11 Personnel podcast

[jap]

She didn't elaborate on it but I think the league office doesn't like the Rams stripping down the roster and openly rebuilding the team. Maybe its the openness with how they went about it. Maybe, they think it hurts the timeline tor rebuilding the LA fan base. I don't really know.
I agree though, screw them. I don't know of any rules stating that you can't strip down a good team and do a reset.

 Given the number of times the league and their officials have screwed us, who cares what they prefer. We may make mistakes transactions-wise, but we are proactive enough to rebound quickly and make corrections.

 

[Merlin]

She didn't elaborate on it but I think the league office doesn't like the Rams stripping down the roster and openly rebuilding the team. Maybe its the openness with how they went about it. Maybe, they think it hurts the timeline tor rebuilding the LA fan base. I don't really know.
I agree though, screw them. I don't know of any rules stating that you can't strip down a good team and do a reset.

Yeah didn't hear shit out of them when Irsay's bunch sucked for Luck.

 

[I like Rams]

Higbee is the 65th ranked Tight End on PFF so far this season.. Terrible resigning. Such a disappointment. When I see all these other teams actually have Tight End weapons it hurts. He’s a plodder with terrible hands.Everyone in the NFL plays injured some play well and some don’t. I don’t buy the injury excuse for his lack of performance. This is a top 3 need next season-a good Tight End weapon

Yes, bc every injury is equal. Let's throw Staff under the bus for being a pussy and not playing while we're at it.

 

[Merlin]

Yes, bc every injury is equal. Let's throw Staff under the bus for being a pussy and not playing while we're at it.

What matters with Higbee is he's being paid appropriately to what he is, which is a mediocre all-around TE. After that signing and at $8.5M AAV he's the 15th highest paid TE.

Rams didn't have a lot of choice given their inability to evaluate the position in the draft.

 

[Merlin]

I do think Jourdan is doing a decent job riding the fence - not burning bridges yet asking some tough questions in a polite manner.

I almost wonder if she has some behind the scenes unwritten agreement with MCvay where she makes it clear that she really needs to ask the questions the fans want answers to and he makes it clear that it's OK to ask them as long as she's not a bitch about it.

She comes across as rather basic honestly, but does work hard to be the liaison between the fans and inner circle of Mcsnead and Co. So I appreciate that.

She doesn't often offer any strong personal opinions backed by her own observations or stats. So comes across as a bit amateur in her takes. It's like asking your daughter what kind of car she likes and she responds with what her mother told her, without critically analyzing the opinion or confirming why it's a good choice. Alot of her material is no shit sherlock stuff. But I am not going to kill the messenger for the 10-15 percent of insider stuff she drops at times.

Very accurate take I think. Her best features are that she works hard and seems to be all-in with the team. She bleeds blue 'n gold. Which is not always the case with beat writers. Vinny for example was excellent and a real pro (and I think had a strong knowledge of the game) but I always felt was just punching the clock as it pertained to the Rams. I still liked to read him in spite of that, but I definitely prefer Jourdan to him for that reason.

And re: how hard she works I think that has elevated her among the better beat writers around the league. Because she's smart, and saying that I never felt in her Carolina days she was necessarily knowledgeable but she's developed into a hell of a reporter with us.

It's sad how terrible sportswriting is nowadays, either way. And I think she represents the good side of that equation.

 

[FrantikRam]

I don't understand why the NFL would have a problem with the way we're going about things. I mean, our schedule has been BONKERS.

Go look at the Dolphins schedule, or Seattle's schedule and then ask yourself what our record would be. In fact, let's do Seattle's:

Week 1 - W since we beat them
Week 2 - @Detroit - L
Week 3 - Carolina - W
Week 4 - @NYG - W
Week 6 - @Cincinnati - L
Week 7 - Arizona - W
Week 8 - Cleveland (with backup QB) - W if Stafford plays, L without him
Week 9 - @Baltimore - L
Week 10 - Washington - W

That's 6-3 with a healthy Stafford folks. Seattle is about to play us (which is always tough for them), and then:

SF
@Dallas
@SF
Philly

Bill is coming due on the easy start for Seattle. One game at a time, but if we win our next three before getting manhandled in Baltimore, we'd be 6-7.

Seattle is probably looking at 6-7 as well there. This Sunday is our season, but a win gives us incredible hope. We just happened to take three Ls from three of those four that Seattle has upcoming while they got NYG and Washington instead.

 

[Merlin]

I don't understand why the NFL would have a problem with the way we're going about things. I mean, our schedule has been BONKERS.

There's political groups among the owners I think. Probably a group that includes Spanos and bowl cut boy still butthurt they didn't get their LA stadium together. Spanos' team still floundering like the pile of shit they've always been in spite of good talent, some things never change. The guy has to be bitter watching the Rams bring that title to LA in his house while the Chargers, well, Charger.

 

[Memphis Ram]

What matters with Higbee is he's being paid appropriately to what he is, which is a mediocre all-around TE. After that signing and at $8.5M AAV he's the 15th highest paid TE.

Rams didn't have a lot of choice given their inability to evaluate the position in the draft.

IMO, Higbee got that extension because they needed the cap space and they didn't want to cut him.

The Rams didn't seem to miss Higbee too much when he was injured during the playoffs Super Bowl run. They could have found someone cheaper in free agency and/or given Hopkins a chance (raved about him this offseason), but he's a McVay favorite due to his knowledge of the offense.

 

[Merlin]

IMO, Higbee got that extension because they needed the cap space and they didn't want to cut him.

The Rams didn't seem to miss Higbee too much when he was injured during the playoffs Super Bowl run. They could have found someone cheaper in free agency and/or given Hopkins a chance (raved about him this offseason), but he's a McVay favorite.

Disagree. I have nothing against Higs but he's not what the Rams want to be at that TE spot. He's solid though and given that nobody they have drafted at that position have emerged they didn't have much choice. Bringing in someone equivalent on the FA market probably would have cost more.

 

[JBRam77]

Yes, bc every injury is equal. Let's throw Staff under the bus for being a pussy and not playing while we're at it.

Then why is he playing at all? We kept Kupp out when he was hurt. Let Higbee heal. I’d rather play Long, Allen, Hopkins out there than Higbee at his current performance level. Sometimes McVay just plays his favorites and doesn’t see the obvious

 

[I like Rams]

Then why is he playing at all? We kept Kupp out when he was hurt. Let Higbee heal. I’d rather play Long, Allen, Hopkins out there than Higbee at his current performance level. Sometimes McVay just plays his favorites and doesn’t see the obvious

Why has staff played through elbow injuries and hip injuries to the point where he could barely walk? I agree with you though, we need to see the other te's on the field and let higbee heal.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I do think Jourdan is doing a decent job riding the fence - not burning bridges yet asking some tough questions in a polite manner.

I almost wonder if she has some behind the scenes unwritten agreement with MCvay where she makes it clear that she really needs to ask the questions the fans want answers to and he makes it clear that it's OK to ask them as long as she's not a bitch about it.

She comes across as rather basic honestly, but does work hard to be the liaison between the fans and inner circle of Mcsnead and Co. So I appreciate that.

She doesn't often offer any strong personal opinions backed by her own observations or stats. So comes across as a bit amateur in her takes. It's like asking your daughter what kind of car she likes and she responds with what her mother told her, without critically analyzing the opinion or confirming why it's a good choice. Alot of her material is no shit sherlock stuff. But I am not going to kill the messenger for the 10-15 percent of insider stuff she drops at times.

I will say, she is not comfortable sharing a strong personal opinion nor presenting it with panache. Even when one can read that she has one (see backup QB or how they handled LT this last year), it comes across as somewhat milquetoast and annoying when the pitch and tenor that she brings it up with never varies.

 

[WestCoastRam]

So the whole season is a big test period. She hinted that the NFL is not happy about the way the Rams are going about it all.

I think she was just making a crack at how the officiating this season wasn't going our way. Nothing more. But maybe I missed something?

 

[Ramstien]

The officiating sucks across the board! I watch NFL games and get pissed then I watch college games and it is just as bad. As much as I hate to believe it but to me it is looking like the officials are fixing the outcome of certain games. What sucks is there is not a damn thing we can do about it because they know we will not stop watching the games.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Disagree. I have nothing against Higs but he's not what the Rams want to be at that TE spot. He's solid though and given that nobody they have drafted at that position have emerged they didn't have much choice. Bringing in someone equivalent on the FA market probably would have cost more.

We will just have to agree to disagree on this one. IMO, the Rams could have found a cheaper alternative to block and not really be a focal part of the offense in the passing game.

 

[TK42-RAM]

I don't understand why the NFL would have a problem with the way we're going about things. I mean, our schedule has been BONKERS.

Go look at the Dolphins schedule, or Seattle's schedule and then ask yourself what our record would be. In fact, let's do Seattle's:

Week 1 - W since we beat them
Week 2 - @Detroit - L
Week 3 - Carolina - W
Week 4 - @NYG - W
Week 6 - @Cincinnati - L
Week 7 - Arizona - W
Week 8 - Cleveland (with backup QB) - W if Stafford plays, L without him
Week 9 - @Baltimore - L
Week 10 - Washington - W

That's 6-3 with a healthy Stafford folks. Seattle is about to play us (which is always tough for them), and then:

SF
@Dallas
@SF
Philly

Bill is coming due on the easy start for Seattle. One game at a time, but if we win our next three before getting manhandled in Baltimore, we'd be 6-7.

Seattle is probably looking at 6-7 as well there. This Sunday is our season, but a win gives us incredible hope. We just happened to take three Ls from three of those four that Seattle has upcoming while they got NYG and Washington instead.

It's not a schedule ... more like a FIXture.

 

[Merlin]

We will just have to agree to disagree on this one. IMO, the Rams could have found a cheaper alternative to block and not really be a focal part of the offense in the passing game.

Yeah no worries and of course our takes are similar in a lot of ways. I just think Higs has always been one of those rare players who signs for his worth. It's hard to find solid players on the FA market without overpaying for them. That's why he's still a Ram and will be in the next couple years.

 

[Flint]

I will say, she is not comfortable sharing a strong personal opinion nor presenting it with panache. Even when one can read that she has one (see backup QB or how they handled LT this last year), it comes across as somewhat milquetoast and annoying when the pitch and tenor that she brings it up with never varies.

If the team gives you access and you come out guns blazin what do you think will happen? Football coaches can be petty when it comes to criticism so you probably have to tread lightly. Players won’t talk to someone who’s they feel has criticized them unfairly and although coaches are required to do press they’re not required to be forthcoming.

 

[WestCoastRam]

If the team gives you access and you come out guns blazin what do you think will happen? Football coaches can be petty when it comes to criticism so you probably have to tread lightly. Players won’t talk to someone who’s they feel has criticized them unfairly and although coaches are required to do press they’re not required to be forthcoming.

Good points, though I think there are some men beat reporters who can get away with more vocally pushing back than the women ones.

 

[leoram]

I am grateful for Jourdan and she is the most in depth journalist we Rams fans have enjoyed.

With that said, her long, meandering monologue about the terrible QB plan left me irritated. She acknowledges they drafted Bennett to be their backup but since he's not available, they were somehow supposed to have a crystal ball telling them this would happen. The only thing that makes sense to me is that she knows what happened and can't say but that the Rams should've known better. Otherwise, why criticize the plan?

To me, it was obvious from the Jump that either Stafford stayed healthy and we could sneak into the playoffs or he didn't and the slimmest 2% chance of being the healthiest team in the playoffs would vaporize. This was always a transition season. Rypien knew the system and was an emergency vet hire. But even a healthy Stafford wasn't enough for this team. It's a rebuild, Jourdan. You can't fix every weaknes every year and MOST teams don't have a backup QB that moves the needle in the right direction.

Now, if the criticism is an inability to identify the Brock Purdys of the world, well...welcome to the NFL where everyone struggles to know why CJ Stroud wasn't the first QB chosen. Sean somehow knew Matthew was an upgrade to Goff at that stage of their careers so...he knows something, no? What happens to KC, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, or even Dallas or Philly if their QB gets injured? Oh, Matthew is older and is injury prone. Yes, I understand the argument. What I don't understand is how they were expected to make a significant investment in the expensive QB position when the only affordable path for victory this year was put as many good players around Stafford as possible and hope for the best. Even Sean seems to be saying Wentz isn't a long term plan and we hope he isn't needed.

All processes have flaws, so Jourdan is technically right. I just don't think it deserves that much attention because the big picture is the puzzle they are solving now.