Hekker / trade block / Renegotiated

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Dammit!

This is the kind of tweet which precedes a move...

DAMMIT!!!
Agreed. This tweet tells me that the rumors of the Rams looking for a trade partner could be real.

That tweet could be interpreted as, "I don't know where I'm headed, but I trust I'll be okay wherever it is..."
 
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Hekker has been excellent for us. Had a few good games early last year but really fell off at the end.

The guy we signed from BUFFALO can absolutely bomb punts. I figured when we added a successful punter via FA that Hekkers days were numbered.
 
What's telling to me is that once Bones left, McVay hasn't signed off a single fake with Hekker using his golden arm. There were a few times a fake made sense but it seems like Sean wants to play it straight.

Johnny's ability as a passer changes how the return team has to attack IF HE IS CONSIDERED A THREAT. But we haven't seen that in awhile and I have no idea if we ever will again.

I get the cap savings...what I don't get is having a weapon you're too afraid to use. The Rams don't go the the Super Bowl by beating the Saints without Johnny executing the fake. My vote? I guess if you're not going to use what makes him special, you may just as well get a big leg and save the money. Me...I would keep him and use him properly.
 
I always liked him. I was at the game, dang near front row, when he sealed the game with a fake punt. It was SEA Vs STL. Special teams brilliance was the theme that day. World beater SEA took home the L, as they should.
Ah, you talking about the "mountaineer game"? (the one Stedman Bailey took a punt to the house after Tavon Austin smoke screened the entire Seahawks coverage team to the wrong side of the field). Then Hek sealed the game with the fake punt deep in our own territory so wussel couldn't get the ball back two points down.

I was at that game! Boy did I pick the best game to see for my 3rd live Rams game (lost the previous two I watched live)
 
What's telling to me is that once Bones left, McVay hasn't signed off a single fake with Hekker using his golden arm. There were a few times a fake made sense but it seems like Sean wants to play it straight.

Johnny's ability as a passer changes how the return team has to attack IF HE IS CONSIDERED A THREAT. But we haven't seen that in awhile and I have no idea if we ever will again.

I get the cap savings...what I don't get is having a weapon you're too afraid to use. The Rams don't go the the Super Bowl by beating the Saints without Johnny executing the fake. My vote? I guess if you're not going to use what makes him special, you may just as well get a big leg and save the money. Me...I would keep him and use him properly.


His ability to throw has to be considered though. It's a real weapon... the other team has to be prepared for it because they know it could happen at any time. That threat probably provides Hek a second or so more time to get the punt off just because the return team has to be sure. The return team will also be forced to align their formation in certain ways because of it. That means we are dictating the play.

Also... Hek is a fantastic holder for our FGs and XP attempts. That has real value... see Tony Romo. But having a holder who can also throw a pass can allow us to dictate things on these attempts too. That's why the cowgirls risked putting their QB in as their holder back then.

Fisher's most beloved offensive plays were fakes. The problem is... those were actually Special Teams plays. Fisher couldn't differentiate between the two. We got used to seeing it basically on the regular back then... We used it too much. But Hek still provides us with the threat of it and just the threat provides us with a real weapon too.
 
Trading Hall of Fame players who still impact the game doesn't seem like a solid move.
The dude still flips the field.
We have a premium QB, let's give him the field position advantage.

This feels like the Saffold release.
I hate this part of the game.
Well Saffold was not released. His contract expired and he signed with Tennessee in free agency. Rams felt they could not afford him (maybe they should have sacrificed elsewhere to find the $); and that they could replace him with Noteboom (they were just wrong there). That was a free agent loss that really hurt.

Hekker had some terrific games (the Bears' game for instance) but overall, he did not have a good season.

Bojorquez appears to have a very strong leg but a monster leg can result in out-kicking coverage. I am also wondering how well he can be at placing the ball inside the ten-or fifteen yard-line.

I also have some concerns but Hekker did not play to his contract last year in my opinion.
 
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Well Saffold was not released. His contract expired and he signed with Tennessee in free agency. Rams felt they could not afford him (maybe they should have sacrificed elsewhere to find the $); and that they could replace him with Noteboom (they were just wrong there). That was a free agent loss that really hurt.

Hekker had some terrific games (the Bears' game for instance) but overall, he did not have a good season.

Bojorquez appears to have a very strong leg but a monster leg can result in out-kicking coverage. I am also wondering how well he can be at placing the ball inside the ten-or fifteen yard-line.

I also have some concerns but Hekker did not play to his contract last year in my opinion.
Accurate. Albeit, released vs let walk vs let get away was my intended point. Sucks to lose fan favorites. Sucks even more, when a big part of our success is tied to them. Rodge and Big Whit opened some good holes on the left side of the line.

If Hekker's time with us is up, I'll miss him. One of the greats. And I think he's too valuable to let go. Field Position and the threat of those fakes, how can you put a price on that? Other kid is good. Like I said. This sucks.
 
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Accurate. Albeit, released vs let walk vs let get away was my intended point. Sucks to lose fan favorites. Sucks even more, when a big part of our success is tied to them. Rodge and Big Whit opened some good holes on the left side of the line.

If Hekker's time with us is up, I'll miss him. One of the greats. And I think he's too valuable to let go. Field Position and the threat of those fakes, how can you put a price on that? Other kid is good. Like I said. This sucks.
Agreed.

I thought Saffold was a huge loss ... and he was.

Also thought Littleton would be a huge loss ... he was not.

Like the Rams' safeties but thought very highly of John Johnson's all-around-game and leadership ... hope I am Littleton-Wrong about whether the Rams will really miss him this season.
 
His ability to throw has to be considered though. It's a real weapon... the other team has to be prepared for it because they know it could happen at any time. That threat probably provides Hek a second or so more time to get the punt off just because the return team has to be sure. The return team will also be forced to align their formation in certain ways because of it. That means we are dictating the play.
This 100%

Common perception is Fisher/Bones went overboard with the frequency of the fakes, and Bones sealed his fate when he called one deep in his own territory, but I think you needed to use this often to reinforce the threat when he lined up to punt.

I also am on the extreme side when I suggested they line up in punt formation on 3rd and 10+ since we weren't great at converting anyway, and Hekk could have had a down to try it (and still punt if necessary on 4th).

I guess I'm playing Madden :)
 
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This 100%

Common perception is Fisher/Bones went overboard with the frequency of the fakes, and Bones sealed his fate when he called one deep in his own territory, but I think you needed to use this often to reinforce the threat when he lined up to punt.

I also am on the extreme side when I suggested they line up in punt formation on 3rd and 10+ since we weren't great at converting anyway, and Hekk could have had a down to try it (and still punt if necessary on 4th).

I guess I'm playing Madden :)


Or..........


Jeff? Is that you?
 
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If Hekker's time with us is up, I'll miss him. One of the greats. And I think he's too valuable to let go. Field Position and the threat of those fakes, how can you put a price on that? Other kid is good. Like I said. This sucks.
Seven year age difference. Older player is more expensive. Older player coming off down season. Older player probably has some trade value.

Granted this might all be BS but I agree it sucks. Hekk's a Hall of Famer. He'll be wearing a gold jacket. Unfortunately the business side on this one is strong. He called that shit in camp btw. Hekk knew it was a competition. Still getting my head around this too btw in spite of the fact that I'm not even remotely surprised by it. It's a tough one.
 
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Ever hear of Ray Guy?

Punter can kick until 50. Worth it if they can throw too!!
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