NFC West Notes: Cardinals, 49ers, Rams

Cardinals

Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury said he has not looked into the analytics behind the “Air Raid” offensive scheme but believes his results speak for itself. 

“I haven’t done the ‘moneyball’ thing quite yet,” Kingsbury said, via Darren Urban of the team’s official site. “But we’re going to do what we are good at and we’ve done that in all offensive systems since I’ve been a playcaller.”

49ers

49ers GM John Lynch is hoping that veteran LT Joe Staley will finish out his career in San Francisco. 

“I’m not going to get into the specifics of where we’re going on all that,” Lynch said, via Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports. “But I’ll just tell you that my hope and Kyle’s hope, everybody associated that is involved in this decision, is that Joe never plays any place else but the San Francisco 49ers.” 

Regarding 49ers DL DeForest Buckner‘s contract situation, Lynch said it is “extremely early” in his process but is also hopeful Buckner stays with San Francisco throughout his career.

“Yeah, it is extremely early in that process,” Lynch said. “I would like to say the same thing about DeForest. He’s a little younger in his career, but I would love nothing more than for DeFo to be here. We’ve got a long time to work on that.”

• The 49ers hired Arizona State assistant director of player personnel Fred Gammage III to their pro scouting department, per Matt Maiocco.

Rams

Rams HC Sean McVay said the team has been “really pleased” with RB Todd Gurley (knee) despite him not attending their OTAs. 

“We’ve been really pleased with Todd,” McVay said, via ProFootballTalk. “He’s been doing some things with Travelle Gaines and some of those trainers, but then he’s also been here consistently, pretty much every single day of the weeks [of the offseason program]. He’s been an active participant, following the program we’ve implemented with him. We’re very pleased with where Todd is at right now.”

• Vincent Bonsignore writes that there is “no official word” on what Gurley is dealing with in regards to his knee, but there is a plan to help him get through the regular season and postseason as “healthy and effective” as possible. 
• McVay confirmed that Gurley hasn’t participated in drills during OTAs and the team has a “great plan” for him this offseason: “We’ve got him on a great plan.” (Andrew Siciliano)
• Per NFL Media’s Sam Wyche, the Rams’ plan for Gurley this year includes him not participating in any on-field football activities during OTA’s. 
• Wyche adds Gurley plans to drop about six pounds to play the 2019 season at 218 pounds. 
• Gaines says Gurley is still dealing with the effects of surgery on his ACL from college, but it’s “not an everyday thing” and that’s normal for athletes, per Wyche.
• Gaines tells Wyche Gurley’s issues are seen as maintenance related, not medical.