:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50780741/usa-today-8994659.0.jpg)
Every week this season, TST will take questions from y'all and answer them to the best of our ability. If you'd like to take part in future Mail Pails, hit us up on our Facebook Page or on our Twitter Account.
@TurfShowTimes Will Jared Goff start before or after the bye week? And can you give an over/under on Tavon's receiving yards, 750 yards
— James Wylie (@Jameswylie88) September 6, 2016
If you take a look at the roundtable the TST staff compiled, the consensus seems to be after the bye. If you're interested... I did the math and the average number of starts predicted on that roundtable is 6.77 games. Rounding up to 7 games, that would put Goff's debut against the Dolphins in Week 11.
In regards to Tavon Austin's receiving yardage, I'm inclined to take the under on 750 yards. Austin is the best WR the Rams have, but that's not saying much. The Rams are focused on getting him the ball more often in 2016, but but I think a lot of those touches will be on jet sweeps and bubble screens.
I think he will approach 1100 total yards from scrimmage, but without a viable QB and reliable weapons to take the heat off Tavon he will struggle to hit 750 receiving yards.
@TurfShowTimes where does Donald normally line up? Does he move around? Thanks.
— Nathan_12thMan (@Nathan_12thMan) September 8, 2016
Donald generally lines up as a '3-technique'. Pro Football Focus has a breakdown of all of the DL techniques (apologies for the outdated references) if you'd like to learn a bit more. Here is what they say about the 3-technique.
Probably the most well known of the defensive techniques, the 3-technique lines up shaded to the guard’s outside shoulder, ready to shoot the B-gap on his side of the formation. Various line shifts and defensive schemes have been developed with the express purpose of getting the 3-technique the most beneficial situation possible, which is why guys like Warren Sapp, John Randle, Keith Millard and now Ndamukong Suh have been able to rack-up sack numbers. The 4-3 Under front, discussed in our article on Hybrid defenses, was designed to isolate the weak side guard 1-on-1 with the 3-technique (or under) tackle. This player’s job is to penetrate the line of scrimmage through his B-gap and disrupt plays in the backfield, whether pass or run. Unlike the first two tackle positions, the 3-technique relies far more on speed and agility than brute strength. Oakland’s Tommy Kelly is arguably the NFL’s prototype for the position. At 6’6 and 300lbs he is quick, nimble and has the kind of burst off the ball that can make it tough for a blocker to recover position.
Put simply, Donald lines up on the outside shoulder of the guard and wreaks as much havoc as humanly possible.
@TurfShowTimes think Westbrooks will line up at DT too?
— Essex Ram (@EssexRam_) September 6, 2016
Westbrooks is actually listed as a DT in his profile on the Rams official website. Given the Depth at DE, I think it's a safe bet that he will get some looks inside. In the past, the Rams have utilized a 'speed group' of DL in obvious passing situations. I'd expect to see Westbrooks in those situations.
@TurfShowTimes how and why did mike Thomas make the team?
— Afraid (@_DwayneBell_) September 8, 2016
The Official TST Twitter Account beat me to this one....
@_DwayneBell_ injuries at WR is the short answer
— TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) September 8, 2016
Hit us up next week!