Mike Mayock¡¯s first draft since becoming the General Manager
of the Raiders is in the books and one thing that became clear as it unfolded
was that Mayock enjoyed his first scouting trip in his new job.Mayock went to
the college title game between Clemson and Alabama and wound up taking four
players who saw action in that game. Defensive end Clelin
Ferrell
Will
Grier Jersey , safety Trayvon Mullen and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow came
from Clemson and running back Josh Jacobs made the jump from Alabama.Mayock said
he ¡°didn¡¯t consciously set out to make that happen,¡± but he also sounds like he
would have been happy with a draft entirely composed of players from the two
schools.¡°I felt it on the field before the game, these were the two best college
programs in the country and have been for several years now,¡± Mayock said, via
Albert Breer of SI.com. ¡°And when you walk around on the field before the game
and watch these guys warm up, and you do your body types, you¡¯re taking notes ¡ª
they look like two NFL teams. I said it to somebody, I don¡¯t remember who, and I
remember thinking to myself, ¡®Man, if you just draft from these two teams,
you¡¯re gonna do well, forget the rest of the country.¡±It remains to be seen if
Mayock¡¯s right that the quartet¡¯s college success will lead to the same in the
NFL, but they¡¯re banking on those winning ways coming with them to Oakland.
HOUSTON (AP) ¡ª Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said he was talking this week
with his father about how much he enjoys watching backup quarterback John
Wolford play.In the battle for Los Angeles¡¯ third-string quarterback
job
http://www.carolinapanthersteamonline.com/christian-miller-j ersey ,
Wolford dazzled and Brandon Allen struggled as the Rams closed out the preseason
with a 22-10 win over the Houston Texans on Thursday night.¡°He¡¯s got some moxie
about himself and you can see that there¡¯s an energy in his play that gets you
excited ¡ª he¡¯s fun to watch,¡± McVay said. ¡°He¡¯s twitchy, he has the ability to
speed it up when he sees things and has the athleticism to be able to create
off-schedule. He has a nice command of what we¡¯re trying to get done, and I¡¯ve
been really pleased with what John¡¯s done over the last couple of weeks.¡±Article
continues below ...Wolford went 8 for 15 for 105 yards and two touchdowns, while
Allen was 12 for 17 for 120 yards and two interceptions.Allen started the game
but generally traded drives back and forth with Wolford. Jared Goff was on the
sideline as was backup Blake Bortles, who was in uniform but didn¡¯t play.¡°I¡¯ve
done everything I can and I¡¯m going to sleep easy knowing that,¡± Wolford said.
¡°I¡¯d love to stay here. But if I ended up somewhere else or on the practice
squad, I¡¯ll be happy, too. Hopefully, I¡¯m not out of the NFL, but I¡¯m just happy
to be here in the moment.¡±Los Angeles took a 15-10 lead late in the third
quarter after an interception from Ramon Richards set up a scoring drive that
ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by Justin Davis. Davis also added a two-point
conversion. He finished with 78 yards rushing on 16 carries.For Houston, Joe
Webb III made his final case for a roster spot as a versatile option behind
starting quarterback Deshaun Watson and backup A.J. McCarron, who missed recent
weeks with his right hand in a cast after hitting it on a helmet during
practice. McCarron shed the cast during pregame warmups and was throwing passes
but did not play.¡°He¡¯s been chomping at the bit to get back,¡± Texans coach Bill
O¡¯Brien said of McCarron. ¡°He must have told me the story two or three times
about how at Alabama he played with a dislocated shoulder in his throwing arm.
He wanted to get back. He¡¯s a football guy.¡±Webb looked sharp in the first
half
Jordan
Scarlett Jersey , completing 14 of 20 passes for 109 yards, while also
scrambling for a 32-yard gain to the Rams¡¯ 5-yard line. On the next play, he
found Jerell Adams for a 5-yard touchdown pass that put Houston up 7-0.Like many
players fighting for a roster spot, Adams said he hopes the play will bolster
his chances.¡°It takes away a little bit of anxiety, but I¡¯m still worried,¡±
Adams said. ¡°They still have a hard decision to make. I just have to wait
patiently.¡±Houston¡¯s following three drives, however, resulted in punts before
Ka¡¯imi Fairbarn converted a 39-yard field goal attempt.Fairbarn finished a
strong preseason 6-for-6 on field goals with a long of 50 yards and went 6-for-7
on extra-point attempts.Webb went 19 of 29 for 163 yards, a touchdown and an
interception. Late in the fourth quarter, he rode on a cart toward the Texans
locker room with an apparent right ankle injury. Webb was unavailable to talk to
the media, and O¡¯Brien said he didn¡¯t have details on the injury.The Rams¡¯ lone
score in the first half came on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Wolford to rookie
tight end Kendall Blanton. Wolford¡¯s second touchdown pass came early in the
fourth quarter on a 15-yard pass to Nsimba Webster.Most Texans and Rams starters
were sidelined for the final exhibition game, with Texans tight end Jordan
Thomas being an exception. Thomas caught two passes for 19 yards.HOT AND
HUMIDMcVay said the players who didn¡¯t play participated in a workout Thursday
afternoon at the University of Houston, with the goal of getting a practice in
with similar heat and humidity to what the Rams might experience at Carolina in
their Week 1 opener. Thursday¡¯s high temperature of 98 degrees was mixed with
humidity around 75% in Houston.NO CLOWNEY AROUNDTexans outside linebacker
Jadeveon Clowney remained absent from NRG Stadium. He has been the subject of
trade rumors.¡°It¡¯s unique,¡± O¡¯Brien said.
¡°Really
Greedy
Williams Jersey , it comes down to when he signs the tender. When he comes
in and signs the tender and decides to do that. Really that¡¯s what it is. Until
he does that, really, that¡¯s all I can say about it.¡±GOFF¡¯S CONTRACT TALKSMcVay
said he¡¯s not worried about Goff being distracted by ongoing discussions around
a possible contract extension getting done before the season starts.¡°Jared has
been a huge priority for us, and he¡¯s going to continue to remain a priority for
us ¡ª I¡¯ll get updated in the near future,¡± McVay said. ¡°If all things come
together, we¡¯ll get a chance to look at that, but we know that Jared is very
important and we feel great about him as our quarterback.¡±TWO HELPINGSRams
outside linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo had two sacks, one on Webb and one on
rookie Jordan Ta¡¯amu.HEY, TRY THISRams backup punter Brock Miller punted five
times and added an extra-point conversion as he displayed his versatility.
Four-time Pro Bowl punter Johnny Hekker did not play.DRESSING OUTTexans
quarterback Deshaun Watson took dressing out for the game to a new level,
wearing a red hoodie underneath his jersey and wearing all-white Air Jordan 13
sneakers.UP NEXTRams: Open the season at Carolina on Sept. 8.Texans: Visit New
Orleans for a Monday night game on Sept. 9.