Brockers Excels at New Position

Rams like what they see with Michael Brockers on the outside looking in on the defensive line

Gary Klein

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-report-20171005-story.html#nt=oft01a-1la1

As a run-stopping defensive tackle surrounded by playmaking teammates, Michael Brockers spent his first five NFL seasons largely confined to the middle of the line of scrimmage.

But Wade Phillips, the Rams’ new defensive coordinator, has given Brockers some much-appreciated space.

Last week against the Dallas Cowboys, Brockers lined up wider than usual and made several big plays, including a sack and two pass deflections. The performance will give the Seattle Seahawks something to think about heading into Sunday’s game at the Coliseum.

“Inside I wanted to show the world what I had,” Brockers said. “You want to be a team player — you want to do what you have to for the team. But at the same time, sometimes you want those little accolades, to get the sack and hear your name called.

San Francisco 49ers, he intercepted a potential score-tying two-point conversion pass that bounced off a defensive back.

But Brockers, 26, has been overshadowed during his career by players such as three-time Pro Bowl lineman Aaron Donald and two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Robert Quinn.

The move by Phillips seemed to liberate Brockers, a 2012 first-round draft pick who in September 2016 signed a three-year extension with about $24.4 million in guarantees

Brockers said he was nervous before the game against the Cowboys but was fine after the first play.

“It’s like, ‘OK, it’s time to go,’ ” he said. “Don’t worry about being wrong, being exact. Just go.”

He went on to show he can be more than an interior run-stopper.

“For [Phillips] to see me as a playmaker and to open it up and give me those opportunities, I appreciate it,” Brockers said. “And I just want to show him that he didn’t make the wrong decision and I can get the job done.”

Said Phillips: “He’s a really good player at any position he plays, especially going against the offensive tackles that Dallas has. He played really well against those guys and showed how good he can be.”

Moving Brockers also enabled Phillips to start rookie Tanzel Smart for the first time. Smart recorded a tackle for a loss.

“Like we’ve said about him over and over, he continues to do all the little things the right way and he’s playing productive football,” coach Sean McVay said of Smart.

Donald also continues to come on after sitting out training camp because of a still-unresolved contract dispute.

“He looks like he’s getting into shape and he looks like he did on film,” Phillips said, adding, “We’re always going to try to match him up one on one as much as we can, not let them double-team him and I thought we did that pretty well last game.”

Running back Todd Gurley was the NFC offensive player of the month for September and the NFC offensive player of the week for his performance against the Cowboys.

Gurley rushed for 121 yards and caught a team-best seven passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.

The third-year pro said the favorite award he has won was the 2015 NFL offensive rookie of the year.

But Gurley said he does not play to win awards.

“Hopefully a championship, that would be the award,” he said.

One other also would be nice.

“Super Bowl MVP — that would be lovely,” he said, laughing. “Shoot for the stars, but hopefully we can get a big award here soon.”

Inside or outside, Michael Brockers is looking strong for Rams’ defensive front

RICH HAMMOND

link: http://www.ocregister.com/2017/10/05/inside-or-outside-michael-brockers-is-looking-strong-for-rams-defensive-front/

THOUSAND OAKS — The key to defensive success for the Rams might be up front.

While the linebackers have struggled in run defense and the defensive backs have been questionable on deep routes, the Rams’ front three would seem to have the highest ceiling for improvement. Some recent tweaking, paired with some time to settle in, might be starting to make a difference.

The Rams moved Michael Brockers from nose tackle to defensive end last week against Dallas, a subtle change but one that could better take advantage of Brockers’ skill set. Aaron Donald is increasingly dominant at defensive tackle and rookie Tanzel Smart, who swapped spots with Brockers, is improving.

“We’re kind of solidified in our roles and I think we’ll start rolling,” Brockers said. “I think everything is new, as far as a new front, new defense, but I know there are little things we can correct. We’ll get it done.”

Brockers, a 6-foot-5, 302-pound defensive tackle in the 4-3 scheme the Rams ran from 2012-16, now is lining up against an offensive tackle for the first time since high school. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said Brockers had a “tremendous” game against the Cowboys.

“He’s a really good player at any position he plays,” Phillips said of Brockers after Thursday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “We just thought it made us stronger, especially against the big offensive tackles that Dallas has. He played really well against those guys. So that shows you how good he was.”

It worked, at least for one game. In last week’s victory over Dallas, Brockers had two hits on quarterback Dak Prescott, including one sack. Brockers also deflected two of Prescott’s pass attempts.

Brockers and Donald were disruptive forces for the Rams, particularly in the second half, when the Cowboys totaled only six points and 153 yards.

“Inside, I wanted to show the world what I had,” Brockers said. “You want to be a team player. You want to do what you have to for the team, but at the same time, sometimes you want those little accolades, to get the sack and hear your name called. So it feels good to help the team out with those big plays.”

Sunday’s opponent, Seattle, should provide a strong test. The Seahawks last week totaled 477 yards, including 194 rushing yards, and the Rams’ run defense has been porous at times this season.

Too often, blockers have been able to shed the Rams’ linemen, get to the second level of the defense and get bodies on the Rams’ linebackers, who are on the smaller side. Putting Donald, one of the NFL’s premier run defenders, and Brockers on either side of Smart should make that front more stout.

The move also could help the pass defense. The Rams have 12 sacks in four games, the third-highest total in the NFL this season. Putting a little distance between Brockers, who has 15.5 career sacks, and Donald should make it more difficult for offensive lines to defend the Rams up front.

“I was doing so well at nose tackle that I didn’t want to leave nose tackle,” Brockers said. “But for him to see me as a playmaker and open it up to give me those opportunities, I appreciate it and I just want to show (Phillips) that he didn’t make a wrong decision and that I can get the job done.”

Then there’s Donald, who missed the season opener as part of his contract holdout but has been increasingly dominant since his return. Against the Cowboys, Donald had by far the best of his three games. It included two quarterback hits and one tackle for a loss.

“I thought he played great,” Phillips said. “He had a sack called back (by a penalty) and a sack he wished he’d had. Against a really good offensive line, I thought he dominated some really good players. He looks like he’s getting into shape. He looks like he did on film (last season).”

=