Category: Latest Rams news

Rams are moving on from Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator

After three seasons, the Rams will not bring back Wade Phillips as their defensive coordinator.

The Los Angeles Rams are making a big change to their coaching staff this offseason. According to Gary Klein of the L.A. Times, the Rams have informed Wade Phillips that he will not be back as the team’s defensive coordinator. The report was confirmed by ESPN.

There were reports that Phillips wouldn’t return in 2020 with his contract expiring after this past season, opening the door for the Rams to move on. Sean McVay has decided to make a change after three seasons of ranking in the middle of the pack defensively.

In three years under Phillips, the Rams never finished in the top 10 in points or yards allowed. In 2019, they finished 17th in points and 13th in yards allowed.

The Rams went 9-7 this season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The defense played relatively well in the second half of the season, allowing 20 points or fewer in seven of their last 11 games.

With Phillips out, expect there to be further changes on the defensive side of the ball once the Rams hire a new coordinator. Additionally, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN is reporting that assistant coaches are candidates for positions at the college level.

Linebackers coach Joe Barry and cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant should be in consideration as replacements for Phillips if the Rams hire from within.

[vertical-gallery id=627791]

Taylor Rapp felt like a ‘completely different player’ in Week 17 vs. Week 1

Taylor Rapp discusses how far he came from the season opener to Week 17.

In a season full of disappointment, one of the positive developments that took place throughout the year was the progress made by Taylor Rapp. The rookie safety began the year as a backup and role player, but when John Johnson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 6, Rapp was thrust into a starting spot.

He finished the year with an overall grade of 64.5 from Pro Football Focus, at one point ranking as one of the best safeties in football. He allowed only 38 catches on 62 targets, breaking up eight total passes with two interceptions.

It was easy to see him gaining comfort as the season went on, and in his final session with the media last week, he explained just how far he came.

“I’m looking forward to next year, not being a rookie,” he said. “I’m looking forward to being out there and being more comfortable with the system. I felt like I’m a completely different player from Game 1 to Game 16, so just looking forward to getting out there and just being more comfortable and letting loose and playing fast.”

Rapp figures to be a starter next season alongside Johnson, giving the Rams one of the best safety tandems in the league. They’re both playmakers, tying for the team lead with two interceptions each.

That likely leaves Eric Weddle on the outside looking in, making it probable that the Rams will decline his 2020 option and save $4.25 million in cap space.

[vertical-gallery id=627791]

No team got less out of its RBs in the passing game than the Rams

The Rams’ running backs ranked last in the NFL as receivers in just about every category.

Everything the Los Angeles Rams have done the last two years has indicated a commitment to utilizing their strong crop of running backs.

They made Todd Gurley the highest-paid back in the NFL before the 2018 season, giving him a four-year deal with $45 million in guarantees. They made the obvious decision to match the Lions’ offer sheet for Malcolm Brown last offseason, keeping him around with a two-year deal. Last April, they traded up to select Darrell Henderson Jr. in the third round, seemingly adding a dynamic playmaker to an already crowded backfield.

Then, when push came to shove, the Rams failed to properly incorporate the position into the offense. They ranked 18th in rushing attempts last season after finishing eighth in 2018 and ninth in 2017. Gurley touched the ball 254 times in 15 games, 61 fewer times than he did in 2018 and 89 fewer times than in 2017.

What’s even more alarming than his lack of rush attempts was his disappearance from the passing game. Gurley was targeted 49 times and caught 31 passes for a measly 207 yards. His 6.7 yards per reception were the lowest of Gurley’s career and were the seventh-worst in the NFL this season.

Brown caught two passes for 16 yards and Henderson hauled in four receptions for 37 yards. That’s 37 total receptions for 260 yards from Rams running backs this season. Both of those numbers were the fewest in the NFL among all 32 teams. The next-closest team was the Ravens, whose running backs caught 41 passes for 362 yards – probably because they were busy helping lead the league’s top rushing attack.

By just about every measure, the Rams’ running backs were the worst in the NFL as receivers, both because of a lack of execution and opportunities. They were last in third-down receptions (3 of 10 targets), catch rate (59.7%), yards per target (4.2), catches for first downs (9) and red zone targets (4) – all according to Inside Edge.

Gurley, Brown and Henderson did very little to force missed tackles after the catch, either. They averaged only 6.6 yards after the catch per reception this season, which was fourth-worst in the league. The No. 1 team, for comparison, was the Vikings, whose running backs averaged 10.8 yards after the catch per reception.

It’s hard to imagine the Rams couldn’t have gotten more out of their running backs as receivers this year – especially with Jared Goff being under pressure as often as he was. Most of the passes that went to the running backs were check-downs and dump-offs when nothing else was there.

McVay called very few designed screens for Gurley, which was a staple of the offense the previous two years. They almost never split Henderson out wide and had him run routes, which could’ve been a good way to get him more involved.

The Rams looked like they were committing to a three-headed monster at running back in the last 18 months, but all they got in 2019 was a disappointing showing and a lack of involvement in the passing game – an aspect of the position that’s never been more important than it is in today’s pass-happy NFL.

[vertical-gallery id=627791]

4 potential cap casualties for the Rams this offseason

The Rams could move on from these four players this offseason.

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Rams are in for an interesting offseason in 2020. After coming up well short of their goal of making it back to the Super Bowl, missing out on the playoffs entirely, the Rams must make changes this offseason on both sides of the ball.

It’ll start with free agency and continue into the draft with players likely being cut and traded all spring and summer. They’re not in great shape with the salary cap, especially with several key starters hitting free agency, so moves will need to be made.

Here are four players who could be cap casualties, either by being cut or having their 2020 options declined.

Eric Weddle

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Potential savings: $4.25 million

More likely than not, Weddle won’t be back with the Rams next season. He’s set to count $4.75 million against the cap in 2020 with the team able to free up $4.25 million by declining his option for 2020. Combined, John Johnson and Taylor Rapp will have a cap hit of just over $2 million next season.

It’s easy to see why the Rams would be OK with moving on from Weddle, who already said he won’t come back if the team views him as a backup. Weddle was valuable as a leader and mentor for the younger safeties, but it’s time for the Rams to let their duo of Johnson and Rapp shine in 2020.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Watch: Sean McVay was mic’d up for Rams’ season finale

Sean McVay was mic’d up for the Rams’ Week 17 win over the Cardinals.

Sean McVay shows a fair amount of emotion on the sideline during games, as evidenced by him approaching John Fassel out of frustration last week when the Rams’ fake punt failed. Whether in good or bad scenarios, he’s rarely shy about expressing himself on Sundays.

He was mic’d up for the season finale last week against the Cardinals and it gave fans a glimpse at what he says and does during games. The team obviously can’t show everything he says and does, so most of the video is him encouraging players.

However, after the final whistle – which McVay counted down to – Larry Fitzgerald asked him if he’ll be at the Kentucky Derby again this year.

[vertical-gallery id=627791]

Two Rams players could be in play for franchise tag this offseason

The Rams could use the tag on one of two defenders this offseason.

Few teams have been more willing to use the franchise tag in recent years than the Los Angeles Rams. They tagged a player in three straight years from 2016-2018, with Trumaine Johnson receiving the first two tags and Lamarcus Joyner the third in 2018.

The Rams opted not to use it in 2019, seeing no viable candidates worth tagging at such a high price. The only possible options were Rodger Saffold and Joyner, who both signed elsewhere in free agency.

After taking a year off from playing tag, the Rams could get back into the game by using it on one of two players this year. Cory Littleton and Dante Fowler Jr. are viewed as the Rams’ most important free agents this offseason, and it’s possible neither will return in 2020.

Littleton has become one of the best linebackers in the NFL despite not earning a Pro Bowl nod, putting together an outstanding 2019 season with 134 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. He can do it all from his inside linebacker spot, proving to be the Rams’ second-most valuable player behind Aaron Donald.

Fowler also had the best season of his career. He recorded 11.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss, ranking second on the team in both categories. His pass-rush win rate of 23% ranked ninth among all edge rushers, finishing in the company of players such as Za’Darius Smith, Jadeveon Clowney, Joey Bosa and Shaq Barrett.

Both players are going to be coveted in free agency, but the Rams can prevent one of them from reaching the market by using the franchise tag. Using the tag typically isn’t good business because of the strain it usually puts on the relationship between the team and player, but it can be a preventative measure to ensure a player is back in the same uniform for at least one more year.

Not only that, but it also opens the door for trades. Last offseason, six teams used the franchise tag. Three of those players were traded, with two of them signing extensions with their new teams. Clowney was dealt from the Texans to the Seahawks after holding out, while Seattle also traded Frank Clark to Kansas City after he was tagged. Clark replaced Dee Ford, who the Chiefs traded to the 49ers.

If the Rams were to tag either Fowler or Littleton, they’d cost the same because in the NFL’s eyes, they play the same position. They’re both considered linebackers, even though they have completely separate responsibilities.

The projected franchise tag for linebackers in 2020 is $16.27 million fully guaranteed. For a defensive end – if Fowler played in a 4-3 scheme – the tag is projected to cost $19.316 million. That’s a significant difference, obviously.

The target price for Littleton is probably in the range of what Shaq Thompson ($13.6 million per year) and Jaylon Smith ($11.4 million per year) got in the last year. He can shoot for Bobby Wagner and C.J. Mosley’s range of $17-18 million per year, but he probably won’t get that.

That makes the $16.27 million tag an expensive one for someone like Littleton. The Rams would be far better off signing him to an extension and locking him up long-term for around $13 million per year.

For Fowler, though, the tag wouldn’t be a bad idea. At $16.27 million, Fowler would rank 12th among all edge rushers in average salary. He can probably earn what Ford got from the 49ers ($17.1 million per year) last offseason on a long-term deal, but it’s unlikely the Rams would break the bank with a long-term extension at that price.

It’s still very early in the process, but there’s no doubt the franchise tag is on the table for Los Angeles this offseason. Andrew Whitworth, Michael Brockers and Greg Zuerlein are also eligible to be tagged, but paying them what the franchise tender is worth in 2020 would not be a wise move by the Rams.

It’ll likely come down to Littleton and Fowler, if Los Angeles decides to use it at all.

[vertical-gallery id=627791]

How Cooper Kupp, 3 other Rams doubled their salaries for 2020

Four Rams players entering their fourth seasons earned significant raises in 2020.

The NFL rewards players who outperform their draft position and earn significant playing time in their first three seasons, and four Rams players are earning raises in 2020 as a result. That’s done with Proven Performance Escalators, which players drafted in the third round or later can qualify for.

In order to earn the PPE, players either have to play 35% of their team’s snaps (offense or defense) in two of their first three years, or play at least 35% of the total snaps over the course of their first three seasons.

For 2020, these PPEs go to players drafted in 2017. The Rams nailed that draft class and have gotten key contributions from players selected that year, primarily with Cooper Kupp and John Johnson. Josh Reynolds and Samson Ebukam have also played key roles in the last three years and all three qualify for PPEs in 2020.

Kupp has played 63.7% of the snaps in his career, with Johnson playing 65.9%. Both players missed significant time in the last two years due to injury, each landing on IR. Ebukam was a starter in 2018 and has played 50.7% of the defensive snaps, while Reynolds has played 41.9%.

All four players will see their salaries increase in 2020, and not by an insignificant amount. Their base salaries will rise to the lowest restricted free agent tender amount in 2020, which is projected to be $2.144 million, according to Over The Cap.

Here’s how much each player’s base salary was set to be in 2020 before earning PPEs.

  • Kupp: $961,169
  • Johnson: $775,577
  • Reynolds: $735,000
  • Ebukam: $735,000

This will have an impact on the salary cap for the Rams, costing the team about $4.6 million more than originally expected. Of course, the Rams knew these raises were coming, so it’s not as if this is a surprise to Les Snead and the front office. If the salary cap is $200 million in 2020, the Rams will have about $21 million in cap space after these raises take effect.

All four players will also be free agents in 2021.

[vertical-gallery id=627791]

Clay Matthews fined $21K for hit on Kyler Murray in Week 17

Clay Matthews was fined for the second time this season.

By now, Clay Matthews can probably write checks for fines with his eyes closed. For the second time this season, Matthews was hit with a fine by the NFL – only this time, it was for something he did on the field.

Matthews is being docked $21,056 for his hit on Kyler Murray last week, which resulted in a roughing the passer penalty. It wasn’t overly excessive, but it was unnecessary and late.

The play didn’t have any impact on the outcome of the game, but it did extend the Cardinals’ drive and give them a free 15 yards, ultimately leading to a touchdown.

This is the fourth time Matthews has been fined for roughing the passer, the first since 2016. He was also fined $12,500 earlier this year for a tweet criticizing the officials. At the time, Matthews was sidelined with a broken jaw and the tweet wasn’t regarding a Rams game.

[vertical-gallery id=627791]

Les Snead: Opponents deserve credit for ‘trying to take Gurley away’

Les Snead says Todd Gurley’s down season wasn’t all his fault.

Todd Gurley was one of the many Rams players who had disappointing 2019 seasons. After gaining at least 1,800 yards from scrimmage in each of the last two seasons, Gurley only put up 1,064 yards in 15 games this year.

He averaged 3.8 yards per carry and 6.7 yards per catch, also fumbling it three times. By just about every measure, it was the second-worst season of his career, only better than his terrible 2016 season under Jeff Fisher.

But he’s not entirely to blame. The offensive line regressed, Jared Goff didn’t do much to take pressure off of Gurley and opponents set out to take away the Rams’ wide zone runs. That last factor isn’t something that gets talked about much, but general manager Les Snead says teams deserve credit for doing what they could to take away Gurley.

“What we all know in sports, if we were so successful at those explosive runs in ‘17 and ‘18, and we saw people start trying to calm it down in ‘18, you’re not just going to sit back and do the same thing,” Snead said, via the team’s official site. “It’s a combination of what we have going on (and) what we need to fix. And give the enemy credit for trying to take Gurley away. That’s obviously a compliment to him.”

The Rams were one of the most talented teams in the NFL, but collectively, they couldn’t put it all together. The struggles of several individuals weighed the whole team down and prevented them from making the postseason.

They have a long offseason to adjust and adapt before trying to return to the playoffs in 2020, and it begins with fixing the running game.

[vertical-gallery id=627791]

Rams lacked aggressiveness on fourth down in 2019

Sean McVay didn’t go for it often on fourth down, lacking aggressiveness compared to other teams.

Sean McVay has been viewed as an innovator and an offensive wizard since being hired as the Rams’ head coach in 2017. His track record backs up those claims, when it comes to aggressiveness, McVay doesn’t rank near the top of the league. In fact, the Rams have frequently been one of the least aggressive teams during his tenure.

Last season, they went for it on fourth down just 13 times in 2019, tied for the third-fewest in the NFL. Their conversion rate of 23.1% was 31st in football, ahead of only the Steelers. In 2018, they converted 40% of the time on 15 attempts, and in 2017, they were 5-for-12 (41.7%).

A good portion of those fourth-down attempts came on fake punts, too, using either a special teams player to run for the first or having Johnny Hekker throw a pass. Unfortunately, those attempts seem to come up short more often than not.

Specifically with regards to this past season, the Rams played it very safe on fourth down. According to Ben Baldwin of The Athletic, only the Redskins were less aggressive. The following chart is based on New York Times’ suggestion of when to go for it on fourth down, according to statistics and analytics. As you can see, the Rams are on the far right of the graph.

Unsurprisingly, the Ravens were more aggressive than any team, boasting the best offense in the NFL. Now, fourth-down aggressiveness doesn’t always translate to success, but it does help sustain drives when you can convert consistently on that crucial down; Baltimore was 17-for-24 on fourth this season.

Too often, McVay opted to either punt the ball away or attempt a trick play to convert rather than trusting Jared Goff and the offense. remember that two-play sequence against the Steelers when Goff was pulled for Blake Bortles on third down and then the Rams attempted (and failed) a fake punt?

The Rams punted it 12 times between their opponents’ 40-yard line and midfield. On five of those punts, the Rams needed to pick up 5 or fewer yards. Only four times did the Rams go for it on fourth-down between midfield and the opponents’ 20-yard line and they failed each time.

This is one area the Rams can stand to evaluate and improve in 2020. Adding another offensive coach to the mix wouldn’t hurt, even if it isn’t a true offensive coordinator to work with McVay.

[vertical-gallery id=627791]