Rams’ secondary takes big hit with loss of Kayvon Webster to torn Achilles tendon

LOS ANGELES — Two plays, two ends of the field, two very different outcomes and emotions.

Rams cornerback Kayvon Webster recorded an interception on the third play of the game Sunday against Philadelphia, his first interception since 2013. It led to a Rams touchdown, but by the end of the quarter, Webster was in the locker room, his season finished.

Webster tore his Achilles tendon on a pass-defense, a non-contact play so dire that it made cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman kneel and Coach Sean McVay come onto the field to console Webster.

The question now for Webster, a starter who had played well, is not whether he can return this season but whether he will be ready for the start of training camp next year.

“Kayvon is my guy,” Robey-Coleman said. “Me and Kayvon go back all the way to high school. It means a lot to me that he’s hurt right now. I pray nothing but the best for him, his recovery and his family.”

Robey-Coleman is the last healthy Rams starting cornerback. The other starter, Trumaine Johnson, entered the NFL concussion protocol after he delivered a hit in the fourth quarter, and Johnson’s status for next week’s big game at Seattle wasn’t immediately known.

So the Rams could be in a bit of trouble against Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who threw three interceptions Sunday against Jacksonville but also threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns.

Robey-Coleman typically is effective as the Rams’ nickel back, but now likely will play on the outside against Seattle’s Doug Baldwin or Tyler Lockett. Depending on Johnson’s health, the Rams could turn to Troy Hill, a part-time starter in 2016, or Blake Countess, who at one point was a part-time starter at safety.

It will be tough to match the consistency of Webster, who arguably has been the Rams’ top corner this year.

“He’s a great competitor,” McVay said. “We love Kayvon and what he has meant to this football team. Guys are going to need to step up in his absence.”

The Rams also have some concerns on the offensive line. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth hurt his ankle in the second quarter but returned at the start of the second half, but right tackle Rob Havenstein suffered an ankle injury in the middle of the fourth quarter and did not return.

Darrell Williams fared well during his brief stint in place of Whitworth, but on Williams’ second play at right tackle, Chris Long raced around the left side and forced a strip-sack fumble on quarterback Jared Goff.

The extent of Havenstein’s injury is not known, but the Rams aren’t exactly deep at tackle. Williams could fill in, or the Rams could look to move guard Rodger Saffold to tackle, where he has experience.

“It’s nothing new to me,” Saffold said. “I’ve been a part of it to where I’ve had to change multiple positions, guard and tackle, so it’s next man up. I have a lot of faith in him. I don’t blame Darrell one bit. He did a fantastic job, going to left tackle and then having to be brought in at right tackle.”

PLAYING HURT

Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree, whose availability was in doubt because of a hyperextended elbow, played most of the game and was second on the team with nine tackles against the Eagles.

Ogletree tested the elbow with a brief on-field workout 2 1/2 hours before the game, and played with a heavy brace on his left arm.

“I felt fine,” Ogletree said. “I came out well. It didn’t get any worse, so I’m definitely excited about that, and thanks to the training staff and everybody to help me get back.”

OVER A THOUSAND

Rams running back Todd Gurley gained 96 yards on 13 carries, and scored two touchdowns, and now is at 1,035 rushing yards for the season. Gurley also caught three passes for 39 yards and accounted for 135 of the Rams’ 308 yards.

The Rams are 7-0 when Gurley touches the ball at least 20 times, and 2-4 when he doesn’t, but the lack of his usage was explained, in part, by the fact that the Rams ran only 45 offensive plays. Gurley managed to find success against an Eagles defense that has been strong against the run this season.

“(Offensive line) coach (Aaron) Kromer, he does a great job every week of coming in there and putting in good schemes,” Gurley said. “He was able to do that. We know they like to rush the passer a lot, and we were able to use that as an advantage. The big boys up front, they did good. Everybody did good. We just have to finish a little more.”

ROOKIE RECORD

Cooper Kupp caught five passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, and set a new Rams rookie record for receptions in a season. Kupp now has 56 catches, two more than Eddie Kennison totaled in 1996.

11.12.2017No comments
Jared Goff vs. Carson Wentz first duel full of drama, devastation

LOS ANGELES — Here was a glimpse into the future. Two young quarterbacks, top draft picks, at the helm of the NFL’s top offenses, showcased on a stage bigger than any the league had seen all season.

Here was Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick, the resurgent face of a resurgent Rams franchise, lacing it across the field through a pocket under siege.

He started slow, unable to find his rhythm early. At the half, he was just 8 of 17. The opportunities were minimal; the Rams ran just 45 plays — 40 fewer than the Eagles — but by the third quarter, his ever-present cool had turned the Rams offense red hot, regardless. In 10 third-quarter plays, he’d hit 6-of-6 targets for 70 yards and a touchdown.

All afternoon, as they fell behind, he’d done just enough to keep the Rams clawing back. Until, that is, an Eagles defender came surging around the corner, sight and unseen, and Goff finally lost his grip.

Here, too, was Carson Wentz, the No. 2 pick, a magician in the pocket, dodging defensive linemen and conjuring spell-binding plays out of thin air. All season long, he’d been a master of third down. Sunday was no different. He spun out of sacks and threw on the run, dropping dimes down the field that few quarterbacks in history could be trusted to deliver. When plays fell apart, he made them, anyway. He threaded one score 20 yards through a pair of sprinting defenders and another low, through an impossibly thick herd of Rams, somehow finding Alshon Jeffery on the other side.

Wentz threw for four touchdowns in three quarters, looking every bit the league MVP he might’ve been, if only he hadn’t dove for the end zone, if only, at the end of that third-quarter scoring drive, his knee hadn’t buckled.

We were promised fireworks, and boy, did these two young quarterbacks deliver. For three-plus hours, electricity in the Coliseum was at a fever pitch, the tension thicker than it’d been in decades. But as bright as the lights were in a battle of the NFL’s future top quarterbacks, the darkness came fast and furious. In the first meeting of Goff and Wentz, Wentz emerged  victorious, 43-35, but he wouldn’t be on the field to see the final result.

Wentz left the field with a towel over his head. More than likely, his first game against Goff will also be his last of the season. Early reports prompted fears that his ACL was torn diving for a third-quarter touchdown that eventually was called back. He stayed on the field for four more plays after that, before exiting, giving way to Nick Foles, the former Ram, to finish of the Eagles’ league-leading 11th victory.

“It’s terrible,” Goff said of Wentz’s injury. “I hope that’s not the case. I’m praying for the best. But if there’s anyone that can bounce back, it’s him.”

For Goff, this entire season has been one extended bounce-back, one long exorcism from his disastrous seven-game start as a rookie, and through Sunday, those ghosts continued to follow him. While Wentz’s ascendance was widely accepted, Goff’s had been wrapped in caution tape.

Here was a chance for a statement, but that opportunity dissolved in the dry, Los Angeles night. Eight minutes remained in the fourth quarter, and Chris Long turned the corner past the Rams backup right tackle Darrell Williams. His eyes downfield, Goff couldn’t see his arm ripping downward.

Rams coach Sean McVay later blamed the play call, but Goff shook off that notion. He’d held on too long trying to push it downfield. “It’s my job to execute,” he said. Before he knew it, the ball tumbled to the turf.

As the Eagles rush consistently bludgeoned a hobbled Rams front, Goff never got comfortable. He was sacked just twice, but under constant pressure. For just the second time this season, he threw for fewer than 200 yards. The offense was just 2 of 7 on third down.

“When you play a good team like that, they’re going to make plays, and you try to respond,” Goff said. “It was a battle of a top offense and a top defense. Ultimately, they came out on top.”

The Eagles won, but without Wentz, their Super Bowl hopes are almost certainly lost. The Rams missed a crucial opportunity to prove they belong in that conversation, but having seen their quarterback hang against the NFL’s best — Philadelphia, Minnesota, Seatle and New Orleans — they still see someone capable of keeping their own hopes alive.

“The stage is not too big (for Goff),” said Rams center John Sullivan.

But on Sunday, as two young quarterbacks dueled, the stage — as grand and dramatic as ever — was the only true winner.

11.12.2017No comments
Versace Pre-Fall 2018

Following September’s impactful and emotional tribute to her brother Gianni Versace, Donatella Versace wanted to bring the spring show’s deep sense of belonging and intimacy into her Versace pre-fall collection.
With that in mind, this season she didn’t embark on any exotic trip and actually found inspiration within the walls of the stunning Versace Palazzo on Milan’s Via Gesù. Gianni Versace’s opulent apartment with its rich combination of Neoclassical and Baroque elements, as well as the various Versace Casa interior design ranges, deeply influenced the exuberant collection.
Archival patterns and new motifs were merged in the flamboyant prints matching graphic touches and sinuous lines. These were splashed on fitted jersey frocks and on an elegant silk shirtdress with delicate velvet devoré details.
Like a sumptuous, luxury bed cover, an oversize velvet puffer jacket wrapped the body with flamboyant flare. Frocks, plissé skirts and leggings came in a pattern inspired by the mix and match of pieces of broken Versace Casa plates.
Gianni Versace’s love for upscale materials, such as exotic skins, translated into more contemporary vinyl pieces, including a trench with deep side slits and a sculpted padded jacket, all embossed with a crocodile motif.
A softer approach resulted in the tailored printed velvet suits featuring

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11.12.2017No comments
Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall 2018

A sea-life-inspired collection shown via mini runway show at Pier 40, overlooking the Hudson River — the references were impossible to miss in Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim’s pre-fall collection for Oscar de la Renta. Cute illustrated seagulls appeared as a print on a shirtdress and on an intarsia blond mink coat. Fishbone motifs included sequined embroidery on an ivory merino shirt with tied shoulder details over houndstooth tweed trousers, and giant ivory laser-cut leather applique on a black tulle evening dress.
“We designed for a summer delivery,” said Garcia. “When it gets to the stores, it’s going to be what you want to wear to your summer house.”
The lineup was extremely commercial, full of takes on white shirting and blouses, which Garcia noted is a best-selling category. The shirts were worn with things such as a navy and white window pane boucle skirt, a navy dip-dyed plaid pencil skirt, a pair of extralong pinstripe skinny trousers that zipped at the ankle, and a neatly tailored black crepe coat with pearl embroidery at the cuff and matching cropped trousers. The pieces were nice and cleanly cut to be filed under the polished modernist fashion category, but Garcia and Lim still need

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11.12.2017No comments
Versus Pre-Fall 2018

Pre-fall at Versus came young, wild and free.
Donatella Versace and her creative team focused on a cool street attitude where athletic influences combined with quintessentially urban references.
There was a dynamic, energetic and quite irreverent attitude running through the lineup. Macro logos and eye-catching patterns played a major role in defining the bold tone of the collection, which was actually filled with simple silhouettes peppered by impactful details.
An archival lion head belt print was splashed on an array of pieces, spanning from flared dresses worn with lightweight crinolines underneath to a cropped boxy denim jacket matched with coordinated jeans. The print was also seen on skin-tight leggings paired with cozy ribbed baggy sweaters embellished with metallic charms juxtaposed to compose the “Versus” logo.
Parachute nylon was crafted for a voluminous yet cropped bomber jacket, as well as for a top featuring a sheer lace insert embroidered with the images of the brand’s signature safety pins. They punctuated a variety of numbers, from black denim styles to ribbed cut-out feminine dresses and a pretty purple and fuchsia one-sleeve dress featuring a draped bodice and a plissé bottom.
The overall look was frisky, probably risky and definitely fun.

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11.12.2017No comments
Karl Lagerfeld Renews Long-Term Eyewear License With Marchon

EYE SEE: Karl Lagerfeld and Marchon Eyewear Inc., are renewing their global eyewear licensing agreement until 2023.
The alliance covers the exclusive design, development, production and distribution of men’s and women’s ophthalmic and sunglass collections under the Karl Lagerfeld brand name. The companies linked up in 2007, with the debut collections launching the following year.
Following the relaunch of the Lagerfeld brand in 2012, they inked a five-year agreement in 2013, which was due to expire next year.
“Over the past 10 years, Marchon has proved to be a trusted partner that shares our passion for premium quality product and cutting-edge design innovation,” said Pier Paolo Righi, chief executive officer of Karl Lagerfeld.
“As we continue to grow our overall business, we look forward to further expanding our iconic eyewear across the globe,” he added.
Nicola Zotta, ceo and president of Marchon — which also produces eyewear for brands such as Calvin Klein, Chloé, Marni and Salvatore Ferragamo — said it was proud of the long-standing relationship.
“We look forward to continuing to collaborate with this innovative, fashion-conscious brand to captivate our consumers and successfully grow the Karl Lagerfeld eyewear business globally,” he said.
Karl Lagerfeld has a network of more than 80 mono-brand points of sale

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11.12.2017No comments
Vetements Joins Paris Men’s Week

Demna Gvasalia continues to shake up the Paris fashion calendar — and experiment with new runway timetables for his Vetements brand.
WWD has learned that Vetements plans to stage its next coed show, for the fall 2018 season, on Jan. 19 during Men’s Fashion Week in the French capital. Details about the timing and venue could not immediately be learned.
Previously, Vetements paraded its women’s and men’s collections during the couture shows, while last season it skipped the runway in favor of a showroom presentation.
Founded in Paris in 2014, Vetements catapulted onto the fashion scene with brash, urgent shows staged in offbeat locations: the basement darkrooms of a seedy gay club one season; a shabby Chinese restaurant the next. It helped ignite the streetwear trend and brought forth a mold-breaking approach to fashion based on garments rather than seasonal themes or narratives.
Last year the brand shifted its show from the ready-to-wear schedule to couture week as a guest member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, forging a path that American brands Proenza Schouler and Rodarte followed. Vetements declined to elaborate on its rationale for the shift, however it tends to spring from Gvasalia’s creative intent. Men’s Fashion Week in Paris is

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11.12.2017No comments
Clippers’ Lou Williams making case for NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year

Lou Williams stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 175 pounds. He doesn’t look like he spends time in the weight room. He’s not a great leaper. He’s not going to break a defender’s ankles with a tricky crossover dribble. He looks like a guy you could guard at a lunchtime pickup game.

Overlook him at your own peril, though.

Williams proved that point in no uncertain terms with a go-ahead 3-pointer in the dying seconds of the Clippers’ 113-112 victory Saturday over the Washington Wizards. He scored 35 points on 11-for-20 shooting in a reserve role, underscoring his value as a super sub for the Clippers.

With Blake Griffin sidelined by a sprained knee, Patrick Beverley out after season-ending knee surgery last month, Danilo Gallinari only recently returned from a strained glute and Milos Teodosic about to return to the lineup from a plantar fascia injury, the Clippers needed a offensive threat.

Williams stepped up in a big way, and not for the first time this season.

Doc Rivers, coach of the injury-depleted Clippers, asked Williams to start five games recently and Williams responded by averaging 24.2 points on 45.6 percent shooting. He scored a season-high 42 points in the Clippers’ victory Nov. 27 over the Lakers, when Griffin was injured late in the game.

Overall, Williams is averaging 19.7 points and 4.7 assists, which would mark career highs.

No one in the NBA is averaging more points while playing as a reserve than Williams’ average of 18.5. Rivers returned Williams to his role as the Clippers’ sixth man in order to better balance his starting and second units. Make no mistake, though, the Clippers are better with Williams on the floor.

“I’ve coached Jamal, so I’ve had a good string of sixth men here,” Rivers said, referring to Jamal Crawford, the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year twice while with the Clippers for five seasons before he was traded last summer. “Lou is just so efficient. He’s just like Jamal in being a professional scorer.”

HUMAN ERROR?

Saturday’s clock malfunction in the final seconds of the Clippers’ victory over the Wizards wasn’t the first time time seemed to either freeze or move too rapidly at Staples Center. In fact, it was at least the fourth time since 2012 that the clock has either started or stopped incorrectly.

It’s happened three times during Kings hockey games, twice allowing them to score a goal in the closing seconds of a period thanks to a slow-starting clock. It happened during games of Jan. 21, 2012 against Colorado; Feb. 1, 2012 against Columbus; and Dec. 10, 2016 against Ottawa.

The Clippers appeared to benefit from a quick-starting clock with 1.2 seconds left that denied Washington’s Bradley Beal a game-winning basket at the buzzer. Referees waved off Beal’s shot, but after a video review, they awarded the ball back to the Wizards with 1.1 seconds left.

Marcin Gortat’s shot at the buzzer missed the mark and the Clippers held on to win.

After the game, referee Bill Spooner told a pool reporter that his crew timed the initial play on video replay and the clock actually should have been reset to 0.1 seconds, but was mistakenly adjusted to 1.1 seconds for the Wizards’ second attempt at a game-winner.

“You’ve got to excuse my language because I’m going to say verbatim what they said,” Beal said when asked what he was told by the referees when he asked for an explanation. “It’s called the tough (expletive) rule. I don’t really understand it. I don’t get it, man.”

11.12.2017No comments
5 things we observed during night one of KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas

KROQ 106.7/FM knows how to throw a party. Saturday night at the Forum in Inglewood marked night one of the two-evening 28th annual KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas and featured sets by Royal Blood, Judah & The Lion, Cold War Kids, Run the Jewels, Prophets of Rage, Rise Against, Queens of the Stone Age, Thirty Seconds to Mars and Muse.

  • Jared Leto of Thirty Seconds to Mars performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Jared Leto of Thirty Seconds to Mars performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Matt Bellamy of Muse performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Matt Bellamy of Muse performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • From right, Tom Morello and B-Real of Prophets of Rage perform during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    From right, Tom Morello and B-Real of Prophets of Rage perform during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Josh Homme of Queens of The Stone Age performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Josh Homme of Queens of The Stone Age performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Jared Leto of Thirty Seconds to Mars performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Jared Leto of Thirty Seconds to Mars performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Matt Bellamy of Muse performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Matt Bellamy of Muse performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Dominic Howard of Muse performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Dominic Howard of Muse performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Cold War Kids perform during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Cold War Kids perform during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tom Morello of Prophets of Rage performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Tom Morello of Prophets of Rage performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Nathan Willett of Cold War Kids performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Ben Thatcher of Royal Blood performs during KRQO’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Ben Thatcher of Royal Blood performs during KRQO’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Josh Homme of Queens of The Stone Age performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Josh Homme of Queens of The Stone Age performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Matt Bellamy of Muse performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Matt Bellamy of Muse performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tim McIlrath of Rise Against performs during the 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Tim McIlrath of Rise Against performs during the 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Tim McIlrath of Rise Against performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Tim McIlrath of Rise Against performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Judah & The Lion performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Judah & The Lion performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Matt Bellamy of Muse performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Matt Bellamy of Muse performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Zach Blair of Rise Against performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Zach Blair of Rise Against performs during KROQ’s 28th annual Almost Acoustic Christmas at the Forum in Inglewood on Saturday, December 9, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

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It was a tremendously loud and spirited evening of rock music with rousing hip hop flair and the loyal KROQ fans, who snatched up tickets to the sold-out show in record time, were definitely out for a rowdy good time. Thousands of concert-goers filed in early – around 4 p.m. – to make sure to catch each act on the rotating stage. The music was mostly non-stop and so were the fans as they double fisted beers and headbanged with their KROQ Santa hats on.

Before the party continues into night two on Sunday, here are the five most stand out observations from night one.

PUT THE BEST ON FIRST

Rock duo Royal Blood took the stage first, going on promptly at 5 p.m. The band, which hails from Brighton, England, surely deserved a spot higher up on the line-up given its boost of fame since the release of its 2014 self-titled debut. However, if it was a ploy to get the crowd to the Forum earlier, it worked. Royal Blood is phenomenal. It impressed fans during its turn at the Foo Fighters-curated Cal Jam ’17 at Glen Helen Amphitheatre back in October and once again with its blend of raw, bluesy, garage rock on Saturday night. Though the set was short – sadly, just five songs – it was certainly memorable. Drummer Ben Thatcher was a beast on the kit for “Lights Out” and vocalist-bassist Mike Kerr delivered the goods with “I Only Lie When I Love You.”

SO MUCH NEW MUSIC

Most of the performing acts released new music in 2017 and treated the KROQ audience to live versions of what’s been played on the radio. Royal Blood offered two new cuts off “How Did We Get So Dark?” and later Queens of the Stone Age opened its weird turn with the dancey, “The Way You Used to Do” and slipped “The Evil Has Landed” off of its latest, “Villains,” into the set. Thirty Seconds to Mars played its new epic snooze single, “Walk on Water,” and Rise Against ripped through a blistering “The Violence” and “House on Fire” from its newest, “Wolves.” Show headliners, Muse, rocked a new single, “Dig Down,” and Judah & the Lion got the crowd singing to its “Suit and Jacket.”

A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

With two supergroups – EI-P and Killer Mike’s Run the Jewels and the Cypress Hill, Public Enemy and Rage Against the Machine mash-up, Prophets of Rage, performing back to back, it seemed to beg for Rage vocalist Zack de la Rocha to finally make an appearance. De la Rocha has come out and performed with Run the Jewels in the past since they collaborated on the track, “Close Your Eyes,” and fans have been hoping for a full-fledged Rage Against the Machine reunion since Prophets of Rage got together last year. However, all parties seem to adamantly insist that it just isn’t going to happen. With enough spare time within the band rotation Saturday night, it seemed like a long shot fans were hoping for. It didn’t happen.

A HIP HOP TWIST

Typically KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas night one is dedicated to rock music. However this year, the station invited Run the Jewels and Prophets of Rage to the party. The back-to-back sets went off well.Their party set was followed immediately by Prophets of Rage, led by Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Cypress Hill’s B-Real. In between rockin’ Rage Against the Machine songs like “Testify” and “Killing in the Name,” fans got to sing along to Public Enemy’s “Bring the Noise” and Cypress Hill’s “Insane in the Brain.”

NO REAL SURPRISES

There was certainly enough wiggle room within the set times to have a surprise band pop in. Pre-show there was speculation of the Rage Against the Machine reunion, a quick set from Stone Temple Pilots with its new lead singer, Jeff Gutt, or maybe the Foo Fighters would stop by. None of that happened. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the evening was finding out that night two headliner, Morrissey, had suddenly cancelled due to “illness.” However, Orange County’s own Cold War Kids did bring out the bubbly Bishop Briggs for a couple of songs during its set. Briggs, who played her own turn at Acoustic Christmas last year, joined the band for a cover of Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain” and their latest collaboration, “So Tied Up.”

KROQ 106.7/FM’s 28th Annual Almost Acoustic Christmas Night One

With: Muse, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Rise Against, Queens of the Stone Age, Prophets of Rage, Run the Jewels, Cold War Kids, Judah & the Lion and Royal Blood

When: Saturday, Dec. 9

Where: The Forum, Inglewood

Next: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 at the Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood with Vance Joy, X Ambassadors, Franz Ferdinand, Walk the Moon, Phoenix, Foster the People, Lumineers, Weezer and the Killers. Tickets are sold-out.

11.12.2017No comments
UCLA coach Chip Kelly to reportedly hire former Arkansas DC Paul Rhoads

Chip Kelly will hire former Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads to coach UCLA’s defensive backs, according Fox Sports’ Bruce Feldman, a move that would add another experienced assistant coach to the defensive staff in Westwood.

Rhoads was the head coach at Iowa State from 2009-15 and spent the past two years in Fayetteville, Ark., first as the defensive backs coach in 2016, then adding the defensive coordinator role in 2017. Rhoads served as the interim head coach after Bret Bielema was fired last month. The Razorbacks had already finished their season with a 4-8 record, but Rhoads ran the program’s day-to-day operations before Arkansas hired Chad Morris for the permanent head coaching spot.

Before Rhoads took over, the Razorbacks had the 116th-ranked passing defensive in the country, allowing 275.2 passing yards per game in 2015. He immediately boosted the group to 58th in the country in 2016, allowing 221.2 passing yards per game. Arkansas was ranked 88th this season with 242.2 yards allowed.

Rhoads will be the third new coach hired under Kelly, joining defensive coordinator Jerry Azzinaro and linebackers coach Don Pellum, whose hires were officially announced last week. Both Azzinaro and Pellum have previous coordinating experience.

The 50-year-old assistant will replace Demetrice Martin, who was favorite among players after he joined the staff six years ago under former head coach Jim Mora. Many players and recruits tried to lobby for Martin on Twitter by posting “#KeepCoachMeat.” Even rapper Warren G, whose son Olaijah Griffin is committed to the Bruins for the 2018 recruiting class, joined the movement.

I hope @ChipKelly #KeepCoachMeat.. a huge reason why majority of your best talent is at Ucla, pass defense has been consistently ranked at tops in PAC 12, last season #7 nationally all without a monster pass rush… plus recruiting ties that are family bonded.. win-win…

— Warren G (@regulator) November 26, 2017

The Bruins allowed the fifth-lowest completion percentage in the Pac-12 this year, but gave up 18 passing touchdowns to only seven interceptions.

While the defensive coaching staff will be almost entirely new, UCLA is expected to retain offensive line coach Hank Fraley, receivers coach Jimmie Dougherty, and running backs coach DeShaun Foster on the offensive staff.

11.12.2017No comments