Don't even think about polluting this thread with non-football comments!



http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-to-jettison-kaepernick-for-football-reasons/

Report: 49ers likely to jettison Kaepernick, for football reasons
Posted by Michael David Smith on August 28, 2016

AP

Colin Kaepernick has suddenly become the most controversial player in the NFL because of his refusal to stand for the national anthem. But there may be another issue that could cost him his job in San Francisco: He’s not a very good quarterback.

Jay Glazer said on FOX that the 49ers are deeply concerned with Kaepernick’s decline as a player, which started last season when he struggled before getting benched, then got even worse this offseason when he lost significant muscle mass when he couldn’t work out following multiple surgeries.

“Regardless of politics or not, he has a very, very big uphill battle to make this team,” Glazer said. “I’d be shocked if he’s on the 49ers by the time this season ends. It has nothing to do with political views whatsoever. He lost a ton of weight this offseason, had three surgeries, couldn’t work out, lost that double threat, that size-speed ratio. No political views, he just hasn’t been effective. He’s regressing as a player. I’d be shocked if he’s on this roster by the end of this year. He may not be on it in the next two weeks.”

Kaepernick’s contract guarantees him an $11.9 million salary this season, and ordinarily a player with an $11.9 million guaranteed salary isn’t going to get cut. But if the 49ers really think Kaepernick has regressed to the point where they’d be better off with Blaine Gabbert starting and Christian Ponder and Jeff Driskel backing Gabbert up, then they can save a little money by cutting Kaepernick and hoping he signs with another team, as they would be able to reduce that $11.9 million by the amount of Kaepernick’s salary with a new team.

So there are football reasons that the 49ers might want to get rid of Kaepernick. At this point, they probably wish they had done so before this weekend’s non-football controversy.

Just rewatched Goff with a little more depth and here are some things I didn't pick up on watching live

1. Repetitive play calling-The Rams ran this quick out play about 5 million times and the broncos were sitting on it, maybe there was a reason behind it but it was infuriating how they kept running the same play. Higbee or Quick would be the big slot the outside WR would run a clear out and the QBs read was the out. Rams ran that about a million times Broncos were ready for it after the third.

2. Dangerous play Calling- The play that got Goff killed is an incredibly dangerous call with backups in the game, but I have no problem with the call if its Lance Kendricks instead of Justice Cunningham. It was a pretty basic play action roll out. The whole line was blocking down like a run play and goff rolls out to the opposite side where he has no protection and his TEs are leaking into the flat. When the TEs leak into the flat they have to get a chip on the edge rusher because they are crashing down like its a run play or they have a free run on a completely unprotected QB once they read pass. Cunningham barely touches the guy on the edge and the edge rushers runs full speed untouched and decks Goff

3. Wasn't clicking with Higbee tonight- connection with Higbee was off and alot of it was bad ball placement and you can also attribute alot of it to the broncos just sitting on that damn play we kept running. He threw to far in front of Higbee on his first 2 quick outs to him and on third he threw behind him and should have been picked sixed. This has alot to do with timing. It can only be ironed out with reps and varying the calls.

4. Recognition is really coming along-There was another play were you can see Goff is really picking up concepts and his recognition is developing fast. Rams had a third 10 in the redzone higbee was backside of the formation inline, and the broncos were sending an overload blitz from that side, giving Higbee a free run down the seem to the endzone on what would be a tough play for the safety, and a potential TD. Goff saw it all the way, but there was a freaking false start threw the ball in that direction after the false start he wasn't happy, but he kept his game face on. Changes the whole narrative if Reynolds doesn't jump. Instead its 3rd and 15 and Brown cant hold on to a tough catch over the middle short of the sticks, It was a catchable ball gunned over the middle similar to pharoh's drop last game

5. Darrell Williams couldn't hold up- Just one example. 3rd and long Williams going against a guy who isn't even a natural pass rusher gets beat so bad Goff cant even get to his checkdown Higbee who is open and his receivers running past the sticks don't even have time to get out of their breaks. It was a simple speed rush and he just blew by Williams and Goff gets smacked.

Random note. The only time ive seen Mike Thomas catch the ball this preseason the defender was a few yards away. If he feels or senses any contact he's dropping it. Cant do that in the NFL

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He has gotten into Ogletree's head on how important he is and how GOOD he can be with complete dedication and application of his talents. Check out how PISSED Tree was upon KC scoring on Opening Drive. Did you guys see Tree on the 4th and 1 in Denver??? Singletary ARGUABLY could have been MVP of the LEAGUE if it didn't lazily go to QB's and stats leaders of the day. He has got his pupil in Ogletree, if Tree is a willing learner (and it looks like he is), the sky is the limit for himself and the Team.

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Jimminy Christmas

Rams 53-man roster predictions: Preseason week four edition

http://www.downtownrams.com/single-...roster-predictions-Preseason-week-our-edition

August 28, 2016 | By: Jake Ellenbogen

The Rams lost their first game as the L.A. Rams. The first cuts (down to 75) date is Tuesday and here is our updated roster prediction for the 53-man roster going into week four in Minnesota.

1.QB1: Case Keenum
2.QB2: Jared Goff
3.QB3: Sean Mannion

4.RB1: Todd Gurley
5.RB2: Benny Cunningham
6.RB3: Malcolm Brown
7.RB4: Chase Reynolds

8.WR1: Kenny Britt
9.WR2: Tavon Austin
10.WR3: Pharoh Cooper
11.WR4: Bradley Marquez
12.WR5: Nelson Spruce
13.WR6: Paul McRoberts

14.TE1: Lance Kendricks
15.TE2: Tyler Higbee
16.TE3: Cory Harkey
17.TE4: Justice Cunningham

18.LT1: Greg Robinson
19.LT2: Isaiah Battle
20.LG1: Rodger Saffold
21.LG2: Garrett Reynolds
22.C1: Tim Barnes
23.C2: Eric Kush
24.RG1: Jamon Brown
25.RG2: Cody Wichmann
26.RT: Rob Havenstein

27.DE1: Robert Quinn
28.DE2: William Hayes
29.DE3: Eugene Sims
30.DE4: Quinton Coples
31.DE5: Ethan Westbrooks
32.DE6: Matt Longacre
33.DT1: Aaron Donald
34.DT2: Michael Brockers
35.DT3: Dominique Easley

36.MLB: Alec Ogletree
37.MLB2: Bryce Hager
38.OLB1: Mark Barron
39.OLB2: Akeem Ayers
40.OLB3: Cameron Lynch
41.OLB4: Cory Littleton

42.CB1: Trumaine Johnson
43.CB2: E.J. Gaines
44.CB3: LaMarcus Joyner
45.CB4: Troy Hill
46.CB5: Marcus Roberson

47.FS1: Cody Davis
48.FS2: Mo Alexander
49.FS3: Christian Bryant
50.SS1: T.J. McDonald

51.K: Greg Zuerlein
52.P: Johnny Hekker
53.LS: Jake McQuaide

Notable roster cuts:

Aaron Green, Running back - Again this is tough but Green just hasn't done enough to warrant a spot over a special teams ace in Chase Reynolds. If he does somehow make it expect Terrence Magee to be added to the practice squad but I don't see it so it looks most likely that Green will be on the practice squad leaving one more year for Reynolds.

Brian Quick, Wide receiver - It's looking brighter for Quick who caught all three of his passes last night but still is looking like a sixth wide receiver barely making the roster. I personally feel as though Paul McRoberts is playing too well to cut him for Quick. McRoberts has emerged and he seems to be the only one not named Spruce or Britt that can catch the ball.

Mike Thomas, Wide receiver - Thomas looked really good on special teams but on offense? He was atrocious dropping three passes on the night two were to convert a first down. Thomas is just not ready to play WR in the NFL and would benefit starting his career on the practice squad.

Duke Williams, Wide receiver - Really disappointing to see a guy who everyone was raving about in camp to come out and just be really unappealing. His drop to convert a 3rd and long was just inexcusable. They got a first down because he was hit late but the Rams need receivers that will catch the ball and he simply can't do that on a consistent basis. Williams like Thomas will benefit from time spent on the practice squad.

Temarrick Hemingway, Tight end - This is a disappointing newcomer to the notable roster cuts list. I had high hopes for Hemingway but he just isn't doing much to make the Rams want to keep him. Again, another practice squad candidate. I think he is going to take over Justice Cunningham's spot on the practice squad while Cunningham becomes a full time member of the 53-man roster.

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There are 45 locks for the 53 Imo due to PT in the preseason, experience, and/or coaching favoritism. This doesn't mean I believe all these guys are the best 45, but I believe that coaches like guys like Sensebaugh enough to keep them.

QB: Keenum, Goff, Mannion
RB: Gurley, Cunningham, Brown
FB: Harkey
WR: Britt, Austin, Cooper, Marquez
TE: Kendricks, Higbee, Hemmingway
OL: Robinson, Saffold, Barnes, Brown, Havenstein, Wichmann, Reynolds, Battle

DL: Quinn, Brockers, Donald, Hayes, Sims, Easley, Westbrooks
LB: Ogletree, Ayers, Barron, Lynch, Hager
CB: Johnson, Gaines, Joyner, Sensebaugh
S: McDonald, Davis, Alexander, Bryant

K: Zuerlein
P: Hekker
LS: McQuaide

This leaves 8 spots up for grabs. Here are the top contenders Imo, bolded are the one I want to make the team:

RB: Green, Magee
WR: Quick, Spruce, Thomas, McRoberts
TE: Cunningham
OL: Donnal, Kush, Williams
DL: Coples, Longacre, Thomas
LB: Forrest, Chubb
CB: Hill, Roberson

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I didnt get to watch all of it closely as company came over a lil bit into the 2nd half, so hopefully some can fill me in on the finer details of the 2nd half. But this is what I saw and think.

- 1st team offense is head and shoulders above 2nd team offense(not talking about qb's), O-line and wr's kinda suck outside of the top 4.

-Saffold did not do a good job at RT, got beat like a very very very slow drum over and over and over by Von Miller.

-D. Williams did not do a good job at LT when he replaced GROB. He got beat over and over and over and over almost every time Goff dropped back to pass. He is the reason why Goff got hurt.

-M. Thomas needs to learn how to catch, I dont care if he has to rent a Juggs machine and put it in his room, hire some random asshole off the street to feed it balls, and stand in his living room for 5 hours a night and a few more hours in the morning till he learns how to catch the fucking ball!!! He knows how to get open! YAY!!! but thats only half the fucking battle!! Dont matter how open you get if you CANT CATCH THE FUCKING BALL!!!!

-Longacre is a stud!! Constant pressure from him. He makes the team easy.

-GZ looked ok. First two fg's were close to missing, the last and longer one was perfect.

-Duke Williams, go hangout with Thomas in his living room, take turns on the juggs machine.

-P. Cooper had an amazing circus catch.

- Goff looked more comfortable in the pocket, just sucks his wr's and o-line dont know how to do their job.

-Higbee looked meh, not his best game so far thats for sure. Still looked better than most of our wr's out there.

-Joyner was absolutely horrible!!! He couldnt tackle and couldnt cover worth a shit. It was a bad day for him. Hope he can turn it around, seems as if he has gotten worse and regressed every week since we drafted him.

-Sensabaugh.......yea, I am not liking that signing more and more each week.

-Quick caught some balls yay!!!!! Caught everything thrown his way, though they were all under 5 yard passes.....yay?



Thats all i can remember at the moment, anyone want to help fill in the blanks?

Is it because he's running with the 2's? I'm not sure. Brian Quick seemed to catch Keenums passes last night, but dropped everything Goff threw his way last week. Is it due to lack of chemistry, too much speed on the ball, recievers still thinking too much (most of our drops are coming from rookies) or flat out lack of concentration? Would these drops stop is Goff was actually running with the starters?

Also, for a guy with more drops than catches, why is Brian Quick still getting time with the starters. Trade bait, or are they really trying to get his confidence up? If he's not going to be with the team, shouldn't they be giving those reps to someone who needs them?

Obviously this is not realistic . It is intended to be a fun poll

Predicting the Rams first round of cuts

http://www.downtownrams.com/single-post/2016/08/28/Predicting-the-Rams-first-round-of-cuts

August 28, 2016 | By: Jake Ellenbogen

Week three of preseason is in the books and some players have nothing to stress about while others are going to wish they could have this game back. Here are the fifteen cuts I believe will happen on or before Tuesday.

Dylan Thompson, Quarterback
A camp arm that never got in any of the preseason games to this point. Can't say he has any chance of making this team. To his defense the three quarterbacks were decided when the Rams cut Nick Foles.

Zach Laskey, Fullback
He hasn't been able to really get on the field and contribute in any capacity other than special teams. The Rams already have it hard enough to cut down their depth chart at RB. Laskey is not in the cards.

Marquez North, Wide receiver
He hasn't gotten on the field in any of the first three preseason games. For that reason alone he is an easy cut.

David Richards, Wide receiver
He had two snaps last week but got on the field more this week and had one target in the red zone which was a drop. His former Arizona teammate Austin Hill has looked much better and it appears it's time to give Hill a double digit number because he unlike Richards will be moving onto the last set of cuts.

Benson Browne, Tight end
Not a lot of snaps and not a lot of production means Browne was just a camp body and will be cut in the first round.

Jake Stoneburner, Tight end
It's not likely Stoneburner makes it through the first round of cuts. Justice Cunningham has experience with this team as a whole and has caught a pass in preseason. Stoneburner was added later on in the offseason and hasn't gotten on the field enough.

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Hard to believe but I found a Rams WR making a great catch. This is a glimpse of the Rams future!

I watched the condensed replay that aired at midnight so maybe I missed a few things.

One, why did Gurley not play?

Two, what was Goff's ailment on the sideline? Result of a hit? What body part involved?

Goff's overall stats last night and that dropped pick six to Darien Stewart, are what will be mostly talked about by his critics but my eyes seen the gap between him and Keenum get much closer.

It's easy to point out his flaws but its just as easy for anyone that knows what to look at with QB play that Goff is calming down and those flashes he's been showing are going to win him the starting job sooner than many think.

I noticed unlike in the first 2 preseason games, he's now showing glimpses of moving his feet while his eyes are scanning down field. His comfort level taking snaps under center looks to be vastly improving and not a major concern anymore.

The intangibles that made him so good at California and worth trading up for are beginning to translate to the NFL and he's much closer to my eyes than what his critics will write about.

Keenum is the smart & safe choice to start at Frisco in 14 days but how much closer will that gap be after Goff gets another tuneup game on Thursday at Minnesota, along with 2 more weeks of practice and film study?

I wish I was wrong but like everyone else, I expect Fisher to play it safe and start Keenum for at least the first 2 games but there is no way I believe Fisher is going to let Goff hold the clipboard for much longer than a few games unless Keenum is tearing up the league with his passing stats.

I'm underwhelmed by how the offensive staff (Weinke & Boras) have prepared the young man as I expected him to be further along but If I had to bet everything I own, I would say Goff starts a minimum of 12 games in 2016. I'm still every bit as happy as I was from the moment Snead pulled off the blockbuster trade to get him.

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Seriously. If it isn't Quick, it's Thomas or Duke. I would say this is getting old but that was a long long time ago. When is Spruce gonna be good to go?

Just gonna put this out there, I don't think Goff isn't going to start this year unless there's injury to Keenum or the offense has huge struggles like last year. Not trying to make a bold statement or anything, cause I think this is kind of common sense. It's just a thought that's not really in the forefront of all our minds.

That said, I would be fine with him sitting a year if it means he's more prepared and ready to go when his time comes.

Wanted to put it up before my brain cells leak out my ears as they are wont to after draining this much beer (hic!)...

First team

Keenum was very sharp. His execution along with the first team offense really had Denver on their heels and they were seriously frustrated by it as shown by that hit out of bounds. Only had one poor throw/decision, but that's gonna happen against a defense like Denver's. We really might have the makings of a good/solid offense. Goff looked solid with the first team, made a couple nice reads and throws but of course Denver had DBs right there and were all over the Rams' tendencies scheme-wise.

Britt really looks good, I obviously underestimated the guy; he seems to have made some strides under Groh's tutelage. Quick held onto the ball. I was amazed. Then he did it a couple more times. I was flabbergasted. Cooper's catch of that well placed ball by Goff was outstanding. Starters showed up in this game.

TEs played well. Kendricks looks really sure handed now, it's great to see. Higbee was wide open on a couple plays early. On the completion to Kendricks which was nice I am pretty sure I noticed Higbee open down the sideline but will need to rewatch it.

RBs of course looked good vs one of the best defenses in the league (again, since they saw KC last week too!). First team OL is dominant, plain and simple. Cannot wait to see them with Gurley in the backfield.

Defense was dominant for the first time this preseason. Our starting front seven were having their way. Ogletree had his first really good game in the middle. Gaines went out worried about him.

Second team

Goff had some issues once that first team got subbed out. Line protections went first, followed by drops.

WRs were extremely disappointing. I don't think any of them were ready to be covered the way Phillips had those DBs playing. Drops all over the joint and it continued through to the end of the game. Kept wishing Spruce had been healthy for Jared's time with second string, think he would have made a big difference.

Higbee was in there for a while and I expected to see him flash but he got manhandled by the Denver defense pretty good. That said I don't think they were trying to feed him or anything, but he got some real lame looks like that quick out that Goff almost completed for a defensive TD.

RB lanes dried up pretty good with the twos. They got some good runs still, but it was tough going. Second team OL got worked over but good. Williams was a liability once he got into the game, very disappointing showing by him. Just a bad group job of sealing rushers up front and penetration in the run game.

Defense had a drive against the Denver ones and it showed up front. After that it was hit and miss, they got gashed way too much for my liking in the run game. Friendly fire on Hill by a safety who will be cut next week, hope he's ok.

Third team

Mannion came down to earth a bit. He made a couple real tough throws in the face of the rush but overall like Goff he faced a very stout rush with receivers that can't hang onto the ball.

There's gonna be a lot of WRs cut next week. Good riddance to many of them, too. Start with the all-athlete non-hands types first, there's plenty of them to choose from.

Magee had a nice run that ended up not gaining anything in points due to drops and pressure breakdowns in/near the redzone.

Third team LBs came in and did a good job. I like the little I saw of Grigsby.

Overall

It's important to note that the Rams didn't seem to adjust offensively to what Wade and company did defensively. Faulk noted on the failed third and short that was dropped by Thomas (big surprise) that there was flat-out open field all behind that CB but the Rams played right into the defensive call. Is that due to preseason? Gotta think they would be able to check into a go route or crosser in that situation. I suspect they got good work out of the ones and pretty much put the gameplan on ice but I'd like to hear what Fish thinks on that.

I am very happy with how this team looked with the ones in there. They looked like a playoff team man, a team that was giving Denver everything they could handle across the board. So for my money it was a great result overall.

For those cursed by not being in the Rams viewing area, the 1st team is playing now, and Goff will be playing soon....

I thought the entire starting Rams D did a helluva job tonight. Ogletree at MLB made some hella good plays, which James L could only have dreamed of...Donald is Donald, a freakin monster. Quinn looked good.

I thought Goff looked really good when surrounded by mostly starters, and WHEN NOT "PROTECTED" by Williams...Williams needs to be cut so hard! His WR's dropped balls that they had to catch, and he showed what Keenum doesn't have. Keenum is 7-9, while Goff might take us much farther...jmo

Michael Thomas just downed a punt at the one. That's how you make the team.

In 2010, Spags coached the third pre season game against the New England Patriots. This was Sam Bradford's rookie year. The Rams starters not only led 20-14 in the first half, the final score was 36-35 Rams. Bradford went 15/22 for 189 yards, two touchdowns, and no INT's.

Unfortunately, the Rams finished 7-9 and the Patriots went 14-2.

Moral of the story? Let's PLEASE not read too much into this game. Terrific success is fools gold in the pre-season and an abysmal performance portends nothing.

I just hope to come out healthy because this staff NEVER reveals its true nature in the pre season.

I have been posting on this board for a couple years now and honestly I love coming on this board and reading and debating with everyone. With this whole Kapernick thing i just want everyone to know that we are all family from a different MOTHER.