of the gate even after losing star LB Alec Ogletree and WR Cooper Kupp. They would end up winning three-straight against the Indianapolis Colts (35-13), Washington Redskins (27-24) and the San Francisco 49ers (31-17). Jared Goff and Sammy Watkins appeared unstoppable to start the season connecting on three straight 100 yard games for Watkins and two touchdowns in each contest. Once the Rams headed to Dallas trouble emerged. Dak Prescott was actually injured in the game that did not include Ezekiel Elliott due to suspension and Prescott while trying to carry the Cowboys fell victim to a knee injury that would end his season. Luckily for the Cowboys and unluckily for the Rams backup QB Luke McCown overcame the impossible odds and dominated through the air for a 28-7 victory over the Rams.

The quarter mark finished with the Rams staring at a 3-1 record (same as last season). Back home they would go to play the Seattle Seahawks in week 5. The Rams would, unfortunately, lose Robert Quinn for the rest of the year with a torn pectoral and Maurice Alexander for an extended time with a fractured foot. The Rams were unable to overcome the injuries in a loss at home versus the rival Seahawks. Goff had an impressive day, but the Seahawks would go on to win 33-21. The Rams would follow up a two game losing streak in Jacksonville to face Blake Bortles and the Jaguars. With an overall average performance of Goff, the Rams would ride the coattails of Todd Gurley to go out in front and finally seal the deal with a Mark Barron interception. The Rams would finish their half of the season going into the bye. In came the Arizona Cardinals to steal a home game from the Rams. It was the Gerald Everett coming out party as he put up two scores and 177 yards receiving. Unfortunately, the injuries of Michael Brockers and Trumaine Johnson begin to pile up in a Rams 17-28 loss. The Rams come off the bye week flat versus the New York Giants on the road. Goff has one of his worst games and Watkins and Everett are held to a combined total of 5 yards in the game. The Giants go on to roll to a 24-6 win with Odell Beckham Jr. and Evan Engram causing all sorts of trouble for an injured secondary.

The third quarter of the season kicks off with another Rams loss after Deshaun Watson out-duels Jared Goff to win the game 37-25 in Alec Ogletree's return from his injury. It's week 11 and the Rams head to Minnesota to play Sam Bradford and the Vikings. Samson Ebukam ends up knocking Sam Bradford out of the game with a knee injury and the Rams have their way with Teddy Bridgewater. The Rams pick off Bridgwater four times including three from Kayvon Webster in a dominant road win 38-14. Back to Los Angeles we go for the matchup between Goff and Drew Brees. Gurley goes down early in this one and it's up to Lance Dunbar and Malcolm Brown to carry the load. Brees and Goff throw five touchdowns each as Tavon Austin explodes for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Ebukam continues to fill in for Quinn nicely as he forces a fumble and takes it back for the game winning touchdown as the Rams win 49-42. The Rams are back over .500 at 6-5 and head to hostile Arizona to gain ground in the NFC West. In a close game, Lance Dunbar has a career day with 125 yards and two touchdowns, Aaron Donald racks up five sacks, but it's all not enough when Dunbar fumbles on the potential game winning drive 24-27.

The final quarter of the season and the final stretch leaves the Rams needing to win out to win the division. A reeling Seahawks team combined with a bad Cardinals team and 49ers team means the NFC West division title is wide open for the Rams. The Rams head into the Goff vs. Wentz bowl and Wentz picks apart the Rams for a 28-7 victory and a likely elimination of the Rams playoff hopes. The Rams head to Seattle to face what is their last opportunity to stay in the hunt. Goff breaks his collarbone early on and Sean Mannion goes off for 349 yards and two touchdowns to help beat Seattle 26-20. The Rams need to win out to possibly eek into the playoffs, but now they face the 12-2 Tennessee Titans who have serious Super Bowl contention. Mannion gets picked off by rookie CB Adoree Jackson twice and Marcus Mariota totals up to 467 total yards to beat the Rams and end their playoff hopes 35-21. The season finale in Los Angeles the Rams try to break even at 8-8 on the season by winning over the revitalized 49ers. Gurley is back from injury and Mannion plays well, but not well enough as C.J. Beathard and George Kittle are too much to handle in a 28-23 final.

The Rams finished this simulation 7-9 which many may feel is very realistic. Madden may have way more faith in players like Lance Dunbar and Sean Mannion than the majority of fans do, but hey, that's simulation. Now here are the stats that Madden simulated for the Rams.

QB:
Jared Goff (12 starts): 3,091 yards, 21 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 58% completion, 83.9 passer rating
Sean Mannion (4 starts): 810 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 57% completion, 88.3 passer rating

RB:
Todd Gurley (10 starts): 208 carries, 869 yards, 4.2 yards per carry, four touchdowns, three fumbles
Lance Dunbar (6 starts): 152 carries, 547 yards, 3.6 yards per carry, 11 touchdowns, two fumbles
Malcolm Brown (0 starts): 74 carries, 209 yards, 2.8 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns, zero fumbles

WR:
Sammy Watkins (16 starts): 69 receptions, 1,062 yards, 15.4 yards per catch, seven touchdowns
Tavon Austin (16 starts): 74 receptions, 818 yards, 11.1 yards per catch, four touchdowns
Robert Woods (13 starts): 43 receptions, 509 yards, 11.8 yards per catch, zero touchdowns
Cooper Kupp (0 starts): 9 receptions, 122 yards, 15.3 yards per catch, zero touchdowns

TE:
Gerald Everett (16 starts): 63 receptions, 697 yards, 11.1 yards per catch, seven touchdowns
Tyler Higbee (0 starts): 6 receptions, 58 yards, 9.7 yards per catch, zero touchdowns

DEFENSE:
SS Maurice Alexander (12 starts): 106 TKL's, 1.5 SACKS, INT, 11 PD's, 2 FF's
OLB Samson Ebukam (13 starts): 106 TKL's, 0.5 SACKS, 3 TFL's, 2 PD's, FF, FR, TD
ILB Alec Ogletree (13 starts): 105 TKL's, 0.5 SACKS, 3 INT's, 7 PD's, 4 FF's, 2 FR's
CB Trumaine Johnson (14 starts): 93 TKL's, 0.5 SACKS, 2 INT's, 12 PD's. FF, FR
DE Aaron Donald (16 starts): 90 TKL's, 12.0 SACKS, 17 TFL's, 3 FF's, 2 FR's
CB Kayvon Webster (16 starts): 88 TKL's, 3 INT's, 14 PD's, FF, FR
FS LaMarcus Joyner (16 starts): 82 TKL's, 2 INTS. 7 PD's, FF, FR
CB Nickell Robey-Coleman (16 starts): 82 TKL's, 1.0 SACKS, INT, 9 PD's, FF, FR
DE Ethan Westbrooks (16 starts): 57 TKL's, 6.0 SACKS, 5 TFL's, PD
DT Mike Purcell (10 starts): 54 TKL's, 2.0 SACKS, 2 TFL's, FF, FR
ILB Mark Barron (13 starts): 52 TKL's, 0.5 SACKS, TFL, 3 INT's, 6 PD's, FF, FR
OLB Connor Barwin (15 starts): 52 TKL's, PD
DT Michael Brockers (6 starts): 41 TKL's, 2.0 SACKS, 8 TFL's
DT Louis Trinca-Pasat (0 starts): 28 TKL's, 2.5 SACKS, TFL
OLB Robert Quinn (4 starts): 27 TKL's, 5.5 SACKS, TFL, PD
OLB EJuan Price (0 starts): 26 TKL's, 4 TFL's, FF
CB Michael Jordan (1 start): 25 TKL's, TFL, 0.5 SACKS, INT, 5 PD's, FF, FR
SS Isaiah Johnson (0 starts): 8 TKL's
LB Bryce Hager (0 starts): 7 TKL's, FF, FR

SPECIAL TEAMS:
K Greg Zuerlein: 16/21 FG's, 45/45 XP's
P Johnny Hekker: 57 PUNTS, 2,717 YD's, 47.7 AVG
KR Tavon Austin: 29 KR's, 773 YD's, 26.7 AVG, TD
KR Sammy Watkins: 19 KR's, 508 YD's, 26.7 AVG, TD
PR Tavon Austin: 32 PR's, 263 YD's, 8.2 AVG

Notables:

- Samson Ebukam finishes third behind 49ers LB Reuben Foster & CB Ahkello Witherspoon for Defensive Rookie of the Year voting

- Gerald Everett finishes third behind Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky & Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey for Offensive Rookie of the Year voting

- Prized free agent LT Andrew Whitworth "hit a wall" giving up 13 total sacks on the season

- Aaron Donald finished runner-up in Defensive Player of the Year voting to Packers LB Jake Ryan

- Maurice Alexander, Aaron Donald & Johnny Hekker were the Rams only Pro Bowl selections

- Rams signed WR Sammy Watkins to 4-years/$69 million

- Rams extended SS Maurice Alexander to a 4-year/$28.2 million deal

- Rams signed MLB Alec Ogletree to 5-years/$50.1 million

- Rams let Trumaine Johnson, LaMarcus Joyner, Connor Barwin & Nickell Robey-Coleman test Free Agency

- Rams extend Aaron Donald to a 7-year/$154 million deal

What to make of this...

Nothing, it's not real, it's just for fun. Clearly, there are some things that are off, but overall it's interesting. It appears Madden thinks the Rams offense has not only immensely improved with the addition of Sammy Watkins, but it's also primed to outperform the defense. That I disagree with and I'm sure many will as well. The big theme of this season would be injuries, but after that? Probably the emergence of Jared Goff. Now, the Rams have lost Goff to a broken collarbone in this simulation, but everything aside from that you would sign up for a 3,000-plus yard season from Goff with 21 touchdowns and 13 picks in a heartbeat. Sure, you may have higher expectations, but in 12 games that looks like a good line. Same with Todd Gurley's 850-plus yards in 10 games. The big thing that kind of stuck out to me and was a little disappointing was the fact that Cooper Kupp suffered a torn achillies in week one. Let's hope for the love of the god that the Rams stay more injury-free than this simulation appears to think. Overall, it's not perfect, it's a simulation, but it gives us a barometer of where Madden may think the Rams fall.

Perhaps it isn't their year this season, but the Rams moving from a 4-12 disastrous start to the return to Los Angeles era to 7-9 is a solid improvement and would have new Head Coach Sean McVay held in high regard as the Rams enter the 2018 off-season.

I'm watching the Seahawks vs Vikings game and Seattle's LT George Fant had his leg rolled up on. He was in terrible pain and was carted off the field with what appeared to be a severe left knee injury. Definitive reports will probably confirm this soon.

Seattle's offensive line is already a weakness in their team but they did sign Luke Joeckel with experience at LT. Joeckel has been playing left guard but seems likely to transition over since backup option Rees Odhiambo is a joke in pass protection.

The Rams should be salivating over the opportunity to expose he holes in that unit. :boxing:

Like many of you, I enjoy reading about the ins and outs of football. Far too few journalists discuss it. This is an older article, but I hadn't seen it before. I don't know a lot about special teams, so I find it very interesting and informative. Here it is:
http://insidethepylon.com/nfl/teams...27-yard-punt-return-a-lesson-in-reading-keys/

I'm not going to copy and paste the text because there are a lot of pictures and videos involved in the explanation. I've read some other very interesting articles from the same author, so I recommend others checking out other articles of his.

Just making this thread because it looked like Seattle just lost their starting LT for the season. He was carted off. Also, Wilson looks the same as usual and Sammy hasn't changed at all. Stefon Diggs is a beast. Seattle has WR Kasen Williams. Big body dude with good hands and leaping ability. Could be a steal for them.

I was watching some replay games. I found a play from last preseason game. We have a 1st and 10, snap is initiating right at 12:17 in the first quarter.

The entire offense and defense is loaded to the right side.

On the hand off Gurley looks to make the right decision. Keeping his shoulders square to the line. But shortly after that he looks like he has tunnel vision. He had a great initial set up and the blocking was terrific. Due to him keeping his shoulders square he created a massive cutback lane. I haven't watched coaches film but I could see a hole being created.

I've ordered some things. Should have them next week...

im currently boarding a flight to head to SAn Fran to go watch this game. Anybody else going by chance? Agreed to meet some guys who are Raider fans I served with. I would like to meet a few of you if you will be there!

TheRinger.com analyst Michael Lombardi joins the Rich Eisen Show (8/18/2017).

Here's one that will make your blood boil. Rich asks Michael if the Rams are the biggest NFC sleeper team in 2017. Lombardi's hot take:
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MC1qPYnHho


In short, the Rams are extremely bad. McVay is too young and will be a poor first year head coach. Jared Goff is a bust. He was awful against the Cowboys and was pulled after 8 plays. Am I missing anything?

There's a reason you work for "The Ringer" and not an actual sports network, Michael.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-anthem-gets-chris-long-support?sf107245251=1


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Eagles' Chris Long on backing Malcolm Jenkins' protest: 'I'm here to show support as a white athlete'

play

Long, Jenkins reflect on significance of unity gesture (1:18)

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2:52 AM CT

Tim McManusESPN Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Eaglessafety Malcolm Jenkins continued his protest of social injustice Thursday by raising a fist over his head during the playing of the national anthem before the team's preseason home game against theBuffalo Bills.

In a show of support, defensive end Chris Long kept his hand on Jenkins' back for the entire playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner," then gave Jenkins a pat on the shoulder pads and a hug when the song was over.

EDITOR'S PICKSOwners can freeze out Kaepernick, but NFL's activists keep message alive

Malcolm Jenkins and a few of Colin Kaepernick's courageous peers aren't backing down to the league's owners. They're willing to keep taking significant hits for real-world change.

Long bros.: Hate won't define Charlottesville

Chris and Kyle Long, who grew up in Charlottesville, Virginia, watched in dismay as their hometown was besieged by violence and hate rallies over the weekend. The brothers say the community will not be defined by those actions and will emerge stronger.

Titans' Jones fears anthem protest will cost him

Titans lineman DaQuan Jones is worried that if he continues his post-national anthem protests, he'll be labeled as "a Colin Kaepernick" and it will hurt his career.

"I've heard a lot of people say you need white athletes to get involved in the anthem protests," Long said. "I've said before I'll never kneel for an anthem, because the flag means something different for everybody in this country, but I support my peers. And if you don't see why you need allies for people that are fighting for equality right now, I don't think you'll ever see it. So my thing is, Malcolm is a leader, and I'm here to show support as a white athlete."

A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Long has been outspoken about the recent events in his hometown. Earlier in the week, he called the actions of the violent protestors "despicable."

"I was inspired by a lot of the allies that were there to stand up against hate in my hometown, and I wasn't able to be there to protest or to stand up against hate. People like Heather Heyer gave their lives for that, and I was inspired by that," he said. "So it's just telling Malcolm, I am here for you, and I think it's a good time for people who look like me to be here for people fighting for equality."

In another show of support for Jenkins, Eagles cornerback Ron Brooks kneeled during the anthem, video showed. Brooks did not dress for the game because of a hamstring injury. Last year, Brooks joined Jenkins in raising a fist for multiple weeks before being sidelined by a ruptured quad tendon.

Long approached Jenkins before the game to tell him about his desire to show support during the anthem. After getting an understanding for the message Long wished to convey, Jenkins agreed.

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"I think it is important to show, especially for a white male to show, that although these problems don't necessarily affect you, you can still see the significance in it, you can still be in support of your brothers that are going through it," Jenkins said.

Eagles DE Chris Long, left, kept his hand on Malcolm Jenkins' back as Jenkins raised his fist during the playing of the national anthem before Thursday's preseason game. AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Jenkins raised a fist above his head for all but one game in 2016 -- the exception being the regular-season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 11 out of respect for those who served and died on that day in 2001 -- and did so again before the preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers last week. A source close to Jenkins told ESPN last week that he intended to demonstrate for the entire season.

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett sat during the national anthem last Sunday before their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams in part because of the recent events in Charlottesville. His teammate, receiverDoug Baldwin, says he is considering joining Bennett in the demonstration.Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch remained seated during the national anthem before the team's 20-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.

Earlier this week, Jenkins said he does not expect to see a large uptick in anthem protests as a result of what transpired in Charlottesville.

"It's just telling Malcolm, I am here for you, and I think it's a good time for people who look like me to be here for people fighting for equality."

Eagles DE Chris Long

"What happened to Charlottesville to me was not a starting point. To me, that would not be the point in which somebody would start to do the protest," he said. "That was a result of years and years of frustrations and battles that have been going on for a long time. Those are just kind of the results of the existence of hate, racism and prejudices that have long plagued America. So I don't see people now trying to get involved in that because if you hadn't seen a problem until the other day then you've kind of been sleeping."

The original pregame demonstrations were kick-started by quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who began sitting during the national anthem in the 2016 preseason before taking a knee for the final preseason contest and 16 regular-season games.

Sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter in March that Kaepernick would stand during the national anthem this upcoming season. He has not been signed by another team since opting out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ersmonths ago, however.

Jenkins is one of several players who have continued the protest in Kaepernick's absence, while others across the league have voiced their support for the cause and concern over whether the quarterback is being blackballed as a result of his actions.

"Last year, the people who were against Kaepernick were probably making the most noise, and now you have the reverse," Jenkins said. "So keeping him out of the league, you think that things are going to smooth over but in actuality you're having a bigger uproar from people who want to see him have a job -- especially if him not having a job is solely on his political stance."

Jenkins has developed into one of the leaders of the NFL players' off-the-field movement. He helps coordinate the efforts of a growing network of NFL players looking to get involved in social activism, has made multiple trips to Capitol Hill to speak with politicians about mass incarceration and police brutality, and has met local law enforcement and participated in a ride-along with Philadelphia police.

While he wants to off-field efforts to be the primary focus, he feels the protests are still needed to bring attention to the issues of social injustice.

"As the blowback against those who stand up for what is right thickens, I feel it is necessary to push forward with a relentless determination," he told ESPN in a statement last week. "I want to send a message that we will not easily be moved or deterred from fighting for justice."

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Which NFL teams are most likely to go from worst to first in 2017?

Pondering which NFL teams are most likely to go from last place in their division in 2016 to first place in 2017? Start with Cam Newton and the Panthers. Jim Dedmon/Icon SportswireFacebookTwitter

http://m.therams.com/s/30854/409?itemUri=40892409/810133151081491494598927150
Doesn't affect our WR room much.

Letter C is noted for a number of great Ram defensive standouts, second-level offensive targets, tight ends and an interesting list of notable NFL players that happened to have a cup of coffee with the Rams. The usual "no" winner is noted, and a couple bonus categories.

1. Nolan Cromwell
2. Kevin Carter
3. Charley Cowan
4. Jim Collins
5. Ernie Conwell
6. John Cappelletti
7. Kevin Curtis
8. Pat Carter
9. Aaron Cox
10. Pat Curran

Honorable mention: Benny Cunningham, Shane Conlan, Don Chuy, Rich Coady, Joe Carollo, Kellen Clemens, Frank Corral, Mark Clayton.

Notable: John Carney, Howard Carson, Marv Cook, Irv Cross, Dexter Coakley, Chris Chandler, Corey Chavous, Henry Childs.

No: Trung Canidate
F-no: Jared Cook
Really?: Bob Cobb
OJs slow-speed get away driver: Al Cowlings.

:cheers:

Adam Schefter "...two sides are not close to a contract right now. Some believe that Aaron Donald's holdout will last into a few games of the regular season."

Keyshawn Johnson(paraphrase): "the homeymoon period with Shawn McVay will be over after the Rams win only 2 games of the first 5." (because Donald is still out).

How many games will we lose because Donald is out in the first 5 games? (if so)

I want to know what you guys think of this final version of my New Rams Helmet. On the other thread, the blue face mask won the pole, so I went with it. I tried to get the colors as true to the old helmets as possible. I want to know what you guys think of the colors, and the horns with the subtle shadows and highlights. Also the horn shape. I re-drew the curve and I think it fits the helmet nicely. Thanks in advance for the feedback.

For those non Rams games chat it up in here instead of starting a hundred threads.

Bortles and Jacksonville as a whole look bad just really bad. First half is almost over and they have 7 carries for 1 total yard.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...strike-in-2021-is-almost-a-virtual-certainty/

De Smith: Lockout or strike in 2021 is “almost a virtual certainty”
Posted by Mike Florio on August 17, 2017

Four seasons remain under the current labor deal, but the drums of labor war already are beating.

“I think that the likelihood of either a strike or a lockout in 2021 is almost a virtual certainty,” NFL Players Association DeMaurice Smith recently told Albert Breer in a video posted at SI.com.

There can be a lockout without games being forfeited; that’s what happened in 2011. So will there be games missed if there’s a work stoppage in 2021?

“I don’t know now, but let’s look at our history,” Smith said. “The owners do a deal in 2006 and opt out in 2008. We do a deal in 2011 with no opt outs because we like the benefits under the current deal and we didn’t want to give the owners a chance to opt out and take back the gains that we currently have. . . . So we have a new deal where if it doesn’t get fixed you head into a certain small-A armageddon.”

In many respects, the situation will be influenced by whether the owners seek to make gains, whether the players seek to make gains, or both. It’s possible that the owners, who complained incessantly about the 2006 deal and never say a peep about the current deal (and all that that implies), will be playing defense in 2021, content to continue under the current terms and daring the players to strike.

Ultimately the question could be whether the players would miss game checks. Many believe that ship sailed for good in 1987, when the use of replacement players caused the players to crater after only a few weeks. The last major work stoppage came in 1982. That year, a strike reduced the regular season to nine games.

If the players are going to strike in 2021, those who will still be in the league need to save their money, and the union needs to have a plan to provide revenue for future players who currently are in college or high school. Above all else, the players need to be willing to go without football.

The best litmus test for the will to strike in the future could be an effort to boycott on a mass basis the voluntary portion of the offseason program. While players with significant workout bonuses may not be inclined to stay away, if enough players skip OTAs to make the session essentially meaningless, that would provide ownership with a capital-W warning shot for what may come in time.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20371989/2021-strike-lockout-very-likely

The NFL and its union agreed to the current 10-year CBA on July 25, 2011. That agreement came after a 132-day lockout.

The agreed-upon CBA hasn't meant there has been labor peace, however, as the NFLPA has clashed with the NFL over player discipline in such high-profile cases as Adrian Peterson's suspension for child abuse, Tom Brady's Deflategate suspension and, most recently, Ezekiel Elliott's suspension for alleged domestic violence.

On Wednesday, the NFL and the players' association released dueling statements in which the NFL alleged that the union was releasing details of Elliott's accuser's text messages to discredit her. The NFLPA responded by calling the accusations a lie.

The last time NFL players missed games was the 24-day strike in 1987, which began after Week 2 and prompted the NFL to cancel its Week 3 games and shorten the season to 15 games. The league played with replacement players for the next three weeks until the players ended their strike after Week 6.

For all of us Ram fans that have endured a prolonged string of one false start after another, my question is simple. Do we have that one guy on this years version of Rams that will calmly step onto the freshly mowed grass of an NFL Sunday and simply make plays. You know, the guy that everyone else watches as teammates and all settle down because that one guy is on my team, and he WILL make plays. You know, that guy where the game doesn't seem too big for him, in fact it looks fun, and everybody else joins in the party. Kurt Warner was that guy. Eric Dickerson was that guy. Merlin Olsen was that guy. Deacon Jones was that guy. Do we have that guy this year? I want to see your guesses. I'll make mine right now on a ridiculously small sample size, but we're all buddies here right? Just having some pre season fun right? Let's dream a little. Here is my early pick for that guy.
Cooper Kupp... and here is what I see. A quick hitting short pass that Kupp turned up the field for a first down after deftly avoiding a tackle and swiveling his hips to get little on the sideline for an extra 5 yards. Insignificant? Maybe, but a I think I see a guy who will make everyone better including his quarterback. He's also the guy who was the only one moving for the loose ball in the end zone when Woods got popped. I think the game looks slow to Cooper. What say you?

Header's better than Robinson looking at Whitworth.

Lamarcus...."UH OH..."

Aaron Donald's agent Todd France has history that could mean trouble for the Rams


Remember last year when the Los Angeles Rams took Jared Goff number one overall, Carson Wentz went number two to the Philadelphia Eagles and then the Los Angeles Chargers (San Diego at the time) took Joey Bosa? Well, unlike the first two selections, Bosa gave his team a little bit of a rough time during the training camp/preseason period.

Joey Bosa was represented by none other than Todd France, a super agent with CAA Sports agency. France made negotiations of Bosa's rookie deal extremely hard to come by for the Chargers. Both sides went back and forth, bear in mind this was only over the language in the rookie contract. Bosa ended up holding out until August 29th, 2016. Bosa stayed patient, while I'm sure as well as the next one he wanted to be out there participating and playing in games. It's pretty obvious he just decided to listen to France and holdout to avoid injury and ultimately fix the offset language in the impending contract.

Now, Bosa has proven his worth after a dominant rookie year, but who is France in protection of now? Aaron Donald. That's right, the Rams prized possession and face of the defensive side of the ball. Donald has been terrorizing offensive lines, running backs and quarterbacks since he entered the league via the 2014 NFL Draft. Donald has watched as the Rams not only struggled on the field, but even off it failing to re-sign defensive backs Trumaine Johnson, Janoris Jenkins, Rodney McLeod and T.J. McDonald. Donald has also watched and has seen teammates Mark Barron, William Hayes, Tavon Austin and Michael Brockers receive extensions. Now, with the Rams planning to re-up Alec Ogletree and LaMarcus Joyner, it appears that Donald is tired of waiting his turn for a pay raise.

France has influenced Donald to go after that big time pay day and even result to holding out like his client Joey Bosa did last season. France is known for getting the most for his clients. Just look at a few of his clients and what deals he got them.

WR Demaryius Thomas - 5 years/$70,000,000
WR Emmanuel Sanders - 3 years/$33,000,000
DT Marcell Dareus - 6 years/ $96,574,118
DT Fletcher Cox - 6 years/$102,600,000
CB Aqib Talib - 6 years/57,000,000

Why is this trouble for the Rams? Again, Bosa was just holding out based on language in his contract that needed to be changed. Aaron Donald? This is a new unprecedented thing in itself. France is responsible for contracts of two of the top five highest paid defensive tackles in the league. Donald happens to be a lot better than every single one of them in the top five. He also happens to be only 26 years old and likely the youngest of the bunch. France could be looking at having Donald holdout well into the season for a contract. If Bosa held out until late August, expect Donald to seriously holdout into the regular season. The earlier reports from Adam Schefter may seem crazy that Donald would do that, but with France's track record, he would.

France has proven time and time again he is going to bat and he is going to be extremely aggressive for his clients. Donald is likely his top client now as he is arguably a top three player in all of football. So, the rules may bend a little and that is why we may have heard of a potential opt-out clause getting in the way. The bottom line is, France's job is to get his client (Aaron Donald) the most guaranteed money and the Rams job is to re-sign their star player for a good enough value so that they don't set themselves back years. The Rams are going to need money left over to sign the likes of first overall pick QB Jared Goff, tenth overall pick RB Todd Gurley and even newly-acquired former fourth overall pick WR Sammy Watkins.

With Donald having a world-class agent, the Rams are going to be backed into a tough corner and might not see Donald until during the regular season or even after. If that indeed comes to fruition the Rams may only have one choice and that may involve a trade. Keep in mind, the Chargers may have signed Bosa to his rookie deal, but there is no reason to think France is done tormenting the Chargers over contracts. What you saw with Bosa in his holdout you are seeing with Donald. What you are seeing with Donald about his extension in year three, you will likely see with Bosa. The Rams, their fans, and teammates can only hope this gets resolved soon, because that no.99 is a game-breaking type player that a young team with a completely new system and coaching staff in place will need to succeed in 2017.