Rams seem set with right side of their offensive line

Alden Gonzalez

IRVINE, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Rams alternated the alignment of their offensive line last Sunday, and now it appears they are sticking with it.

For Saturday's preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys, Rob Havenstein started at right tackle (the position he played throughout college and in the NFL) and Jamon Brown started at right guard (where he spent most of the last two years with the Rams). The two were flipped throughout the offseason program and in the early part of training camp, but the Rams seem to prefer this look.

Speaking after the 13-10 win from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Rams coach Sean McVay said, "I feel like Rob’s really settling in nice at that tackle position, and Jamon will be our right guard right now unless something changes. I think it’s about those guys getting more and more comfortable."

The offensive line appears set, with Havenstein at right tackle, Brown at right guard, John Sullivan at center, Rodger Saffold at left guard and Andrew Whitworth at left tackle.

After that, it remains a question. The Rams' second-team offensive line struggled in pass protection on Saturday, with backup center Austin Blythe airmailing a snap and backup tackle Pace Murphy allowing defensive ends to blow past him on at least three occasions. The issue has been exacerbated by the knee injury that has kept a versatile Andrew Donnal from practicing.

There were a couple times on our edges that we did get loose," McVay said. "... The expectations that our players have for themselves, that we have for them, has got to be higher than what we performed at down in and down out last night. That’s the way we’ll approach this week.”

[www.espn.com]

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Preseason Notebook: How Much will Gurley Play?

The Rams’ first-team offense took only eight snaps in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Cowboys. And in that time, running back Todd Gurley recorded four carries — matching the number of rushing attempts he had in the entire 2016 preseason.

Part of that is by design. It’s a new scheme and Gurley is a significant part of head coach Sean McVay’s plans for the offense. So it stands to reason that the third-year running back would take his share of snaps in order to get as acclimated as possible.

“The plan is right now for our starters to get progressive work through the third preseason game,” head coach Sean McVay said in a press conference on Sunday. “I also think this preseason offers us a unique opportunity to get him some touches being mindful of that we do want to allow him to be at his best by the time we play the Colts. But especially being in a new system and just for the overall continuity of our offense, I think it’s important for him to be out there with those guys. And that’s the goal, and that’s the plan right now.”

But at the same time, McVay said Gurley is the type of competitor that wants to be on the field — the kind of player coaches sometimes have to hold back in order to protect him early in the season.

“I think Todd going into his third year, he’s a [such a] great competitor that he’s always going to want to play if you allow him to. It’s not like he’s ever saying, ‘Hey, don’t let me play this preseason.’ He wants to compete,” McVay said. “You watch the way he works day in and day out at practice, he’s one of those guys where you have to be mindful of protecting himself from himself because he works so hard. So that’s a good problem to have with one of your key players.”

That’s why Los Angeles will do its best to strike a balance to give Gurley just the right amount of preseason carries.

“I think it’s important for him to get some work in the preseason so we’re careful about that workload,” McVay said. “And it’s a delicate balance we want to have with that. But also [we want to be] mindful of getting him ready to roll for that Indy game where he can be the best version of himself.”

While the Rams will continue to monitor Gurley’s workload, they’ll also look to improve the blocking around him. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth pointed out the negative run on the first drive as an example of how the offensive line has room for improvement. On Sunday, McVay had a similar assessment of the play after seeing the film.

“I think yesterday, especially when you just talk about the runs that we got off with our first unit, it’s a great example when you go back and watch the tape of why the run game takes all 11,” McVay said. “It’s about one single block — if you miss at the point of attack and a defensive lineman spikes inside, so now there’s penetration and the back doesn’t have a chance to press his landmark where everything else is in coordination, now you’re talking about a minus-three-yard gain. Where if one person does their responsibility we could be talking about a plus-13 or a big explosive-type run.”

To that end, McVay said the plan is to keep Rob Havenstein at right tackle and Jamon Brown at right guard. The two had been working at the opposite spots for much of the offseason program and training camp until they flipped back to the positions where the came in as rookies early last week.

“Rob’s playing good at right tackle, I think Jamon’s doing a nice job at the guard position,” McVay said. “And I think when you look at those guys’ skill sets, it’s probably conducive for them being at their best, and really for our line long term, when you’re projecting some of those younger guys as starters this year and what they’re going to be able to do for years to come.”

Elsewhere in the run game, McVay said he was impressed with the way undrafted rookie Justin Davis bounced back from his two early fumbles.

“I thought Justin Davis showed his explosion,” McVay said. “What impressed me the most was his ability to respond. A lot of guys, you can let that affect you. But I didn’t sense those two plays affected him. He came back out and created some explosive runs after that. Did a good job competing in protection.”

As McVay said, anticipate ball security being a focus of practice as the Rams begin their preparations to play Oakland in Week 2 of the preseason.

HOW’S LANCE DUNBAR?

Running back Lance Dunbar began training camp on the physically unable to perform list and as of Sunday it’s unclear when he may be able to come off.

“He’s on the PUP right now, it doesn’t look like there’s any resolution to that in the near future,” McVay said. “So our anticipation is, you’d love to have Lance Dunbar. When that time is, we don’t really know. But that’s why it’s important for us to evaluate these other backs.”

Dunbar missed the majority of the 2015 slate with the Cowboys after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. While Dunbar was healthy for much of last season, he was used in a limited capacity with the emergence of then-rookie Ezekiel Elliott.

McVay said Dunbar has been doing what he can to rehab, but there’s no clear timeline as to when he may return to the field.

“He’s doing what he can control in terms of the rehab and staying up, staying sharp with the mental aspects of it,” McVay said. “But I think it offers a unique opportunity for some of those guys behind Todd to step up and get some opportunities that maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise.”

AUSTIN NOT EXPECTED TO PRACTICE THIS WEEK

Wide receiver Tavon Austin has been hampered by a hamstring injury suffered during the early goings of training camp and is expected to be out for at least another week, McVay said Sunday.

“We’re really trying to figure out exactly when that is that he’ll be back. I think ideally you’d like to say he’ll get some preseason work,” McVay said. “The hamstrings are always very difficult injuries for those skill players to evaluate because the grade 1, the grade 2 — the difference ends up being a couple weeks. So ideally, I’d like to say Tavon will get a chance to play in the preseason. But the goal and the main thing we have in mind is making sure he’s ready for that Colts game.”

EXTRA POINTS

— McVay said outside linebacker Robert Quinn, linebacker Mark Barron, and cornerback Kayvon Webster were all held out from last night’s game for precautionary reasons.

“We’ve been extra cautious with some of our veteran guys that we have big expectations for,” McVay said. “And whether it’s a tweak here or something like that, part of that maintenance program that we discuss, that’s where all three of those guys fit.”

— The Rams were able to get out of last night’s game healthy. McVay said there were a few tweaks, but nothing that was of major concern.

— Wide receiver Sammy Watkins will be able to fully participate in practice this week with his new team. Watkins had said Saturday that he hadn’t been practicing with any restrictions in Buffalo during training camp.

“He got all that stuff cleared, so he is full go,” McVay said. “We want to be mindful of just the fact that he did a lot of traveling — coming from the east coast to the west coast. He was getting everything checked out last night where we kind of got the thumbs up. So just getting him back to where his body feels recuperated and things like that — we’ll monitor his workload. But in terms of just his pace and things like that, he’s full speed, fully released, and he’s healthy.”

— Cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman took snaps on the outside during Saturday’s game, and McVay said there’s a potential role for him there. Robey-Coleman has been more of a slot corner for most of his career to this point.

“I think the way that he’s played throughout the course of camp, [cornerbacks coach Aubrey] Pleasant has done a good job of giving him some opportunities that maybe he hasn’t had in his career,” McVay said. “But what I think you see is a good football player. He’s tough. He consistently finds ways to get his hands on the ball. And from an offensive perspective, you certainly feel him as a defensive player.”

— Finally, McVay said Davis and outside linebacker Cassanova McKinzy were a pair of under-the-radar players who impressed him with their play in Saturday’s game.

“Cassanova McKinzy on defense continues to show why he’s a physical player,” McVay said. “He’s got the ability to run and hit. And he’s done a nice job throughout the course of camp.”

Chargers go down to Hags 48-17. Commit 4 turnovers. On their way to winning over LA fans.:rolllaugh:ball:

Happy homecoming Mr. Spanos, and all those lucky Charger fans.

Round 1 of "Fight For LA" goes decidedly to the Rams.:boxing:

I've been trying to find a really good background of We Not Me with the team and Sean McVay but there's nothing on the internet. Anyone here savy enough at photoshop to make one? Preferably longer horizontally. I'll pay you in Rod Dollars

So here's the link...

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The drive link SHOULD take you right to it, but if not, try going through the reddit post.
EDIT: Looks like it just embedded the vid. That works too I guess.

Huge thanks to the man u/TLangLand for doing this. The fact he takes a few hours out of his day to do this for nothing in return is admirable. Hopefully I don't piss him off/get him in trouble for posting it over here.

Enjoy.

With that said, Blythe played fairly well, not great, but held his own (minus that snap). My question is this, with chemistry on OL so critical, why didn't Sully see at least one series? I wonder if a bad line call resulted in the play where the tackle had a free pass between him and Brown.

Anyways, that first series only had a couple good plays, some luck, but overall had me feeling like last year. Higbee might be a practice wonder but disappears when the lights go on during games. Gurley needs some holes to regain his aggression.

Vs Oakland, I want to see these guys getting reps: Watkins, Kupp, Austin, Woods, Gurley, Rogers, Everett, Whit, Saffold, Sully, Brown, Hav, and Goff. The playbook is big enough to handle advanced scouting by the Colts. Martz didn't care what happened in the 99 pre-season, he let it fly and nobody caught up until the NFC Championship game. Let's get some continuity going

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/feat...ain-trauma-protect-nfl-players-or-end-the-nfl


"During this year’s playoffs, the NFL has been airing TV commercials with the tag line “The Future of Football.” One of them shows a white-coated technician loading blood samples into a Quanterix machine. “We’re trying to develop the best tools, ones that will allow us to diagnose concussions in real time,” says the narrator, Teena Shetty, a neurologist who consults with the New York Giants. Quanterix’s concussion research fits into the NFL’s vision of a future in which head trauma is neatly contained. A pinprick sideline test would make everyone rest easy when a player who just took a head shot returns to the field.

The CTE research is less comfortable for the league. For several years after Webster died, the NFL downplayed the problem of head trauma. In 2009, after being called to testify before Congress, Goodell ducked questions about the link between football and neurological disease. “Medical experts would know better than I do,” he said.

Nobody knows how common CTE is among current and former NFL players. “Some people have said up to 90 percent,” Bailes says. “I think it’s much less than that.” Not everybody who suffers repetitive head trauma winds up with the disease. And nobody knows why some get it and others don’t. It could have to do with the intervals between hits, with genetics, with nutrition. A test for the living would make it possible to begin sorting this out, to devise prevention programs, and maybe even find drugs that can reverse the damage. This is the hope, both for CTE sufferers and for the NFL."

Play 1 pass block. Success
Play 2 run block. Success.
Play 3 pass block. Success.

Great start so far.

Wanted to throw a poll up on what our trade options are to boost our OL group. This type of stuff is painful for some, I realize, however to get something you gotta give something up and there is simply nothing more important right now to this team's outlook than being able to protect the "point guard" of what will be a very pass-centric offense.

Curious what the board overall thinks is on the horizon here.

Rams CB Michael Jordan graded out as PFF's top player versus the Cowboys

https://www.downtownrams.com/single...ded-out-as-PFFs-top-player-versus-the-Cowboys

As John Kosko mentioned on our podcast, Pro Football Focus will be grading all the preseason play and coming out with the top grades per each team. Rams cornerback Michael Jordan graded out higher than anyone on Saturday night which should be a breath of fresh air for Rams fans after trading away talented cornerback E.J. Gaines.

It wasn't just Jordan that stood out, more young Rams DL Tanzel Smart (87.5 grade), C Austin Blythe (82.7 grade), QB Sean Mannion (81.4 grade) and LB Kevin Davis (80.1 grade) all had quite the showing.

Here is what Pro Football Focus had to say about each player:

QB Sean Mannion, 81.4 overall grade

"With QB Jared Goff playing only two series, Mannion took advantage of a showcase opportunity going 18-of-25, including three dropped passes. It was mostly short stuff for Mannion, but his one pass over 10 yards was a post route that was right on target until Xavier Woods knocked it out. Mannion also handled pressure well, completing 4-of-5 passes with his only incompletion the aforementioned post route."

C Austin Blythe, 82.7 overall grade

"Blythe made an impact in the run game where he executed a variety of blocks at a high level. He made linebackers pay at the second level and he made multiple reach blocks to stonewall opposing nose tackles. He fielded the game’s second-highest run block grade of 83.0. It wasn’t all great as he airmailed a snap over QB Sean Mannion’s head and he surrendered a QB hit, but Blythe’s work as a run-blocker won’t go unnoticed in his battle to join the offensive line rotation this season."

CB Michael Jordan, 91.2 overall grade

"Jordan played up to his lofty name making numerous plays in the passing game all night. On his five coverage targets, he surrendered just one catch for 11 yards with two passes defenced. Quarterbacks targeting Jordan posted just a 39.6 passer rating."

DL Tanzel Smart, 87.5 overall grade

"The rookie sixth-round draft pick out of Tulane filled up the stat sheet and was disruptive all night against the run and affecting the passer. Smart recorded one hit, three hurries, one batted pass at the line of scrimmage and two tackles on his 37 snaps. He finished with a very respectable 11.1 pass-rush productivity mark."

Overall that is something to be very happy about. The Rams sixth-round interior defensive lineman was a constant pressure generating nightmare. The Rams may have also found their diamonds in the rough in the form of CB Michael Jordan and their center they claimed off of waivers in Austin Blythe. Sean Mannion left no doubt of course, whether he would be Jared Goff's backup moving forward. Hopefully these four can continue their impressive play as we move forward through the preseason.

Here's my thumbnail sketch.

Speaking strictly for myself...

I didn't expect dominance. Certainly not GSOT type of an O.

But I did expect improvement.

And I got it from the D. The "Wade influence" is already apparent. Fewer mistakes. Fewer penalties. Better tackling. Better schemes. Wade has still got "it". No worries on D for me. Heck, they're only gonna get better and better as they gel together.

ST is still top drawer, it seems. Not improved so much, just still top drawer. No worries there, either.

So, both of those units looked pretty much as I had expected. Maybe slightly better in the case of Wade's D, tbh.

The O? There was some good and some bad. I expected better. Mostly better from our OL. Specifically JB and all the backup OL players. Wanted to see improvement from Gurley after all the raves from camp reporters and beat writers, but I certainly didn't get it.

I wasn't particularly impressed by either Mannion or Orlovsky. Especially Orlovsky. If Goff goes down, I fear that we are in worse shape than I had previously thought.
Goff was improved. I'm reassured there.
I liked Kupp's game, too. Seemed just as advertised.
Everett shows promise, doesn't he? Higbee better watch out if he wants to remain the "starter".
Davis was a very pleasant surprise. Didn't see THAT coming.
Kinda liked Cooper's brief play, too.
Hoped for more from Spruce and McRoberts.
Did Thomas play? If so, it wasn't memorable to me.

All in all, the O was a mixed bag. Wanted to see more Goff. He needs the snaps. And they've gotta bring those fumbles to a screeching halt, of course. That was embarrassing, man.

So, from the vantage point of reviewing after sleeping on it, it wasn't the end of the world, was it? We just definitely have work to do on our O. Specifically the RG starting position and apparently all the backup OL players. Pace Murphy ain't gonna enjoy watching the game film, that's for sure. Lol.

Hope to see O improvement against the Raidahs...

First, no major injuries that I could see. Second not many penalties for the first preseason game. Third the DB were covering well and tackling well, I loved what I saw from #41.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/rams-gm-les-snead-on-negotiations-with-aaron-donald-no-movement/

Rams GM Les Snead on negotiations with Aaron Donald: 'No movement'

Aaron Donald is arguably the best defensive player in the game, but he isn't being paid like it. So, as the Rams prepare for their first preseason gameagainst the Cowboys on Saturday night, they're doing so without their star defensive lineman, who has yet to report to training camp.

On Friday, Rams general manager Les Snead was asked for an update on negotiations with Donald. His update? There is no update. "Not any movement," he said, per ESPN.

Still, Snead hasn't given up hope. "There is hope," he said. "There's hope that he'll be a Ram a long time."

In Snead's defense, he's a been a bit busy engineering a trade with the Billsto bring Sammy Watkins to Los Angeles. But in Donald's defense, he's massively underpaid and deserves a significant pay raise. The Rams should prioritize his contract over everything else, because as previously mentioned, he's one of the game's best players. In the first three years of his career, he has 28 sacks -- remember, he's a defensive tackle, not an edge rusher. Our Pete Prisco ranked him as the third best player in all of football, only behind Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. He was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded interior defender last season.

Yet Donald's base salary in 2017 ($1.8 million) ranks 31st among all defensive tackles, according to Spotrac. His base salary in 2018 ($6.9 million) ranks 13th.

Understandably, the Rams probably enjoy having the best defensive tackle in football on a super cheap contract. Understandably, Donald does not enjoy that nearly as much, which is why he's not with the team for training camp. Earlier this week, our Joel Corry -- a former agent -- explained how he expects the holdout to proceed. As Corry noted in his story, the Rams have a history of rewarding first-round picks with contract extensions. Both receiver Tavon Austin and defensive end Robert Quinn got new deals before/during their fourth season. But the Rams still hold all the leverage.

I'll let Corry explain:

The Rams possess leverage over Donald because he is under contract this season for approximately $1.8 million and for $6.892 million in 2018 since the Rams picked up their fifth-year option with him. Donald could also be designated a franchise player in 2019 and 2020.

Teams giving highly-accomplished first-round picks extremely early extensions haven't exploited their leverage. Cowboys center Travis Frederick, Panthers inside linebacker Luke Kuechly, Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson and Texansdefensive end J.J. Watt became the highest-paid player (by average year salary) at their respective positions. Each player received All-Pro honors in two of their first three years, just like Donald.

Based on their treatment, the Rams should at least be willing to make Donald the NFL's highest-paid interior defensive lineman over Ndamukong Suh. Suh signed a six-year, $114.375 million contract with the Dolphins in 2015, which averages $19,062,500 and contains nearly $60 million fully guaranteed. Donald insisting upon being the NFL's first $20 million per-year non-quarterback with more than the $70 million in guarantees Von Miller received from the Broncos in 2016 would be justified. Miller became the league's highest paid non-quarterback at $19,083,333 per year with his extension. The Cowboys making Zack Martin, who has earned All-Pro honors in his each of three NFL seasons, the NFL's highest-paid offensive guard before Donald gets a new deal would likely added to his resolve.

The Rams might want to extend him sooner rather than later so Donald can get fully comfortable in the new defensive system that Wade Phillips is bringing from Denver to L.A.

The "3 and out" was not really due to poor play by him. I looked at the dvr recording of the game carefully, and our QB did a good job (you listening dieterbrock? lol) Here are the plays as I saw them for Goff's time at Center.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

1st play was a pass from Goff to Robert Woods incomplete, but placed where only Woods could catch it, with two defenders in front and behind Woods.

2nd play was a hand off to Todd Gurley, while Jamon Brown was owned by the Dallas DE Lewis Neal #66 (rookie) by getting creased inside and tackling Gurley 2-3 yards behind the LOS.

3rd Play was completion from Goff to Gurley for 9-10 yards, but short of the 1st down.(Whitworth did a great job spinning LDE Taco Charlton inside away from Goff-STUD)

4th Play was a Ram's punt on 4th down, fumbled by the 'Boys returner and recovered by Ram's LB Josh Forrest at the Cowboy's 33 yard line.

5th Play was a 1-2 yard run by Gurley.

6th Play was a fake to Gurley and Goff went back to about the 45 yard line and threw to the 23 yard line a PERFECT strike to Cooper Kupp, and he took it to the 13 yard line. Again, Goff hit Kupp in stride perfectly a 22 yard pass in the air strike. (GET EXCITED RAM's FANS!)

7th play Gurley 1-2 yard loss (nowhere to go).

8th play Gurley 3-4 yard run.

9th play Perfect throw (well executed play) to Robert Woods and he made what would have been a first down to the 2 yard line but the Cowboy defender knocked the ball out and it rolled into the end zone. Kupp retrieved the fumble and scored the TD.

Screw Heath Evans at NFLN, the bastid! Goff did everything that could be asked of him.

and when the wrap up by the NFLN clowns was done, it was all good things for Cowgirls and not one word about good things the Rams did. They did mention that the Rams scored LESS (2 points) than last years offensive dumpster fire average in such a smart @ssed way I wanted to punch him....but did not mention that the Boys scored even less.

I also hate that Heath Motherfu#$%@!

Just my two cents:

• Our defense looks amazing. Wade is incredible at what he does. Our first two units were playing fast and loose. They tackled well and suffocated Dallas's offense. Additionally, our DL and LBs were giving Dallas's OL problems. Dallas was missing Tyron Smith, but they had the rest of their top OLs out there IIRC. It's very promising to see our DL and LBs do that without Donald and Quinn.(and very little Barwin and Brockers)
• The offense is a work in progress. Our starting offense looked bad on the first drive and great on the second-chance opportunity. There's not a lot we can evaluate of Goff because he threw so few passes. I liked what I saw in the little we had.
• Our first-unit run blocking is still bad. I hope we see improvement. Brown needs to improve at RG.
• Our first-unit OL did pass protect well. Whitworth is a rock.
• Gerald Everett and Cooper Kupp both were excellent. Everett is the YAC threat that he was billed as in the draft. Kupp is polished and a great football player. He'll have some inconsistencies as a rookie, but he's going to make an impact this year.
• Pharoh Cooper also had himself a nice day.
• We gotta work with our HBs, WRs, and TEs on protecting the ball. There were way too many balls coughed up today.
• Justin Davis ran the ball well (although, he received quality blocking). However, he coughed the ball up twice and was a disaster in pass protection. He has talent, but he's gotta get those issues figured out quickly.
• Pace Murphy had a really rough day.
• Sean Mannion played well after a rocky start.
• I don't see Nelson Spruce making the team. He's just too limited of an athlete. I love his toughness and reliability, but he just isn't getting much separation or creating after the catch.

That's all I got. I didn't watch the defense as close as the offense, so I can't speak as much to how individual defenders did. I can say that I liked what I saw from NRC and Morgan Fox. Feel free to add your own observations as I'm sure I missed something.

Funny how just a few snaps shows you everything you need to see. I've liked what I've seen from Tyler at times. I really like what I've been reading this off-season about his progression. But I've never seen him look as explosive as Gerald just did in and out of his breaks. Then, within Gerald's first two catches he makes 3 people miss after the catch? That's what he did all throughout college and if I remember correctly he caused more missed tackles than any other TE in the nation last year.

I know their game is different and Higbee is 3 inches taller. But the upside of the rookie is too much to ignore. McVay will see it on film and within the first few weeks of season I bet he overtakes Tyler for the starting job.

I'm loving what McVay has brought to our O.

Did you notice that during the CH2 halftime show with Everret and Hill? Could those be new horn decals finally?

We need a young, talented RG and maybe a pick for the next starting Cleveland Browns QB, Sean Mannion?

Just as advertised.

Pharoh Cooper looks tough-as-nails too.

Am thinking about doing game pass this season and signed up for free trial for now. But I noticed to watch any games that have happened they have the final score plastered right on the link to the game. So when regular season starts and I have to wait for the live game to finish will it have the final score in big print when I go to watch it? Cause that's kind of stupid as hell if so.

.

THEN

hc - jeff fisher
oc - rob boras
oline coach - boo

grob
barnes

tavon
britt
quick
marquez
cooper

kendricks



NOW

hc - mcvay
oc - lafluer
oline coach - kromer

whitworth
sullivan

watkins
woods
kupp
tavon
cooper

everett
higbee


.