Gordo Live
By Jeff Gordon
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 01:00 PM CDT
Mario Frimpong: Who will be the starters at linebacker this season and do you see anyone on the team challenging for a starter's spot?
Jeff Gordon: Chillar, Witherspoon and Tinoisamoa at the Rams' starting LBs. Alston could make his move as a pass-rushing specialist. The scouts like McGaricle's potential to make the team, anyway. Draft is there for depth and special teams -- although media types aren't as high on Chillar as the coaches are.
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jim mense: This year, what will be the biggest surprise of the 1)Rams, of the 2) NFL. My answers: 1) Adam Carriker is even better than the Rams thought and wins Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, 2) Michael Vick playa well despite mounting evidence of his guilt in this dog fighting crime.
Jeff Gordon: Carriker will have an impact, but his job is to wrestle two blockers and let the linebackers enjoy glory. He won't earn national honors today that. As for Vick, this may be his last shot. IF he stays out of further trouble, he will get one more shot as a starting QB. If the Falcons go nowhere again, then even Arthur Blank may give up on him.
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Thomas Turniawan: Hey Jeff;
So now that we have McMichael, Klopfenstein, and presumably Walker (for his blocking) as the top 3 TE's, what is going to happen to Byrd? I mean, we invested a 3rd rounder in this guy. I know he has some character issues now (all the rage these days), but yeah, is he even going to see the field this year? Thanks.
Jeff Gordon: Byrd is a great athlete, so he could steal a job by starring in camp -- especially on special teams. His unusual athlete ability would jump out in kick coverage. But his citizenship issues and rookie struggles will put him on the outside looking in as camp starts. He has to REALLY show, because Linehan loves McMichael and Klopfenstein's talent and Walker's dependability.
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Howard F.: Hey Gordo, I am a Baltimore Rams fan, so I don't get much info on them unless it is through the NFL Network. I have two questions. First, what are the chances of us getting Sam Adams, I know he has weight issues but I feel like his presence would solidify our dfensive line. I worry that Linehan will burn Carriker out by asking for too much, too soon. Not because he isn't capable, but because he is a rookie, Adams presence would help him and maybe even Kennedy. Second; Living in Baltimore, it seems as if St.Louis, the RAMS especially doesn't get much national exposure. Our stories are limited and they seem shorter in time allowed. Am I being overly sensitive or is their some type of media hush rule for the Rams?
Jeff Gordon: They are pretty set at DT heading into camp, with Carriker getting the early nod to start. The Rams haven't made much news because sanity has prevailed on Linehan's watch. They haven't made flashy moves, just solid ones.
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Shane Sorenson: Has any of the rooks or RFA stood out?
Jeff Gordon: Linehan has obvious man love for Carriker, who is hard-core. He gushed about him at the rookie camp. For impact, also look to some of the younger vets getting a bigger chance last season. Alston is a great athlete, for instance. He could become an attacker for Haslett on passing downs. With better athletes, Haslett will come up with all sorts of new twists.
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david fish: I was rather surprised and let down by the way the Rams defense played last year, as was all of us who are avid Rams fans. Haslett was supposed to be this savior of the defense. I for one was offended(I don't want to hear about first year excuses). Will they play this year with more urgency, spirit and determination. Will Haslett be there only two years and leave. I like Richie Ingognito do you think he can turn into a pro boweler. We need more attitude on this team I would almost accept the penalties. Will we see more of a nasty streak. I love
Torry Holt but it's dissapointment to see him smile after a loss. Thanks Fishman Rochester N.Y.
Jeff Gordon: Haslett will have more to work with this year, especially at the point of attack. That will make all the difference. I'd still like to see a more forceful MLB, but the Rams believe Witherspoon will more effective with better DT play in front of him.
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Bruce Porfilio: Last season
Marc Bulger finally found a "leader's voice" when he called out his team mates when the Rams hit the skids in 2007.Any indications that Marc will build upon that experience to become a more demonstrative and interactive QB? Rams seem to lack players on both sides of the ball who are chemistry and intensity-builders?
Jeff Gordon: Marc will never be the noisiest guy ever, but he is comfortable with his role and his place with the coach. He will assert himself in his own way. He will be a different QB compared to the start of the '06 camp.
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nick: Why havent we signed sam adams yet. Its so obvious what we need is a huge run stuffing dt. Last year we needed to address this need and we didnt and guess what we were 31st in the league vs the run. Please tell me we are going to sign him or possibly make another run at kris jenkins. Please, Please, Please tell me we are going to get it rigt this time.
Jeff Gordon: That guy is Carriker.
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datsportsguy: Is our newly aquired rutgers hb...looking more like a FB, or is he the legitimate backup behind sj.
thanks gordo
Jeff Gordon: Leonard is the real deal as the back-up RB and back-up FB. Linehan likes 'em big. He is no ballerina, but he has hands.
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Andrew From Toronto, Canada: Congratulations first and foremost on a great offseason and a great draft.I am really excited about the players we brought in in free agency and the new crop of rookies.
My question is the NFC West is looking like an elite division this year more than ever, what are we going to need to do in oreder to win the division and/or make the playoffs?
Jeff Gordon: The Rams must at least slow down the run. And they must convert in the red zone. Improvements in those areas will put them in the playoffs.
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Kevin.L.Dixon: Q 1. After the draft and the free agents the Rams picked up do you still think that they will go 9-7.
Q 2. Do you think that the Rams will still try and get Jenkins from the Panthers? If so Why.
Q 3. How are the Rams to getting Grant back as a Rams.
Jeff Gordon: I think they are set at DT, unless something bad happens. Ryan and Jackson are competing for a spot and both are run stoppers. Wistrom would be a desperation fallback, if he really wanted to return and if somebody got hurt. And, yes, I still see 9-7.
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Kenny H.: Jeff, you mentioned here previously that the Rams were really high on James Hall, which is understandable given their decision to sign him. But what do you and your colleagues think of his viability as a starter? Have you seen film of him or anything? It seems odd that there is such optimism over a Detroit Lions reject. If the guy was a solid starter, why would their head coach, a former d-line coach, let him go? Given the Rams' EXTREME difficulty hitting on defensive linemen this decade, you can understand my skepticism.
Jeff Gordon: Fair question. I'm still a Victor Adeyanju fan, so I'm wait and see on Hall. If he helps on third down, great. But I'm with you. I don't see him having the impact on the outside that Carriker will have inside.
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Ben"13to 80" Lanzo: With the addition of McMichaels and Bennet the Rams have added to the most explosive offense in the NFC West . I don't understand why all the NFL experts have given the Rams virtually no chance to win their division let alone go to the big dance.Whats your take on this Gordo and please don't preach soley on our defense being horrible.
Jeff Gordon: I loved the Bennett and McMichael additions. But this was a great offense between the 20s last season. Let's see if the Rams score TDs. That is what experts want to see too.
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Fred Wied: I think the additions to the RAM offense will actually help the defense. They will control the ball more on long drives and keep our defense off the field plus make the other offense one dimentional. Do you agree?
Jeff Gordon: Better special teams would help the D with field position. And more TDs would help the defense get into attack mode. The great Rams teams were OK against the run because didn't have the luxury of running so much in catch-up mode.
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Shane Gray: Good day Jeff:
I strongly believe
Ron Bartell's progress has been undervalued by many. He has shown to be at least above average in coverage, a playmaker, his tackling has improved, and he is one of the few guys we have (along with Jonathon Wade) who can match up with the taller wideouts. I'm hoping he is no worse than our nickel back this year. Gordo?
As poor as our defense has been the past few years, I also believe we have nothing to lose by mixing in the 3-4 at times if for no other reason than to show another look. I know the Rams are toying with the idea and we have better personnel to employ it now with Carriker, the reported improvements of Wroten, better LB depth, etc. Do you think they will run the 3-4 at times and should they?
Finally, I read in ESPN magazine that Shaine Smith from Hofstra, the undrafted free agent WR we signed), could be this years Marques Colston! What that is based on, I have no idea. Heard anything on his progress thus far or that of fellow rookie speedster Derrick Stanley, the Rams 7th round pick? I would love to see the speedster make the team as we could use an infusion of team speed although Torry should be faster this year with a healthy knee. A deep threat, though, would be nice i.e. Kevin Curtis.
Jeff Gordon: We'll see about Smith. He has a long way to go. His story is a heck of a story, though. We'll have fun with it in camp. I, too, like Bartell. He is a big athlete capable of playing a variety of roles. He was pretty raw when he came in and moving around hasn't helped that -- but teams need players like him to settle on an active roster from game to game.
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Steve Bonin: The Seahawks have made a point of taking key defensive players from the Rams in free agency in years past. This seemed like a great strategy in terms of strengthening the Seahawks at the same time as weakinging the Rams. Frankly, I think it was a fairly smart approach.
Knowing this, I had to laugh when the Seahawks acted as they did (like babies) when the Vikings raided them for their best offensive lineman.
Can we expect the Rams to try to pay special attention to division rivals for future free agents?
I really do not want to see the Rams swept by the Seahawks again, especially considering the way they did it last year.
Steve Bonin
Jeff Gordon: The Seahawks overpaid Wistrom and they overpaid Fisher. It's all about value gained. Managing the cap is tough enough without trying to play the weaken-the-opponent game. In the pre-cap days, that was a better strategy.
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steve smith: Do you think this will be the breakout year
for Jimmy Kennedy now that we will have a good rotation
of linemen now.
Jeff Gordon: Carriker should make him better, since his arrival moves Kennedy into a more realistic role. Adam's aggression ought to rub off on him, no?
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Jason: With the additions of defensive players addressed in the draft for the rams, do you think it is enough to significantly improve the defense overall? If not do you think the Rams added enough weapons on the offensive side of the ball to compensate for the short comings of the defense?
Jeff Gordon: Look for some improvement in all three areas -- especially in run defense, kick returns and red-zone scoring. Those were the areas of biggest need.
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Yarko: The Rams made some great additions to their offense with Bennett and McMichael, Do you thing that we will witness the return of the greatest shoe on Tuff?
Jeff Gordon: This is a different type of offense -- ball control and power running. Bulger will throw it around some, but this team will be more deliberate and presumably more sound. The key, again, is the red zone.
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Joe Rigney: Jeff, given the coming of age of
Steven Jackson,
Marc Bulger and
Torry Holt in their primes, and key offseason addtions, it seems to me that the only thing standing between the Rams offense and a 450 point season is the quality of the O-line. Many people got excited about the O-line propects during the last 3 games of the season when the Rams beat Oakland, Washington, and Minnesota (the latter looking to set an NFL record for rushing yards allowed).
How bullish are you on an O-line that starts Pace, Setterstrom, Romberg/McCollum, Incognito, Barron, and McMichael?
Jeff Gordon: As run blockers, this is a STRONG group -- especially if Fry progresses at center. This is a very physical bunch with lots of growth potential.
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Joe Coppin: Please give us an honest assessment of how ready the rams are to do a better job of stopping the run this year? What various factors will contribute to that goal?
Jeff Gordon: Carriker is the obvious difference, along the addition of another run-stopping DT from the competitive pile. But the same LBs and safeties will have to do a much better job. Keep Pisa healthy!
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Alex: Is Jimmy Kennedy in jeopardy of being cut? Do you feel that there is any trade value there if he's outplayed by the other DT's on the roster?
Jeff Gordon: He would really, really have to stink to get cut. Let's see what he does in his new role in camp. The Rams just need him to be solid in his "walk" year.
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Mark from NY: Regarding the RAMS offseason moves...what area of the team do you feel still needs improvement?
Thanks,
Mark from NY
Jeff Gordon: I want to see more from Witherspoon and Chillar. And more hitting from the safeties.
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Joe: Additions like Alston (a rush LB), Carriker (ideally a 3-4 RE), and the obundance of WLB's we have makes me think that we are evenutally going to switch to Haslett's 3-4 D. Given that we aren't fully equipt for it now I would imagine we will use it sparingly this year but when, if ever, do you see us converting fully??
Jeff Gordon: Good question. Haslett said he could use some 3-4 when he came here, but he lacked the personnel for that last year. This year's group has more flexibility, especially on the D-Line. Alston could be an interesting outside guy in that look.
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cybershot: HAS THERE BEEN ANY WORD ON HOW CARRIKER HAS DONE IN THE OTA 'S AGAINST THE STARTING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN,INCOGNITO ESPECIALLY.
Jeff Gordon: He manhandled the rookies. Richie and Setterstrom are a fairer fight in run-defense drills. All these kids are physical.
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Ryan: Gordo,
Would a Drew Brees like contract be a reasonable comparison for what Bulger could receive? Brees is younger, but the two QBs had similar seasons last year, and Brees contract is more reflective of market value than Hasselbeck's 2005 deal. How much of "hometown discount" will they grant the Rams, if at all? Thanks for your time.
Jeff Gordon: Bulger wants to be here. He can the coach are on the same page now. He enjoys getting more pass protection than he got in the Air Martz scheme. So I see the Rams giving him a fair deal, like they gave Little. He doesn't want to go to a bad team, so he won't chase every last dollar.
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Keeva: Did Adam Carriker play NT in college? If not why does
Scott Linehan feel so strong about him starting and playing the NT position? Thanks!
Jeff Gordon: He faced double teams in Nebraska's 3-4, which is why Linehan believe he can add bulk and take that role.
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George Mavris: If the defense finds itself at or near the bottom of the league in rushing defense again OR overall, will the Rams/Coach Linehan cut loose
Jim Haslett and his defensive staff which, frankly, has not fielded a good defense since his days in Pittsburgh which - in all honesty - was probably good in spite of him rather than because of him.
George M. Mavris
Jeff Gordon: Haslett needs players to stop the run. He has more beef up front this season, but the Rams still need to get bigger at LB and tougher at safety. Haslett did OK with the personnel he had last year.
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Scott from Southern California: good am gordo -
if dante hall does not work out as our #1 return man, due to either injury or losing skills, per say ....... what player on our current roster would be the frontrunner for both kr and Page Ranking ?
Jeff Gordon: Hagans will still hoping to get a look there, but I'm sure there is a viable plan B.
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Aron: How is Wroten developing as a DT or DE?
Jeff Gordon: He can play both, which really helps him. People want the Rams to add Adams or Jenkins, but Linehan likes Carriker in that role -- and he likes his versatility to move outside in some sets. Ryan and Jackson are pure run-stopping DTs, which is why the flexibility is desired. The Rams really like their mix at DT.
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Loren Baker: Jeff, I am a life time ram fan and believe are offensive line is going to really Gel this year. If that happens do think the Rams could have another 500 point season
Thanks
Boiseramfan
Jeff Gordon: I like the O-Line, too, and I like this team for a 9-7 season.
Linear Mode
