Rams add player to practice squad

Rams have added DE Lynden Trail to their practice squad. Trail, a UDFA, originally signed with HOU in ’15 before going to WAS.

— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) September 28, 2016

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Rams Signing DE Lynden Trail To Their Practice Squad

link: http://nfltraderumors.co/rams-signing-de-lynden-trail-practice-squad/

According to Myles Simmons, the Rams have signed DE Lynden Trail to their practice squad.

Trail, 25, originally signed on with the Texans as an undrafted free agent out of Norfolk State back in May of last year. He wound up being waived coming out of the preseason with an injury designation and was later cut with an injury settlement.

The Redskins signed him to their practice squad midseason and later brought him back on a future/reserve contract. After once again being a final roster cut, the Redskins signed him to their practice squad.

Trail has yet to appear in an NFL game.

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from 2015

LYNDEN TRAIL
6’7″
269 LBS.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/lynden-trail?id=2552298
ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS Long, athletic frame. Used as 3-4 OLB, but also spent time with hand in the dirt. Bender with ability to get low on short yardage and near goal line when on line of scrimmage. Drops smoothly into space when asked to zone up and has range to cover. Initial quickness off snap. Improved hand usage and overall technique as pass rusher during season. Accelerates to chase down runner in back-side pursuit. Just now grasping advantages of his length. Has bend and foot drive to control line of scrimmage vs. run with more coaching. Uses length well with 18 deflections over last three years. Has length and versatility to become imposing player with more experience, coaching and toughness. Was given reps as a tight end during the Thursday practice session at the Senior Bowl, and looked relatively comfortable as a pass catcher in the red zone.

WEAKNESSES Still very raw. Former high school receiver — can be too passive at times on the field. Doesn’t play to his size. Stays wired to smaller, less-talented blockers for too long. Drag-down tackler with few punishing hits on tape. Will take wide angles to quarterback as a rusher. Relies on chopping right hand to defeat punch and must diversify pass-rushing portfolio. Tape fails to show a relentless play demeanor and majority of production comes from size and athleticism. Unskilled and inconsistent with hands and can get “beat up” by tackles because of it. Slow to diagnose and respond. Gets lost at times on field.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 6 or 7

NFL COMPARISON Devin Taylor

BOTTOM LINE Teams will be forced to draft Trail on projection rather than tape. While his production looks good on paper, Trail never stands out as a dominant force. He failed to flash at the Senior Bowl as a defensive player but took some reps near the goal line as a tight end, which could be his best chance to make a team and stick in the league.