1. And now, this shit gets real!
2. I'd say that there were fewer final cut surprises for me than in previous years. The only cut I didn't see coming (at least back in July) was Micah Kiser. While he's on the practice squad now, I wonder if he might be poached by some other team in need of a 2 down ILB before long.
3. Glad Johnny Hekker is still a Ram. Is that a comment based upon sentiment or logic? Time will tell.
4. I can't overemphasize how much better I feel about the RB spot having Sony Michel on the roster. If both he and Henderson can stay healthy, I actually think we have a better than average RB tandem.
5. One subtle but, in my opinion, very important observation from the preseason: Tutu Atwell, despite having limited experience doing so, looked very natural fielding punts. That's not a given. There are guys in the NFL who could do great things with the ball in their hands, but are never tried at the PR spot due to their inability to gauge and catch 50 yard bombs. I'm betting he'll break a few long returns (hopefully with no yellow flags) this year, and I also think having this role will help keep him engaged as he climbs the depth chart.
6. Chris Garrett may have found himself on the perfect team. Where else would he have the ability to play behind a DT who commands double and triple teams, and a bookend edge rusher who had 10 sacks last year? I think its safe to say that Garrett will never see a double team this season.
7. Did I just skip over Terrell Lewis and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo? Yes, I did. They are both players who have talent, but I just can't allow myself to have hope for players who just can't stay healthy.
8. Jordan Fuller is the poster child for why we should pay attention to Day 3 draft picks.
9. It feels like Matthew Stafford has been a Ram for a while now because, in a way, he has been. Its 8 months since the trade was made! Now, we'll finally get to see him on the field in McVay's offense. Confidence is high.
10. I have been watching the extended highlight films of several of the Rams games last year. It seemed like there were a lot of games in which the offense was humming early and it looked like we'd win going away. Then, something would happen... an untimely turnover or sack allowed (or two) and we'd end up with a game that was still in doubt in the 4th quarter. I'm hoping that, with Stafford in place, we'll see some bigger leads and games that are decided in 3 quarters.
11. This could be the year when we really see how good (or bad) the 2019 draft was: Taylor Rapp, Darrell Henderson and David Edwards are starters. Greg Gaines and David Long are key rotation guys. Bobby Evans and Nick Scott could also see some playing time. If we can win with these players in these roles, 2019's draft can be regarded as a success.
12. There is no starter who is a bigger question mark than Brian Allen. I hope he makes all of us doubters look very foolish.
13. The Rams have never been known for their TEs, and with good reason. Tyler Higbee is 251 yards from becoming the Rams' all-time receiving yards leader at the position (passing Billy Truax). Let that one sink in.
14. The Bears are a perfect first opponent. By that, I mean a team we should absolutely beat. Sure, they have a quality front 7 - one that will give our OL a good first test, but overall we have a big advantage in talent and matchups.
15. I'll make my first score prediction of the year: Rams 34, Bears 17. For fun, I'll add that the Bears' final TD will be a run by Justin Fields, who will be put in after Andy Dalton is beat up for 3 quarters.
16. Stafford, by the way, had 698 yards passing in two games against the Bears last year.
17. Is Jake Funk our kick returner?
18. Am I overlooking Van Jefferson as a potential major contributor?
19. A word about collie molesters... Some of you may have noticed that I dismiss talking heads who downgrade the Rams by saying that they "molest collies." It has occurred to me that some of you may be young enough that you don't get the reference and may, as a result, think I'm a particularly odd person. If so, please watch Caddyshack.
20. Lets do this thing!!!!!!
2. I'd say that there were fewer final cut surprises for me than in previous years. The only cut I didn't see coming (at least back in July) was Micah Kiser. While he's on the practice squad now, I wonder if he might be poached by some other team in need of a 2 down ILB before long.
3. Glad Johnny Hekker is still a Ram. Is that a comment based upon sentiment or logic? Time will tell.
4. I can't overemphasize how much better I feel about the RB spot having Sony Michel on the roster. If both he and Henderson can stay healthy, I actually think we have a better than average RB tandem.
5. One subtle but, in my opinion, very important observation from the preseason: Tutu Atwell, despite having limited experience doing so, looked very natural fielding punts. That's not a given. There are guys in the NFL who could do great things with the ball in their hands, but are never tried at the PR spot due to their inability to gauge and catch 50 yard bombs. I'm betting he'll break a few long returns (hopefully with no yellow flags) this year, and I also think having this role will help keep him engaged as he climbs the depth chart.
6. Chris Garrett may have found himself on the perfect team. Where else would he have the ability to play behind a DT who commands double and triple teams, and a bookend edge rusher who had 10 sacks last year? I think its safe to say that Garrett will never see a double team this season.
7. Did I just skip over Terrell Lewis and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo? Yes, I did. They are both players who have talent, but I just can't allow myself to have hope for players who just can't stay healthy.
8. Jordan Fuller is the poster child for why we should pay attention to Day 3 draft picks.
9. It feels like Matthew Stafford has been a Ram for a while now because, in a way, he has been. Its 8 months since the trade was made! Now, we'll finally get to see him on the field in McVay's offense. Confidence is high.
10. I have been watching the extended highlight films of several of the Rams games last year. It seemed like there were a lot of games in which the offense was humming early and it looked like we'd win going away. Then, something would happen... an untimely turnover or sack allowed (or two) and we'd end up with a game that was still in doubt in the 4th quarter. I'm hoping that, with Stafford in place, we'll see some bigger leads and games that are decided in 3 quarters.
11. This could be the year when we really see how good (or bad) the 2019 draft was: Taylor Rapp, Darrell Henderson and David Edwards are starters. Greg Gaines and David Long are key rotation guys. Bobby Evans and Nick Scott could also see some playing time. If we can win with these players in these roles, 2019's draft can be regarded as a success.
12. There is no starter who is a bigger question mark than Brian Allen. I hope he makes all of us doubters look very foolish.
13. The Rams have never been known for their TEs, and with good reason. Tyler Higbee is 251 yards from becoming the Rams' all-time receiving yards leader at the position (passing Billy Truax). Let that one sink in.
14. The Bears are a perfect first opponent. By that, I mean a team we should absolutely beat. Sure, they have a quality front 7 - one that will give our OL a good first test, but overall we have a big advantage in talent and matchups.
15. I'll make my first score prediction of the year: Rams 34, Bears 17. For fun, I'll add that the Bears' final TD will be a run by Justin Fields, who will be put in after Andy Dalton is beat up for 3 quarters.
16. Stafford, by the way, had 698 yards passing in two games against the Bears last year.
17. Is Jake Funk our kick returner?
18. Am I overlooking Van Jefferson as a potential major contributor?
19. A word about collie molesters... Some of you may have noticed that I dismiss talking heads who downgrade the Rams by saying that they "molest collies." It has occurred to me that some of you may be young enough that you don't get the reference and may, as a result, think I'm a particularly odd person. If so, please watch Caddyshack.
20. Lets do this thing!!!!!!
