Per Jim Thomas and Howard Balzer tweets:
The Rams have signed WR Mark Clayton and DT Marlon Favorite.
CB Jerome Murphy has been placed on injured reserve. His season is over.
CB Marquis Johnson goes on PUP. Wait a minute, wasn't he already there? I'll have to wait for the full story on that. I think it makes him eligible to come back after week 6.
Favorite was on the Rams practice squad for about a week early in the Spagnuolo era. I can't say I expect him to make a major run at a main roster position. He just spent the last month in Philadelphia's training camp, so I'm thinking brain dump.
I'm NOT going back and re-editing my ill-fated Road to 53 post from this morning. Again, I think Favorite's just going to be an in-and-out. And actually, at this second, we don't know if they haven't just signed Clayton so they can PUP him and bring him back later in the season. That's probably what they'll have to do. That gives them more wiggle room to figure out where they are with guys like Austin Pettis.
I'll give Tim Atchison the roster spot I had been holding for Murphy, and bump Chase Reynolds up to the PS slot I had Atchison in. I also had Johnson in a PS slot and have no idea who to put there now. I'll say Jeremy McGee.
-$-
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wide receiver: resume the chaos
Jim Thomas has just tweeted that the Rams have re-signed Mark Clayton.
Talk about a last-second curveball. Initial thoughts, since that's all I have time for:
- Danario Alexander is either doomed or they're going to find a way to stash him on IR. How many injured WRs do you want to keep on your active roster, anyway? Clayton recovering, but not chronically injured > DX's recurring knee problem.
- Chances just shot up that the Rams might try to move Austin Pettis to the practice squad.
- Mardy Gilyard and Dominique Curry should have a fierce battle on special teams tomorrow night.
The Rams have to cut a player to bring Clayton back but Thomas hasn't reported that move yet. I doubt it will be a wide receiver; most of the other positions have a player or two that could be cut without interfering with tomorrow night's game plan much.
-$-
Talk about a last-second curveball. Initial thoughts, since that's all I have time for:
- Danario Alexander is either doomed or they're going to find a way to stash him on IR. How many injured WRs do you want to keep on your active roster, anyway? Clayton recovering, but not chronically injured > DX's recurring knee problem.
- Chances just shot up that the Rams might try to move Austin Pettis to the practice squad.
- Mardy Gilyard and Dominique Curry should have a fierce battle on special teams tomorrow night.
The Rams have to cut a player to bring Clayton back but Thomas hasn't reported that move yet. I doubt it will be a wide receiver; most of the other positions have a player or two that could be cut without interfering with tomorrow night's game plan much.
-$-
Quick injury report, 8/31
James Laurinaitis and Al Harris returned to practice yesterday. Laurinaitis will be a game-time decision tomorrow night.
Fred Robbins, Drew Miller and Keith Toston were all limited practice participants.
Michael Ohihurtmyknee isn't even traveling to Jacksonville tomorrow night. That's probably a good idea. He'd probably hurt himself getting off the plane or adjusting his seat or something.
-$-
Fred Robbins, Drew Miller and Keith Toston were all limited practice participants.
Michael Ohihurtmyknee isn't even traveling to Jacksonville tomorrow night. That's probably a good idea. He'd probably hurt himself getting off the plane or adjusting his seat or something.
-$-
The road to 53, 8/31
The road to 53 necessarily takes its route through the road to 80. Now that the Rams have completed their first round of roster cuts, it's time to guess again how their roster may shape up when it's been trimmed down to its final size:
QB (2): no change. Bradford and Feeley to main roster, Lewis to PS (1).
RB (4): no change. Jackson, Cadillac, Norwood and Britt Miller to main roster. Keith Toston picked a hell of a bad time to get injured.
PRACTICE SQUAD: BEN GUIDUGLI (2). Rams need to make this happen. If not for my irrational Guidugli fandom, then because they could stand to stash some depth at FB/TE, especially as well as he's played.
TE (3): Kendricks, Ohihurtmyknee, and Onobun to the main roster. I believe Billy Bajema's a cut now. On one hand, you could keep him as insurance against the perpetually injured Ohihurtmyknee; on the other, Miller could probably step in at blocking TE if needed.
OL (8): no change. Saffold, Bell, Jason Brown, Harvey Dahl, Smith, Goldberg, Foster and Ojinnaka to the main roster. Steve Spagnuolo is pretty insistent about only wanting to keep eight. Hank Fraley better have a monster game in Jacksonville, while Drew Miller's ill-timed injury seems to have done him in.
PS: Ryan McKee (3), Kevin Hughes (4). I don't think Miller is eligible for PS any more. I also bumped Randall Hunt for Hughes, figuring a tackle is more valuable than a guard. Sorry, all you guards out there.
Specialists (3): Donnie Jones, Josh Brown, Jake McQuaide. Dibs on "Jake McQuaide" as the name of the main character if I ever write a noire '50s detective novel.
DL (9): Long, Hall, Quinn, Sims, Selvie at DE; Robbins, Bannan, Muir, Gary Gibson at DT. Gibson's been ahead of Darell Dorell Scott on the depth chart the whole time they've both been on the team. Selvie's winning DE5 51%-49% over C.J. Ah You right now, since I assume he's cheaper, and I've never considered Ah You a good run defender.
PS: Damario Ambrose (5). A mild upset, but he's a prototype Spagnuolo DE.
LB (7): Laurinaitis, Poppinga, Leber, Kehl, Chamberlain, Jabara Williams, Josh Hull. Kehl impressed me last week in Kansas City, plus they like him on special teams. Zach Diles has had a mighty struggle up the depth chart, and right now, Hull is their best backup to Laurinaitis, whose pectoreal injury is worth insuring. Disappointing as it is for me to call it, I think Diles is more of a miss now than a hit.
DB (10): CB: Bartell, Fletcher, Al Harris, Justin King, Jerome Murphy.
S: Mikell, Stewart, Craig Dahl, Jermale Hines, Jonathan Nelson.
My mind still very subject to change on these. DBs picked up roster spots I originally had at TE and DL. I've seen the point, a good one, made frequently that Murphy doesn't need to be IR'ed, that he's due to come back the Rams' bye week. Tim Atchison could still win a job in Jacksonville imo, but he had some bad moments in Kansas City, so I put Justin King back in. Rookie safeties Hines and Nelson replace James Butler. There's really little point having him on the roster blocking players on the way up.
Practice squad: Atchison (6), Marquis Johnson (7). Note: I have little understanding whatsoever of the practice squad eligibility rules; Johnson may not be eligible. Mike Sando had a post regarding PS eligibility last year but I haven't seen this year's version.
And for the big finish:
WR (7): Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Sims-Walker, Salas, Pettis, Avery, Curry.
Danario Alexander is definitely on the outside looking in after a one-catch, three-yard game in Kansas City, and, his knees. Curry, imo, is a better pick to be an impact special teams player than Mardy Gilyard, so I'll continue to leave Gilyard out. It certainly is a close call, though.
PS: Greg Mathews (8).
Obviously tomorrow night's game can make a big difference for several or more players. Sam Bradford will be in flip-flops by the second quarter, but the game will still merit watching.
-$-
QB (2): no change. Bradford and Feeley to main roster, Lewis to PS (1).
RB (4): no change. Jackson, Cadillac, Norwood and Britt Miller to main roster. Keith Toston picked a hell of a bad time to get injured.
PRACTICE SQUAD: BEN GUIDUGLI (2). Rams need to make this happen. If not for my irrational Guidugli fandom, then because they could stand to stash some depth at FB/TE, especially as well as he's played.
TE (3): Kendricks, Ohihurtmyknee, and Onobun to the main roster. I believe Billy Bajema's a cut now. On one hand, you could keep him as insurance against the perpetually injured Ohihurtmyknee; on the other, Miller could probably step in at blocking TE if needed.
OL (8): no change. Saffold, Bell, Jason Brown, Harvey Dahl, Smith, Goldberg, Foster and Ojinnaka to the main roster. Steve Spagnuolo is pretty insistent about only wanting to keep eight. Hank Fraley better have a monster game in Jacksonville, while Drew Miller's ill-timed injury seems to have done him in.
PS: Ryan McKee (3), Kevin Hughes (4). I don't think Miller is eligible for PS any more. I also bumped Randall Hunt for Hughes, figuring a tackle is more valuable than a guard. Sorry, all you guards out there.
Specialists (3): Donnie Jones, Josh Brown, Jake McQuaide. Dibs on "Jake McQuaide" as the name of the main character if I ever write a noire '50s detective novel.
DL (9): Long, Hall, Quinn, Sims, Selvie at DE; Robbins, Bannan, Muir, Gary Gibson at DT. Gibson's been ahead of Darell Dorell Scott on the depth chart the whole time they've both been on the team. Selvie's winning DE5 51%-49% over C.J. Ah You right now, since I assume he's cheaper, and I've never considered Ah You a good run defender.
PS: Damario Ambrose (5). A mild upset, but he's a prototype Spagnuolo DE.
LB (7): Laurinaitis, Poppinga, Leber, Kehl, Chamberlain, Jabara Williams, Josh Hull. Kehl impressed me last week in Kansas City, plus they like him on special teams. Zach Diles has had a mighty struggle up the depth chart, and right now, Hull is their best backup to Laurinaitis, whose pectoreal injury is worth insuring. Disappointing as it is for me to call it, I think Diles is more of a miss now than a hit.
DB (10): CB: Bartell, Fletcher, Al Harris, Justin King, Jerome Murphy.
S: Mikell, Stewart, Craig Dahl, Jermale Hines, Jonathan Nelson.
My mind still very subject to change on these. DBs picked up roster spots I originally had at TE and DL. I've seen the point, a good one, made frequently that Murphy doesn't need to be IR'ed, that he's due to come back the Rams' bye week. Tim Atchison could still win a job in Jacksonville imo, but he had some bad moments in Kansas City, so I put Justin King back in. Rookie safeties Hines and Nelson replace James Butler. There's really little point having him on the roster blocking players on the way up.
Practice squad: Atchison (6), Marquis Johnson (7). Note: I have little understanding whatsoever of the practice squad eligibility rules; Johnson may not be eligible. Mike Sando had a post regarding PS eligibility last year but I haven't seen this year's version.
And for the big finish:
WR (7): Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Sims-Walker, Salas, Pettis, Avery, Curry.
Danario Alexander is definitely on the outside looking in after a one-catch, three-yard game in Kansas City, and, his knees. Curry, imo, is a better pick to be an impact special teams player than Mardy Gilyard, so I'll continue to leave Gilyard out. It certainly is a close call, though.
PS: Greg Mathews (8).
Obviously tomorrow night's game can make a big difference for several or more players. Sam Bradford will be in flip-flops by the second quarter, but the game will still merit watching.
-$-
Andrew Hawkins bouncing back
Andrew Hawkins was one of the first players the Rams cut in training camp this year. You can't even say he got a "cup of coffee" here in St. Louis. It was more like a shot glass. Hawkins showed hands of glue in receiving drills, but when he got a tryout at returning punts at the end of practice, he muffed nearly every single one. The Rams let him go after one day. One practice. Hawkins had been on two championship teams in the CFL, but his NFL dream looked like it was abruptly over. He'd been in NFL minicamps since 2008; he even tried to win a Cowboys training camp invite on the reality show 4th and Long (he was runner-up). He had to be running out of chances.
Luckily for Hawkins, his story didn't end here. He'd tried out in Cincinnati before coming to the Rams, and Marvin Lewis had coached his brother Artrell, so it was only natural for the Bengals to put a claim in on Hawkins when they saw his name hit the waiver wire. As the end of this post on the Bengals' website reports, Hawkins' second act this summer is going a lot better than his first. He's kept working hard, hasn't quit, and he's impressed the Bengals' special teams coach.
I'd like to think Rams fans helped Hawkins along on his journey. A couple hundred of us watched him muff one punt after another back on the 30th of July, and we could feel and see his dream slipping away from him. When he finally caught one, he got a cheer from the fans. Not the jeer he'd probably have gotten in New York or Philadelphia, this was the kind of cheer you'd give your kids or your kid brother to encourage them not to quit. Well, whether it had anything to do with us or not, Hawkins didn't quit.
We'll be glued to the Rams' efforts in Jacksonville tomorrow night, but it'll also be a big night for Hawkins and a thousand players like him around the league. The last chance to impress the coaches and make an NFL roster, possibly the last chance they'll ever get to fulfill that dream.
Tomorrow night in Indianapolis, the Bengals are going to have Andrew Hawkins back to return punts. Go get 'em, kid.
-$-
Luckily for Hawkins, his story didn't end here. He'd tried out in Cincinnati before coming to the Rams, and Marvin Lewis had coached his brother Artrell, so it was only natural for the Bengals to put a claim in on Hawkins when they saw his name hit the waiver wire. As the end of this post on the Bengals' website reports, Hawkins' second act this summer is going a lot better than his first. He's kept working hard, hasn't quit, and he's impressed the Bengals' special teams coach.
I'd like to think Rams fans helped Hawkins along on his journey. A couple hundred of us watched him muff one punt after another back on the 30th of July, and we could feel and see his dream slipping away from him. When he finally caught one, he got a cheer from the fans. Not the jeer he'd probably have gotten in New York or Philadelphia, this was the kind of cheer you'd give your kids or your kid brother to encourage them not to quit. Well, whether it had anything to do with us or not, Hawkins didn't quit.
We'll be glued to the Rams' efforts in Jacksonville tomorrow night, but it'll also be a big night for Hawkins and a thousand players like him around the league. The last chance to impress the coaches and make an NFL roster, possibly the last chance they'll ever get to fulfill that dream.
Tomorrow night in Indianapolis, the Bengals are going to have Andrew Hawkins back to return punts. Go get 'em, kid.
-$-
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Rams waive three
The Rams are down to the 80-man roster limit. All three players released today were waived injured:
DB Mikail Baker
DT Jermelle Cudjo
DB Dionte Dinkins
Baker was the first of the Rams' three seventh-round draft picks this year.
Wow, I went a whole 3 for 9 predicting the first round of cuts. I should be able to top that after Thursday night's game; the Rams have to cut 27 additional players by Saturday.
-$-
DB Mikail Baker
DT Jermelle Cudjo
DB Dionte Dinkins
Baker was the first of the Rams' three seventh-round draft picks this year.
Wow, I went a whole 3 for 9 predicting the first round of cuts. I should be able to top that after Thursday night's game; the Rams have to cut 27 additional players by Saturday.
-$-
Rams report, 8/30
* Injury list as of the end of practice Monday:
- Al Harris is the only new player on the list, due to swelling in his knee. Day-to-day.
Repeaters:
- Mikail Baker, hamstring of DEATH. Was reported at one time as a knee injury, but that was likely a typo. It's been a hamstring injury all training camp.
- Jermelle Cudjo, back
- Dionte Dinkins, high ankle sprain, out 2-4 weeks
- Marquis Johnson, knee/shoulder, on PUP list
- James Laurinaitis, pectoreal. Starting to worry about this one. Day-to-day.
- Drew Miller, ankle
- Jerome Murphy, broken ankle, out for season
- Michael Ohihurtmyknee, calf strain, out at least another week.
- Fred Robbins, back. Really starting to worry about this one.
- Keith Toston, quad
Practiced Monday, coming off the injury list:
Brandon Gibson
Ben Leber
* No word yet on the rest of the Rams' moves today to get down to the 80-man roster limit.
Carolina, though, has cut Chris Massey, just a few days after signing him.
-$-
- Al Harris is the only new player on the list, due to swelling in his knee. Day-to-day.
Repeaters:
- Mikail Baker, hamstring of DEATH. Was reported at one time as a knee injury, but that was likely a typo. It's been a hamstring injury all training camp.
- Jermelle Cudjo, back
- Dionte Dinkins, high ankle sprain, out 2-4 weeks
- Marquis Johnson, knee/shoulder, on PUP list
- James Laurinaitis, pectoreal. Starting to worry about this one. Day-to-day.
- Drew Miller, ankle
- Jerome Murphy, broken ankle, out for season
- Michael Ohihurtmyknee, calf strain, out at least another week.
- Fred Robbins, back. Really starting to worry about this one.
- Keith Toston, quad
Practiced Monday, coming off the injury list:
Brandon Gibson
Ben Leber
* No word yet on the rest of the Rams' moves today to get down to the 80-man roster limit.
Carolina, though, has cut Chris Massey, just a few days after signing him.
-$-
Monday, August 29, 2011
Rams release two more
ESPN reports the Rams have released two more players:
DE Kenneth Charles
S John Dempsey
Both are undrafted rookie free agents.
The Rams have to make three more moves by tomorrow to get to the 80-man limit. Mike Sando blogs that the remaining three moves could all be injured reserve moves, involving Jermelle Cudjo, Jerome Murphy and Dionte Dinkins.
-$-
DE Kenneth Charles
S John Dempsey
Both are undrafted rookie free agents.
The Rams have to make three more moves by tomorrow to get to the 80-man limit. Mike Sando blogs that the remaining three moves could all be injured reserve moves, involving Jermelle Cudjo, Jerome Murphy and Dionte Dinkins.
-$-
Diggs released
The Rams released OLB Na'il Diggs today, as reported by Jim Thomas.
They still have 5 roster moves to make to get down to the 80-man limit tomorrow.
-$-
They still have 5 roster moves to make to get down to the 80-man limit tomorrow.
-$-
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Rams waive three
The Rams' first three cuts to get to the 80-man roster limit just hit the NFL Network crawl:
- WR Jared Jenkins
- TE Schuylar Oordt
- WR Joe West
-$-
- WR Jared Jenkins
- TE Schuylar Oordt
- WR Joe West
-$-
Rams report, 8/28
Schedule: players got Sunday off and return to practice Monday morning. They'll play their final preseason game Thursday night in Jacksonville; local kickoff time is 6:30. Will they suffer from the Governor's Cup Letdown? RamView from Friday's 14-10 win: Link
Steve Spagnuolo does say the starters will still get some work Thursday night. Possibly a quarter.
* The Rams have to reduce their roster count to 80 by Tuesday. Steve Spagnuolo has said some cuts could be announced today. I'll do my best to stay on top of them, but do be warned I have fantasy football drafts the next two nights. The Jamaal Charles or Ray Rice question is more important to me right now than the Tim Atchison or Jeremy McGee question.
* The injury list after Friday night's game:
Day-to-day: Brandon Gibson (toe), James Laurinaitis (chest), Ben Leber (back), Drew Miller (ankle), Keith Toston (thigh). Explains Toston's absence Friday night.
These injuries are all being reported as minor, but seeing Laurinaitis and the pectoreal injury right back on the list for the second time this preseason is unsettling.
Old day-to-day injuries: Mikail Baker (knee); Jermelle Cudjo (back); Fred Robbins (back).
Long-term list:
- Dionte Dinkins, high ankle sprain, 2-4 weeks.
- Michael Ohihurtmyknee, calf strain, at least another week.
- Jerome Murphy, broken ankle, out for season.
- Marquis Johnson, knee/shoulder issues, currently on PUP.
Returned to action Friday night: Danario Alexander, Daniel Muir.
* The Rams are reportedly looking to make a trade with the Eggles for nickel back Joselio Hanson. The idea surprises me in that Hanson's 5'9" and would be the Rams' shortest defensive back. Actually, he'd be the shortest man on the roster, not that team rosters don't exaggerate players' height and weight. Scouts Inc. rates Hanson right on the line between average starter and good backup. Strong and athletic, but short. Has enough speed and agility to play well as an extra defender in the slot, but lacks the burst or coverage skills to defend on an island. Also a good special teams player.
The Eggles definitely have a surplus at corner, so trading Hanson makes sense for them. I would hate to deal any draft pick for a 5'9" corner, but the Rams could deal player-for-player to relieve one of their positional logjams. So maybe Donnie Avery or Na'il Diggs has a flight east in their future.
It's odd that these two teams are talking trade when they play against each other in two weeks, isn't it?
* The Rams should go ahead and lose to the Jagwires Thursday night. Invent the 1-2-8 defense, have Adam Goldberg kick FGs, sign Jeff George, bring back Scott Linehan on a one-game head coaching contract, do whatever it takes. But lose. According to the Post-Dispatch, the last five NFL teams that had undefeated preseasons went on to have a combined regular season record of 27-53. That includes the 2008 Lions. The 0-16 2008 Lions. So let's just lose.
Looking on the bright side, if you throw out the Lions (and who wouldn't?) a 4-0 preseason would appear to "guarantee" the Rams at least a 7-9 record. Could be enough to win the division...
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Ex-Rams update
I've slacked off this summer keeping up-to-date on how former Rams players are faring with other teams around the league. So now for one mega-ex-Rams update (from the ESPN.com transactions wire):
Yesterday
WR Ruvell Martin joined the Bills. <bitter> One less devastating deep threat to worry about when the Rams play Seattle.</still bitter>
August 22
OLB David Vobora signed with Seattle.
August 21
Still kicking around the league - OT Mark LeVoir signed by Baltimore, a couple of days after being cut by New England.
August 19
The Saints apparently have an ex-Rams quota. They signed CB Quincy Butler to replace Alex Barron, who went on injured reserve. Something's wrong with the meniscus in his left knee. Never read anywhere that it was torn, but he's IR'ed anyway. And so for the first season of his pro career, Alex Barron will complete a year without a false start.
August 17
Steelers signed CB Kevin Dockery.
August 16
WR Brooks Foster cut by the Dolphins.
August 15
Cleveland claimed DB Brett Johnson, who had been cut by Seattle. He had a cup of coffee here in training camp last year. Louis Leonard (knee) was waived injured by the Broncos. Another former Rams training camper.
August 10
K Todd Carter, briefly here this summer as a camp leg, signed with Kansas City. Will he exact revenge on the Rams tomorrow night?????
August 8
Carolina claimed G Bryant Browning, a rookie free agent cut by the Rams.
August 6
He's still in the league? C Donovan Raiola signed with the Redskins.
August 4
P Reggie Hodges done for the season in Cleveland - torn Achilles tendon.
Bobby Carpenter signed by the Lions.
Huh, thought there'd be more - I think that catches me up. If I get an opportunity this weekend, I'll do a scan of current rosters around the league for a full ex-Rams rundown.
-$-
Yesterday
WR Ruvell Martin joined the Bills. <bitter> One less devastating deep threat to worry about when the Rams play Seattle.</still bitter>
August 22
OLB David Vobora signed with Seattle.
August 21
Still kicking around the league - OT Mark LeVoir signed by Baltimore, a couple of days after being cut by New England.
August 19
The Saints apparently have an ex-Rams quota. They signed CB Quincy Butler to replace Alex Barron, who went on injured reserve. Something's wrong with the meniscus in his left knee. Never read anywhere that it was torn, but he's IR'ed anyway. And so for the first season of his pro career, Alex Barron will complete a year without a false start.
August 17
Steelers signed CB Kevin Dockery.
August 16
WR Brooks Foster cut by the Dolphins.
August 15
Cleveland claimed DB Brett Johnson, who had been cut by Seattle. He had a cup of coffee here in training camp last year. Louis Leonard (knee) was waived injured by the Broncos. Another former Rams training camper.
August 10
K Todd Carter, briefly here this summer as a camp leg, signed with Kansas City. Will he exact revenge on the Rams tomorrow night?????
August 8
Carolina claimed G Bryant Browning, a rookie free agent cut by the Rams.
August 6
He's still in the league? C Donovan Raiola signed with the Redskins.
August 4
P Reggie Hodges done for the season in Cleveland - torn Achilles tendon.
Bobby Carpenter signed by the Lions.
Huh, thought there'd be more - I think that catches me up. If I get an opportunity this weekend, I'll do a scan of current rosters around the league for a full ex-Rams rundown.
-$-
Injury report, 8/25
Looks like a very brief injury report for tomorrow night's Governor's Cup clash.
The following have been ruled out:
- Mikail Baker (knee)
- Jermelle Cudjo (back)
- Michael Ohihurtmyknee (calf)
- Fred Robbins (back)
Limited in practice yesterday and may play:
- Daniel Muir (ankle)
- Danario Alexander (guess)
No update, assumed return to practice:
Dionte Dinkins
I'm starting to wonder if it's time to get worried about Robbins' injury. But it will be interesting to see who starts alongside Justin Bannan. I'd rotate Gary Gibson and Darell Dorell Scott each series and just see who can go. Winner gets the roster spot.
More news when I hear it.
-$-
The following have been ruled out:
- Mikail Baker (knee)
- Jermelle Cudjo (back)
- Michael Ohihurtmyknee (calf)
- Fred Robbins (back)
Limited in practice yesterday and may play:
- Daniel Muir (ankle)
- Danario Alexander (guess)
No update, assumed return to practice:
Dionte Dinkins
I'm starting to wonder if it's time to get worried about Robbins' injury. But it will be interesting to see who starts alongside Justin Bannan. I'd rotate Gary Gibson and Darell Dorell Scott each series and just see who can go. Winner gets the roster spot.
More news when I hear it.
-$-
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The road to 53, 8/24
There are others, OK, many, better at it than me, but with the first round of roster cuts looming after Friday night's game, it's time to take a shot at what the Rams' 53-man roster will look like for the regular season. A position-by-position breakdown:
QB (keeping 2): Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley.
Practice squad: Thaddeus Lewis. Unless there's a team out there that would have Lewis pegged as a starter, he should clear waivers and land on the Rams PS again this year. I give him about a 30% chance of beating out Feeley for QB2.
RB (keeping 4): Steven Jackson, Cadillac Williams, Jerious Norwood, Brit Miller. Miller's in the keep zone because they've used him plenty this preseason and because Michael OhIhurtmyknee refuses to stay healthy.
QB (keeping 2): Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley.
Practice squad: Thaddeus Lewis. Unless there's a team out there that would have Lewis pegged as a starter, he should clear waivers and land on the Rams PS again this year. I give him about a 30% chance of beating out Feeley for QB2.
RB (keeping 4): Steven Jackson, Cadillac Williams, Jerious Norwood, Brit Miller. Miller's in the keep zone because they've used him plenty this preseason and because Michael OhIhurtmyknee refuses to stay healthy.
TE (keeping 4): Lance Kendricks, Billy Bajema, Fendi Onobun, Michael OhIhurtmyknee. I don't mind cutting Illinois Mike. A player in the NFL has to stay healthy someday. But they should be able to float him while his latest injury (a calf injury, actually) clears. Bajema is blocking TE and special teams insurance, but is definitely in a vulnerable position. Onobun's game against the Titans makes me think he's fairly solid for now.
Practice squad: Schuylar Oordt. Too athletically gifted to let him slide.
OL (keeping 8): Rodger Saffold, Jacob Bell, Jason Brown, Harvey Dahl, Jason Smith, Adam Goldberg, Renardo Foster, Quinn Ojinnaka. Notable cut: Hank Fraley. There's a reason Ojinnaka is getting reps at center. Fraley looked awful at guard against Tennessee, and there isn't room for him just to play center. Don't completely rule Drew Miller out for Ojinnaka's spot.
Practice squad: Randall Hunt, Ryan McKee.
Special teams (keeping 3): Donnie Jones, Josh Brown, Jake McQuaide. I was keeping Chris Massey, but that's me.
Secondary (keeping 8): CB - Ron Bartell, Bradley Fletcher, Al Harris, Tim Atchison. S - Quintin Mikell, Darian Stewart, Craig Dahl, James Butler. Notable cut: Justin King.
Practice squad: Jermale Hines and Jonathan Nelson.
IR/PUP: Marquis Johnson, Jerome Murphy, Mikail Baker.
Atchison's my underdog to make the roster. Cheaper than King and probably doesn't miss as many tackles. Given this unit's injury history, keeping only 8 could be risky, but I'm guessing they'll go with a 7th LB instead of a 9th DB. Hines, Nelson and Dionte Dinkins have all looked good enough at times to make the roster. But since Butler re-structured his contract, I don't think there's any more cap room to squeeze out of him, so he makes it. Craig Dahl's a dark horse for a surprise cut, but he's like Spagnuolo's lovechild, so I can't quite see it.
Linebacker (keeping 7): James Laurinaitis, Brady Poppinga, Ben Leber, Zac Diles, Chris Chamberlain, Jabara Williams, Brian Kehl. Notable cut: Na'il Diggs.
Practice squad: Josh Hull.
I was only going to keep 6, and I'm not a big Kehl fan, but depth at the position is really questionable after the first 3. I'm picturing Diles as the backup to all three positions, but there's just as good a chance he'll be the one cut. He has not been very quick up the depth chart.
Defensive line (keeping 10): DE - Chris Long, James Hall, Robert Quinn, C.J. Ah You, Eugene Sims, George Selvie. DT - Fred Robbins, Justin Bannan, Daniel Muir, Gary Gibson.
With the injuries right now at DT, we should get a real good look at the DT4 battle between Gibson and Darell Dorell Scott in Kansas City Friday night. Scott's still got a good chance to hang, perhaps even over one of the last three DEs. Those three haven't separated any more than the wide receivers have.
Speaking of which:
Wide receiver (keeping 7): Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Mike Sims-Walker, Greg Salas, Austin Pettis, Donnie Avery, Danario Alexander. Whatever the Rams do with Pettis figures to be controversial. He's likely to spend a lot of weeks as a game-day inactive as I see it. But no way does a third-round pick clear waivers to the practice squad. You either keep him or throw away the pick.
Practice squad: Dominique Curry.
The notable cut, of course, is Mardy Gilyard, which sounds like out-of-the-box thinking. But Gilyard hasn't exactly been Jim Marshall in his time here. When Donnie Avery's made it to a regular season, he's been healthy. And this isn't exactly a receiving corps rich in deep speed. Even with Joe Namath's knees, Alexander gives the Rams their best combination of deep target and size. Gilyard's the one of the three who can play special teams, but other guys can do his job. Amendola can return punts. Jerious Norwood can return kicks.
It would be ludicrous to keep eight WRs. Heck, I don't think even the Greatest Show on Earth ever kept more than six. Gilyard is the unfortunate WR8 at the moment. The main thing that would change that for me (if Alexander continues to avoid IR) is if Sims-Walker emerges as a deep threat, which he hasn't at all yet. That would make Alexander expendable and would enhance the value Gilyard presents on special teams.
Obviously, a lot will change between now and final cutdown day, not the least of which will be my mind. Stay tuned.
-$-
Practice squad: Schuylar Oordt. Too athletically gifted to let him slide.
OL (keeping 8): Rodger Saffold, Jacob Bell, Jason Brown, Harvey Dahl, Jason Smith, Adam Goldberg, Renardo Foster, Quinn Ojinnaka. Notable cut: Hank Fraley. There's a reason Ojinnaka is getting reps at center. Fraley looked awful at guard against Tennessee, and there isn't room for him just to play center. Don't completely rule Drew Miller out for Ojinnaka's spot.
Practice squad: Randall Hunt, Ryan McKee.
Special teams (keeping 3): Donnie Jones, Josh Brown, Jake McQuaide. I was keeping Chris Massey, but that's me.
Secondary (keeping 8): CB - Ron Bartell, Bradley Fletcher, Al Harris, Tim Atchison. S - Quintin Mikell, Darian Stewart, Craig Dahl, James Butler. Notable cut: Justin King.
Practice squad: Jermale Hines and Jonathan Nelson.
IR/PUP: Marquis Johnson, Jerome Murphy, Mikail Baker.
Atchison's my underdog to make the roster. Cheaper than King and probably doesn't miss as many tackles. Given this unit's injury history, keeping only 8 could be risky, but I'm guessing they'll go with a 7th LB instead of a 9th DB. Hines, Nelson and Dionte Dinkins have all looked good enough at times to make the roster. But since Butler re-structured his contract, I don't think there's any more cap room to squeeze out of him, so he makes it. Craig Dahl's a dark horse for a surprise cut, but he's like Spagnuolo's lovechild, so I can't quite see it.
Linebacker (keeping 7): James Laurinaitis, Brady Poppinga, Ben Leber, Zac Diles, Chris Chamberlain, Jabara Williams, Brian Kehl. Notable cut: Na'il Diggs.
Practice squad: Josh Hull.
I was only going to keep 6, and I'm not a big Kehl fan, but depth at the position is really questionable after the first 3. I'm picturing Diles as the backup to all three positions, but there's just as good a chance he'll be the one cut. He has not been very quick up the depth chart.
Defensive line (keeping 10): DE - Chris Long, James Hall, Robert Quinn, C.J. Ah You, Eugene Sims, George Selvie. DT - Fred Robbins, Justin Bannan, Daniel Muir, Gary Gibson.
With the injuries right now at DT, we should get a real good look at the DT4 battle between Gibson and Darell Dorell Scott in Kansas City Friday night. Scott's still got a good chance to hang, perhaps even over one of the last three DEs. Those three haven't separated any more than the wide receivers have.
Speaking of which:
Wide receiver (keeping 7): Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Mike Sims-Walker, Greg Salas, Austin Pettis, Donnie Avery, Danario Alexander. Whatever the Rams do with Pettis figures to be controversial. He's likely to spend a lot of weeks as a game-day inactive as I see it. But no way does a third-round pick clear waivers to the practice squad. You either keep him or throw away the pick.
Practice squad: Dominique Curry.
The notable cut, of course, is Mardy Gilyard, which sounds like out-of-the-box thinking. But Gilyard hasn't exactly been Jim Marshall in his time here. When Donnie Avery's made it to a regular season, he's been healthy. And this isn't exactly a receiving corps rich in deep speed. Even with Joe Namath's knees, Alexander gives the Rams their best combination of deep target and size. Gilyard's the one of the three who can play special teams, but other guys can do his job. Amendola can return punts. Jerious Norwood can return kicks.
It would be ludicrous to keep eight WRs. Heck, I don't think even the Greatest Show on Earth ever kept more than six. Gilyard is the unfortunate WR8 at the moment. The main thing that would change that for me (if Alexander continues to avoid IR) is if Sims-Walker emerges as a deep threat, which he hasn't at all yet. That would make Alexander expendable and would enhance the value Gilyard presents on special teams.
Obviously, a lot will change between now and final cutdown day, not the least of which will be my mind. Stay tuned.
-$-
Rams report, 8/24
It'll be a wrap for training camp after today's final practice, which is in a couple of hours.
* Injury news: good news for Danario Alexander. His diagnosis was fluid buildup on the knee, and he returned to practice yesterday. Draining the knee again would have kept him out a couple of critical weeks. After practice, Alexander said his knee felt "pretty good".
Also returning to practice yesterday: Mardy Gilyard.
Assumed returns: Jacob Bell, Na'il Diggs, Randall Hunt, Fendi Onobun. There's been no update on these players for several days.
Sitting out: Mikail Baker, reportedly with a knee problem now; Jermelle Cudjo, back; Dionte Dinkins, knee; Daniel Muir, ankle; Fred Robbins, back.
Oh, and since the day today ends in "y", that must mean Michael Hoomanawanui is injured. He came down with a calf strain that Steve Spagnuolo says will keep him out "a couple" of weeks. I have seen "several weeks" in other reports. Sigh, the man is making Eric Crouch look like Brett Favre.
Transactions: Seattle signed former Ram LB David Vobora. I'll do a full post on the many ex-Rams floating around the league before too long.
Bill Coates reports that Darian Stewart is getting reps with the first string.
More whenever I hear it.
-$-
* Injury news: good news for Danario Alexander. His diagnosis was fluid buildup on the knee, and he returned to practice yesterday. Draining the knee again would have kept him out a couple of critical weeks. After practice, Alexander said his knee felt "pretty good".
Also returning to practice yesterday: Mardy Gilyard.
Assumed returns: Jacob Bell, Na'il Diggs, Randall Hunt, Fendi Onobun. There's been no update on these players for several days.
Sitting out: Mikail Baker, reportedly with a knee problem now; Jermelle Cudjo, back; Dionte Dinkins, knee; Daniel Muir, ankle; Fred Robbins, back.
Oh, and since the day today ends in "y", that must mean Michael Hoomanawanui is injured. He came down with a calf strain that Steve Spagnuolo says will keep him out "a couple" of weeks. I have seen "several weeks" in other reports. Sigh, the man is making Eric Crouch look like Brett Favre.
Transactions: Seattle signed former Ram LB David Vobora. I'll do a full post on the many ex-Rams floating around the league before too long.
Bill Coates reports that Darian Stewart is getting reps with the first string.
More whenever I hear it.
-$-
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Rams report, 8/23
* Schedule: open practice at 1:00 today, 12:30 tomorrow, after which the Rams "break camp." Kickoff for preseason game #3 is 7:00 Friday night in Kansas City.
* Injuries: May be time for the Rams to consider cutting ties with a couple of guys who are apparently never going to be reliably healthy. One is WR Danario Alexander, whose knee "felt funny" enough yesterday for the team to send him off for an MRI. God knows everyone around here wants Alexander to succeed. I just doubt the Rams can wait any more on his knees. The other is TE Michael Hoomanawanui. The risk in drafting him last year was his injury history, and that risk is not going to pay off. He missed half of last season, missed most of camp so far with a concussion, and pulled up yesterday with some kind of calf injury that Steve Spagnuolo sounded concerned about. Michael is a talent but an unmistakable injury liability. You can't make big plans around a guy who can't answer the bell half the time.
Other new injuries: Mardy Gilyard (thigh), Daniel Muir (ankle). These are minor injuries, but dammit, Gilyard is another guy the team cannot afford to have injured all the time.
Long list of injuries local media has not seen fit to update:
Mikail Baker, hamstring of death; Jacob Bell, knee (that's a pretty big one - somebody might want to get on that); Jermelle Cudjo, back; Na'il Diggs, bruised knee (Brady Poppinga has taken over as starting SLB - performance- or injury-related? Anyone? Bueller?); Dionte Dinkins, hyperextended knee; Randall Hunt, knee; Fendi Onobun, finger (probably playing); Fred Robbins, back (probably limited, same with Bell).
Returned to practice: Chris Long, Rodger Saffold.
* Transactions: The Rams cut Chris Massey yesterday. I can't link to my post on that because my laptop sucks. It's right below this post. I mentioned Poppinga has moved into the first unit at SLB; in addition, Ben Leber has moved into the starting defense at WLB.
I'll clear up some of the injury nonsense if I can find any further info.
-$-
* Injuries: May be time for the Rams to consider cutting ties with a couple of guys who are apparently never going to be reliably healthy. One is WR Danario Alexander, whose knee "felt funny" enough yesterday for the team to send him off for an MRI. God knows everyone around here wants Alexander to succeed. I just doubt the Rams can wait any more on his knees. The other is TE Michael Hoomanawanui. The risk in drafting him last year was his injury history, and that risk is not going to pay off. He missed half of last season, missed most of camp so far with a concussion, and pulled up yesterday with some kind of calf injury that Steve Spagnuolo sounded concerned about. Michael is a talent but an unmistakable injury liability. You can't make big plans around a guy who can't answer the bell half the time.
Other new injuries: Mardy Gilyard (thigh), Daniel Muir (ankle). These are minor injuries, but dammit, Gilyard is another guy the team cannot afford to have injured all the time.
Long list of injuries local media has not seen fit to update:
Mikail Baker, hamstring of death; Jacob Bell, knee (that's a pretty big one - somebody might want to get on that); Jermelle Cudjo, back; Na'il Diggs, bruised knee (Brady Poppinga has taken over as starting SLB - performance- or injury-related? Anyone? Bueller?); Dionte Dinkins, hyperextended knee; Randall Hunt, knee; Fendi Onobun, finger (probably playing); Fred Robbins, back (probably limited, same with Bell).
Returned to practice: Chris Long, Rodger Saffold.
* Transactions: The Rams cut Chris Massey yesterday. I can't link to my post on that because my laptop sucks. It's right below this post. I mentioned Poppinga has moved into the first unit at SLB; in addition, Ben Leber has moved into the starting defense at WLB.
I'll clear up some of the injury nonsense if I can find any further info.
-$-
Rams cut Chris Massey
So, you're Chris Massey, you've been the Rams' long snapper for nine years, and you've done a heck of a job at it, maybe a handful of bad snaps, out of hundreds of opportunities, the whole time you've played. This morning, you've got to be wondering why the blue hell the Rams cut you.
I know I am. Chemistry in sports, period, is a fickle thing. Then you've got NFL kickers, who are fickle creatures anyway. When you get the harmony the Rams have had, for years, between punter and long snapper, between long snapper, holder and placekicker, you don't mess with it. You see a good thing and you leave it alone. However, the Rams have decided to take really their first questionable step this offseason and turn the job over to rookie Jake McQuaide. At risk is the timing and rhythm of the most important part of special teams. I don't know why you would mess with that. Brown, Jones and Massey had become a well-oiled machine.
Actually, there's only one reason you would do it. It's actually very legitimate. And Nick Wagoner is full of baloney to be saying on the Rams website that this was a "football" decision vs. an economic decision. What, Massey's suddenly Rick Ankieling his snaps all over the place? No. He costs twice as much as McQuaide, and the Rams are hard up against the salary cap. (Tip of the cap to playmaker at RealRamsFans for spotting that originally.)
It's not like Massey's hitting the bricks because he only plays one position; long snapping's all McQuaide is here to do. It's not like Massey isn't good on special teams besides his long snapping duties. Chris Massey has been nothing but a sure thing here for nine years. This is the riskiest and therefore dumbest move the Rams have made this offseason. Sure, Josh Brown and Donnie Jones are veterans. Sure, they're going to have weeks to get their timing down with McQuaide. But you don't give kickers things to think about. Kickers who have to start thinking become kickers who start screwing up.
The silver lining here: a long snapper's never going to be NFL or Super Bowl MVP. Massey replaced Jeff Robinson, himself a hell of a good long snapper and special teams player, in '02, without incident. McQuaide must be able to do the job, or they wouldn't even be thinking of dumping a guy whose play has been near-perfect for a decade.
So I "get" the move. Doesn't mean I have to like it. When you've got a good thing going in your kicking game, you do not mess with it. It's like the Rams just walked under a ladder and threw a rock at a mirror.
Hopefully, I'm just superstitious.
-$-
I know I am. Chemistry in sports, period, is a fickle thing. Then you've got NFL kickers, who are fickle creatures anyway. When you get the harmony the Rams have had, for years, between punter and long snapper, between long snapper, holder and placekicker, you don't mess with it. You see a good thing and you leave it alone. However, the Rams have decided to take really their first questionable step this offseason and turn the job over to rookie Jake McQuaide. At risk is the timing and rhythm of the most important part of special teams. I don't know why you would mess with that. Brown, Jones and Massey had become a well-oiled machine.
Actually, there's only one reason you would do it. It's actually very legitimate. And Nick Wagoner is full of baloney to be saying on the Rams website that this was a "football" decision vs. an economic decision. What, Massey's suddenly Rick Ankieling his snaps all over the place? No. He costs twice as much as McQuaide, and the Rams are hard up against the salary cap. (Tip of the cap to playmaker at RealRamsFans for spotting that originally.)
It's not like Massey's hitting the bricks because he only plays one position; long snapping's all McQuaide is here to do. It's not like Massey isn't good on special teams besides his long snapping duties. Chris Massey has been nothing but a sure thing here for nine years. This is the riskiest and therefore dumbest move the Rams have made this offseason. Sure, Josh Brown and Donnie Jones are veterans. Sure, they're going to have weeks to get their timing down with McQuaide. But you don't give kickers things to think about. Kickers who have to start thinking become kickers who start screwing up.
The silver lining here: a long snapper's never going to be NFL or Super Bowl MVP. Massey replaced Jeff Robinson, himself a hell of a good long snapper and special teams player, in '02, without incident. McQuaide must be able to do the job, or they wouldn't even be thinking of dumping a guy whose play has been near-perfect for a decade.
So I "get" the move. Doesn't mean I have to like it. When you've got a good thing going in your kicking game, you do not mess with it. It's like the Rams just walked under a ladder and threw a rock at a mirror.
Hopefully, I'm just superstitious.
-$-
Monday, August 22, 2011
Rams report, 8/22
Training camp schedule: Practice open to the public at:
2:15 today
1:00 Tuesday
12:3o Wednesday.
Wednesday is the final day of training camp.
Updated injury report from this weekend:
- Jacob Bell, knee
- Jermelle Cudjo, back
- Na'il Diggs, bruised knee
- Dionte Dinkins, hyperextended knee
- Randall Hunt, knee
- Chris Long, toe
- Fendi Onobun, dislocated finger
- Fred Robbins, bruised back
- Rodger Saffold, sore back
Bell, Robbins and Saffold will likely be limited in practice during the week. I assume Cudjo is still sidelined. Dinkins' status is not clear. The rest should be available for practice.
Mikail Baker (hamstring) still down as far as I know, along with Marquis Johnson and Jerome Murphy.
Next Tuesday is the first cutdown day around the league, but rosters will be cut to 80, not 75. The NFL changed the limit over the weekend.
Updates when I hear them.
-$-
2:15 today
1:00 Tuesday
12:3o Wednesday.
Wednesday is the final day of training camp.
Updated injury report from this weekend:
- Jacob Bell, knee
- Jermelle Cudjo, back
- Na'il Diggs, bruised knee
- Dionte Dinkins, hyperextended knee
- Randall Hunt, knee
- Chris Long, toe
- Fendi Onobun, dislocated finger
- Fred Robbins, bruised back
- Rodger Saffold, sore back
Bell, Robbins and Saffold will likely be limited in practice during the week. I assume Cudjo is still sidelined. Dinkins' status is not clear. The rest should be available for practice.
Mikail Baker (hamstring) still down as far as I know, along with Marquis Johnson and Jerome Murphy.
Next Tuesday is the first cutdown day around the league, but rosters will be cut to 80, not 75. The NFL changed the limit over the weekend.
Updates when I hear them.
-$-
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Titanic struggle
The Rams won ugly, as they say, last night over the Titans, 17-16. RamView recap of the game is up now. Link
Highlights:
* Bradford starts game with 83-yard TD bomb to Gibson.
* Josh Brown ends game with 42-yard winning FG.
Lowlights:
* Everything in between. The Rams showed glaring problems in run defense and pass protection they'd better clean up quickly. They also didn't run the ball worth a damn.
Injuries:
* Rodger Saffold came out earlier than scheduled due to an ongoing back injury. He played like a man with a hurt back, I'll say that.
* Randall Hunt hurt an ankle but returned to the game quickly.
* Fendi Onobun dislocated a finger.
* Chris Long has a turf toe type injury that isn't thought to be any more serious than his run defense was last night.
* Sitting out: Jacob Bell (knee), Jermelle Cudjo (back), Mikail Baker (hamstring of death), Marquis Johnson (knee), Jerome Murphy (ankle).
Transactions:
* Another new rookie free agent: U. of Washington tackle Cody Habben joins the roster to take the spot Roy Watts vacated. He was previously in camp with the Raiders.
That should bring the Rams roster count to 89. The website lists 86, but it leaves off Habben, Ben Giudugli and Jeremy McGee, and still lists Eddie Wide instead of Chase Reynolds.
All I know for now.
-$-
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Rookie free agent profile: Damario Ambrose, DE, Arkansas
Demario Ambrose 6'5” 270
DE, Arkansas
NFLDraftScout lists Ambrose as 6'3”, 260.
Rankings: NFLDraftScout's 39th-ranked defensive end, #490 player overall. Free agent grade. Not ranked by Pro Football Weekly, which listed 58 defensive ends.
Biography/honors:
2010: Started all 12 games. 31 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries, 6.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and one pass break-up.
2009: Played in all 13 games, starting five. 13 tackles.
2008: Played in 11 games, starting three. 29 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 quarterback hurries, 3 tackles for loss and 2 passes broken up.
2007: SEC first team All-Freshman. Played in 11 games. 13 tackles, a sack, 3 quarterback hurries and 2 tackles for loss.
Major: Business education. Multiple honor roll citations in 2007 and 2008.
Injuries:
2010: Missed time in November due to unspecified injury.
2008: Minor knee injury; missed at least one game.
Pro Day Stats: (not invited to NFL Combine)
4.76 40 – would have been a top 10 time at the Combine for defensive linemen
1.68 10-yard split – near top 10
4.32 short shuttle
7.39 3-cone drill – average (7.36)
33.5” vertical jump – top 10
9'7” broad jump – near top 10
17 bench presses - poor
Positives: Good size, has long arms. Good first step, overall speed and lateral quickness. Did some pass rushing from the interior as part of a 5-man front. Would also drop back into linebacker position out of 5-man front. His defensive line coach at Arkansas coached Leonard Little at Tennessee. Knows the defense and is like a coach on the field.
Negatives: Struggles to hold his ground. Not overly explosive or strong. Has trouble getting off blocks. Was arrested for failing to appear in court on a speeding charge.
Compares to: C.J. Ah You.
Fun Facts: Doesn't Arkansas have a team nutritionist? Ambrose needed to put on weight before his junior season, so he ate more... Big Macs. He got up to 280, but his conditioning suffered, so he gave them up before his senior season. Ambrose was a pitcher on his high school baseball team in Mobile. Please give the Cardinals a call if things don't work out with the Rams.
RamView: A starting defensive end in college's strongest conference, coached by Leonard Little's line coach, rushes from the inside, drops back into coverage? No wonder the Rams and Steve Spagnuolo had their eye on Ambrose. Schemewise, he's as good a fit as they could find in the college ranks. Wouldn't be a surprise at all to see a coach that covets as many pass rushers as he can get push to have a player like Ambrose on the practice squad. If Ambrose can use his limited opportunities to flash productive play he didn't show in college, maybe he even aspires higher.
Sources: Pro Football Weekly 2011 Draft Guide, NFLDraftScout.com, University of Arkansas Athletics, Mobile (AL) Press-Register, Fort Smith (AR) Times-Record, SBNation, BlogHawgs.com, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, KTAL-TV (Shreveport/Texarkana), DraftBulletin.com
Photo: ESPN
Rookie free agent profile: Kevin Hughes, T, Southeastern Louisiana
Kevin Hughes 6'4” 302
T, Southeastern Louisiana
Rankings: Ranked 24th at offensive tackle by Pro Football Weekly. Priority free agent – should make an NFL training camp. Ranked 26th by NFLDraftScout, 309th overall. Seventh round/free agent grade.
Biography/honors:
2010: Second team all-Southland Conference. Started all 11 games at left tackle, with 47 knockdowns. Allowed two sacks in 434 passing plays. Graded at 80% or better in 9 games. Started in 35 consecutive games. First player from the school invited to the NFL Combine since it re-started its football program in 2003.
2009: Honorable mention all-Southland Conference. Started all 11 games at left tackle.
2008: Honorable mention all-Southland Conference. Started all 12 games at right tackle.
2007: Played in 10 games. Started twice at right tackle.
2006: Redshirted.
Major: General studies.
Injuries:
None reported.
NFL Combine Stats:
5.36 40
4.97 short shuttle (bottom 10)
8.29 3-cone drill (third worst)
29.5 vertical jump
7”11” broad jump (bottom 10)
22 bench presses (bottom 10)
2011 Combine averages for offensive linemen:
5.34 40, 4.74 short shuttle, 7.78 3-cone, 28” vertical, 26-27 bench presses
Positives: Very durable, solid worker with some upside. Athletic with a growing frame. Moves fairly well and can block in space. Strong enough to stop defensive ends in their tracks with his punch and leverage. Good hands and hand placement. Impressive run blocker who can wall off defenders. A real mauler; defenders are done once he gets his hands on them. Could be a strong pass blocker with some technique work. Pass protects with good effort and uses his size to carry rushers around the pocket.
Negatives: Lacking in bulk and strength and can get tossed around. Must refine technique. Plays too tall. Stops his feet. Plays back on his heels and crosses his feet to catch up with wide rushers. Poor lateral range, quickness and recovery speed. Weak punch. May be overwhelmed by speed of NFL. Does not understand how to position himself or how to get leverage. Not an aware blocker, will let late rushers into backfield. Played against poor competition. Outbenched at the Combine by several of the small RBs. May have to play inside at the next level.
Compares to: Ryan Lilja.
Fun Facts: Hughes' high school alma mater, Karr High in New Orleans, has also produced NFL players Patrick Surtain and Robert Royal. He had to finish his high school career in Amite, La., 75 miles away, due to Hurricane Katrina.
RamView: Instead of the Cactus Bowl, all of the Rams' scouts seem to have gone to the NFLPA All-Star Game (formerly Texas vs. The Nation Game) this year; Hughes is at least the third UDFA they have signed who played in that game. His size and athleticism got him here; how well he takes coaching in camp will determine how long he stays. Early returns have been positive.
Sources: Pro Football Weekly 2011 Draft Guide, NFLDraftScout.com, Southeastern Louisiana Athletics, CBS Sports, Great Blue North Draft Report, RookieDraft.com, ESPN
Photo: JRO Sports Advisors
Friday, August 19, 2011
Rams report, 8/19
* Rams on TV. The Rams host the Tennessee Titans tomorrow night for game 2 of the 2011 preseason. Kickoff is at 7:00. The game will be televised live locally on KTVI-2. There are no practice sessions open to the public today.
* Injuries:
- Returning: Steven Jackson practiced Thursday. Mike Sims-Walker practiced but continues to be limited. No news on Jerious Norwood, which I'm going to guess is good news at this point and assume he's practicing.
- Still out: Mikail Baker (knee), Jermelle Cudjo (back).
- New/old injury: Jacob Bell returned to the sideline yesterday due to the knee injury that had bothered him earlier in the week. This was considered precautionary and he's expected to start Saturday.
Nothing else shaking, but if something does, I'll put it up here.
-$-
* Injuries:
- Returning: Steven Jackson practiced Thursday. Mike Sims-Walker practiced but continues to be limited. No news on Jerious Norwood, which I'm going to guess is good news at this point and assume he's practicing.
- Still out: Mikail Baker (knee), Jermelle Cudjo (back).
- New/old injury: Jacob Bell returned to the sideline yesterday due to the knee injury that had bothered him earlier in the week. This was considered precautionary and he's expected to start Saturday.
Nothing else shaking, but if something does, I'll put it up here.
-$-
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Rams report, 8/18
* Upcoming schedule:
Open practice today at 1:15. Practices tomorrow are closed to the public. Preseason game #2 against Tennessee Saturday night at 7:00.
* Injuries.
- Returning: Great news yesterday that Donnie Avery has returned to practice. He's even expected to play Saturday night. That should be a big moment for him. Mike Sims-Walker was a surprise partial participant yesterday. He's been upgraded to day-to-day status and might play Saturday. Rodger Saffold and Jacob Bell have also returned to practice, as has Fendi Onobun. Camp reports have also confirmed Jermale Hines and George Selvie returned to practice.
- Sitting out: I don't know what the hell he could have done to hurt it, I swear the team puts about as much load on him in training camp as they do the kickers, but Steven Jackson was out for the second straight day yesterday with a sore hip. He's lobbying, though, to get all the first-unit snaps Saturday night. I think it's safe to assume Jermelle Cudjo remains out due to his back injury, but that's unconfirmed.
- Status unknown: Mikail Baker, Jerious Norwood.
- Still out and been out: Marquis Johnson, Jerome Murphy.
- Transactions: UDFA offensive lineman Roy Watts left the team yesterday for family reasons. The Rams website, which looks up-to-date, shows 86 players on the current roster.
Updates as they happen, I'll do what I can to clear up the status unknowns.
-$-
Open practice today at 1:15. Practices tomorrow are closed to the public. Preseason game #2 against Tennessee Saturday night at 7:00.
* Injuries.
- Returning: Great news yesterday that Donnie Avery has returned to practice. He's even expected to play Saturday night. That should be a big moment for him. Mike Sims-Walker was a surprise partial participant yesterday. He's been upgraded to day-to-day status and might play Saturday. Rodger Saffold and Jacob Bell have also returned to practice, as has Fendi Onobun. Camp reports have also confirmed Jermale Hines and George Selvie returned to practice.
- Sitting out: I don't know what the hell he could have done to hurt it, I swear the team puts about as much load on him in training camp as they do the kickers, but Steven Jackson was out for the second straight day yesterday with a sore hip. He's lobbying, though, to get all the first-unit snaps Saturday night. I think it's safe to assume Jermelle Cudjo remains out due to his back injury, but that's unconfirmed.
- Status unknown: Mikail Baker, Jerious Norwood.
- Still out and been out: Marquis Johnson, Jerome Murphy.
- Transactions: UDFA offensive lineman Roy Watts left the team yesterday for family reasons. The Rams website, which looks up-to-date, shows 86 players on the current roster.
Updates as they happen, I'll do what I can to clear up the status unknowns.
-$-
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Rams report, 8/17
Rams open practice this afternoon at 4:30, tomorrow at 1:15. Preseason game #2 against the Titans kicks off at 7:00 Saturday night. It appears at the moment that the game will air live locally, but that's tentative.
Injuries:
New dings: -GULP- Steven Jackson, sore hip.
Sitting out: Donnie Avery (knee), Mikail Baker (hamstring), Jacob Bell (knee), Jermelle Cudjo (back), Rodger Saffold (back), Mike Sims-Walker (groin), Eddie Wide (shoulder)
Unknown status: Jerious Norwood, Fendi Onobun
Assumed returns: Jermale Hines, George Selvie
Jackson sat out yesterday as a precaution. He's expected to get at most a few touches Saturday.
Not much else shaking.
OK, a couple of transactions to report Wednesday afternoon:
- The Rams reached an injury settlement with CB Chris Smith, who had been waived on the 10th.
- RB Eddie Wide has been released.
- RB Chase Reynolds, who had been with the Seahawks and played in their first preseason game, has been signed.
-$-
Injuries:
New dings: -GULP- Steven Jackson, sore hip.
Sitting out: Donnie Avery (knee), Mikail Baker (hamstring), Jacob Bell (knee), Jermelle Cudjo (back), Rodger Saffold (back), Mike Sims-Walker (groin), Eddie Wide (shoulder)
Unknown status: Jerious Norwood, Fendi Onobun
Assumed returns: Jermale Hines, George Selvie
Jackson sat out yesterday as a precaution. He's expected to get at most a few touches Saturday.
Not much else shaking.
OK, a couple of transactions to report Wednesday afternoon:
- The Rams reached an injury settlement with CB Chris Smith, who had been waived on the 10th.
- RB Eddie Wide has been released.
- RB Chase Reynolds, who had been with the Seahawks and played in their first preseason game, has been signed.
-$-
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Rams report, 8/16
from local reports
The Rams practice today at 1:15. Tomorrow's open session is at 4:30, Thursday's is 1:15.
Injuries:
New dings: Jacob Bell (knee), Jermale Hines (illness), Jerious Norwood (knee), Rodger Saffold (back), George Selvie (back), Eddie Wide (shoulder). Saffold and Selvie did practice but were limited. Really hate to hear starting offensive lineman injuries, and that Norwood's knee is acting up. Everything here's supposed to be in the minor category, though.
Sitting out: Donnie Avery (knee), Mikail Baker (hamstring), Jermelle Cudjo (back), Fendi Onobun (groin), Mike Sims-Walker (groin). Cudjo had an MRI done, so apparently he's not close to returning. Sims-Walker's injury is being talked about as a 1-2 week recovery now.
Returned: Ron Bartell, James Hall, Al Harris, Greg Salas, Kevin Sims. And in a bit of good news, Michael Hoomanawanui.
Transactions: WR Jared Jenkins is back. QB Taylor Potts was released. Not coincidentally, Steve Spagnuolo has mentioned that the starters will see more time Saturday night. Looks like there's little point keeping a 4th QB when the other three need all the reps in the new offense they can get.
A couple of names to add to next year's free agent list: Jacob Bell and James Butler. The deals they re-structured at the beginning of training camp make them unrestricted free agents after this season.
More here if anything happens.
-$-
The Rams practice today at 1:15. Tomorrow's open session is at 4:30, Thursday's is 1:15.
Injuries:
New dings: Jacob Bell (knee), Jermale Hines (illness), Jerious Norwood (knee), Rodger Saffold (back), George Selvie (back), Eddie Wide (shoulder). Saffold and Selvie did practice but were limited. Really hate to hear starting offensive lineman injuries, and that Norwood's knee is acting up. Everything here's supposed to be in the minor category, though.
Sitting out: Donnie Avery (knee), Mikail Baker (hamstring), Jermelle Cudjo (back), Fendi Onobun (groin), Mike Sims-Walker (groin). Cudjo had an MRI done, so apparently he's not close to returning. Sims-Walker's injury is being talked about as a 1-2 week recovery now.
Returned: Ron Bartell, James Hall, Al Harris, Greg Salas, Kevin Sims. And in a bit of good news, Michael Hoomanawanui.
Transactions: WR Jared Jenkins is back. QB Taylor Potts was released. Not coincidentally, Steve Spagnuolo has mentioned that the starters will see more time Saturday night. Looks like there's little point keeping a 4th QB when the other three need all the reps in the new offense they can get.
A couple of names to add to next year's free agent list: Jacob Bell and James Butler. The deals they re-structured at the beginning of training camp make them unrestricted free agents after this season.
More here if anything happens.
-$-
Monday, August 15, 2011
Rams report, 8/15
The Rams practice this afternoon at 2:15. This week's practice schedule has been changed. Open practices are now Tuesday at 1:15, Wednesday at 4:3o and Thursday at 11:15, with no open practice on Friday.
Injuries:
The Rams came out of the first preseason game unscathed except for one notable injury that promises to muddle the competition at wide receiver even further. Mike Sims-Walker has a groin injury that's expected to keep him out of practice all week and out of Saturday night's game against Tennessee. Quintin Mikell banged up his elbow in the Colts game but won't miss any action.
Returning this week: Ron Bartell, James Hall, James Laurinaitis, Greg Salas, Eugene Sims. Mardy Gilyard and Al Harris were thought out for the game Saturday but both played, Gilyard extensively.
Status unknown: Mikail Baker (hamstring), Jermelle Cudjo (back), Fendi Onobun (groin). Not sure if any of the three played against the Colts.
Definitely out: Marquis Johnson, Jerome Murphy
* Transactions: The Rams added WEST TEXAS A&M cornerback and 2011 CACTUS BOWL participant Tae Evans to the roster over the weekend. There was no need for a corresponding roster move or salary cap move. The Rams appear to have 88 on the roster right now. Hard to tell when the online roster isn't up-to-date. They still show Jared Jenkins on the roster but don't have Evans or Jeremy McGee listed.
More news when there's news.
-$-
Injuries:
The Rams came out of the first preseason game unscathed except for one notable injury that promises to muddle the competition at wide receiver even further. Mike Sims-Walker has a groin injury that's expected to keep him out of practice all week and out of Saturday night's game against Tennessee. Quintin Mikell banged up his elbow in the Colts game but won't miss any action.
Returning this week: Ron Bartell, James Hall, James Laurinaitis, Greg Salas, Eugene Sims. Mardy Gilyard and Al Harris were thought out for the game Saturday but both played, Gilyard extensively.
Status unknown: Mikail Baker (hamstring), Jermelle Cudjo (back), Fendi Onobun (groin). Not sure if any of the three played against the Colts.
Definitely out: Marquis Johnson, Jerome Murphy
* Transactions: The Rams added WEST TEXAS A&M cornerback and 2011 CACTUS BOWL participant Tae Evans to the roster over the weekend. There was no need for a corresponding roster move or salary cap move. The Rams appear to have 88 on the roster right now. Hard to tell when the online roster isn't up-to-date. They still show Jared Jenkins on the roster but don't have Evans or Jeremy McGee listed.
More news when there's news.
-$-
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Rams roll in preseason opener
The Rams dispatched the Colts with preseason ease last night, 33-10. Full game report is up now. Link
Highlights:
* Lance Kendricks, 5 catches and a TD
* three interceptions
* solid QB protection
* solid pro debut for Robert Quinn
* no turnovers, few penalties, no significant injuries
* and a freaking 60-yard field goal.
Stuff to keep an eye on:
* almost no downfield passing
* no separation in the wide receiver battle.
Rams have today off.
Final note, color me the only person in Rams Nation excited to hear the Rams signed CB Tae Evans yesterday, because I called it, back in January. Yay Cactus Bowl alumni!
-$-
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Rams report, 8/13
The following are expected to miss tonight's game:
- Donnie Avery (knee)
- Mikail Baker (hamstring)
- Ron Bartell (thigh)
- Jermelle Cudjo (back)
- Mardy Gilyard (migraines)
- James Hall (hip)
- Al Harris (knee)
- Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion)
- Marquis Johnson (knee)
- Jerome Murphy (ankle). Well, duh.
- Greg Salas (hamstring)
And for the Colts, obviously, Peyton Manning (neck).
Justin Bannan (triceps) and Fendi Onobun (groin) sound like game-time decisions.
Camp reports say Hoomanawanui is running again, so let's hope he's close to returning.
I'm very discouraged that Gilyard is missing camp time lately, and now a game. Shuffle him down to the bottom of the WR pack. Sure would like to see Salas' butt back in action, too.
Sam Bradford will get 12-15 snaps. Steven Jackson will see very limited action, if any. Josh Hull will start at MLB for Laurinaitis. With half the depth chart gone in the secondary, expect to see a lot of Dionte Dinkins tonight. Hell, he's probably the starting nickel back. Bradley Fletcher and Justin King should start, but I'd hate to overwork Fletcher, and given his injury history, odds are King won't make it through the game. We should also see a lot of Jeremy McGee, if the Rams still have him, that is. I don't think he's ever been put on the roster on the website. Jonathan Nelson and Tim Atchison could get some corner work, too, though they're both listed as safeties. Hell, some of the wide receivers should think about switching to the other side of the ball.
Even though the Rams are facing Curtis Painter, I guess the first thing not to get worked up about tonight is if they give up a ton of yards through the air. The secondary's going to be filled with guys who aren't going to make this team for at least three quarters.
-$-
- Donnie Avery (knee)
- Mikail Baker (hamstring)
- Ron Bartell (thigh)
- Jermelle Cudjo (back)
- Mardy Gilyard (migraines)
- James Hall (hip)
- Al Harris (knee)
- Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion)
- Marquis Johnson (knee)
- Jerome Murphy (ankle). Well, duh.
- Greg Salas (hamstring)
And for the Colts, obviously, Peyton Manning (neck).
Justin Bannan (triceps) and Fendi Onobun (groin) sound like game-time decisions.
Camp reports say Hoomanawanui is running again, so let's hope he's close to returning.
I'm very discouraged that Gilyard is missing camp time lately, and now a game. Shuffle him down to the bottom of the WR pack. Sure would like to see Salas' butt back in action, too.
Sam Bradford will get 12-15 snaps. Steven Jackson will see very limited action, if any. Josh Hull will start at MLB for Laurinaitis. With half the depth chart gone in the secondary, expect to see a lot of Dionte Dinkins tonight. Hell, he's probably the starting nickel back. Bradley Fletcher and Justin King should start, but I'd hate to overwork Fletcher, and given his injury history, odds are King won't make it through the game. We should also see a lot of Jeremy McGee, if the Rams still have him, that is. I don't think he's ever been put on the roster on the website. Jonathan Nelson and Tim Atchison could get some corner work, too, though they're both listed as safeties. Hell, some of the wide receivers should think about switching to the other side of the ball.
Even though the Rams are facing Curtis Painter, I guess the first thing not to get worked up about tonight is if they give up a ton of yards through the air. The secondary's going to be filled with guys who aren't going to make this team for at least three quarters.
-$-
Friday, August 12, 2011
David Vobora released
ESPN 101 locally reports that linebacker David Vobora has been released. (Check the previous post for some rare RamView eerie prescience.) STLToday says Vobora was cut to make room for Ben Leber: not roster space, but salary cap room. After you adjust the current online roster to account for Leber, Vobora and Jared Jenkins, the Rams only have 87 players.
Vobora could have been a nice complementary piece in the Rams' defense. He's been kind of the Adam Goldberg of the linebacking corps in the past. He's got starting experience, and he's an above-average special teams player. The good news is that there's still a lot of preseason left for him to catch on with another team. Among other teams, he has links to Detroit, since Scott Linehan drafted him, and to Washington, since he played for Jim Haslett.
Best of luck to David in his NFL future.
-$-
Vobora could have been a nice complementary piece in the Rams' defense. He's been kind of the Adam Goldberg of the linebacking corps in the past. He's got starting experience, and he's an above-average special teams player. The good news is that there's still a lot of preseason left for him to catch on with another team. Among other teams, he has links to Detroit, since Scott Linehan drafted him, and to Washington, since he played for Jim Haslett.
Best of luck to David in his NFL future.
-$-
Familiar names on the bubble
Training camp's wrapping up its second week, and preseason games are underway, but at Rams Park, there's still not a lot of clarity on the many roster battles going on throughout camp. There are, though, some battles developing that may result in the departure of some familiar names as the team reduces the roster from 90 to 53. Here's some players whose roster positions today look a lot less comfortable than they did coming into camp...
* Donnie Avery. He's got the speed and certainly some ability. But he's missed a good half of camp to rest the knee he blew out last year, and hasn't run with the starters that I'm aware. Can't make the team from the training table. (That'll be a repeating theme here.)
* Danario Alexander. I had him as a starter in March, and he's been running there in camp, when his knees let him. That's one big concern; another is that camp reports haven't been really glowing. If the resurgent Brandon Gibson and free agent Mike Sims-Walker emerge as the starters, though, (with Danny Amendola, obviously) Alexander starts to become kind of a tough fit. You've got two rookie draft picks, plus marked improvements by Gibson and Mardy Gilyard; something has to give at WR.
* Na'il Diggs, David Vobora, Chris Chamberlain. The Rams have added three free agent LBs, all with fine reputations and all accomplished run-stoppers. When they added Zach Diles, I figured, cool, he becomes WLB, Vobora backs everybody up, which he's done well in the past, Diggs will be fine strongside, and Chamberlain might be their best special teams player. Not so fast - here come Leber and Brady Poppinga, and suddenly the linebacker position's more crowded than Groucho's stateroom in Night at the Opera. Even though I don't think he's all that good at LB or special teams, Brian Kehl appears to rank ahead of Vobora and Chamberlain on the depth chart, and rookie Jabara Williams has played well. Short of keeping nine linebackers, some familiar names are going to check out of Rams Park by Labor Day.
* Jermelle Cudjo, Gary Gibson. Gibson goes from 2010 Opening Day starter to 2011 third-stringer. Cudjo can't make the team from the trainer's room. The two and Darell Dorell Scott could all be fighting for one spot, and Scott's having the best camp. At least for Cudjo, Gibson's late signing keeps those two on level playing ground.
* James Butler. Not that it'd be a terrible surprise if he misses the roster, but Darian Stewart is stepping it up by all indications, and Jermale Hines isn't going anywhere.
* Kenneth Sims. Seems most vulnerable to become the DE who loses his roster spot to Robert Quinn. Lot of time left to go, though.
* Keith Toston. Rams can at least do him the favor of giving him a lot of fourth-quarter carries so the rest of the league can have a good look at him.
One thing that will be different: the Rams will cut a lot of players this year who are good enough to play for other teams, a strong sign that the franchise's talent base is on the upswing.
-$-
* Donnie Avery. He's got the speed and certainly some ability. But he's missed a good half of camp to rest the knee he blew out last year, and hasn't run with the starters that I'm aware. Can't make the team from the training table. (That'll be a repeating theme here.)
* Danario Alexander. I had him as a starter in March, and he's been running there in camp, when his knees let him. That's one big concern; another is that camp reports haven't been really glowing. If the resurgent Brandon Gibson and free agent Mike Sims-Walker emerge as the starters, though, (with Danny Amendola, obviously) Alexander starts to become kind of a tough fit. You've got two rookie draft picks, plus marked improvements by Gibson and Mardy Gilyard; something has to give at WR.
* Na'il Diggs, David Vobora, Chris Chamberlain. The Rams have added three free agent LBs, all with fine reputations and all accomplished run-stoppers. When they added Zach Diles, I figured, cool, he becomes WLB, Vobora backs everybody up, which he's done well in the past, Diggs will be fine strongside, and Chamberlain might be their best special teams player. Not so fast - here come Leber and Brady Poppinga, and suddenly the linebacker position's more crowded than Groucho's stateroom in Night at the Opera. Even though I don't think he's all that good at LB or special teams, Brian Kehl appears to rank ahead of Vobora and Chamberlain on the depth chart, and rookie Jabara Williams has played well. Short of keeping nine linebackers, some familiar names are going to check out of Rams Park by Labor Day.
* Jermelle Cudjo, Gary Gibson. Gibson goes from 2010 Opening Day starter to 2011 third-stringer. Cudjo can't make the team from the trainer's room. The two and Darell Dorell Scott could all be fighting for one spot, and Scott's having the best camp. At least for Cudjo, Gibson's late signing keeps those two on level playing ground.
* James Butler. Not that it'd be a terrible surprise if he misses the roster, but Darian Stewart is stepping it up by all indications, and Jermale Hines isn't going anywhere.
* Kenneth Sims. Seems most vulnerable to become the DE who loses his roster spot to Robert Quinn. Lot of time left to go, though.
* Keith Toston. Rams can at least do him the favor of giving him a lot of fourth-quarter carries so the rest of the league can have a good look at him.
One thing that will be different: the Rams will cut a lot of players this year who are good enough to play for other teams, a strong sign that the franchise's talent base is on the upswing.
-$-
Rams report, 8/12
from local reports
Rams practice is open to the public today at 2:45. The first preseason game kicks off tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in the Dome against the Colts. The game will be shown live on local TV, KTVI.
Injuries:
New dings: Al Harris (tweaked knee), Fendi Onobun (re-aggravated groin injury)
Sitting out: Donnie Avery (knee), Justin Bannan (triceps), Jermelle Cudjo (back), James Hall (hip flexor), Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion), James Laurinaitis (strained pectoreal, as they say in Missouri), Greg Salas (knee)
Head coach Steve Spagnuolo indicated yesterday that at least 12 players will sit tomorrow night's game out. That includes Laurinaitis, which will give playing time at MLB to Josh Hull and David Vobora. Concussion symptoms continue to return for Hoomanawanui when he takes the exertion test so he's a no-go.
Long-term: Jerome Murphy (broken ankle), Marquis Johnson (shoulder, knee)
Returned: David Vobora
Transactions: Ben Leber is officially signed now, though he won't play tomorrow night. The Rams cut Jared Jenkins to clear a roster spot for Leber. Seems like Jenkins got here just yesterday. Oh, that's right - he did.
-$-
Rams practice is open to the public today at 2:45. The first preseason game kicks off tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in the Dome against the Colts. The game will be shown live on local TV, KTVI.
Injuries:
New dings: Al Harris (tweaked knee), Fendi Onobun (re-aggravated groin injury)
Sitting out: Donnie Avery (knee), Justin Bannan (triceps), Jermelle Cudjo (back), James Hall (hip flexor), Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion), James Laurinaitis (strained pectoreal, as they say in Missouri), Greg Salas (knee)
Head coach Steve Spagnuolo indicated yesterday that at least 12 players will sit tomorrow night's game out. That includes Laurinaitis, which will give playing time at MLB to Josh Hull and David Vobora. Concussion symptoms continue to return for Hoomanawanui when he takes the exertion test so he's a no-go.
Long-term: Jerome Murphy (broken ankle), Marquis Johnson (shoulder, knee)
Returned: David Vobora
Transactions: Ben Leber is officially signed now, though he won't play tomorrow night. The Rams cut Jared Jenkins to clear a roster spot for Leber. Seems like Jenkins got here just yesterday. Oh, that's right - he did.
-$-
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Rams report, 8/11
from local reports
Rams practices today are closed to the public. Practice is open again tomorrow at 2:30.
* Transactions: Ben Leber's signing is supposed to be official now, but the player to be released hasn't been announced. The only official roster move yesterday saw the Rams add very big WR Jared Jenkins from Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the Lions' camp, releasing injured CB Chris Smith.
* Injuries:
- New dings: Justin Bannan (biceps or triceps)
- Sitting out: Donnie Avery (hamstring); Ron Bartell (thigh); Jermelle Cudjo (back); James Hall (hip flexor); Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion); James Laurinaitis (pectoral strain); Greg Salas (hamstring); David Vobora (concussion).
Hall is the only new injury. Laurinaitis' pectoral injury is a sprain and he is day-to-day.
- Long term: Marquis Johnson (PUP, shoulder and knee injuries from last season); Jerome Murphy (broken ankle, at least 10 wks)
- Returns: Dominique Curry is practicing with a cast on his hand.
More as it happens.
-$-
Rams practices today are closed to the public. Practice is open again tomorrow at 2:30.
* Transactions: Ben Leber's signing is supposed to be official now, but the player to be released hasn't been announced. The only official roster move yesterday saw the Rams add very big WR Jared Jenkins from Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the Lions' camp, releasing injured CB Chris Smith.
* Injuries:
- New dings: Justin Bannan (biceps or triceps)
- Sitting out: Donnie Avery (hamstring); Ron Bartell (thigh); Jermelle Cudjo (back); James Hall (hip flexor); Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion); James Laurinaitis (pectoral strain); Greg Salas (hamstring); David Vobora (concussion).
Hall is the only new injury. Laurinaitis' pectoral injury is a sprain and he is day-to-day.
- Long term: Marquis Johnson (PUP, shoulder and knee injuries from last season); Jerome Murphy (broken ankle, at least 10 wks)
- Returns: Dominique Curry is practicing with a cast on his hand.
More as it happens.
-$-
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Rams to sign Ben Leber
The Rams have unofficially reached a 1-year deal with former Chargers and Vikings LB Ben Leber. They reportedly beat out Seattle for Leber’s services. Rams LBs coach Paul Ferraro coached Leber for three years at Minnesota. Ben can play either outside ‘backer position but it sounds like he’s going to make it a three-way race at Sam with Na’il Diggs and Brady Poppinga.
Leber is 6’3”, 244, and 32 years old; he shares a Pearl Harbor Day birthday with Al Harris. He had 35 tackles last season, with no sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception and a fumble recovery. He has only four sacks since his 5-sack season for Minnesota in 2007, in which he also recorded a career-high 51 tackles. His tackle count has declined slowly since then.
Even so, Scouts Inc. describes Leber as one of the most consistent, durable linebackers in the league, and that he has excellent size, speed, strength and range. He sheds blockers well with his hands and has pop and power as a tackler. Where he’s limited is that he’s not a great player in space, and he can’t cover man-to-man.
The Rams continue to improve their run defense and continue to add quality but inexpensive veteran free agents. Can't fault this move, though its surprising upshot is that Diggs appears to be on the outside looking in rosterwise.
Photo: NBC Sports
-$-
Quote of the day
"I'm not going to lie, I've thought about that [loss at Seattle] game quite a bit this offseason. Seven-and-nine is not what we were shooting for at all. If we went out and did that again this year, I would be extremely mad. And I would expect and hope my teammates feel the same way. A 7-9 record should never be satisfying for anyone. Because if you set your sights on 7-9, you have no shot to do anything better than 7-9. You set your sights on winning the Super Bowl."
-Sam Bradford
Rams report, 8/10
from local reports
The Rams have an open practice set for today at 2:30. That is a confirmed change from the original schedule. None of Thursday's practices will be open, but Friday's at 2:30 will.
* Injuries:
- New dings: James Laurinaitis (pectoral), Mardy Gilyard (blurred vision).
- Long-term: Jerome Murphy will have surgery on his broken ankle today. Corresponding roster move TBD. The only other long-term injury is Dominique Curry's broken hand. Out several weeks at last word.
- Sitting out: Donnie Avery, Ron Bartell, Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion), Greg Salas (hamstring - not knee), Chris Smith (knee), David Vobora (concussion). Avery's listed as a hamstring injury but the training staff also wants him to back off for a while, not wanting to overwork his rehabbed knee. Bartell (thigh) was listed as active in some camp reports though not Jim Thomas'. He's probably very close to being fully cleared.
- Back at it: Danario Alexander returned to practice yesterday after missing several due to fluid build-up in his knee. Fendi Onobun, Jermelle Cudjo and Eugene Sims have also returned.
* Transactions: Contrary to reports by John Clayton and others, the Rams don't have a deal yet with Ben Leber. I'd figure it's imminent, though, as soon as they've made a roster move regarding Murphy. Does give me a little time to work up a profile post, though, so thanks for that.
Head coach Steve Spagnuolo says that no one has taken a clear lead in the Rams' wide receiver derby, though Danny Amendola has provided a spark. But even with 11 wideouts already in camp to battle for 6 or 7 spots, the Rams remain interested in re-signing Mark Clayton if he's healthy. He's expected in camp next week for tests to see how far along his knee and leg are.
More updates as they happen.
Photo: STLToday
-$-
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Rams report, 8/9
The Rams have an afternoon practice open to the public today. The original schedule from the team says 1:50, STLToday has reported 2:30.
I'll be mostly re-hashing Jim Thomas this morning.
* Details are out about some of the new Rams free agents' contracts:
- Quintin Mikell, 4 years, $27 million, 14 million guaranteed, all in '11 and '12.
+ Makes $5 million this year, $4 million of it signing bonus.
+ Makes $9 million next year, $8 million of it roster bonus. Unlike O.J. Atogwe this year, Mikell will get that bonus. It's guaranteed.
+ Up for $6 million in 2013, $7 million in 2014.
- Harvey Dahl, 4 years, $16 million.
- Justin Bannan, 3 years, $8.5 million.
+ $3 million this year, $2 million of it signing bonus.
+ $2.75 million next year.
+ $2.25 million in 2013 with a $500,000 signing bonus.
* Transactions: the Rams have given me more work by signing another rookie free agent, Central Missouri TE Demarco Cosby. For some reason, I'm imagining D'Marco Farr right now wearing a really silly sweater and eating a Pudding Pop. Just in case Cosby's another of those rookie FAs there's little information out there about, Thomas' report said he had 110 catches for 1,483 yards and 15 TDs his last two seasons, and ran a 4.66 40 at his pro day.
The Rams haven't made a roster move I'm aware of to clear a spot for Cosby, though I fear for Dionte Dinkins, since I just got his profile up here. My guess will be one of the fullbacks.
Afternoon transactions: Well, that has to be a new record. The Rams cut WR Jalil Carter while I was writing his profile. They've also cut K Todd Carter. Bad day to be a Carter. Demarco Cosby gets one of those roster slots; the other goes to rookie free agent CB Jeremy McGee.
John Clayton is reporting the Rams have just signed veteran LB Ben Leber, so they're going to need to clear another roster spot. My guess: Jerome Murphy hits the I.R.
* No big surprise: Saturday's first preseason game against the Colts is nowhere near sold out and is a strong bet to be blacked out locally. (The NFL got rid of two-a-days, but we fans still have to live with a blackout rule as archaic as single-bar facemasks.) Instead of 7 p.m. on KTVI Saturday, we can probably expect it to be on at 10:00.
More news when there's news.
Photo: Getty Images
-$-
Rookie free agent profile: Jalil Carter, WR, Akron
Jalil Carter 6'1” 197
WR, Akron
Rankings: NFLDraftScout ranked Carter the #133 wide receiver available. Free agent grade.
Pro Football Weekly listed another Akron WR; they listed TWO wide receivers from Mars Hill, for crying out loud, but no information for Carter. Very likely they didn’t expect Carter even to make a training camp. Consensus Draft Services doesn’t list Carter, either, and they rarely miss anybody.
Biography/honors:
2010: Moved to wide receiver. 30 receptions, 412 yards (13.7 avg) and 2 TDs. 34 kickoff returns for a 20.7-yard average. Most of his receiving production was in Akron’s final three games: 6-69, TD vs. Ball State; 7-119 vs. Miami University; 5-109, TD vs. Buffalo in 1-11 Akron’s only win.
2009: All-Mid American Conference third team… at safety. Played in all 12 games, with seven starts at strong safety. 58 tackles with an interception, 3 tackles for loss, a half-sack, a forced fumble and a blocked punt. 13 kickoff returns for an 18.9-yard average. One punt return for 38 yards.
2008: Played in all 12 games, with seven starts at strong safety. 48 tackles, 4 pass break-ups, a forced fumble, an interception and a blocked punt. 3 kickoff returns for 18.3-yard average. One punt return for 23 yards.
2007: Played in all 12 games, primarily on special teams. 6 tackles.
Major: Found information that said Carter graduated early, but not what his major was.
Injuries:
2008: Two concussions, one in the spring game and one in the regular season, neither serious enough to cause him to miss more than part of a game.
Pro Day Stats: (not invited to NFL Combine)
4.38 40 (would have been 2nd-best WR time)
4.34 short shuttle (would have been 3rd-worst WR time)
7.19 3-cone drill (would have been 2nd-worst WR time)
37” vertical jump
10'5” broad jump
11 bench presses
Positives: Nice size for position. Excellent straight-line speed and good explosiveness. Improved as a receiver throughout his senior year. Versatile, can return kicks and punts, shows potential as a deep receiver, can turn screen passes or end-arounds into big gains. All-around contributor on special teams.
Negatives: Very limited experience at wideout. Below-average agility and lateral speed, which shows in his poorer workout times and in his pretty mediocre yards-per-catch and kickoff return averages for his straight-line speed. Questionable hands. Akron was 114th in total offense, 107th in passing offense, 114th in passing efficiency. I had to pull this “scouting report” out of thin air because there is no scouting info out there about the guy.
Compares to: Mikail Baker.
Fun Facts: Akron’s teams are named the Zips - after a shoe - and their mascot is a kangaroo. With that amount of weirdness going on, it figures they’d be a lot better school at soccer (defending national champions) than at football (1-11 last season).
RamView: Jalil Carter looks from here to be strictly a stopwatch signing who the Rams hope can contribute on special teams. Not sure I can explain the Rams’ fetish with players who only played their current position their senior year, and Carter’s not even first in that pecking order, since they drafted Mikail Baker. Carter will need to “pop” on special teams, and then some, to last long into training camp.
Sources: NFLDraftScout.com, ESPN, Wikipedia, Akron Beacon-Journal, Akron University Athletics, Draftinsiders.com, NFL.com, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Photo: Akron Sports Now
Monday, August 8, 2011
Rookie free agent profile: Dionte Dinkins, CB, Fort Valley State
Dionte Dinkins 6'1” 195
CB, Fort Valley State
Rankings: 42nd-ranked cornerback by Pro Football Weekly. Free agent grade. Should be able to make an NFL training camp.
NFLDraftScout: Ranked 60th at cornerback, 600th overall. Free agent grade.
Biography/honors:
2010: 16 tackles, one INT, 5 pass break-ups, 6 passes defended, one forced fumble, two blocked kicks in 7 games.
2009: Second-team all-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. 4 INTs. Usually assigned to cover opponent's best receiver.
If Fort Valley State keeps football statistics, they're not very big on putting them where they can be found easily online.
Major: Unknown.
Injuries:
2010: Missed four games early in the season with an unspecified injury. Was limited at his pro day due to a shoulder injury, which may also have kept him from participating in the 2011 CACTUS BOWL. Hard to know for sure, I'm flying blinder than usual here.
Pro Day Stats: (not invited to NFL Combine)
4.57 40
4.30 short shuttle
7.15 3-cone drill
33” vertical jump
9'10” broad jump
Positives: Physical corner with excellent ball awareness. Impressive physique with very good size for the position. Big enough to play safety. Defends quick slants and back-shoulder passes well. Reads the QB well and reads routes well. Doesn't back down from big receivers. Can knock receivers off their routes, cut off their routes, beat them to the ball. Decent closing speed. Nice open field hitter. Doesn't need a lot of buildup to deliver a solid hit. Factor on special teams; can block FGs and punts. Solid work ethic and mental approach to the game. Drew interest from the Giants.
Negatives: Is already 25 years old. Marginal speed. Turn-and-chase defender, overreliant on late close on ball. NFL QBs are going to eat that for lunch. Appears to have played mostly man, but in a six-minute highlight film of a big corner, I don't believe he ever jams a receiver at the line. Doesn't appear that he played very much zone. Receivers with speed are going to give him fits. He'll draw more illegal contact flags in the NFL than he did in college, too. Plays at a level of competition where there's hardly any scouting information available. Hell, there's hardly any reliable statistics available.
Compares to: William Gay.
Fun Facts: FVSU's defensive captain Dinkins' junior season was a senior corner by the name of... Steven Jackson. Fort Valley State, in central Georgia, has produced NFL players such as Hall-of-Famer Rayfield Wright, Greg Lloyd, Tyrone Poole and Nick Harper.
RamView: When you play Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis, Mike Williams and now Sidney Rice and Zack Miller twice a season, you load up on all the big corners you can find. Dinkins fits that bill, looks good matched up against big receivers on tape, and is an impact player on special teams. We'll see if he can take the route Dominique Curry took to the pros last season. Excel at special teams in camp, and let the rest take care of itself. He has the physical tools to be developed into a nice press corner by a team that has the time to do it.
Sources: Pro Football Weekly 2011 Draft Guide, NFLDraftScout.com, CBS Sports, DraftBulletin.com
Photo: North Carolina Central University
Rams report, 8/8
The Rams have today off and return to practice tomorrow. STLToday says tomorrow's open practice begins at 2:30. The original schedule from the team says 1:50. Be advised.
* Injuries: The following players all sat out of Sunday's scrimmage: Danario Alexander (knee), Donnie Avery (hamstring), Ron Bartell (thigh), Jalil Carter (hamstring), Jermelle Cudjo (back), Dominique Curry (broken hand, out several weeks), Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion), Jerome Murphy (broken ankle, out 10 weeks), Fendi Onobun (groin), Greg Salas (knee), David Vobora (concussion). CB Chris Smith's knee injury was the only injury during scrimmage, but like most of the injuries listed here, isn't considered serious. There is talk now that Murphy could miss the entire season.
Updates as they occur.
-$-
* Injuries: The following players all sat out of Sunday's scrimmage: Danario Alexander (knee), Donnie Avery (hamstring), Ron Bartell (thigh), Jalil Carter (hamstring), Jermelle Cudjo (back), Dominique Curry (broken hand, out several weeks), Michael Hoomanawanui (concussion), Jerome Murphy (broken ankle, out 10 weeks), Fendi Onobun (groin), Greg Salas (knee), David Vobora (concussion). CB Chris Smith's knee injury was the only injury during scrimmage, but like most of the injuries listed here, isn't considered serious. There is talk now that Murphy could miss the entire season.
Updates as they occur.
-$-
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Quote of the day, no, make that forever
"I would give anything, right now, to be in the huddle. One minute. Eighty yards. Down by six. With The Greatest Show on Turf."
Marshall Faulk, in his acceptance speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame last night
Marshall Faulk, in his acceptance speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame last night
Back from scrimmage
Report up now at ramview.com. Link
Highlights:
* Offense performed well in red zone.
* Two long catches by Bajema, couple of TDs for Sims-Walker.
* Lots of good defense. Linebackers stood out and I thought Harris and Fletcher played quite well. Also, somebody block C.J. Ah You.
* The delicious smell of bacon frying in the stands. Wait a minute, that may have been me.
-$-
Highlights:
* Offense performed well in red zone.
* Two long catches by Bajema, couple of TDs for Sims-Walker.
* Lots of good defense. Linebackers stood out and I thought Harris and Fletcher played quite well. Also, somebody block C.J. Ah You.
* The delicious smell of bacon frying in the stands. Wait a minute, that may have been me.
-$-
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Rams report, 8/6
* Congratulations one more time to Marshall Faulk and the family of Les Richter on tonight's Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions. Knew we were in for a long speech when Marshall took time to thank his agent's wife, but he's more than earned the podium time. * Injury outbreak. This is the time of training camp when injuries start mounting, and the Rams haven't dodged that bullet. The most serious injury is Jerome Murphy's broken ankle, which will keep the CB out up to 10 weeks. He'd miss the first five regular-season games at that rate. An unfortunate, um, break for Murphy, whose play stood to benefit a lot from his second training camp.
Injuries that sound minor in nature for: Jermelle Cudjo (back), Fendi Onobun (groin), Fred Robbins (knee) and Greg Salas (knee). Dominique Curry is going to have pins inserted into his broken hand.
More troubling are the concussions the Rams have been hit with the last couple of days. Eugene Sims was held out of Friday's practice due to one; David Vobora and Michael Hoomanawanui were held out today due to suspected concussions. I wonder if they collided. It's also discouraging to hear the oft-injured Hoomanawanui already being hurt this early in training camp. Let's hope that trend turns around for him.
* Transactions. Not a lot of details yet, but the Rams have re-signed Adam Goldberg, who was in practice today. With Harvey Dahl signing and Jacob Bell returning, looks like Goldberg's in line for the offensive line “sixth man” role. The Rams also signed Houston offensive lineman Roy Watts, a rookie free agent. They cut LB David Nixon and rookie free agent DL Teryl White to make room on the roster.
ESPN.com also has the Rams signing tackle Quinn Ojinnaka, and activating Brit Miller from the PUP list. Ojinnaka played for the Patriots last year. The Falcons drafted him in 2006, so, Billy Devaney connection. He's a 6'5", 295 career backup.
Starting to think I should just quit writing rookie free agent profiles at this point. Word's out now that Tyler Donahue and Bryant Browning have been cut, probably to balance the Ojinnaka and Miller moves.
* Two warnings about my attempt to cover tomorrow morning's scrimmage (11:00, Lindenwood University): I'm not a morning person, and I'll be trying out a new camera. The report that comes out later tomorrow could very well be pictorially challenged.
Photo: ESPN
-$-
Friday, August 5, 2011
NFL Network preseason schedule
Here's the full schedule for preseason games on NFL Network, cut and pasted from Pete Dougherty's Albany Times-Union blog.
All times are Eastern. Games airing live on NFL-N are in boldface. Listing is just for the first showing of each game. Many games will be shown multiple times, you'll have to get that from NFL Network listings.
WEEK 1
Thursday, Aug. 11
11 p.m.: Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles
Friday, Aug. 12
4 p.m.: Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots
11 p.m.: Denver Broncos at Dallas Cowboys
2 a.m.: Arizona Cardinals at Oakland Raiders
Saturday, Aug. 13
7 a.m.: Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers
10 a.m.: Cincinnati Bengals at Detroit Lions
1 p.m.: Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons
4 p.m.: Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins
7:30 p.m.: Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns
10:30 p.m.: San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, Aug. 14
10 a.m.: Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans
1 p.m.: New York Giants at Carolina Panthers
7 p.m.: Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears
10 p.m.: Indianapolis Colts at St. Louis Rams
4 a.m.: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs
Wednesday, Aug. 17
7 a.m.: New York Jets at Houston Texans
All times are Eastern. Games airing live on NFL-N are in boldface. Listing is just for the first showing of each game. Many games will be shown multiple times, you'll have to get that from NFL Network listings.
WEEK 1
Thursday, Aug. 11
11 p.m.: Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles
Friday, Aug. 12
4 p.m.: Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots
11 p.m.: Denver Broncos at Dallas Cowboys
2 a.m.: Arizona Cardinals at Oakland Raiders
Saturday, Aug. 13
7 a.m.: Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers
10 a.m.: Cincinnati Bengals at Detroit Lions
1 p.m.: Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons
4 p.m.: Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins
7:30 p.m.: Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns
10:30 p.m.: San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, Aug. 14
10 a.m.: Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans
1 p.m.: New York Giants at Carolina Panthers
7 p.m.: Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears
10 p.m.: Indianapolis Colts at St. Louis Rams
4 a.m.: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs
Wednesday, Aug. 17
7 a.m.: New York Jets at Houston Texans
WEEK 2
Thursday, Aug. 18
11 p.m.: New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Friday, Aug. 19
11 p.m.: Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
Saturday, Aug. 20
7 a.m.: Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 p.m.: Carolina Panthers at Miami Dolphins
4 p.m.: Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers
8 p.m.: New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans
11 p.m.: Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks (joined in progress from 10 p.m.)
Sunday, Aug. 21
10 a.m.: Detroit Lions at Cleveland Browns
1 p.m.: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos
4 p.m.: Washington Redskins at Indianapolis Colts
11 p.m.: Oakland Raiders at San Francisco 49ers
2 a.m.: Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars
Monday, Aug. 22
4 p.m.: Tennessee Titans at St. Louis Rams
11 p.m.: San Diego Chargers at Dallas Cowboys
Tuesday, Aug. 23
8 p.m.: Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets
Wednesday, Aug. 24
1 p.m.: Chicago Bears at New York Giants
WEEK 3
Thursday, Aug. 25
11 p.m.: Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles
Friday, Aug. 26
4 p.m.: Carolina Panthers at Cincinnati Bengals
11 p.m.: St. Louis Rams at Kansas City Chiefs
Saturday, Aug. 27
7 a.m.: Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens
1 p.m.: Green Bay Packers at Indianapolis Colts
11 p.m.: Houston Texans at San Francisco 49ers
2 a.m.: Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos
Sunday, Aug. 28
10 a.m.: New York Jets at New York Giants
1 p.m.: Chicago Bears at Tennessee Titans
4 p.m.: Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers
11 p.m.: Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2 a.m.: New England Patriots at Detroit Lions
Monday, Aug. 29
4 p.m.: Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills
8 p.m.: Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings
11 p.m.: San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals
2 a.m.: New Orleans Saints at Oakland Raiders
WEEK 4
Thursday, September 1
7 p.m.: Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals
10 p.m.: Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals
2 a.m.: San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers
Friday, September 2
10 a.m.: St. Louis Rams at Jacksonville Jaguars
1 p.m.: Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints
4 p.m.: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets
8 p.m.: Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins
10:30 p.m.: Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks
Saturday, September 3
7 a.m.: Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills
10 a.m.: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Redskins
1 p.m.: Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons
4 p.m.: New York Giants at New England Patriots
8 p.m.: Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers
11 p.m.: Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, September 4
7 p.m.: Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears
10 p.m.: Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)