wv wrote:

Agamemnon wrote:

The 1999 Rams might have been better, but these guys in 2021 look really good.

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Ag, done-gone crazy.

w
v

I did spend some time in the mid day sun.

https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2021/9/3/22656066/rams-practice-squad-roster-transactions-depth-chart

Rams add former Steelers DB to practice squad

Antoine Brooks will continue his career in LA
By Kenneth Arthur@KennethArthuRS Sep 3, 2021, 12:21pm CDT

The Los Angeles Rams announced two practice squad transactions on Friday, adding running back/special teamer Buddy Howell and safety Antoine Brooks. We can continue to expect the 17-person practice squad to churn players in and out all season, especially with new rules that allow teams to activate up to two players from the practice squad to the 46-man gameday roster during the year.

That means that either Howell, Brooks, or any other Rams practice squad player could always be one play away from suiting up on Sundays.

LA Rams Practice Squad Transactions:
• Practice Squad DB Antoine Brooks
• Practice Squad Veteran RB Buddy Howell

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 3, 2021

Brooks was a sixth round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020, appearing in four games during his rookie season — 29 snaps on defense, 10 snaps on special teams.

The 5’11, 220 lbs Brooks ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine and posted a 34.5” vertical. As a three-year starter at the University of Maryland (making him college teammates with Rams running back and seventh round pick Jake Funk), Brooks had 232 tackles, 27.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, nine passes defensed, and one forced fumble.

Brooks did not make the Steelers’ 53-man roster coming out of camp last year, but was signed to the practice squad and eventually elevated to the active roster. He was waived on August 24th with an injury designation, then placed on IR, but is now on LA’s practice squad.

Howell is considered to be an ace special teamer. He went undrafted out of Florida Atlantic in 2018 and signed with the Miami Dolphins. Howell has been with the Houston Texans for the last three years but hasn’t played much offense; he has just 21 career carriers for 74 yards. But he’s been a full-time special teams player over the last three seasons with the Texans.

That is a big DB. He is down to 205 and plays the slot. Howell is already counted in this thread. That fills the Practice Squad.

A-Gap Open. A-Gap Closed.

RG Jared Hocker 👀@Coach_Henson pic.twitter.com/0YLwiun5K5

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 23, 2020

💨💨💨 https://t.co/8NW51IEQDC

— Bryce Perkins (@TDN_Perk) September 2, 2021

The 1999 Rams might have been better, but these guys in 2021 look really good.

Jonah Williams earned the 5th-highest Pass Rush Grade among all DI and ED defenders this preseason (min. 50 snaps) 💪💪💪#Rams pic.twitter.com/w6UfFtCqdy

— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) August 30, 2021

Zooey wrote:

zn wrote:

I wonder why 6 safeties?

I’m guessing they kept the 10 best in the secondary. With the variety of packages they play, I don’t know how much difference it makes.

I’m a bit surprised by Okoronkwo over Lawler. Maybe Lawler goes to the PS. I don’t know if he’s eligible this year, or not. But this is Okoronkwo’s last year with the Rams, I would think.

Anyway…the good news out of camp as far as I’m concerned is that they appear to feel pretty good about their LBs.

To put Obo on the IR list and be able to activate him before the end of the year, he has to first be on the 53 man roster.

Rams known Practice Squad candidates:

OLB Justin Lawler

WR Jeremiah Haydel

S Troy Warner

OL Jeremiah Kolone

OL Jordan Meredith

CB Donovan Olumba

CB Brontae Harris

WR Landen Akers to PS

DL Eric Banks Roster to San Deigo

ILB Christian Rozeboom KC Practice Squad

TE Kendall Blanton

ILB Micah Kiser

OL Max Pircher^ Exempt from Europe

RB Otis Anderson

WR Trishton Jackson

WR J.J. Koski

CB Dont’e Deayon

DL Marquise Copeland

DL Earnest Brown IV

DE John Daka

CB Tyler Hall

DB Kareem Orr

LB Jake Gervase

^won’t count against 16-player limit for practice squad

LA Rams (@RamsNFL) signing client, WR Landen Akers (@akers_landen) to their practice squad. Excited to watch him continue to develop with such a class organization. @lvrgfootball

— Spencer Armstrong (@Spenc_Armstrong) September 1, 2021

IX – JuJu Hughes
The LA Rams continued the is-he-a-safety-or-is-he-a-cornerback theme after the draft as they signed Fresno State’s defensive back Juju Hughes. Hughes is a 5-foot-11 188-pound cornerback/safety hybrid who played four seasons as a Fresno State Bulldog. He began his NCAA football career as a cornerback for 12 games, then finished off as a safety for his final 40 games. Over his career, he recorded 247 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, one sack, seven interceptions, and 29 passes defended. Hughes contributed to Fresno State’s 22 wins over the 2017 and 2018 seasons and was a consistent contributor on defense.

XV – Bryce Perkins
The LA Rams definitely went off-script when the team chose to sign dual-threat Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins. At least, that is what you might initially think until you begin to connect some dots. Perkins was the 6-foot-3 215-pound starting quarterback for the University of Virginia at the same time that offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell was onboarding Washington Redskins dual-threat rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins. It was likely that experience and the plays created for Haskins with persuaded new Rams OC O’Connell to pitch for dual-threat rookie quarterback Bryce Perkins. After all, he demonstrated incredible innovation with Haskins in late-season games and likely wishes to repeat that success with the LA Rams

Perkins unlocks entirely new offensive play concepts for the LA Rams, particularly if the team struggles to block effectively in the running game. In just two NCAA seasons, he registered 6,210 yards passing, 47 touchdowns, and just 21 interceptions. But he is doubly dangerous when you factor in his ability to rush for 1,692 yards and an additional 20 touchdowns. He even caught a pass for nine yards. That type of dual-threat from the quarterback is the Achilles heel for defenses like that of the San Francisco 49ers, which depend on a fast rush to the fixed pocket passer quarterback. Since the defense relies upon a hurried throw, they are very susceptible to quarterback scrambles and a passer who can extend plays with their feet. Perkins must improve his deep throws over time, but he has plenty of intriguing potential in the Rams offense to raise some eyebrows.

XVII – J.J. Koski
The LA Rams added another wide receiver after the NFL Draft by signing backyard Cal-Poly senior wide receiver J.J. Koski. Koski is a 6-foot-1 195-pound local receiver who undoubtedly caught the eye of the Rams scouting department. In 44 games, he pulled in 121 passes for 2,311 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was also active as both a kick returner and a punt returner. So what is his connection to the LA Rams besides playing at a nearby college? His agent is also that of Rams’ wide receiver Cooper Kupp. So now you know.
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Per Draftcountdown.com, Koski was the 70th ranked wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft. It is noteworthy that his 40-yard time is listed as 4.54-seconds. In terms of pure talent, there will likely be other players on the Rams’ roster that come to mind. But Koski was part of the Cal-Poly triple-option offense, and he has one of the most developed route trees among all rookie wide receivers in the NFL. That triple offense afforded the quarterback two choices to place the football into the running back’s hands or pitch the ball to a wide back or wide receiver before dropping back for the pass. That meant Koski had to be tight and timely on his routes, which he was able to accomplish very well. Route running or speed seemed to be distinct qualities the Rams sought in new prospects this off-season.

XIX- Trishton Jackson
The next player up for the LA Rams is a complete surprise. Somehow, Syracuse wide receiver Trishton Jackson fell from his round 2-3 projection to the LA Rams as an undrafted rookie signing. The 6-foot-1 197-pound NCAA receiver’s career was much like a senior season versus all else, as he truly performed well. His 66 catches for 1,023 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior served to springboard him into the NFL scouting combine where he wowed NFL scouts with a solid display of speed, route-running, and soft hands.
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He likely projects as a slot-receiver but could develop into a true all position wide receiver given enough time and coaching. He has a solid draft profile review by Lance Zierlein at NFL.com While his 40-time came in at 4.5-seconds, that was faster than expected by many scouts. It also is slightly better than Rams Josh Reynolds’s time.

These are all udfas from last year.