Random Ramsdom: February 9: St. Louis Rams - The Calm Before The Storm

Twitter Talk

Offseason playtime...I sure hope that knee is coming along fine and healing:

A frog on Sam Bradfords head at a concert pic.twitter.com/w93u1xxBIX

— Chris Long (@JOEL9ONE) February 3, 2015

The oddsmaker's are banking on an improved Rams team next season:

Rams are 40-to-1 odds to win next year's Super Bowl per BovadaLV. Jacksonville & Oakland are longest shots, 200-to-1. Seattle favored at 5-1

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) February 4, 2015

The offseason has begun in earnest...quite the stash:

Here is what Starke, Fla. police seized from #Packers DT Letroy Guion. pic.twitter.com/bg4N4SLlZu

— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) February 4, 2015

Oh well...one less option for the Rams' offensive line :)

Bills now have announced they had reached an agreement in principle with veteran OG Richie Incognito.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2015

A wasted pick if I've ever seen one:

Patriots sign QB Garrett Gilbert, a 6th-round Rams draft pick last May, to their offseason roster.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) February 6, 2015

Rams shouldn't have many salary cap problems: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

2015 NFL Salary Cap: How Will It Affect The St. Louis Rams?: Turf Show Times

ICYMI, this was my initial look at the Rams' salary cap situation entering the offseason. Little has changed in the interim. I've included Jim Thomas's analysis for comparative purposes. On Tuesday, I take an in-depth look at Sam Bradford's contract, and what it may look like after it's (possibly) renegotiated. Stay tuned.

Will the Rams finally finish over .500 in 2015?: Pro Football Talk

Mike Florio and the rest of the PFT crew discuss the Rams' chances of a winning season in 2015.

St. Louis Rams Offseason Priority List: Ramblin' Fan

No surprises here. Dealing with the OL and QB positions rank very high on the Rams' priority list this offseason. Can they accomplish everything they need to in one offseason?

How Far Will Marcus Mariota Fall Before The NFL Draft?: Grantland

The likelihood of QB Marcus Mariota falling to the Rams at Number 10 in the upcoming NFL draft isn't very high. Should the Rams select him if does fall to Number 10? If he falls to Number 5, should the Rams make an attempt to trade up for him?

Draft Prospect Highlight Reel: LB - Eric Kendricks - UCLA

NFP Prospect Focus: Andrus Peat and Donovan Smith: National Football Post

Greg Gabriel takes an in-depth look at a pair of offensive tackles who may be of interest to the Rams come draft-day in April.

2015 NFL Mock Draft: Walter Football

Charlie Campbell updates his three-round mock draft. The Rams select OT Brandon Scherff in the first round, followed by OLB Shaq Thompson and QB Garrett Grayson.

Dirt is turning in Inglewood; Stadium up next?: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Looks like the development project in L.A. is moving ahead full-bore:

"This is ‘Field of Dreams’ stuff. Build it and they will come."

Why Warner, Pace didn't make it: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Bernie Miklasz was a participant in the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection meeting. He gives us an insiders look into the voting process, and explains why Kurt Warner and Orlando Pace didn't make it into the Hall in their first year of eligibility.

Stat Facts Of The Week: Bendability

Think of Bendability as a way to quantify the phenomenon of the "bend but don’t break defense" while also measuring how well teams play in "situational football". The Bendability Index is not merely a defensive indicator. It is a team-wide measurement of ability to keep opponents off the scoreboard. It takes into account a variety of factors, including: Offensive proficiency, special teams, field position, red zone defense, and turnover differential. Teams that rank highly in Bendability are typically smart, efficient, well-coached teams.
Bendability = Yards allowed/Points Allowed = Yards Per Point Allowed (YPPA).

All stats and descriptions are courtesy of Cold Hard Football Facts.

St. Louis Rams Fans Being Ran Through The Wringer: insidestl.com

As Shane Gray notes, it's not easy being a Rams fan:

"In regard to both on and off field issues and circumstances, the list of negatives that Rams Nation has been dealt during the past decade plus seems almost endless."

A case for wide receiver at No. 10: Ramblin' Fan

Could the Rams draft DeVante Parker, Amari Cooper or Kevin White if one of them is available at No. 10?

Michael Sam applies for spot at NFL's first-ever veteran combine: CBS Sports

One year later, has Michael Sam been frozen out of the NFL?: SB Nation - Outsports

Since the NFL season ended, 25 defensive ends have been signed to reserve/futures contracts by NFL teams. Michael Sam hasn't even been on a practice squad since after Week 7 (with the Cowboys). Has Sam been frozen out of the NFL?

A closer look at the NFL Draft's No. 10 pick and the Rams: ESPN NFL Nation

The last time the Rams had the No. 10 pick in the draft was in 1993, where they selected RB Jerome Bettis. Can the Rams duplicate that quality result in the upcoming draft?

Will the Rams be aggressive in Free Agency?: 101 Sports

Explaining NFL Free Agent Designations: Over The Cap

The Rams have 14 players eligible for Free Agency on March 10. OTC breaks down the various Free Agent designations.

2015 NFL Draft: Bryce Petty Scouting Report: NFL Mocks

Could Baylor QB Bryce Petty be an option for the Rams in the middle rounds of the upcoming draft?

NFC West offseason: USA Today

Lorenzo Reyes takes a brief look at how the offseason is shaping up for the 4 teams in the NFC West.

St. Louis Rams: Talking points for silly season: Ramblin' Fan

Who will be cut? What will happen at QB? Are the Rams moving to L.A.? What will the Rams do with the Number 10 pick in the NFL draft?

On This Day In Sports History

1960 - The AFL and NFL agree verbally to a "no tampering" pact.

2002 - In the NFL Pro Bowl, the AFC defeats the NFC 38-30.

Are the Rams all in on Sam Bradford for 2015? And Foles Is Not Available: 101 Sports

Looking at Frank Cignetti's OC history: ESPN NFL Nation

Nick Wagoner examines Frank Cignetti's coaching career and his experience as an OC.

St. Louis Rams admit failure by settling for Frank Cignetti as OC: Bleacher Report

Should the hiring of Frank Cignetti Jr. as the Rams' offensive coordinator be considered a failure in any respect?

Stefen Wisniewski likely asking for mid-level center salary, looks headed for free agency: Silver and Black Pride

I believe the Rams should take a run at him in free agency. $3.5 million per year.

St. Louis Rams Current Roster And Depth Chart

C	Scott Wells	Barrett Jones	Tim Barnes	Demetrius Rhaney
RG	Davin Joseph	Brandon Washington
LG	Rodger Saffold	Travis Bond
RT	Joe Barksdale	Mike Person	Steven Baker
LT	Greg Robinson	Jake Long
TE	Lance Kendricks	Cory Harkey	Justice Cunningham	Brad Smelley
TE	Jared Cook	Alex Bayer	Mason Brodine
WR	Kenny Britt	Brian Quick	Chris Givens	Damian Williams
WR	Tavon Austin	Stedman Bailey	Emory Blake	Devon Wylie
RB	Tre Mason	Chase Reynolds	Trey Watts
RB	Benny Cunningham	Zac Stacy	Isaiah Pead
QB	Sam Bradford	Shaun Hill	Austin Davis
PK	Greg Zuerlein
P	John Hekker	Michael Palardy
LS	Jake McQuaide
DT	Aaron Donald	Kendall Langford	Doug Worthington
DT	Michael Brockers	Alex Carrington
DE	Chris Long	William Hayes
DE	Robert Quinn	Eugene Sims	Ethan Westbrooks
MLB	James Laurinaitis	Daren Bates	Marshall McFadden
OLB	Alec Ogletree	Korey Toomer
OLB	Jo-Lonn Dunbar	Will Herring
CB	Janoris Jenkins	Marcus Roberson	Brandon McGee
CB	Trumaine Johnson	E.J. Gaines	Lamarcus Joyner
SS	T.J. McDonald	Mark Barron	Maurice Alexander
FS	Rodney McLeod	Cody Davis	Christian Bryant

St. Louis Rams Eligible Free Agents

Position	Player	FA Status
C	Tim Barnes	RFA
G	Davin Joseph	UFA
RT	Joe Barksdale	UFA
OL	Brandon Washington	ERFA
OL	Mike Person	UFA
WR	Kenny Britt	UFA
TE	Lance Kendricks	UFA
TE	Cory Harkey	ERFA
RB	Chase Reynolds	ERFA
QB	Shaun Hill	UFA
QB	Austin Davis	RFA
LB	Will Herring	UFA
DT	Alex Carrington	UFA
S	Rodney McLeod	RFA

Blast From The Past: Classic Rock Monday: AC/DC - Highway To Hell

Please have a great Monday and a Ramtastic week!!