Westbrooks flourishes as injuries hit Rams’ defensive line

Ethan Westbrooks flourishes as injuries hit Rams’ defensive line

Jack Wang

http://www.dailybulletin.com/sports/20161013/ethan-westbrooks-flourishes-as-injuries-hit-rams-defensive-line

THOUSAND OAKS >> The Rams’ defensive line is bumped and bruised, but hardly broken.

A unit that opened the season as one the league’s best is without three starters: defensive end William Hayes has been sidelined for more than two weeks with a bum ankle; defensive end Robert Quinn and defensive tackle Michael Brockers both sat out last Sunday’s loss to the Bills with shoulder and hip injuries, respectively. None of them have practiced so far this week, though head coach Jeff Fisher has not ruled them out for their upcoming trip to Detroit.

And yet, this is not a position group on the verge of collapse. Much of that steadiness is due to the presence of Aaron Donald, the all-world defensive tackle who might be the best player in the NFL on either side of the ball. But the unit also possesses uncommon depth.

Through the last three weeks, the most important member of that less-heralded group might be Ethan Westbrooks, a former undrafted free agent who is now in his third season.

In the Rams’ past three games, the only defensive lineman who has played more than the West Texas A&M product is Donald, who has been on the field for nearly 83 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. Westbrooks — who has started two straight games in place of Hayes — is sitting at just below 72 percent, playing on 159 out of 222 defensive snaps.

He’s taken advantage of the opportunities. In a 37-32 win over the Buccaneers in Week 3, Westbrooks scooped up a fumble forced by Quinn and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown. During last Sunday’s loss to the Bills, he recorded two quarterback hurries and a sack, and even tipped away one of Tyrod Taylor’s pass attempts.

But asked if his recent uptick in playing time has represented a significant step in his career, Westbrooks shook his head slightly.

“Everybody keeps saying that to me,” he said. “Honestly, what do you play the game for? Some play for fun, play for money — but you definitely play to reach a peak in your career. I wouldn’t say that was a peak. I think it showed what I could be. …

“My peak would be if I beat somebody out for a starting position.”

That seems unlikely to happen once the Rams return to full health. Quinn is a two-time Pro Bowler, while Hayes is a ninth-year NFL veteran and, at 31, the team’s oldest player.

But Westbrooks also understands the itinerant nature of the business. During training camp, HBO’s “Hard Knocks” portrayed the former Division II Defensive Player of the Year as being on the roster bubble — highlighting a scene in which defensive line coach Mike Waufle throws a crumpled wad of paper in front of him. If he’s ever forced to move on, Westbrooks wants to make sure he’s done enough to turn heads elsewhere.

For now, he’s simply eager to play his role.

“I have a job to do,” he said. “I want to do it to the best of my ability. If I start, I want to make the best out of starting. If I’m a backup, I want to make all the plays that the starter makes.