Rams tweets etc. … 7/26 – 7/30

InvaderRam wrote:

CB Jerry Jacobs is signing with the #Rams.

from the wiki

On May 1, 2021, Jacobs signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent.<sup id=”cite_ref-8″ class=”reference”>[8]</sup> He was named to the Lions’ 53-man roster and made his first career start in Week 5.<sup id=”cite_ref-9″ class=”reference”>[9]</sup><sup id=”cite_ref-10″ class=”reference”>[10]</sup> He started the next nine games before suffering a torn ACL in Week 14. He was placed on injured reserve on December 13, 2021.<sup id=”cite_ref-11″ class=”reference”>[11]</sup>

Jacobs was placed on the reserve/PUP list to start the 2022 season.<sup id=”cite_ref-12″ class=”reference”>[12]</sup> He was activated on October 22.<sup id=”cite_ref-13″ class=”reference”>[13]</sup>

Jacobs entered the 2023 season as a starting cornerback for the Lions. In Week 4, he recorded two interceptions on Packers quarterback Jordan Love in a 34-20 win. He finished the season with 55 tackles, eight passes defensed, and three interceptions through 15 games and 12 starts.

from 1  2021 draft report

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jerry-jacobs/32004a41-4374-1021-efa8-4ea50654613b

HEIGHT

5’ 10’’

WEIGHT

208 lbs

By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst

Overview

Stout and muscular with a build that is better suited for safety than cornerback. Jacobs has played press man and zone but lacks the top-end speed and agility to handle man duties as a pro. He has decent eyes from zone and gets downhill quickly to strike and finish before things can get started. While there will be a temptation to try him at safety, his inconsistencies as an open-field tackler could complicate matters.

Strengths

Big body for a cornerback.
Busts it downhill to land a punishing shot from zone.
Able to crowd and intimidate at the catch point.
Displayed decent make-up burst against Georgia in 2019.
Aggressive getting after run support duties.

Weaknesses

Very average in attempts to phase the route.
Gets locked up in slide mode against release.
Clunky footwork in transitions.
Top-heavy and unable to maintain coverage positioning through turns.
Lack of length is an issue downfield.
Misses too many tackles in the open field.
Needs to keep eyes up as a tackler in run game.

 

from https://www.lafbnetwork.com/rams-training-camp-nacua-confidence-drive/

Cooper Kupp was also asked about Nacua’s progress between years one and two;

“I think just his comfortability in this offense in general. He’s moving great. The speed at which he’s playing, just because he’s not thinking about it, so he knows the offense now at this point. Lastly, there’s so much going through your head. You’re trying to figure out what are your parameters on each play. But for him, just being able to play free, play fast.

In practice, one of the best things you can do is experiment. Try some new things. Be able to try different tools in the utility belt. And his ability to do that and be able to just put words to things and be able to talk through things with him. He’s been doing a great job.”

from Albert Breer: https://www.si.com/nfl/kyler-murray-cardinals-lockstep-under-jonathan-gannon-takeaways

I’d expect the Los Angeles Rams to lean even more into the physical edge they forged as a younger team in 2023. Sean McVay brought New England Patriots alums Nick Caley and Ryan Wendell on to his staff a year ago with the intention of diversifying his offense and his outlook. What he got was more hat-on-hat gap runs, and a tougher team. And that success led the Rams to double down on the approach in acquiring road-grading guards Kevin Dotson and Jonah Jackson, and drafting Michigan workhorse Blake Corum.

Even without pads on last week, you could see and feel that sort of energy with the team.

I’d be surprised, as the pads go on this week, if it’s not reflected in the way the team practices moving forward—and I do think, and this is my thought alone, that it’s becoming about who the Rams are up against, as well as what they want to be.

Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers, when they’ve been able to beat the Rams, have done it by playing that brand of football. San Francisco practices in that sort of old-school way. Shanahan’s invested in it by building more old-school run schemes into an offense that long relied so heavily on wide-zone runs. And by doing some of these things, McVay’s not just readying his offense for those wars, but also the defense, and the overall team for them.