Rams News Recap: May 18

[RamBill]

NFL to Update Owners on Rams, Stadium Plans –PD
The Los Angeles-relocation/St. Louis stadium issue is on the formal agenda at the NFL’s May meetings this week in San Francisco. There will be no votes and no outside speakers this time around.

Rams #2 Team that Improved Most on Offense in NFL Draft –NFL.com
The St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans were two of only six NFL teams to spend their first two picks in the 2015 NFL Draft on offensive players, but they didn’t stop there.

Report: Joe Barksdale visiting Chargers –Wagoner
The curious case of offensive tackle Joe Barksdale added another interesting development Monday afternoon.

Comparing St. Louis and San Diego Stadium Financing Plans –Wagoner
The San Diego stadium task force unveiled its plan for financing a new, $1.4 billion football stadium in Mission Valley on Monday afternoon.

Weidl: Todd Gurley a top candidate for offensive rookie of the year –Wagoner
It’s never too early to start projecting which players will stand above the rest when the awards season rolls around after the 2015 season ends.

Rob Havenstein, Rams Rookie OT on KMOX Radio –Audio

Rams DT Aaron Donald is #18 in PFF’s Top 101 Players for 2014
As is the case every year, the PFF Analysis team gets together to discuss who they think were the best players in the NFL last season.

Rams LB Hager Ready For First Gig in City Where Father’s NFL Career Ended –FSMW
When the Rams selected linebacker Bryce Hager in the seventh round of the NFL Draft, they knew they were getting a family dynasty.

Rams: Will Les Finally Mean More?
For those who like to focus on the negative of sorts, we are all aware of the issues that have surrounded the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and Oakland Raiders for more than a decade.

Bucky Brooks Breaks Down Sean Mannion –Video

Former Oregon St. QB Sean Mannion Throws at Oregon State Pro Day –Video

Rams QB Sean Mannion Wins All Star QB Accuracy Competition –Video

 

[RamBill]

Morning Ram-blings: The league's youngest offensive line
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...am-blings-the-leagues-youngest-offensive-line

SAN FRANCISCO -- The St. Louis Rams have annually been amongst the league's youngest teams since coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead took over in 2012.

They will likely remain near the top of those rankings this year, though many of their prized young draft picks have now been around for awhile. One area where they will be younger, though, is on the offensive line.

Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com, tweeted out his list sorting the teams with the oldest and youngest offensive lines in the league.

The Philadelphia Eagles come in with a projected starting average of 29.6. Coming in as the youngest? You guessed it, the Rams with a projected average age of 23.4.

That should probably come as no surprise given the massive overhaul the team had in that position group this offseason. They parted ways with center Scott Wells and tackle Jake Long, both of whom were two of the oldest players on the team, let alone the offensive line. They also haven't re-signed tackle Joe Barksdale.

In place of that trio, the Rams currently project rookies Rob Havenstein and Jamon Brown at right tackle and guard, respectively, and a center competition between youngsters Barrett Jones, Demetrius Rhaney and Tim Barnes. The winner of that competition could change the average age.

Aside from those three spots, the Rams bring back second-year left tackle Greg Robinson and sixth-year lineman Rodger Saffold, the clear elder statesman of the group.

Youth isn't necessarily a bad thing in any place on a team but it can be a scary proposition for an offense that desperately needs to perform better in 2015. It's why we've consistently advocated the addition of a player such as veteran guard Justin Blalock, assuming he's healthy and willing.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Monday's Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. ... We previewed this week's owners meetings with three things to watch from a Rams' perspective. ... In the Ram-blings, we took a look at what's on the agenda here this week. ... ESPN's Kevin Weidl has running back Todd Gurley among his top five candidates to be offensive rookie of the year. ... We then compared the St. Louis and San Diego financing plans. ... Finally, we closed the day with a quick glance at Barksdale's free-agent visit to the Chargers.

Elsewhere:

NFL Nation columnist Kevin Seifert examines the options for the extra point's future.

Jim Trotter has the news on a changing of the guard in San Diego.

John Clayton's weekly mailbag previews these owners meetings.

At 101sports.com, Randy Karrker offers four reasons St. Louis would work as home of an MLS team (and help keep the NFL).

At stltoday.com, Joe Lyons takes a look at undrafted free agent defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat.