Report: Rams received trade calls on Tutu Atwell before deadline last year Report: Rams received trade calls on Tutu Atwell before deadline last year

Tutu Atwell got off to a great start last season while Cooper Kupp was injured, catching 22 passes for 270 yards and one touchdown in the first four games. His emergence apparently caught the attention of teams around the league because Atwell generated interest on the trade market.

According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, the Rams received trade calls before the deadline last year but obviously no deal was made. Los Angeles has held onto Atwell, who’s entering the final year of his contract, in hopes that he’ll finally stand out as a playmaker on offense.

This is a crucial year for Atwell to make his presence more felt on the field in a consistent manner. The Rams received trade calls on Atwell ahead of last year’s deadline, multiple league sources said at the time.

Atwell, the 52nd overall pick in the 2021 draft, has just 57 career catches for 781 yards. After his hot start last season, he caught just 17 passes for 213 yards in the final 12 games he played, seeing his role evaporate as the year went on.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN recently reported that the Rams are willing to ride it out with Atwell this year in the final year of his rookie contract, preferring not to trade him – “barring a great offer.”

Well, the Rams have a plan for him and don’t want to trade him. The Rams run enough 11 personnel that the fourth receiver should get a healthy run. Atwell’s quickness and speed make him a unique matchup, and he can play all three receiver spots in the Rams’ offense. So barring a great offer, the Rams would rather ride out his contract year with hopes that he maximizes his role. 

Atwell is currently behind the Rams’ three starting receivers (Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Demarcus Robinson) on the depth chart, and even Tyler Johnson and Jordan Whittington are pushing for meaningful reps.

He’ll make the 53-man roster, but Atwell may struggle to find playing time again this year.

Email

Like this article?

Sign up for the Rams Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning

An error has occured

Please re-enter your email address.

Thanks for signing up!

You'll now receive the top Rams Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

from Rams Wire https://ift.tt/g0DpIeS

Read More

Gabriel Moreno placed on injured list by Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks will place starting catcher Gabriel Moreno on the injured list after he exited Monday’s game with a left groin strain, per Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.

Gambadoro reports it will likely be the 10-day injured list for Moreno and that 24-year-old prospect Adrian Del Castillo will be called up as Arizona’s other healthy catcher alongside Jose Herrera. Del Castillo has raked this season in Triple-A Reno and receives his first big league chance.

Gabriel Moreno injured

Moreno went down after beating out an infield single on Monday, exiting the game immediately. Manager Torey Lovullo told reporters postgame Moreno would head back to Phoenix for evaluation.

The 2023 Gold Glove backstop has been an important cog for the D-backs’ 20-9 record since the start of July on both sides of the ball.

Moreno entered Monday with a .317/.400/.427 slash line since he returned from a minimum 10-day IL stint on July 2 (sprained thumb). He homered and singled before exiting, raising his batting average to .262 and OPS to .729.

He has thrown out 31% of base stealers (22% is league average) after leading the league at 39% last year.

Adrian Del Castillo gets his chance

The Diamondbacks will count on Del Castillo in some capacity behind the dish along with Herrera. The two worked together for much of the first half of the season in Reno.

Del Castillo has had a tremendous season offensively with a .319/.403/.608 slash line, 24 homers and a Pacific Coast League-leading 36 doubles. He has cut his strikeouts down from his previous three minor league seasons while showing the ability to hit line drives to all fields. He’s called himself a doubles hitter.

Del Castillo’s defense has improved this year, as the organization has been encouraged by his receiving and throwing.

D-backs reliever Slade Cecconi played with Del Castillo in college at Miami and saw those strides this year.

“Everybody knew about the bat at Miami, but I feel like his game has become much more well rounded, especially defensively,” Cecconi told Arizona Sports. “Just the other night, while I was pitching, full leg kick and everything, he hosed the guy going down to second. That part of his game has developed, being able to keep runners honest … I’ve noticed he’s also sticking balls really well back there on, the low pitches, stealing strikes. He’s always been such a hard worker, it was always going to happen. It was just when. And I think now is when.”

Del Castillo is a left-handed bat while Herrera is a switch-hitter.

Follow @alexjweiner

from Arizona Sports https://ift.tt/UGHQchp

Read More

Look: Rams bring back old-school logo for 2024 sideline hats Look: Rams bring back old-school logo for 2024 sideline hats

It’s been four years since the Los Angeles Rams unveiled their complete rebrand, which was met with mixed reviews – particularly when it comes to the polarizing L.A. logo. Fans have clamored for the team to utilize some of their throwback elements, so they should be pleased to see the Rams’ sideline hats for 2024.

The Rams revealed several different sideline hats for the upcoming season and one of them features the old-school ram head logo that was used during the team’s early years and into the ‘80s.

The ram head is centered in a blue and yellow logo, making for quite a good hat.

The Rams also have a more traditional L.A. logo hat for the sideline, which will probably be worn a bunch this season, but the throwback ram head will likely end up being the better-selling cap.

Which one do you prefer?

Email

Like this article?

Sign up for the Rams Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning

An error has occured

Please re-enter your email address.

Thanks for signing up!

You'll now receive the top Rams Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

from Rams Wire https://ift.tt/FXfpM4U

Read More

Estrella Jalisco Star Of The Game

One lucky fan will get to deliver the lineup card to Tory Lovullo prior to first pitch versus the Dodgers, 4 lower level tickets to see the Diamondbacks versus the Dodgers on August 30th, watch batting practice, and receive a signed bat from Alek Thomas!

Text ‘STAR’ to 620620 to enter for a chance to be Estrella Jalisco’s Star of the Game!

 

Official Contest Rules

from Arizona Sports https://ift.tt/pfxeGR6

Read More

Live updates and highlights from Rams' joint practice with Chargers Live updates and highlights from Rams' joint practice with Chargers

The last week and a half has flown by because the Los Angeles Rams already wrapped up camp with their final open practice at Loyola Marymount on Saturday. It was their eighth practice of camp, capping things off with one last session in front of the fans in Los Angeles.

Injuries have been a major concern for the Rams in the last two weeks but they carry their healthy players into an important joint practice with the Chargers on Sunday. Follow along below for live updates and highlights from their practice with Jim Havraugh’s team at the Chargers’ facility.

from Rams Wire https://ift.tt/8tCQG3k

Read More

Highlighting Rams legends: Lawrence McCutcheon, the unstoppable force Highlighting Rams legends: Lawrence McCutcheon, the unstoppable force

The Rams as a franchise have had a legendary lineup of running backs throughout its history. One of the men who paved the way was Lawrence McCutcheon, who ran himself to five Pro Bowl selections in eight season with the team.

McCutcheon was a third-round selection out of Colorado State. Being a mid-round selection, he played sparsely during his rookie season but after the team hired Chuck Knox in 1973, McCutcheon was the featured star of the offense.

“Ground” Chuck Knox was known for his love of running the football. With Hall of Fame offensive lineman Tom Mack helping open the lane, McCutcheon would achieve his first 1,000-yard season as the team made the postseason that year.

From 1973-1977, McCutcheon had four 1,000-yard seasons for a total of 4,533 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. McCutcheon had such a massive impact on the team that when he was drafted in 1972, the Rams had missed the previous three postseasons.

From 1973, when McCutcheon became a starter till his final year in 1979, the Rams never missed the postseason. The Rams would return to the postseason in 1980 before missing it in 1981 and 1982, leading to the hiring of John Robinson.

In 1978, McCutcheon was coming off a career year but the injury bug hit him and he was forced to miss the first five games of the season. By the time he came back, he was a shell of himself and would lose the starting job to Wendell Taylor.

The Rams would make the Super Bowl in 1979 and it would serve as McCutcheon’s last game with the team. Despite a 31-19 loss to the Steelers, McCutcheon signed off with another iconic moment, a trick- play touchdown pass. It was a 24-yard strike to Ron Smith capped off his stellar career with the team.

McCutcheon would play two more seasons with Denver, Seattle and Buffalo. Despite being reunited with Chuck Knox with the Bills, the wear and tear from the game took it’s toll and McCutcheon retired after the 1981 season.

When McCutcheon left the Rams, he held several franchise records, including the record for most rushing yards in a season and in a career. One of the best to ever grace the gridiron, Lawrence McCutcheon deserves his place in the Rams’ Hall of Fame.

Email

Like this article?

Sign up for the Rams Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning

An error has occured

Please re-enter your email address.

Thanks for signing up!

You'll now receive the top Rams Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

from Rams Wire https://ift.tt/Fsz36bM

Read More

Could Mike LaFleur coach himself into a head coaching job? Could Mike LaFleur coach himself into a head coaching job?

In the modern NFL, head coaches are getting young, smarter and offensive-minded. The Rams need no warning on this issue as their hire of Sean McVay in 2017 ended up being the catalyst in this recent run of head coaching hires.

Not only that but the team has had many of their assistants poached. Mike’s older brother Matt LaFleur, Zac Taylor and Kevin O’Connell were all Rams assistants who landed head coaching jobs. All three coaches are offensive minded and they each have a division title. Even on the defensive side, the Rams have had coaches poached.

Raheem Morris made a recent move to Atlanta and Brandon Staley was hired by the Chargers, making the playoffs in 2022.

Long story short, the NFL loves Rams assistants. At one point, Mike LaFleur seemed like a joke during his time in New York but a new situation with a new roster and LaFleur has essentially healed his reputation.

Now in eight seasons, three offensive-minded coaches were plucked for head coaching jobs. That’s an insane rate and it all comes down to the numbers.

Matthew Stafford had a bounce-back year in 2023 while Kyren Williams established himself as one of the best running backs in the NFL. Puka Nacua had one of the best rookie season a receiver has ever had and the team made the playoffs.

Offensive numbers are one thing but coaches get hired off of wins. LaFleur, Taylor and O’Connell all were hired during seasons in which the Rams won the NFC West.

A big reason why they won the division during those years was the defense. During those years, the Rams were among the league leaders in sacks. The team averaged around 45 sacks per season.

Aaron Donald played a huge factor in those numbers but the 2024 Rams’ defensive line might be the best in the McVay era. While Donald may be gone, Kobie Turner led rookies in sacks last year. Byron Young came in second. They had 17 sacks between them.

Now the Rams have two young studs with Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. That’s a defensive line that can average double digit sacks each.

Mike LaFleur is a run game specialist. He and Taylor both left the Rams after 2018. Todd Gurley was the Rams’ leading rusher that year with 1,251 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

Kevin O’Connell’s number one rusher was Cam Akers who had 786 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in 2021.

Kyren Williams has 1,144 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023. He played in only 12 games. LeFleur was given a bulldozer in Jonah Jackson and by re-signing Kevin Dotson, LaFleur has one of the best interior offensive lines in all of football.

LaFleur also got a perfect fit for a 1-2 punch rushing attack with Blake Corum.

As the old adage goes, defensive wins championships and teams that can run the ball in the playoffs win. The Rams have both and Mike LaFleur, plus his bank account, may be the beneficiaries of such a luxury.

Email

Like this article?

Sign up for the Rams Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning

An error has occured

Please re-enter your email address.

Thanks for signing up!

You'll now receive the top Rams Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

from Rams Wire https://ift.tt/yElnaSr

Read More