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Random Ramsdom: November 2: St. Louis Rams - The Austin & Gurley Show

A pair of big play touchdowns by Todd Gurley and Tavon Austin - coupled with a stifling Rams defense - were the key factors in the Rams' 27-6 demolition of the San Francisco 49ers. The times they are a changin'!! On to Minnesota!!

By Frank "Dubs" Dobozy
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Twitter Talk

An amazing throwback week tribute...a must see:

Benoit is definitely worth a follow on Twitter and a read on MMQB, for both his insight and great film breakdowns:

It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt:

Uhhhh...not so much :):

The trade deadline is fast-approaching (Tuesday, November 3) and Mr. Brandt spells out the ramifications perfectly (Jared Cook isn't going anywhere):

Music to my ears:

Records broken by Gurley will sound like "broken records" by the time his career is over:

Give him a day off due to injury and Long is just killing it on Twitter:

More Gurley superlatives:

Keep the superlatives coming:

In Search Of Stan Kroenke: KMOV St. Louis

KMOV.com

2016 NFL Mock Draft: Walter Football

Charlie Campbell updates his 3-round mock draft. The Rams select WR Laquon Treadwell in the first round, C Max Tuerk and OLB Yannick Ngakoue in the second round and DT Montravius Adams in the third round. Put me down for Treadwell in the first. The rest of the picks are just ok.

Unbeaten and Undressed: Sports Illustrated - The MMQB

Peter King takes us through the week that was in the NFL.

Ranking All 32 NFL Starting Quarterbacks: Sports On Earth

Rams' QB Nick Foles finds himself ranked 28th among starting QB's. The good news? That's 2 spots higher than Sam Bradford and 3 higher than Peyton Manning.

NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Month: Todd Gurley: St. Louis Rams Official Website

Let's relive some of RB Todd Gurley's finest moments in the month of October.

NFL's "League Interests" Clause Could Be Kroenke's Loophole: 101 Sports ESPN

"The League interests being included as a reason to relocate illustrates the insincerity of the process. If the League is ultimately concerned about doing what is truly best for its interests, it would do a market survey for every franchise’s home territory, and move the market with the worst financial profile to the city and region that makes the most sense for everyone in the League."

Draft Prospect Highlight Reel: LB/S - Su'a Cravens - USC

Stan Kroenke's partner looking to develop 200 acres in St. Louis: ESPN NFL Nation

This little piece of news led to wild speculation about the purpose of Alan Bornstein buying land in Maryland Heights, nearby the Rams' training facility in Earth City. As Nick Wagoner points out, Kroenke and his partners buy and develop land and buildings all the time. This project is no different.

Todd Gurley Rewards Rams For Taking A Chance: New York Times

When Todd Gurley was selected by the Rams in the 2015 NFL Draft, how many of us were jumping up and down with joy? Not many. Gurley has sure proven all the naysayers wrong.

The British blogger's who are reinventing how the NFL coaches: The Daily Dot

Love them or hate them, the folks at Pro Football Focus are here to stay. My take? They provide a lot of quality data (even to NFL teams) but they should relegate their gradings of NFL players to the trash bin.

Patriots win Super Bowls with cheap offensive lines: Over The Cap

I'm not sure where OTC was heading with this. The Patriots haven't won a Super Bowl with THIS particular line. Last years OL was quite a bit more expensive. Injuries and player movement have forced the Pats into the unfamiliar position of starting rookies and plenty of youth on the line. It doesn't hurt to have Tom Brady as your QB and Bill Belichick masterminding the whole process.

Stat Facts Of The Week: Toxic Differential

Toxic Differential Leaders
Team Turnover Differential Big Play Differential Toxic Differential
1 Carolina Panthers 4 17 21
2 Seattle Seahawks 0 17 17
3 Cincinnati Bengals 3 13 16
4 New York Jets 4 12 16
5 Pittsburgh Steelers 3 12 15
6 Arizona Cardinals 5 9 14
7 St. Louis Rams 4 9 13
8 Green Bay Packers 6 6 12
9 Atlanta Falcons 2 9 11
10 New England Patriots 7 4 11
11 Buffalo Bills 0 10 10
12 Minnesota Vikings 2 6 8
13 Philadelphia Eagles 4 3 7
14 Denver Broncos 6 -4 2
15 New York Giants 10 -9 1
16 San Francisco 49ers 0 -1 -1
17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2 1 -1
18 Jacksonville Jaguars -3 1 -2
19 Kansas City Chiefs 1 -3 -2
20 Chicago Bears -1 -2 -3
21 Dallas Cowboys -9 3 -6
22 Oakland Raiders 2 -8 -6
23 Baltimore Ravens -7 0 -7
24 Miami Dolphins -3 -6 -9
25 Tennessee Titans -4 -8 -12
26 New Orleans Saints 0 -14 -14
27 Cleveland Browns -6 -10 -16
28 Houston Texans -5 -11 -16
29 Indianapolis Colts -8 -9 -17
30 San Diego Chargers -6 -12 -18
31 Detroit Lions -7 -14 -21
32 Washington Redskins -2 -21 -23

Through Week 7, the Rams were 7th in the league in Toxic Differential (+13). The other 9 teams in the top ten had a combined 46-12 record heading into Week 8. The Rams will once again move up the rankings after their resounding 27-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

The expression "toxic differential" was coined by former NFL coach Brian Billick. Billick was head coach of the Baltimore Ravens for 9 seasons, and led them to a Super Bowl victory in the 2000 season.

From an article by Brian Billick for NFL.com in November, 2011:

"People are constantly looking for the right combination of stats to indicate the probable success of a team. What are the key factors to winning? Is it sacks, third-down conversions, first-down efficiency, the ability to run the ball and stop the run, total passing yards? All are important, but none are a precise indicator of success."

"Beginning in 1998, when I was the Vikings' offensive coordinator, I used a formula that I called the "toxic differential" as the best barometer for our team's success. Simply stated, the toxic differential is the correlation between turnovers and explosive plays."


After latest operation, Saffold "done" with shoulders: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Rams will have many tough decisions to make this offseason. Will Rodger Saffold remain a Ram in 2016?

Betting on the Fantasy World: U.S. News & World Report

The Department of Justice and the FBI are investigating fantasy sites DraftKings and FanDuel. Internet gambling? Or game of skill?

"Nevada's Gaming Control Board banned fantasy sites like DraftKings and FanDuel from offering their products in the state without a gaming license, equating the contests with betting on sports."

In midst of #ClampSeason, Rams' Janoris Jenkins bets on himself: ESPN NFL Nation

Jenkins is eligible for Free Agency in 2016. Sticking to his self-imposed bye week deadline, Jenkins will not enter into any further discussions about a new contract until the season has ended. Jenkins made his intentions abundantly clear this past week:

"It's over for the season. After football [season], I'd be glad to sign back with them but as far as the season, I just want to focus on football. I gave them up until bye week. They knew what was going on. I told them anything after the bye week, I ain't listening, I don't want to hear it. I want to focus on football. The bye week is gone, so I just want to play football."

Spirit of St. Louis: Todd Gurley is giving the Rams a chance to take flight: Grantland

Grantland was shut down this past week by the powers that be at ESPN. Pity. It was the best thing ESPN had going for it. Their in-depth, well-written articles (especially the long-form pieces) were much admired by many (me included). They will be sorely missed.

On This Day In Sports History

1969 - New Orleans Saints QB Billy Kilmer and St. Louis Cardinals QB Charlie Johnson throw for 6 TD's each, an NFL record 12 passing touchdowns in one game.

2002 - 14th College Football Holy War: Boston College defeats Notre Dame 14-7 in South Bend.

The Rams Need More From Their Passing Game: 101 Sports ESPN

Bernie Miklasz delivers his take on the Rams' victory over the 49ers. For the Rams to be thought of as serious playoff contenders, the offense needs to become less one-dimensional.

Winning Ugly? For The Rams, Any Victory Is Beautiful: 101 Sports ESPN

The St. Louis defense sure has been tough at the Dome. Visiting teams now have a total of two offensive touchdowns in 46 possessions.

Rams Defeat 49ers, Improve To 3-0 In NFC West: St. Louis Rams Official Website

Myles Simmons shares his thoughts on the Rams big win over San Francisco.

Picking over the 49ers' totality of wreckage: The San Jose Mercury News

49ers star LB NaVorro Bowman summed it up best:

"When I signed up, I signed up to play through wins, losses or whatever. This is the type of team we have. There's no genie that's coming through the door."

The Pressers

Jeff Fisher Post-Game Press Conference: St. Louis Rams Official Website
Coach Fisher's Post-Game Speech: St. Louis Rams Official Website
Nick Foles Post-Game Press Conference: St. Louis Rams Official Website
Todd Gurley Post-Game Press Conference: St. Louis Rams Official Website
Jared Cook Post-Game Press Conference: St. Louis Rams Official Website
Tim McDonald Jr. Post-Game Press Conference: St. Louis Rams Official Website
Robert Quinn Post-Game Press Conference: St. Louis Rams Official Website
One-On-One With Tavon Austin: St. Louis Rams Official Website
Jeff Fisher praises the defense and notes there is room to improve.

NFL Week 8: Mike Tanier - Bleacher Report

An absolute must read, as Tanier props Todd Gurley via revised lyrics to the song "The Weight" by The Band. Simply awesome stuff!!

Miami Hurricanes pull off mind-blowing kick return with no time remaining: Deadspin

One of the most amazing football plays you will ever see. Well worth the look, trust me. You will look on in amazement.

Is Todd Gurley already the NFL's best running back: Yahoo Sports

Is ANYONE now questioning the Rams' selection of Todd Gurley with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft? I didn't think so...

St. Louis Grades, Notes & Quotes: Bleacher Report

Steven Gerwel shares his thoughts and observations about the game between the Rams and 49ers.

Rams can contend in the NFC West: ESPN NFL Nation

They sure can compete!!

Tavon Austin up, first quarter offense down for Rams: ESPN NFL Nation

Nick Wagoner takes us through the ups and downs of Sunday's game between the Rams and 49ers.

Highlights - 49ers at Rams - Week 8: St. Louis Rams Official Website

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Post-Game Coverage

Gurley, Rams defense overwhelms 49ers

Jim Thomas recaps the Rams' convincing win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Report Card: Rams vs. 49ers

Jeff Gordon hands out his weekly unit grades for the game between the Rams and 49ers. Straight "A's" for the defense and Todd Gurley.

Todd, Tavon and defense are Rams' victory formula

Jim Thomas takes a deeper look at the game against the 49ers, praising the efforts of the Rams defense, Todd Gurley and Tavon Austin.

Austin scores twice in Rams' blowout win over 49ers

And guess who had a good game? Let Tavon Austin tell us about Jared Cook and his blocking:

"Cook did a good job of making the block for me, and I was able to stretch out and find the end zone,’’

Rams notebook: 49ers nearly make it a close game

As Jim Thomas notes, the game could have been much closer:

"As dominant as the Rams were for much of Sunday’s 27-6 victory, there was a moment in the third quarter when San Francisco threatened to make a game of it."

St. Louis Rams Weekly Salary "Re-Cap"

The Rams have $3,836,671 in available salary cap space as of 11:00 pm, Sunday, November 1 (the 12th lowest total in the league). Please check here and here for my regular salary cap updates throughout the year.

A new stadium in St. Louis? Financing and corporate involvement

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon’s stadium task force has released an updated video presentation that highlights the new National Car Rental Field naming rights partnership, various areas for fan amenities and the incorporation of trails, natural habitat and park space surrounding the St. Louis riverfront venue designed by HOK.

Stadium deal would give NFL team two-thirds of tax revenue
Stadium Bill Financing Agreement
Stadium Financing Bill

All information provided is courtesy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

St. Louis Rams Current Roster & Depth Chart

The accompanying roster and depth chart reflects all transactions as of 11:00 pm. Sunday. November 1. As I reported in an article for Turf Show Times, the Rams conducted six roster transactions this past week, which involved the following players: Alec Ogletree, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Doug Worthington, Christian Bryant, Zack Hodges and Gerald Rivers.

C Tim Barnes Demetrius Rhaney
RG Jamon Brown
LG Garrett Reynolds Cody Wichmann
RT Rob Havenstein Andrew Donnal
LT Greg Robinson Darrell Williams
TE Lance Kendricks Cory Harkey
TE Jared Cook Justice Cunningham
WR Tavon Austin Brian Quick Bradley Marquez
WR Kenny Britt Stedman Bailey
RB Tre Mason Benny Cunningham Trey Watts
RB Todd Gurley Chase Reynolds
QB Nick Foles Case Keenum Sean Mannion
PK Greg Zuerlein
P John Hekker
LS Jake McQuaide
DT Aaron Donald Nick Fairley Doug Worthington
DT Michael Brockers Ethan Westbrooks
DE Chris Long William Hayes
DE Robert Quinn Eugene Sims
MLB James Laurinaitis Bryce Hager
OLB Mark Barron Daren Bates
OLB Akeem Ayers Cameron Lynch
CB Janoris Jenkins Marcus Roberson
CB Trumaine Johnson Lamarcus Joyner
SS Tim McDonald Jr. Maurice Alexander
FS Rodney McLeod Cody Davis Christian Bryant
Practice Squad Injured Reserve IR-Designated To Return
DE  Matt Longacre CB  E.J. Gaines OLB Alec Ogletree
DE  Gerald Rivers OG  Rodger Saffold
DT  Louis Trinca-Pasat WR  Isiah Ferguson
LB  Zack Hodges
CB  Melvin White
CB  Eric Patterson
RB  Malcolm Brown
FB  Zach Laskey
WR Nick Toon
OT  Isaiah Battle

Blast From The Past: Classic Rock Monday: Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion

Please have a great Monday and a Ramtastic week!!

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