Tag: los angeles rams news

Former NFL coach Mike Smith compared Jared Verse to Dwight Freeney

As complements keep coming in for Jared Verse, a former NFC South head coach provides arguably the biggest stamp of approval for the pick.

As the compliments keep rolling in regarding the Rams’ selection of Jared Verse, the team could not be happier with how things shaped out last night. While the majority of Rams fans have expressed satisfaction over the selection, there are a select few who have expressed doubts over the pick.

However, many people in the football community have been praising Verse’s play and regard him as a can’t-miss prospect. This was made even more evident by yet another statement of support, this time by former Falcons head coach Mike Smith.

Smith spent seven years as the Atlanta Falcons head coach, winning two NFC South titles and clinching four playoff berths. A defensive coach by trade, he has tremendous insight into the play of edge rushers like Verse.

Complementing his play, Smith compared Verse to Pro Football Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney. Speaking of the Florida State pass rusher two weeks ago in an interview with Betway, Smith said this about Verse.

“There’s a more surprise guy we need to talk about in Jared Verse from Florida State, who was a transfer from Albany University,” he said. “He’s a freak, too. He is something. The thing I like about him is he reminds me a lot of Dwight Freeney. He’s a guy with elite speed and he’s good with his speed to power and that’s why he reminds me of Freeney. He understands leverage and he is a productive player against the run.”

After a remarkable career, Freeney was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. He was also a three-time first-team All-Pro selection, totaling 125.5 sacks in his 16-year career.

If Verse puts up even half of those numbers, the Rams got a steal at Pick 19.

Rams tried to hide their interest in Jared Verse leading up to draft

The Rams purposely didn’t do any private workouts or visit with Jared Verse before the draft, attempting to hide their interest in him

General managers in the NFL typically do not have long tenures of employment and for a league that cycles executives yearly, Rams GM Les Snead’s 13 years with the Rams would be a surprise if not for his annual successes in the draft.

Snead was criticized by some for his post-Super Bowl LVI roster management but quickly redeemed himself through his performance in the 2023 NFL draft. Snead has continued to stack his team with underrated and undervalued talent.

The longtime GM has many tricks of the trade and one was on display Thursday night. Jared Verse’s selection was surprising to the draft community, only because some would have expected that if the Rams were to acquire a player of such quality, they would have had to trade up.

With no news coming out about a potential move to acquire Verse, many assumed he was off the Rams’ draft board. That was intentional. Despite the interest, the Rams played it cool. They purposefully did not bring Verse in for a workout to hide their interest and once he became available at Pick 19, the question of who to pick wasn’t difficult.

“No, we didn’t do any privates with him,” Snead said. “He was one of those guys we tried to somewhat keep under the radar except a lot of mocks felt like we might go that way, go defense. We try to go stealth with it. But like Sean mentioned, he’s one of those players that from the vetting process, he was really one of – it’s all subjective, but one of our higher-rated guys in terms of intangibles off the field and also it transcends to when you rate some things that are not necessarily physical talent, but let’s call it competitiveness on the urgency on the field, he rated very, very high.

Snead and the Rams were highly interested in the pass rusher from Florida State throughout the entire pre-draft process.

On Verse, Snead had this to say: “You can tell he cares about football, he has fun playing football, and oh, by the way, he’s pretty disruptive, violent. You think defense, the way he plays is next to the word in the dictionary.”

Bill Belichick loved the Rams’ selection of Jared Verse: ‘So much to like about this guy’

As the praise continues to come in regarding Rams edge rusher Jared Verse, one future Hall of Fame coach gave the biggest stamp of approval.

Many notable NFL coaches, commentators, and analysts have praised the Rams for their selection of Florida State pass rusher Jared Verse but none have the resume of eight-time Super Bowl champion coach Bill Belichick.

The architect of the Patriots dynasty, Belichick was complimentary of Verse on the Pat McAfee show. When it came to the dynamic, defensive playmaker, Belichick had this to say: “Powerful, explosive. There’s so much to like about this guy.”

“Very explosive guy, can handle the running game in the C-gap off-tackle area. He gets off blocks well, he attacks the pocket well and he’s got a lot of power,” Belichick said. “You’ve got to stop the run to rush the passer and that’s one thing he can do. He can handle the run and he can rush. You earn the right to rush the passer by stopping the run and getting ahead.”

Not only should Rams fans feel good about the praise from such an accomplished coach, but also a coach who helped develop top pass rushers including Lawrence Taylor. Taylor, of course, had a Hall of Fame career that included two championships, an MVP (the only one won by a defensive player), and three Defensive Player of the Year awards.

The future of the Rams grows brighter with every passing minute.

Instant analysis: Rams nail first-round pick with FSU’s Jared Verse

With the selection of Jared Verse, Les Snead continues to prove why he’s one of the best GMs in the business.

Many should consider the Rams lucky. Jared Verse had a very unlikely route to Los Angeles. After an incredible career at the University of Albany, Verse transferred down the Atlantic coast to Florida State where he had nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss during his first year with the Seminoles.

Many expected him to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft as he was a predicted top-15 pick. However, he decided to return to FSU where he put up nine sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in 2024.

Verse was once again expected to be a top-15 pick. Yet, due to the early run on offensive players, Verse fell into the Rams’ lap at No. 19 overall and they didn’t pass up the talented pass rusher.

He could not be entering a better situation.

While Kobie Turner and Byron Young are the new men in charge of the Rams’ defensive front, they were rookies just one year ago and exploded onto the scene. They will mentor Verse as Cooper Kupp did for Puka Nacua.

Not only that, but Rams defensive line coach Giff Smith has developed raw prospects into becoming NFL-caliber producers during his time with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Verse is young but experienced. He’s explosive off the snap, has a relentless motor and will thrive as the Robin to Byron Young’s Batman. He will have favorable matchups and will be an instant contributor for the Rams.

By staying patient, the Rams now have a premier pass rusher and maintain their vast amount of picks heading into the next rounds of the draft. They nailed this selection, letting the board come to them without panicking and trading up to fill a need.

Final Rams mock draft: LA goes defense early, waits on offense

In our final mock draft from the Mock-a-palooza, the Rams focus on defense early and offense later

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of representing the Rams in draft expert Bill Carroll’s (@elevenbravo138) 10th annual Mock-a-palooza. The Mock-a-palooza employs draft experts acting as general managers for each NFL franchise. The mock was a three-day event simulating the NFL Draft, employing trades, picks and analysis with a real-time clock.

There was a major trade that shook up the first round. The Los Angeles Chargers traded the No. 5 pick to Minnesota for Picks 11, 23 and two more Day 2 picks. Minnesota would select J.J. McCarthy and the Chargers would take Dallas Turner with pick 11.

With that being said, here’s the Rams 2024 draft via the Mock-a-palooza. The first number is the round, the second number is the pick.

1.19: Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

2.52: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

3.83: Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky

3.99: Cedric Gray, LB, North Carolina

5.154: Dallin Holker, TE, Colorado State

5.155: Sione Vaki, S, Utah

6.196: Dwight McGlothern, CB, Arkansas

6.210: Carson Steele, RB, UCLA

6.214: Jordan Travis, QB, Florida State

6.218: Hayden Hatten, WR, Idaho

7.254: Brevyn Spann-Ford, TE, Minnesota

With a first-round pick for the first time since 2016 and the Rams’ history of success when it comes to Day 2 and 3 picks, this could be gearing up to be the Rams’ best draft ever.

Rams could benefit from an early run on quarterbacks in the NFL draft

As many as six quarterbacks could go in the top 15 picks, which is good news for the Rams

As the NFL gears up for the annual draft, teams are settling in and finalizing their draft boards. With players participating in various pro days, front offices have had a final opportunity to take a close look at prospects and sometimes those in-depth looks change the mindset and priorities of franchises.

As made evident by the New York Jets’ 2021 draft, many had Justin Fields mocked to the team with their second overall selection. With Trevor Lawrence already set to be drafted by the Jaguars and the need for a quarterback being ever-pressing, the Jets and Fields felt like a natural partnership. However, an outstanding performance by Zach Wilson at his pro day sent the BYU gunslinger to New York and Fields to Chicago.

Wilson should serve as a warning in investing too much thought into a player’s pro day and it did until Will Levis fell out of the first despite his solid pro day and in his limited time with Tennessee, he has shown tremendous talent and is the Titans’ projected starter in 2024.

Teams will be willing to spend some capital for a quarterback and with the history of early runs on rookie quarterbacks throughout all three days of the draft, trends are changing and the Rams are in a position to benefit.

As they sit at No. 19 overall, there are several teams that need quarterbacks and for those that have only a temporary solution at the position, they may trade up for their passer of the future.

Expected first-round quarterbacks include Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix. Potentially Spencer Rattler could throw himself into the mix as well.

So how does this help the Rams? Considering the Rams don’t have an immediate need at the position, that’s six or seven selections at a position that probably isn’t a priority to Los Angeles. That will also push back several top talents, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

With the projected selections of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Joe Alt, Olu Fashanu, Rome Odunze, Brock Bowers, Terrion Arnold and Dallas Turner inside the top 15, that’s fifteen prospects that the Rams have almost no shot of acquiring – meaning there could be a potential drop in projected targets.

Top talents like Nate Wiggins, Chop Robinson, Byron Murphy II, Jer’Zhan Newton and Brian Thomas Jr. could become available to the Rams despite their top 15 guys likely being off the board. Offensive tackles like Aramius Mims, Taliese Fuaga, Tyler Guyton and Graham Barton could be available, as well.

As the talent pool increases with every QB selection, there’s also another element in play. The Bills just traded away Stefon Diggs. If the Rams selection comes up and there’s a quality receiver available, perhaps a draft day trade with Buffalo is in the realm of possibility.

Long story short, the more QBs drafted before pick 19, the better. The Rams are on the verge of something special and the desperation of others could bring a fruitful harvest for GM Les Snead and the organization.

Rams should keep tabs on Brahmas OC A.J. Smith

Brahmas OC A.J. Smith brings a modern voice to an old school passing offense. Here’s why the Rams should keep tabs on the young coach.

In a surprise victory, former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips led his San Antonio Brahmas to a 27-12 win over the XFL runner-up D.C. Defenders. One of the reasons Phillips was able to achieve the victory was due to his offense, which scored three touchdowns.

Phillips’ offensive coordinator is A.J. Smith. This is the second year Smith has worked as an OC under Phillips. Both of them lit up XFL scoreboards last year with the Houston Roughnecks.

Smith,  with a roster constructed on the fly, averaged 23.1 points per game last season. Before star wide receiver Jontre Kirklin went out injured, the Roughnecks put up 30.5 points per game.

Well, Smith and Kirklin are back on target. As a member of the Brahmas, Kirklin put up eight receptions for 61 yards and one touchdown in the season opener. Smith guided ex-NFL quarterback Chase Garbers to a successful UFL debut.

Garbers went 19-for-25 for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Garbers also had three rushes for 6 yards and a touchdown. He had no interceptions.

A.J. Smith started his coaching career at 19 years old. A former graduate assistant at SMU, Smith grew up as a disciple of the Run N Shoot, a pass-happy, post-snap read offense that was popularized in the 80s and early 90s. The head coach at SMU at the time was June Jones.

June Jones was another longtime coach who got started at an early age. He served the Oilers and the Falcons as offensive coordinator before he took the Falcons head coaching job. He also was the head coach of the Chargers and of the Hawaii Warriors where his offense helped Colt Brennan become a Heisman finalist and record-setter for touchdowns thrown in a season.

At SMU, Jones buried the curse of the “death penalty” by winning three bowl games. Smith worked with Jones in the XFL, as well as a position coach for the Houston Roughnecks in 2020. They helped P.J. Walker light up the league before Walker returned to the NFL. Walker has played for four seasons since.

Smith is a young, talented coach who has a proven track record of success and the blueprint for the modern passing offense. The Run N Shoot is like Latin and the modern passing offense is like European languages. Smith is a reverse engineer who would be able to dissect every offensive concept with ease.

Smith will be in the NFL sooner rather than later and perhaps a call to their old friend Wade Phillips is the perfect way to preemptively hire a future star.

Rams should keep an eye on D.C. Defenders’ Reggie Barlow in UFL

As the UFL kicks off its opening weekend, D.C. Defenders head coach Reggie Barlow is one to watch for in 2024.

The 2023 XFL Coach of the Year Reggie Barlow makes his return to football as the D.C. Defenders open their season in the new UFL against the Brahmas of San Antonio.

Barlow had himself a year in 2023. The first-year head coach of the Defenders led his team to a 9-1 regular season record and appearance in the XFL title game before he was defeated by the Arlington Renegades. However, his defeat in the final game should not erase the fact that the Defenders had the best regular season record, along with Barlow’s players achieving the XFL Offensive Player of the Year award (Jordan Ta’amu), the XFL rushing yards leader award (Abram Smith), and seven All-XFL selections.

Barlow also has a long history with HBCU programs, spending 13 seasons as a head coach with Alabama State and Virginia State. No stranger to the NFL, the former fourth-round pick played in the league for eight years.

Barlow’s resume speaks for itself. His XFL accolades speak volumes alone but when you add his conference title from Virginia State, his three division titles at Alabama State, and his 92-59 career coaching record, Barlow has proven he belongs with the big boys.

As a coach who has invested a lot in collegiate talent to fill out his roster, Sean McVay also lined his staff with coaches coming from the college ranks. McVay’s 2023 assistant head coach was Jimmy Lake, whom McVay hired after he was fired by the University of Washington. Ironically enough, the current head coach of the Washington Huskies is a former McVay assistant in Jedd Fisch.

Lake is one of many coaches with ties to the collegiate ranks and the Rams so Barlow wouldn’t be a fish out of water. He’s perfect assistant head coaching material and quite frankly, Barlow is an NFL-caliber head coach.

Barlow brings a tremendous amount to the table. An offensive coach by trade, Barlow’s player development skills are top-notch. As an assistant at Alabama State, he coached Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson, a future second-round pick, played 10 years in the league, winning a Super Bowl with Seattle by backing up Russell Wilson.

As head coach at Alabama State, he sent several players to the NFL, including Isaiah Crowell, Terren Jones and Greg Jenkins. Barlow still has strong ties to the HBCU landscape, giving the Rams a bit of insight into the talent-filled market.

Barlow is also a winner. He’s won at all three of his stops and perhaps a new league will give him an opportunity to showcase his skills. A fruitful 2024 should see Barlow take another jump in his career and there’s no reason Los Angeles shouldn’t be in play for the promising head ball coach.

The Rams should consider a reunion with Odell Beckham Jr.

With a pass-happy NFL, the demand for receivers is at an all time high. Here’s why the Rams should reunite with Odell Beckham Jr.

As the Rams round out their roster, there’s still a bunch of high-quality free agents available for the team to supplement their roster with. One of those players is the ever-entertaining Odell Beckham Jr.

Beckham, one of the most athletic and gifted football players I’ve ever watched play the game, has been the subject of subsequent debate on Twitter about whether the All-Pro pass catcher’s fame is the result of a significant career or the product of a single iconic moment, forever shared throughout NFL history. The man known as OBJ shot to national attention via his one-handed touchdown grab against the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football during his rookie year almost 10 years ago.

Beckham, however, has a resume to back up the claim that he was among the league’s best. Five 1,000-yard seasons and 59 touchdowns displayed OBJ’s abilities but injuries have slowed the star receiver over the years.

He did see a resurgence in his career once he signed with the Rams in 2021. Spending only half a year in Los Angeles, Beckham helped the team win Super Bowl LVI with his five touchdowns in seven regular-season starts.

Beckham did not disappoint in the playoffs either. Starting in all four of the Rams’ postseason victories, Beckham caught the Rams’ first touchdown of the 2021 playoffs in a victorious effort against the Cardinals 34-11.

Beckham then came up huge on what was a game tying drive by the Rams in the NFC championship game. His two catches set up a Matt Gay field goal to tie the game at 17. The Rams would defeat the San Francisco 49ers 20-17.

And in the biggest game of the year, Beckham started hot. He was on pace for Super Bowl MVP, hauling in two catches for 52 yards and the game’s opening touchdown. Beckham would then tear his ACL in the second quarter in the Rams’ title victory.

Beckham spent last year with the Ravens and it was clear that he wasn’t the player that we once knew. However, he did show an ability to get open, secure catches and find the holes in zone coverages – things that play into the Sean McVay offense.

OBJ will not be an expensive singing nor a player that needs to play every snap. He’s at the stage of his career where he is a rotational guy who has the ability to be plugged in during the game’s biggest moments and perform. It’s a relationship that worked once and perhaps OBJ is the final key in the Rams’ offensive retool.

Rams balancing risk and reward with injury-prone Tre’Davious White

The Rams are taking a sizable risk by giving Tre’Davious White $8.5 million, but he also brings a lot of potential to LA’s secondary

When healthy, Tre’Davious White is one of the best defensive backs in the NFL. A shutdown corner, educated in the LSU school of pass defending, White perpetuates the school’s long legacy of sending top DBs to the league.

A pillar of the Bills’ newfound success in the 21st century, White helped bring forth Buffalo’s best run of success since the team’s run to four straight Super Bowls in the 90s.

However, that was then and this is now. And now the Rams have committed at least $8.5 million to an injury-plagued player who has missed multiple games in four straight years.

White’s injuries are a massive point of concern. White hasn’t played a full year since 2018 and has suffered a torn ACL in 2021 and a torn Achilles tendon in 2023.

For a team that doesn’t have an established CB1, giving that job to White is a risky gamble. For one, we haven’t seen White play since Week 4 of last season nor do we know how the injury has affected him. White’s history with lower body injuries, combined with his seven years of NFL experience also calls into question his durability.

I am a believer that the best ability is availability and White has yet to prove that he can stay healthy for a whole year. For a first-time defensive coordinator, consistency is key and the Rams need it if Chris Shula is expected to make an impact in Year 1.

However, White’s situation isn’t all that bleak. Rams insider George Lopez has this to say about the former All-Pro.

“If Tre’Davious White can stay healthy, it’s a steal of a signing for the Rams. He’s a top CB and will not only strengthen the Rams secondary but will also provide leadership to the younger DBs on the Rams”

And perhaps that is where the key in this signing is. Everyone, including myself, has been so hyper-focused on White’s on-field play that his off-field impact has not been given the attention it deserves. With a young DB room full of talent and some expected additions in the NFL draft, White’s role will extend to the classroom.

As Cooper Kupp did for Puka Nacua, White’s insight and experience could lift the DB room as a whole. Since he was drafted in 2017, the Bills have only missed the playoffs once. They previously missed the playoffs in 17 straight seasons.

While the price tag is a bit high for a player with a history like White, his impact on the youth will outlive his tenure with the team. For a squad with championship aspirations, perhaps the calm of a veteran presence like White is what will guide the Rams through the storm.