Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › Gaines getting some ink
- This topic has 2 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 10 years, 5 months ago by
zn.
-
AuthorPosts
-
December 20, 2014 at 1:22 am #14264
znModeratorRams’ rookie Gaines has been a draft steal
R.B. Fallstrom
http://stl.scout.com/story/1493419-rams-rookie-gaines-has-been-a-draft-steal?s=124
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Defensive back E.J. Gaines slipped into St. Louis Rams training camp as an afterthought. Turns out, the sixth-round pick has been a steal.
Gaines has started every game for a defense that hasn’t allowed a touchdown the last three games. He’s the only rookie cornerback in the NFL to start every game.
“A pleasant surprise? No, I wouldn’t say that,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday. “He took advantage of an opportunity and he’s not batted an eye since.
“If there’s any element of surprise it would be his ability to jump inside and play the nickel spot as well as he has.”
The Rams (6-Cool had consecutive shutouts against the Raiders and Redskins, outscoring them a combined 76-0, before surrendering four field goals in last week’s 12-6 loss to Arizona. Another newcomer, first-rounder Aaron Donald, leads rookies with eight sacks and has a five-game sacks streak entering this week’s game against the Giants.
“It’s not just their front seven,” Giants quarterback Eli Manning said. “Their defensive backs are playing well and are aggressive.”
Gaines opened the year at left cornerback in place of injured Trumaine Johnson, has spelled Janoris Jenkins on the right side, and has served as the third cornerback when the team opens in a nickel alignment.
“I played nickel my senior year at Missouri, so that helped me a little bit, and playing a lot of man-to-man coverage at Missouri helped me, too,” Gaines said.
“A lot of things we did there, we do here.”
Gaines led the Rams with 13 tackles, 10 solo, last week against the Cardinals. He’s a hard hitter beyond his 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame, upending a handful of Arizona players with clean low-body hits.
“I hope he feels it more than I do,” Gaines said. “I don’t most of the time.”
Gaines has 100 tackles on the year, fourth on the team, to go with two interceptions and 13 pass breakups. Though Jenkins usually covers the opposition’s top wide receiver, Gaines will no doubt get a taste of Giants rookie sensation Odell Beckham Jr.
“You can’t defend that one catch, you know which one I’m talking about,” Gaines said. “Just defending him any way we can, playing great defense.”
Gaines projects confidence at the prospect of defending Manning, too.
“Definitely a great quarterback,” Gaines said. “We definitely see some things we might be able to take advantage of in that offense. We’ve got to have a great game plan.”
Gaines was an All-SEC first-team pick at Missouri, where he finished his career with 37 consecutive starts and racked up 244 tackles, three forced fumbles, 31 pass deflections and eight interceptions.
Lack of size might have held him back a few rounds in the NFL draft. It was a long wait before the Rams took him 188th overall and gave Gaines, of Independence, Missouri, a chance to stay close to home.
Gaines’ bid to make the team was somewhat overshadowed for several months by the presence of seventh-rounder Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team. Quietly, he carved out a niche, although he had no idea there would be this much playing time right away.
“I don’t think anybody did,” he said. “I definitely didn’t put it past myself. I know I can play this game and it was just getting a chance, getting a shot. It’s all great timing for me.”
December 20, 2014 at 1:25 am #14266znModeratorGaines has enjoyed stellar rookie season
By Joe Lyons
From the start, Rams safety Rodney McLeod could see that E.J. Gaines was not your typical rookie.
“From the first day of training camp, he had a knack for being around the ball, always at the right place at the right time,” said McLeod, a third-year pro. E.J. is “a real quiet guy who just goes out and does his job. But when you watch him on film, he shows up in a lot of areas from tackling from making plays on the ball.”
Gaines, who starred at the University of Missouri, was drafted by the Rams in the sixth round (188th overall) last May and has been an absolute steal. The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder is poised to make his 15th NFL start Sunday when the Rams (6-8) host the New York Giants (5-9) in a 3:05 p.m. game at the Edward Jones Dome.
Seeing action at both cornerback and nickel back, Gaines is currently fourth on the squad with 100 overall tackles, including 72 solos. He has a team-high 13 pass defenses to go along with two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
In the Rams’ most recent game, the 12-6 loss to the visiting Arizona Cardinals, Gaines recorded a career-best 13 tackles, including 10 solos.
“Just the way it worked out, I guess,” the 22-year-old Gaines said. “Just trying to make plays for my team.”
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been impressed with Gaines’ ability to adapt.
“I’m very proud (of him),” Williams said. “With all the different things we’ve thrown at him, he’s had to learn on the run and done a great job. … I don’t know if you guys see how physical he plays. We put in the run front quite often. Early on, I was holding my breath to see if he was going to be able to hold up. He’s done very well. He picks his places to play pretty physical.”
Williams continued: “He hasn’t flinched. He’s grown very well and he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do.’’
Gaines, who started the final 37 games of his career at Mizzou and earned All-SEC honors as a senior, was initially disappointed about slipping into the third day of May’s draft but used that as motivation. He improved steadily in training camp and won the opening-day start at left corner after third-year pro Trumaine Johnson went down with a knee injury.
Later, when both Johnson and third-year starter Janoris Jenkins were at the corners, Gaines shifted to the nickel.
“I played some nickel and played a lot of man-to-man at Mizzou,” he said. “A lot of the things we did there are similar to what we do here. (Playing at nickel) took some getting used to, but the guys who played the position before, Rodney and Lamarcus (Joyner), have been extremely helpful.’’
Has Gaines’ play been a surprise?
“No, I wouldn’t say that,’’ Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “We drafted him because of his ability. He took advantage of an opportunity … (and) has not batted an eye since. If there’s an element of surprise, it would be his ability to jump inside and play the nickel spot as well as he has.
“He’s an outstanding young man, he’s a smart football player. Does his job. Does it well.’’
His teammates and coaches aren’t surprised by Gaines’ play. But what about Gaines?
“I don’t think anybody saw this coming, but I definitely didn’t put it past myself,’’ he said. “I know I can play this game, so it was just a matter of getting a shot and making the most of it. And that’s what I’ve been able to do. I’m blessed.’’
December 20, 2014 at 1:28 am #14267znModeratorfrom off the net
—
thehammer
why did Gaines go in the 6th rd? 5’9 7 with 30 3/8 arms with mediocre pro day…while other top prospects were spending 3 months prepping for combine Gaines was rehabbing…his numbers weren’t the player I watched at Mizzou
my write-up on Gaines; 120. EJ Gaines 34 pd 7 interceptions CB Mizzou fast/instinctive a “player”
Richard Sherman went in the 5th rd..a college wr till junior season..but had 23 pd and 6 int in 2 years while learning the position . 6’3 with long arms, 38 vertical with 4.72 3 cone(better then all the top 5 except Roby 4.69)…even with a 4.54 40 should of gone much higher……
cb position just lends itself to number crunching…just add some Kentucky windage for injuries or teams avoiding an elite player his senior season so his stats go down (like Gaines)
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
