The Rams’ celebration period for their Super Bowl LVI victory over the Bengals has wound down, and it’s time for Los Angeles to start gearing up for a potential repeat. There’s a bit of work to do on the offensive line with the retirement of left tackle Andrew Whitworth and the departure of right guard Austin Corbett in free agency.
According to ESPN’s Sarah Barshop, the Rams have long hoped that 2018 third-round pick Joseph Noteboom would eventually be prepared to fill in when Whitworth finally hung up his cleats. He’ll likely get that opportunity this season. Barshop also mentions that head coach Sean McVay said during minicamp that a competition will take place for the vacant right guard spot. Bobby Evans has been penciled into that starting role since Corbett left for Carolina, but the Rams were reportedly ecstatic to land Wisconsin guard Logan Bruss in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Expect Bruss to push Evans for the starting right guard job this summer.
Here are a few other rumors from around the NFC West, starting with a note out of last year’s fourth-place team in the division:
- Ten years ago, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll relied on preseason games to determine the quarterback competition between Russell Wilson and Matt Flynn. According to Brady Henderson of ESPN, Carroll will stick to his guns and use preseason game-tape as a heavy factor in determining if Geno Smith or trade-acquisition Drew Lock will start Week 1, when Wilson returns to Lumen Field. Carroll has claimed that the team is in “good shape” with its current quarterback room that rosters Smith, Lock, and Jacob Eason.
- Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson turned heads last summer in Arizona and surprised many when he was named a starter alongside Byron Murphy Jr. over veteran free agent addition Robert Alford. After six strong years in Atlanta (five as a full-time starter), Alford was expected to serve as the starting cornerback opposite Murphy while Wilson matured as a rookie at the NFL level. After a pectoral injury ended his season on injured reserve, the Cardinals allowed Alford to hit free agency. There’s still a chance Arizona brings back the 33-year-old, but, even if they do, Cardinals staff writer Darren Urban expects Wilson to retain his starting job opposite Murphy.
- The Cardinals announced some promotions in their scouting staff last week. After spending the last three seasons as the team’s Western regional scout, Josh Scobey has been promoted to director of college scouting going into his 11th season in Arizona. Glen Fox will similarly spend his 10th season with the Cardinals as their director of pro personnel after being promoted from pro scout. Another nine-year Cardinal staffer, John Mancini will spend his 10th season as a national scout after serving previously as an area scout. Zac Canty will become the team’s Central regional scout in his 11th season with the team. Rounding out the organization’s impressive show of longevity, Ryan Gold has been made assistant director of college scouting after eight years with the team in different scouting roles, most recently college scouting coordinator. Lastly, former scouting assistant Alex Valles has been made an area scout for the Cardinals.
I don’t know if I would call any of Alford’s work “strong”. The only reason his not starting may have been some mild surprise to observers was the fact that Arizona had complete unknowns after the departure of Peterson. They tried Brandon Williams, who was awful, and veteran players (such as Kirkpatrick), but there still remains a void at that position for them.
Fire John Schneider & Pete Carrol now.
I wouldn’t overlook the O-Line changes coming to the Rams. That could be a big tell on repeating or not.
Don’t understand why the Cardinals even need a scouting staff. Keim obviously doesn’t listen. He has done less with more than any GM in the league. He has to have something on Bidwell to keep his job. Trades up on a QB next year trades him for a lot less than he gave up the previous year. Drafts several players and then plays them out of position. Bangs on them in the media and when the contract is up they go elsewhere, play where they were supposed to play and become productive NFL players. Drafts another tight-end when the line and defense needs help and has 2 productive tight ends already. Trades for a wide out that in the next couple of years that is going to cost millions when he could of got the same player or better in the draft and less expensive. Fore’s a head coach after 1 year and brings in a college coach who has a losing record. Rinse and Repeat. Appears he has stopped drinking and driving and getting DUI’s which is good.