Your introductory course to the Carolina Panthers inaugural 2019 draft."Are you an amateur scout Blue Torrey Smith Jersey , Panthers fanatic, mock draft maverick, or person who is bored at work? If so then this is the place for you. Consider this the starting syllabus for your introductory course on the Carolina Panthers in the context of the 2019 NFL Draft. This course will cover the picks, the needs, the compensatory injustice, and more.The 2019 draft picksFirst, let’s start with their picks. You should familiarize yourself with these picks and their relative value as per the definitely not outdated draft trade chart. You can trust the chart because it is older than almost everything you own.The following selections in the 2019 NFL draft are the only real resources the Panthers have in April and they will represent the very future of the franchise. Their power and consequence cannot be understated.The Carolina Panthers currently hold seven picks. They are Nos. 16, 47, 77, 100, 115, 154 Torrey Smith Jersey 2019 , and 187 overall. That is one pick in each of the first and second rounds and two in the third for four overall picks in the top 100. All seven of their picks are in the top 200, which is not a standard anybody uses to judge, or even pre-judge, draft quality. Every NFL hall of famer who was drafted was probably drafted in the top 200 picks. I’m not sure about that, but it sounds right. The rest of them were probably those plucky undrafted free agent types that the Panthers will have a shot at by virtue of having an unlimited ability to sign —if we ignore cap space and contract limits. Essentially, the Panthers will have a chance to draft or sign every future hall of famer to come out of the 2019 rookie class.The No. 100 overall pick, the Panthers’s second in the third round, is a compensatory pick. These picks are more valuable than regular picks because they were only announced recently, even though they were already expected. That means something?The term compensatory means that these picks were awarded as a means of replacement for something that a team lost. In the Panthers case, this pick comes from letting Andrew Norwell, a former undrafted free agent, walk in free agency.The philosophy of compensating teams for bad decisions is how the NFL promotes ‘parity’ or balanced competition between teams. The league’s unwavering commitment towards parity is why the New England Patriots have been in eight straight AFC Championship games Blue Shaq Thompson Jersey , not to mention 14 of the last 18, you have such balanced and exciting seasons year to year.The Panthers’ needs in the 2019 NFL DraftSurprise, we already spent a whole week on this! The articles linked below are the Cat Scratch Reader staff’s opinions on the Panther’s top needs entering the 2019 NFL draft.Personally, I thought the biggest need the Panthers face in 2019 is at defensive end. This is on account of the fact that they don’t really have any and also the fact that everybody really needs them in the modern NFL.Meanwhile, our esteemed Managing Editor, Bradley Smith, made a convincing argument for offensive tackle as the biggest need the Panthers have to address in the draft this year. This team lives and dies by Cam Newton’s success, keeping him upright is an absolute priority.Then there was the guy we let run our Twitter handle. Brian Beversluis made an argument for safety as the biggest need before the team re-signed Eric Reid. It’s still worth a read anyway.Final gradingAll film studies, mock drafts, and dire prognostications will be due no later than Sunday, April 28th, 2019. This is the day after the last round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The performance of and evaluation of prospects are considered as completely separate and only related entities in one direction with regards to grading purposes. That direction is from performance towards evaluation. As such Shaq Thompson Jersey 2019 , a great prospect can receive a great grade only if they perform well and a poor prospect can receive a great grade if they can be proved to perform at a commensurate level with a great grade in future seasons. Note that all draft grades are not final and will be subject to change as the careers of players and the whims of instructors change. This may result in your, the student’s, retroactive failing of this course. Please also note that instructors are not responsible for draft day trades and will automatically fail any mock drafts that use them, regardless of ultimate accuracy. The day will be dedicated to completing 25 service projects across the Carolinas."Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper has announced a new initiative- Keep Pounding Day, per Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer. This is awesome for a number of reasons. The date was chosen to honor Sam Mills, who is responsible for making ‘Keep Pounding’ the mantra of the Carolina Panthers while also embodying its message. It’s amazing that David Tepper is so aware of the team’s culture and history despite being new to the organization. Props to him for doing his research and listening to the people in the know. And of course, it’s always cool to see the Panthers doing good in the community. Keep Pounding Day will add to the growing list of Keep Pounding initiatives already run by the organization. The fact that the service projects span both of the Carolinas deepens the ‘Two States, One Team’ slogan that the Panthers have been pushing in recent years. It’s clear Tepper is serious about that.

The Stone Mountain native also will be watching the draft from home."Just a week ago Womens Takkarist McKinley Jersey , most everyone was talking about Montez Sweat as a first round pick. Heck, there was a widespread expectation that he’d go in the first ten picks of the draft, possibly ahead of our own Eric Robinson’s favorite Brian Burns. Either that’s changed or teams are trying to get a bargain, and either way, Sweat is dealing with an enlarged heart. The likes of Gaines Adams, the former Buccaneer who died of a heart attack due to his condition, and Nick Fairley, who enjoyed a strong career, have also dealt with enlarged heart. It’s the kind of condition that puts teams on high alert, because it has to be managed and there is obviously the potential for it to be fatal, however remote that possibility may be. I think there will still be teams who take the Stone Mountain native in the first round, but there are also teams who have reportedly taken him off their boards entirely, and I would not be at all surprised to learn that was the truth. I don’t know where the Falcons stand on Sweat, but I do know that if they’re not scared away by his medicals, he has the talent to be an absolute steal in the second round. If the team goes the route I expect them to go and nab an offensive lineman in the first round Takkarist McKinley Jersey White , Sweat in the second would be about the best case scenario for a team with long-term needs off the edge. For now it’s merely a possibility, but if we get to the end of the first round and Sweat’s still hanging around, I’ll allow myself to entertain the possibility that the Falcons might come away with a top prospect in the next round. Oh, and speaking of Stone Mountain, that’s where Sweat will be during the draft instead of with the other top prospects. It seems like we’ll start seeing more players spending the night with their friends and family rather than being at the draft itself, which is fine by me.Throwback Thursday Series: A tale of two Andersons and one NFC Championship Game We’re in the dead period of football (you can read about how much I hate this period here), and with it, we don’t have much to talk about except for some speculation here and there.I figured this would be a good time to look back on some moments in Falcons history and maybe relive them while we wait for football to come back.That idea has given rise to a new series of “Throwback Thursday” articles I’m planning on writing throughout the dead period. Each week, we’ll relive and discuss a certain moment in this franchise’s 52-year history.You can find last week’s Throwback Thursday article, about Dan Quinn, here.The 1998 Atlanta Falcons caught lightning in a bottle. Dan Reeves led a Falcons squad which had been mired in mediocrity in the 1990s, though that mediocrity was a serious upgrade over the awful performances of most of the 1980s.The birds made it to the playoffs in the 1991 and 1995 seasons, registering a playoff win in ‘91. Following that ‘95 playoff berth, and a subsequent 37-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Atlanta went a combined 10-22 in 1996 and 1997.The team went into the 1998 season https://www.falconslockerroom.com/authentic-takkarist-mckinley-jersey , the second year under Reeves, with hopes of getting back to the playoffs, though a division title seemed out of reach with the juggernaut San Francisco 49ers continuing to tower over the NFC West. The Niners had won the West five times in the previous six seasons, and 13 times since 1981 (in 17 years). The Falcons didn’t have a division title to their name since that 1980 season.Business as usual turns into anything butIt looked to be business as usual in terms of San Francisco owning the division in the early stages of the 1998 campaign, when they beat the Falcons by a 31-20 score in week 3 to improve to 3-0.The Falcons, who employed a veteran group led by quarterback Chris Chandler and running back Jamal Anderson, weren’t willing to kowtow to the supremacy of the 49ers, however. Following a week 5 loss to the New York Jets, which dropped their record to 5-2, the birds went on a nine-game winning streak throughout the rest of the regular season, bringing their record to a franchise-best 14-2. Head Coach Dan Reeves wasn’t with the team for the last two regular season games because of heart surgery, but he would rejoin his Falcons in the playoffs.QB Chris Chandler earned Pro Bowl honors, throwing to 3154 yards and accounting for a TD/INT ratio of 25/12. The Falcons had a 13-1 record in games started by Chandler, and were 1-1 when he was unavailable.RB Jamal Anderson was both a Pro Bowler and a First-Team All-Pro selection with his 2165 yards from scrimmage and 16 total touchdowns. He was the engine that kept this Falcons team churning, and his “dirty bird” touchdown dance still lives on in Atlanta Falcon folklore.WRs Terrance Mathis and Tony Martin each accounted for over 1100 receiving yards and a combined 17 receiving touchdowns.The defense was maybe even more impressive Black Austin Hooper Jersey , wreaking havoc on opposing offensive units week in and week out. The starting defensive line accounted for 12 of the team’s league-high 25 forced fumbles, paced by DE Lester Archambeau, who had five FF along with a team-high 10.0 sacks. Chuck Smith accounted for 8.5 of his own sacks along with three forced fumbles.The secondary came away with 18 of the team’s 19 interceptions. They were led by CB Ray Buchanan with seven and FS Eugene Robinson who had four. Both were Pro Bowl selections on the defensive side of the ball along with LB Jessie Tuggle.Atlanta had both the fourth-highest scoring offense and fourth best scoring defense in the NFL over the course of the regular season in 1998. The defense also led the league with 44 takeaways, and the team’s 33:10 minutes of position per game was good for first in the NFL.The playoffsIn literally any other year, Atlanta’s 14-2 record would have been good enough to earn them the top seed in the NFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but that wasn’t the case in ‘98. That honor went to the 15-1 Minnesota Vikings, a team so talented that that one loss was more surprising to see than those 15 wins.The Falcons did have a bye week in the first round, and they hosted and squeaked by the rival 49ers, in the two teams’ third meeting of the season, 20-18. That would set the stage for an NFC Championship game matchup against the Vikings.Minnesota was the heavy favorite to not only rout the Falcons (they were an 11-point favorite according to the Las Vegas line) but also to easily handle whoever they met in the Super Bowl when they inevitably made it there. Their offense averaged 34.8 points per game, the most in NFL history at that point in time. QB Randall Cunningham was a First-Team All-Pro selection. RB Robert Smith was a Pro Bowler. They featured two future Hall of Fame WRs in Chris Carter and Randy Moss, the latter of whom was a First Team All-Pro selection after recording 1313 receiving yards and a jaw-dropping 17 touchdown receptions in his rookie year.The defense wasn’t too shabby either, ranking seventh in the league in terms of points allowed. First-Team All-Pro selection DE John Randle led the unit with 10.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. LB Ed McDaniel was also a Pro Bowler.The fated NFC Conference Championship GameThe Vikings were overwhelming, and the Falcons did a fantastic job to resist getting overwhelmed in that hostile Minnesota environment. The birds even took an early 7-0 lead courtesy of a 5-yard TD run by the dirty bird, Jamal Anderson. That was quickly countered by a 31-yard TD connection from Cunningham to Moss Austin Hooper Jersey 2019 , however.The game really blew open in the second quarter, and it looked like the Vikings were about to run away with it, the way they had been doing so against opponents all season. Through a pair of field goals and a 1-yard TD rush by the QB, the hosts opened up a 20-7 lead. Cunningham and company looked poised to seal the deal by halftime as they had the ball on their own 18-yard-line with less than two minutes left. Chuck Smith came up with a massive sack and forced fumble on 3rd and 10, however, to give Atlanta the ball back on Minnesota’s 14-yard-line. Terrance Mathis would catch a touchdown shortly afterward, keeping Atlanta in the game. It was 20-14 at halftime.The Vikings did enough to win this game. Leading 27-20, they drove down the field and lined up for a 38-yard game-sealing field goal with 2:07 left in the fourth quarter. Kicks were automatic points for them that season, thanks to Gary Anderson, who was a perfect 35 for 35 on Field Goal attempts and 94 for 94 on all kicks in general in 1998. It was the best season by a kicker ever, and as soon as he ran out onto the field, the nail went into Atlanta’s coffin.It didn’t quite play out the way Vikings (and even Falcons) fans were expecting, however. The pressure of the big moment got to Anderson, and his kick sailed wide left to keep the Falcons within one score. Atlanta was given new life while the Vikings players and fans were left rattled.Against a shell-shocked defense, Chris Chandler led a quick 72-yard drive down the field and capped it off with a game-tying TD pass to Mathis with about a minute left in regulation.In overtime youth Devonta Freeman Jersey , Atlanta found themselves driving the ball once again, getting into the field goal range of their own kicker named Andersen — the Great Dane, Morten Andersen (yes, I know he has an e instead of an o in his name, but just go with it for the sake of the pun). From 39 yards out, Atlanta’s Andersen had ice in his veins and made a perfect kick to send the Falcons to the Super Bowl and to leave the Vikings asking themselves “what just happened?”The legacyIt was one of the great upsets in NFC Championship history. For all of the suffering we have endured as Atlanta fans, the pain experienced by Minnesota fans is right up there with our’s, and this game was the magnum opus of Minnesota sports heartbreak. I do personally like to look at this game as revenge for the 1991 World Series.Morten Andersen would eventually surpass Gary Anderson’s NFL Field Goal record eight years later, once again as a member of the Atlanta Falcons after a four-year period away from the team which included a brief stint with the Vikings.The Falcons would go on to lose the Super Bowl to John Elway and the Denver Broncos, before subsequently going back to mediocrity in 1999 and beyond, but this magical season, capped off by this magical moment, will never be forgotten here in Atlanta.Expect to see one more of these “Throwback Thursday” articles next week, before the regular season begins.

Patrick Peterson is one of the best cornerbacks in the league Limited Chandler Jones Jersey , and is willing to return punts as well.He also offered to play General Manager when it was time to add some help in the secondary.Peterson told Kyle Odegard of the team’s official website that as soon as the Falcons released cornerback Robert Alford, he was immediately on the phone with Cards G.M. Steve Keim.“Once I saw that he was available,” Peterson said, “Steve was on speed dial.”Peterson’s known about Alford for years, since the then-Southeastern Louisiana cornerback reached out via Instagram direct messages (we’ll see if Peterson airs him out like Antonio Brown did JuJu Smith-Schuster). As Alford entered the league Chandler Jones Cardinals Jersey , they stayed in touch.“In the NFC, we kind of play the same guys,” Peterson said. “He was always asking me, ‘What do you think about this receiver? What notes do you have on this guy? What was your game plan against this guy?’ So I started giving him tips on how to become a better film watcher, how to dissect your opponent. He’s definitely been taking that to heart and it’s been showing.”Peterson has a vested interest now Elite Chandler Jones Jersey , hoping Alford can help stabilize the other side of the field, and teams don’t throw away from him without fear.And he also needs a finder’s fee. It’s been a long two weeks since the Arizona Cardinals beat the San Francisco 49ers to run their season record to 2-6.So long that you almost forgot that the 2-6 Cardinals were in fact 2-6 and going into a matchup with the best offensive team in the NFL.Yep, that’s what today is.When you break this game down it really is simple鈥?the Arizona Cardinals have to find a way to keep the ball out of Patrick Mahomes hands as much as possible.The Chiefs are scoring at an unbelievable clip, so if you give them 10 possessions, they’ll likely end up scoring on six of them.That’s right Game Chandler Jones Jersey , the 2018 Chiefs are scoring on 56% of their offensive possessions, so the key to the game is simple, limit their possessions.Of course, that’s easier said than done for an Arizona Cardinals offense that is scoring on a league low 17% of their drives while also being last in time of possession, average yards per drive and average plays per drive.So Chandler Jones Womens Jersey , no matter what happens today on defense, if the offense for the Cardinals plays to their season average, the defense won’t have an opportunity to make a difference against the Chiefs. The more possessions you give the Chiefs, the more chances you give the best offense in the NFL a chance to score points. That’s what they do better than any team in the NFL, so Youth Chandler Jones Jersey , let’s limit that as much as possible, or else it could be a long day in Kansas City.

It can be hard to come up with new ways to describe the talents of a football player Youth Greg Van Roten Jersey , but Ravens safety Eric Weddle came up with a curveball while discussing Panthers quarterback Cam Newton on Wednesday.Weddle took a page from prehistoric times聽to come up with a way to illustrate how different Newton is from other quarterbacks that the Ravens have faced or will face this season.“He’s a fast dinosaur, muscular and big and runs people over in the open field,” Weddle said. “Makes guys miss. He’s a very unique quarterback in this league. He’s the only one really like him.”Weddle was asked which dinosaur and came up with a triceratops because he “just bowls people over.”While it’s rare to hear players compared to dinosaurs, Newton said at his press conference later in the day that it’s not a first for him. He said an assistant at Auburn used to call him a dinosaur and explained he used that phrase because “they don’t make them like you anymore.”If someone could figure out how to do that, there might be another movie in the series in the works. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The good news for the Carolina Panthers is they return home Sunday to face the Seattle Seahawks where they’ve won 10 straight games.The bad news is it’s highly unlikely the Panthers will play a playoff game in Charlotte, North Carolina, if they reach the postseason.The Seahawks (5-5) can relate.They and the Panthers (6-4) essentially find themselves competing for wild-card spots in the NFC with six games remaining given their chances of winning a division title and hosting a postseason game appear remote. Carolina has lost two straight on the road and fallen 3 ½ games behind New Orleans in the NFC South, while the Seahawks trail the Los Angeles Rams by 4 ½ games in the NFC West.“Right now, we can’t worry about what New Orleans is doing. We can’t worry about the playoff picture. We just have to win a game,” Panthers tight end Greg Olsen said. “In this league, it’s so easy to get caught up in, ‘If this team wins Stitched Greg Van Roten Jersey , if this team loses, (then) we can have home-field (advantage). … Hey, if we don’t win some games, we’re not going to be in the playoffs.”In terms of wild-card implications, this game looms as large as any in the NFC.Currently, the Panthers would be one wild-card team, while the Minnesota Vikings would be the other. But that could all change if the Seahawks continue their recent dominance over the Panthers.Russell Wilson is 5-2 against Cam Newton and Carolina.He has averaged 270.3 yards passing per game with 11 touchdown passes and six interceptions. Newton, on the other hand, has struggled mightily against the Seahawks with nine turnovers and only five TD passes.“They get after the quarterback,” Newton said when asked of his struggles against the Seahawks. “That’s what they do extremely well, and they’re very opportunistic in that. You know what they’re going to be in (defensively), they know you know what they’re going to be in, but they just play so fast and rally around the football.”Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wasn’t giving any hints as to how his team intends to slow one of the game’s most dangerous QBs.“If I tell you Youth Eric Reid Jersey , then that would help them, huh?” Carroll said.MORE OF MOORED.J. Moore has been looking increasingly more like Carolina’s top receiver — and this week he may need to take on the role of No. 1 receiver with Devin Funchess listed as doubtful with a back injury that has kept him out of practice this week.Moore, the team’s first-round draft pick, caught seven passes for 157 yards and a touchdown in Carolina’s 20-19 loss to the Lions last week, including an 82-yard catch and run. Meanwhile, Funchess had a miserable game with five drops, including one in the end zone.If Funchess is out, the Seahawks can expect to see more of second-year wide receiver Curtis Samuel, who has been explosive in his limited playing time.SACK ATTACKFrank Clark is having a standout year in a contract season for the Seahawks. Clark has already tied his career high with 10 sacks with another six games to go. He has been a consistent threat off the edge and has seven sacks in the past five games.While Clark has been a menace, Seattle is still seeking a complementary pass rusher to work with Clark. Defensive tackle Jarran Reed is second on the team with 5 ½ sacks, but no other player has more than two.Seattle had five sacks of Aaron Rodgers, but Carroll warned Newton is a completely different challenge.“I’m hoping that that will be a part again because if you noticed, we broke the pocket down and that’s important to do with Cam as well because he can get out and really scorch you too Stitched Eric Reid Jersey ,” Carroll said.PRESSURING WILSONThe Panthers realize they need to get some pressure on Wilson and make him uncomfortable in the pocket.That hasn’t been Carolina’s strength this season as it ranks 23rd in the league in sacks entering the week with 23. Carolina isn’t getting much penetration inside, where defensive tackle Kawann Short has gone nine straight games without a sack after registering two in the season opener against Dallas.Wilson is expecting a close game.“We know these games against Carolina have always come down to the wire,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of respect for how they play the game. They play the game the right way, they play the game fast and physical, they play the game smart.”THREE-HEADED ATTACKSeattle has the top running game in the NFL and it continues to be a collaborative effort.Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and Mike Davis all have had 100-yard games this season.Carson is clearly the primary ball carrier and had 17 carries for 83 yards in Seattle’s win over Green Bay last week. But Penny has been earning more opportunities as his rookie year has progressed, and Davis was the closer for Seattle against the Packers as the one getting carries on the final drive.Seattle has rushed for at least 150 yards as a team in seven straight games.GOTTA GANOPanthers kicker Graham Gano missed an extra point and a field goal in Carolina’s 20-19 loss to the Lions last week. So when coach Ron Rivera opted to go for 2 in the game’s final seconds instead of tying the game, it appeared to show a lack of confidence in his veteran kicker.However, Gano returns home this week where he has made 39 straight field goals.__AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Seattle contributed to this report.__

The playoffs roll along with excitement http://www.lionslockerroom.com/authentic-jarrad-davis-jersey , danger and dread, and the Detroit Lions are at home sipping on a juice box. We’re going to talk about the latter though, because hope springs eternal in January; just as soon as we clear away the snow.Thankfully, there’s plenty to discuss when it comes to Lions. There’s needs for an offensive coordinator, a top 10 draft pick and the commitment to a quarterback who really didn’t have a great 2018 campaign. The PODcast seeks to hit every mark there.Download and subscribe to the PODcast on your favorite platforms! Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts| Spotify | Stitcher | ART19This week on the PODcastBlatant cross-promotional gibberish about how you should follow our new Twitch channel.Bob Quinn talks to the press, and Jeremy was there. We discuss the revelations from his first visit since April.Quinn commits to Matthew Stafford Eli Harold Jersey White , with strength. What that means for the team.The hunt for the offensive coordinator rolls on! More talk about what the Lions might be looking for.Do we like that Matt Patricia has more say on hiring the OC than Bob Quinn? Who are you more likely to trust right now?Sam Dodge joins the show from Maize n Brew, filling us in on the best names Michigan has to offer this year; David Long, Rashan Gary, Karan Higdon and more. Also, gives us the lowdown on Wolverine basketball for those seeking to parachute in.In the mailbag, we discover who is Frank from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” A discussion about cussing at Lions games and Mitch Albom http://www.lionslockerroom.com/authentic-frank-ragnow-jersey , the best tight end free agents available and much more about the Detroit Lions. Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson was named to his eighth Pro Bowl on Tuesday, putting him in some very elite company.Peterson is 28 years, 5 months old, the same age Barry Sanders was when he was named to his eighth Pro Bowl. The two of them are the two youngest players ever to be named to eight Pro Bowls.Jim Brown, who was 28 years, 10 months old when named to his eighth Pro Bowl Womens Nick Bellore Jersey , is the only other player to be named to eight Pro Bowl teams before turning 29. Peterson, Sanders and Brown were already the only players to get to seven Pro Bowls before turning 28, and the three of them plus Emmitt Smith were the only players to get to six Pro Bowls before turning 27.Although it’s been a down year for the Cardinals, one that had Peterson acknowledging he considered seeking a trade. But Peterson has more recently said he wants to be part of a rebuilding effort in Arizona. Perhaps one that sees him get to the next three Pro Bowls, which would make him the first player ever to reach 11 Pro Bowls by age 31.

CARSON http://www.thebengalslockerroom.com/authentic-john-ross-jersey , Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers had every reason to be susceptible to a trap game against Cincinnati.The Chargers were coming off an emotional, come-from-behind victory against Pittsburgh last Sunday and a key AFC West showdown at Kansas City was fast approaching.Sunday's 26-21 victory over the Bengals was not one of Los Angeles' best-played games of the season, but it does improve the record to 10-3 going into Thursday night's game against the 11-2 Chiefs for the division lead. "Everyone wanted to talk about Pittsburgh and if it wasn't Pittsburgh then it was Kansas City. This team was dangerous and we got out of there with a win," Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said.The Chargers scored touchdowns on their first two drives and then got four field goals from Michael Badgley — including a team-record 59-yarder — to deal the Bengals (5-8) their fifth straight loss."We did enough to win. Shoot, they all count the same. We found a way to win, in a different way," said Philip Rivers Womens Billy Price Jersey , who was 19 of 29 for 220 yards and a touchdown.The Chargers had 160 yards of offense on their first two drives — which ended in a Keenan Allen 14-yard TD catch and 5-yard score by Austin Ekeler — but had 128 the remainder of the game. Three of the last eight drives started at or inside the Chargers 7.Ekeler rushed for 66 yards on 15 carries with Melvin Gordon missing his second straight game due to a knee injury. Allen had five receptions for 78 yards and has a touchdown in five straight games."Sometimes you just have to play complementary football. Defensively we stopped them when we needed to," Lynn said. "Offensively we started out, but then slowed down and kicked field goals the rest of the day."Cincinnati had good field position for most of the day with an average drive start of its 35. Joe Mixon had 111 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown. Jeff Driskel, who was making his second straight start since Andy Dalton's season-ending thumb injury, was 18 of 27 for 170 yards and a touchdown."The decisions I made today didn't work out. We didn't get to make the break. This or that decision put us in situations, whether it's fourth down and we've got to make the stop, the 2-point (conversion) and so forth Womens Hardy Nickerson Jersey , those things today, we didn't get to make the breaks," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said.Cincinnati got within two points at 14-12 late in the first half on a pair of field goal by Bullock — one came after an apparent TD run by Driskel was overturned by replay — and Driskel's 5-yard TD pass to John Ross (the 2-point attempt was no good). The Chargers, though, would take a 17-12 lead when Badgley made his 59-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.The Chargers led 23-15 late in the fourth quarter when Mixon scored from a yard out. The 2-point attempt, which would have tied the game, failed when Driskel was sacked by Darius Philon.BIG OVERTURNDriskel appeared to score a touchdown with about five minutes remaining in the second quarter on a 1-yard scramble that would have brought the Bengals within four http://www.thebengalslockerroom.com/authentic-john-miller-jersey , but replay overturned it saying he was short of the goal line.In the past, quarterbacks were safe to go head-first and not be considered to be giving himself up, but that was changed this season."He dove forward to the goal line and as soon as his knee hit the ground, he was ruled to have given himself up. The ball was short of the goal line," referee John Hussey said after the game.The overturn meant the ball was spotted inches short of the goal line and brought up fourth-and-goal. Bengals guard Alex Redmond was then called for a false start and Cincinnati had to settle for a Bullock 23-yard field goal that cut the Chargers' margin to 14-6.BIG LEG BADGLEYBadgley, who had the winning field goal last Sunday at Pittsburgh, now has the longest field goal in Chargers history.The Chargers attempted a Hail Mary with a second remaining Josh Malone Jersey White , which resulted in Rivers being sacked, but Bengals defensive end Jordan Willis was called for a false start, which brought out Badgley, who said he was very confident about making it."You got to go out there with that kind of confidence. If you're going out there thinking you're going to miss it you probably shouldn't be kicking it," said Badgley, who is 14 of 15 on field goals since joining the Chargers last month. "But going out there, it was a way for us to steal momentum from them at the end of the half http://www.thebengalslockerroom.com/authentic-mark-walton-jersey , go into the second half with more points. It was definitely good for us to get those points at the end of the half."The former team record was a 57-yarder by Nate Kaeding at Tampa Bay on Dec. 21, 2008.UP NEXTBengals: Host Oakland next Sunday before concluding the season with two straight road games.Chargers: Travel to Kansas City on Thursday night in a matchup of two of the top teams in the AFC. The Dolphins are expected to try to get Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores to Miami on Monday to finalize his deal to become the team’s next head coach.While they are doing that, the Bengals are set to do the same with Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor. Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Taylor is expected in Cincinnati the day after Super Bowl LIII to put the finishing touches on his contract to become the successor to Marvin Lewis with the Bengals.Taylor wasn’t able to directly discuss the Bengals this week, but said it hasn’t been “hard at all” to keep his focus on Rams matters with a big step up the coaching ladder on the horizon.Brian Callahan is set to join Taylor in Cincinnati as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator. Neither that nor any other move is likely to be announced until things are official with Taylor.

Titans Camp Battles: Starting Inside Linebacker For the first time since 2013 Kevin Byard Jersey , the Titans opening day starters at inside linebacker won’t be Wesley Woodyard and Avery Williamson. The team let Williamson walk in free agency and now must replace him in the starting lineup. There are three primary competitors to take the spot next to Woodyard in the starting lineup. The most notable is rookie first round pick Rashaan Evans. Evans’ talent level and status as a 1st round pick should give him a shot at the starting lineup as early as Week 1, but I don’t think that should be considered a foredrawn conclusion at this point. In minicamp Mike Vrabel commented that Evans “is not where he needs to be to start for our defense, and that’s OK. ... I think he’s improved. We all have a long way to go.”While nothing has been definitively reported on this, it appears from clips of OTAs that free agent addition Will Compton was working with the starting group alongside Woodyard. We will see if that was really the case when camp opens on Thursday, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him there at least initially. Compton has 5 years of NFL experience and 33 starts under his belt from his time in Washington. He also spent most of that time as the defense’s primary signal caller so it would not be surprising to see him out ahead of the pack early as the new scheme is getting installed. Jayon Brown is the other guy that factors in to this mix. He played a lot during his rookie season, primarily as a coverage specialist — something he does very well. I would expect Brown to have a significant role in the defense again in 2018, but the question is whether he can step beyond the passing down role and become a true contender for a starting role. To do that, he will need to demonstrate the ability to hold up at the point of attack in the running game. Brown has once again drawn rave reviews from the coaches and media during offseason work and seems to be a lock to have at least some role in this defense in 2018.Another wild card at this position — at least in sub-packages — could be backup safety and special teams ace Brynden Trawick. Last season Trawick got very little action on defense, playing just 4 snaps total outside of special teams, but a new staff could bring new ideas. One meeting room scene from the most recent Igniting the Fire episode appeared to show a potential nickel package with players numbers in various positions on defense. The most interesting part of that package was the appearance of “41” — Trawick’s number — penciled in as a backup Will linebacker behind Jayon Brown. New Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees used a converted safety as his Will linebacker last season to great success. Patrick Onwuasor Adam Humphries Jersey , a 6’-0”, 217 pound safety who went undrafted in 2016, was moved to inside linebacker by the Ravens and by the end of his second training camp became a starter next to C.J. Mosley. He was the team’s second-leading tackler behind just Mosley last season.I don’t know that I would expect the same success for Trawick, but at 6’-2” and 225 pounds, he’s even bigger than Onwuasor. It’s an interesting idea that could give Trawick a more viable route to getting on the field on defense, though it’s hard to see him taking snaps away from Brown if everyone is healthy.Rounding this position group are Daren Bates, Nate Palmer, Nick DeLuca, and Robert Spillane. Bates and Palmer have been around, but are primarily special teams contributors. DeLuca and Spillane are UDFAs who will have a really tough road to making the roster given the talent and experience of the 6 guys ahead of them — 7 if you count Trawick.If I’m guessing today Cameron Wake Jersey , I expect that Woodyard is likely to be the 3-down linebacker wearing the green dot communication helmet at least to start the season. It is only a matter of time until Evans takes that role though. Whether that time comes in camp or during the season or even next offseason will depend primarily on how quickly the rookie is able to show Mike Vrabel that he “knows what to do and can play fast and aggressive”. If Evans is not quite ready for that level of responsibility right away, that’s OK. He will have a chance to contribute as another rush option on 3rd downs at the very least while he gets up to speed.So I would expect that Woodyard and Compton are the top unit in base defense with Compton coming off for Brown in nickel packages for the start of camp with Evans pushing to force his way on the field as quickly as possible. Again, that’s not a slight at Evans. I think he’s going to be an excellent player — you can get my full thoughts on him here — and expect him to have a major role by the end of the season, but for a team expected to contend it could benefit them to bring Evans along slowly.How the team balances the snaps between those 4 will be among the more interesting storylines in camp and leading up to the season.What if the officials called delay of game on the Ravens in 2009? We are doing theme weeks on the NFL blogs again this year. This week’s theme is “what if,” so of course that means we have to pull up some painful memory from the past and talk about how our lives as Titans’ fans would be different if that had turned out differently. The moment I picked is the 3rd and 2 play from the 2009 playoff game against the Ravens. The play clock hit :00 for at least 2 full seconds but no flag was thrown. Joe Flacco ended up finding Todd Heap for a 23-yard gain. That drive ended with Matt Stover hitting what turned out to be the game winning 43-yard field goal with 53 seconds left.Then Titans’ coach Jeff Fisher had this to say about the non-call after the game:Fisher is right, it wasn’t THE reason the Titans lost the game, but it was certainly a contributing factor. Of course the fumbles deep in Ravens’ territory by LenDale White and Alge Crumpler didn’t help things.I believe that if any one of those things hadn’t happened, the Titans would have gone on to win the Super Bowl, but for some reason it has always been the non-delay of game call that has hurt the most.What is the biggest “What If” Titans’ moment for you?

Sunday’s win over the Panthers doesn’t guarantee the Seahawks anything in terms of making the playoffs Nick Vannett Jersey , but a loss would have dealt their hopes a major blow and that made fourth-and-three from the Panthers’ 35-yard-line with under four minutes to play a crossroads in their season.The Seahawks called a pass play, but quarterback Russell Wilson didn’t see anything short to keep the drive going so he took a deep shot for wide receiver David Moore. Moore had cornerback Corn Elder all over him and needed to make a one-hand catch for a game-tying touchdown.Carolina drove for a field goal try, but Graham Gano missed and Wilson came up with one more big play. He hung in the pocket to make a 37-yard throw to Tyler Lockett and the game-winning field goal would come as the final seconds ticked off the clock.“You either look forward to the moment, or you fear it Duane Brown Jersey ,鈥?Wilson said, via Peter King of . 鈥淚 know me, and I look forward to the moment — to the moments like we had today out there.”Wilson said that days like Sunday are great for the Seahawks’ confidence and they’ll try to use that boost to turn four home games in the final five weeks into a playoff berth. If he’s not in prison, Mychal Kendricks will play for the Seahawks this season.Kendricks Kam Chancellor Jersey Green , the linebacker who is slated to be sentenced for insider trading next month, has re-signed with the Seahawks, NFL Network reports.It’s unclear whether Kendricks will be available to play. Insider trading is a felony that could carry up to 25 years in prison, although it’s possible that Kendricks will get a short sentence and be available for the 2019 season. He has already served an eight-game suspension and is not expected to face any further league discipline.The Browns cut Kendricks immediately after he was charged with insider trading George Fant Jersey Green , but the Seahawks picked him up and said they were comfortable with having him on the roster. Now they’ll bring him back for Year 2, unless he’s in the federal penitentiary.

A little less than three weeks ago the Titans were 3-1 Adoree' Jackson Jersey White , coming off a massive win over the defending Super Bowl champs and optimism was at an all-time high. What a difference two weeks makes. Now 3-3 — but still tied for first place in the AFC South — the Titans will look to use their trip across the pond to jumpstart an offense that has lost its way over the past two games. The Chargers won’t make things easy. They’re 4-2 with the two losses coming against two of the NFL’s best teams in the Rams and Chiefs. Here are some of the matchups I’ll be keeping an eye on this week.Marcus Mariota vs the Chargers secondaryMuch has been made about Mariota’s struggles the past two weeks — and there is certainly some cause for concern coming out of those two games — but it’s worth noting that Buffalo and Baltimore are two of the top five pass defenses in the NFL according to DVOA (and virtually any other metric). The Chargers are far from a sieve on the back end — they rank 12th in Pass Defense DVOA and have some real talent in the secondary — but they aren’t quite as imposing as some of the Titans previous opponents. The Chargers are allowing 7.4 yards per attempt through the air, 9th most in the NFL, so there has been some success to be found there for opposing passing games. The Chargers defense is led by a man Titans fans are pretty familiar with in former Jaguars coach Gus Bradley. Known for his Seattle Cover 3 scheme, Bradley’s defense trends towards zone coverage more often than not and gives his secondary a chance to jump routes and make plays on the ball. However, that also leaves holes to be exploited by accurate quarterbacks and well-schemed route combinations. From a talent perspective, the secondary is the most dangerous level of the Chargers defense right now. Corner Casey Hayward is one of the best in league and nickel corner Desmond King is an opportunistic ballhawk. The starting corner opposite Hayward, Trevor Williams, is the spot that I would target if I was the Titans. He’s allowed 20 catches on 27 targets for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns on throws in to his coverage per PFF.Jahleel Addae and standout rookie Derwin James will man the safety spots. Addae is a solid veteran player, but James is a rising star. He’s likely the early leader in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race as he’s stuffed the box scores with 36 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 interception, 6 passes defensed, 4 tackles for loss, and 6 QB hits through 6 games. The Chargers will line up James all over the field to take advantage of his diverse skill set and the Titans will need to make sure they know where he is at all times. If the Chargers follow the Ravens blueprint from last week, James may be used as a spy on Mariota.Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin vs Melvin IngramIf you want to look for some reasons for optimism when it comes to the Titans offense bouncing back, the battle in the trenches is a good place to start. The Chargers usually have two great talents on the defensive line with Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa, but Bosa remains out with an injury. Without Bosa, the remainder of the Chargers defensive line is very average, especially compared with the talented Baltimore front the Titans just faced. Ingram is very dangerous though and the Titans must have a plan for him. He will generally line up to the open side of the offense’s formation (the side without a tight end) in an effort to use his speed to his advantage. Usually I would feel pretty good about the Titans ability to handle Ingram Tajae Sharpe Jersey , but with Lewan looking far less than 100% last week, I think it would be wise for Tennessee to make sure they have someone available to chip Ingram on most passing downs.Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis vs Denzel PerrymanThe Titans rushing attack has been stifled early in the season and that has certainly contributed to some of the offense’s woes. Part of the reason for that is the run defenses they’ve faced. Through six weeks they’ve played four of the top seven run defenses in the NFL according to DVOA and have yet to play a run defense ranked outside the top 12. The Chargers check in at 20th on that list heading in to this game so theoretically, this should represent the best chance the Titans run game has had to figure things out yet. Denzel Perryman is the leader of the Chargers run defense from his inside linebacker spot. He’s a decent run stopper, but far from the talent that Baltimore’s C.J. Mosley or Buffalo’s Tremaine Edmunds were the last couple weeks. When Lewis is in the game, he should have a big advantage over Perryman and the other Chargers linebackers in the passing game. Wesley Woodyard vs Melvin GordonThe Titans will face one of the best running backs in the NFL this week in Melvin Gordon. He’s really come in to his own over the past couple seasons and is currently the third leading rusher in the league with 466 yards. He’s not just a volume runner either, he’s averaging 5.12 yards per carry and also contributes in the passing game with 30 catches for 279 yards. All of those numbers are on pace to be career highs. Gordon was reportedly added to the Chargers injury report on Saturday with a hamstring issue and is listed as questionable to play Sunday. That could be a break for the Titans run defense, but things don’t get much easier with Gordon’s backup Austin Ekeler. Ekeler is averaging 6.4 yards per carry on 41 carries along with 14 catches for 207 yards and 3 touchdowns.Regardless of who runs the ball for LA, the Titans struggling run defense is in for a challenge. The good news is that they will be getting their best linebacker back in the lineup in Wesley Woodyard. Woodyard’s return also has a ripple effect. The responsibility for getting the defensive calls communicated and making adjustments on the field falls back on his shoulders and comes off Jayon Brown’s plate. It also likely allows Rashaan Evans and Brown to return to a run down/pass down platoon which plays to both player’s strengths. The Titans will need this entire position group on top of its game to contain Gordon and Ekeler both on the ground and through the air.Logan Ryan vs Keenan AllenThe Chargers passing attack is easily the best the Titans have faced in 2018. Their wide receivers are all big and very talented. This group will pose a major threat to the Titans corners. Their best receiver, Keenan Allen, lines up all over the field, but spends about 50% of his time in the slot where he will likely draw Logan Ryan most of the time. Ryan has been excellent this season and will need to continue that high level of play Sunday. Allen uses his unfair level of quickness for a man who stands 6’-2” and 211 pounds to create separation and seems to be able to get open at will. Harold Landry vs Joe BarksdaleThis is a huge matchup for the Titans. Derrick Morgan is out with a shoulder injury which means Landry is likely to get the start opposite Brian Orakpo. Getting quick pressure on Philip Rivers is absolutely crucial. He holds the ball in the pocket for an average of just 2.39 seconds per drop back, the least amount of time for any current starting NFL quarterback. That makes him very difficult to sack — something that’s happened just 7 times this season — or even pressure. Landry is one of the few players that can generate quick pressure and he should spend most of his time matched up against Chargers right tackle Joe Barksdale who is making his return from a knee injury that cost him the last five games. Barksdale isn’t the quickest tackle to begin with and if he’s anything less than 100% coming off the knee injury, he could struggle with Landry’s speed off the edge. The Titans enter the 2019 NFL draft with a huge need at EDGE. It’s a premium position and they simply don’t have enough reliability there at this point. Harold Landry is a great piece to build..."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Tennessee Titans Podcast2019 NFL draft: An EDGE rusher in every round for TitansNew,28commentsCDTShareTweetShareShare2019 NFL draft: An EDGE rusher in every round for TitansRob Kinnan-USA TODAY SportsThe Titans enter the 2019 NFL draft with a huge need at EDGE. It’s a premium position and they simply don’t have enough reliability there at this point. Harold Landry is a great piece to build around, but he’s just entering his sophomore season and has battled injury over the past two seasons. Cameron Wake was a great signing to replace the veteran presence they lost in Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo, but Wake has done his best work in a limited a role as of late. Kamalei Correa and Sharif Finch certainly flashed at times last season, but neither player showed enough last year to be cast into a full-time role at this point. Tennessee will likely add at least one EDGE rusher by the end of Day 2, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they decide to double down at the position. Let’s take a look at prospects that could fit in every round.Round 1: Brian Burns, FSUShould the Titans decide to use the 19th overall selection on an EDGE rusher Kamalei Correa Jersey , Burns makes a lot of sense. He’s a long, speedy rusher who can turn the corner as good as any pass rusher in this talented class. He possesses excellent burst off the snap to shoot the gap immediately. He has a well developed pass rush arsenal. That should serve him well at the next level. He’s versatile enough to play both with his hand in the dirt or standing up. Pairing Burns with Landry would give the team two pass rushing specialists that have made a habit of bending the corner on tape. They could quickly become the most exciting pass rushing duo in the NFL.Round 2: Anthony Nelson, IowaNelson is a heavy handed defender that would be an excellent compliment to Landry. If the Titans are looking for a player with a different skillset than what they have in their second year rusher from Boston College, Nelson would be an excellent choice. He has excellent length and does his best work when he shoots his hands. Nelson is also an excellent run defender, something Landry has been criticized for in the past. A big man with a motor that’s always running hot, Nelson strikes me as a safe prospect with a high floor. He too has a varied pass rush arsenal, but the bull is his most effective rush at this point. He’s not bendy and I have some questions about his overall athleticism, but Nelson should be a very solid player at the next level.Just one example of Nelson’s (#98) ability to beat double teams with power.Round 3: Oshane Ximines, Old DominionA talented rusher from a small school, Ximines has the size, power and quickness to make him worthy of a top-100 selection. Despite coming from a smaller program, Ximines has a well developed pass rushing arsenal, but his ability to bend-and-rip is what’s most impressive about him on tape. He keeps his hands active and plays the game with excellent balance. He’s a speedy guy with a great first step off the snap, something that’s so key to being successful at the next level. He’s also a very smart player who reads-and-reacts to what’s happening around him in a timely fashion. His high football I.Q. should allow him to see the field early and often as a rookie.Round 4: Wyatt Ray, Boston CollegeWith all of their connections to Boston College, you can bet that the Titans will have a lot of information on Ray. Not only did he share a position room with Landry, but new Titans strength and conditioning coach Frank Piraino could provide some insight into Ray as well. It takes Ray a second to get going off the snap, but he’s a long, quick strider who eats up space once he gets going. He uses his length to set up everything else he wants to do as a rusher. He’s incredibly physical and he effectively converts speed to power. All of the traits are there for Ray Jayon Brown Jersey White , but it’s gonna take some good coaching to help him put it all together. Perhaps the familiar faces in Tennessee is exactly what he needs.Round 5: Ben Banogu, TCUBanogu’s athletic profile is the type you bet on with a Day 3 selection. The type of explosiveness and speed he showcased at the NFL Scouting Combine will have teams taking a closer look at him. On tape, he has a lot to work on if he’s going to be successful at the next level. First and foremost, I thought he was a little too slow to react to what’s going on around him. Still, you can work with him. Banogu has a variety of moves in his arsenal already. The outside club is his best move, but he also incorporates a nice rip move, and a two-hand stab as well. He’s a bit of a liability in the run game at this point. He’ll have to improve in that area if he hopes to see the field consistently at the next level, but his athletic profile will certainly get him drafted.Round 6: Justin Hollins, OregonA twitched up rusher with some solid fluidity to his game, Hollins is an intriguing option on Day 3. He’s not a bendy rusher on tape. Instead, Hollins has success when he sets up the offensive linemen with stutter and hesitation moves. He does have some quickness to his game, but everything he does is set up with slow developing rushes. He needs to work on not getting pushed past the pocket so often, but Hollins has some exciting tools to work with.Round 7: Jordan Brailford, Oklahoma StateBrailford is another intriguing option that should be available late. His 40 yard dash time of 4.65 was excellent considering his size. He has great length and size for the next level. He does a great job of using his hands to disengage from would-be blockers. He keeps them active and he’s constantly swiping to get free. He moved around for Oklahoma State, playing both in a 3-point stance and standing up as a 3-4 rusher. Right now, he relies on his length and bull rush to get after the quarterback. He’ll have to develop one or two more moves, but Brailford could be a value selection on the backend of the 2019 NFL draft.

On Sunday Night Football it was the Seattle Seahawks hosting the one time division rival Kansas City Chiefs with significant playoff implications on the line. The Chiefs have already secured their playoff spot Ethan Pocic Jersey , but could have secured home field advantage through the playoffs with a win. The Seahawks, meanwhile, could secure a return to the playoffs with a victory, after having watched the 2017 playoffs from home. And, welp. However, somebody might want to let Cable Thanos know the NFL is trying to steal his line. Fans, of course, celebrated the team making the playoffs. And just in case, if because of the limited amount of time Doug Baldwin has seen the field this season, some readers have forgotten how good ADB is, he’s REALLY REALLY good. And the young little whippersnapper they call Tyler Lockett is pretty good as well. But let’s not forget about the defense, as Bobby Wagner, Frank Clark and the rest of the Seahawks defenders certainly did a fantastic job to hold Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense in check for most of the night.But apparently not everyone is happy about the Seahawks doing well. Welp, that’s too bad for whoever Morgan Vest is because the Seahawks will play a near meaningless game in Week 17 against the Arizona Cardinals before most likely heading to Jerry World to take on the Dallas Cowboys in one of the NFC Wild Card games. However, if they manage to lose that near meaningless game and the Minnesota Vikings upset the Chicago Bears in Week 17, in which case they would most likely travel to Chicago for a rematch against the Bears. ATLANTA (AP) — The tenets of Sean McVay’s coaching philosophy are never far from sight at the Los Angeles Rams‘ training complex.“We Not Me” is emblazoned everywhere from the Rams’ playbooks to huge wall signs in the locker room. “The Standard Is the Standard” adorns T-shirts.“Trust the Process” isn’t a sarcastic joke in Thousand Oaks, as it became among basketball lovers in Philadelphia. It earnestly greets every player in large letters when they cross the Rams’ facility for team meetings.“I think what football really represents is there’s something special about being part of something bigger than yourself,” McVay said this week in Atlanta. “The star of the team is the team, however you want to say it. But words are words. You’ve got to really live it.”In just two years in charge, the 33-year-old McVay has utterly changed — or perhaps created — the identity of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before his arrival. Though they’re years away from having the success necessary to finish it, the foundation is set for a culture that could someday emulate the best parts of the “Patriot Way K.J. Wright Jersey ,” the unofficial name for coach Bill Belichick’s ability to unite his franchise under his core principles.On their way to the Super Bowl on Sunday, the Rams navigated a trying regular season at home, with a mass shooting and two wildfires all occurring near their training complex in Thousand Oaks, California.According to players and coaches, that adversity and the franchise’s response to it cemented the rightness of McVay’s methods — and through it all, the Rams kept winning.“Sean has implemented an unbelievable culture,” Rams general manager Les Snead said. “We always say around here that we’re not collecting talent. We’re building a team, and there’s more to a team than just a skillset on a football field.”McVay never claimed to invent his motivational phrases, which mean exactly what an outsider would presume. “We Not Me” isn’t Shakespeare, but the NFL isn’t English lit class.McVay’s cutting-edge offensive acumen and coordinator Wade Phillips’ defensive know-how are the pillars beneath this Super Bowl team, but the Rams believe McVay’s commitment to simple, direct communication is another key component.The players know what McVay means because he repeats his messages constantly, and then he shows them with his actions. His players have responded in kind, and the result is a tight-knit group of disparate personalities that could win a championship this weekend just two years after many of the same players went 4-12.“When (McVay) got here, it was all about buying into what he was talking about,” defensive tackle Michael Brockers said. “Buying into character, and buying into the ‘We Not Me’ mentality. Ever since we’ve done that, and this team has carried that on our shoulders, we’ve been winning. For a man to come in here and just change it like that, I have to show my respect to him. It started with him.”Brockers joined the Rams in St. Louis in 2012, and he endured five straight losing seasons before McVay arrived. When asked to name the biggest changes during his Rams tenure Dontae Johnson Jersey Green , he can’t stop: “The leadership we have. The coaches we have. How confident we are in our game plan. How confidently we go into each game.”“I’ve just seen the changes over these years, and it’s beautiful,” Brockers added. “It makes me emotional, because things like this don’t happen in a short amount of time, and I’ve watched it grow. Like they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. And I’m seeing it in its beauty right now.”The results are indeed beautiful: The Rams have won 26 of their 35 games since McVay took over. Los Angeles is 15-3 this season and on the brink of a championship despite a tumultuous autumn.Twelve people were killed less than five miles from the Rams’ training complex on Nov. 7 at the Borderline Bar and Grill. Later in the month, wildfires forced dozens of Rams employees, including Phillips, and their families to evacuate their homes.“We’ve had a lot of different challenges we’ve had to rise up to this season, and I’m so proud of our guys for how they handled it,” said left tackle Andrew Whitworth, a locker room leader and spokesman. “But to me, life in general is lived best when it’s about more than just yourself. We’ve tried to embody that in everything we do.”The Rams responded by taking care of their work and then striving to improve others’ lives. Along with extensive charity fundraising efforts fronted by quarterback Jared Goff, the team welcomed thousands of victims and first responders to their Monday night home game against Kansas City before Thanksgiving, an epic 54-51 victory.“I had so many people tell me that the game gave them some respite from what they had been going through, and that’s the best feeling,” said Whitworth, who donated one of his paychecks to relief efforts. “It’s not a burden. It’s an opportunity to inspire a whole lot of people.”