Tag: rams football news

Matthew Stafford throws bomb TD pass in Rams’ debut

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a bomb touchdown pass to Van Jefferson in his Rams’ debut.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a bomb touchdown pass to Van Jefferson in his Rams’ debut. The Rams traded for Matthew Stafford to improve their deep passing.

Stafford, who played college football at the University of Georgia, played the first 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Detroit Lions. Stafford is a former No. 1 overall pick and has one of the strongest arms in the NFL.

The Los Angeles Rams traded two first-round picks, quarterback Jared Goff, and a third-round pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford this offseason.

Now, the trade is already paying off for Los Angeles. Stafford rolled out on a play-action pass on his first drive for Los Angeles. He found a wide-open Van Jefferson for a 67-yard touchdown.

Here’s a look at Stafford’s first touchdown for the Rams:

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Former UGA star J.R. Reed makes Los Angeles Rams roster

Former Georgia Bulldogs star defensive back J.R. Reed has made Los Angeles Rams roster.

Former Georgia Bulldogs star defensive back J.R. Reed has made Los Angeles Rams roster. Reed, a second-year safety, played in seven games for the Rams last season. He recorded a pair of tackles and played in the playoffs.

J.R. Reed will look to have a larger role for Los Angeles in 2021. For now, he is happy to make the Rams roster again.

Former UGA safety J.R. Reed did not get picked in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the moments following the draft. The Jaguars eventually cut Reed before the season. Later, he ended up in Los Angeles.

Georgia Bulldogs defensive back J.R. Reed is on one of the top defenses in the NFL. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

J.R. Reed was impressive at Georgia, but his injury history and lack of top-level athleticism contributed to him going undrafted.

In 2021, J.R. Reed is expected to have a special teams role for the Rams. He is a backup at safety behind projected starters Taylor Rapp and Jordan Fuller. The Rams don’t play many starters during the preseason.

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Former UGA RB Thomas Brown ruptured achilles, plays it cool

Rams running back coach, Georgia great Thomas Brown ruptured his achilles and didn’t even flinch when walking off the field. Details here

ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted on Friday that former Georgia running back Thomas Brown, now running backs coach for the Los Angeles Rams, recently ruptured his achilles in practice and then walked off the field as if nothing happened.

Brown is Georgia tough, a ruptured achilles is a serious injury and the fact that he walked off the field without even a flinch is impressive.

Brown rushed for 2,646 yards and 23 touchdowns during his time in Athens (2004-2007).

Brown has coached running backs across the country, including Wisconsin, Miami and Marshall.

He was most recently running backs coach at South Carolina before taking the job with the Rams this year

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Make sure you’re caught up for the game of the year, No. 3 Georgia at No. 2 Alabama in a battle for king of the SEC.

We breakdown everything you need to know for the game in this week’s episode of the UGA Football Live podcast, featuring special guest Keith Marshall. Listen here:

 

Former UGA LB promoted to Los Angeles Rams’ roster

Former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Natrez Patrick has been promoted to the roster for the Los Angeles Rams

Former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Natrez Patrick has been promoted to the roster for the Los Angeles Rams. Patrick has played in 13 total games in his NFL career including one this season. He’s recorded two total tackles while playing primarily special teams snaps.

The Rams are off to a 2-0 start to the 2020 season and face the Buffalo Bills this Sunday. According the Rams’ official Twitter account, Los Angeles has signed Patrick to the 53-man roster from their practice squad. In a corresponding move, Los Angeles added offensive lineman Joe Noteboom to injured reserve.

Patrick, who is only 23 years old, played at Benjamin Elijah Mays High School in Atlanta, Georgia before committing and playing at the University of Georgia. Patrick played for four seasons at UGA before going undrafted to the Los Angeles Rams following the 2019 NFL Draft.

Patrick will look to carve out a larger role for Los Angeles during his second year with the team. He’ll have a multi-week opportunity with Notebook missing a minimum of three weeks.

August 17, 2019; Honolulu, HI, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush passes the football against Los Angeles Rams inside linebacker Natrez Patrick. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

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Jets sign former Giants, UGA LB to practice squad

The New York Jets have signed former New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree to their practice squad

The New York Jets have signed former New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree to their practice squad. Ogletree, an NFL veteran, is a former Georgia Bulldog standout.

The New York Giants released Ogletree earlier this offseason and he was a free agent until the Jets signed him to their practice squad. Ogletree will be a talented member of the New York practice squad and it would be surprising if he isn’t promoted to the active roster at some point during the season.

Alec Ogletree has previous experience playing under New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams from his time with the Los Angeles Rams. Ogletree has seven years of NFL experience including 93 starts.

Throughout his career, Ogletree has recorded 12 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles, 7.5 sacks, and 676 total tackles. He’s an impact player at the NFL level, but fans shouldn’t expect him to play immediately, since he is starting on the practice squad. During a normal season, Ogletree wouldn’t have been practice squad eligible.

September 29, 2012; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Alec Ogletree celebrates after the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs won 51-44. Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the signings of Ogletree and receiver Jaleel Scott.

Los Angeles Rams release RB Todd Gurley

The Los Angeles Rams are releasing former Georgia Bulldog running back Todd Gurley. L.A. sought trades for Gurley, but couldn’t find one.

Todd Gurley is one the best running backs in the National Football League when healthy. Unfortunately for the Georgia Bulldog great, that pesky knee of Gurley’s has caused him issues, hindering his production and limiting his workload. In 2019, Gurley had career-lows in rushing yards (857) and attempts (223).

Now, the Los Angeles Rams are releasing Todd Gurley, their former first round pick. The official Rams Twitter account and ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced the news:

L.A. will save $10.5 million against the cap. The Rams failed to find a trade destination and now Gurley will be a free agent for the first time in his NFL career.

Gurley was two years into a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees. With reduced production and a substantial contract, it is not shocking that the Rams looked to trade RB Todd Gurley according to Michael Silver:

A year after making the Super Bowl, Los Angeles foundered to a 9-7 record. Head coach Sean McVay and the Rams are looking to improve, but they had to get creative since they have limited draft capital and cap room.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Gurley, since he’s been cut, will count for $20.15 million in dead money. The Rams are hampered for the future and were banking on Gurley. Hopefully, Gurley can return to form in time for the 2020 season.

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Report: Rams discussing trading RB Todd Gurley

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley may be on the trade block this off-season. Will the former Georgia Bulldog be traded?

Todd Gurley is one the best running backs in the National Football League when he’s 100% healthy. Unfortunately for the Georgia Bulldog great, that pesky knee of Gurley’s has caused him issues, hindering his production and limiting his workload. In 2019, Gurley had career-lows in rushing yards (857) and attempts (223).

Gurley is two years into a contract with the Los Angeles Rams that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees. With reduced production and a substantial contract, it is not shocking that Todd Gurley is frequently brought up in NFL trade talks according to Michael Silver:

A year after making the Super Bowl, Los Angeles floundered to a 9-7 record. Head coach Sean McVay and the Rams are looking to improve, but they must get creative since they have limited draft capital and around $20 million dollars in cap room.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Gurley, if cut right now, would count $20.15 million in dead money. So that’s no an option for L.A..

Los Angeles may have trouble finding a destination for Gurley. Stranger things have happened. Just ask Texans fans. Anything can happen in the NFL off-season (evidence below):

Running backs are still worth something to Houston coach/general manager Bill O’Brien.

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Two former Georgia football players/coaches leave South Carolina for NFL

Two former Georgia football players and coaches have left South Carolina to coach in the NFL.

Two coaches are leaving the South Carolina program to take NFL coaching jobs.

Both of those coaches happen to be guys who played and coached at the University of Georgia.

Thomas Brown, who played running back at Georgia from 2004-07, has joined the Los Angeles Rams staff as the running backs coach, where he will coach former Dawg Todd Gurley.

Related: Thomas Brown hired to Rams

And Bryan McClendon, who caught passes in Athens from 2002-05, will be joining the Steelers staff as receivers coach.

Related: Report: Former Georgia WR Bryan McClendon hired to Steelers

After their collegiate playing careers, both players returned to Georgia to coach shortly after testing out the NFL.

McClendon coached the running backs and receivers in Athens from 2009-2015, after spending two seasons as a grad assistant at Georgia.

Brown coached at Georgia in 2011 as a strength coach and then came back in 2015 to coach the running backs, which at the time was Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.

Both ended up on the same staff at South Carolina under none other than former Georgia defensive back Will Muschamp, who is head coach of the Gamecocks.

Georgia ties run deep.

Two former Georgia football running backs team up on LA Rams

The Los Angeles Rams have hired another former Georgia football running back to help improve the teams’ ball carrier position.

The Los Angeles Rams have added another former Georgia running back, but this time as a member of the coaching staff.

Thomas Brown, who played running back at Georgia from 2004-07, has been hired by the Rams to coach the running backs in Los Angeles.

That includes Todd Gurley, Georgia’s superstar back from 2012-14.

Brown last worked as South Carolina’s running backs coach in 2019 and was also Miami’s offensive coordinator from 2016-2018.

In 2015, he was Georgia’s running backs coach as well, one year after Gurley left for the NFL.

Though Brown never coached Gurley in Athens, the two of them are close friends, said Bruce Feldman, who first reported the news.

Both coached by Mark Richt, Brown (4 seasons) and Gurley (3 seasons) are two of the best backs to wear the red and black this century. During Brown’s career, he rushed for 2,646 yards and 23 touchdowns on 529 touches. Gurley’s career saw him rush for 3,285 yards on 510 carries. He also added 36 touchdowns.

Report: Rams to meet with former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley to discuss future

The LA Rams are reportedly set to meet with Georgia football great Todd Gurley to discuss the UGA product’s future.

Todd Gurley, when healthy, may be the best running back in the National Football League. Unfortunately, that knee of Gurley’s have caused him problems over the last year, hindering his production and touches greatly. Last season, Gurley had career-lows in rushing yards (857) and attempts (223).

Currently, Gurley is two years into a contract that that included a $21 million signing bonus and $45 million in guarantees.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, before the next set of contract guarantees lock in for Gurley, the Rams want to meet with the former Georgia running back to discuss the future.

“From what I am told, what the Rams want to do—and what coach Sean McVay specifically wants to do—is sit down with Gurley before any decision was made,” Rapoport said Thursday on “NFL NOW.” “So that’s probably going to happen before they decide how are they going to proceed with someone who at times has been the best running back in the NFL.

Obviously this is not a simple decision. Cutting him just to save cash would be something that, while theoretically possible, cap-wise would be extremely difficult, more than $10M in a salary-cap hit just for releasing him and if they did it before June 1 it would be astronomical.”

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Gurley, if cut outright right now, would count $20.15 million in dead money.

Then there’s the idea of a trade, which NFL.com outlined here:

Perhaps they could find a trade partner with excess cap space willing to take a flier on a great player who has dealt with injury issues (and the Rams would probably have to pay a pick to unload the deal). But, as Pelissero pointed out, any trade would likely need to be made before the March roster bonus kicks in.

What will likely happen is the Rams will hold onto their superstar running back. It’s on them to figure out how to use him better.