Coleman Shelton Signs with Rams

[Allen2McVay]

And my point is Limmer did it one time.

Kind of an important time!!!

Shelton will do it weekly

It? Allow the opponent’s best pass rusher a free rush?!?
Because THAT is what Limmer and Dotson did.

There is nothing positive about this signing.

If the Shelton signing (much too expensive in my opinion), helps Limmer develop so that he can be a quality starter … That would be a huge positive; and it’s what most of us are hoping for.

You say the positive is he'll block on that one play and I seriously doubt it.

That’s not exactly what I have been saying but Shelton (and pretty much any competent veteran center) would NOT have allowed Carter a completely free and unencumbered run on that play.

 

[fearsomefour]

Kind of an important time!!!


It? Allow the opponent’s best pass rusher a free rush?!?
Because THAT is what Limmer and Dotson did.


If the Shelton signing (much too expensive in my opinion), helps Limmer develop so that he can be a quality starter … That would be a huge positive; and it’s what most of us are hoping for.


That’s not exactly what I have been saying but Shelton (and pretty much any competent veteran center) would NOT have allowed Carter a completely free and unencumbered run on that play.

Limmer was a rookie.
He was impressive but he had plenty of rookie errors and missed assignments.
Multiple times in several games.
Avila was nearly as bad.....although, that is hard to judge from the couch a lot of times in terms of who is supposed to shift where with a stunt.
Stafford calling the pass blocking assignments, while understandable with a rookie C, probably didn't help the confusion either.
All that said, I am very excited to see if Limmer can evolve. He was a nice and needed surprise (the McVay-ism for this is "key and critical") and played well overall. But, he is not a pro bowl level guy at this point. He needs experience and needs to improve.
I don't know if Shelton is a step up from Limmer......to me, no, he is not.
I do like the idea of having depth at a key spot (no matter who is starting) that can be trusted by the coaching.
Limmer has been a great pick and hope the C job is an open competition and not handed to Shelton.
Let all the C's battle it out.

 

[fearsomefour]

Atwell

Atwell is at least average when you look at production when used.
Rozeboom this last year was probably near average once Speights replaced Reeder.
The Rams don't make the Super Bowl (likely) without Notebooms play in the play off run until Whitworth came back.
Outside of that, yeah, some of the choices seem baffling, particularly on the OL.

 

[fearsomefour]

What makes no sense is with Wendell we went for bigger and stronger OL and it worked. And now we've given up on that and resigned Shelton I just don't get it.

What makes no sense is with Wendell we went for bigger and stronger OL and it worked. And now we've given up on that and resigned Shelton I just don't get it.

Ryan Kelly got $9M per year from the Vikings.
Shelton got $6M per year from the Rams.
That would indicate to me he is being brought in to be the starter......but....
Part of the calculation from the Rams could be, dropping a $17M a year guy in Jackson to start/provide depth at all three IOL spots and replacing his roster spot with a $6M a year guy.
I hope it is an open competition and not handed to either Shelton or Limmer.
Another thing to consider given the Rams recent OL injury issues in from 2022--2024 Limmer started 46 of 51 games ....the guy stays healthy.
I like the signing as a depth piece but not as a default starter.
I would prefer Kelly for the $9M but that would certainly be to be a default starter.
Any Centers you would have preferred signing?

 

[OldSchool]

Any Centers you would have preferred signing?

Wasn't looking to sign a free agent center especially for money like this. Would have drafted somebody in the 6th who potentially could put in time at guard as well. Not sure we do that you don't drop $6 million per on a guy to cut him in camp if he's beat out by a rookie and a 2nd year guy.

 

[OldSchool]

Atwell is at least average when you look at production when used.
Rozeboom this last year was probably near average once Speights replaced Reeder.
The Rams don't make the Super Bowl (likely) without Notebooms play in the play off run until Whitworth came back.
Outside of that, yeah, some of the choices seem baffling, particularly on the OL.

99 catches in 4 years is below average
And $10 million for 1 year to me should require more than 25 catches.

 

[Da-Rock]

Fandom and contracts for players..........................lol!

 

[Allen2McVay]

...
Shelton got $6M per year from the Rams.
...

Looking at the details on OTC, it's a $4.5M cap hit in 2025; and, I think that's too high and likely starter-$.

The 2026 cap hit is $7.5M but that is a little miss-leading. The Rams can release Shelton, and save $6M, with a $1.5M cap-hit in Dead-$. They could also re-structure.

 

[Merlin]

And my point is Limmer did it one time. Shelton will do it weekly that's why Johnson replaced him. There is nothing positive about this signing. You say the positive is he'll block on that one play and I seriously doubt it.

Yes Carter would have put him on his ass in double digits and the Rams would not have been in that game if the Center was Shelton.

For all Limmer's issues as a young Center, what is great about him is he's stout as fuck. He can be expected to stand up a nose by himself without getting trucked every time. Has a long way to go, that is for sure. But with another camp if he can't beat out Shelton we are in for another slow OL start.

 

[fearsomefour]

Wasn't looking to sign a free agent center especially for money like this. Would have drafted somebody in the 6th who potentially could put in time at guard as well. Not sure we do that you don't drop $6 million per on a guy to cut him in camp if he's beat out by a rookie and a 2nd year guy.

Yeah, this is what I would have done as well.
A mid-lower draft pick to compete with McMahon for the back up spot.

 

[fearsomefour]

Yes Carter would have put him on his ass in double digits and the Rams would not have been in that game if the Center was Shelton.

For all Limmer's issues as a young Center, what is great about him is he's stout as fuck. He can be expected to stand up a nose by himself without getting trucked every time. Has a long way to go, that is for sure. But with another camp if he can't beat out Shelton we are in for another slow OL start.

Limmer impressed overall and if he can stay in front of a guy and gets his hand on him he can usually stand guys up and he gets movement in the run game.
Lateral movement, like most IOL, gives him major issues. I do think some of those issues is just being a rookie and being late to adjust to games up front.
Bright future for Limmer I think.

 

[DzRams]

Wrong again. I hate the Shelton signing. Never said otherwise.

I was thrilled when the Rams moved-on from him after 2023. Don't like Coleman Shelton as anything more than a back-up on a veteran-minimum contract.

Go back and read my initial response to Bubba ... All I wrote was that trying to block Carter "is better than letting the opponent's best defensive player run un-blocked to the quarterback on the most critical play of the the season."

Yes, it is possible for Shelton to be horrible but still be better than Limmer.

 

[fearsomefour]

99 catches in 4 years is below average
And $10 million for 1 year to me should require more than 25 catches.

Im banking on 28 catches this year.

 

[Ram Ts]

Looking at the details on OTC, it's a $4.5M cap hit in 2025; and, I think that's too high and likely starter-$.

The 2026 cap hit is $7.5M but that is a little miss-leading. The Rams can release Shelton, and save $6M, with a $1.5M cap-hit in Dead-$. They could also re-structure.

So In other words - $6M/year

 

[Allen2McVay]

So In other words - $6M/year

No ... $6M total ... $4.5M against the Rams' salary cap in 2025; and $1.5M against the Rams' salary cap in 2026.

That totals $6M against the Rams' salary cap over the next two seasons.

The number that matters to me, as a Rams' fan, is how much a player counts against the Rams' salary cap.

There is a different number that matters MORE to You?

 

[Allen2McVay]

Yes, it is possible for Shelton to be horrible but still be better than Limmer.

Sure ... I guess. However, that was not my point.

I did not like the Shelton signing at that amount; and, my guess is that the Rams plan to start him.
I loved the way Beaux Limmer played this season; and have been excited about his future with the Rams.

My point ... and it's something I have posted about a dozen times since the Divisional Round Game in January ... is the the mistake by Limmer and Dotson on that critical 3rd and three play was a HUGE Fuck-up.

I mean Monumental. That Mistake can NOT Happen!

That was not Aaron Donald beating Quinton Spain on the 4th and 1 to clinch the Lombardi. Donald beat him.

Jalen Carter did not beat anyone ... he was completely unblocked There were no games, stunts or blitzes. Philadelphia was not even showing a blitz. Limmer went left ... Dotson went right ... and Carter went right through the gigantic hole for an immediate sack.

That play could have put the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

That one Critical Mistake ... at a most Critical Moment ... may well have been enough for the Rams to decide it was necessary to bring in a veteran center.

 

[OldSchool]

Im banking on 28 catches this year.

Which for what we paid him is absolutely terrible unless over half of those are TD's which we know won't happen.

 

[DzRams]

Sure ... I guess. However, that was not my point.

I did not like the Shelton signing at that amount; and, my guess is that the Rams plan to start him.
I loved the way Beaux Limmer played this season; and have been excited about his future with the Rams.

My point ... and it's something I have posted about a dozen times since the Divisional Round Game in January ... is the the mistake by Limmer and Dotson on that critical 3rd and three play was a HUGE Fuck-up.

I mean Monumental. That Mistake can NOT Happen!

That was not Aaron Donald beating Quinton Spain on the 4th and 1 to clinch the Lombardi. Donald beat him.

Jalen Carter did not beat anyone ... he was completely unblocked There were no games, stunts or blitzes. Philadelphia was not even showing a blitz. Limmer went left ... Dotson went right ... and Carter went right through the gigantic hole for an immediate sack.

That play could have put the Rams in the NFC Championship Game.

That one Critical Mistake ... at a most Critical Moment ... may well have been enough for the Rams to decide it was necessary to bring in a veteran center.

I don't disagree. Although I feel it's possible to overstate one play. I understand the signing because I suspect that one play was emblematic of a continuous problem last year.

Limmer was a rookie struggling with calls which is why it was reported that Stafford had to take on all of the protection calls. So yeah I agree that one play was critical in their decision to return to Shelton but I believe it's bigger than just that one play.

 

[fearsomefour]

Which for what we paid him is absolutely terrible unless over half of those are TD's which we know won't happen.

I forgot the blue font....

 

[Allen2McVay]

I don't disagree. Although I feel it's possible to overstate one play. I understand the signing because I suspect that one play was emblematic of a continuous problem last year.

Limmer was a rookie struggling with calls which is why it was reported that Stafford had to take on all of the protection calls. So yeah I agree that one play was critical in their decision to return to Shelton but I believe it's bigger than just that one play.

I mostly agree.

And, I do agree that one play can be over-stated. However, there are a few exceptions.

I have been a Rams' fan for 55 years; and there are exactly three plays in three games that haunt me.

The phantom off-side at the one yard-line in the 1974 NFC Championship Game.

The blocked 18-yard FGA that was returned 90-plus yards for a TD (ten-point-swing) in the 1976 NFCCG.

And the third is the Fucked-up communication that GAVE Jalen Carter an easy sack on 3rd and 3 at the 14.

All three of those plays Cost the Rams either a trip to a Super Bowl, or an NFC Championship Game.

There are a dozen big plays in every big game. Any one of them having significant impact. There were many in the Eagles' game. Some go against you, some go in your favor. Some are bad calls that favor or hurt your team. Some are fluke plays and bad bounces that also go both ways. That's why your point about 'overstating one play' is completely true, accurate and legit.

But then, there are some plays ... Very Few ... that live with a fan for a lifetime.

By-the-way, I can count some that were Equally Critical that went in the Rams favor ... in Playoff games, Conference Championship games and in Super Bowls. Thankfully, there are more than three.