Rams Waive Alexander, Add Thomas to Roster

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  • October 9, 2017 at 4:27 pm #75830
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    Rams Waive Alexander, Add Thomas to Roster

    http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Waive-Alexander-Add-Thomas-to-Roster/72d4c157-ad02-4db4-8a74-df8708ce73b6

    With the expiration of wide receiver Mike Thomas’ roster exemption, Los Angeles has waived safety Maurice Alexander to make room for Thomas on the 53-man roster.

    The Rams selected Alexander in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. He was mainly a special teams contributor in nine games his rookie season, before filling in at strong safety for five starts in 2015. Last season, Alexander started 14 games at free safety for Los Angeles, recording a pair of interceptions, four passes defensed, and a sack. In all, Alexander appeared in 41 games, making 23 starts, for the franchise.

    After starting the first four games of 2017, Alexander was inactive for Sunday’s contest against the Seahawks — a healthy scratch. Rookie safety John Johnson started at strong safety, recording an interception, two passes defensed, and three total tackles.

    “We’ve got a lot of confidence in the depth that we do have at the safety positions,” head coach Sean McVay said postgame. “We wanted to get another corner up because of some of the situations that we have with the injuries. I thought you saw John Johnson, Cody [Davis] did a nice job today.”

    McVay added Alexander’s deactivation was not a disciplinary matter.

    “It wasn’t anything like that,” McVay said. “We’re always evaluating our personnel and trying to figure out how we can get the best 46 up and that is not exclusive to defense, that involves the special teams and that was the decision that we made. But, absolutely nothing to do with anything that Mo didn’t do in terms of handling his business off the field.”

    In activating Thomas, the Rams now have seven wide receivers on their 53-man roster. McVay said he expected that to be the case last week.

    October 9, 2017 at 4:39 pm #75831
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    Well he wasn’t doing much this year. Hadn’t played well. And word on Wade is, he will bend over backwards to teach a player but then he doesn’t tolerate mistakes.

    He was a FA at the end of the year anyway.

    Johnson was a good pick and they seem to believe in him.

    Thomas replaces him on special teams.

    This is something from the Dallas game that explains a lot IMO:

    Stock Down: http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Waive-Alexander-Add-Thomas-to-Roster/72d4c157-ad02-4db4-8a74-df8708ce73b6
    SS Maurice Alexander

    For a guy many expected a big breakout year from, Mo just hasn’t had a great start to the year. With multiple questionable tackle attempts, the combo of Alexander and Cody Davis both missed tackles allowing Alfred Morris to gain 70-yards on one rushing attempt. Not only that, but Alexander got completely left in the dust in man coverage against Cowboys TE James Hanna, allowing a 28-yard TD that gave the Cowboys a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter.

    October 9, 2017 at 4:58 pm #75832
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    Rams waive Maurice Alexander as Mike Thomas returns from ban

    Alden Gonzalez

    http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20970803/los-angeles-rams-waive-former-starting-safety-maurice-alexander

    LOS ANGELES — Maurice Alexander, who began the season as the Rams’ starter at strong safety, was waived by the team on Monday, one day after he was a healthy inactive for an eventual 16-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

    The move created an opening on the 53-man roster for wide receiver Mike Thomas, who was suspended the first four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Thomas, the Rams’ seventh receiver on the active roster, spent last week on the exempt list.

    Alexander, in the final year of his rookie contract, struggled in the first four games and began this week graded 73rd among 83 qualified NFL safeties by Pro Football Focus.

    Alexander wished the Rams the best in an Instagram post Monday, writing: “Appreciate the love RAMS family! Been a great couple years! All love and respect. Continue to be great fellas!! On the road to glory.”

    Rookie John Johnson started in Alexander’s place on Sunday — although he lined up mainly as the free safety — and registered an interception that he returned for 69 yards. Johnson also made the game-ending tackle against Ezekiel Elliott in the Week 4 victory against the Dallas Cowboys.

    Parting ways with Alexander appears to have been strictly based on performance. Johnson has earned an opportunity to start, and the Rams like other safeties like Cody Davis, Blake Countess, Marqui Christian and Isaiah Johnson more so in other roles, including special teams.

    Lamarcus Joyner is expected to return for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Rams would start either Johnson or Davis alongside of him. Joyner has been playing free safety, but the Rams also feel comfortable with him playing close to the line of scrimmage as more of a strong safety, which would open it up for Johnson to start.

    October 9, 2017 at 5:04 pm #75833
    Avatar photoAgamemnon
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    After last year, Alexander looked like a player to resign. He has now played himself off the team. Will Greg Williams claim him?

    Agamemnon

    October 9, 2017 at 5:48 pm #75839
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    October 9, 2017 at 6:32 pm #75841
    Herzog
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    Reminds me of Barron. Maybe he’ll star at linebacker for somebody.

    October 9, 2017 at 7:25 pm #75846
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    phoenixrising of RFU wrote:

    He has been absolutely horrid this year. He was OK in Williams’ D where he could just seek and destroy. Wade’s D required him to make more reads and he was just always in the wrong place. The difference with John Johnson III is night and day.

    October 9, 2017 at 9:49 pm #75862
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    Alden Gonzalez @Alden_Gonzalez
    “There were some things where we expected a better level of play from him, and he knew that.” Mo Alexander waived.

    —

    October 9, 2017 at 10:46 pm #75868
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
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    i’m a little surprised but not too surprised given how well johnson played on sunday. i woulda thought he’d have some special teams value but thomas is a special teams dynamo.

    but yeah. at safety, they might have something special in jj. he’s versatile. dynamic. smart.

    October 10, 2017 at 12:45 am #75877
    Avatar photoAgamemnon
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    They also save about $1.4 million off the cap.

    Agamemnon

    October 10, 2017 at 1:11 am #75878
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    Agamemnon wrote:

    They also save about $1.4 million off the cap.

    Does that account for Thomas? Or was Thomas already on the books?

    October 10, 2017 at 1:26 am #75879
    Avatar photoAgamemnon
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    zn wrote:
    Agamemnon wrote:

    They also save about $1.4 million off the cap.

    Does that account for Thomas? Or was Thomas already on the books?

    That is a good question. I am not sure how they figure ThomaS. I don’t think he gets paid while he is suspended.

    Agamemnon

    October 10, 2017 at 9:03 am #75883
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    OldSchool wrote:

    I’m guessing most of you didn’t listen to that Myles Simmons and DeMarco Farr podcast the last couple of weeks. I believe it was the one leading into the Dallas game that Farr made comments about how Alexander wasn’t into Wade’s defense and was grumbling aloud about the new system. The following week we see Johnson on the field a lot including the final play on defense and then the next week Alexander is a healthy scratch and Johnson starts and excels leading to Mo being cut.

    October 10, 2017 at 9:31 am #75888
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    http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20970803/los-angeles-rams-waive-former-starting-safety-maurice-alexander

    Alexander, in the final year of his rookie contract, struggled in the first four games and began this week graded 73rd among 83 qualified NFL safeties by Pro Football Focus.

    October 10, 2017 at 12:39 pm #75896
    Avatar photoAgamemnon
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    zn wrote:
    Agamemnon wrote:

    They also save about $1.4 million off the cap.

    Does that account for Thomas? Or was Thomas already on the books?

    As near as I can tell, the $1.4 million is after including Thomas. They needed the space just for future IR candidates.

    Agamemnon

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