NFC West: Steven Jackson
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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Rams in 2012:
Dream scenario (8-8): Sam Bradford takes every snap on offense for the second time in three seasons as the Rams protect their franchise quarterback with sensible play-calling. It's the sixth time a Jeff Fisher-coached team finishes 8-8, but no one is complaining after the Rams' 15-65 run over the previous five seasons. Trusting offensive line coach Paul Boudreau to salvage right tackle Jason Smith becomes one of the surprise success stories of the 2012 season, and a critical one for the Rams' efforts to re-establish Bradford.
Turns out the Rams were not fibbing when they suggested Brian Quick, the receiver they took in the second round, ranked up there with first-rounder Justin Blackmon on their board. The constant threat of Steven Jackson and Isaiah Pead out of the backfield creates favorable matchups for Quick and the Rams' underrated receivers. Bradford publicly downplays a Week 2 victory over Robert Griffin III and Washington, but it feels good to win at home against the player St. Louis could have selected second overall this year.
Watching Janoris Jenkins score on a fourth-quarter punt return in Patrick Peterson's house improbably stakes the Rams to a 6-5 record, stirring visions of the postseason. It's certainly sweet to finally win within the division again. The Rams lose to San Francisco the following week and ultimately finish the regular season with a respectable defeat at Seattle, but the season is a success by any measure.
Nightmare scenario (3-13): Road games against Detroit and Chicago in the first three weeks expose Bradford to significant punishment as Smith and the line struggle to find their bearings. Bradford doesn't want to talk about the ankle injury he aggravated at some point in the season's first month, but it's clearly a factor. Facing Cliff Avril, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Ndamukong Suh, Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan, Julius Peppers, Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin, Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett, Cameron Wake and Clay Matthews in the first seven games leaves Bradford limping toward the bye week, his confidence shaken.
Jackson continues to plug away, but we've seen this movie before, and it doesn't end well for the Rams. The depth at receiver is indeed improved, but Bradford doesn't have any truly dynamic weapons. Quick understandably needs seasoning, but with Blackmon and Arizona's Michael Floyd challenging rookie receiving records, the Rams look bad for trading down. It's tough finding open receivers with Smith struggling at tackle, anyway.
First-round pick Michael Brockers and free-agent addition Kendall Langford upgrade the run defense, but life as an every-down defensive end is tough for Robert Quinn. The veteran outside linebackers signed as stopgaps represent only a minor upgrade from last season. Off-field issues dog Jenkins, and the defense fails to meet expectations. Critics conveniently blame Gregg Williams' suspension, but the problems are more complex than that.
The Rams head into the offseason with another high draft choice, one they'll almost certainly have to invest in a playmaker of some sort.
Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Rams in 2012:
Dream scenario (8-8): Sam Bradford takes every snap on offense for the second time in three seasons as the Rams protect their franchise quarterback with sensible play-calling. It's the sixth time a Jeff Fisher-coached team finishes 8-8, but no one is complaining after the Rams' 15-65 run over the previous five seasons. Trusting offensive line coach Paul Boudreau to salvage right tackle Jason Smith becomes one of the surprise success stories of the 2012 season, and a critical one for the Rams' efforts to re-establish Bradford.
Turns out the Rams were not fibbing when they suggested Brian Quick, the receiver they took in the second round, ranked up there with first-rounder Justin Blackmon on their board. The constant threat of Steven Jackson and Isaiah Pead out of the backfield creates favorable matchups for Quick and the Rams' underrated receivers. Bradford publicly downplays a Week 2 victory over Robert Griffin III and Washington, but it feels good to win at home against the player St. Louis could have selected second overall this year.
Watching Janoris Jenkins score on a fourth-quarter punt return in Patrick Peterson's house improbably stakes the Rams to a 6-5 record, stirring visions of the postseason. It's certainly sweet to finally win within the division again. The Rams lose to San Francisco the following week and ultimately finish the regular season with a respectable defeat at Seattle, but the season is a success by any measure.
Nightmare scenario (3-13): Road games against Detroit and Chicago in the first three weeks expose Bradford to significant punishment as Smith and the line struggle to find their bearings. Bradford doesn't want to talk about the ankle injury he aggravated at some point in the season's first month, but it's clearly a factor. Facing Cliff Avril, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Ndamukong Suh, Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan, Julius Peppers, Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin, Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett, Cameron Wake and Clay Matthews in the first seven games leaves Bradford limping toward the bye week, his confidence shaken.
Jackson continues to plug away, but we've seen this movie before, and it doesn't end well for the Rams. The depth at receiver is indeed improved, but Bradford doesn't have any truly dynamic weapons. Quick understandably needs seasoning, but with Blackmon and Arizona's Michael Floyd challenging rookie receiving records, the Rams look bad for trading down. It's tough finding open receivers with Smith struggling at tackle, anyway.
First-round pick Michael Brockers and free-agent addition Kendall Langford upgrade the run defense, but life as an every-down defensive end is tough for Robert Quinn. The veteran outside linebackers signed as stopgaps represent only a minor upgrade from last season. Off-field issues dog Jenkins, and the defense fails to meet expectations. Critics conveniently blame Gregg Williams' suspension, but the problems are more complex than that.
The Rams head into the offseason with another high draft choice, one they'll almost certainly have to invest in a playmaker of some sort.
MoJo from Tucson, Ariz., asks a fairly open-ended question regarding the Arizona Cardinals' leading rusher.
"How much respect did defenses show to Beanie Wells last season?" he asks.
Mike Sando: An answer would be difficult to quantify with information available to me.
We can say with some certainty that opposing defenses were not loading up against Wells relative to other running backs. The opposite appears to be true.
Wells ranked 18th out of 19 qualifying backs in percentage of first- and second-down rushes against "loaded" fronts, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Loaded fronts are those featuring more defenders in the box than the offense has blockers to account for them. The list featured backs with 200-plus carries on first and down.
The percentages would not account for plays when teams passed the ball, perhaps as a response to those loaded fronts. In the Cardinals' case, it's plausible to think opponents would make Larry Fitzgerald the focus of their game plans, limiting how frequently they felt comfortable dedicating additional resources to stop a running back.
However, it's also clear Wells didn't fare well enough against those loaded fronts to force adjustments from defenses. He averaged 4.53 yards per carry against unloaded fronts and only 1.46 yards per carry against loaded ones. That differential, displayed in the second chart, exceeded three yards per attempt, the largest gap among the 19 qualifying backs.
For example, Frank Gore and Steven Jackson both averaged about .74 fewer yards per carry against loaded fronts. Marshawn Lynch averaged 0.5 fewer yards per carry. Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendhenhall, Baltimore's Ray Rice and Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew averaged at least 1.6 additional yards per carry against loaded fronts.
But with a relatively small percentage of carries coming against loaded fronts, one long run could skew the averages.
Lynch had 40- and 29-yard runs against loaded fronts. Gore had two 14-yard runs against loaded fronts. Jackson had 13- and 10-yard runs against them. Wells' longest run against a loaded front covered six yards. He also lost six yards on such a run.
Blocking is another factor to consider. Perhaps the Cardinals did not block these runs as well as other teams blocked them.
That leads me back to the original point. It's tough to quantify a respect factor even though some evidence suggests Wells wasn't commanding as much as other backs commanded.
Jeff from Las Vegas asks what happens when a player such as Terrell Suggs suffers a serious injury before the season.
"Does he still get paid in full, or at some reduced rate?" Jeff asks. "Does it matter if he was working out or doing some activity not related to football? Do most players have insurance to cover their salary?"
Mike Sando: The collective bargaining agreement does allow teams to withhold salary from players suffering non-football injuries.
Suggs has built up considerable equity with the organization during his career, however, and it's not like he was jumping a Harley-Davidson over the fountains at Caesars Palace. Players routinely work out on their own. Sometimes, they get hurt.
Suggs' coach, John Harbaugh, recently said Suggs will remain a team leader while rehabbing. Withholding Suggs' salary would be inconsistent with those comments.
Suggs' contract calls for him to earn $4.9 million in base salary for 2012. His deal runs through the 2014 season. The team would have the right to place Suggs on the "non-football injury" list and withhold salary while Suggs' contract continued to run.
Players placed on the non-football injury list while in the final year or option year of their contracts can have their contracts tolled, or frozen.
"However, if the player is physically able to perform his football services on or before the sixth regular season game, the club must pay the player his negotiated Paragraph 5 Salary (pro rata) for the balance of the season in order to toll such player's contract," the labor agreement reads. "If such player is taken off N-F/I during the period when such action is allowed by League rules, his contract will not be tolled."
Those are the contractual considerations. Some of them do not apply to Suggs because he's not in the final year of his deal. Again, I wouldn't expect the Ravens to play hardball with someone they value so much.
As for players purchasing insurance against such injuries, I doubt it's very common.
Costs would seem prohibitive for lower-profile players earning less money. The payoff wouldn't seem sufficient for players having already earned millions. However, I do not know how many players have such policies.
NCAA players sometimes purchase such insurance, but very few have ever collected, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Jason from Madison, Wisc., viewed Merril Hoge's recent comments in response to Kurt Warner as evidence there's no room on ESPN for views "that are not full-bore in support of a sport." He says Hoge wouldn't know to what extent repetitive blows to the head have contributed to issues observed in boxers and, perhaps increasingly, in football players.
"If the possible outcome is permanent brain damage," Jason writes, "and you do not know exactly what level of contact causes it, are you really being the less reasonable person if you say, 'I am not sure if I would let my kids participate' instead of blindly following along with the pack trying to find way to rationalize what they have done and are doing?
"You are coming off as nothing but an NFL cheerleader and as such it is apparent that your content is not worth reading."
Mike Sando: Don't shoot the messenger, Jason. The item presented both views fairly. Warner's comments were reproduced in full and presented first. I thought Warner's response was understandable, and said so. I also thought it was clear Hoge had thought through the issue to a greater degree.
My oldest son plays tackle football and loves it. I would not let him keep playing if he suffered a serious concussion. That is a reasonable stance to me. I also think it's reasonable for Warner to have reservations about letting his sons play. There's room for more than one view on this subject. The way I presented the piece Friday demonstrates as much, in my view.
"How much respect did defenses show to Beanie Wells last season?" he asks.
Mike Sando: An answer would be difficult to quantify with information available to me.
We can say with some certainty that opposing defenses were not loading up against Wells relative to other running backs. The opposite appears to be true.
Wells ranked 18th out of 19 qualifying backs in percentage of first- and second-down rushes against "loaded" fronts, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Loaded fronts are those featuring more defenders in the box than the offense has blockers to account for them. The list featured backs with 200-plus carries on first and down.
The percentages would not account for plays when teams passed the ball, perhaps as a response to those loaded fronts. In the Cardinals' case, it's plausible to think opponents would make Larry Fitzgerald the focus of their game plans, limiting how frequently they felt comfortable dedicating additional resources to stop a running back.
However, it's also clear Wells didn't fare well enough against those loaded fronts to force adjustments from defenses. He averaged 4.53 yards per carry against unloaded fronts and only 1.46 yards per carry against loaded ones. That differential, displayed in the second chart, exceeded three yards per attempt, the largest gap among the 19 qualifying backs.
For example, Frank Gore and Steven Jackson both averaged about .74 fewer yards per carry against loaded fronts. Marshawn Lynch averaged 0.5 fewer yards per carry. Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendhenhall, Baltimore's Ray Rice and Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew averaged at least 1.6 additional yards per carry against loaded fronts.
But with a relatively small percentage of carries coming against loaded fronts, one long run could skew the averages.
Lynch had 40- and 29-yard runs against loaded fronts. Gore had two 14-yard runs against loaded fronts. Jackson had 13- and 10-yard runs against them. Wells' longest run against a loaded front covered six yards. He also lost six yards on such a run.
Blocking is another factor to consider. Perhaps the Cardinals did not block these runs as well as other teams blocked them.
That leads me back to the original point. It's tough to quantify a respect factor even though some evidence suggests Wells wasn't commanding as much as other backs commanded.
Jeff from Las Vegas asks what happens when a player such as Terrell Suggs suffers a serious injury before the season.
"Does he still get paid in full, or at some reduced rate?" Jeff asks. "Does it matter if he was working out or doing some activity not related to football? Do most players have insurance to cover their salary?"
Mike Sando: The collective bargaining agreement does allow teams to withhold salary from players suffering non-football injuries.
Suggs has built up considerable equity with the organization during his career, however, and it's not like he was jumping a Harley-Davidson over the fountains at Caesars Palace. Players routinely work out on their own. Sometimes, they get hurt.
Suggs' coach, John Harbaugh, recently said Suggs will remain a team leader while rehabbing. Withholding Suggs' salary would be inconsistent with those comments.
Suggs' contract calls for him to earn $4.9 million in base salary for 2012. His deal runs through the 2014 season. The team would have the right to place Suggs on the "non-football injury" list and withhold salary while Suggs' contract continued to run.
Players placed on the non-football injury list while in the final year or option year of their contracts can have their contracts tolled, or frozen.
"However, if the player is physically able to perform his football services on or before the sixth regular season game, the club must pay the player his negotiated Paragraph 5 Salary (pro rata) for the balance of the season in order to toll such player's contract," the labor agreement reads. "If such player is taken off N-F/I during the period when such action is allowed by League rules, his contract will not be tolled."
Those are the contractual considerations. Some of them do not apply to Suggs because he's not in the final year of his deal. Again, I wouldn't expect the Ravens to play hardball with someone they value so much.
As for players purchasing insurance against such injuries, I doubt it's very common.
Costs would seem prohibitive for lower-profile players earning less money. The payoff wouldn't seem sufficient for players having already earned millions. However, I do not know how many players have such policies.
NCAA players sometimes purchase such insurance, but very few have ever collected, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Jason from Madison, Wisc., viewed Merril Hoge's recent comments in response to Kurt Warner as evidence there's no room on ESPN for views "that are not full-bore in support of a sport." He says Hoge wouldn't know to what extent repetitive blows to the head have contributed to issues observed in boxers and, perhaps increasingly, in football players.
"If the possible outcome is permanent brain damage," Jason writes, "and you do not know exactly what level of contact causes it, are you really being the less reasonable person if you say, 'I am not sure if I would let my kids participate' instead of blindly following along with the pack trying to find way to rationalize what they have done and are doing?
"You are coming off as nothing but an NFL cheerleader and as such it is apparent that your content is not worth reading."
Mike Sando: Don't shoot the messenger, Jason. The item presented both views fairly. Warner's comments were reproduced in full and presented first. I thought Warner's response was understandable, and said so. I also thought it was clear Hoge had thought through the issue to a greater degree.
My oldest son plays tackle football and loves it. I would not let him keep playing if he suffered a serious concussion. That is a reasonable stance to me. I also think it's reasonable for Warner to have reservations about letting his sons play. There's room for more than one view on this subject. The way I presented the piece Friday demonstrates as much, in my view.
Steven Jackson doesn't have to worry about the St. Louis Rams drafting a running back to threaten his standing with the team.
PeadThat would have been the case had St. Louis drafted Trent Richardson in the first round. But in selecting Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead with the 50th overall choice in the 2012 NFL draft Friday, the Rams secured a change-of-pace back -- someone to complement Jackson, not imperil his standing as the featured back.
Pead, 5-foot-10 and 197 pounds, has 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash. He has also returned punts.
"Quick, competitive, creative back with terrific open-field ability and good hands who would be best utilized complementing a power back," Nolan Nawrocki wrote for Pro Football Weekly's draft guide.
The Rams have used the second round to help quarterback Sam Bradford and their offense. They made Appalachian State receiver Brian Quick the 33rd overall choice and first pick of the second round.
St. Louis will be on the clock again shortly as the Rams possess the 65th overall choice, the second pick of the third round. Finding linebacker help could make sense.
Pead, 5-foot-10 and 197 pounds, has 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash. He has also returned punts.
"Quick, competitive, creative back with terrific open-field ability and good hands who would be best utilized complementing a power back," Nolan Nawrocki wrote for Pro Football Weekly's draft guide.
The Rams have used the second round to help quarterback Sam Bradford and their offense. They made Appalachian State receiver Brian Quick the 33rd overall choice and first pick of the second round.
St. Louis will be on the clock again shortly as the Rams possess the 65th overall choice, the second pick of the third round. Finding linebacker help could make sense.
We've made it, just about, to the 2012 NFL draft.
The anticipation kept at least one NFC West fan and probably a few NFL general managers from sleeping Wednesday night (throw me into that category as well, given that I was up to receive the above-linked tweet).
Let's pass at least some of the remaining time with a spin around the division.
Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune checks in with draft analyst Rob Rang for thoughts on defensive backs the Seahawks could consider in each round. South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore is one consideration. Rang: "An athletic cover corner with the size and physicality to be successful in Seattle’s press scheme, Gilmore’s stock is on the rise as the draft approaches."
Also from Williams: Sounds like the Seahawks plan to keep Kam Chancellor at safety, an indication Mark Barron isn't a likely first-round selection for Seattle. General manager John Schneider: "We usually try not to move Pro Bowl players to different positions."
Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle thinks Luke Kuechly would be the best choice for the Seahawks with the 12th overall choice if the Boston College linebacker remains available at that point.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic considers the Cardinals' draft options and offers this: "The Cardinals have had their shares of busts, such as linebackers Cody Brown (second round, 2009) and Buster Davis (third round, 2007). Others haven't played up to their lofty draft status, such as tackle Levi Brown (fifth overall, 2007). And others have developed slower than the team had hoped, such as nose tackle Dan Williams (first round, 2010). But early returns suggest the Cardinals had one of their better draft classes in 2011. Three of the eight picks became regular starters on a team that went 8-8."
Also from Somers: what draft analysts are saying about Riley Reiff and Michael Floyd.
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com has the Cardinals selecting Reiff at No. 13. He has Justin Blackmon to St. Louis, Melvin Ingram to Seattle and Amini Silatolu to San Francisco.
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com also has the 49ers selecting Silatolu in the first round. Maiocco: "Offensive line coaches Mike Solari and Tim Drevno drove to meet Silatolu last week at his old high school. They drew up several 49ers offensive plays on the board, along with the corresponding adjustments based on the defense. And then they had Silatolu repeat the plays back to them. Silatolu told CSNBayArea.com on Wednesday that the zone blocking scheme he ran in college is similar to the 49ers' system."
Also from Maiocco: thoughts on why the 49ers should wait until after the first round before selecting a wide receiver.
Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers would be much better off drafting Fleener than their next starting right guard. Cohn: "Right guard is the least important offensive lineman. Because Trent Baalke moved up in the draft last year to take Daniel Kilgore, so Baalke and his brain trust must feel Kilgore has potential. Because a good right guard is not hard to find in later rounds."
Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News lays out a case for the 49ers drafting Georgia Tech receiver Stephen Hill.
Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News explains why he thinks receiver Alshon Jeffery will be the 49ers' choice at No. 30.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams coach Jeff Fisher downplayed "rumors" regarding running back Steven Jackson being unhappy with his contract or on the trading block. Fisher: "Steven's here in the offseason program. He's upstairs every other day (where the coaches’ offices are located). He’s doing great. Having fun. Learning the offense. No discussion, conversation, or anything along that sort to my knowledge."
Also from Thomas: thoughts on the Rams possibly trading down. Thomas: "If they stay at No. 6, Justin Blackmon is the logical choice -- and it looks like he’ll be there when they pick. But the Rams need more picks, and if the right offer presents itself to trade down, the Rams will do that."
Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams should use the sixth overall choice for Blackmon. Miklasz: "It makes no sense to draft quarterback Sam Bradford No. 1 overall, invest $50 million guaranteed in his rookie (2010) contract, then continue to surround him with mediocrity. I agree with those who say Blackmon isn't the prototype No. 1 wideout. But here are the names of the seven wide receivers on the Rams' roster: Danny Amendola, Danario Alexander, Brandon Gibson, Steve Smith, Austin Pettis, Greg Salas and Dominique Curry."
Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com passes along highlights and notes from Fisher's news conference.
The anticipation kept at least one NFC West fan and probably a few NFL general managers from sleeping Wednesday night (throw me into that category as well, given that I was up to receive the above-linked tweet).
Let's pass at least some of the remaining time with a spin around the division.
Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune checks in with draft analyst Rob Rang for thoughts on defensive backs the Seahawks could consider in each round. South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore is one consideration. Rang: "An athletic cover corner with the size and physicality to be successful in Seattle’s press scheme, Gilmore’s stock is on the rise as the draft approaches."
Also from Williams: Sounds like the Seahawks plan to keep Kam Chancellor at safety, an indication Mark Barron isn't a likely first-round selection for Seattle. General manager John Schneider: "We usually try not to move Pro Bowl players to different positions."
Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle thinks Luke Kuechly would be the best choice for the Seahawks with the 12th overall choice if the Boston College linebacker remains available at that point.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic considers the Cardinals' draft options and offers this: "The Cardinals have had their shares of busts, such as linebackers Cody Brown (second round, 2009) and Buster Davis (third round, 2007). Others haven't played up to their lofty draft status, such as tackle Levi Brown (fifth overall, 2007). And others have developed slower than the team had hoped, such as nose tackle Dan Williams (first round, 2010). But early returns suggest the Cardinals had one of their better draft classes in 2011. Three of the eight picks became regular starters on a team that went 8-8."
Also from Somers: what draft analysts are saying about Riley Reiff and Michael Floyd.
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com has the Cardinals selecting Reiff at No. 13. He has Justin Blackmon to St. Louis, Melvin Ingram to Seattle and Amini Silatolu to San Francisco.
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com also has the 49ers selecting Silatolu in the first round. Maiocco: "Offensive line coaches Mike Solari and Tim Drevno drove to meet Silatolu last week at his old high school. They drew up several 49ers offensive plays on the board, along with the corresponding adjustments based on the defense. And then they had Silatolu repeat the plays back to them. Silatolu told CSNBayArea.com on Wednesday that the zone blocking scheme he ran in college is similar to the 49ers' system."
Also from Maiocco: thoughts on why the 49ers should wait until after the first round before selecting a wide receiver.
Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers would be much better off drafting Fleener than their next starting right guard. Cohn: "Right guard is the least important offensive lineman. Because Trent Baalke moved up in the draft last year to take Daniel Kilgore, so Baalke and his brain trust must feel Kilgore has potential. Because a good right guard is not hard to find in later rounds."
Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News lays out a case for the 49ers drafting Georgia Tech receiver Stephen Hill.
Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News explains why he thinks receiver Alshon Jeffery will be the 49ers' choice at No. 30.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams coach Jeff Fisher downplayed "rumors" regarding running back Steven Jackson being unhappy with his contract or on the trading block. Fisher: "Steven's here in the offseason program. He's upstairs every other day (where the coaches’ offices are located). He’s doing great. Having fun. Learning the offense. No discussion, conversation, or anything along that sort to my knowledge."
Also from Thomas: thoughts on the Rams possibly trading down. Thomas: "If they stay at No. 6, Justin Blackmon is the logical choice -- and it looks like he’ll be there when they pick. But the Rams need more picks, and if the right offer presents itself to trade down, the Rams will do that."
Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams should use the sixth overall choice for Blackmon. Miklasz: "It makes no sense to draft quarterback Sam Bradford No. 1 overall, invest $50 million guaranteed in his rookie (2010) contract, then continue to surround him with mediocrity. I agree with those who say Blackmon isn't the prototype No. 1 wideout. But here are the names of the seven wide receivers on the Rams' roster: Danny Amendola, Danario Alexander, Brandon Gibson, Steve Smith, Austin Pettis, Greg Salas and Dominique Curry."
Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com passes along highlights and notes from Fisher's news conference.
Life for Steven Jackson would change significantly if the St. Louis Rams used a first-round draft choice for Trent Richardson or any running back.
That appears unlikely to happen.
In the meantime, recent chatter about Jackson's contract status appears premature.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch cites Rams sources as saying the team has not shopped Jackson around the league or heard from him regarding a new contract. Thomas: "Sources familiar with Jackson said he does not have a problem with his current contract. But he could be interested in a contract extension, because he wants to retire as a Ram and feels like he has more than two years left as a player." Noted: I could see the Rams giving Jackson an extension that affirmed his status without extending the team's actual commitment to him. The 49ers did something along those lines with Frank Gore.
Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has this to say regarding Jackson: "I doubt that Richardson will drop to the Rams at No. 6 overall; so this could be a moot point. But Jackson, nearly 29, is still a strong RB. At some point, the Rams will line up his successor. Just as the Rams did back in 2004 when they drafted Jackson to replace Marshall Faulk. It's unavoidable. Faulk was insecure about it. I would understand it if Jackson had some anxiety about his future. That's human. I don't rip him for that."
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com points to Janoris Jenkins as a consideration for the San Francisco 49ers with the 30th overall choice. Draft analyst Greg Cosell: "He'd be a great fit. The 49ers like to play a lot of two-man, especially in sub. He can play press and not have to worry about getting beat over the top."
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee offers round-by-round predictions for the 49ers' picks in the 2012 draft: guard Amini Silatolu, cornerback Trumaine Johnson, running back Chris Polk, receiver Rishard Matthews, linebacker Miles Burris, safety Trent Robinson and offensive lineman Jeff Adams.
Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News checks in with former 49ers executive John McVay for thoughts on the team's current front office.
Also from Inman: a look back at what analysts said about the 49ers' decision to select Aldon Smith a year ago. You'll have to click the link to see who had this to say: "To me this is a tweener type player. Meaning he lacks strength to play on the line or movement in space. Underwhelming as a pass-rusher as well. The question remains where do you play this guy?"
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com details what information goes onto the magnetic cards team personnel evaluators use to identify players. Urban: "Besides the height/weight/speed are colored dots. One red dot is a medical risk. Two red dots mean the Cards will stay away because of medical concerns. Three mean a failed physical. A blue dot means a positive test for a banned substance at the Combine. Green means a verified arrest. Yellow is a character concern. ... Such alerts -- which include an 'I' for an international player and an 'A' for a player who is older than normal -- don't preclude a player from being taken. But they are a heads-up."
Also from Urban: thoughts on the cut in pay Stewart Bradley took recently. Urban: "He couldn’t beat out Paris Lenon last season. We will see what an offseason can do for Bradley, who right now is expected to help both outside and inside at linebacker. In some ways, he’s the defensive version of Kevin Kolb, both with the need of an offseason and the need for a rally year after 2011."
Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune consults draft analyst Rob Rang for thoughts on tight ends and offensive linemen the Seahawks might consider in the draft. On Mississippi tackle Bobby Massie, a potential second-round consideration: "Big, strong, athletic and a three-year starter at right tackle, Massie would provide depth as James Carpenter recovers from a serious knee injury."
Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times notes that the Seahawks are one of six teams without a first-round quarterback selection since the 1993 draft. The others: Dallas, New Orleans, Miami, Kansas City and New England.
Also from O'Neil: the Seahawks' search for pass-rush help. Coach Pete Carroll: "There's a lot of edge rushers in this draft, which is exciting. We're always looking. Certainly in this draft it's one of the issues that we'd like to attend to."
That appears unlikely to happen.
In the meantime, recent chatter about Jackson's contract status appears premature.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch cites Rams sources as saying the team has not shopped Jackson around the league or heard from him regarding a new contract. Thomas: "Sources familiar with Jackson said he does not have a problem with his current contract. But he could be interested in a contract extension, because he wants to retire as a Ram and feels like he has more than two years left as a player." Noted: I could see the Rams giving Jackson an extension that affirmed his status without extending the team's actual commitment to him. The 49ers did something along those lines with Frank Gore.
Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has this to say regarding Jackson: "I doubt that Richardson will drop to the Rams at No. 6 overall; so this could be a moot point. But Jackson, nearly 29, is still a strong RB. At some point, the Rams will line up his successor. Just as the Rams did back in 2004 when they drafted Jackson to replace Marshall Faulk. It's unavoidable. Faulk was insecure about it. I would understand it if Jackson had some anxiety about his future. That's human. I don't rip him for that."
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com points to Janoris Jenkins as a consideration for the San Francisco 49ers with the 30th overall choice. Draft analyst Greg Cosell: "He'd be a great fit. The 49ers like to play a lot of two-man, especially in sub. He can play press and not have to worry about getting beat over the top."
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee offers round-by-round predictions for the 49ers' picks in the 2012 draft: guard Amini Silatolu, cornerback Trumaine Johnson, running back Chris Polk, receiver Rishard Matthews, linebacker Miles Burris, safety Trent Robinson and offensive lineman Jeff Adams.
Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News checks in with former 49ers executive John McVay for thoughts on the team's current front office.
Also from Inman: a look back at what analysts said about the 49ers' decision to select Aldon Smith a year ago. You'll have to click the link to see who had this to say: "To me this is a tweener type player. Meaning he lacks strength to play on the line or movement in space. Underwhelming as a pass-rusher as well. The question remains where do you play this guy?"
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com details what information goes onto the magnetic cards team personnel evaluators use to identify players. Urban: "Besides the height/weight/speed are colored dots. One red dot is a medical risk. Two red dots mean the Cards will stay away because of medical concerns. Three mean a failed physical. A blue dot means a positive test for a banned substance at the Combine. Green means a verified arrest. Yellow is a character concern. ... Such alerts -- which include an 'I' for an international player and an 'A' for a player who is older than normal -- don't preclude a player from being taken. But they are a heads-up."
Also from Urban: thoughts on the cut in pay Stewart Bradley took recently. Urban: "He couldn’t beat out Paris Lenon last season. We will see what an offseason can do for Bradley, who right now is expected to help both outside and inside at linebacker. In some ways, he’s the defensive version of Kevin Kolb, both with the need of an offseason and the need for a rally year after 2011."
Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune consults draft analyst Rob Rang for thoughts on tight ends and offensive linemen the Seahawks might consider in the draft. On Mississippi tackle Bobby Massie, a potential second-round consideration: "Big, strong, athletic and a three-year starter at right tackle, Massie would provide depth as James Carpenter recovers from a serious knee injury."
Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times notes that the Seahawks are one of six teams without a first-round quarterback selection since the 1993 draft. The others: Dallas, New Orleans, Miami, Kansas City and New England.
Also from O'Neil: the Seahawks' search for pass-rush help. Coach Pete Carroll: "There's a lot of edge rushers in this draft, which is exciting. We're always looking. Certainly in this draft it's one of the issues that we'd like to attend to."
NFL teams rarely hand fat, long-term contract extensions to older running backs.
The San Francisco 49ers' Frank Gore felt the urgency last offseason, leading him to hold out from training camp briefly before accepting a relatively modest new deal -- the best he could do under tough circumstances.
JacksonIs Steven Jackson next?
Mike Lombardi's report for NFL.com suggests that Jackson wants a new contract from the St. Louis Rams. Jackson, like Gore, has reached his late 20s, when running backs tend to slow down. Jackson, like Gore last offseason, is starting over with a new coaching staff while realizing the window for negotiating is closing despite all he's given to the team.
Jackson's contract is scheduled to pay him $7 million in salary for each of the next two seasons. The deal would have voided after last season had Jackson averaged 1,200 yards rushing and 400 yards receiving over the first four years of the deal. He fell short of that average, arguably because the Rams failed to support him adequately.
I've got no problem with Jackson fighting to improve his contract situation, should that be the course he chooses to take. No player has given more to his team -- in production, attitude and pure heart -- than Jackson has given the Rams during some of their darkest seasons. The fact that he signed his current contract doesn't automatically mean he has to live by it; NFL teams routinely rip up contracts when it serves them.
One question is whether Jackson has enough leverage to force the Rams into a new deal.
We'll have a better idea upon discovering whether the Rams select running back Trent Richardson in the draft Thursday. Selecting Richardson or even a running back in the second round Friday would give the team options beyond Jackson, affecting leverage.
Would Jackson be happy if the team simply guaranteed some of his remaining salary? Would he hold out? I'm hesitant to say more without hearing from Jackson directly.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to finish here," Jackson told Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before last season. "I do want to finish here I can honestly say -- and I hope no one takes this the wrong way -- but I've been a beast in transitioning this organization from the dark days to now, the days of Sam (Bradford). I don't want all my hard labor to go for nothing."
The San Francisco 49ers' Frank Gore felt the urgency last offseason, leading him to hold out from training camp briefly before accepting a relatively modest new deal -- the best he could do under tough circumstances.
Mike Lombardi's report for NFL.com suggests that Jackson wants a new contract from the St. Louis Rams. Jackson, like Gore, has reached his late 20s, when running backs tend to slow down. Jackson, like Gore last offseason, is starting over with a new coaching staff while realizing the window for negotiating is closing despite all he's given to the team.
Jackson's contract is scheduled to pay him $7 million in salary for each of the next two seasons. The deal would have voided after last season had Jackson averaged 1,200 yards rushing and 400 yards receiving over the first four years of the deal. He fell short of that average, arguably because the Rams failed to support him adequately.
I've got no problem with Jackson fighting to improve his contract situation, should that be the course he chooses to take. No player has given more to his team -- in production, attitude and pure heart -- than Jackson has given the Rams during some of their darkest seasons. The fact that he signed his current contract doesn't automatically mean he has to live by it; NFL teams routinely rip up contracts when it serves them.
One question is whether Jackson has enough leverage to force the Rams into a new deal.
We'll have a better idea upon discovering whether the Rams select running back Trent Richardson in the draft Thursday. Selecting Richardson or even a running back in the second round Friday would give the team options beyond Jackson, affecting leverage.
Would Jackson be happy if the team simply guaranteed some of his remaining salary? Would he hold out? I'm hesitant to say more without hearing from Jackson directly.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to finish here," Jackson told Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before last season. "I do want to finish here I can honestly say -- and I hope no one takes this the wrong way -- but I've been a beast in transitioning this organization from the dark days to now, the days of Sam (Bradford). I don't want all my hard labor to go for nothing."
Around the NFC West: Fight against autism
April, 16, 2012
Apr 16
8:00
AM ET
By
Mike Sando | ESPN.com
Good morning and welcome to the final full week before the 2012 NFL draft.
This past weekend was a slow one around the NFL, but two stories resonated in the NFC West. Both involved top executives from teams in the division: Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider and San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York.
Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times spoke with Schneider and Schneider's wife, Traci, regarding the fund they're establishing to help other families raising autistic children. Their 10-year-old son, Ben, has benefited from extensive treatment. John Schneider: "We never knew if Ben would ever tell us that he loved us back. It's a strange feeling when you say, 'good night' to your son and he doesn't say 'good night' back. But we were blessed to be in a position where we could get the right help. Other families don't have access to the same resources." Noted: According to the Seahawks, a benefit event scheduled for Thursday includes a long list of celebrity waiters featuring Doug Baldwin, Brandon Browner, Tom Cable, Pete Carroll, Kam Chancellor, Chris Clemons, Jacob Green, Brock Huard, Tarvaris Jackson, Marshawn Lynch, Russell Okung, Sidney Rice, Brian Russell, Craig Terrell, Earl Thomas, Robbie Tobeck and Manu Tuiasosopo.
Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle explains why he thinks the Seahawks would consider Ryan Tannehill if the Texas A&M quarterback were available to them in the draft.
Mike Rosenberg of the San Jose Mercury News spoke with York recently for a question-and-answer session on the 49ers' next stadium. Diverse dining options and the latest technology will be stadium hallmarks, according to York. Also, fans will be able to visit the Great America amusement park before games. York on differences from Candlestick Park: "Is everything too broad of an answer? You're almost doubling the amount of space for the same amount of people. You don't want to blast Candlestick for being an older building, because there have been a lot of great moments there, but the new building is going to be a completely different experience. Instead of just making a nice hot dog, you can do 20 to 30 different items. It'll probably be a 50 percent quicker exit than what you see at Candlestick. You can't compete with that, being able to park easily and get to your car and out onto the freeway quicker or take public transit."
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers plan to bid on a Super Bowl at their new stadium. Barrows: "Teams are required to play two full seasons in their new venues before hosting a Super Bowl. The 49ers are increasingly confident that the yet-to-be-named stadium in Santa Clara will be ready for the start of the 2014 season."
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic notes that the Cardinals are opening their offseason conditioning program Monday amid new limits on what teams and coaches can ask of players. Somers: "Teams must film all three phases and keep a copy until 30 days after the start of the regular season. Acting on a complaint, NFL officials can request to look at that film. Coaches are subject to fines of up to $100,000 for the first violation and $250,000 for the second. Those cannot be reimbursed by the club. Teams are subject to fines of $250,000 for the first violation and $500,000 for the second. Half of the fine amounts goes to the Gene Upshaw Players Assistance Trust and half to the Player Care Foundation. If a team commits a violation, it will lose a week of OTAs. A second violation will cost the club a fourth-round pick in the next draft."
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says defensive end Calais Campbell will not attend the voluntary program while remaining unsigned as the team's franchise player.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers this on the Rams' search for a backup quarterback: "The Rams remain interested in free-agent quarterback Dennis Dixon (Pittsburgh), who worked out for the team last week, but probably won't make a decision until after the draft. Baltimore and Denver are also showing interest."
NFLDraftScout.com looks at five players the Rams could consider in the draft. On running back Doug Martin: "Steven Jackson will be 29 this summer, and at some point the Rams have to add in a significant way a player that can be his backup and potentially take over the position. Martin is gaining a lot of traction in the run-up to the draft, with some predicting he could be selected in the first round. If that doesn't happen, the Rams could be tempted to spend one of their second-round picks on a runner."
This past weekend was a slow one around the NFL, but two stories resonated in the NFC West. Both involved top executives from teams in the division: Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider and San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York.
Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times spoke with Schneider and Schneider's wife, Traci, regarding the fund they're establishing to help other families raising autistic children. Their 10-year-old son, Ben, has benefited from extensive treatment. John Schneider: "We never knew if Ben would ever tell us that he loved us back. It's a strange feeling when you say, 'good night' to your son and he doesn't say 'good night' back. But we were blessed to be in a position where we could get the right help. Other families don't have access to the same resources." Noted: According to the Seahawks, a benefit event scheduled for Thursday includes a long list of celebrity waiters featuring Doug Baldwin, Brandon Browner, Tom Cable, Pete Carroll, Kam Chancellor, Chris Clemons, Jacob Green, Brock Huard, Tarvaris Jackson, Marshawn Lynch, Russell Okung, Sidney Rice, Brian Russell, Craig Terrell, Earl Thomas, Robbie Tobeck and Manu Tuiasosopo.
Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle explains why he thinks the Seahawks would consider Ryan Tannehill if the Texas A&M quarterback were available to them in the draft.
Mike Rosenberg of the San Jose Mercury News spoke with York recently for a question-and-answer session on the 49ers' next stadium. Diverse dining options and the latest technology will be stadium hallmarks, according to York. Also, fans will be able to visit the Great America amusement park before games. York on differences from Candlestick Park: "Is everything too broad of an answer? You're almost doubling the amount of space for the same amount of people. You don't want to blast Candlestick for being an older building, because there have been a lot of great moments there, but the new building is going to be a completely different experience. Instead of just making a nice hot dog, you can do 20 to 30 different items. It'll probably be a 50 percent quicker exit than what you see at Candlestick. You can't compete with that, being able to park easily and get to your car and out onto the freeway quicker or take public transit."
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers plan to bid on a Super Bowl at their new stadium. Barrows: "Teams are required to play two full seasons in their new venues before hosting a Super Bowl. The 49ers are increasingly confident that the yet-to-be-named stadium in Santa Clara will be ready for the start of the 2014 season."
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic notes that the Cardinals are opening their offseason conditioning program Monday amid new limits on what teams and coaches can ask of players. Somers: "Teams must film all three phases and keep a copy until 30 days after the start of the regular season. Acting on a complaint, NFL officials can request to look at that film. Coaches are subject to fines of up to $100,000 for the first violation and $250,000 for the second. Those cannot be reimbursed by the club. Teams are subject to fines of $250,000 for the first violation and $500,000 for the second. Half of the fine amounts goes to the Gene Upshaw Players Assistance Trust and half to the Player Care Foundation. If a team commits a violation, it will lose a week of OTAs. A second violation will cost the club a fourth-round pick in the next draft."
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says defensive end Calais Campbell will not attend the voluntary program while remaining unsigned as the team's franchise player.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers this on the Rams' search for a backup quarterback: "The Rams remain interested in free-agent quarterback Dennis Dixon (Pittsburgh), who worked out for the team last week, but probably won't make a decision until after the draft. Baltimore and Denver are also showing interest."
NFLDraftScout.com looks at five players the Rams could consider in the draft. On running back Doug Martin: "Steven Jackson will be 29 this summer, and at some point the Rams have to add in a significant way a player that can be his backup and potentially take over the position. Martin is gaining a lot of traction in the run-up to the draft, with some predicting he could be selected in the first round. If that doesn't happen, the Rams could be tempted to spend one of their second-round picks on a runner."
Sam Bradford is on his third offensive coordinator in three seasons with the St. Louis Rams.
One constant for the young quarterback: running back Steven Jackson.
Jackson addressed Bradford's prospects, among other subjects, during the ESPN interview displayed above. He strongly supported NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for bounty-related punishments, including the one for current Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
Jackson's message regarding the Williams audio tape: "We just want to make sure even the little kids in the junior high and Pop Warner don't think this is the way that football should be played."
Jackson also reflected on the hardest hit he ever took, one from Lawyer Milloy during a game against the Buffalo Bills. That hit taught him a lesson about how to protect himself from undue punishment.
Just passing along.
Steven Jackson's yards per carry jumped to 4.4 last season, his seventh in a row with at least 1,000 yards rushing.
The sustained production suggests the St. Louis Rams' running back has not slipped appreciably after eight seasons, a franchise-record 9,093 yards rushing and more than 2,500 offensive touches.
Jackson's new coach, Jeff Fisher, looks beyond the numbers when determining whether an older back still has what it takes to play the position at a high level.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Fisher watches to see whether running backs are getting tackled or increasingly absorbing big hits. Fisher: "You lose a step, you lose the ability to avoid, and then all of a sudden the vision changes and then you start getting hit. Steven is still a very aggressive runner." Even so, Fisher's affinity for running backs makes the Rams a candidate to select Trent Richardson in the draft. Noted: Jackson turns 29 this summer, which means it's time for the Rams to line up his successor, even if Jackson defies the odds by remaining productive for a couple more seasons. Fisher wants a strong ground game for the long term. A 29-year-old back is a short-term bet.
Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com says Eagles defensive tackle Trevor Laws indicated via Twitter he would be signing with the Rams. Noted: Laws, 26, played 14 games, starting one, while playing one-third of the Eagles' defensive snaps last season.
Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team grades draft prospects in relation to its own players. General manager John Schneider: "We build our (draft) board based on our team and what we have currently. So we compare these players to our current roster, and that’s how we build our board. We don’t build our board for the league, per se. ... So while people in a mock draft might feel like we need a certain position or a specific player, it’s just really who has the highest grade -- and if it fills a specific need, that’s great. But it’s a grade comparable to what our team is and how we see our own players at each position. That’s why it’s so important to know your team and evaluate your team first and foremost."
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals have promoted Ryan Slowik from defensive quality-control coach to outsid- linebackers coach. Somers: "There was no immediate indication from the Cardinals if a new quality-control coach would be hired, or if Slowik would continue doing those duties. Either way, it's a good move for Slowik, who joined the Cardinals in 2009. His father Bob is the Redskins' defensive backs coach."
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com thinks the Cardinals could still have room for unsigned veterans Clark Haggans and Vonnie Holliday.
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers' roster appears strong enough for the team to avoid reaching to fill needs in the draft.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee does not expect the 49ers to try Anthony Davis at right guard, but he thinks such a move could make the offensive line better. Barrows: "The 49ers traded up two slots to nab Davis in the 2010 draft, and he improved last year after an up-and-down rookie season. The 49ers love Davis' potential at right tackle, he's about to have his first full offseason under Jim Harbaugh's coaching staff, and he is unlikely to be moved. Still, it would seem that an offensive line in which Alex Boone plays right tackle and Davis plays right guard is better than one where they are switched."
Also from Barrows: The 49ers appear to be a poor match for HBO's "Hard Knocks" series.
The sustained production suggests the St. Louis Rams' running back has not slipped appreciably after eight seasons, a franchise-record 9,093 yards rushing and more than 2,500 offensive touches.
Jackson's new coach, Jeff Fisher, looks beyond the numbers when determining whether an older back still has what it takes to play the position at a high level.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Fisher watches to see whether running backs are getting tackled or increasingly absorbing big hits. Fisher: "You lose a step, you lose the ability to avoid, and then all of a sudden the vision changes and then you start getting hit. Steven is still a very aggressive runner." Even so, Fisher's affinity for running backs makes the Rams a candidate to select Trent Richardson in the draft. Noted: Jackson turns 29 this summer, which means it's time for the Rams to line up his successor, even if Jackson defies the odds by remaining productive for a couple more seasons. Fisher wants a strong ground game for the long term. A 29-year-old back is a short-term bet.
Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com says Eagles defensive tackle Trevor Laws indicated via Twitter he would be signing with the Rams. Noted: Laws, 26, played 14 games, starting one, while playing one-third of the Eagles' defensive snaps last season.
Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team grades draft prospects in relation to its own players. General manager John Schneider: "We build our (draft) board based on our team and what we have currently. So we compare these players to our current roster, and that’s how we build our board. We don’t build our board for the league, per se. ... So while people in a mock draft might feel like we need a certain position or a specific player, it’s just really who has the highest grade -- and if it fills a specific need, that’s great. But it’s a grade comparable to what our team is and how we see our own players at each position. That’s why it’s so important to know your team and evaluate your team first and foremost."
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals have promoted Ryan Slowik from defensive quality-control coach to outsid- linebackers coach. Somers: "There was no immediate indication from the Cardinals if a new quality-control coach would be hired, or if Slowik would continue doing those duties. Either way, it's a good move for Slowik, who joined the Cardinals in 2009. His father Bob is the Redskins' defensive backs coach."
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com thinks the Cardinals could still have room for unsigned veterans Clark Haggans and Vonnie Holliday.
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers' roster appears strong enough for the team to avoid reaching to fill needs in the draft.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee does not expect the 49ers to try Anthony Davis at right guard, but he thinks such a move could make the offensive line better. Barrows: "The 49ers traded up two slots to nab Davis in the 2010 draft, and he improved last year after an up-and-down rookie season. The 49ers love Davis' potential at right tackle, he's about to have his first full offseason under Jim Harbaugh's coaching staff, and he is unlikely to be moved. Still, it would seem that an offensive line in which Alex Boone plays right tackle and Davis plays right guard is better than one where they are switched."
Also from Barrows: The 49ers appear to be a poor match for HBO's "Hard Knocks" series.
Passionate Rams fan? Step to front of line
April, 11, 2012
Apr 11
6:01
PM ET
By
Mike Sando | ESPN.com
Passionate responses from St. Louis Rams fans take priority around here for reasons obvious to those lurking in the comments sections.
If the past five seasons have squeezed life from some Rams fans, that is understandable. But there are still some survivors out there, and I'm betting k1joyce is one of them.
The earlier item about the Rams' total roster rebuild got k1joyce going. It was good to see.
"It is simply ignored that the Rams were 7-9 a year ago [2010 season]," he wrote. "I'd like to see any team weather the storm of injuries they had last year, but of course, that doesn't matter. They should win 6-8 games next year provided the draft gives them some decent players."
And this: "With Jeff Fisher at the helm, this team surprises Mike Sando and wins 6-8 games, provided 20 players don't end up on IR. ... You can't just go around looking at the record of the past five years and just continue to IGNORE that the Rams were 7-9 a year ago. While it is unlikely the Rams are over .500 this upcoming year, they are not as far away from being competitive as Sando would have you think."
A clarification seems appropriate here. I never said the Rams would be terrible. I said they were terrible last season and would have many new players this season, by design. They went into this offseason with 21 unrestricted free agents. They have not re-signed any of them. I'll be shocked if they re-sign more than one or two, if any.
Right there, we're talking about 40 percent of the final 2011 roster turning over. The team could welcome back seven or eight of the players finishing last season on injured reserve, helping continuity and supporting k1joyce's broader point.
But as I told k1joyce in the comments section of that previous item, the Rams being 7-9 in 2010 would mean more if they were bringing back a lot of the same players. Three-fourths of the starting defensive line will be new from 2010. Two-thirds of the starting linebackers will be new. The entire starting secondary could be new. At least three-fifths of the starting offensive line will be new. The receivers should be largely new.
"I just think, minus half the team on IR, they are better than what they were last year," k1joyce replied. "There is a solid core in place with Chris Long, James Lauranitis, Robert Quinn, Sam Bradford and Steven Jackson. Quintin Mikell and Darian Stewart will be the starters at safety. Cortland Finnegan is new, but Bradley Fletcher has played well when healthy, and Jerome Murphy could surprise some people at nickel."
There was more, including a note about Bradford playing well -- for a rookie, I would add -- with the receivers he had in 2010. But we should be able to settle this one without extending this discussion much further.
Again, I never said the Rams would be 2-14 again. I would simply say the evidence suggests they're in rebuild mode, starting with the fact that so many of their players from last season will not return -- by design.
The turnover since 2010 will be even more striking.
Seventy-six players played for the Rams at some point during the 2010 season. Twenty-three of them remain with the team, including restricted free agent Danny Amendola. Of the other 22, a handful project as potential starters: Bradford, Fletcher, Jackson, Laurinaitis, Long, Saffold, Stewart and Jason Smith. Mikell, referenced earlier, was not with the Rams until 2011.
I'll break down the turnover rates for rosters as the season approaches. The Rams are not finished.
Note: The 76 players from 2010 included all players with the Rams in some capacity, whether or not they played during regular-season games. That included some practice-squad players.
If the past five seasons have squeezed life from some Rams fans, that is understandable. But there are still some survivors out there, and I'm betting k1joyce is one of them.
The earlier item about the Rams' total roster rebuild got k1joyce going. It was good to see.
"It is simply ignored that the Rams were 7-9 a year ago [2010 season]," he wrote. "I'd like to see any team weather the storm of injuries they had last year, but of course, that doesn't matter. They should win 6-8 games next year provided the draft gives them some decent players."
And this: "With Jeff Fisher at the helm, this team surprises Mike Sando and wins 6-8 games, provided 20 players don't end up on IR. ... You can't just go around looking at the record of the past five years and just continue to IGNORE that the Rams were 7-9 a year ago. While it is unlikely the Rams are over .500 this upcoming year, they are not as far away from being competitive as Sando would have you think."
A clarification seems appropriate here. I never said the Rams would be terrible. I said they were terrible last season and would have many new players this season, by design. They went into this offseason with 21 unrestricted free agents. They have not re-signed any of them. I'll be shocked if they re-sign more than one or two, if any.
Right there, we're talking about 40 percent of the final 2011 roster turning over. The team could welcome back seven or eight of the players finishing last season on injured reserve, helping continuity and supporting k1joyce's broader point.
But as I told k1joyce in the comments section of that previous item, the Rams being 7-9 in 2010 would mean more if they were bringing back a lot of the same players. Three-fourths of the starting defensive line will be new from 2010. Two-thirds of the starting linebackers will be new. The entire starting secondary could be new. At least three-fifths of the starting offensive line will be new. The receivers should be largely new.
"I just think, minus half the team on IR, they are better than what they were last year," k1joyce replied. "There is a solid core in place with Chris Long, James Lauranitis, Robert Quinn, Sam Bradford and Steven Jackson. Quintin Mikell and Darian Stewart will be the starters at safety. Cortland Finnegan is new, but Bradley Fletcher has played well when healthy, and Jerome Murphy could surprise some people at nickel."
There was more, including a note about Bradford playing well -- for a rookie, I would add -- with the receivers he had in 2010. But we should be able to settle this one without extending this discussion much further.
Again, I never said the Rams would be 2-14 again. I would simply say the evidence suggests they're in rebuild mode, starting with the fact that so many of their players from last season will not return -- by design.
The turnover since 2010 will be even more striking.
Seventy-six players played for the Rams at some point during the 2010 season. Twenty-three of them remain with the team, including restricted free agent Danny Amendola. Of the other 22, a handful project as potential starters: Bradford, Fletcher, Jackson, Laurinaitis, Long, Saffold, Stewart and Jason Smith. Mikell, referenced earlier, was not with the Rams until 2011.
I'll break down the turnover rates for rosters as the season approaches. The Rams are not finished.
Note: The 76 players from 2010 included all players with the Rams in some capacity, whether or not they played during regular-season games. That included some practice-squad players.
Corey from Orlando, Fla., asks whether the San Francisco 49ers would consider using the 30th pick in the 2012 NFL draft for Miami running back Lamar Miller.
"He's tough, like Frank Gore, he's not overly big and probably not as gritty as Gore is, but he's very fast and is also an impact running back," Corey writes. "Gore is obviously coming close to 30 and will need to be replaced within the next two years. Do the Niners go back to 'The U' to pick up their next franchise back? Kendall Hunter cannot do it alone."
Mike Sando: Miller's name came up during a conversation with Todd McShay at the combine in February. Miller was the first player McShay mentioned when I asked about playmakers available outside the top overall choices. I had the St. Louis Rams in mind because they've needed impact players on offense the most.
The chart shows Miller starting fast last season, topping 100 yards in each of his first five games, including three times against top-50 rush defenses, according to ESPN Stats & Information. A shoulder injury suffered a month into the season was likely a factor.
Miller averaged 2.1 yards per rush after contact, lowest among Scouts Inc.'s five highest-rated backs. But his big-play ability was striking.
"I give him a lot of passes on things that I am usually pretty cool on when you evaluate a running back because the guy flies," McShay said. "He is Chris Johnson. He really accelerates off his cut and he goes. He absolutely flies. Second round."
McShay wound up sending Miller to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 53 in his two-round mock draft
from March 28. His reference to Johnson played into my vision for Miller in St. Louis, where Johnson's former coach with the Tennessee Titans, Jeff Fisher, could use help for Steven Jackson. But the 49ers likewise need to prepare for life after Gore.
"He's tough, like Frank Gore, he's not overly big and probably not as gritty as Gore is, but he's very fast and is also an impact running back," Corey writes. "Gore is obviously coming close to 30 and will need to be replaced within the next two years. Do the Niners go back to 'The U' to pick up their next franchise back? Kendall Hunter cannot do it alone."
Mike Sando: Miller's name came up during a conversation with Todd McShay at the combine in February. Miller was the first player McShay mentioned when I asked about playmakers available outside the top overall choices. I had the St. Louis Rams in mind because they've needed impact players on offense the most.
The chart shows Miller starting fast last season, topping 100 yards in each of his first five games, including three times against top-50 rush defenses, according to ESPN Stats & Information. A shoulder injury suffered a month into the season was likely a factor.
Miller averaged 2.1 yards per rush after contact, lowest among Scouts Inc.'s five highest-rated backs. But his big-play ability was striking.
"I give him a lot of passes on things that I am usually pretty cool on when you evaluate a running back because the guy flies," McShay said. "He is Chris Johnson. He really accelerates off his cut and he goes. He absolutely flies. Second round."
McShay wound up sending Miller to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 53 in his two-round mock draft
from March 28. His reference to Johnson played into my vision for Miller in St. Louis, where Johnson's former coach with the Tennessee Titans, Jeff Fisher, could use help for Steven Jackson. But the 49ers likewise need to prepare for life after Gore.
Passing along: Patrick Willis' recent SportsCenter interview reflecting on the San Francisco 49ers' 2011 season, specifically the "family atmosphere" around the team and Willis' characterization of Jim Harbaugh as "the true definition of a players' coach."
Willis also discussed his status as a No. 11 seed in the "Madden 13" and why he's worthy of appearing on the cover in the tradition of Ray Lewis.
Finally, Willis singled out Marshawn Lynch and Steven Jackson as the two toughest guys to tackle in the NFL. Can you think of anyone tougher to bring down?
Peter from Rutland, Vt., points to Anthony Dixon's failed third-and-1 rushing attempt in the NFC Championship Game as one reason the San Francisco 49ers might have signed former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs.
This play escaped my attention in the Jacobs item Tuesday. I suspect the play-by-play file I consulted did not encompass the NFC Championship Game.
"Dixon got stuffed by the Giants on a key third-and-1 attempt," Peter recalled. "He danced instead of smashing. That's why they took a chance on Jacobs. Dixon is not a reliable power back."
Perhaps, but Jacobs failed to convert a fourth-and-1 rushing attempt in the same game, and he has never been known for his hard-nosed running.
Dixon converted both of his rushing tries during the regular season when needing a single yard on third or fourth down. He missed that one attempt during the postseason, but Jacobs converted only 4 of 8 regular-season tries and 5-of-11 overall when counting the postseason.
I went back and watched Dixon's failed play just to be sure what happened. Dixon did not set a new standard for powerful running on the play, but neither did he have much room to run.
The 49ers shuffled their offensive line and brought onto the field two defenders, Justin Smith and Isaac Sopoaga, for additional blocking. The line, left to right, featured Vernon Davis, Alex Boone, Adam Snyder, Jonathan Goodwin (center), Mike Iupati, Anthony Davis, Joe Staley and Smith. Sopoaga lined up to the right in an offset-I formation.
The blocking was not very good. Mathias Kiwanuka shed Smith immediately and blocked Dixon's path off tackle. Chris Canty got between Anthony Davis and Staley in time to affect Dixon. Dixon did hesitate and step to the side as he sought an opening. Again, though, the blocking was not great.
While an NFL offense should be able to pick up a third-and-1 on the ground, I've thought the 49ers needed to occasionally break from tendency in these situations, not just with a pass but with a deeper strike to Vernon Davis. Previous 49ers coaching staffs succeeded with this tactic.
The 49ers had beaten the Giants for an 18-yard pass to Delanie Walker on a third-and-1 play when the teams met back in Week 10. Perhaps the 49ers' staff knew the Giants would be ready if they tried another pass. And, as noted, the team should be able to pick up a third-and-1 rushing play.
But with such a heavy formation to the right side, the Giants were ready for Dixon. They also took advantage of the fact that Smith, though a great player, plays defense and isn't a polished blocker.
The chart shows 2011 regular-season conversion stats for NFC West running backs on third and fourth downs with 1 yard needed for a first down. There's a reason teams use quarterback sneaks.
This play escaped my attention in the Jacobs item Tuesday. I suspect the play-by-play file I consulted did not encompass the NFC Championship Game.
"Dixon got stuffed by the Giants on a key third-and-1 attempt," Peter recalled. "He danced instead of smashing. That's why they took a chance on Jacobs. Dixon is not a reliable power back."
Perhaps, but Jacobs failed to convert a fourth-and-1 rushing attempt in the same game, and he has never been known for his hard-nosed running.
Dixon converted both of his rushing tries during the regular season when needing a single yard on third or fourth down. He missed that one attempt during the postseason, but Jacobs converted only 4 of 8 regular-season tries and 5-of-11 overall when counting the postseason.
I went back and watched Dixon's failed play just to be sure what happened. Dixon did not set a new standard for powerful running on the play, but neither did he have much room to run.
The 49ers shuffled their offensive line and brought onto the field two defenders, Justin Smith and Isaac Sopoaga, for additional blocking. The line, left to right, featured Vernon Davis, Alex Boone, Adam Snyder, Jonathan Goodwin (center), Mike Iupati, Anthony Davis, Joe Staley and Smith. Sopoaga lined up to the right in an offset-I formation.
The blocking was not very good. Mathias Kiwanuka shed Smith immediately and blocked Dixon's path off tackle. Chris Canty got between Anthony Davis and Staley in time to affect Dixon. Dixon did hesitate and step to the side as he sought an opening. Again, though, the blocking was not great.
While an NFL offense should be able to pick up a third-and-1 on the ground, I've thought the 49ers needed to occasionally break from tendency in these situations, not just with a pass but with a deeper strike to Vernon Davis. Previous 49ers coaching staffs succeeded with this tactic.
The 49ers had beaten the Giants for an 18-yard pass to Delanie Walker on a third-and-1 play when the teams met back in Week 10. Perhaps the 49ers' staff knew the Giants would be ready if they tried another pass. And, as noted, the team should be able to pick up a third-and-1 rushing play.
But with such a heavy formation to the right side, the Giants were ready for Dixon. They also took advantage of the fact that Smith, though a great player, plays defense and isn't a polished blocker.
The chart shows 2011 regular-season conversion stats for NFC West running backs on third and fourth downs with 1 yard needed for a first down. There's a reason teams use quarterback sneaks.
Roughly 90 percent of currently signed NFL halfbacks are not yet 28 years old.
I'm counting one, Fred Jackson, older than 30. (He is 31.) Willis McGahee and Michael Turner are 30. The rest are younger.
Teams will add a few older backs as the draft and training camps approach, but the NFL is a young man's game, particularly at halfback (as opposed to fullback).
The San Francisco 49ers' agreement with Brandon Jacobs, 29, gives the NFC West four of the 11 oldest halfbacks in the NFL. Leon Washington is also 29. Frank Gore and Steven Jackson turn 29 this year.
I touched on that issue, the Arizona Cardinals' young backs and the 49ers' potential thinking on Jacobs -- all in the video above.
Marshall Faulk was 31 years old and had 3,249 career touches when the St. Louis Rams used a first-round draft choice for his eventual replacement, Steven Jackson.
That was in 2004.
Jackson is now 28 years old. He has 2,507 career touches. His production has held firm in recent seasons; Jackson is riding a streak of seven consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards rushing. For those discounting 1,000-yard seasons in an era of 16-game schedules, consider that Jackson has gained at least 1,145 yards in each of the past three seasons. A runner needs at least 1,143 yards over 16 games to match the per-game average for a runner gaining 1,000 yards in 14 games.
Jackson has played well enough, in other words, for Rams coaches to give him the carries necessary to rack up 1,000-yard seasons by current and previous standards for the milestone. It's also true that Faulk was 28, Jackson's current age, when injuries and other factors began to limit his production. His production declined sharply from that point forward.
All of this came to mind while reading through draft possibilities for the Rams this year.
Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks at some of those possibilities and has this to say about the Rams possibly drafting Alabama running back Trent Richardson: "Steven Jackson isn't getting younger, and there are a lot of miles on his tires. New head coach Jeff Fisher obviously believes in a strong, bullish running game. The RB position may be more important in STL than it is with other NFL franchises. Richardson is a tough inside runner, but he has the speed and the elusive moves to do damage on the perimeter. And he's a polished receiver; that's a real plus. Some NFL teams are of the belief that the RB position isn't as vital; they feel you can find a back later in the draft, and that there are better ways to invest your payroll money. Given Fisher's born to run mentality, I don't think the Rams subscribe to that view, but I don't know." Noted: The payroll issue isn't as big as it was under the previous labor agreement. A rookie wage scale makes it easier to consider all options earlier in a draft.
Brian Burke of Advanced NFL Stats makes the case that teams overpay running backs by about 50 percent.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic considers the salary-cap implications that would come into play if the Cardinals decided to part ways with Kevin Kolb. Noted: Kolb's contract is scheduled to count $10.5 million against the 2012 salary cap if the team pays a $7 million bonus to him and keeps him on the roster. Withholding the bonus would let Kolb become a free agent. In that case, the team would have to account for $8 million that was scheduled to count against the cap from 2012 to 2015. But cap rules would allow the Cardinals to push $6 million of that $8 million charge into 2013. The team would then realize a significant savings against the 2012 cap, helping create room for Peyton Manning, should the team reach agreement with him.
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says re-signing receiver Josh Morgan could be tougher for the 49ers now that former San Francisco receivers coach Jerry Sullivan is with Jacksonville. Maiocco: "Jacksonville is expected to make a competitive play for Morgan once the free-agent signing period opens. Sullivan, who thinks highly of Morgan, was hired as the Jaguars wide receivers coach in January. Morgan is making good progress as he continues to work out at the 49ers facility after undergoing season-ending surgery in October to repair a fracture just above his right ankle." Noted: Maiocco also expects Ted Ginn Jr. to hit free agency. Ginn could have incentive to consider his options elsewhere after the 49ers shortened his contract and reduced his salary before the regular season, right before Ginn scored two touchdowns against Seattle in Week 1.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee considers reasons for the 49ers' reluctance to pursue Manning.
Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle passes along a quote from 49ers general manager Trent Baalke regarding the newly re-signed Will Tukuafu. Noted: Baalke and the 49ers obviously wanted to hold up Tukuafu as an example to other young players on the roster. They have identified him as someone who has gone about his work the right way. Otherwise, a GM generally would not make a public comment regarding an exclusive-rights free agent.
Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle checks in with former quarterback Phil Simms, who thinks Matt Flynn lacks the physical tools for Seattle or another team to justify making Flynn a franchise quarterback. Noted: Simms has a history of criticizing quarterbacks who lack arm strength. He downplayed Andrew Luck as a franchise quarterback last year. I would be surprised if the Seahawks signed Flynn to a monster contract making Flynn the franchise quarterback. But I could see Seattle signing Flynn to a more modest deal if Manning wound up signing elsewhere. The team needs to address the position one way or another.
That was in 2004.
Jackson is now 28 years old. He has 2,507 career touches. His production has held firm in recent seasons; Jackson is riding a streak of seven consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards rushing. For those discounting 1,000-yard seasons in an era of 16-game schedules, consider that Jackson has gained at least 1,145 yards in each of the past three seasons. A runner needs at least 1,143 yards over 16 games to match the per-game average for a runner gaining 1,000 yards in 14 games.
Jackson has played well enough, in other words, for Rams coaches to give him the carries necessary to rack up 1,000-yard seasons by current and previous standards for the milestone. It's also true that Faulk was 28, Jackson's current age, when injuries and other factors began to limit his production. His production declined sharply from that point forward.
All of this came to mind while reading through draft possibilities for the Rams this year.
Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks at some of those possibilities and has this to say about the Rams possibly drafting Alabama running back Trent Richardson: "Steven Jackson isn't getting younger, and there are a lot of miles on his tires. New head coach Jeff Fisher obviously believes in a strong, bullish running game. The RB position may be more important in STL than it is with other NFL franchises. Richardson is a tough inside runner, but he has the speed and the elusive moves to do damage on the perimeter. And he's a polished receiver; that's a real plus. Some NFL teams are of the belief that the RB position isn't as vital; they feel you can find a back later in the draft, and that there are better ways to invest your payroll money. Given Fisher's born to run mentality, I don't think the Rams subscribe to that view, but I don't know." Noted: The payroll issue isn't as big as it was under the previous labor agreement. A rookie wage scale makes it easier to consider all options earlier in a draft.
Brian Burke of Advanced NFL Stats makes the case that teams overpay running backs by about 50 percent.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic considers the salary-cap implications that would come into play if the Cardinals decided to part ways with Kevin Kolb. Noted: Kolb's contract is scheduled to count $10.5 million against the 2012 salary cap if the team pays a $7 million bonus to him and keeps him on the roster. Withholding the bonus would let Kolb become a free agent. In that case, the team would have to account for $8 million that was scheduled to count against the cap from 2012 to 2015. But cap rules would allow the Cardinals to push $6 million of that $8 million charge into 2013. The team would then realize a significant savings against the 2012 cap, helping create room for Peyton Manning, should the team reach agreement with him.
Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says re-signing receiver Josh Morgan could be tougher for the 49ers now that former San Francisco receivers coach Jerry Sullivan is with Jacksonville. Maiocco: "Jacksonville is expected to make a competitive play for Morgan once the free-agent signing period opens. Sullivan, who thinks highly of Morgan, was hired as the Jaguars wide receivers coach in January. Morgan is making good progress as he continues to work out at the 49ers facility after undergoing season-ending surgery in October to repair a fracture just above his right ankle." Noted: Maiocco also expects Ted Ginn Jr. to hit free agency. Ginn could have incentive to consider his options elsewhere after the 49ers shortened his contract and reduced his salary before the regular season, right before Ginn scored two touchdowns against Seattle in Week 1.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee considers reasons for the 49ers' reluctance to pursue Manning.
Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle passes along a quote from 49ers general manager Trent Baalke regarding the newly re-signed Will Tukuafu. Noted: Baalke and the 49ers obviously wanted to hold up Tukuafu as an example to other young players on the roster. They have identified him as someone who has gone about his work the right way. Otherwise, a GM generally would not make a public comment regarding an exclusive-rights free agent.
Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle checks in with former quarterback Phil Simms, who thinks Matt Flynn lacks the physical tools for Seattle or another team to justify making Flynn a franchise quarterback. Noted: Simms has a history of criticizing quarterbacks who lack arm strength. He downplayed Andrew Luck as a franchise quarterback last year. I would be surprised if the Seahawks signed Flynn to a monster contract making Flynn the franchise quarterback. But I could see Seattle signing Flynn to a more modest deal if Manning wound up signing elsewhere. The team needs to address the position one way or another.ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.
