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My new look...
I think Harris is not a traditional TE2. I see him as a guy that will be all over the place looking to get mismatches. So he will take snaps away from WR's as well as TE's. Maybe even as a HB/ FB.That's really bad for Rochell. But it might not keep him from playing this year. He got a ton of work in OTAs and looked really good prior to this. I could see from his film that he wasn't as raw as people kept saying. Yeah he has a lot to learn but what rookie doesn't. This guy is really special and teams that passed on him will forever regret it.
This note about Harris taking a pass from Stafford is a huge tipoff. This kid is going to play this year. Harris and Rochell both look like future Ram stars. It IMO shows in McVay's mind Harris is the #2 TE right now. Hopkins is going to make the roster and Blanton whom I liked as a rookie will make the PS as a protected player IMO. Why? Because this is Higbee's last Ram contract. In 2024 he will be a FA if he's still on the roster. Blanton has shown marked improvement since 2019 and if his blocking also has improved he could be the next Mundt. The current Mundt ain't making this roster if they carry 3 TEs as they normally do.
With Higbee, Harris and Hopkins they have 3 very good TEs.
IMO how Xavier Jones looks in preseason will determine if he makes this roster. IMO how they are using Funk with the ones is indicative of them feeling he might be a better #2 RB option due to his speed. Jones lacks breakaway speed so the offense is downgraded when he's on the field. He will get run down on a play that would be a TD with Funk or Calais. How much difference does that speed make? If you saw how DK Metcalf run a DB down from behind after an INT that's what the difference is between Funk or Calais vs Jones as both of the formers have Metcalf's kind of speed.
The Rams are fast on both sides of the ball and IMO that is the premium that Snead and McVay have put on building this roster. They have a choice between Jones with average speed or Calais who timed in the 4.3 range. IMO that speed difference is huge. Jones isn't a tackle breaker, he never has been and the first hit is usually enough. For a RB yards after first contact is a big stat.
Regardless I feel good about the RBs the Rams currently have. As I do about their current OL which could be the best they have had in years.
IMO how Xavier Jones looks in preseason will determine if he makes this roster. IMO how they are using Funk with the ones is indicative of them feeling he might be a better #2 RB option due to his speed. Jones lacks breakaway speed so the offense is downgraded when he's on the field. He will get run down on a play that would be a TD with Funk or Calais. How much difference does that speed make? If you saw how DK Metcalf run a DB down from behind after an INT that's what the difference is between Funk or Calais vs Jones as both of the formers have Metcalf's kind of speed.
The Rams are fast on both sides of the ball and IMO that is the premium that Snead and McVay have put on building this roster. They have a choice between Jones with average speed or Calais who timed in the 4.3 range. IMO that speed difference is huge. Jones isn't a tackle breaker, he never has been and the first hit is usually enough. For a RB yards after first contact is a big stat.
Funk could be used more in the 3rd down role where Jones more of a traditional #2 between the tackles guy... Basically replacing Malcom Brown and what he did his first few yrs when he got playing time. So I see it more as having defined roles for these guys.That's really bad for Rochell. But it might not keep him from playing this year. He got a ton of work in OTAs and looked really good prior to this. I could see from his film that he wasn't as raw as people kept saying. Yeah he has a lot to learn but what rookie doesn't. This guy is really special and teams that passed on him will forever regret it.
This note about Harris taking a pass from Stafford is a huge tipoff. This kid is going to play this year. Harris and Rochell both look like future Ram stars. It IMO shows in McVay's mind Harris is the #2 TE right now. Hopkins is going to make the roster and Blanton whom I liked as a rookie will make the PS as a protected player IMO. Why? Because this is Higbee's last Ram contract. In 2024 he will be a FA if he's still on the roster. Blanton has shown marked improvement since 2019 and if his blocking also has improved he could be the next Mundt. The current Mundt ain't making this roster if they carry 3 TEs as they normally do.
With Higbee, Harris and Hopkins they have 3 very good TEs.
IMO how Xavier Jones looks in preseason will determine if he makes this roster. IMO how they are using Funk with the ones is indicative of them feeling he might be a better #2 RB option due to his speed. Jones lacks breakaway speed so the offense is downgraded when he's on the field. He will get run down on a play that would be a TD with Funk or Calais. How much difference does that speed make? If you saw how DK Metcalf run a DB down from behind after an INT that's what the difference is between Funk or Calais vs Jones as both of the formers have Metcalf's kind of speed.
The Rams are fast on both sides of the ball and IMO that is the premium that Snead and McVay have put on building this roster. They have a choice between Jones with average speed or Calais who timed in the 4.3 range. IMO that speed difference is huge. Jones isn't a tackle breaker, he never has been and the first hit is usually enough. For a RB yards after first contact is a big stat.
Regardless I feel good about the RBs the Rams currently have. As I do about their current OL which could be the best they have had in years.
Wait….you mean Jones isn’t going to be cut because he’s too slow and goes down as soon as he is touched??Funk could be used more in the 3rd down role where Jones more of a traditional #2 between the tackles guy... Basically replacing Malcom Brown and what he did his first few yrs when he got playing time. So I see it more as having defined roles for these guys.
Sorry for the late post, been a long day.
That’s an awesome report.Almost like I was there.I’d say Ben Skow getting a pass from Stafford again is underrated.Day 4 I got there early, starting time was supposed to be 2pm, but they did even get on the field til 3, they all did stretching and warmups together. No Pads, they were all in shorts and shells. WTF?
Rochell only player not there. Jacob Harris was out there and participated some today.
Huge crowd as it was "family Day", about 85F
Had the punt return guys again. Same group, Landon Akers, JJ Koski, Ray Calias, Funk, Otis Anderson, Jerimiah Haydel. Calais fielded all his without any bobbles. Koski dropped one, Anderson bobbled 2. 4 days of watching these same guys fielding punts and the only one I have any confidence in is Calias.
Special teams drill rushing the punter, two seperate squads, Hekker with one, #16 camp leg Brandon Wright on the other.
Far field LB's fumble recovery drill. Coach bounces the ball out on the field and they try to pick it up and run with it.
Hekker did a fake punt again and threw it to Funk. There were no DB's. Crowd went wild anyway. Hekker banged a couple 50 yder's.
They sent the D after the punt returner and 4 or 5 punts, Funk looked pretty good returning on a couple, Calais has better hands.
Lots of punt coverage today.
QB's drilled taking snaps from trainer, then moving left and throwing accross their body 10 yds to a RB, Wolford and Hodges had trouble doing this. Perkins did pretty good, so did Stafford, but there were a lot of high and off passes. I hope the practice this drill more.
Next had QB's practicing handing off the RB's. The RB order as they did this is telling. Henderson was first, X Jones second,
Funk third, Calais then Anderson.
Another rotation and we have the QB's and WR's in front of us again. Trainers snapping for all four QB's and quick 10 yd slants as Wr's rotate from QB to QB. Nice to see Jacob Harris in the WR rotation. He's quick for a big guy. Kupp and Woods snagging balls one handed, wowing the crowd. Jefferson and Tristen Jackson look very good also. DeSean Jackson smiling and cutting it up with everyone and looks excellent out there. Hardly any dropped balls.
Now passes going 20-25 yds as Wr's go out (no DB's), Wood with a one handed grab, First bad pass from Stafford to Mundt. then overthrows Blanton next pass. Jacob Harris with a nice catch, wow he has a long stride.
Shortened it up to 5 yd quick zip over the middle passed. No one comes close to Kupp at snagging these, he makes it look easy.
DeSean good at this too. Harris with couple good grabs.
Finally 11 on 11's
OL the same with Whit back at LT, Edward LG, Corbett C (Allen did get snaps with the ones today), Evans RG, Havenstien RT.
D ones Floyd DE, SJD DT, AShawn DT, AD DT, Hollins DE, ILB Kiser, Young, OLB Obo, Lawler, DB Ramsey Williams, S Fuller, Rapp or Burgess
Green dot on fuller
Stafford to woods, missed just over his head.
Stafford to Skowronik for about 10
Koski from Wolford drops a 30 yder
Bobby Woods schooled Donte Daeyon with a good move to get open
Wolford to Skoronik for 10
DeSean from Stafford with Ramsey covering, Ramsey knocks it away30 yds deep! Ramsey and DJack having fun with that play.
tristen Jackson nice deep fingertip catch from Wolford with Williams covering
Running plays they are really getting after it, guys ending up in a dogpile several times. Really going hard at it today. McVay telling them to tone it down.
Now doing Red Zone drill. Higbee with a catch over the middle, Kupp low catch right at the goal line. couple running plays that go nowhere.
Ramsey with a pick six off Stafford! Stepped right in front of Jefferson(?) Donald running all the to the end zone with him doing flip at the goal line in celebration. Paly of the Day!
Stafford makes up for it on the next snap finding Kupp in the back of the endzone..
Funk gets in a good end around for a TD
That pretty much did it for me today. All in all the offense got the best of the D today.
Good to see Harris today. Funk continues to get a lot a touches. Both Jackson WR"s are looking good'
Really bummed they weren't in pads. Going 11 on 11 in shorts and shells is fun to watch, but you really can't get good evaluations, especially OL and DL.
My players of the day: Kupp, guy just makes it looks easy, catches everything thrown at him Ramsey: covered everyone, swatted away everything.
Will be there Monday, and hopefully they will be in pads. Sorry for the late post, been a long day.
That's really bad for Rochell. But it might not keep him from playing this year. He got a ton of work in OTAs and looked really good prior to this. I could see from his film that he wasn't as raw as people kept saying. Yeah he has a lot to learn but what rookie doesn't. This guy is really special and teams that passed on him will forever regret it.
This note about Harris taking a pass from Stafford is a huge tipoff. This kid is going to play this year. Harris and Rochell both look like future Ram stars. It IMO shows in McVay's mind Harris is the #2 TE right now. Hopkins is going to make the roster and Blanton whom I liked as a rookie will make the PS as a protected player IMO. Why? Because this is Higbee's last Ram contract. In 2024 he will be a FA if he's still on the roster. Blanton has shown marked improvement since 2019 and if his blocking also has improved he could be the next Mundt. The current Mundt ain't making this roster if they carry 3 TEs as they normally do.
With Higbee, Harris and Hopkins they have 3 very good TEs.
IMO how Xavier Jones looks in preseason will determine if he makes this roster. IMO how they are using Funk with the ones is indicative of them feeling he might be a better #2 RB option due to his speed. Jones lacks breakaway speed so the offense is downgraded when he's on the field. He will get run down on a play that would be a TD with Funk or Calais. How much difference does that speed make? If you saw how DK Metcalf run a DB down from behind after an INT that's what the difference is between Funk or Calais vs Jones as both of the formers have Metcalf's kind of speed.
The Rams are fast on both sides of the ball and IMO that is the premium that Snead and McVay have put on building this roster. They have a choice between Jones with average speed or Calais who timed in the 4.3 range. IMO that speed difference is huge. Jones isn't a tackle breaker, he never has been and the first hit is usually enough. For a RB yards after first contact is a big stat.
Regardless I feel good about the RBs the Rams currently have. As I do about their current OL which could be the best they have had in years.
I'm trying to keep positive...
Those damn training camp injury bugs.
DT Bobby Brown is having thumb UCL surgery the same thing Stafford had done.
CB Robert Rochell is having wrist surgery.
Preseason is when the lights come on.I don’t know where you’re getting your information about Jones but from everything I saw of him he doesn’t go down by first contact. And his instincts hitting the hole and finding the hole is what makes him special. He might not be a home run hitter but he’s more explosive than fast.
don't ever be sorry.
your reports and anybody else who reports and gives their opinions are like gold round these parts.
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Where is Bryce Hopkins.
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is there anybody apart from @oldnotdead that isn't excited about seeing jones strut his stuff in preseason?
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