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Tavon's already raring to go:
Can't wait to start my off season training on Monday in Atlanta @athleticadvant1
â Tavon Austin (@Tayaustin01) February 6, 2014
How tough is the NFC West?:
Keep in mind, NFC West is 33-10 outside of division (including playoffs), best record outside a division since the last realignment in 2002
â Jim Thomas (@jthom1) February 3, 2014
News to my ears:
Rams make it official with Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator. Press conference is Thursday morning.
â Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) February 12, 2014
A hint of things to come when free agency begins on March 11?:
Why the Rams' big spending free agent days should be a thing of the past. My column: http://t.co/9VYfET6UmO
â Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) February 6, 2014
A transcript of Nick Wagoner's weekly question and answer session, covering all topics related to the Rams.
Top 50 NFL draft prospect rankings: NFL.com
Daniel Jeremiah updates his prospect rankings for the 2014 NFL Draft. DE Jadeveon Clowney remains the top-ranked player.
NFL Prospect Focus: National Football Post
NFP examines a pair of Stanford offensive line prospects the Rams might have on their radar in the upcoming draft: David Yankey and Cameron Fleming.
5 Potential Trades For The Rams With The #2 Overall Pick: Rant Sports NFL
An interesting take on prospective trading partners for the Rams. In these scenarios, I wouldn't trade down, given the minimal returns proposed in these trades.
5 Free Agents That Could Make the Rams Better: Ramblin' Fan
There are many free agents entering the market this year who would look good in the horns. Will the Rams have the cap space to afford any?
Strength of Schedule - St. Louis Rams: ESPN NFC West
From 2013 results, it appears the Rams have the 3rd toughest schedule for 2014. So what...bring it on!
Draft Prospect Highlight Reel: Safety - Deone Bucannon - Washington St.
Deone Bucannon Highlights 2013 (via gokai15)
Quarterbacks are underpaid thanks to stagnant salary cap: CBS Sports
Jason La Canfora looks at the flat salary cap prevalent in the last 5 years, and draws this conclusion:
"First, let me clue you in on a dirty little secret: Pretty much no one in the NFL is overpaid."
Why Rams Hired Williams: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Gregg Williams will coach a defense that only blitzed 143 times the entire 2013 season - 10th lowest in the league. You can bet that will change. Williams' defenses, in three years with New Orleans, blitzed an average of 285 times a season.
Joe Banner, Mike Lombardi out in Cleveland: Pro Football Talk
In a surprise announcement, Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam fired CEO Joe Banner and GM Mike Lombardi. This comes on the heels of firing first year coach Rob Chudzinski. With Cleveland holding the 4th overall pick in the draft - and possibly looking for a QB - what could this turn of events mean for the Rams?
Mock Draft Number 1: CBS Sports
Pete Prisco presents his first mock draft of the year. The Rams selections are fairly predictable: OT Jake Matthews and WR Mike Evans.
Consensus Big Board: SB Nation - Mocking The Draft
Dan Kadar presents a consensus big board for the 2014 draft, compiled from 8 different sources.
Stat Facts Of The Week: Team Points Per Drive Differential
| Team | Points Per Drive | Points Per Drive Against | Point Differential | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver Broncos | 3 | 1.94 | 1.06 |
| 2 | Seattle Seahawks | 2.29 | 1.24 | 1.05 |
| 3 | Carolina Panthers | 2.15 | 1.35 | 0.8 |
| 4 | San Francisco 49ers | 2.15 | 1.42 | 0.72 |
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | 2.18 | 1.5 | 0.69 |
| 6 | New Orleans Saints | 2.29 | 1.68 | 0.61 |
| 7 | Cincinnati Bengals | 2.14 | 1.55 | 0.59 |
| 8 | New England Patriots | 2.21 | 1.72 | 0.48 |
| 9 | Arizona Cardinals | 1.9 | 1.59 | 0.31 |
| 10 | San Diego Chargers | 2.37 | 2.1 | 0.27 |
| 11 | Philadelphia Eagles | 2.2 | 1.95 | 0.25 |
| 12 | Indianapolis Colts | 2.08 | 1.84 | 0.24 |
| 13 | Detroit Lions | 2.02 | 1.89 | 0.13 |
| 14 | Dallas Cowboys | 2.4 | 2.29 | 0.11 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2.01 | 1.95 | 0.06 |
| 16 | Tennessee Titans | 1.97 | 2.01 | -0.04 |
| 17 | St. Louis Rams | 1.89 | 1.97 | -0.08 |
| 18 | Miami Dolphins | 1.63 | 1.73 | -0.09 |
| 19 | Green Bay Packers | 2.24 | 2.38 | -0.14 |
| 20 | Baltimore Ravens | 1.55 | 1.73 | -0.18 |
| 21 | Buffalo Bills | 1.58 | 1.81 | -0.23 |
| 22 | Chicago Bears | 2.45 | 2.69 | -0.24 |
| 23 | Cleveland Browns | 1.58 | 2 | -0.42 |
| 24 | Minnesota Vikings | 2.01 | 2.44 | -0.43 |
| 25 | New York Giants | 1.44 | 1.92 | -0.47 |
| 26 | New York Jets | 1.48 | 2.02 | -0.54 |
| 27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1.53 | 2.08 | -0.55 |
| 28 | Atlanta Falcons | 1.97 | 2.53 | -0.56 |
| 29 | Washington Redskins | 1.68 | 2.4 | -0.72 |
| 30 | Oakland Raiders | 1.66 | 2.4 | -0.74 |
| 31 | Houston Texans | 1.37 | 2.21 | -0.83 |
| 32 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 1.27 | 2.28 | -1.01 |
This statistic measures the number of points a team generates per average drive, and how many points are allowed on the average drive. Denver and Seattle (both Super Bowl teams) were 1-2 in the rankings. Of the 12 playoff teams, 11 finished in the top dozen in the rankings. The St. Louis Rams finished 17th, with a differential of close to zero. The chart is courtesy of "Sporting Charts".
Vetting Potential Trade Partners: Browns: ESPN
In the third - of a six-part series - Nick Wagoner explores trade down partners for the Rams' #2 overall selection in the 2014 draft.
Rams chat with Jim Thomas: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Jim Thomas conducts his weekly question and answer segment, touching on all topics related to the Rams.
If Rams draft a QB, there are options that don't require a 1st round pick: Fox Sports
The Rams have many options - if they desire to select a QB - after the first round of the draft: Jimmy Garoppolo, Zach Mettenberger, Aaron Murray, Derek Carr, and A.J. McCarron.
Top 10 NFL free agents on the 2014 market: Cover 32 Rams
Free agency begins March 11. The Rams made a big splash in free agency last year. Could the Rams be interested in S Jairus Byrd and CB Alterraun Verner this year?
2014 NFL Mock Draft: Walter Football
Charlie Campbell shares his expanded 4-round mock draft. The Rams select OT Jake Matthews, CB Justin Gilbert, S Dion Bailey, QB Zach Mettenberger, and DE Ben Gardner.
On This Day In Sports History
1937 - The Cleveland (now St. Louis) Rams were granted an NFL franchise.
A nostalgic look back at rare, restored footage of the 1951 NFL Championship, featuring the Los Angeles Rams versus the Cleveland Browns:
1951 NFL Championship (via Caladiscafrosis)
Torry Holt: Rams don't need Clowney, should draft Matthews: Bleacher Report - Video
Torry Holt must still remember with fondness the days of having Orlando Pace on the Rams' offensive line.
Obscenely early projections for the Rams' 2014 starting offense: Cover 32 Rams
Who's new on the Rams' projected 2014 starting offense? G Cyril Richardson and WR Sammy Watkins. The Rams also re-sign Rodger Saffold.
St. Louis Should Be Rams' Permanent Home, Plain And Simple: 101 ESPN
Randy Karreker gives his take on why the Rams should stay in St. Louis...forever.
2014 St. Louis Rams Mock Draft Round-Up: Ramblin' Fan
RF presents a summary of 30 Rams' 1st round mock drafts. Sure are a lot of offensive tackles being chosen.
Recipe for a trade-up?: Pick The Draft
Could the Atlanta Falcons - with their connection to Les Snead - be the team trading up with the Rams in the 2014 NFL Draft?
St. Louis Rams Weekly Salary "Re-Cap"
The Rams currently have $172,529 in Available Salary Cap Space, second-lowest in the NFL. They will likely carry this amount forward into the 2014 off season as a credit towards the 2014 salary cap. I'll be updating the Rams complete salary cap situation in the coming weeks. In the interim, Over The Cap has estimated the current available cap space for all 32 NFL teams (link).
NFL Logos Gone Corporate: Third And Wrong - Yardbarker
A look at newly desiged NFL logos, each with a unique, corporate twist.
Former Rams may have to wait on Hall of Fame: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Four famed members of the GSOT - Orlando Pace, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, and Kurt Warner - will all be eligible next year for entry to the Hall of Fame. Can all 4 get into Canton in their first year of eligibility?
A Seattle blueprint worth following: ESPN
Is this the blueprint the Rams are already following?:
"In the week-plus following the Seattle Seahawks' victory in the Super Bowl, there has been much discussion about a paradigm shift. The idea is that building a dominant defense to pair with a power running game and doing it mostly through the draft is the way to go rather than continuing to add weapons to build a dynamic aerial attack in the so-called "passing league."
NFL Draft Big Board: CBS Sports
Rob Rang presents his updated big board, featuring safety Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix. Does HaHa fit the new NFL prototype at Free Safety?
How NFL Teams Put Together A Big Board For The NFL Draft: Bleacher Report
An interesting inside look at how NFL teams put together their draft boards, The Rams are likely beginning to put their's together, though the draft is still 3 months away.
Kevin Demoff appears on The Fast Lane, answers questions related to the Rams:
Mike Sando speculates on the Rams' grand plan for Sam Bradford:
Blast From The Past: Classic Rock Wednesday: Led Zeppelin - Black Dog
Led Zeppelin - Black Dog (Live Video) (via RhinoEntertainment)
Please have a great Wednesday and a Ramtastic week!!