Meet The Los Angeles Rams UDFA’s: Defense

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  • May 1, 2020 at 6:40 pm #114476
    Avatar photoAgamemnon
    Participant

    Meet The Los Angeles Rams UDFA’s: Defense

    Meet The Los Angeles Rams UDFA’s: Defense
    3 hours ago Blaine Grisak

    Following the draft, the Los Angeles Rams announced the signings of 20 undrafted rookie free agents. Check out our UDFA preview on defense. Who could make the final roster?

    Following the draft, the Los Angeles Rams announced the signings of 20 undrafted rookie free agents. We’re going to split this into two articles, offense and defense. The Los Angeles Rams have a long and recent history of finding contributors among that crop of players. From standouts like Cory Littleton to players just making the roster and contributing last year such as Nsimba Webster, Natrez Patrick, Troy Redder and Jake Gervase.

    So, here’s a guide to familiarize yourself with the Los Angeles Rams’ undrafted class, starting with defense.
    DL Eric Banks – UT-San Antonio

    Banks set the all-time games started record at UTSA, having started 48 games over his four years primarily at defensive end. He finished his time as a Roadrunner with 81 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and was a key member of a defense that set UTSA single-season records for tackles for loss (96), tackles for loss per game (8.0) and sacks per game (2.2).

    The Rams don’t have a ton of depth on the defensive line, therefore Banks will have an opportunity to compete for one of those final roster spots. Banks reunites with Los Angeles Rams defensive line coach Eric Henderson who coached the defensive line at UTSA back in 2016.
    DL Mike Hoecht – Brown

    Hoecht was apart of a Brown defense that competed with some of the best in the Ivy League. He’s extremely quick as he posted a virtual combine workout video in March that showed a 4.65-second clocking in the 40-yard dash which would have been the third-highest time at the NFL Combine.

    The Brown defensive lineman is a two-year captain and was named second-team All-Ivy last season. He was also selected with the 10th pick in the second round of the CFL Draft by the Ottawa Red Blacks.
    DB JuJu Hughes – Fresno St.

    Hughes, a safety, played in all 52 games during his Fresno State career. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, Hughes was a three-time All-Mountain West honoree and tied for the conference-lead with four interceptions. The safety racked up 247 total tackles and 28 pass deflections.

    According to Pro Football Focus, Hughes had a 90.3 Overall Grade in 2018 which was tied for 10th among Secondary Defenders. Hughes’ best chance to make the roster will be on special teams.
    CB Dayan Ghanwoloku (Lake) – BYU

    Ghanwoloku played cornerback at BYU, but if he makes the Rams roster, it will be as a special teams player. Throughout his four years at BYU, Ghanwoloku (Lake), he made plays on offense, defense, and special teams. He’s willing and able to play wherever he’s asked which will go a long ways as someone who was signed as an undrafted free agent.

    A nose for the football, Ghanwoloku finished his career with a program record seven fumble recoveries and also posted seven interceptions to rank No. 4 at BYU. His 226 interception return yards also rank No. 2 for the Cougars.
    CB Tyrique McGhee – Georgia

    Another defensive back for the Rams signing as an undrafted free agent. McGhee saw action in all four years at Georgia. He missed time last season due to a foot injury after also missing the season-opener the year before to injury. The Georgia defensive back played on one of the best defenses in the nation last season. While at Georgia, McGhee recorded 59 total tackles, 2 interceptions, 11 pass deflections and 2 forced fumbles.
    EDGE Greg Reaves – USF

    Reaves will come in and compete off the edge for the Rams. According to PFF, last season Reaves recorded an 82.9 Rush Defense Grade in 2019 (T-25th among EDGEs) and in 2017 his 83.5 Coverage Grade ranked 10th. A walk-on at Sourth Florida, Reaves passed on an appointment to the Air Force Academy because he was determined to play in the NFL.

    Now, he’ll get that chance. Reaves has been a quick player off the edge at South Florida and has a non-stop motor. He’ll be an intriguing player competing in camp.
    DL Sam Renner – Minnesota

    Renner was a former walk-on at Minnesota and started on special teams as a red-shirt freshman/ He improved in every season, becmoing relentless on the interior with the Gophers and could fit in perfectly in the Rams’ 3-4 scheme as a defensive end. His spin-move is his bread and butter and he has good lateral movement.

    He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention last season after tallying five sacks and eight tackles for loss. He also recorded 43 tackles.
    LB Christian Rozeboom – South Dakota State

    Rozeboom led the Jacks in tackles all four years at South Dakota State. He was a four-time All-MVFC First Team selection and three-time All-American. He’s the Jackrabbits’ all-time leader in tackles and according to Pro Football Focus his 90.9 Rush Defense Grade ranked sixth, 88.3 Overall Grade ranked eighth, and his 55.2 Passer Rating When Targeted ranked 11th.

    Rozeboom played in the FCS, but consistently made plays all over the field. He registered double figures in tackles six times in 2019, starting with 11-tackle performance in season opener at Big-10 Minnesota. The Rams need help at linebacker and Rozeboom landed in the perfect spot to compete.
    DB Levonta Taylor – Florida State

    Taylor is reminscent of other Florida State defensive backs that the Rams have had over the past five years in that he’s a swiss army knife. The former No. 1 cornerback prospect coming out of high school, injuries derailed Taylor’s career with the Seminoles. He returned from a stress fracture in his back to record a career-high in tackles.

    He can cover in the slot or on the outside as well as play safety if needed. He lacks size and length, but his versatility could make him a depth asset.
    DL Jonah Williams – Weber State

    Williams is another defensive line player that the Rams added as a UDFA. The Weber State product earned All-America honors last season and was named the Big Sky Co-Defensive MVP. Williams brings a winning culture with him as he was a part of the winningest senior class in Weber State history, winning three Big Sky titles and appeared in the FCS Playoffs four times.

    Williams appeared in 54 games at Weber State, tallying 15 sacks, 28 tackles for loss, 194 total tackles, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
    Players to Watch

    For any undrafted free agent, making the final roster is an uphill battle, but there is a good chance 3-5 do end up making it.

    Mike Hoecht’s speed on the interior could make him for a good depth piece or practice squad candidate.
    Sam Renner did it all at Minnesota and just kept getting better. With NFL coaching, he’ll be a name to watch.
    Christian Rozenboom lacks size and speed, but he’ll have a great chance to compete for a roster spot at a position in which the Rams don’t have a lot of options.
    Dayan Ghanwoloku could become a force on special teams. The issue is that the Rams have depth at defensive back.
    Levonta Taylor’s versatility is valuable. This is a player that has the talent, but has had injuries that have set him back. If there is a gem in this UDFA class, it might be Taylor.

    Agamemnon

    May 1, 2020 at 8:18 pm #114486
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator

    christian rozeboom. also sticks out to me. high level performer in a lower division of football. that’s three now from the football championship division. i can’t help but think that the inability of teams to do their full level of scouting might have somehow helped the rams in that some of these prospects might have slipped through the cracks??? i don’t know.

    anyway. rozeboom did not have a pro day. it was cancelled. but his productions is off the charts.

    in four years.

    475 tackles
    29 tfl
    6 sacks
    8 forced fumbles
    6 fumble recoveries
    16 pbus
    8 interceptions

    just screams playmaker to me.

    measurements are 6’2″ 230lbs.

    i’m telling ya. i’m really excited about this defensive draft class. excited about brandon staley. mostly because everything is unknown right now. can’t wait to see how this all unfolds.

    May 1, 2020 at 8:31 pm #114489
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator

    apparently he did have a pro day. didn’t list a 40 time or short shuttle. but supposedly a 35″ vertical and a 6.96 3-cone. i also included an interview which shows some highlights. wants to be a vet one day. what’s not to like?

    May 1, 2020 at 8:57 pm #114492
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator

    i timed him myself on the short shuttle. i got 4.27 seconds. impressive. very impressive. for what it’s worth i hand timed his 3-cone and got the same time listed on the video – 6.96!

    impressive athlete. impressive numbers. i hope football isn’t cancelled this season. what will i do!?

    May 1, 2020 at 9:17 pm #114494
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator

    sorry. just reading about this rozeboom kid. found this interesting. has played against some fbs teams and shined.

    Rozeboom had a prolific career with the Jackrabbits and was one of the best defensive players in the FCS for several years. Yet it wasn’t until late in the process when he got an invite to a pro prospect all-star game, the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. And even with impressive showings on tape against FBS opponents (11 tackles vs. Minnesota in 2019 and eight tackles in his collegiate debut against TCU in 2016), a lot of draft sites and analysts are hesitant to label Rozeboom an NFL Draft pick.

    no combine and no opportunity to work them out before the draft could have possibly hurt these prospects. reading about him can’t help but think that this guy could be the replacement for littleton. sideline to sideline. seems to have skills in pass coverage. not big. but quick and tough sounds like.

    https://herosports.com/fcs/football-2020-christian-rozeboom-nfl-bzbz

    May 2, 2020 at 1:29 am #114498
    JackPMiller
    Participant

    Doubt any of these guys make the roster.

    Levonta Taylot & Christian Rozeboom I do expect to make the practice squad from the UDFA defense. That is it.

    May 2, 2020 at 3:52 pm #114526
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator
    JackPMiller wrote:

    Doubt any of these guys make the roster.

    Levonta Taylot & Christian Rozeboom I do expect to make the practice squad from the UDFA defense. That is it.

    i don’t know. rozeboom seems to have everything you would want except he doesn’t have the fbs pedigree. of course he’s a udfa, so he’s got a tough hill to climb. but i think he. and a couple others have a legitimate chance at making the roster. ok. maybe not starters. but i think they can make the roster.

    May 2, 2020 at 7:57 pm #114530
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator
    InvaderRam wrote:

    i don’t know. rozeboom seems to have everything you would want except he doesn’t have the fbs pedigree

    I like how Hoecht looks too. The DT.

    May 2, 2020 at 8:34 pm #114531
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator
    zn wrote:

    I like how Hoecht looks too. The DT.

    hoecht is another guy. a guy with his frame 6’4″ 295 lbs running a 4.65 40 is ridiculous.

    a 7.05 3-cone and a 4.21 shuttle. 33.5″ vert 9’2″ broad.

    those numbers compare favorably to aaron donald. and that’s with an additional 10 pounds. explosive. again. maybe not an immediate starter. but could be a contributor and if everything goes well maybe even an eventual replacement for brockers.

    and then williams has been talked about a lot already. but again. ridiculous workout numbers. 25 years old so not much room for development physically. but at 280 pounds running a 4.67 40, 4.14 short shuttle, and a 6.77 3-cone. ridiculous. he’s already a physical specimen.

    i’ve seen reports of his arms being anywhere from 33.5″ to 34.5″ inches long. 33.5″ is plenty long enough. 35″ vert, 9’7″ broad, and 30 reps on the bench press.

    this kind of athleticism. the rams. unless there’s no chance of them contributing. i figure you have to try and find a way for them to make the roster.

    May 2, 2020 at 8:45 pm #114536
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator

    but again. this is why i’m especially excited to see the defense. maybe nothing comes of it. maybe williams, hoecht, and rozeboom are cut. and lewis never realizes his potential as an edge defender. but it’ll be exciting to find out.

    May 15, 2020 at 1:33 am #114936
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator
    InvaderRam wrote:

    rozeboom seems to have everything you would want except he doesn’t have the fbs pedigree. of course he’s a udfa, so he’s got a tough hill to climb. but i think he. and a couple others have a legitimate chance at making the roster.

    …

    mikeguman

    I watched him play at SDSU. He is a sideline to sideline do it all inside linebacker. He is a sure tackler who can cover man to man. He is a bit slight but so is Littleton. The kid can play and I think he may have been a captain as well?

    He comes from an area of NW Iowa that is know for producing great athletes. Look at his HS RB highlights. Check out his hands. The kid is a great athlete. He isn’t that big but he is a sure tackler. Watch his technique … very solid 21st century tackling. I will be surprised if he does not make the team.

    Take a look at his bio. Rozeboom is an all-around great athlete with incredible production at one of the best schools in his division.

    https://gojacks.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=8589.

    ..

    May 15, 2020 at 7:27 pm #114957
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator
    zn wrote:

    mikeguman

    I watched him play at SDSU. He is a sideline to sideline do it all inside linebacker. He is a sure tackler who can cover man to man. He is a bit slight but so is Littleton. The kid can play and I think he may have been a captain as well?

    He comes from an area of NW Iowa that is know for producing great athletes. Look at his HS RB highlights. Check out his hands. The kid is a great athlete. He isn’t that big but he is a sure tackler. Watch his technique … very solid 21st century tackling. I will be surprised if he does not make the team.

    Take a look at his bio. Rozeboom is an all-around great athlete with incredible production at one of the best schools in his division.

    yeah. he reminds me of littleton. not only a sure tackler. but he made a ton of splash plays. sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries you name it. i can even see him be a standout on special teams.

    May 15, 2020 at 11:59 pm #114968
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    oldnotdead

    The guy to watch is Jonah Williams this kid is legit. He’s my dark horse to make this team. I was pointed to this guy by a friend who sent me a scouting report from one of the major services. But he sent a link to Jonah’s Pro Day. The report had a second-day draft grade on him. After watching his Pro Day I was really impressed. Watching his game vids only confirmed that this kid is a baller. The comment from my friend was that he thought Okoronkwo was gone if Williams impresses.

    Williams has good length and excellent speed for the position as an edge player. His game vids show he can shed blocks and can set a hard edge. He’s bigger, faster, stronger, and more polished than Okoronkwo. Williams can play DE, or OLB because he’s fast enough to play in coverage which makes him a perfect scheme fit to play behind Ebukam. Williams has the athleticism to cover but he lacks the coaching to polish those skills.

    An interesting part of the report said he had positional tryouts as a TE and showed good speed and excellent hands.

    View:

    This kid in a normal draft probably would have gone on the second day IMO. He’s a steal as a UDFA.

    Ebukam is a UFA next year and is likely to draw a lot of interest. If they groom Williams to play behind Ebukam this year they will have some insurance. If they resign Ebukam next year then IMO yes he’s a threat to Okoronkwo. It’s going to come down to a numbers game and in my opinion, Williams offers them a far better and more versatile player than Okoronkwo.

    Watch his ProDay those are some impressive numbers. He checks almost all the boxes to play DE/OLB in this scheme.

    May 24, 2020 at 11:49 pm #115305
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator
    InvaderRam wrote:

    Rozeboom had a prolific career with the Jackrabbits and was one of the best defensive players in the FCS for several years.

    mikeguman: I watched him play at SDSU. He is a sideline to sideline do it all inside linebacker.

    ==

    from https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/25/kansas-city-chiefs-2020-nfl-7-undrafted-free-options/

    South Dakota State LB Christian Rozeboom

    Rozeboom is an intriguing linebacker prospect. He’s listed at 6-2 and 228 pounds. He led the Jackrabbits in tackles for four consecutive seasons. Apart from his production, he was a team leader and captain at South Dakota State. He ha really good instincts in zone coverage.

    ==

    from https://ramblinfan.com/2020/05/04/case-undrafted-free-agent-lb-christian-rozeboom/

    Rozeboom is another impressive linebacker who did not hear his name called during the 2020 NFL Draft. But that’s not uncommon for South Dakota State University football players. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 230-pounds, he was a one-man wrecking ball on defense. In four seasons, he racked up 475 tackles, 29 tackles for losses, and best of all, eight interceptions. The LA Rams need interior linebackers who can defend both the run and pass, and Rozeboom certainly can prove he has the background to do both. His highlight video shows flashes of incredible speed and great tackling.

    May 25, 2020 at 12:36 am #115307
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator

    rozeboom, williams, and hoecht all have a chance at making the team and possibly even being starters somewhere down the road.

    this could be a heckuva rookie class for the rams. next couple of years should be interesting.

    June 27, 2020 at 7:49 am #117180
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Christian Rozeboom, LB, South Dakota State

    link https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2019/05/christian-rozeboom/

    Name: Christian Rozeboom
    Height: 6’2.5″
    Weight: 230
    Position: LB
    College: South Dakota State University
    Twitter: @C_JJ_Rozeboom

    Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?

    • I love the support from the community, and how everyone knows everyone. It is a very tightly knit community who has supported me from day one. It is important to me to make them proud in all I do as well.

    List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?

    • Practice, Film Study, Strength and ConditioningWhile all three are very important to success on the field, at the end of the day what you do on the field is all the matters. Practice is where the success starts, and film study aids in that success at practice and then games on Saturday. Strength and Conditioning are obviously very important to physical success, but football is much more of a mental game than people think. This mental aspect starts with practice and film study.

    What do you worry about, and why?

    • Failure, in anything I do.

    Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?

    • My Sophomore year, after losing in the semifinals, I knew that it would be a tough road ahead the next season after losing so many guys to graduation. As a team, we addressed this, and worked even harder in the offseason, and got right back to the semis the next year. We didn’t win this again, so we are in the same spot this year. We will work even harder this year to get even further next year.

    What do your teammates say is your best quality?

    • Leadership

    Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

    • I didn’t play directly against him, but Dylan Cole from Missouri State was the best defender I think I’ve played against. He was everywhere on every play. I really enjoyed watching him play.

    What would your career be if you couldn’t play football?

    • Veterinarian

    Room, desk, and car – which do you clean first?

    • Desk

    If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?

    • While I feel like this is a lose-lose situation, I would save a family member, I can’t imagine losing anyone from my family.

    If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?

    • Iron Man, always been a fan of him. He flies around the world and ends up saving the world, things everyone wants to do.

    Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?

    • Coming out of high school I was not heavily recruited. I obviously ended up at SDSU, which was my only Division 1 offer. I don’t think I had a chip on my shoulder per se, but I definitely wanted to make the most of the opportunity that the coaches at SDSU gave me. Overall I think that this was my biggest adversity but also my biggest blessing. I truly believe SDSU has made me the best player and man than any other “big” school could have.

    What is your most embarrassing moment?

    • When I was in middle school, I was a high school basketball manager. One of our jobs was to being the rack of basketball out at a half time for the team to warm up with. At the end of halftime, we got the rack and brought them back to the locker room, but on the way, my friend jumped on the back of the rack and tipped it over. About 25 basketballs went bouncing all over the court right before the game was about to resume, so we had to run all over the court grabbing them while the whole crowd watched us.

    What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

    • I would say the most memorable play that I was apart of was a pick 6 against Western Illinois my freshman year at home. It was my second game at my home stadium so it was really cool. The most memorable play overall would probably be one I wasn’t even apart of, against NDSU. There were about 5 seconds left in the game and it was 4th down from the three-yard line. Jake Wieneke caught a touchdown to win the game last second in Fargo to win the Dakota Marker. It was a really cool moment for our team.

    What song best describes your work ethic?

    • Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw. Everything I do is for my savior Jesus Christ and also for my family. I always work hard, but try to stay humble in everything I do.

    What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level?

    • Instinct and knowledge, playing for four years I’ve had a lot of reps and feel as though I have great awareness and instinct on the field, and football knowledge to help me succeed not only in college but also at the next level.

    If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?

    • Jesus, I think the world needs Him (for much longer than a day).

    If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it?

    • The Nine

    Who is the most underrated player in the NFL?

    • Kyle Van Noy. Overall I don’t think defense gets enough attention besides the big name players of course. He is a disruptive player that leads to a lot of success for the Patriots.

    Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

    • Respected, respect goes a lot further than being liked does. Respect means a whole lot more.

    What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?

    • Honestly, this is a hard question to answer. The media always is quick to point out faults potentially without the full story. There have been so many players that have so much God given talent that was not used due to off the field issues, but I do not know any of their personal stories or situation.

    Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

    • Love to win. While the pain of loss seems to be more painful than the joy of victory. I play and do everything in life to win.

    Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?

    • My family is the biggest influence on my life. They have given me everything I needed in this world to succeed. I, in turn, want to succeed to make them proud in everything I do. They have worked so hard and set such good examples as role models for me in my life. I definitely would not be the person I am today without them.

    June 27, 2020 at 10:35 am #117197
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator
    zn wrote:

    2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Christian Rozeboom, LB, South Dakota State

    ==

    mikeguman

    I saw Christian Rozeboom play at SDSU. I asked my buddy next to me “who is #2”? Rozeboom is an athlete first and foremost. He is fast in pads, swivel hips while dropping in coverage, slippery at the point of attack. But his open field tackling is what will secure him a spot on the roster. His tackling technique fits today’s NFL and he does remind me of Littleton. They have similar body types and they hold up well at the point of attack despite being a bit slender.

    And he can deliver a big shot when the opportunity arises …

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