Gordon: DB development crucial for Rams

DB development crucial for Rams

• By Jeff Gordon

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff-gordon/gordon-db-development-crucial-for-rams/article_48f60334-4393-5800-9d36-03f39c9a878c.html

Let’s face it, the Rams secondary remains a primary concern this season.

The team did not use free agency to address this problem. As Post-Dispatch reporter Jim Thomas likes to point out, the current Rams defensive backs have just 71 NFL starts between them.

So one of the big training camp storylines will be the team’s ability (or inability) to develop young cornerbacks and safeties. The player development resumed Tuesday as the rookies started their training camp indoors at Rams Park.

Can new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams clean up the back end of the Rams defense?

The front seven is drawing rave national reviews. Rookie defensive tackle Aaron Donald adds one more play-wrecking threat to a line led by pass rushing defensive end Robert Quinn.

Outside linebacker Alec Ogletree could become a beast in the aggressive Williams defense. Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis is a heady player, a critical quality in this complex scheme. Jo-Lonn Dunbar remains a stout run defender (and street fighter) and fellow outside linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong offers big play potential.

This unit expects to apply extreme pressure with its base defense as well the frequent blitzing on Williams’ command.

But can the Rams cover anybody? Last season opposing completed 68.1 percent of their passes against them, which is ridiculous.

Part of that failure can be blamed on the soft schemes called by since-fired coordinator Tim Walton. But a big part of the problem was the glaring inability of certain individuals TO ACTUALLY COVER SOMEBODY.

Now Williams is retooling the secondary with young veterans and rookies. Their job becomes somewhat easier when the Rams rush quarterbacks.

Conversely, the job gets much, much tougher when the other side picks up the blitz and allows the quarterback to exploit single coverage.

The NFC West features two of the sport’s top mobile quarterbacks, Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick. Both players are adept at extending passing plays and forcing defensive backs to sustain coverage.

That can make suspect secondaries a whole lot worse, as Rams fans saw last season.

Cornerback Janoris Jenkins took a big step back in his second season. He made a lot of big mistakes, as he did as a rookie, without making the game-changing plays to offset those blunders.

Jenkins did not win many ball battles. Nor did he master press coverage. He is capable of doing so much more.

Third-year cornerback Trumaine Johnson intercepted three passes and made fewer mistakes than his running mate did. He is hardly a shutdown corner, though, so he needs to make big strides this summer.

The Rams cycled out creaking cornerback Cortland Finnegan, whose play eroded dramatically due to injuries and advancing age. He became almost helpless in pass coverage.

Half the gentlemen reporting on the Rams could have gotten open against him last season.

Hard-hitting rookie Lamarcus Joyner will get a chance to beat out second-year cornerback Brandon McGee and step into Finnegan’s blitzing/slot coverage role with Johnson and Jenkins working outside. Joyner could become one of the unit leaders in his first season.

Second-year safety T.J. McDonald lost valuable developmental time after suffering a broken leg last season. He was improving by season’s end but his cover skills still need work.

Third-year safety Rodney McLeod is a handy guy to have on the team, but he lacks coverage range. Expect sturdy rookie Maurice Alexander to push for work at safety, specially against the run.

Unfortunately Alexander missed a lot of off-season work after undergoing minor knee surgery. Nothing comes easily for this team.

Gone are veteran safeties Darian Stewart and Matt Giordano, two more players who also spent too much time playing tag. Special teams ace Matt Daniels is back after missing must of last season with a broken ankle.

But at the moment the Rams lack experienced depth. Second-year cornerback Darren Woodard, second-year safety Cody Davis, rookie safety Christian Bryant and rookie cornerbacks E.J. Gaines, Marcus Roberson, Eric Reid and Jarrid Bryant will all push for roster spots.

Gaines was a playmaker at Mizzou last season in the rugged SEC, but he failed to impress in earlier Rams workouts. Reid is a speed burner who could bolster the special teams, but those wheels haven’t translated to coverage ability.

Jarrid Bryant, a converted wide receiver, is a worthy project standing 6-foot-3. But can he become more than just the tall guy playing defensive back?

Injuries and off-field issues at Florida caused Roberson’s stock to fall after earlier projections pegged him as a mid-round pick. Perhaps he figure it out with some tough love from Fisher and Williams.

Maybe the Rams will find some gems at the bottom of this pile. Or perhaps the Rams will need to shop for help as the preseason unfolds and other teams look to shed veterans.

The adventure is underway. How the secondary evolves could determine whether this team finally reaches the high side of .500.