Last week the Rams were awarded Brody Eldridge off of waivers. He is a blocking-style tight end from Oklahoma. He shares his Oklahoma educational experience with the Rams starting quarterback, Sam Bradford. The Sooner teammates have a lot of … ...
Good morning, NFC West, and welcome back from a s-s-s-low weekend in the division. On the bright side, depending upon your perspective, we're only 76 days away from the Hall of Fame game between our own Arizona Cardinals and whichever New Orleans ...
So, is everyone else still trying to get that peculiar taste out of your mouth that festered all last week? First Sam Bradford is likened to a "bad quarterback," then we learn that Jason Smith seems set to reaffirm his starting role. Not even to ...
Source: STLtoday.com
Lowly team stocks up on personnel as it was more than ‘one player away’from being contender.
Source: STLtoday.com
The Rams have strengthened the defensive line, cornerback, running back and wide receiver.
Source: Bleacher Report
The opening kickoff for the 2012 season is still months away, but the major departures and acquisitions of the offseason are complete.
The free-agency feeding frenzy is long gone, and the NFL draft also reached a conclusion weeks ago. The rookies and newly-signed veterans are in the middle of OTA's (organized team activities), and the official roster of the 2012 St. Louis Rams is beginning to take shape.
About five months ago, near the conclusion of last season, there were numerous unanswered questions regarding the team's future after a disappointing 2-14 campaign.
No one knew which veterans would be retained or which positions would receive reinforcements during the offseason. And for a short amount of time, the team didn't even know who the new head coach would be.
But now that we have a general idea of what the new and improved Rams will look like, let's recall the events of this past offseason and identify the best and worst moves of the year.
Source: Ramblin' Fan by amanna79
This is it, the new year is here. All of the speculation is over, now it’s up to Fisher, and the coaches to put everything together. With Amedola, being healthy and Alexander having another year under his belt the receiving core looks stronger. … [visit site to read more]
The 2012 Rams - Ramblin' Fan - Ramblin' Fan - A St. Louis Rams Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.
Source: Turf Show Times by ValdezY
Chris Long and James Laurinaitis are stalwarts on the Ram defense. They have both demonstrated excellence and consistency throughout their young careers. Laurinaitis had an exceptional 2011 season: 105 TKL's, 3 Sacks, 2 Int's, and 7 PD.
Long put the heat on opposing QB's: 13 Sacks, 2 PD, and 1 Int; all from the DE position. Pass rushers are in great demand. Which begs the question: Will the Rams be able to afford both Long and Laurinaitis come 2013? It seems unlikely. If Long goes on the free agent market, he could command a pretty penny. At 27 years of age, with his pass rush production - a five year deal for $70 million - is not
Source: STLtoday.com
The Rams, CVC and local government leaders will soon face a critical question: how much would the public have to pay for a Dome renovation, and how much would the team be willing to pay?
Source: Turf Show Times by papapegasus
Image courtesy of turfshowtimes.com
The Rams started out the new year with many needs, among them, the offensive line. Perhaps no other facet of the game needed to be addressed more than the big men protecting the Rams $50 million quaterback, Sam Bradford. Many fans, myself included, wanted to see a new direction; specifically the release of Jason Smith and the drafting of a blue chip left tackle. In the months leading up to the draft, the fog cleared and Rams Nation realized that the team
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Now that the 2012 NFL draft is in the can, it's time to take the Shutdown 50 scouting format forward and get a closer look at some of the surprising and fascinating selections from this year's draft -- the guys we missed in the original 50, but who could be impact players now or down the road. Our next entry: Delaware guard Gino Gradkowski, selected with the third pick of the fourth round (98th overall) by the Baltimore Ravens. Overview: Gradkowski did not expect to be selected so early in the draft. According to a profile at DelawareOnLine , he had just settled down in front of the video game console when the phone rang. "I just got done playing a game of NHL PlayStation against my cousin Carmen … "I didn't even have time to get anxious about the draft because I was still mad about losing in that game." You have to love a lineman who is so competitive that he cannot let go of his rage over losing a video hockey game until Ozzie Newsome's office calls with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If Gradkowski is anything like older brother Bruce Gradkowski, then competitive fire will never be an issue. Bruce, now Andy Dalton's backup with the Bengals, has built a seven-year NFL career out of determination and little else. "The whole family has the underdog mentality," the older Gradkowski once said. "We're going to work hard to get the job done. We're disciplined. We're going to know what to do. We might not be the fastest, strongest or the biggest, but we get the job done. That's it. It's in the blood." Gino was certainly an underdog heading into the draft. He transferred from West Virginia to Delaware early in his college career so he could earn a starting job, played center and guard for three seasons, and earned All America status at the I-AA level. But Gradkowski was expected to enter the NFL as a seventh round pick or rookie free agent. Now, he is the heir apparent to Matt Birk, and may someday be snapping to another player who took the Big Program-to-Delaware-to-Ravens path to success: Joe Flacco. Strengths: Gradkowski has fine foot quickness and lateral quickness. Delaware's offensive line took extremely wide splits, and the centers and guards pulled, trapped, and blocked on the move. Gradkowski was effective when shuffling to the side on a rollout or peeling behind the center on a trap. He appears to be very football smart and generally finds the right person to block when on the move or picking up blitzes. Gradkowski performed well at his Pro Day, benching 225 pounds 29 times and posting respectable results in agility drills. His strength is generally evident on tape, though you must take what you see with a grain of salt when what you see is a blurry image of someone nailing a Towson State defender. By all accounts, Gradkowski has a great work ethic and the right mentality for his position. Weaknesses: Gradkowski is too small to be a guard in most systems, particularly the Ravens' drive-blocking offense, and at 300 pounds he is a little small to be a starting center. He played guard in his senior season at Delaware and will have to be developed at center, his likely pro position.Source: Turf Show Times by T.Ram
Jason Smith has been popular on this site lately. He restructured his hefty contract to remain in St. Louis, and he even changed his jersey number from 77 to 72.
Will this new Jason Smith, with his new contract and number, play like a new player? That's still up in the air.
What's not up in the air is Jason Smith's status for next year. I got this quote from Kevin Demoff, on Jim Thomas's chat a couple of days ago on www.stltoday.com
KEVIN DEMOFF: It is never easy to ask a player to take a pay cut, especially a young player who we still have great hope for. The goal in Jason's restructure was to give him the opportunity to perform at a
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Any website can post "offseason grades" for NFL teams, mixing the draft and free agency into transaction soup, then straining it through the mind of some sportswriter who doesn't know who half the players are. Only the Shutdown Corner has the resources to get actual players, coaches, and executives from each team to evaluate their own offseasons! That's right: over the next few weeks, you will get transaction evaluations straight from the horse's mouths: straight talk about who was signed, who was lost, who was drafted, and why. (For the satirically challenged: all player, coach, and executive remarks are made by an impersonator). In this segment, former Chiefs coach Todd Haley breaks down the offseason moves of the team that fired him at the end of last season. We have a bad feeling about this. TODD HALEY: Wash your windshield, mister? I don't scrub windshields for the money. I have a coaching job now as offensive coordinator for the Steelers. I carry this slop bucket because I like it. It's comforting to wash windows while the mad clown stares at me with his dead, gray eyes, whispering razor truths mortals dare not speak aloud, truths that pierce flesh and cut an inky scarlet line against the throat of the he-goat … Sorry, my thoughts meander sometimes. The Chiefs had a productive offseason. At the skill positions, they added Peyton Hillis to a running back committee that already includes Dexter McCluster and Jamaal Charles, who is ahead of schedule rehabbing his knee injury. Kevin Boss joins Tony Moeaki, also on schedule to return from a knee injury, to give the Chiefs two tight ends who can block and catch. Two rookie wide receivers, Devon Wylie and Junior Hemingway, will provide extra depth behind Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston, and last year's top pick Jonathan Baldwin, who started to come on late in the season. Matt Cassel, yet another player who missed much of last season with injuries, won't have to worry about throwing to the likes of Keary Colbert or Anthony Becht. That's right, everyone gets to come back to Kansas City but me, the guy who got blamed for not being able to build an offense around Tyler Palko and Terrance Copper, while the dead-eyed clown stares back at me from the mirror and cackles. "You ever played cornhole with the devil, son?" he asks, his raspy voice a rusty hypodermic needle scraping gutter concrete. "He don't use no beanbags, boy." And that he-goat just brays and brays like he sees the end coming and don't know whether to fight it or welcome it. Moving on to the defense, Dontari Poe was one of the most physically gifted specimens in this year's draft class. The Chiefs have a bad habit of striking out with big defensive tackles, from Ryan Sims to Glenn Dorsey, so my former assistant Romeo Crennel will have to be careful about Poe's development and role if he doesn't want Poe to become an overpriced space-eater the greasepaint smears and the sharpened steel glints in the pickup truck headlights behind the barnyard. The loss of Brandon Carr is going to hurt at cornerback, because Stanford Routt is an adequate #2 corner behind Brandon Flowers. But the defense will be better if it is not on the field as often, and when the muffled brays fade to pitch-black silence, vengeful darkness sated all-too-briefly by the still-quivering sacrifice .Source: Bleacher Report
Welcome back to those who read the first part of the offensive line series counting down the 10 best offensive lines from last year.
Using a unique combination of sources and statistical information, I was able to generate a scoring system in order to determine the best and worst offensive lines in the NFL in 2011.
The ranking of each offensive line was accomplished by adding together numerous key statistics as well as factoring in individual productivity and success. The elements that were considered for the total scoring system are:
All of these individual elements were brought together with a formula adding greater weight to more applicable categories to create a total score for each team's offensive line.
And so, I bring to you the 10 worst offensive lines of 2011.
Source: STLtoday.com
Future of Rams, Dome requires calm, careful deliberations.
Source: STLtoday.com
Rams owner Stan Kroenke is something of a villain these days, but really, it's not his fault. He is only doing what the lease for the Edward Jones Dome allows him to do.
Source: Turf Show Times by Douglas M
What a week its been. Since the draft last month, teams have been integrating their rookies into their new lives as professional football players. New uniforms, trying on helmets, and grabbing their first paychecks! Boo-Yah!
Let's face it, this is the time of year when we all go through football withdrawals. It's time to tell wives and girlfriends you have to attend those NFL Anonymous meetings, that are really Fantasy Football clinics held at local pubs. The "12 Steps" are FF Mock draft rounds. Then there's something about being powerless to resist taking Drew
Source: STLtoday.com
Future of Rams, Dome requires calm, careful deliberations.
Source: STLtoday.com
The Rams, CVC and local government leaders will soon face a critical question: how much would the public have to pay for a Dome renovation, and how much would the team be willing to pay?
Source: Ramblin' Fan by Justin Stine
Rams Want To Set Sack Record - Ramblin' Fan - Ramblin' Fan - A St. Louis Rams Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.
Source: Turf Show Times by Douglas M
Fantasy Football is not that far down the road. With the NFL season only months away, it's time to start shaping your Fantasy Football team plans. The first round of any FF Draft is going to have big changes compared to last season. Players like A.J. Green and rookie running back Trent Richardson have some intriguing value. Top tier quarterbacks are expanding in number. Yet, a top 3 quarterback like Drew Brees could slip due to free agent losses and "Bounty Gate" echos.
The Tight End position looks to be highly valued this
Source: Turf Show Times by papapegasus
via via images.cheezburger.com
The St. Louis Rams organization went through a major overhaul this off season. Seizing the opportunity to bring in new talent, Rams owner Stan Kroenke went after the top coaching name available in Jeff Fisher. The big benefit of bringing in someone with Coach Fisher’s pedigree and experience is that you draw instant interest from professional coaches across the league, and you have coach Fisher’s circle of friends and long-time associates
Source: Bleacher Report
Jeff Fisher has challenged the St. Louis Rams to break the NFL's all-time sack record. The current record is 72, set by the 1984 Chicago Bears. The Rams recorded 39 sacks in 2011, led by Chris Long, who registered 13 sacks.
Long is in just entering the prime years of his career, and he is a force from his left defensive end position. Robert Quinn, who plays the right defensive end spot, had five sacks last season as a rookie. Quinn looks like he is going to be an absolute stud on the right side, giving the Rams perhaps the best young pass rushing duo in the NFL.
Throw in defensive tackles Kendal Langford, brought in via free agency, and Michael Brockers, the No. 14 pick in the 2012 NFL draft, and the Rams' front four is perhaps the most talented young foursome in the NFL.
I also think Eugene Sims, who has seen quite a bit of playing time during his first two seasons, will be a key player in that rotation of defensive ends. Sims played in all 16 games last season, but didn't register a sack. I think his role on the team will increase now that James Hall and his six sacks are no longer on the roster.
Gary Gibson, who will probably be fighting to keep his spot on the roster, did register three sacks from his defensive tackle position. This is one spot on the roster that is thin, so if Gibson can stand out in camp, he could stick around this season and increase that sack total.
If the Rams are going to break the sack record, that means they'll need to get some sacks from their linebackers. James Laurinaitis is one of the best young middle linebackers in the NFL. Now that he has two competent, space-eating defensive tackles in front of him, that is going to help take Laurinaitis to the next level, and hopefully increase on the three sacks he had a year ago.
However, Laurinaitis' primary job is to stop the run. The Rams will need those outside linebackers to get to the QB. That is where free-agent pickups Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Mario Haggan will chip in. Dunbar only registered one sack a year ago with the Saints, and as the weakside linebacker, the Rams will need more production from him. Haggan, listed at 6'3", 274 pounds, had five sacks as the starting strongside linebacker for Denver in 2010.
The Rams have a couple of rookie linebackers that also might add to that sack total. Aaron Brown (seventh-round draft pick) had 4.5 sacks last season at the University of Hawaii, and with his 4.5 speed coming off the edge, Brown looks like a player that might be able to get to the QB.
Sammy Brown (undrafted free agent) had 21 sacks and 50 tackles for loss during his two seasons at the University of Houston. Brown could definitely be a pass rushing linebacker, if he ever learns to give a consistent effort.
The Rams should get a handful of sacks from their secondary as well. Darian Stewart racked up three sacks from his safety position last year. Quintin Mickell chipped in with one. Rather than actually adding to the sack total directly, I think the Rams' secondary will lock down receivers and give that pass rush one more second to get to the QB.
I've said it over and over, and I'll say it again: the Rams have one of the best secondaries in the NFL.
That secondary is going to allow the Rams to do whatever it wants to do on third down. Want to just rush four and rely on Long and Quinn to get to the QB? The Rams can do that. Or maybe you want to do something exotic like send a safety, or maybe blitz Sammy Brown? The Rams' corners are good enough to cover their man, allowing the Rams to do that.
Basically, the opposing QB won't know what's coming.
It has to be awesome to hear your head coach say, "Let's go break the sack record." These Rams' defenders are young and talented. When you hear the boss talk like that, it gives these Rams something they've been lacking, confidence.
Do I think the Rams will break the sack record? No, but I think they could be near the top of the NFL in sacks for 2012. I think the Rams will be a top-five to top-10 defense, and that is a big reason why I'm predicting the Rams to make the playoffs in 2012.
My unofficial guess for the Rams 2012 sack total: 52.
As always, thanks for reading.
Read more St Louis Rams news on BleacherReport.com
Source: Turf Show Times by Ryan Van Bibber
Isaiah Pead is pleased with his transition to the NFL. The St. Louis Rams newest running back, a 2nd-round pick from Cincinnati, has only tasted the pros in a few short sips of rookie minicamp and OTAs, so the roughest part of the jump from college to the pros is still to come. Nevertheless, Pead remains confident in his chosen profession.
Still green, Pead discussed the changes and challenges associated with being an NFL running back on Friday at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere event in Los Angeles. Yes, it's the same event that just so happens to overlap with a portion of the Rams' first full-squad OTAs
Source: Turf Show Times by Joe Mazzi
Source: NFC West Blog
There's little sense in taking the bait when San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh tells a radio program Michael Crabtree "has the best hands I've ever seen on a wide receiver." Anyone with a strong grasp of NFL history would place Cris Carter, Raymond Berry and Steve Largent on a short list for receivers with the surest hands. Hall of Famer Ken Houston, speaking for a 2008 piece on all-time great wideouts, stood up for AFL stars Otis Taylor and Lionel Taylor.Source: STLtoday.com
Fisher says Rams have several options, including Mattison and Watkins.
Source: Ramblin' Fan by Justin Stine
Rams Claim TE Brody Eldridge - Ramblin' Fan - Ramblin' Fan - A St. Louis Rams Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.
Source: STLtoday.com
There is absolutely no doubt in coach Jeff Fisher's mind that the Rams' starting left guard for 2012 is currently on the roster.
Source: STLtoday.com
The Long brothers have covered the spectrum of how to enter the National Football League. In 2008, Jake Long was the No. 1 overall pick by the Miami Dolphins out of the University of Michigan.Source: Turf Show Times by T.Ram
Tonight, the Rams acquired former Oklahoma TE Brody Eldridge, a day after the Colts released him. Eldridge was an 5th round pick by the Colts in 2010.
Eldridge isn't a dynamic receiver, he's an old school blocking tight end. It's most likely a long shot for Eldridge to make the final 53, but he will have his chance.
If Eldridge makes the final 53, he will most likely fill the role that Billy Bajema left as the 3rd tight end, and will most likely be in the
Source: Rams Gab by Matt Loede
The Rams have claimed tight end Brody Eldridge off waivers today from the Colts according to Adam Caplan of TheSidelineview.com.
Rams now have nine tight ends on their roster.
Source: NFL.com by Sessler, Marc
New Rams coach Jeff Fisher has set an especially audacious goal for his defense -- break the NFL sacks record of 72, set by the Chicago Bears in 1984.Source: NFL.com by Sessler, Marc
New Rams coach Jeff Fisher has set an especially audacious goal for his defense -- break the NFL sacks record of 72, set by the Chicago Bears in 1984.Source: NFC West Blog
We might need to consider Friday afternoon chats more regularly. Lots of fun in there. The highlight for me, by far, was when blog regular Deccare, posting under the guise of Deccarizzle, lobbed a softball. "Who's to blame for the 49ers losing the NFC championship game?" he asked. Too easy. "The Giants," I replied. Gotta keep up your guard in the chats. "I will sonic boom sando," Deccare replied in the comments beneath the full transcript. The chat also generated spirited discussion on the St.Source: Turf Show Times by Ryan Van Bibber
St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher laid out a lofty goal for his defense. Defensive end Robert Quinn told Ron Clements of CBS Sports that Fisher's goal for the defense is to break the NFL record for sacks.
Sacks are a relatively new stat in the NFL world. The record of 72 belongs to the 1984 Bears, a team Fisher played for during his playing days.
Last year, the Rams recorded 39 sacks. Minnesota led the league with 50 sacks. St. Louis ranked
Source: Bleacher Report
The St. Louis Rams are coming off of the worst five-year stretch in the history of the NFL. They have held a Top Two draft pick in four of the last five drafts (Chris Long, Jason Smith, Sam Bradford and the RG3 pick that was traded). They are about to have their third head coach in four years (Scott Linehan, Steve Spagnuolo and now Jeff Fisher). They are about to start their fourth consecutive season with a new offensive coordinator.
On the surface, the Rams are a mess.
A closer look would reveal otherwise. The Rams were a 7-9 football team in 2010. Sam Bradford, the 2010 offensive rookie of the year, passed for over 3,500 yards. The defense was 12th in the league in points allowed, with young players like James Laurinaitis and Chris Long looking like future Pro Bowlers. Steven Jackson, the battering ram running back, was one of the best at his position in the NFL.
2011 rolled around, and the Rams, not the San Francisco 49ers, were the team favored by several people to win the NFC West. However, a rash of injuries decimated the roster, wiping out the defensive secondary and offensive line. 2011 exposed the Rams for what they were—a talented young team, but one that didn't have the depth to sustain the injuries that every NFL team has to overcome.
So as the team enters the 2012 season, with another round of free agency and the NFL draft, the Rams are a deeper, more talented, more mature football team. I think this Rams team is better than the 2010 team that went 7-9, and I think this Rams team has a very good chance to make the playoffs.
Today, I'm going to predict every game on the Rams schedule. Thanks for reading along.
Source: Rams Herd
It’s clear that the St. Louis Rams and the city’s Convention and Visitors Commission remain miles apart when it comes to what it will take to upgrade the Edward Jones Dome to a top-tier NFL stadium.
Meanwhile, Fenton mayor Dennis Hancock finds himself sitting on 300 acres of open land after the Chrysler plant was razed last year.
In other words, hey Mayor Slay...
“It has a half-mile of highway frontage, it’s at the intersection of Highway 270 and 44,” Hancock points out. “It’s in a vibrant area, a great location for redevelopment.”
He says the five million square feet of available space would leave plenty of room for a new Rams stadium, lots of parking, and space for other development.
Speaking with KMOX News, Hancock makes it clear he’s not actively pitching the space as a replacement for the downtown dome, and he’s not currently in talks with the Rams, the CVC, or anybody else about it.
He’s merely open to the idea, one year after a plant that provided $1 million a year to his city’s tax base packed up and left.
“If it helps sell the site and helps put people back to work, then I’d be all for it,” Hancock says.
Source: NFC West Blog
The earlier item on Vernon Davis led regular blog commenter EDTGO to recall a now-quaint 2011 item about Davis bracing for competition from NFC West rivals at the position. 2011 Davis vs. Division TEs (non-49ers) That led me to produce this chart, which compares Davis' production last season (counting playoffs) to combined regular-season totals for all tight ends from the 49ers' division rivals. We see that Davis finished with more than twice as many touchdowns and twice as many long plays (40-plus yards) as Jeff King, Todd Heap, Rob Housler, Jim Dray, Zach Miller, Anthony McCoy, Cameron Morrah, Lance Kendricks, Billy Bajema, Michael Hoomanawanui and Stephen Spach.Source: NFC West Blog
Here's the link. I'll be heading over momentarily. In the meantime, I'm hoping to post a followup item comparing Vernon Davis to other NFC West tight ends based on production last season. The race is on.Source: Turf Show Times by Ryan Van Bibber
Cortland Finnegan is going to be a refreshing sight decked out in a St. Louis Rams uniform this season and for the years to come. In 2011, Finnegan was one of the best all-around corners in the NFL. He excelled in both pass coverage as well as run support, something the Rams will appreciate after their recent struggles against the run. The stats guys over at Pro Football Focus rolled out their list of the 10 best single-game performances from cornerbacks last season, and Finnegan's name is
Source: Bleacher Report
Welcome to Friday's St. Louis Rams "News and Notes at Noon"— the one stop spot for all major Rams headlines, updates and other relevant information for Ram Nation.
Will the Long-Rumored Fenton Site Be in the Mix?
According to a report from CBS St. Louis, the mayor of Fenton, Missouri (Dennis Hancock) would be willing to consider using the five million square feet of available space from the old Chrysler grounds for a Rams stadium and development area.
For those unfamiliar with the St. Louis metro area, Fenton sits in St. Louis County. St. Louis city is north of Fenton and acts as its own entity.
The Fenton site has long been mentioned as a potential home for the Rams.
According to the same report, Hancock made the following statements regarding the city's 300 unused acres:
"It has a half-mile of highway frontage, it’s at the intersection of Highway 270 and I-44. It’s in a vibrant area, a great location for redevelopment.
If it helps sell the site and helps put people back to work, then I’d be all for it."
Hancock says the five million square feet of available space would leave plenty of room for a new stadium, lots of parking and for other development.
Rams Claim Guard Jose Valdez Off Waivers
According to Ron Clements of cbssports.com, St. Louis has claimed guard Jose Valdez off waivers. The 6'6", 326-pound Valdez went undrafted out of the University of Arkansas last year.
According to Clements, Valdez was already on the field for OTAs Friday morning.
How Big Of An Asset Are The Rams to St. Louis?
Rick Venturi posted a great piece on 101sports.com analyzing the St. Louis Rams lease situation. Venturi took part in two franchise relocations, making his analysis all the more interesting.
Venturi also looks at the current state of Indianapolis, a city in which he has spent a great deal of time studying the aftermath of the construction of Lucas Oil Field and this year's Super Bowl.
On a side note, Venturi points out that Hurricane Katrina essentially saved the Saints for the city of New Orleans. The Saints nearly moved to San Antonio prior to the historic storm.
Rams Projected to Be League's Youngest Team
Mike Sando of ESPN is not only projecting St. Louis to be the youngest team in the league—but by a relatively wide margin.
Sando also suggests that the Seattle Seahawks have gotten considerably older.
Looking at the Coaching Sam Bradford Will Receive
Finally, in another ESPN story , Sando asks some legitimate and tough questions regarding new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and new quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti, Jr.
Sando looks back at both coaches previous work with QBs and raises some potential concerns over the future development of Sam Bradford.
Have a great day as always, Ram Nation.
Shane Gray covers the St. Louis Rams daily as a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You are encouraged to check out the rest of his work here. Gray also owns and operates stlramscentral.com.
Read more St Louis Rams news on BleacherReport.com
Source: Turf Show Times by 3k
Ah, another day where college football pushes me toward some random NFL tangent.
So today, the SEC and Big XII agreed to a southern-fried Rose Bowl where their respective conference champions would meet for all the, uh, bluebonnets? Sure, it's largely a move to be able to negotiate with the Big Ten whose reluctance to advance the discussions on a potential college football playoff relies entirely on their steadfast commitment to the actual Rose Bowl. To be
Source: NFC West Blog
Eight of John Clayton's 10 best tight ends have one thing in common: a Pro Bowl quarterback. Vernon Davis, ranked fifth, was an exception. We hear quite a bit about tight ends taking pressure off quarterbacks, but it's tough for any tight end to produce at an elite level without a high-producing quarterback. Zach Miller might have landed on this list a year ago, but his production fell sharply with Seattle last season -- more a reflection of quarterbacks and the offense than of Miller.Source: Bleacher Report
Welcome to Friday's St. Louis Rams "News and Notes at Noon"— the one stop spot for all major Rams headlines, updates and other relevant information for Ram Nation.
Will the Long-Rumored Fenton Site Be in the Mix?
According to a report from CBS St. Louis, the mayor of Fenton, Missouri (Dennis Hancock) would be willing to consider using the five million square feet of available space from the old Chrysler grounds for a Rams stadium and development area.
For those unfamiliar with the St. Louis metro area, Fenton sits in St. Louis County. St. Louis city is north of Fenton and acts as its own entity.
The Fenton site has long been mentioned as a potential home for the Rams.
According to the same report, Hancock made the following statements regarding the city's 300 unused acres:
"It has a half-mile of highway frontage, it’s at the intersection of Highway 270 and I-44. It’s in a vibrant area, a great location for redevelopment.
If it helps sell the site and helps put people back to work, then I’d be all for it."
Hancock says the five million square feet of available space would leave plenty of room for a new stadium, lots of parking and for other development.
Rams Claim Guard Jose Valdez Off Waivers
According to Ron Clements of cbssports.com, St. Louis has claimed guard Jose Valdez off waivers. The 6'6", 326-pound Valdez went undrafted out of the University of Arkansas last year.
According to Clements, Valdez was already on the field for OTAs Friday morning.
How Big Of An Asset Are The Rams to St. Louis?
Rick Venturi posted a great piece on 101sports.com analyzing the St. Louis Rams lease situation. Venturi took part in two franchise relocations, making his analysis all the more interesting.
Venturi also looks at the current state of Indianapolis, a city in which he has spent a great deal of time studying the aftermath of the construction of Lucas Oil Field and this year's Super Bowl.
On a side note, Venturi points out that Hurricane Katrina essentially saved the Saints for the city of New Orleans. The Saints nearly moved to San Antonio prior to the historic storm.
Rams Projected to Be League's Youngest Team
Mike Sando of ESPN is not only projecting St. Louis to be the youngest team in the league—but by a relatively wide margin.
Sando also suggests that the Seattle Seahawks have gotten considerably older.
Looking at the Coaching Sam Bradford Will Receive
Finally, in another ESPN story , Sando asks some legitimate and tough questions regarding new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and new quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti, Jr.
Sando looks back at both coaches previous work with QBs and raises some potential concerns over the future development of Sam Bradford.
Have a great day as always, Ram Nation.
Shane Gray covers the St. Louis Rams daily as a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You are encouraged to check out the rest of his work here. Gray also owns and operates stlramscentral.com.
Read more St Louis Rams news on BleacherReport.com
Source: Bleacher Report
As the St. Louis Rams and the city's Convention and Visitors Commission (CVC) try to find common ground during the first stages of lease negotiations, another candidate has possibly thrown his hat into the mix to keep the Rams in the St. Louis region.
Fenton mayor Dennis Hancock touted the former Chrysler plant location as having "plenty of room for a new Rams stadium, lots of parking, and space for other development," in an interview with KMOX on Thursday.
“It has a half-mile of highway frontage, it’s at the intersection of Highway 270 and 44,” Hancock points out. “It’s in a vibrant area, a great location for redevelopment.”
Hancock went onto explain that the Chrysler plant, which was razed last year, sits on 300 acres of vacant land along I-44 that would give the Rams five million square feet of available space for development.
St. Louis lost 43,000 jobs and $15 billion when the Chrysler plant closed in 2009. No acceptable suitors have been found to purchase the land since.
In his interview with KMOX, Hancock said he's not actively pitching the land, nor has he had talks with the Rams or CVC. He's just open to selling the site that put $1 million a year to Fenton's tax base and provided many people with jobs.
Hancock may just be merely floating an idea out there so Fenton is not forgotten if the Rams and CVC reach an impasse. The two sides have exchanged proposals and are likely to be headed to arbitration June 15.
The Rams' proposal, which can be read in its entirety online, calls for many improvements, including but not limited to:
- Moving roof panels in to allow for more natural light. The panels would be in a small portion of the roof.
-The east side of the Dome would be demolished to add new entrances and party areas.
-Two video scoreboards in the northeast and southwest corners of the stadium measuring 37'x97'.
-Fixed general and club seating and a removable playing field surface that would provide approximately 66,000 seats for an NFL game. The lower bowl would be completely remodeled.
-Increased and expanded public amenities such as concession stands, stores and public toilets.
-Upgrades to the Rams' locker room and personnel offices.
In the proposal, the Rams tasked the CVC to find cost estimates and pricing for the renovations. A source within the CVC told Fox 2 Now that the Rams' proposed improvements would close the Edward Jones Dome for two to three years and cost nearly $700 million.
The proposal would put the Dome in the mix for future Super Bowls, and the lower bowl seating improvements would make the Dome able to "accommodate national and international soccer events." It is assumed college bowl games would also be an option.
The Edward Jones Dome, which opened in 1995, was financed primarily with $256 million in revenue bonds, which is still being paid off with $24 million annually in tax money. The state of Missouri is responsible for $12 million of that, while St. Louis City and County each pay $6 million.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Rams pay $500,000 each year to lease the Dome ($250,000 in rent and $250,000 in reimbursement for game-day costs). The team profits from advertising, concessions and box office revenue.
Read more St Louis Rams news on BleacherReport.com
Source: Turf Show Times by Ryan Van Bibber
The 2012 season is a big one for quarterback Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams. Head coach Jeff Fisher says to erase the quarterback's second season and start over. It's good advice for the coaching staff, anxious fans and the 24-year-old Bradford.
He seems to have had a relaxing offseason too. Last month Bradford and his special lady, model Karlie Koss, traveled to the Coachella music festival along with Chris
Source: Bleacher Report
The St. Louis Rams are coming off of the worst five-year stretch in the history of the NFL. They have held a Top Two draft pick in four of the last five drafts (Chris Long, Jason Smith, Sam Bradford and the RG3 pick that was traded). They are about to have their third head coach in four years (Scott Linehan, Steve Spagnuolo and now Jeff Fisher). They are about to start their fourth consecutive season with a new offensive coordinator.
On the surface, the Rams are a mess.
A closer look would reveal otherwise. The Rams were a 7-9 football team in 2010. Sam Bradford, the 2010 offensive rookie of the year, passed for over 3,500 yards. The defense was 12th in the league in points allowed, with young players like James Laurinaitis and Chris Long looking like future Pro Bowlers. Steven Jackson, the battering ram running back, was one of the best at his position in the NFL.
2011 rolled around, and the Rams, not the San Francisco 49ers, were the team favored by several people to win the NFC West. However, a rash of injuries decimated the roster, wiping out the defensive secondary and offensive line. 2011 exposed the Rams for what they were—a talented young team, but one that didn't have the depth to sustain the injuries that every NFL team has to overcome.
So as the team enters the 2012 season, with another round of free agency and the NFL draft, the Rams are a deeper, more talented, more mature football team. I think this Rams team is better than the 2010 team that went 7-9, and I think this Rams' team has a very good chance to make the playoffs.
Today, I'm going to predict every game on the Rams schedule. Thanks for reading along.
Source: Bleacher Report
The St. Louis Rams are coming off of the worst five-year stretch in the history of the NFL. They have held a Top Two draft pick in four of the last five drafts (Chris Long, Jason Smith, Sam Bradford and the RG3 pick that was traded). They are about to have their third head coach in four years (Scott Linehan, Steve Spagnuolo and now Jeff Fisher). They are about to start their fourth consecutive season with a new offensive coordinator.
On the surface, the Rams are a mess.
A closer look would reveal otherwise. The Rams were a 7-9 football team in 2010. Sam Bradford, the 2010 offensive rookie of the year, passed for over 3,500 yards. The defense was 12th in the league in points allowed, with young players like James Laurinaitis and Chris Long looking like future Pro Bowlers. Steven Jackson, the battering ram running back, was one of the best at his position in the NFL.
2011 rolled around, and the Rams, not the San Francisco 49ers, were the team favored by several people to win the NFC West. However, a rash of injuries decimated the roster, wiping out the defensive secondary and offensive line. 2011 exposed the Rams for what they were—a talented young team, but one that didn't have the depth to sustain the injuries that every NFL team has to overcome.
So as the team enters the 2012 season, with another round of free agency and the NFL draft, the Rams are a deeper, more talented, more mature football team. I think this Rams team is better than the 2010 team that went 7-9, and I think this Rams' team has a very good chance to make the playoffs.
Today, I'm going to predict every game on the Rams schedule. Thanks for reading along.
Source: NFC West Blog
NFL rosters undergo massive changes each offseason. That has been particularly true in 2012 as limits increased from 80 to 90 players. As much as I'd like to comply with requests to publish specific roster breakdowns for age and other factors, the changes require quite a bit of time to process. A few trends are coming into focus regarding the NFC West already: The St. Louis Rams keep getting younger. I'm projecting them to be the youngest team in the league by a relatively wide margin, pending a few missing dates of birth for undrafted rookies on other teams.
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