Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › Wagoner mailbag, 6/4-5…parts 1 & 2
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June 4, 2016 at 10:42 am #45323
znModeratorRams have high hopes for undrafted rookie class
Nick Wagoner
OXNARD, Calif. — The NFL draft is over. Free agency is over. We are now in the clear, with nothing really big planned until, you know, football actually begins. For the Los Angeles Rams, it’s a chance to come up for air after one of the most eventful offseasons in league history.
Still, the team faces plenty of questions as it trudges toward the summer and waits for training camp to start. That’s what we’re here for in the weekly Twitter mailbag. As always, you can find me on Twitter @nwagoner or shoot me questions at any time using #Ramsmail.
Let’s get to your questions:
@nwagoner I love the undrafted FAs we got this yr! Wish we could keep many. Realistically who do you see making team? I know its early.
@nwagoner: Funny you should ask; I actually spent a little bit of my time here this week talking to Rams personnel types about sleepers I need to keep an eye on when we get to training camp. As you say, it’s early and coming up with evaluations at this point would be foolish (and probably wrong). But there were a few names that came up multiple times when I asked around about undrafted rookies with a shot to make the roster. Before naming names, let’s be clear that these are some of the names the Rams liked as they signed this crop of players after the draft, not necessarily based on what they’ve seen in a small sample size.
First and foremost, the Rams seem to really like their group of undrafted wide receivers, which makes sense considering there could be an opportunity there to make the roster with a strong preseason. Four players — Nelson Spruce, Marquez North, Paul McRoberts and Duke Williams — were the names that popped up repeatedly. That’s pretty much all of the undrafted rookie wideouts and clearly there isn’t room for all of them. We’ll see if any of them can do enough to land a roster spot with the important caveat that special teams will also play a part in that.
Elsewhere, some of the guys that I heard the most to keep an eye on included safety Brian Randolph and defensive backs Jabriel Washington (who Rams linebacker Mark Barron vouched for from a brief overlap at Alabama) and Mike Jordan. The Rams also expect one of their young linebackers to push for a spot, but they aren’t sure which one it will be. It could be Cory Littleton, though he is not with the team right now as Washington finishes up the academic year.
LA Rams Fan Zone @LARamsFanZone
Q: Starting WRs game 1: Austin, Quick & rookies?@nwagoner: Let’s follow one question that heavily involves receivers with another. Again, let’s be clear that it’s early and a lot could change between now and then, but I think the standard operating guess at this point would pencil Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt in as the two primary wideouts on opening night. Coach Jeff Fisher has had some recent praise for Brian Quick, but he’s going to have to string good practices together and will get plenty of competition during camp. Assuming it’s Austin and Britt on the outside, it’s possible rookie Pharoh Cooper could work his way into the mix as the slot receiver. But I also want to make sure that Bradley Marquez isn’t a forgotten man. Marquez made a strong early impression last year by continuously making plays during OTAs, and though it was only one day, he did the same thing Wednesday of last week. That plus his ability to get the job done on special teams makes him a valuable young piece. Not saying Marquez wins the job, but he’s a guy who will have his say on the situation before these matters are settled.
June 5, 2016 at 2:19 pm #45415znModeratorRams will lean on youth for depth at defensive tackle
Nick Wagoner
OXNARD, Calif. — The NFL draft is over, free agency is over and we are now in the clear, with nothing really big planned until, you know, football actually begins. For the Los Angeles Rams, it’s a chance to come up for air after one of the most eventful offseasons in league history.
Still, there are plenty of questions facing this team as we trudge toward the summer and wait for training camp to start. That’s what we’re here for in the weekly Twitter mailbag. As always, you can find me on Twitter @nwagoner or shoot me questions at any time using #Ramsmail.
Let’s get to your questions:
Brandon Bate @NoPlanB_
@nwagoner More defensive snaps in 2016: Ethan Westbrooks or Louis Trinca-Pasat?@nwagoner: The short answer from my end is Westbrooks, at least this early in the offseason. He has more experience and is looking to transition inside on a a more regular basis moving forward. But I actually want to use this question as an opportunity to discuss an underlying issue for the Rams’ defense: depth on the defensive line, particularly at tackle. They said goodbye to Nick Fairley in the offseason after using him as the primary backup to Michael Brockers and Aaron Donald a year ago. Clearly, Donald and Brockers remain the stalwarts at the position, but the Rams will have to lean heavily on some young, inexperienced options to provide the depth. The in-house options are Westbrooks, Trinca-Pasat, Doug Worthington and recently-added Dominique Easley. Westbrooks looks like the best bet to stick and land in the rotation, but the Rams took a flier on Easley in hopes that he can follow in the footsteps of Fairley. In other words, he’s a former first-round pick who has something to prove and the Rams will give him the opportunity to do that in a reserve role if he can stay healthy and land on the roster. Trinca-Pasat is still an intriguing, high motor young player who will compete for a spot and Worthington spent some time on the roster last year. It’s really an interesting group because most of the names deeper on the depth chart than the starters have been on a 53-man roster but haven’t necessarily played a lot of snaps. The good news is, not much will be asked of the backups barring injury, but the Rams would love to have another youngster or two develop and contribute so they can go with their preferred rotation and not feel obligated to force the starters to play more snaps than necessary.
Steven Arrowsmith @arrowsms
@nwagoner If a team approached the Rams about Keenum instead of Foles would the Rams still consider making that move?
@nwagoner: Barring some sort of crazy offer that the Rams couldn’t pass up, I just don’t see that happening. We’ve gone too far down the road here with Nick Foles to expect him to return and Keenum is still serving as the starting quarterback at the moment. Obviously, the Rams want Jared Goff to be the starter and I still think he’ll win that job in time for the start of the regular season, but having Keenum around as insurance still makes more sense than potentially moving him for a mid-round or later pick. The plan for now seems to be to hang on to Foles (unless or until they get a trade offer) in order to protect themselves from possible injury. In the meantime, if injuries strike elsewhere, perhaps a market could form for him and they can get a late pick for him. Barring that, the Rams could release him but it probably won’t happen right away. At the end of this, it’s still quite likely that the Rams quarterbacks will be Goff, Keenum and Sean Mannion. It seems at this point only injuries could change that. -
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