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April 30, 2016 at 2:09 pm #42998
znModeratorRams take risk on tight end Tyler Higbee in fourth round
Nick Wagoner
The Los Angeles Rams got some help for quarterback Jared Goff with the 110th pick, selecting Western Kentucky tight end Tyler Higbee.
My take: The Rams have never shied away from players with off-field issues under coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead. They continued that with Higbee, who is facing second-degree assault and evading police charges as well as a public intoxication charge for an altercation that took place on April 10 outside of a bar. Higbee’s attorney has said he plans to plead not guilty at the arraignment on May 5, and the Rams clearly feel comfortable that will get resolved. It’s a bit of a risk, but probably a worthy one given the team’s need at the position, Higbee’s upside and where he was drafted.
Where he fits: After releasing tight end Jared Cook this offseason, the Rams had an obvious need for a pass-catching tight end. Higbee offers pass-catching ability even if he’s not much of a blocker, so long as he can get past the off-field issues. He had 68 catches for 1,054 yards and 14 touchdowns in his college career.
April 30, 2016 at 2:29 pm #43003znModeratorRams keep adding pass-catchers with WR Pharoh Cooper in fourth round
Nick Wagoner
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams continued to add help for new quarterback Jared Goff with their second fourth-round pick, selecting South Carolina receiver Pharoh Cooper with pick No. 117.
My take: The Rams are taking the obvious and logical approach to the fourth round by adding help for Goff. They absolutely have to find weapons for Goff after their receiving corps combined for fewer yards than Atlanta’s Julio Jones in 2015. Cooper might be a bit redundant with Tavon Austin in terms of size and skill set (not that he’s as talented as Austin), but new passing game coach Mike Groh should be able to find ways to use him.
Where he fits: The Rams have a clear need for help in the slot. Stedman Bailey is still recovering from two gunshot wounds to the head. South Carolina used Cooper all over the field, much like the Rams do with Austin, but the Rams simply need weapons and can find a place for Cooper in their receiving corps.
Move down: The Rams traded pick No. 113 to the Chicago Bears for picks 117 and 206. They now have three choices in the sixth round
April 30, 2016 at 4:45 pm #43027znModeratorRams double down on tight ends with Temarrick Hemingway in sixth round
Nick Wagoner
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams continued to add help for new quarterback Jared Goff with their first sixth-round pick, selecting tight end Temarrick Hemingway of South Carolina State with pick No. 177.
My take: I’d be lying if I said I knew much about Hemingway but this much is clear, the Rams are addressing their needs in the passing game as much as possible. Hemingway had modest numbers in his final year of college with 38 catches for 418 yards and a touchdown in 2015. But he’s 6-foot-5, 244 pounds and ran a 4.7 second 40-yard dash. The Rams obviously think he has some upside and can compete for a roster spot.
Where he fits: Hemingway joins fourth-round pick Tyler Higbee in the fold as the Rams continue to attempt to add depth and competition to their tight end group. Lance Kendricks will be the primary option from the position and Cory Harkey remains as a blocker but if Hemingway can prove adept at running routes, catching passes and chipping in on special teams, there’s room for him to make the roster out of training camp.
April 30, 2016 at 5:20 pm #43031
AgamemnonParticipantNew Rams LB Josh Forrest a pretty interesting story. Started college career as a 205-pound WR and now drafted as a 250-pound ILB.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) April 30, 2016
Fisher plans on moving him back to WR. He will play the role of the enforcer bump out. 😉
AgamemnonApril 30, 2016 at 5:47 pm #43039znModeratorRams add linebacker depth with Kentucky’s Josh Forrest in sixth round
Nick Wagoner
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams went defense for the first time in this draft with their second sixth-round pick, selecting linebacker Josh Forrest of Kentucky with pick No. 190.
My take: The Rams continue to fill needs by finding some depth at linebacker. They parted ways with James Laurinaitis and Daren Bates during the offseason, leaving them thin behind starters Alec Ogletree, Mark Barron and Akeem Ayers. Forrest should offer some insurance behind new middle linebacker Ogletree. He’s 6-foot-3, 249 pounds and finished 2015 with 93 tackles, six for loss, three and a half sacks and two interceptions.
Where he fits: Other than Ogletree, Barron and Ayers, the Rams only have Cameron Lynch and Bryce Hager returning from the active roster last year. So Forrest would seem to be in a good position to potentially win a roster spot. The Rams will undoubtedly bring in more bodies through rookie free agency, so it’s no sure thing, but if he can pick up the defense and show some special teams ability he should have a shot to stick.
April 30, 2016 at 6:28 pm #43052znModeratorRams close out draft by adding second receiver of Day 3 in Michael Thomas
Nick Wagoner
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams went back to the pass-catching well with their third sixth-round pick, selecting wide receiver Michael Thomas of Southern Mississippi with pick No. 206.
My take: With the addition of Thomas, the Rams spent four of their five picks on Day 3 on either a tight end or receiver, selecting two of each. It was a logical approach for a team in serious need of help at both positions. Thomas is particularly intriguing and qualifies as a bona fide sleeper candidate after he wasn’t invited to the combine. Thomas was productive in 2015, finishing with 71 catches for 1,391 yards and 14 touchdowns. At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, he also offers decent size to a receiving corps that can use some.
Where he fits: Much like fourth-round choice Pharoh Cooper, there’s no shortage of opportunity for Thomas to come in and potentially win a spot on the roster. The Rams only have Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin, Bradley Marquez and Brian Quick returning among regulars from 2015 as Stedman Bailey’s status remains up in the air. Thomas is a true outside receiver and if he can adjust to the NFL and show some special-teams ability, he has a chance to make it.
April 30, 2016 at 11:39 pm #43114znModeratorRams invest picks on offensive players on last day of NFL draft
Gary Klein
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-nfl-draft-rams-20160501-story.html#nt=oft02a-1la1
The Rams began the NFL draft by choosing quarterback Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick.
They ended it Saturday by making four of five selections offensive players who can help Goff and a passing game that ranked last in the league in 2015.
The Rams took Western Kentucky tight end Tyler Higbee and South Carolina receiver Pharoh Cooper in the fourth round, and South Carolina State tight end Temarrick Hemingway and Southern Mississippi receiver Michael Thomas in the sixth.
Kentucky linebacker Josh Forrest, also selected in the sixth round, was the lone defensive player in a draft class built with an eye toward ending the Rams’ 12-year absence from the playoffs.
“We feel like we had a very productive day,” Coach Jeff Fisher said. “Obviously, as you look, offense was a priority.”
See the most-read stories in Sports this hour >>
The Rams’ strategy was evident more than two weeks ago, when they traded up to select a quarterback.The deal with the Tennessee Titans enabled them to draft Goff on Thursday night but that move left them without second- or third-round picks. They had two fourth-round and two sixth-round picks going into Saturday, and acquired an additional sixth-round pick by allowing the Chicago Bears to move up a few spots in the fourth round.
Last year, the Rams drafted running back Todd Gurley in the first round and then loaded up on offensive linemen.
This year, having released tight end Jared Cook, they zeroed in on tight ends and receivers.
“There we some defenders definitely on the board but we did know it would be nice to help the offense,” General Manager Les Snead said.
The Rams used their first pick Saturday to select Higbee, who played in one of college football’s most prolific passing offenses at Western Kentucky.
“It’s an exciting day,” Higbee said during a conference call with reporters. “Probably the best day of my life.”
Rams Coach Jeff Fisher and General Manager Les Snead meet with the media after selecting California quarterback Jared Goff with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
However, Higbee’s status is clouded because of an off-the-field incident that occurred this month.Higbee was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault, evading police and public intoxication after an altercation with a man outside a bar in Bowling Green, Ky. Nawaf Alsaleh, 24, was found unconscious and bleeding from the mouth. He reportedly suffered a concussion and a brain hemorrhage.
Higbee is scheduled to be arraigned next week.
“It’s a kind of legal matter right now, so I’m not really supposed to speak on it,” Higbee said, later adding, “It’s an incident that I can’t let define me. I’ve just been trying to keep my mind focused and stay working.”
Fisher said “we did our research” on Higbee and that the Rams were “‘convinced” that the issue would be resolved.
Said Snead: “When you go from college to become a professional and there is behavior to clean up we expect that to happen.”
Hemingway gives the Rams more depth in a tight end position group that includes Lance Kendricks and Cory Harkey. Justice Cunningham was on the practice squad last season.
NFL draft reiterates the importance of the quarterback position
Cooper, like Rams receiver Tavon Austin, is a multipurpose threat. He caught eight touchdown passes, rushed for one and passed for another last season.“My biggest asset would probably be making plays after the catch,” he said. “Once I catch the ball I can easily gain another five to 10 yards after the catch.”
Thomas is an outside threat particularly adept at catching passes in tight coverage, Snead said.
Forrest began his college career as a receiver and finished it as an inside linebacker.
The Rams are expected to sign 18 to 20 undrafted free agents before they hold a rookie orientation and minicamp next weekend in Oxnard.
Cornerbacks and safeties are among the priorities.
May 1, 2016 at 12:23 am #43117znModeratorRams draft picks: Analysis for every selection
Nick Wagoner
LOS ANGELES — Nick Wagoner breaks down the 2016 Los Angeles Rams draft class so far.
Round 1, pick No. 1: Jared Goff, QB, California | Highlights
My take: When the Rams made the deal with the Tennessee Titans to move up for either Goff or North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, my take is that I wouldn’t have made the deal, but I understood it. The Rams had reached a point of desperation in their need for a franchise quarterback. They did what they had to do to make it happen. Wentz might have been a better fit for what the Rams want to be offensively, but that doesn’t mean Goff can’t succeed in the NFL. The biggest question now is what the Rams will do to add receiving weapons and solidify the offensive line. They want to put Goff in position to get them over the hump so that the guys who traded up for him — coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead — will still be employed if (or when) Goff reaches his potential.
Start or sit? Fisher and Snead have repeatedly said they won’t push any drafted quarterback to play until he’s ready. But it’s naive to think they traded all those picks in order to have Goff sit and watch. Don’t be surprised if the team’s Goff plan models what Snead and the Atlanta Falcons did with Matt Ryan in 2008, when Ryan worked with Chris Redman through the third preseason game and then took over as the starter for the regular season.
Who’s on the way out? With Goff in the fold, the Rams have four quarterbacks on the roster. They won’t carry that many during the season, so someone has to go. Who will that be? All signs point to Nick Foles, the player the Rams traded for and signed in 2015 in hopes that he was the franchise signal-caller they needed. The Rams hope that Foles’ deletion will come via trade. According to a league source, four or five teams have already reached out about the possibility of a deal. In all likelihood, a deal will have to wait for the next couple of days as teams select quarterbacks and others miss out on some. Those that miss out could find themselves in the market, with a late-round pick the likely compensation.
Round 4, pick No. 110: Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentcuky | Highlights
My take: The Rams have never shied away from players with off-field issues under coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead. They continued that with Higbee, who is facing second-degree assault and evading police charges as well as a public intoxication charge for an altercation that took place on April 10 outside of a bar. Higbee’s attorney has said he plans to plead not guilty at the arraignment on May 5, and the Rams clearly feel comfortable it will get resolved. It’s a bit of a risk, but probably worthy given the team’s need at the position, Higbee’s upside and where he was drafted.
Where he fits: After releasing tight end Jared Cook this offseason, the Rams had an obvious need for a pass-catching tight end. Higbee offers pass-catching ability even if he’s not much of a blocker, so long as he can get past the off-field issues. He had 68 catches for 1,054 yards and 14 touchdowns in his college career.
Round 4, pick No. 117: Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina | Highlights
My take: The Rams are taking the obvious and logical approach to the fourth round by adding help for Goff. They absolutely have to find weapons for Goff after their receiving corps combined for fewer yards than Atlanta’s Julio Jones in 2015. Cooper might be a bit redundant with Tavon Austin in terms of size and skill set (not that he’s as talented as Austin), but new passing game coach Mike Groh should be able to find ways to use him.
Where he fits: The Rams have a clear need for help in the slot. Stedman Bailey is recovering from two gunshot wounds to the head. South Carolina used Cooper all over the field, much like the Rams do with Austin, but the Rams simply need weapons and can find a place for Cooper in their receiving corps.
Move down: The Rams traded pick No. 113 to the Chicago Bears for picks 117 and 206. They now have three choices in the sixth round.
Round 6, pick No. 177: Temarrick Hemingway, TE, South Carolina State | Highlights
My take: I’d be lying if I said I knew much about Hemingway but this much is clear, the Rams are addressing needs in the passing game. Hemingway had modest numbers in his final year of college with 38 catches for 418 yards and a touchdown in 2015. But he’s 6-foot-5, 244 pounds and ran a 4.7 second 40-yard dash. The Rams think he has some upside and can compete for a roster spot.
Where he fits: Hemingway joins fourth-round pick Tyler Higbee as the Rams continue to attempt to add depth and competition to their tight end group. Lance Kendricks will be the primary option from the position and Cory Harkey remains as a blocker but if Hemingway can prove adept at running routes, catching passes and chipping in on special teams, there’s room for him to make the roster out of training camp.
Round 6, pick No. 190: Josh Forrest, LB, Kentucky | Highlights
My take: The Rams continue to fill needs by finding some depth at linebacker. They parted ways with James Laurinaitis and Daren Bates during the offseason, leaving them thin behind starters Alec Ogletree, Mark Barron and Akeem Ayers. Forrest should offer some insurance behind middle linebacker Ogletree. He’s 6-foot-3, 249 pounds and finished 2015 with 93 tackles, six for loss, three and a half sacks and two interceptions.
Where he fits: Other than Ogletree, Barron and Ayers, the Rams have Cameron Lynch and Bryce Hager returning from the active roster last year. Forrest would seem to be in a good position to potentially win a roster spot. The Rams will undoubtedly bring in more bodies through rookie free agency, so it’s no sure thing, but if he can pick up the defense and show some special teams ability he should have a shot.
Round 6, pick No. 190: Michael Thomas, WR, Southern Miss
My take: With the addition of Thomas, the Rams spent four of their five picks on Day 3 on either a tight end or receiver, selecting two of each. It was a logical approach for a team in serious need of help at both positions. Thomas is particularly intriguing and qualifies as a bonafide sleeper candidate after he wasn’t invited to the combine. Thomas was productive in 2015, finishing with 71 catches for 1,391 yards and 14 touchdowns. At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, he also offers some size to a receiving corps that can use some.
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