Leonard Fournette a great solve at RB

[jrry32]

I trust McVay on whatever he decides. I have to say that relying on Henderson did make me a little apprehensive. But I just watched his highlights, and it reminded me of what I thought of him a year ago. If McVay has faith in the kid, I do too. He's a special talent, as both a runner and receiver.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkrt6LkE-xo

 

[jrry32]

Nice reply ..... the inside zone is less obvious to me....thank you for pointing that out.
If the Rams made a trade for him, his salary due is 8.5 Mil. And, I think he will want a pay increase in his next deal. So, how much is too much for a RB in the Rams offense? Did they or did they not learn a lesson by paying Gurley over 15-mil? At some point you have to say the Rams are capped out on Max contracts / Franchise type players.

Well, we'd only owe him $4.1 million. We could invoke the fifth year option retain leverage, or we could choose to let him walk and take the comp pick if we felt his demands are unreasonable. We'd have some flexibility. I wouldn't expect them to pay him like Gurley unless he put up a MVP caliber season. In that case, yeah, pay that man for 3 to 4 years. And then walk away (because his career is likely over at that point).

 

[nighttrain]

I trust McVay on whatever he decides. I have to say that relying on Henderson did make me a little apprehensive. But I just watched his highlights, and it reminded me of what I thought of him a year ago. If McVay has faith in the kid, I do too. He's a special talent, as both a runner and receiver.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkrt6LkE-xo

tremendous vision, burst, balance, and top end speed
has it all
train

 

[OldSchool]

Either teams aren't interested or their asking price is too high is what I gather from this.


View: https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/1252213693150093312

 

[OldSchool]

PK chimes in.

Peter King's 2020 NFL Mock Draft - NBC Sports

Peter King's Football Morning In America Mock Draft has the Dolphins trading up for Justin Herbert and the Patriots trading up for Tua Tagovailoa, and more.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

 

[dieterbrock]

Well, we'd only owe him $4.1 million. We could invoke the fifth year option retain leverage, or we could choose to let him walk and take the comp pick if we felt his demands are unreasonable. We'd have some flexibility. I wouldn't expect them to pay him like Gurley unless he put up a MVP caliber season. In that case, yeah, pay that man for 3 to 4 years. And then walk away (because his career is likely over at that point).

I'm so with you on this
If it truly only costs a 4th or 5th, this seems to be a no brainer.
Make the trade, opt out of the 5th year deal.
If he's amenable to a 2 year deal to help cap, great. If not, so be it.
He plays for the 4 mill, plays for a contract. If he kills it, and wants big $$, he likely brings back a comp pick equal to or greater than what was paid for him. If he doesnt play well, let him go. Cant see how he wouldnt play well enough to at least get a contract elsewhere.

On a side note, (not directed at you jrry) I see the idea of drafting an RB in round 3-5 as opposed to trading for a true commodity thrown around as if there's certainty whoever drafted will play as well as Fournette.
That's laughable. Sure, there's a Demarco Murray and Alvin Kamara drafted in that range, but on the whole? Man, a whole lot of nothin...
From 2009-2019, there were 110 RB drafted between rds 3-5. Out of those 110 guys, how many achieved more than Fournette's 2,631 career rushing yards?
9 guys.
9 out of 110.
Only 17 of 110 guys rushed for over 2,000 yards in their career and a whopping 72 out of 110 didnt even rush for 1,000 total yards in their career (including our very own Tre Mason)

Will they get him? Who knows. Wont be sweat off my back if they dont. But I do believe they need to get somebody who is more proven than what's in the stable, and some mid round draftee. If the Rams arent a threat to run, and are 1 dimensional, I just dont see long term success

 

[jrry32]

Either teams aren't interested or their asking price is too high is what I gather from this.


View: https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/1252213693150093312

They're likely lowering the price with the draft this week.

 

[OldSchool]

I'm so with you on this
If it truly only costs a 4th or 5th, this seems to be a no brainer.
Make the trade, opt out of the 5th year deal.
If he's amenable to a 2 year deal to help cap, great. If not, so be it.
He plays for the 4 mill, plays for a contract. If he kills it, and wants big $$, he likely brings back a comp pick equal to or greater than what was paid for him. If he doesnt play well, let him go. Cant see how he wouldnt play well enough to at least get a contract elsewhere.

On a side note, (not directed at you jrry) I see the idea of drafting an RB in round 3-5 as opposed to trading for a true commodity thrown around as if there's certainty whoever drafted will play as well as Fournette.
That's laughable. Sure, there's a Demarco Murray and Alvin Kamara drafted in that range, but on the whole? Man, a whole lot of nothin...
From 2009-2019, there were 110 RB drafted between rds 3-5. Out of those 110 guys, how many achieved more than Fournette's 2,631 career rushing yards?
9 guys.
9 out of 110.
Only 17 of 110 guys rushed for over 2,000 yards in their career and a whopping 72 out of 110 didnt even rush for 1,000 total yards in their career (including our very own Tre Mason)

Will they get him? Who knows. Wont be sweat off my back if they dont. But I do believe they need to get somebody who is more proven than what's in the stable, and some mid round draftee. If the Rams arent a threat to run, and are 1 dimensional, I just dont see long term success

How many free agent/traded backs produced as much after they were traded? Funny you mention Murray as he was the first one that came to mind. Had one good year of three after being traded and is now out of the league.

Also keep in mind we are looking for somebody ideally to share carries with Henderson. I am all for adding somebody like him we just don’t have cap space for him this year, limited draft pick, and they’re reportedly not being offered what they want for him, and we have guys to pay next year which is why we screwed ourselves over this year by cutting Gurley and trading Cooks. We presumably did that to sign Kupp and Ramsey not to pick up a $10 million option on Fournette.

 

[OldSchool]

They're likely lowering the price with the draft this week.

We shall see, but the thought of getting a comp pick back for him is curious since RB’s aren’t getting paid. Are we trading a 6th for him? Personally I’d rather be able to extend Kupp and Ramsey than Fournette.

 

[jrry32]

We shall see, but the thought of getting a comp pick back for him is curious since RB’s aren’t getting paid. Are we trading a 6th for him? Personally I’d rather be able to extend Kupp and Ramsey than Fournette.

Ramsey and Kupp are staying regardless of whether we acquire Fournette.

 

[Malibu]

You keep mentioning "run between the tackles". That is not the Rams scheme. They primarily an "outside' Zone" ; all the blockers block to one side or another, the RB follows that side -to side motion until a crease is created then they sharply cut upfield. I could be wrong, but not sure the Jaguars had him do that or if he had skill at it.
With that said, you are pretty adamant about it and I am not here to change your opinion. However, your position also seems to be telling others that it's the only way. We both want the Rams to get back to scoring 30+ points a game and go deep into the playoffs. Their forte is offense. They score a lot of points from the Play Action Pass, which is set up by the running game, and the RB's share in the scoring in the Red Zone. However, the 49ers just got to the Superbowl using the same ZBS scheme with a RB by committee. Two of the three RB's were undrafted FA's. So, there are cheaper ways to get there.

What I was saying his makeup is a power back. He can run inside where Henderson is more a shifty edge runner. LF clearly can run outside as well. TG ran in between the tackles all the time I don't know what your talking about.

I love it you make it to be so easy to find the right RB combo like SF did. Well if it was so easy I guess every team will be able to easily do it that is total bullshit.

The Rams rely on a dominant back to open up their passing game which is different than SF. SF is more of a power dink and dunk team. We spread the WRs out create longer routes that more time but if successful we get big chunk type plays. If we don't have a back like TG/LF the team offensive premise does not work. Teams must fear the run to pull up the LBs to create space when we go play action.

 

[Malibu]

I trust McVay on whatever he decides. I have to say that relying on Henderson did make me a little apprehensive. But I just watched his highlights, and it reminded me of what I thought of him a year ago. If McVay has faith in the kid, I do too. He's a special talent, as both a runner and receiver.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkrt6LkE-xo

Just imagine drafting a RB in the third you think that player is magically going to be better than the pathetic performance of Henderson last year? I doubt it. It will be a wasted year as a NFL learning curve.

Especially since we lost TG (although not as productive in 2019), we cannot afford to have another maybe draft pick in the backfield. TG was a top 10 draft pick, Henderson was #70 if I am correct. LF was the 4th pick in the draft his production shows he is totally worth it.

 

[Malibu]

Either teams aren't interested or their asking price is too high is what I gather from this.


View: https://twitter.com/rapsheet/status/1252213693150093312

Yeah I saw this this morning seems odd that we are just hearing about this now. Media is desperate to break any story because on a daily basis there are so few. Makes no sense, but I am sure the reporter isn't lying.

 

[Malibu]

We shall see, but the thought of getting a comp pick back for him is curious since RB’s aren’t getting paid. Are we trading a 6th for him? Personally I’d rather be able to extend Kupp and Ramsey than Fournette.

Personally I would like to win! The way some talk they think we are getting gold with our 3rd or 4th round RB pick hate to burst your bubble we aren't most will be no better than Henderson who is marginal. We lost Cooks we need stability at the RB position.

 

[jrry32]

How many free agent/traded backs produced as much after they were traded? Funny you mention Murray as he was the first one that came to mind. Had one good year of three after being traded and is now out of the league.

Considering Fournette's age, I think he'll be fine in that respect.

 

[Merlin]

I trust McVay on whatever he decides. I have to say that relying on Henderson did make me a little apprehensive. But I just watched his highlights, and it reminded me of what I thought of him a year ago. If McVay has faith in the kid, I do too. He's a special talent, as both a runner and receiver.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkrt6LkE-xo

He had some really impressive runs for us last year in the face of subpar blocking. Only one concern for me with him and it's whether he can hold up to the wear and tear.

I almost started a thread with all of his carries a few weeks ago in response to some of the talk around him. Because he was quite good in what we asked of him. Also in watching his snaps vs Gurley the difference that was most notable was his willingness to put his head down and take what was there. Gurley had a tough time with that in 2019. Early in the season he missed some really nice holes too which happens and all, but he also had a clear tendency to break for the sideline instead of taking that extra yard or two with the contact. IMO there were some effort-related problems behind the scenes with Todd.

Hendy's decision making is very good. He just requires a little more depth behind him than Gurley in his prime did. I am in fact quite excited about a by-committee RB group.

 

[Jacobarch]

Id be surprised if we could even afford to get LF from Jacksonville. We're 6mil over the cap now as i recall. I know Goff is working on restructuring his contract so that could free up some money, but we are probably still going to be tight up against the cap.
If we did work out a trade with the Jags I'm wondering if M. Brown would be part of that trade. Brown plus a 3rd or 4th? I think that would be pretty fair. Not to mention I think moving Brown would save us a little $$$ as well.

As far as LF is concerned, yes he has been banged up however, it might have been a little bit of bad luck. He played all of last year and showed he can carry the load, and I think McVay has learned you need a two headed attack out of the backfield which would give his RB's a break from taking a beating.

 

[JonRam99]

Personally I would like to win! The way some talk they think we are getting gold with our 3rd or 4th round RB pick hate to burst your bubble we aren't most will be no better than Henderson who is marginal. We lost Cooks we need stability at the RB position.

Hendo was by no means "pathetic" or "marginal" last year. His lower yardage runs were mostly in garbage time when we needed to run out the clock, at least iirc, lowering his season average. He flashed a lot of potential to me, enough to tell me that if he had 20 touches a game, we'd see something special. With a bruiser drafted in rnd 3 or 4, such as Z. Moss, that 1-2 punch would be devastating.
I do see what you mean irt the 'power back' offense, so LF would make more sense in McVay's current scheme, but if we really want to captitalize on what we have with Hendo, we'll need an inside bruiser to complement him, and we don't have that on the roster at the moment. Also, consider that it's possible if not likely we'll switch to more of a 12 base formation, vs. 11, if so McV can motion a TE into a FB position to open up holes for Hendo, so he can be in all 3 downs vs. trading him out for the 'bruiser' on 1st downs. Or he can motion Hendo into WR#3 position, which McV did several times last season.

 

[TheTackle]

I trust McVay on whatever he decides. I have to say that relying on Henderson did make me a little apprehensive. But I just watched his highlights, and it reminded me of what I thought of him a year ago. If McVay has faith in the kid, I do too. He's a special talent, as both a runner and receiver.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkrt6LkE-xo

I like Henderson and really liked the trade-up last year.

That said, I hope we take a back by committee approach and draft one of the better RBs in this draft.

I know you like Moss in the 3rd (agreed), but IMO after he comes off the board there is a distinct drop-off in talent.

If we come away with one of the top 5 RBs (or Fournette if we can make it work financially), have a consistent and functional OL, and include more 2 TE sets = the O will be close to unstoppable again

 

[JonRam99]

He had some really impressive runs for us last year in the face of subpar blocking. Only one concern for me with him and it's whether he can hold up to the wear and tear.

I almost started a thread with all of his carries a few weeks ago in response to some of the talk around him. Because he was quite good in what we asked of him. Also in watching his snaps vs Gurley the difference that was most notable was his willingness to put his head down and take what was there. Gurley had a tough time with that in 2019. Early in the season he missed some really nice holes too which happens and all, but he also had a clear tendency to break for the sideline instead of taking that extra yard or two with the contact. IMO there were some effort-related problems behind the scenes with Todd.

Hendy's decision making is very good. He just requires a little more depth behind him than Gurley in his prime did. I am in fact quite excited about a by-committee RB group.

Great post (again), Merlin. I read some of your posts last season w/ the coach's film snapshots, which really illustrated both our problems with TG as well as our problems at the Center position. I saw what you saw too, so many times TG just headed for the sidelines vs. cutting back inside, another 'tell' that he has a knee problem. I saw several runs last season where gaping holes were there inside, but he kept sweeping outside & running straight into a small crowd that he could have easily avoided. Either his vision was poor or he was just looking for the outside runs, either way it was a problem.
I'm excited too about Hendo, I think we're going to see a lot more big plays with him if we give him more touches & tweak our offense to accommodate his talents.