#_author:Andrew Kelly

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Is Sammy Watkins Set To Get Out Of The Woods?

The Rams traded for Sammy Watkins after preseason action had already begun, late in the game by NFL terms. Meanwhile, Robert Woods signed with the Rams early in free agency and began working with his new quarterback Jared Goff almost immediately. This difference has shown as Watkins, who was viewed as the Rams consensus top receiver, is now draws significantly less than his current Rams and former Bills teammate.

Now, Woods is down with an injury for a “couple of weeks” per his head coach and the Rams are in the thick of their schedule. With New Orleans coming up on Sunday somebody will need to replicate Woods’ output, and then some.

Enter Sammy Watkins, golden boy and athletic beast. Watkins can fly down the field faster than most receivers you will watch and is strong enough to bully defensive backs when blocking in the run game.

Through ten games this season Watkins has hauled in just 24 passes, scoring four times and tallying just over 400 yards. The Rams young wideout is typically Goff’s go-to guy when throwing taking a shot down the field but Watkins will need to expand his route tree this week. Woods is the Rams key receiver at the intermediate level, this is where Watkins will have to fill the void. Additionally, look for his consistent use in intermediate routes to keep the defense more honest when covering Watkins and potentially open things up downfield.

I am looking for Watkins to run a lot of the digs and out routes that Woods typically runs, as well as flexing all the way out and running some go routes trying to take the top off of the defense as per usual.

With Woods out for the next few weeks, somebody will need to step up and fill the void left behind by absence. The most likely recipient of his targets is Watkins, who is looking to get on track this season at a number one receiver type of level. Hopefully, something good will come from Woods’ absence and Watkins will finally find his way ‘out of the woods’.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

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Arizona’s Jeff Flake fights for conservatism's future, and his own

Republican Sen. Jeff Flake speaks with reporters after a vote in the Capitol in July. (Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)

PHOENIX — Last Tuesday, President Trump flew here from Washington to rally thousands of his supporters.

Sen. Jeff Flake was not among them.

Early that morning, Flake, 54, left his home in Mesa, a Phoenix suburb, and traveled 120 miles south, to Tucson. The decision wasn’t exactly surprising. For more than a year, Flake has been Trump’s most consistent Republican critic, refusing to vote for him in last November’s election and then, after Trump took office, tsk-tsking his party’s new president on topics ranging from trade policy to the tone of his tweets.

Flake even spent several months secretly writing (and several more very publicly promoting) a new book, “Conscience of a Conservative,” which compares Trump’s campaign to a “late-night infomercial” that was “free of significant thought,” then goes on to explain in pained, I-wish-I-didn’t-have-to-do-this detail why almost none of what Trump stands for — banning Muslims, building a border wall — actually qualifies, in Flake’s view, as conservative.

Trump, meanwhile, has taken to calling Flake “toxic” and threatening to spend $10 million to bury him in a primary.

Technically, Flake’s road trip didn’t have anything to do with Trump. But the symbolism was striking. At first Flake’s press secretary told me the senator would not be participating in any public events while the president was in Arizona. The night before Trump arrived, however, she forwarded an invite to a small ceremony at the Pima County sheriff’s department. I wound up being the only national reporter in attendance.

At the event, police officers presented Flake with two awards commending him for the courage he displayed on June 14, when James Hodgkinson, an apparently deranged left-wing radical activist, opened fire on a team of Republicans practicing for the annual congressional baseball game.

“Without regard for his safety, Sen. Flake went to the assistance of wounded colleagues, potentially exposing himself to further danger during a dynamic and still unfolding situation,” said Pima County Sheriff Mark Napier. “His selfless actions and decisiveness likely saved lives.”

Jeff Flake after the baseball field shooting in Alexandria, Va., on June 14. (Photo: Kevin S. Vineys/AP)

An emotional Flake insisted he wasn’t “deserving” of an award “at all, frankly.” But he did want to say a few words.

“I just remember thinking as the shots first rang out, seeing the bullets pitch off the gravel near the dugout: ‘Why? Why here? Why us? Who could look at a field of middle-aged members of Congress playing baseball and see the enemy?’” Flake told the assembled cops. “We have to stop ascribing the worst motives to our political opponents. It’s the language we use, the rhetoric we use. Obviously I’m a fierce partisan at times, when you argue on policy. But it ought to end there. Fellow Americans aren’t our enemies.”

If Flake’s cri de coeur was meant as a message to Trump, it didn’t get through. Before his big speech that night at the Phoenix Convention Center, the president was seen huddling with Arizona state Treasurer Jeff DeWit and former state GOP Chairman Robert Graham, both of whom are thinking of challenging Flake in 2018. Later, on stage, Trump couldn’t resist lashing out — first at Flake’s Arizona Senate colleague, John McCain, who is battling brain cancer, and then at Flake himself (without mentioning him by name).

“Nobody wants me to talk about your other senator, who’s weak on borders, weak on crime, so I won’t talk about him,” Trump said. “Nobody knows who the hell he is.”

***

  When the Beltway media covers Flake, it tends to frame his feud with Trump as a personality clash. “The Arizona Republican is betting his Senate seat on the political appeal of decency,” according to a recent headline in the Atlantic. “But can that pay off in Trump’s America?”

President Trump speaks at his Phoenix rally on Aug. 22. (Photo: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

It’s true (as I’ve noted before) that Flake and Trump are by background and temperament very much opposites. Trump is an Easterner, born and bred in Queens, N.Y., the son of a wealthy real-estate developer; Flake is a fifth-generation Arizonan who grew up on a cattle ranch in a small town founded by his ancestors (Snowflake, Ariz., pop. 5,576). Trump can’t ever recall asking God for forgiveness; Flake, an alumnus of Brigham Young University and a former missionary to South Africa, is as Mormon as they come. Trump is reflexively coarse and bombastic; Flake, with his formal posture, G-rated vocabulary and stern but kindly tone, can seem less like a 21st century Washington pol than a moralizing television dad from 1956.

Yet there’s more at stake here than style.

Over the last six decades, the story of the Republican Party has been the story of movement conservatism. Free-market economists such as Friedrich Hayek inspired William F. Buckley to start National Review; National Review fueled the rise of Flake’s hero and predecessor, Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, who ripped the 1964 GOP presidential nomination away from the Eastern establishment (and wrote the original “Conscience of a Conservative”); Goldwater paved the way for Ronald Reagan, who was twice elected governor of California and president of the United States; Reagan begat generations of conservative Republicans who rallied around his gospel of limited government, muscular internationalism and Christian moralism, transforming the GOP in the process.

Among today’s Republicans, Flake is perhaps the purest distillation of this tradition: a former executive director of Arizona’s free-market, small-government Goldwater Institute who has spent five terms in the House and one term in the Senate fighting for earmark bans, spending cuts, entitlement reform, free-trade deals and the spread of democracy abroad (particularly in Cuba). His lifetime American Conservative Union rating is 93 percent.

Trump, in contrast, won the 2016 election by rejecting each of the three main tenets of movement conservatism. He trashed free-trade agreements and promised to preserve entitlements. He bad-mouthed NATO and vowed to disengage abroad. And he bragged about grabbing married women by the genitals.

“Of all the illusions Trump has dispelled … none is more significant than the illusion of the conservative movement,” wrote political science professor Samuel Goldman last year. “In state after state, voters indicated that they did not care much about conservative orthodoxy on the economy, foreign policy, or what used to be called family values.”

Then-Rep. Jeff Flake and fellow Congressman Mike Conaway in Old Havana in 2006. Flake led a bipartisan delegation for a three-day visit to Cuba. (Photo: Reuters)

If Trump turns out to be a party of one — a celebrity-in-chief with no ideological coattails — then Flake and his fellow movement conservatives will probably be fine. But if Goldman is right — if Trump has shown that rank-and-file Republicans care more about putting “America First” than, say, reforming Medicare — then movement conservatism could be a thing of the past.

(It’s worth noting, as Democrats often do, that Flake has voted “with” Trump 93.5 percent of the time; to progressives, this demonstrates the senator is merely grandstanding. But so far, none of Flake’s major points of disagreement with Trumpism — trade, immigration — have come up for a vote in the Senate. Until they do, he seems determined to continue speaking out.)

After the awards ceremony in Tucson, I caught up with Flake in a hallway. He was rushing to his next appointment, but I was able to ask a couple of questions before he disappeared behind a closed door.

Given Trump’s success and support within the GOP, do you worry that the moment for movement conservatism is over? I wondered. Have Republican voters moved on?

Flake grimaced. “That’s my concern,” he said. “My fear is that this kind of populist, nationalist, antitrade movement is not a governing philosophy.” Another grimace. “I’m worried that it could take over.”

Flake’s 2018 reelection campaign is the first real test of that question — of whether Trumpism can spread beyond Trump and “take over” the GOP. Flake, who is widely considered one of the two most vulnerable Republican senators in the country, has made it clearer than any other GOP incumbent that he opposes this path. As a result, the senator has already attracted one pro-Trump primary challenger in former state Sen. Kelli Ward — and he might get at least one more.

Early polls (all of them from small right-wing firms) show Ward ahead by double-digit ratios, and even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has taken notice. Last week, McConnell’s super-PAC released a web ad that painted Ward — and, by implication, the entire Trump movement — as out of touch with reality.

The battle lines, in other words, are drawn.

***

  By the time Arizona Republicans select their Senate nominee next August, Ward may no longer have Flake all to herself. The White House is trying to persuade a more prominent Republican, such as Graham or DeWit, to enter the race, and even former sheriff of Maricopa County Joe Arpaio, the anti-immigrant hardliner who recently received Trump’s first presidential pardon, is claiming that he’s mulling a bid.

“I’m sure getting a lot of people around the state asking me” to challenge Flake, Arpaio told the Washington Examiner on Monday. “All I’m saying is the door is open and we’ll see what happens. I’ve got support. I know what support I have.”

But for now, Ward, a 48-year-old osteopathic doctor, is Flake’s only real primary competition, and her simple message — I support the president; he doesn’t — will continue to define the contest no matter how many Trump loyalists eventually jump in.

As Flake was leaving the Phoenix area for Tucson, Ward, who lives in Lake Havasu City, made a beeline for the site of Trump’s rally. A dozen volunteers assembled in the lobby of the nearby Renaissance hotel, where an organizer passed out a bunch of T-shirts in Ward’s signature bright yellow. The logo on the front was an Arizona license plate with the words “TRUMP 2016” on one side and “WARD 2018” on the other; the back of the shirt said #MAKEARIZONAGREATAGAIN.

“They’re brand-new,” one volunteer boasted.

Outside, a line of eager Trump fans had already encircled an entire city block, even though the rally was still five hours away and the temperature was 106°F. Ward’s street team set up a folding table at the corner of Second and Washington and went to work. Goal No. 1: gathering the 12,000 or so signatures needed to get Ward on the primary ballot. Goal No. 2: convincing as many Trump voters as possible to wear yellow “Ward 2018” stickers.

Right-wing Flake challenger Kelli Ward poses with a supporter outside President Trump’s Aug. 22 rally in Phoenix. (Photo: Andrew Romano/Yahoo News)

“Any Kelli Ward supporters here?” shouted volunteer Susan McAlpine, a 64-year-old retired teacher with dangly earrings and a thick Boston accent. No response.

“Any Jeff Flake fans here?” she added.

“F*** Jeff Flake,” one man immediately snapped.

“Flake the Flake!” another chimed in.

“Might as well be a Democrat,” a third muttered.

McAlpine pulled me aside. “As soon as they hear the name Flake, they’re all like ‘WHAT?!?!’” she said.

By the time Ward herself materialized on the corner and began to shake hands and smile for selfies in (what else?) a bright yellow blazer, McAlpine & Co. had canvassed the entire block. More than half the attendees now seemed to be sporting WARD 2018 decals. Nearby, consultant Brent Lowder smiled approvingly.

Lowder’s presence in Phoenix is one of several early signs of how much has changed since Ward’s last campaign. In 2016, she attempted to unseat McCain and wound up losing the GOP primary by more than 11 percentage points. Ward made several rookie mistakes that year, plagiarizing a Mitt Romney ad, mocking McCain as “old” and “weak” and failing to fully dispel the opposition’s “Chemtrail Kelli” caricature (which gained traction after Ward hosted a town hall meeting in 2015 to discuss the conspiracy theory — a theory she says she doesn’t believe — that the trails of white condensation emanating from airplane engines are actually dangerous chemicals being dispersed by the government).

But the biggest difference between then and now is that back then, Trump seemed likely to lose the election. Now he’s leader of the free world — and he is personally gunning for Flake.

The rise of Trumpism has, in turn, boosted Ward. On Aug. 9, the reclusive hedge fund billionaire and top Trump donor Robert Mercer sent $300,000 to Ward’s super-PAC. Two days later, Lowder and his partner, Eric Beach, signed on to run Ward’s campaign; they previously led the largest pro-Trump super-PAC in the country, raising $30 million during the 2016 election cycle. And on Aug. 17, Trump himself tweeted about Ward, stopping just short of formally endorsing her.

“Great to see that Dr. Kelli Ward is running against Flake Jeff Flake, who is WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate,” the president wrote. “He’s toxic!”

Great to see that Dr. Kelli Ward is running against Flake Jeff Flake, who is WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He’s toxic!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017

The morning after Trump’s rally in Phoenix, Ward still sounded delighted — and surprised — by all the national attention.

“Our momentum has been YUGE!” Ward told a crowd of 100 local Republicans sipping coffee and nibbling cookies in the Navajo Room of Arizona’s Sun Lakes Country Club. “It’s been ‘big league!’ The media coverage alone — there were 3,000 hits about that tweet!”

Pacing back and forth between two life-size cardboard cutouts of Trump, Ward rattled off all the things she agreed with the president about: building the border wall, halting Muslim immigration, repealing Obamacare, ending sanctuary cities.

“Our race is going to be ground zero for the heart and soul of the Republican Party,” Ward said. “Do we want to be what we’ve had for decade after decade — the same thing that has gotten us into this position where we can’t get anything done? Or do we want to be the party of freedom and hope and opportunity? That’s what Donald Trump has offered us as president — and that’s what we have to continue in 2018. This is the new GOP.”

Suddenly, Ward’s phone rang. She raised her hand and shushed the crowd; the room went silent. It was Sean Hannity’s producer. Unable to resist a last-minute interview request — and the publicity it promised — Ward decided to take the call in the middle of her appearance.

For a few minutes, Ward just listened. Then she smiled. “Thank you!” she said. Ward covered the phone and turned to the crowd. “Sean Hannity just endorsed me!” she whispered. “Yay!”

Kelli Ward receives Sean Hannity’s endorsement in the middle of a campaign stop in Sun Lakes, Ariz. (Photo: Andrew Romano/Yahoo News)

After the event, I talked to Joyce Sample, a retiree from Chandler, about why she wasn’t supporting Flake.

“Trump is now his president,” Sample said. “As a Republican, it’s Flake’s duty to go along with him. He is not doing it. That’s why I don’t like Flake. He’s not being supportive.”

As the room emptied out and Ward posed for a final photo with cardboard Trump, I asked her to explain how “the new GOP” differs from the old GOP.

“Jeff Flake is a globalist,” she said. “He’s not about making sure the United States has as good a deal as everybody else. But the new GOP is about Americanism. That’s what Donald Trump is pushing the Republican Party toward — and that’s what’s at stake in this primary.”

But Flake would say Americanism is not conservatism at all, I suggested. In fact, that’s what his entire book is about.

“You mean his hit piece on the president?” Ward snapped. “It’s all very condescending. He’s basically tapping all of us on the head who are conservative and saying, ‘You don’t really know what conservatism is.’

“Things do change over time,” Ward continued. “Things work or they don’t work. You can’t be stagnant. You have to look at the direction you want to go and see if the path you’re taking is getting you there. And if it isn’t, you have to take a turn.”

***

  A few days earlier, before the Trump tornado touched down in Arizona, Flake attended a breakfast hosted by the East Valley Chambers of Commerce, 20 miles southeast of Phoenix. The theme: “Good Government.”

The senator was in his element. Men in suits and women in heels tapped at their smartphones. A large screen hovering overhead listed nine corporate and institutional sponsors. Attendees held crisp copies of “Conscience of a Conservative,” which Flake happily signed as he made his way to the stage.

“Arizona tends to elect senators who stand on principle and are independent in their thinking,” said the executive tasked with introducing Flake. “Certainly, Sen. Flake is that.”

Jeff Flake signs a copy of his “Conscience of a Conservative” at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast in Gilbert, Ariz. (Photo: Andrew Romano/Yahoo News)

In his remarks, and in his responses to questions, Flake sounded like the same senator I profiled in 2015 — and, I imagine, like same candidate who will be crisscrossing Arizona for the next 14 months, fighting for his political life. He extolled the virtues of NAFTA, arguing that it “has been good for Arizona.” He described Trump’s “rejection of the Trans-Pacific Partnership” as “a big mistake that will haunt us for a long time.” He called for a grand, bipartisan bargain on the deficit, saying that the only way to produce a “sustainable” budget is to “work across the aisle.” He insisted that “when people talk about one solution on the border, they haven’t traveled the border” — and proudly reminded the audience that he was one of the main architects of the Gang of Eight’s comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2013. On North Korea, he warned that “our allies need to know we are steady and predictable — in my mind, that’s what a conservative is.” As for foreign policy in general, “we need to lead, as we have in the past.”

“This vitriol we have, it’s preventing us from achieving conservative ends,” Flake concluded. “We’ve got to get away from calling our opponents ‘losers’ or ‘clowns.’ It just makes it difficult to work with them on big issues.”

Listening to Flake, it was hard to believe that recent polls have shown him with an approval rating as low as 18 percent. Perhaps that’s what happens when you refuse, in such a polarized era, to pander to your party’s base — and actively antagonize the president they adore. You become a man without a country.

The bet Flake is making is simple — and risky. He is wagering, in effect, that most GOP primary voters would rather elect a senator who obeys his principles than one who obeys their party’s president.

Jeff Flake meets the press after his Chamber of Commerce event in Gilbert, Ariz. (Photo: Andrew Romano/Yahoo News)

But there’s another factor at work here that Flake may not be considering — and might not be able to survive. What if Republican primary voters don’t share his principles anymore? What if they never really did?

As we got to the end of that hall in the Pima County sheriff’s office, I asked Flake one last question: Has your reelection contest become a referendum on conservatism itself?

Flake chuckled nervously. “Whether it is or not, I am who I am,” he said. “This is what I think traditional conservatism is. And I do think people will rally around it — given the alternative.”

Flake can be very convincing. But this time, it didn’t sound like he was trying to convince me. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

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Heartbreak By The Lakes, Rams Lose To Vikings

The Rams took a tough loss on Sunday, falling to the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 24-7. In a game that was the Rams most difficult matchup this season, the young team simply did not perform. Outside of the Rams first offensive possession, where they drove down the field beautiful and scored, the team just fell apart.

However, despite playing poorly the Rams were in the game at halftime, everything tied up at seven. Jared Goff led a nice drive on the Rams last possession before the half, but Cooper Kupp fumbled at the one-yard line.

Things really went off the rails in the second half with Nickell Robey-Coleman and Kayvon Webster knocked out by injuries. Dominique Hatfield and his fellow backup cornerbacks simply could not handle Adam Thielen, who went for over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown. It did not help that the Rams pass rush could not get all the way to the quarterback, consistently creating pressure early but not finishing.

The Rams offensive line struggled throughout the game, allowing Goff to be pressured early and often. While few sacks were recorded, that is thanks in large part to Goff’s movement and awareness in the pocket. Robert Woods was yet again a very effective target for Goff, and Sammy Watkins had a solid day but failed to convert a deep shot. Aaron Donald was dominant as usual on the inside but also struggled to record a sack on Keenum.

This Rams team simply did not bring it on Sunday, but all is not lost. The Rams sit at 7-3 and will still have at least a share of the NFC West lead at the end of the week. With a tough Saints team coming up the Rams need to get their heads back on straight and come back prepared for a New Orleans team with few weaknesses.

A young team found themselves at 7-2 and on top of the world before this game, they have certainly been brought back down to Earth. Just the first of a gauntlet of tough games that are ahead for the Rams, maybe a wakeup call was what they needed. At the end of the day, they got it whether they needed it or not so they should look to make the best of it.

Los Angeles will look to get healthy and bounce back next week, proving that they are not a product of their easy early-season schedule. Keep your heads up Rams fans, this one hurts but this team is still going places. Without a doubt, Sean McVay and Wade Phillips will be hitting the film room looking to make adjustments, adjustments that will yield success.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

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Rams Matchup Insight; First Look At The Vikings

The Rams have a tough matchup coming up on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. In order to truly understand what the Rams will be up against, I talked with managing editor of cover32.com/vikings, Sam Smith.

1) What do you believe would need to happen on Sunday for Keenum to be benched in favor of Teddy B?

“I have been in favor of the philosophy of Keenum remaining the starter for the season unless he completely implodes. But given that Bridgewater started warming up Sunday after Keenum’s second interception, it appears the leash is much shorter than that and this is truly a week-to-week thing. I believe that there very well could be a hook if Keenum has another multi-interception game, if he starts consistently missing passes or if they have a few three-and-outs in a row. I do not agree with it but the coaching staff for whatever reason seems less committed to Keenum than his 5-2 record as a starter says they ought to be.”

2) What is one area that the Vikings will have to perform well in (that typically is not there strongest aspect) in order to win?

“The Vikings do not have many weaknesses but their production in the running game has left something to be desired. Part of that is due to the injury to Dalvin Cook but part of it is also the interior line’s run blocking. Rookie center Pat Elflein and inexperienced guard Nick Easton have been very good in pass pro but their ability to get movement up front on running plays has been somewhat lackluster. Since they will be going head-to-head against arguably the best defensive player in the league in Aaron Donald, something is going to have to improve dramatically if they have any hope of establishing a consistent rushing attack and play action game.”

3) What makes you most nervous about the way the Vikings match up with the Rams?

“Twofold. One, while they are a great defense, Minnesota is coming off their worst defensive performance just in time to take on the number one scoring offense in the league. The pass rush should be better with Everson Griffen coming back but giving up 30 to Washington does not bode well leading up to playing the Rams who have had three monster games in their last three weeks.

The other worry is Aaron Donald. The guy is a wreaker of havoc and the Vikings weakest area is interior line. Keenum works the pocket well but for the most part that has been with pressure coming off the edge. He has not had to deal with a dominant pass-rushing defensive tackle yet and Donald is as good as they come.”

4) What is your prediction for Sunday, how do you think this game will shake out?

“In my estimation, these are two of the four best and most complete teams in the NFL, along with New Orleans and Philadelphia. It really could go either way. I believe the Rams will get off to a hot start, go into the half with the lead but the Vikings will clamp down in the second half and pull out a narrow win with a last-minute field goal on their home turf. But these teams are virtual equals. Prediction: Vikings 27, Rams 26.”

Sam is predicting a tight game on Sunday, and I certainly feel the same way. Thanks to Sam for his time, and be on the lookout for more preview articles in the coming days!

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

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Dear Buffalo…

Dear Buffalo,

Hope you guys are doing well, I see you’re having an alright season. That was a rough one against the Saints on Sunday… yikes. Keep your head up fellas, you’ve already exceeded expectations.

I just wanted to write and say thank you. Ya know, for Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins? You guys let Woods walk in free agency, and wow was that a lucky move for the us here in Los Angeles. You also made us a pretty good deal for Watkins, and he’s heating up too.

Woods caught a 94 yard touchdown pass on Sunday, absolutely toasting the defense and catching a great ball from Jared Goff. Woods has been Mr. Reliable all season and is always where Goff needs him to be, when he needs him to be there. Let me make it more clear for you, Goff has a PERFECT passer rating when throwing to Woods since week six. He runs precise routes and does not even seem to know the definition of the word drop. He has put up really strong numbers this year, and should have an extra touchdown after he was robbed against the Cowboys.

Let’s face it, the guy was just meant to be in Los Angeles. He set career highs yesterday, in the Coliseum where he played his college games with USC. Woods’ second touchdown on Sunday came on a fake reverse, then he broke back out to the flat and fought his way to the end zone after making the catch. A few fans were worried that Woods wasn’t worth the money, well more than a few. Boy, were they wrong.

Watkins was a pretty surprising trade when it all went down, but I’m happy it did. E.J. Gaines is a nice young player, and you guys might hit on that second round draft pick. Some fans here have been frustrated that Watkins hasn’t had a ton of production, but he is certainly drawing a lot of attention regardless.

He hit a home run play last week in New York, and took a screen pass for a touchdown this week. Not to mention that blocking, he is a tenacious blocker. It seems like Watkins’ chemistry with Goff and usage just keeps increasing, and the Rams already have the highest scoring offense in the NFL.

So thank you Buffalo, we really appreciate Woods and Watkins. You guys have a winning record and just had to go get Kelvin Benjamin so you had somebody who could make plays in the passing game, maybe you should’ve kept our dynamic duo around. Sorry, its too late to take them back. Well, we’re gonna get to work focusing on Minnesota, I’ll talk to you later. Thanks again.

Sincerely,

Rams fans

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

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Rams Win vs Texans: Recap and Breakdown

The Rams defense got off to a great start, unsurprisingly lead by Aaron Donald. Donald forced a strip sack and set the Rams up inside the red zone for their first offensive play. The Rams failed to fully capitalize on the opportunity behind a third and long screen that fell short of the sticks. Greg Zuerlein came on for the short attempt and nailed it, no surprise there. An untimely drop by a Texans receiver killed a somewhat successful drive that got started by strong Texans run game. The upcoming Rams drive netted a loss of one yard and Johnny Hekker was brought on for his first punt of the day. Good work by the Rams defense on a short field forced another Houston punt. Trumaine Johnson nearly landed a pick six on a throw that was rushed by Connor Barwin, but he couldn’t make the catch. The Rams were set to take over from their own four. Todd Gurley made a nice run to kick the Rams off on the ensuing drive. However, Goff took a poor sack and then made two throws that only netted a few yards in the coming plays. Hekker came on to punt once again, a great punt. On the ensuing drive the Texans drew a questionable pass interference call that set them up in Rams territory. The Rams defense came up huge, including Michael Brockers drawing a holding call, and backed the Texans up for a 34 yard field goal. The Houston kicker shanked the fairly short attempt, and it seemed as though momentum shifted towards the Rams.

The Rams drew a penalty before the drive began, and then Gurley took a screen out of the backfield for a huge gain. Great downfield blocking be Rodger Saffold helped open things up for the Rams running back. Gurley then took a first down handoff for another 15 yards, Saffold doing great work. Cooper Kupp got demolished trying to block Jadeveon Clowney and Gurley went down for a loss of seven on the next play, a tough matchup for the young receiver. Goff got outside and scrambled for a gain of six on the next play, setting up third and long yet again for the Rams. Gurley was targeted yet again out of the backfield on third down, but the pass fell incomplete. Zuerlein came in on fourth down and proved why he is called Mr. Automatic, nailing the attempt. A long Texans drive and a Tom Savage touchdown pass gave the Rams the lead, after poor coverage by John Johnson III.

Tavon Austin took an end-around reverse towards the sideline for a nice gain and got absolutely smoked by a Texans defender. Gurley took the second down carry and set the Rams up for a third and short opportunity. Gurley just barely picked up the first down on a catch out of the backfield on third down. After a false start penalty Lance Dunbar got in on his first snap as a Ram, not receiving the ball. Tyler Higbee got hit hard on second down, Kevin Johnson once again laying the wood. Nothing was there on third down and Goff was forced to check the ball down to Todd Gurley, coming up short of the first down. The Rams faked the punt on fourth down and came up short of the first, setting the Texans up in good field position.

The Rams defense almost stopped the Texans, but a holding penalty by Nickell Robey-Coleman extended the Texans drive. However, Mark Barron came up with a clutch interception to prevent any points for the Houston.

The Rams took over with a good distance to go and not a lot of time on the clock. Goff strung together a few incompletions, finding Woods, Cooper, and Higbee in quick succession to get towards field goal range. The drive stalled out, but got far enough for Zuerlein to nail a 50 yard attempt. The Rams took the lead once again, heading into the half.

To kick off the second half the Rams hurt themselves with a false start penalty on Rob Havenstein, but Goff came back and found Kupp for a 19 yard gain. Goff followed that play up with an intentional grounding penalty, backing the Rams up 10 yards. A screen for Gurley picked up just a few yards on second down, setting up third and long. On third and 17 the Rams drew Houston offsides, but still faced third and long. Goff’s pass for Gerald Everett was incomplete, facing heavy pressure to his left side. Hekker came on to punt, once again. The Rams defense was called to action once again, and had an interception returned for touchdown called back thanks to a holding penalty. Penalties on the Texans backed them up, and the Rams defended the pass well. The Texans were forced to punt, and Pharoh Cooper reeled it in surprisingly close to the goal line and got nowhere.

Gurley took a carry for just two yards on first down, getting the Rams out to their own six. Woods took the top off the defense on the following play on Goff delivered a strike to his wide open receiver, a 94 yard pitch and catch touchdown. Zuerlein nailed the extra point, of course, and put the rams up by two scores. The Rams defense came through with a solid three-and-out on the ensuing possession, and the Rams gears kept turning. A booming punt and a penalty on the Rams backed them up close to their own endzone yet again. Gurley got the Rams going with a first down on the first play of the possession, and then Woods reeled in an eight yard grab. Kupp caught an out route on the ensuing play and picked up the first down. Goff failed to escape a collapsed pocket on first down, and the Rams were set for second and long. Woods made a few defenders miss on a short catch on second down, then Kupp did enough to get the first down. After a Lance Dunbar drop and then an Austin carry, the Rams faced a manageable third down. Goff got sacked once again on third down, forcing Hekker to come back for another punt.

After stuffing the Texans on the first play of the possession,  Savage threw incomplete twice and Houston was forced to punt. Cooper got a great return, getting across midfield and giving the Rams offense great field position. Austin had nowhere to go on the first play of the drive, giving the Rams a loss of five yards. Goff found Sammy Watkins down the middle of the field on second down, giving the Rams a first down in the red zone. They called Watkins’ number again on first down, catching a screen pass and following Andrew Whitworth into the red zone for a score.

Savage got smoked on first down and fumbled, setting the Rams up just outside the 10 yard line. Woods took a swing pass on the first play of the drive and made one guy miss, getting into the end zone for his second touchdown of the day aided by great blocking by Watkins.

A penalty on Nickell Robey-Coleman gave the Texans a first down just before the end of the third quarter, extending their drive. The Rams shut the Texans drive down shortly after that, declining a holding penalty on Houston on third down. Cooper caught the punt right around the 10 yard line and the Rams offense took the field once again. Austin got to the edge on the first play of the drive, but was stopped for no gain. The Rams drew the Texans off on second and 10, getting in a more manageable spot. Gurley went for a couple yards on second down, setting up third and short but Saffold went down with an injury. Goff found Gurley underneath for a quick third down conversion. A rare Whitworth holding penalty was called on first down setting up first and 20, but Gurley picked up a first down on a huge carry on the ensuing play. After a timeout, Goff found Woods deep down the field for a gain of about 30. After a loss of a few yards on first down, Woods caught another pass to get a few back. The Rams then faced third and long and Goff found Kupp on an out route, but the young receiver was unable to pick up a first down. No surprises on fourth down, Zuerlein stepped up and nailed the field goal attempt from 33 yards out.

The Texans once again picked up their first first down of the drive on a penalty, a pass interference call on Kayvon Webster. DeAndre Hopkins made a great catch over Webster on second down for the Texans, getting Houston into Rams territory. Hopkins got his third straight target on first down, going for another first down. On his fourth straight target, Hopkins reeled in a fade route but was out of bounds. C.J. Fiedorowics was unable to haul in a third down pass, and the Texans left the offense on the field for fourth down. Blake Countess made them pay for that decision, getting the interception and returning it outside the Rams 25.

Dunbar took the carry on first down, going for just a yard up the middle. His second carry went for about 12 yards, a good run to the outside. Dunbar was stuffed on the ensuing play, unable to find room to run. His number was called once again on second down, slipping through a crowded front for about seven yards. Yet again Dunbar got the ball on third down, finding plenty of space and going for about 10 yards before wisely going down to keep the clock running. The Rams took to victory formation after that, ending the game with a dominant 33-7 win.

Outlook

The Rams played a poor first half, but still found a way to win in dominant fashion. Goff had another great game, going for over 350 passing yards and three touchdowns. Speaking of touchdowns, Woods had two and Watkins had one. It was great to see Watkins get involved  with a screen pass, that is something to be on the lookout going forward. Woods was excellent, hauling in a 94 yard bomb and fighting his way into the endzone on a fake reverse. It seemed as though Gurley didn’t even have a successful day, but he still found a way to get over 130 all-purpose yards.

The Rams defense had a great game, especially considering the amount of short fields they were handed. Even facing tough penalty calls, the Rams continued to fight on the defensive side of the ball, and found their way to a few turnovers. The defensive front did a great job with the run game as well, especially as the game continued to go on. LaMarcus Joyner had a great game, laying some big hits and defending the pass very well.

I would be remised if I did not mention Dunbar’s first game. The Rams running back ran the ball well to seal the deal in his first action of the season, and filled in quite well for Malcolm Brown.

Samson Ebukam saw extended action in the absence of Robert Quinn and performed quite well, forcing a fumble on Savage and setting the offense up for a touchdown. The young outside linebacker is still raw, but is flashing the talent and athleticism the Rams drafted him for this year.

The Rams face the Minnesota Vikings next week, a tough matchup. Case Keenum is under center for the Vikes and is performing nicely alone with one of the top defenses in the NFL.

The Rams will need to get to work tomorrow, preparing for a matchup with another 7-2 team. Until then they (and you Rams fans) can celebrate the great win they had today.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

AROUND COVER32

Patriots bring back Martellus Bennett

Does Sean McVay represent a changing of the guard among NFL coaches?

Fantasy Football Week 10:Top Adds | Top Drops

Bye week solutions for the Oakland Raiders

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Rams Matchup Insight; First Look At The Texans

In order to get some insight into the Texans ahead of this week’s matchup, we talked with James Mastrucci. (Managing editor of cover32.com/Texans)

1) Obviously the loss of Watson hurts this Texans team a lot in terms of quarterback play, but how does it effect them in terms of leadership and locker room chemistry?

“There is a distinct difference in the what the team is able to do with Deshaun Watson compared to Tom Savage. This was further evident during former Texan Duane Brown’s holdout. College concepts were brought in to negate the fact that the former All-Pro was absent. Utilizing these concepts made the decision to trade Brown a no-brainer. Without Watson, a traditional left tackle is needed. Unfortunately that traditional left tackle is in Seattle now. In week one without Brown, Savage was sacked six times. He was only sacked twice this past Sunday but it is hard to imagine that it stays at this low of a number.”

“Watson’s leadership is not able to be replicated by Savage. This could be in part due to Savage being benched during week one’s loss to Jacksonville. Not that Savage has a damaged ego (honestly he probably does), but There is a reason why Watson was drafted by the team in the first place. In addition to his playmaking ability, it was his leadership. His head coach at Clemson Dabo Swinney compared him to Michael Jordan before the draft, right now it seems like he was right.”

2) What is one area that the Texans will have to perform surprisingly well in in order to win this game?

“Offensively the Texans will probably be a mess but if they truly want a chance in this game they have to perform well defensively. Their defense has been hit with multiple season-ending injuries. Injuries to J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus were lost in the same game. Brian Cushing was hit with a 10-game suspension and is yet to see the field.”

“With the absence of these three players one thing has become abundantly clear, the pass rush of the Texans covered up for their lackluster secondary. Without the presence of Watt and Mercilus, there is no pressure on the opposing quarterback which is making the defensive backs have to cover receivers and tight ends longer which inevitably ends up with a player being wide open for an easy completion. The problem is that a defensive back can only cover for so long and unfortunately they have to cover longer without a pass rush to help their cause.”

3) What makes you most nervous about the way the Texans match up with this Rams team?

“Can I say everything? The Rams are completely different team than last year. Replacing Jeff Fisher with Sean McVay was the best thing they could have done. Jared Goff is living up to his potential, Todd Gurley is a viable running back again and that defense can shut down any opposing offense. This is not an optimal matchup for the Texans at this time in the season.”

4) What is your prediction for how this game goes?

“This should be an easy win for the Los Angeles Rams. Houston simply has too many injuries to complete at a high enough level to make this a legitimate contest on Sunday. Their best bet is to bring in a limited playbook with basic plays they can execute in their sleep. Even with that they still will have a tough time winning, but they will at least be more efficient. It would take quite the performance of an injury plagued team to come out victorious.”

Well Rams fans, James’ expertise bodes well for the Rams ahead of Sunday’s game. The Texans expert here at cover32 believes the Rams will win, a solid sign that this is a game the Rams SHOULD win. Thanks to James for his time spent on this interview.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

AROUND COVER32

What does Sunday’s win mean for the Colts?

How close is Jared Goff to being ‘Elite’?

Bill Belichick is closing in on another coaching milestone

Titans barely escape the Ravens

Interested in writing for cover32? Follow the link to apply!

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The Truth About Jared Goff and Carson Wentz

Jared Goff and Carson Wentz will forever be linked in conversation, and deservedly so. The two young quarterbacks were selected first and second overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, with differing opinions on who should be drafted first overall. The Rams traded five picks for the right to draft Goff first overall, he was their guy the whole way. The Eagles were forced to move up too, also trading five picks to go up and get Wentz.

Wentz saw the field first, starting every game for the Philadelphia Eagles last season. Coming out of North Dakota State, there was a lot of questions about whether or not Wentz’ talents would translate to the NFL where he would face much stiffer competition. However, many analysts and fans around the league felt that he had the tools to become an elite quarterback at the professional level. He had his ups and downs in year one, but showed flashes of immense potential. That potential carried over to this season, which has been mostly ups. Wentz has already thrown over 20 touchdowns this season and is performing at an MVP level, leading his Eagles to the best record in the NFL thus far at 8-1. Not only is Wentz a dynamic passer, he presents the ability to escape pressure and make plays with his legs.

Goff was another story year one, not getting his first start until the ninth game of the Rams season. Coming out of the University of California, it was clear that Goff faced a much better level of competition at the college level than Wentz. Still, many experts believed that Wentz had a higher ceiling. The young quarterback struggled quite a bit in year one, not picking up a single win and posting awful statistics. However, much of the blame was (rightfully) placed on Goff’s poor supporting cast and dreadful offensive system. His sophomore season has been a completely different story. Goff now has Sean McVay calling the plays, one of the best young minds in football. He also now has a strong group of receivers and one of the best running backs in the league to keep opposing defenses honest. Goff has now lead his team to a 6-2 record at the midway point, posting the most points per game in the NFL.

Both Goff and Wentz are performing at a level that is blowing fans around the league out of the water. The two young stars are shaping up to be a force in the league for years to come, currently leading arguably the top two teams in the NFC. History will likely look upon Goff and Wentz to see who was the better player in the end, and ultimately see if the Rams made “the right decision”.

The truth about these two young stars, thus far, is that there was no wrong decision.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

AROUND COVER32

What does Sunday’s win mean for the Colts?

How close is Jared Goff to being ‘Elite’?

Bill Belichick is closing in on another coaching milestone

Titans barely escape the Ravens

Interested in writing for cover32? Follow the link to apply!

[cover32-yahoopartner-blog]

Interview With Rams Great LeRoy Irvin

LeRoy Irvin played cornerback and returned punts for the Los Angeles Rams from 1980 to 1989. Known as a guy who consistently made big plays, Irvin hauled in 34 interceptions in his ten seasons with the Rams and was electric returning punts. The Rams great holds the record for punt return yards in a game, tallying 207 yards in a 1981 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. I had the privilege of speaking with Irvin to talk about his career and the current state of the Rams.

I just wanted to start out by talking about the current state of the Rams, what do you think about the way this team is headed?

“It all starts with Sean McVay who has done a great job changing the culture that surrounds this team. The organization also did a good job in the offseason, picking up Woods and Watkins. The left tackle (Andrew Whitworth) has gone a long way in solidifying the offensive line and the Rams struck gold drafting Cooper Kupp. Jared Goff is proving that he is everything we all believed he could be and that has really allowed Todd Gurley to shine. In the second half of the season the Rams have a tough road ahead, it will be a true test of how good they really are.”

Being a former defensive back, how do you feel about this secondary?

“This secondary has been good, but they could be better. John Johnson has played well at safety in his rookie year and Tru has played good, he’s one of the best corners in the game right now. LaMarcus Joyner is a guy that makes them more versatile with how athletic he is, you can never have too many good defensive backs.”

You were a big play guy with a lot of electric plays in your career, what were some of your favorite moments?

“I had lots of great moments in my career but that 1981 game with the most punt return yards in a single in NFL history is probably the highlight game of my career. However, after growing up a Cowboys, going in there and getting some picks on Monday Night Football was really cool as well.”

Being a big play guy you were forced to take risks, how did your unit as a whole communicate when going to make big plays?

“I always played with great other guys in the secondary and we would study the other team and find out their tendencies. We would pick out certain situations to take chances and let our safeties know that we need them to be there over the top. I would try to jump the hitch, so I needed somebody to be there over the top in case they went with a hitch-and-go. Our defensive backs coach actually just found out about this three years ago, we were all laughing.”

This is a young team that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today, how did your game change in the playoffs?

“The playoffs are a whole other game, everything is elevated. You have more national attention and one mistake could send you home. Preparation is so important and you need to make sure not to get lured into the idea that there’s always next year. Sometimes there is no next year and you need to make this year count.”

Can you talk a little bit about what rivalry games meant?

“Well a lot of times people think that you are more amped up for rivalry games and that’s true. It was different because regardless of whether it was a rivalry game we really had to play at a high level against the Niners because they had Joe (Montana) and Jerry (Rice) and I was responsible for covering Jerry.”

“Now the rivalry is a little different because of Seattle. The Rams and 49ers will always be a good rivalry but sometimes it is lessened when the teams aren’t winning. The Rams rivalry with Seattle is something that could become more of an item in the coming years because Seattle has been winning and even when the Rams weren’t they always played well against Seattles. Now that the Rams are winning the rivalry is set to get even bigger. It’s definitely extra when the fans are so jacked up about a game but you prepare just as much.”

What do you expect from this Rams team the rest of the way?

“The second half of the season will be a good test for this team. The weather is going to change and you have to be able to run the ball, which the Rams have proven they can do. A lot of tough matchups ahead but all winnable games. I would not be surprised to see this team pick up at least four more wins in the second half, even though I only predicted an eight win season originally.”

I want to thank LeRoy Irvin for speaking with me and taking the time, his stories of his playing days were amazing.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

AROUND COVER32

What does Sunday’s win mean for the Colts?

How close is Jared Goff to being ‘Elite’?

Bill Belichick is closing in on another coaching milestone

Titans barely escape the Ravens

Interested in writing for cover32? Follow the link to apply!

[cover32-yahoopartner-blog]

Sean McVay is just ’bout that accountability, boss

When the Rams brought in Sean McVay as the youngest head coach in NFL history many people around the league had questions. Is he too young? Can he lead a group of guys, some of whom are older than him? Does he have enough football experience to be a head coach? Questions, answered.

The Rams head coach has proved himself as an offensive mastermind, taking the Rams offense from worst to first. He helped Jared Goff to develop and silence anyone who dared call him a “bust”. He brought Todd Gurley back to his Rookie of the Year form and has him set to exceed it. However, these things did not come as much of a surprise for those who understood what a sharp offensive mind McVay is.

McVay took over and instantly began preaching accountability to his players, holding them to a high standard at every turn. When Tyler Higbee arrived late for a McVay meeting during camp, he was fined. When players don’t conduct themselves properly on the field, they are fined. When running sprints in practice, McVay watches the film later on and ensures that his players touch the line every single time. The Rams players don’t dare be late for their coach’s meetings anymore, no matter what the situation. But the youngest head coach in NFL history is also quick to praise his players, and that has been much appreciated by this Rams team.

The accountability begins with McVay himself, who may be his own harshest critic. The young coach got on the stand at a press conference earlier this season and criticized his own play calling after a tough loss to the Redskins. He practices what he preaches, day in and day out.

When Rams star wide receiver Sammy Watkins took to twitter to voice his frustrations earlier this season, McVay sat down with him. In a press conference later on McVay made it known that he and Watkins watched every single play of the Seattle game, talking about Watkins can do better and what McVay can do in order to give him more opportunities.

When it appeared that a scuffle was forming just before halftime of the Rams game on Sunday, McVay and his staff ran out to get their players to the locker room. That may not sound like something that stands out, but not a single Giants coach was anywhere near the group that formed.

Accountability is the number one thing on the list of McVay’s expectations for his team, and he proves it on a consistent basis.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

AROUND COVER32

What does Sunday’s win mean for the Colts?

How close is Jared Goff to being ‘Elite’?

Bill Belichick is closing in on another coaching milestone

Titans barely escape the Ravens

Interested in writing for cover32? Follow the link to apply!

[cover32-yahoopartner-blog]

How Close Is Jared Goff To Being “Elite”?

Rams quarterback Jared Goff is a new player this season after seven rough starts last season. Honestly, rough is probably too nice, but Goff was operating in a poor offensive system with a lack of personnel around him. This year Goff has a new, stronger offensive line and a plethora of targets to go to on the outside. Couple those factors with new head coach Sean McVay, quarterback guru and offensive mastermind, and the Rams quarterback seems primed for success.

Now Goff is operating in a shiny new Rams offense that is allowing him to make smart decisions and put the ball in the hands of his weapons. While still within the first 16 starts of his professional career he is playing at a high level and silencing the doubters who prematurely deemed him a “bust”. He is also drawing recognition from former Rams as one of the most exciting parts of this Rams teams, specifically Marshall Faulk and Eric Dickerson.

After Sunday’s win Goff got over 2,000 passing yards for the season, putting him on pace for 4,000 on the year. He has also thrown 13 touchdowns which is a solid number up to this point. Quite impressively for a young quarterback Goff has only thrown four interceptions, showing his ability to make good decisions with the football. At the end of the day the team that wins the turnover battle in an NFL game typically comes out victorious, Goff is helping his team to do that.

Back to our question, is Goff “elite”. The short answer is no, that title can not be earned after just eight games of really strong quarterback play. However, there is no doubt that Goff has played at an elite level at times this season and is certainly on the right track. In the strongest performance of his career on Sunday Goff threw for over 300 yards and passed for four touchdowns, both career highs. He also posted a staggering passer rating of 146.9, not far from the perfect mark of 158.3.

In order for Goff to truly attain the elite label he will need to improve his play against top-of-the-shelf secondaries. That doesn’t mean he has to throw the ball all over the field when facing top units, because the gameplay will typically not allow for that. However, it is crucial that Goff is able to be more effective in those games.

For example, Goff struggled against the Seahawks earlier this season and completed less than 50 percent of his passes. Also throwing for no touchdowns and two interceptions Goff played arguably his worst game of the season that week. In the two following weeks Goff was a little better, even if the stats do not reflect it. Throwing for less than 200 yards against Jacksonville Goff did just enough to help his team win and did a good job protecting the football. The following week Todd Gurley ran all over the Cardinals and Goff was able to sit back and manage the game, which he did quite well.

While many fans felt that Goff just needed to be a game manager this season, he has far exceeded those expectations. The young quarterback has flashed elite potential and is playing at a Pro Bowl level in my opinion. However, in order to truly reach elite status Goff will have to put together these strong performances against elite defenses and secondaries.

Regardless of titles and status Goff has played his team to first in the NFC West thus far in the season. Especially given Sean McVay’s “we not me” approach to football, I’m sure Goff is going to be happy with this success regardless of his classification.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

AROUND COVER32

Russell Wilson is quietly having an MVP caliber season

Has Ben McAdoo lost the Giants?

Jets prepare for their only primetime game of the year

Brock Osweiler is ready to retake the starting role

The staff makes their award predictions

[cover32-yahoopartner-blog]

Rams Score 51 Points; Dominate Giants

The Rams traveled to the east coast for the final time this season on Sunday and certainly will depart with a smile on their faces. Sean McVay’s team was absolutely dominant, beating the Giants by 34 points in a game that wasn’t even that close. The Rams posted 48 points through the first three quarters and rested the majority of their starters the rest of the way. Malcolm Brown came in to pound the clock away, running effectively and even helping the Rams pick up an extra field goal.

Jared Goff had the best game of his professional career, throwing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. His most notable pass was a 67 yard bomb to Sammy Watkins, who burnt the defense and walked into the end zone.  He also found Robert Woods for two touchdowns, including a 52 yard touchdown on a screen pass. The screen pass was a conservative play call for an offense that was facing third down and 33, but the Rams executed it flawlessly. The first touchdown of the day went in the direction of Tyler Higbee. Goff had all day in the pocket and found his tight end for the touchdown on the team’s first offensive drive.

Todd Gurley did not have a remarkable performance by his standards, aside from his two touchdowns. The Rams star running back got loose for 44 yards on the first drive but was not too effective after that. Gurley showed great fight from the one yard line, plowing ahead for a touchdown. The Rams running back was also strong in the passing game, going for around 50 receiving yards to compliment his ground game.

The Rams offensive line had a very good day in pass protection, keeping Goff clean in the pocket. Run blocking was shaky at times, but it was more than enough to get the job.

The Rams defense recovered from a shaky start by forcing a turnover on the Giants first possession. The turnovers continued with another forced fumble and an interception, getting after Eli Manning early and often. Even at times where the Rams defense was seemingly allowing large chunk plays, they stood up at just the right times to take back possession. Aaron Donald was what he always is, a monster on the inside. The secondary performed well also, Trumaine Johnson coming through for the game’s lone interception.

Rams special teams was excellent as usual in every aspect. Greg Zuerlein was perfect on his kicks, nailing three field goals and six extra points. Johnny Hekker was only forced to punt twice, but both were covered very well. Pharoh Cooper considered to solidify his position as one of the best returners in all of football, picking up big chunks on kick and punt returns. Corey Littleton was able to sneak through and block a punt as well, setting the Rams up with a very short field.

Long story short, the Rams were dominant in almost every way on Sunday. This Rams team is continuing to prove that they are special, winning games that they are supposed to win. Sean McVay kept his players focused coming out of the bye and they delivered. The sky looks like the limit for this Rams team after a 51-17 win.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

AROUND COVER32

Russell Wilson is quietly having an MVP caliber season

Has Ben McAdoo lost the Giants?

Jets prepare for their only primetime game of the year

Brock Osweiler is ready to retake the starting role

The staff makes their award predictions

[cover32-yahoopartner-blog]

Rams Place Safety Cody Davis On Injured Reserve

The Rams announced on Friday that they are placing safety Cody Davis on IR with a thigh injury, likely ending his season. They are yet to announce the corresponding roster move. Davis started a few games this season in the absence of starter LaMarcus Joyner, who is now healthy. Rams rookie John Johnson III has played incredibly well, making an impact surprisingly quickly.

Given the strong play of Joyner and Johnson III, Davis was shaping up to be a rotational player the rest of this season. Now that Davis is likely done for the season it appears that the team will rely on Marqui Christian and Blake Countess to fill out the rotation. Those two will look to cover Davis’ 19 tackles and one interception he had this season.

In order to fill Davis’ roster spot the team could go a few different directions. They could look to bring Lance Dunbar onto the active roster from the PUP list, which must happen within the next few weeks if the Rams want to activate him this season. The team could also look to fill the spot with more safety depth, as they are now one short in the rotation. Stay tuned for the corresponding roster move.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

AROUND COVER32

Russell Wilson is quietly having an MVP caliber season

Has Ben McAdoo lost the Giants?

Jets prepare for their only primetime game of the year

Brock Osweiler is ready to retake the starting role

The staff makes their award predictions

[cover32-yahoopartner-blog]

Behind Enemy Lines: Interview With Giants ME Curtis Rawls

Ahead of the Rams matchup with the Giants on Sunday we wanted to get the inside scoop on New York. In order to do so, we interviewed cover32.com/giants managing editor Curtis Rawls.

1. With such big pieces missing in the secondary, how do you feel about the Giants ability to fill those gaps?

It’s quite simple, actually. They can’t. The Giants are entering the game against the league’s second highest scoring offense without its top cornerback in Janoris Jenkins, who I’m sure wanted the chance to show up his old team.

2. What do you feel will be the defining part of this game if the Giants want to win?

The Giants cannot get into a shootout with these Rams. They have to run the ball and play hard nosed defense.

3. What individual or position group matchup do you feel most secure about? Nervous about?

I don’t feel secure about any of this. The Giants offense can’t score, the defense can’t stop anyone from marching up and down the field and scoring, and special teams has been anything but special this season.

4. What is your score prediction for Sunday?

Right now, I would have to say Rams-30, Giants-13

Outlook

There you have it Rams fans, get excited for this matchup. Nobody at all of cover32 knows the Giants better than Curtis and he is currently predicting a Rams victory. Thanks again to Curtis for taking the time do this interview.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

AROUND COVER32

Russell Wilson is quietly having an MVP caliber season

Has Ben McAdoo lost the Giants?

Jets prepare for their only primetime game of the year

Brock Osweiler is ready to retake the starting role

The staff makes their award predictions

[cover32-yahoopartner-blog]

Greg Zuerlein Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month

Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein is a man of many names, but the most fitting nickname is “Mr. Automatic”. Greg the Leg has been known for his impressive range, able to strike well beyond 50 yards. After a rough season two years ago, Zuerlein worked hard and is now the best kicker in the league this season.

Not only has he been consistent, with just one miss all season, but he has also done so with a very large body of work. This Rams team has struggled to find their way to the end zone, Zuerlein has ensured that almost every trip to that end of the field ends with points.

He has done that so well that he leads the NFL in points and is on pace to break the NFL record for points scored in a season with 192. At a time where extra points are no longer guaranteed in the NFL, Zuerlein is perfect on PATs this year.

Another underrated part of Legatron’s game is his strong leg on kickoffs. Every time a kick returner gets the opportunity to run back a kickoff it has the potential for a big play. Zuerlein takes away that opportunity for opposing teams, often landing the ball deep in the end zone or out the back and avoiding kick returns.

Rams punter Johnny Hekker always says “punters are people too” as he performs in the top tier of the league. Zuerlein certainly proves that kickers are people too, giving the best performance of any kicker in the league.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

AROUND COVER32

Russell Wilson is quietly having an MVP caliber season

Has Ben McAdoo lost the Giants?

Jets prepare for their only primetime game of the year

Brock Osweiler is ready to retake the starting role

The staff makes their award predictions

[cover32-yahoopartner-blog]

Rams Have One Big Flaw That Needs To Be Corrected

The Rams have been something special this season, but they have one big issue. The young team led by an offensive guru head coach is having a hard time finishing drives. The Rams are forced to kick a field goal on more than 50 percent of their red zone drives, scoring a touchdown around 47 percent of the time.

For a team that leads the league in points scored, they are still finding a way to put big numbers on the board. However, those numbers would be a lot greater if they find a way to put the ball in the end zone more consistently. With a tough schedule coming up in the second half of the season, the Rams need to get creative to finish drives. Some of these plays just come down to execution, whether it’s failing to punch the ball in or Cooper Kupp failing to make some tough catches.

Sean McVay has dialed up some plays to get the job done, namely his creative shovel pass to Gerald Everett. Both Tavon Austin and Todd Gurley got the defense flowing to the right and Everett snuck back behind the offensive line, taking the pass and plowing forward. Also, Gurley has had more success running the ball to the outside on the red zone, laying down stiff arms and fighting hard to get to the pylon.

The Rams have been consisted ranked around the top of the NFL along with the Philadelphia Eagles, who find their way to the end zone 68 percent of the time. The two teams match up fairly well with each other so the game in week 14, and potentially the playoffs, could come down to finishing drives. If that is the case, the Rams must outperform their early season selves and find a way to consistently make it all the way for six.

McVay has sent shockwaves around the league thanks to turning this Rams offensive unit into a high-powered threat. The young head coach can take himself to new heights if he is able to find a way for his players to consistently finish drives.

– Andrew Kelly is the Managing Editor for cover32.com/Rams and covers the Los Angeles Rams. He also writes national and fantasy content for cover32. Like and follow on Follow @Andrew_K47 Follow @cover32_LAR

AROUND COVER32

Patriots trade Jimmy G to the 49ers

Texans ship Duane Brown off to the Seahawks

Vikings acquire running back, Mack Brown

Seahawks finally upgrade their offensive line with acquisition of Brown

Former NFL defensive end, Daniel Te’o-Neshiem dies at age 30