I know Goff is our QB, and I was for drafting Goff over Wentz, and hope he takes off as a top 10 QB. I also am pretty sure Wentz would have been riding the bench as well if we drafted him.

However, the more I learn about Wentz and how he is as a person, and the people around him, the more I like him and want him to succeed.

http://nypost.com/2016/09/20/meet-carson-wentzs-girlfriend-a-perfect-north-dakota-relationship/

http://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/sto...n-bay-packers-real-big-change-needed-nfl-2016

After one of the worst games of his career on Sunday night, Green Bay Packersquarterback Aaron Rodgers was quick to point out that this season is only two games old. "Well, it's Week 2. There's always a lot of work to be done," he said.

The problem with that statement is that Green Bay had an entire offseason to fix last year's broken offense, which finished 21st in weighted DVOA. Though star wideout Jordy Nelson has returned, the offense looks awfully similar to the unit that struggled through the final dozen games in 2015. The Packers rank 25th in offensive DVOA, and 26th in passing offense this season. (DVOA is Football Outsiders' proprietary Defense-adjusted Value Over Average metric, explained here.)

Clearly, this is about more than just one bad night in Minnesota against a tough defense. This has been a 14-game slump for one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history during what should still be his prime. What can history teach us about when the slump might end? How likely is it Rodgers can return to his past glory?


The slump: Real and spectacular
Since becoming Green Bay's starter in 2008, Rodgers has enjoyed one of the greatest runs of statistical success ever seen at the position. His 103.8 passer rating is the highest in NFL history, yet Rodgers has not hit 100.0 in any of his past 14 games, including the playoffs. The three previous longest droughts of his career were just four games each.

The slump started with Rodgers passing for only 77 yards in a 29-10 blowout loss in Denver on Nov. 1, 2015. Sure, that defense has been the best in the NFL, but literally every other team and quarterback have done more to challenge Wade Phillips' defense than Rodgers and the Packers did that night. Rodgers has not thrown for 300 yards since putting the ball up a career-high 61 times against Detroit in a Week 10 loss last season.

Yards can be hollow, but we have plenty of efficiency metrics that also show Rodgers' decline when accounting for important context. His 64.1 Total QBR in 2015 is the lowest of his career, and he has minus-10 passing DYAR in his past 14 games. For reference, in Rodgers' 2014 MVP season, he had 82.0 QBR and 1,564 DYAR. Rodgers is also completing only 60.3 percent of his passes in the past two seasons after 65.9 percent from 2008 to 2014. His passing plus-minus (explained here), which adjusts for drops and how far the ball was thrown, was a career low in 2015, and his receivers actually had their lowest drop rate of his career.

Advanced metrics and charting data aside, Rodgers has severely declined in one of the simplest, but most predictive measures of success in football: yards per attempt (YPA). Through 116 regular-season games, Rodgers averaged 8.22 YPA, the third-highest mark in NFL history. In his past 14 games, Rodgers has averaged 5.95 YPA, which is close to the lowest mark in NFL history -- Joey Harrington's 5.79 YPA.

Incredibly, Rodgers has been held under 6.0 YPA in six of his past seven games. This is virtually unheard of for a good quarterback, let alone a future Hall of Famer. The NFL's average YPA has crept up to 7.3 since last season, but Rodgers has cleared 7.0 in only two of his past 14 games. One of those games was in Detroit (Week 13) where he completed a 61-yard Hail Mary touchdown after a controversial facemask penalty extended the game. Without that play, Rodgers would have finished with 6.06 YPA, and another Green Bay loss.

That is also why the slump is significant. With a depressed passing game, the Packers are not scoring as many points and have gone 6-8 in their past 14 games -- not up to par for a team with seven consecutive playoff appearances. The longer Rodgers' streak of subpar play continues, the more likely Green Bay's playoff streak will end.

NFL history: A most unusual slump
Great players have always experienced slumps, but when you look at the best of the best throughout history, the length and timing looks most peculiar for Rodgers.

Hall of Fame quarterbacks generally decline because of age or injury, and often both together. The great Johnny Unitas was never the same dominant quarterback after suffering a serious arm injury in the 1968 preseason, at age 35. Peyton Manning's lengthy prime ended only after his body broke down at 39. Joe Montana's 1986 season stands out for its eight touchdowns, nine interceptions and career-low 80.7 passer rating. Montana, however, suffered a severe back injury in Week 1 and wasn't 100 percent healthy when he returned in November.

Neither age nor injury is a good explanation for Rodgers' slump. He won't turn 33 until December, so it really is too early for Father Time to come collecting as he so often does. And Rodgers has appeared only once on the injury report in the past two seasons, because of a sore right shoulder in Week 11 of last season.

Watching Rodgers play, he certainly seems to be physically fine. He still makes some spectacular, athletic plays. We just have not seen that consistent ease at which he used to operate, with accurate deep throws and well-timed back-shoulder passes. Success just looks so difficult for this passing offense, even though the cast around Rodgers has remained much the same personnel. Nelson's 2015 injury aside, Rodgers has been working with a familiar cast from his 2014 MVP campaign, including Eddie Lacy, James Starks, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Richard Rodgers and most of the same offensive line. It's not like Green Bay has become a barren wasteland for offensive talent or dumped its coaching staff.

For years, Rodgers succeeded with a minimal running game and inferior pass protection. Only a select few can succeed in those circumstances, including some of Rodgers' lofty peers. Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger both had breakout seasons in 2004, and they are still going strong today despite a series of personnel changes. Roethlisberger had short slumps in 2006 and 2008 that were health-related, including an emergency appendectomy, sprained AC joint and multiple concussions. Another notable peer is Tom Brady, who had a rough opening month to the 2014 season. That short slump ended quickly, however, after one brutal performance in prime time against the Chiefs, when Bill Belichick whipped out the "We're on to Cincinnati" line. Brady shredded the Bengals the next week and went about his usual business, ending that season with a fourth Super Bowl win.

There are a few cases of excellent quarterbacks getting back to a high level of play after an off year (or several). Green Bay fans won't like to hear this, but these players had to change teams to refresh their careers. Fran Tarkenton's final season with the Giants was the worst he had, but a return to Minnesota in 1972 led to three Super Bowl appearances and an MVP award in 1975. Minnesota was also kind to Randall Cunningham, who after falling out of favor in Philadelphia had a career year in 1998 for a record-setting offense. Kurt Warner has a huge gap in his resume from 2002-2006, partially due to injury, but wrote a great final act to his career as Arizona's starter, almost winning Super Bowl XLIII. The Cardinals, under Bruce Arians, have also resurrected the career of Carson Palmer, who has played at an MVP level since last season, when he was 36.

Rodgers is not leaving Green Bay any time soon, and if his slump does mirror an all-time great, then it is Brett Favre: three-time MVP, Green Bay legend, and the man Rodgers replaced. In 1999, his eighth season as a starter, the 30-year-old Favre lost Mike Holmgren as his coach. The Packers struggled to a 8-8 finish as Favre had to carry the team with a league-high 595 pass attempts, and he dipped below 7.0 YPA for the first time in five years. Favre's 2000 season was similarly mediocre, and the Packers missed the playoffs again. Favre finally returned to Pro Bowl form in 2001. He also had a smaller slump after the team drafted Rodgers in 2005, only to be reinvigorated by Mike McCarthy's adjustments to the offense for a great 2007, his last season with the Packers.

Rodgers, now in his ninth year as a starter, is at the same point of his career as Favre in 1999. It should be noted that while Favre had down seasons in 1999-2000, he still flashed moments of MVP greatness, including six games with a 100.0 passer rating, eight 300-yard passing efforts, and four games with three-plus touchdown passes. Favre surpassed 7.0 YPA in 14 out of 32 games, and still ranked ninth in passing DYAR in both seasons. His decline was not as sudden or severe as what Rodgers has had, but does this mean that Rodgers, like Favre, needs a new coach to sort things out?

Where does Rodgers go from here?
Perhaps this is the week in which Rodgers lights up Detroit for four touchdowns. If not, then it should be an interesting bye week for Green Bay. Last season, it was after the bye week when this slump started. Fortunately, the schedule may help Rodgers get right soon; Green Bay is about to play four straight home games against defenses ranked 17th or lower in Football Outsiders DVOA so far. It is also a good sign that Nelson looks healthy. If the two can rebuild their excellent chemistry, that could bring the big plays back to this offense, raising Rodgers' YPA back to an acceptable level.

Rodgers will have to make due with the roster around him, because we know the Packers would be about the last team expected to make a shocking trade. General manager Ted Thompson strongly believes in the draft, and maybe that is where he has to go next year to find Rodgers another starting wide receiver or tight end. These are the positions in which Green Bay has lost the most talent over the years; Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jermichael Finley and James Jones are all gone. Rodgers went from having the league's deepest receiving corps to one that collapsed without Nelson healthy. He has not established similar timing with his other receivers, and the offense has become too reliant on sandlot football, broken plays, drawing the defense offsides for free plays, and Rodgers' scrambles. Connecting on two Hail Mary touchdowns in a season is sweet, but it's not a sustainable strategy.

History really bears out that for an extended slump to end, a top quarterback needs improved health, a coaching change, or a new team. Only one of those options is realistic for Rodgers, though McCarthy is the only head coach he has known as a starter. McCarthy surrendered play-calling duties to Tom Clements to start 2015, but took them back during the season, only to see no improvement. If anything, the offense has gotten worse since December. Without a turnaround, a coaching change may be in order. A fresh mind and set of eyes could help Rodgers improve his mechanics, and run an offense that is better suited to the team's current talent level instead of what worked five years ago.

Even all-time greats like Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky had to adapt their skills as they aged. It is not a bold statement to say Rodgers' best days are behind him. Statistically, he probably will never top what he did in 2011 or 2014, and that is fine. Lest we forget, he was really that good in those years.

The Rodgers of the past 14 games has not been very good, however, and it would be a shame if he never snapped out of this. History suggests he will eventually, but it may be time to accept that, much like Favre without Holmgren, the Rodgers of 2016 and beyond is not going to be as great as the player we once watched.

Offense or Defense? I am going to say a Pick 6 by Tru....

MOD Edit: added poll

If you look at the list of backs that are down thus far, it's crazy. I'm betting that right now the Rams are watching Green warily; I have to think the way he played in preseason he's going to be on an emergency list or two around the league by now.

After hearing Jon Gruden right before the season opener he predicted Goff would need 4-5 weeks into the regular season to start and now he's changing his mind? wow this takes another media drama spin....

http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-quarterbacks-winston-20160922-snap-story.html 09/22/2016

Former NFL coach Jon Gruden, color analyst for “Monday Night Football,” said there’s no way to get Goff the practice snaps he needs without naming him the starter, especially with a collective bargaining agreement that puts significant limitations on how much teams can practice.

“I think he might be best served not playing at all this year,” Gruden told The Times on Thursday. “Right now you’re going into Week 3; how many reps is he getting? Week 1 he wasn’t even active. How’s he getting better if he’s not getting all the reps?

I just can’t understand how you’re going to tell me in Week 5 he’s ready to go. Because he’s been sitting there?”

And with no Rams touchdowns so far…

“Then again,” Gruden said, “I don’t know if Case Keenum has guys running around wide open, either. I haven’t seen gaping holes for [Todd] Gurley to run through.

They’ve got a young line, I don’t know who the blocking tight end is, I don’t even know if they’ve got a fullback on their team. But they’ve got a good defense.”

For the moment, the Rams are holding their ground on Goff, arguing the hurry-up offense can wait. At 21, Goff is two years younger than Wentz.

(They point to how much another Rams quarterback, Sean Mannion, has improved with a year under his belt.) What’s more, Keenum had his best career game against the Buccaneers last season, completing 82.4% of his passes with two touchdowns and a 158.0 passer rating.

This much we know: Until the Los Angeles offense starts making some noise, the outside voices will only get louder.

In the below video Jon Gruden's Take before his change of tone on Goff. This is what Gruden said on September 7th. "Goff would need 4 or 5 weeks before he was ready to start a game".. fast forward to the 21:06 mark of the video

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kivcsh2HkQQ

Just ran another KO back for a TD. A JR this year with a great resume' and an SC guy you know Fisher has his eye on him.

He'll surely go in the first round so it would be tough to make something happen but I wouldn't mind seeing him in horns.

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...ms-rb-todd-gurley-sees-12-people-on-the-field


Los Angeles Rams quarterback Case Keenum said he was "seeing ghosts" last week.

Now apparently so is Todd Gurley.

"It's crazy," the Rams' star running back said after Friday's practice. "I'm like, 'Man, that's 12 people on the field!'"

Gurley was referring to the amount of players opposing defenses are stacking in the box to prevent him from running the ball effectively. The second-year pro has amassed only 98 yards on 36 carries through the first two weeks and is averaging 0.89 yards before first contact, a clear indication that opposing defenses are penetrating the line of scrimmage to suffocate Gurley every time he touches the ball.

"Sometimes that's a good thing," Gurley said, "because if you get past the first level, then you're going.
But you have to get past the first level first."

Gurley hasn't been able to do much of that yet. He's averaging 2.7 yards per carry, which ranked 38th out of 44 qualified running backs after Week 2, and has broken off runs of more than five yards only 11 percent of the time. It's the biggest reason why the Rams remain the only NFL team without a touchdown. Veteran left guard Rodger Saffold recently called establishing the running game "a group effort," saying the offensive line needs to do a better job of picking up blitz schemes and that Gurley is still developing his decision-making ability.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held Gurley to only 48 yards on 21 carries late last season, in a game that saw the Rams win by a 31-23 score and Gurley reach 1,000 yards for the season.

He knows they'll be focusing on him again.

"They know we're going to run the ball," Gurley said. "Every team, their job is to not get ran on. Teams have been doing a pretty job with containing us. We just have to go out there and win our one-on-ones -- and run the ball."

Alden Gonzalez
ESPN Staff Writer
http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...oubtful-for-rams-jared-goffs-status-uncertain



Los Angeles Rams rookie receivers Pharoh Cooper and Nelson Spruce returned to practice this week, but both were listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Raymond James Stadium.

As for whether Jared Goff will be the backup quarterback again?

"Come to the game," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said after Friday's practice from Cal Lutheran University.

Goff, the No. 1 overall pick, began the season as an inactive third-string quarterback, then flipped with Sean Mannion and served as the backup to Case Keenum for Week 2. Fisher said at the time he wasn't certain if he would continue to alternate Goff and Mannion in that role, but did confirm Friday that only one of them will be active. Asked whether the depth chart would remain the same in Week 3, Fisher said: "Don't know yet. Have to wait and see."



E.J. Gaines, who missed the first two games with an injury to his left thigh and was listed as questionable on the team's injury report Friday. Gaines was a limited participant for the Rams' three practices this week and, if healthy, would solidify a No. 2 cornerback spot that has been in a flux. It is especially crucial this week, with running back Doug Martin out for the Rams and quarterback Jameis Winston expected to throw the ball frequently.

If not Gaines, Troy Hill -- a 5-foot-10, 182-pound second-year corner out of Oregon -- will probably start on the outside, opposite Trumaine Johnson.

Hill replaced Coty Sensabaugh early in Sunday's 9-3 win over the Seattle Seahawks and was tested deep four times by Russell Wilson. One resulted in a defensive pass interference, another was an offensive pass interference, another was a batted ball and the last one was a 53-yard hookup with Tyler Lockett with less than a minute remaining, Hill's desperation ankle tackle the only thing preventing a game-winning score.

Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said Hill "got thrown in the fire" on Sunday and felt he "adapted well."

"He's got a few plays he'd want back," Williams said, "but he did play well and it says good things about him."

Some additional notes from Friday's practice ...

• Third-down running back Benny Cunningham was also listed as questionable for Sunday's game with a knee injury, as were free safetyMaurice Alexander (thigh) and slot cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (foot). They all practiced on a limited basis throughout the week.
  
  
• The Rams waived Steve Williams and promoted fellow cornerback Isaiah Johnson from the practice squad. Williams was signed a couple of weeks earlier after being waived by the San Diego Chargers. Johnson spent last season with the Detroit Lions.
  
  
• Williams, on Joyner playing through a broken toe in Week 2 (something he vows to continue doing): "That’s what you’re supposed to do. If you’re on the golf tour, maybe you take a day off. But you don’t do it in this league. Russell Wilson didn’t take a day off, and Lamarcus doesn’t take a day off. The reason he’s here is we saw that in him. It doesn’t surprise me at all. He’s a very strong-willed, tough kid, and that’s the nature of our business. When you’re not that way, you’re not very good.”
  
  
• Fisher called the Bucs waiving tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins after he wasarrested for a DUI charge on Friday morning "very unfortunate." "It’s just a great example -- players need to make better choices, you know. [It] hurt the football team."
  

I think I saw you driving today..grabbed a pic of the license plate anyway

How many TDs will the Rams score in week 3? For those who want to be particular - Not just the offense - total team TDs.

Check out @MylesASimmons's Tweet: Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/MylesASimmons/status/779411731638394880?s=09

I was listening to Mike and Mike this morning on my drive in. Parcells was on for a bit.
They asked if he could put into words how a team can start a 3rd round quarterback on a short week, and come away with a victory like the one last night. What is Belicheat's secret?

Parcells provided a succinct formula to winning. Simple. Not overly complicated. The secret:
Control the game, you will win.
It should be the primary objective week in and week out.

I remembered a moment in the game that embodied that....the play where they had a 3rd and short coming up; they faked gathering for a huddle, then ran to the line and TOOK the first down with rushing counter play while half the Texans D were still looking at their Linebacker finger pointing the upcoming defensive set.

A win is a win, no matter how ugly. Take Control. Seize it. Steal it. Scrap for it. Fight for it. Claw for it. When you have it, don't let go of it. Similar to what we did last week to the Seahawks. No?


IT takes all 11 guys on the field being on the same page to dominate the control.

Regarding winning the turnover battle, Parcells also says its not rocket science how New England has been toward the top of the league in turnover ratio the last 10 years.
All things being equal....how can there be a rational explanation to that?
He says their differential is lopsided because their opponents are playing from behind.
Their opponents are taking higher risk chances due to playing from behind.
They are playing from behind because the Patriots main focus is TAKING control of the game early.


I don't know. Its an "easier-said-than-done" formula, perhaps.
But to me the conversation struck me as a fan and an observer to the sport.

I'd always believed the overly simplified unique key to winning was "Score more points than your opponent, and you will win". It was the perfect counter to any critical thinking argument in sports. The joke to that mantra is it's a statement that means everything and nothing at the same time.

Control the game and you win. That's a damn good baseline. That's fucking awesome good criteria to factor against every decision a team faces through the course of a game. Does this decision help me take control?
It also unites the team. It reminds them, every moment, that they are in a "game". A game they are in it to win.

Oh well. Thought I'd share my sports epiphany moment courtesy Coach Parcells.

Perhaps the key to being a consistent winner is just that simple.
Go Rams!

we chose to get rid of Rodney McLeod and sign Coty Sensabaugh. For a difference of about $2 million a year. I know they play different positions in the secondary but moves like this are reasons why we take 1 step forward and 1 step back. McLeod was a borderline top 10 safety in the league and the arrow was pointing up. Sensabaugh was benched and has been getting torched. I wonder if they could have saved $2 million a year somewhere else on the roster.

were any of you able to capture on your cell phone Randy Newman singing I LOVE LA? I was so royally pissed they did not show the halftime show on tv this being such a major historic moment and I would love to try and purchase that halftime show if it is available.thanks.

Rams' secondary remains a work in progress

By JACK WANG / STAFF WRITER

[www.ocregister.com]
On the face of it, the Rams’ passing defense looks to be in pretty good shape.

Through two games, Los Angeles has allowed only 409 yards through the air, which puts it safely within the top third of the league. It is giving up only 6.1 yards per attempt, a mark bested by only three other teams in the league. It has surrendered only a single touchdown pass.

But such statistics are hard to divorce from the performance of the front seven. Anchored by disruptive stars in Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn, the defensive line never allowed Russell Wilson to feel comfortable in the pocket en route to a 9-3 win over the Seahawks last Sunday.

The secondary is, well ...

“To be honest with you, average,” cornerback Trumaine Johnson said. “We’ve got to step up back there.”

The Rams placed their franchise tag on Johnson this offseason, making him the de facto leader of their secondary after allowing cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod to walk away in free agency. Along with safety T.J. McDonald, the quartet formed a group that Johnson described as “dominant.” (In their Week 17 rankings last year, Pro Football Focus placed the Rams at No. 5.)

Through two games, however, the defensive backfield has remained in flux.

The Rams didn’t draft any defensive backs, but they signed former fourth-round pick Coty Sensabaugh to a three-year contract this offseason. Sensabaugh started two games, but was benched last weekend in favor of Troy Hill, whose limited career snaps had come mostly on special teams. Lamarcus Joyner – who competed with Sensabaugh in training camp – has settled back into his role at nickelback, but is also playing through a broken toe.

Coaches tweaked the lineup elsewhere too, frequently deploying a three-safety set that increased the usage of Cody Davis – nearly quintupling the safety’s defensive workload from Week 1 to Week 2. Considering that the Rams are visiting the pass-happy Buccanneers on Sunday, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams could get even more creative.

But mixing and matching likely won’t help as much as actual reinforcements, and one could be back soon. Cornerback E.J. Gaines, who started 15 games as a rookie before missing all of last season with a fractured foot, has been on and off the injury list for the past several months. His thigh has kept him out of both games this year, but he returned to practice this week and stayed late on Wednesday to take extra reps.

If Gaines is ready to play in Tampa Bay, he could help stabilize a secondary that he described as a “roller coaster.”

“E.J. is a very smart, cerebral player,” said Rams defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson. “He’s played a lot early on in his career and had success. The biggest thing is, we’ve just got to get him comfortable. We’ll see how it shakes out when he’s fully healthy.”

INJURY REPORT

Unlike most NFL teams, the Rams do not normally practice on Thursdays, necessitating the odd existence of a hypothetical participation report. Because the league mandates injury updates, the team estimates the status of their injured players.

All the Rams who were “limited” on Wednesday remained so on Thursday. In addition to Gaines, the list consisted of safety Maurice Alexander (thigh), receiver Pharoh Cooper (shoulder), receiver Nelson Spruce (knee), running back Benny Cunningham (knee), and cornerback Lamarcus Joyner (toe).

Any good podcasts that cover the Rams game? Thanks in advance.

Got my tix.
It's about time i met some of you maniacs. I know there are a few Rammies living here in the desert. Anyone making the drive from So Cal?

Not sure if everyone will be able to play this file, but it's worth a shot. I trimmed out the part of the interview where Fisher (again) talks about Goff's progression. Sounds like he's the #2 for good and within a snap of becoming the starter. This probably means that Case is on a short leash.

Anyway.

See if you can play it.

View: http://www52.zippyshare.com/v/QlUFuUcJ/file.html

[av]http://play.podtrac.com/espn-bestofespnla/c.espnradio.com/s:5L8r1/audio/3036421/espnlamorningshowcuts_2016-09-22-133321.64k.mp3[/av]

HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER

(On last week’s win against Seattle)
“All wins are great, but this one was big just because of the circumstances around it and everything. The fact it was our home opener and the support that we’ve had since moving and it was just really exciting, an exciting moment for the players and the fans and everybody here. And then you take into consideration who our opponent is, they’re always a tough team and I’m just really happy. A short week, guys rallied, responded, came back. Carried a great deal of respect into the game as far as the Seahawks are concerned and we found a way to win it. It wasn’t pretty, but we found a way to win it. Obviously we’re onto the next one now and I think we’ve got a good head start, we’re in a good place. Great deal of respect for what the Bucs are doing, we understand how difficult it is to play the Cardinals. I thought the Bucs did a great job against a really good Atlanta team and looking back to our game last year I just thought you see significant improvement out of [Tampa Bay quarterback] Jameis [Winston], just been always very impressed with him. I was impressed with the game that he had against us last year and I think they’ve done a great job with their personnel. So we’re coming cross-country and giving our best shot.”

(On what kind of damage his defensive line can do)
“It starts with the run game and I’m not pleased with where we are with respect to that. Granted, in our matchup with the Bucs last year, we didn’t have [linebacker Alec] Ogletree or [safety] T.J. McDonald or [defensive end] Robert Quinn, so we were a little short-handed there. But I just have great respect for how the Bucs game plan, I think they had over 104 yards of rushing in that game and were behind. So that’s where it starts, but obviously every team starts the year [saying], ‘You’ve got to stop the run,’ and then when it comes time to rush the passer you hope you’ve got people in position and a skill set to do so.”

(On what is unique about defensive tackle Aaron Donald)
“It’s a combination of everything. He’s got tremendous strength, quickness, leverage. He’s a quiet player, he’s very, very smart. He understands stances and protections and all of that stuff. He’s very, very difficult to block one-on-one, so it’s our job to try and create those one-on-one matchups and it’s the opposing offense’s job to create the two-on-ones and so we understand that. Someone else has to win when Aaron gets the double, but he’s a special player, he’s a great teammate, he’s just a really special player.”

(On if the Rams prepare for individual Tampa Bay running backs, or the overall running game, since Buccaneers running back Doug Martin was injured last week)
“Well it’s the running game itself. No one like to lose their top back, but everybody in the league has quality backups, so to me and to our defensive staff, the concern is our scheme, it’s the run scheme and how well coached they are and how diverse they are with respect to their run patterns.”

(On what Rams linebacker/safety Mark Barron has brought to their defense since being acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay in 2014)
“Any time you do a deal like that, it’s a good deal for both sides, so we welcomed Mark with open arms. We put a couple packages together early when we had him and then once ‘Tree’ [Ogletree] went down last year early in the season, Mark got an opportunity, so we took advantage of it. He loves the defense, he understand the defense and he’s just been outstanding. Again, great teammate, I was really glad that we were able to get him re-signed during free agency.”

(On being featured on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ during training camp)
“There was nothing negative about the experience. When we agreed to it back in the spring, we felt – as the league did and everyone felt – that we get an opportunity to document this move because none of it had been document before. I really enjoyed – we all enjoyed – working with them. Things settled down after a couple of days and they pretty much just disappeared. And the big thing for us was just to be yourself and be a player, prepare for the opener and do all those things that you ordinarily would do at camp, as opposed to trying to be an actor or draw attention to yourself. There was a lot of fun stuff that went on, I thought the productions were great and I’d strongly recommend it to anybody next year.”

(On how challenging it was for the team to have to relocate to Los Angeles)
"We found out in early January and then within weeks of that we started packing things up. The first move from St. Louis to Oxnard was a challenge, but we got set up. And then of course we moved again for the draft and then we were in nomads for a month because we had no place, no facility until we reported to training camp to UC Irvine. And then immediately after a Thursday night road game, the fourth preseason game, we came back Friday and did the final cut downs, we had to relocate again. We’ve got things up and running and we’re rolling, but I’m really proud of the players, they’ve handled it really well. I have not had a player late, haven’t had a player miss anything. They’re in early, staying late and they’ve responded really well to it. I’d like to think we’re settled here. Now we’re facing another challenge, obviously the same thing that the Bucs face and the same thing that our division faces, and that’s how to take advantage of the travel opportunities because there’s a lot of long road trips. So having a new appreciation for what our three other division teams have been doing over the last few years.”

(On what is unique about Tampa Bay Head Coach Dirk Koetter as an offensive play caller)
“First and foremost, it starts with preparation. His offenses are always very well prepared. I’ve not witnessed in person a practice, but I could imagine what a great job he does at practice. So they carry over that preparation in the game and week-to-week they appear to be a little different, but they do what they do best. And like any successful coordinator in this league, you don’t ask players to do things they can’t do and I think he’s done just an outstanding job with Jameis. The two of them, you can imagine they’re on the same page.”

(On how helpful it has been to grow up in the Los Angeles area)
“There is an advantage, just being familiar with L.A. It’s a great city, it’s big and there are traffic patterns and issues. I don’t know if you guys heard, but the league allowed us – the Player’s Association allowed us – to have a meeting in March with our players out here. And it wasn’t a football meeting, it was just a relocation meeting because the players went from the end of the season to March, not knowing what was going on. So we had a meeting, we showed them traffic patterns and we made suggestions, we told them where we’re going to be training and we made suggestions as to where the best places were to relocate because you want to keep your five-day or six-day-a-week commute to the facility manageable and they all did that, so it was helpful. It’s been a great experience, really good experience. You think back and one can only imagine all the stuff that we’ve been through, but we’re settled now. We have our email up [laughs]. Our coaches stations are working and we’ve got a field, that’s all we need.”

(On if he is confident running back Todd Gurley will improve as the season goes on)
“Yeah, he’s outstanding. When the season is said and done, people are going to go, ‘Wow.’ Our difficulties have come in the third down area. We’re not efficient on third down, so we’re robbing ourselves a series, an opportunity for Todd. So once we become more proficient, then Todd will get more opportunities. The idea is to get the ball in his hands however we can, as often as we can.”


SAFETY/LINEBACKER MARK BARRON

(On the difference between playing linebacker and safety)
“It’s really not much different to be honest, for me. In my opinion, I’m just closer to the ball, so I can get to everything faster.”

(On if the game speeds up when playing linebacker)
“Most definitely. You have to see things a little quicker because you’re keying different things and you’re involved in different things, as far as dealing with the offensive line and run fronts and things of that nature.”

(On if he has followed the Buccaneers since being traded)
“No, I honestly don’t keep up with them much unless we’re playing them or they just come across the screen. I don’t go out of my way to see what’s going on with the team.”

(On if he tries to show that Tampa Bay was wrong in trading him)
“Most definitely. I always feel that way, every time I face that team. Like you said, even though it’s a different staff, I most definitely approach the game that way.”

(On if he was hurt when Tampa Bay traded him)
“I wouldn’t say hurt, it was just the way everything happened. I didn’t ever feel like it was the way it should have happened, I didn’t feel like it was respectful at all, in my opinion. But I’m happy it happened, I feel like it was one of the better things that happened to my career actually.”

(On if he didn’t feel like it was respectful because he was the seventh overall pick by Tampa Bay in the 2012 NFL Draft)
“No, I just didn’t know anything about the situation. I didn’t even know that it was being talked about.”

(On if the trade caught him by surprise)
“Yeah, most definitely.”

(On the things the Los Angeles defense needs to key in on against Tampa Bay)
“They’re definitely a team that wants to run the ball, so definitely have to stop that. They have [quarterback] Jameis [Winston] and you most definitely want to keep everything under control. We feel like he’s a streaky type of quarterback, so you don’t want to let him get going. That’s it, you stop the run and try to force them to pass, but don’t let them get going in the passing game and we feel like that’s all we need to do to get a win.”

(On if getting Winston off his game starts with the pressure up front)
“Yeah, that helps with every quarterback and it’s the same with him. You want to make him uncomfortable, by getting him off his spot, keep pressure in his face. You want to disrupt him in every way you can.”

(On how much the Tampa Bay offense has changed from when he was with the team)
“It’s a lot different. I don’t know a lot of the guys, I only know a couple of the receivers, I don’t really know any of the O-linemen, I don’t know the quarterback, I know the running back. So it’s a different-looking team, most definitely.”

(On how much he has changed since he was in Tampa)
“Like you said, I came [to Tampa] when I was a rookie. I’m still going and now I’m in my fifth year in the league, so of course I’ve grown. As a player, I feel like I’m smarter. I feel like I’m more comfortable in the league. Obviously there always will a difference between a guy who’s a rookie and a guy who’s in his fifth year in the league.”

(On if the move to a more hybrid position fits him better)
“I wouldn’t say it fits me better. I like doing it, I feel like it’s good because like I said earlier, I’m closer to the ball. I feel like I was always a guy that was always around the ball, even from a safety position. So now I’m just closer to it and I can get to everything faster, which allows me to make more plays.”

(On being part of such a ‘ferocious’ defense)
“I love it because that’s also my style of play so I feel like it’s a perfect fit, that’s the way I approach the game. When I came out here I was pretty much placed in a group of guys who approach the game the same way I do, so they were a lot like me. So I feel like, like I said earlier, I think that was probably one of the best things that have happened to my career.”

(On if his teammates in Tampa weren’t as physical as his current ones)
“I wouldn’t say that, but it’s most definitely different. From what I was playing when I was in Tampa –scheme-wise – from what I was playing in that scheme to what I’m playing here, there’s most definitely a difference.”

(On if was asked to do more in coverage when he was in Tampa)
“No, I still cover now. The first game I was in man-to-man coverage probably half of the game. I still do –I don’t go back and play halves right now – but they still ask me to do a lot, as far as coverage. It’s not like I’m just simply playing around, I still do a lot of things, coverage-wise also."

Brissett with the 27yard TD and playing well again as the Texans school themselves in the Dick.

I'm posting this here because I don't think many use the Events Forum.

I'm trying to plan our tailgate food and drink, so a head count would be very helpful. I'd love to see as many of you as possible before the game. Please don't be shy... we always have a lot of fun.

:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers: