PFF & others on some position battles

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  • August 31, 2017 at 2:44 pm #73528
    Avatar photoAgamemnon
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    https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-preseason-week-4-preview-rams-at-packers/

    Preseason Week 4 Preview: Rams at Packers
    By PFF Analysis Team • Aug 31, 2017

    The final week of the preseason continues with the Los Angeles Rams at the Green Bay Packers. This is the last chance for many players to make their case to be on the opening season roster, whether it be as a role player, as part of a position rotation, or as a special teams player. Our team of PFF analysts have all the most important position battles and players to watch for each team:

    Coverage by: Mike Cahill
    Position Battle: Isaiah A. Johnson/Blake Countess, FS

    Johnson and Countess are currently battling for a backup role to teammate Lamarcus Joyner. As Joyner is playing his first NFL season at free safety and missing some time in the preseason, the role could lead to more opportunities. Currently, through three preseason games, both Johnson and Christian are deadlocked as the ninth-overall graded safety with 83.3 a piece, respectively.
    Currently, Countess averages ten tackle attempts in between missed tackles with one missed tackle overall in the passing game, whereas, Johnson averages 4.5 tackle attempts in between missed tackles with two missed tackles (one run game, one pass game).

    Players to Watch:

    Darrell Williams, LT – Backup left tackle Darrell Williams earned an overall game grade of 76.1 against the Chargers, which ranked 16th among tackles for Week 3 of the preseason. He has seen the fourth-most pass-blocking snaps and has allowed only two pressures this preseason for a pass-blocking efficiency of 98.3 (fifth out of 67 tackles). Williams’ pass-blocking grade through three preseason games is at 80.9, which ranks third among all tackles while having 20 and 56 more pass blocking snaps than the two players ahead of him.

    Cassanova McKinzy, ED- After playing only one snap in preseason in 2016, outside linebacker Cassanova McKinzy has been the most versatile edge defender for the Rams this preseason. His 79.8 game grade ranked 41st among all edge defenders. Through the first three preseason games, McKinzy leads or is tied for the team lead among outside linebackers in defensive stops (four), quarterback hurries (two), targets in coverage (four), and yards per coverage snap allowed with 0.68.

    Casey Sayles, DI- Undrafted free agent Casey Sayles was the 20th overall interior defender in Week 3 of the preseason with an 82.4. His presence was felt when he blew up two run plays on the same drive to generate two stops across. His two stops across 11 run plays resulted in a stop percentage of 18.2, which was tied for 15th among 115 interior defenders. Sayles is currently the Rams’ highest graded interior defender in the preseason with an 80.4

    Agamemnon

    August 31, 2017 at 4:51 pm #73540
    Avatar photozn
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    Five Players to Watch: Preseason at Packers

    Myles Simmons

    http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Five-Players-to-Watch-Preseason-at-Packers/1efab9cb-4258-4746-bf59-dea928726a5c

    The Rams preseason will come to a close Thursday night with their matchup against the Packers. Here are five players to watch in the contest.

    1) RB Justin Davis – No. 42

    Davis has been quite productive in the preseason so far and figures to take a number of carries on Thursday. So far, he’s taken 19 carries for 92 yards — an average of 4.8 yards per attempt. The USC product will likely get a good final chance to make an impression against Green Bay’s defense.

    2) DL Morgan Fox – No. 97

    Last year’s fourth preseason game was Morgan Fox’s coming out party, as he wreaked havoc in the Vikings’ backfield during the first half. He’ll likely have a chance to do the same in this contest after having a strong training camp.

    3) WR Paul McRoberts – No. 19

    McRoberts has made four receptions for 55 yards in the first three preseason games, and figures to get good time in this contest. The Southeast Missouri State product spent much of last year on Los Angeles’ practice squad and has shown improvement throughout training camp.

    4) OLB Samson Ebukam – No. 50

    Ebukam suffered a quad injury early in camp but appears primed to make his preseason debut against the Packers this week. The Rams selected the outside linebacker out of Eastern Washington in the fourth round of this year’s draft, and Ebukam has a chance to become a rotational player in Los Angeles’ defense as a rookie.

    5) DL Tanzel Smart – No. 92

    Smart has been a disruptive backfield presence in practice and in the previous three preseason games. He’s recorded a pair of quarterback hits, a pass defense, and a fumble recovery in the club’s three games. The sixth-round pick out of Tulane should receive significant playing time against Green Bay.

    August 31, 2017 at 5:12 pm #73541
    Avatar photozn
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    Justin Davis appears to be closing in on roster spot with Rams

    By RICH HAMMOND

    link: http://www.ocregister.com/2017/08/30/former-usc-back-justin-davis-appears-to-be-closing-in-on-roster-spot-with-rams/

    GREEN BAY, Wisc. — Justin Davis fumbled twice in the Rams’ first preseason game, and as an undrafted free agent, he didn’t need anyone to spell out the potential ramifications.

    “You learn quick, once you get to the NFL, how much of a business it is,” Davis said. “Because you’ll see three guys gone. ‘What happened to him?’ ‘Oh, he’s cut.’ Then there’s three new faces. It’s been like this a whole lot during this camp. That just makes you know that you’ve got to be on your toes and you’ve got to make sure you’re doing the right things to stay on the team.”

    For better or worse, the anxiety is almost over. The Rams conclude their preseason schedule Thursday night at Green Bay, and by Saturday, their roster must be cut to 53 players, from its current level of 88.

    Unlike in previous preseasons, there was no “first cut” of players, so on Friday and Saturday, a huge number of players who have been sweating and fighting since the start of training camp on July 31 will lose their jobs. As many as 10 could be kept on the practice squad, which is a consolation.

    Davis, at this point, probably would see that as a loss. The former USC standout came into camp as an undrafted free agent, a longshot, but injuries to Lance Dunbar and Aaron Green set up the possibility of Davis being the Rams’ third running back, behind Todd Gurley and Malcolm Brown.

    In three preseason games, Davis has 19 carries for 92 yards and eight receptions for 63 yards.

    “Whatever the coach asks you to do, you try to go out there and do it with flying colors,” Davis said. “That’s the thing. You just want to be able to get the coach’s trust enough where they can put you in the game without a blink, so I’m just coming in day-in, day-out, just making sure I’m on top of my stuff so they can’t, won’t second guess putting me in.”

    That has only happened once, during the Rams’ Aug. 10 game against Dallas, when Davis gained 70 yards on nine carries but also fumbled twice. Davis’ saving grace might have been that the fumbling was contagious. The Rams put six balls on the ground that night, and Brown also had two fumbles.

    Still, an undrafted rookie sometimes wouldn’t get a second chance. The Rams might need Davis, though.

    The Rams signed Dunbar in March, with the thought that the 5-foot-8 back would fill the role of a speedy back also adept at catching passes. Knee problems have prevented Dunbar even from practicing, though, and it’s unknown when (or if) Dunbar will debut with the Rams.

    Then, shortly before the preseason opener, Green, a practice-squad player from the Rams last season, hurt his hand

    “I think it has offered a chance for Justin Davis to step up and show what he can do as a change-of-pace back,” Coach Sean McVay said. “Even some of the things, (pass) protection-wise, that might go unnoticed, he’s showing some toughness and willingness to stick his face on people and be tough as far as a protector.

    “When you see him put his foot on the ground (and cut), you notice a different change in that acceleration, and in terms of that change-of-pace back, I think he’s done a nice job of competing for that role.”

    Every position has had roster-spot battles during the preseason, but none is more straightforward for the Rams than at running back.

    If the assumption is that the Rams will keep three running backs, as they did last year, it’s likely down to Davis vs. Green. Green has the experience of having practiced with the Rams all of last year, but Davis’ skill set seems closer to what the Rams need in 2017.

    It’s tempting, given his preseason success, to anoint Davis with a roster spot now, but funny things have been known to happen during and after the final game, so Davis isn’t celebrating.

    “I’m never going to be satisfied,” Davis said. “I’m going to try to make it my responsibility (to earn a spot), so it’s not a hard decision. I’m going to just do everything they tell me to do, day-in, day-out, and then it’s up to them.”

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