They are OK. They have enough left. I think when Brockers became available for a good price, they made a way to fit him in. imo

https://www.therams.com/news/espn-analyst-matt-bowen-on-rookies-fits

Monday, May 11, 2020 08:16 PM

ESPN analyst Matt Bowen on how the Rams’ newest rookies fit into their offense and defense
Screen Shot 2019-08-06 at 6.27.06 PM
Stu Jackson
Staff Writer

Last month, the Los Angeles Rams added new pieces to their offense and defense by drafting running back Cam Akers, wide receiver Van Jefferson, tight end Brycen Hopkins, offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum, outside linebacker Terrell Lewis, safety Terrell Burgess, safety Jordan Fuller and linebacker Clay Johnston.

For more on how their skillsets fit what Los Angeles like to do on both sides of the ball, theRams.com spoke with ESPN’s Matt Bowen, who writes about the NFL for ESPN.com and is an analyst on the network’s NFL Matchup show. Bowen is also a former NFL defensive back who played seven seasons in the league with the Rams (2000-01), Green Bay Packers (2001-02), Washington Redskins (2003-05) and Buffalo Bills (2006).

Cam Akers

Bowen said he has already written about Akers a couple of times for ESPN.com, recently including him on his list of 10 rookies who landed with perfect teams in terms of scheme fit (ESPN+ subscription required to read).

“I was very impressed with Cam Akers,” Bowen said in a phone interview with theRams.com last week. “I love the fit here. I called him a professional runner because that’s what I believe he is. When you watch his film at FSU, he has the traits of a pro running back. It’s the contact balance, the size, the power, he’s got enough wiggle and shake to make defenders miss at the second level.”

According to Bowen, Akers also showed he could be an asset as a receiver out of the backfield – for example, on screen passes – due to his vision in the open field. Akers also has a “natural feel” for finding the endzone from inside an opponent’s five-yard line.

From a scheme standpoint, Akers will see some similarities between Florida State and the Rams. According to Bowen, Florida State used both power and zone running schemes. While Rams head coach Sean McVay’s offense is more zone-based, Bowen said Akers will still be a fit for that.

“Running an outside zone scheme where he can press the ball on the edge, look for a cutback lane or head straight up inside,” Bowen said. “So it’s a really good pick and with Todd Gurley moving on, allows them to have great competition there with (Malcolm) Brown and Darrell Henderson from last year’s draft.”

Van Jefferson

Widely regarded as one of the best route-runners in his draft class, Jefferson’s ability to create separation from defensive backs and get open is one of the traits which immediately made him stand out to Bowen.

“We talk about all these traits – athleticism and movement skills, that stuff all matters,” Bowen said. “But the number one thing in the National Football League is, can you get open? Can you beat man coverage? Do have a feel for zone coverage? Do you have strong hands at the point of attack to catch balls outside of your frame? That’s what Van Jefferson gives you. So much detail to his game.”

Jefferson’s game isn’t that of a receiver who will stretch the field vertically with his speed, according to Bowen, but rather one who excels at getting open on short to intermediate routes.

“Now let’s put that in Coach McVay’s offense,” Bowen said. “What do we see? A lot of play-action, middle-of-the-field throws, running those skinny posts, those deep square-in routes, running the isolation routes versus off-man coverage. I think he’s an excellent fit.”

Brycen Hopkins

Although the Rams already had Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett and Johnny Mundt in their 2020 tight end room, Hopkins was so highly-rated that they couldn’t afford to pass on him at pick No. 136 in the fourth round. Bowen said Hopkins’ skillset is most similar to Everett as a move tight end who can stretch the middle of the field vertically.

“Really, you’re drafting him to improve your passing game, create matchups in the passing game,” Bowen said. “You can get him open on boot(legs), you can get him open on crossers. Especially in the Rams offense, you can get him open stretching the seams on those high-percentage throws from (quarterback) Jared Goff where he can catch it and run with the football afterwards.”

Bowen said Hopkins will need to work on his drops – Hopkins also previously said this himself during the Rams’ Day 3 post-draft show – and while he won’t be a tight end blocking at the point of attack in the run game like Higbee, the hope is that he can see the backside of a zone run.

Most importantly, though, Hopkins will at least provide depth to a key position.

“You need depth to positions to get through a 16-game season,” Bowen said. “You need multiple tight ends on your roster.”

Tremayne Anchrum

The No. 250 pick and seventh-round selection primarily played offensive tackle at Clemson but spent time learning both guard spots during the Tigers’ bowl practices.

“You’re looking at a guy who played at a championship program, that’s the first thing you see,” Bowen said.

Bowen said Anchrum projects as a guard – an evaluation also shared by Rams Director of College Scouting Brad Holmes, who sees him fitting at center as well – who will fit into the offensive line as a run-blocker and provide depth to the offensive line.

“I think he needs to develop a little bit more, in terms of his hand placement and his ability to mirror pass-rushers,” Bowen said. “But the foundation is there for someone that can work with pro coaching and start developing and see a career, and wait for that opportunity, to where he becomes a guy that’s active on gameday and can provide depth to the offensive line.”

Terrell Lewis

What first stands out to Bowen about Lewis is that he came from a championship program at Alabama coached by Nick Saban and played in a pro-style defensive scheme. Despite his injury history in college, his traits as a pass rusher make him an intriguing player.

“Did have some injuries in college, but in terms of the athletic traits, he’s got everything you want,” Bowen told theRams.com in a phone interview last week. “He’s 6-5, 262, he’s got the length, he’s got speed off the edge. I think he’s got great flexibility and bend off the edge.”

Even with the addition of outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, Bowen said he could still see Lewis finding his way onto the field during his rookie season as a situational pass rusher in sub packages. Bowen also said he sees traits in Lewis that are similar to former Rams outside linebacker Dante Fowler, who signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an unrestricted free agent last month.

“(Fowler) had a great first step, he had the twitch, the flexibility to bend off the edge,” Bowen said. “I think Lewis checks those boxes and he’s a good scheme fit as well. I think he’s a very solid draft pick, especially with the draft value where they got him in the third round.”

Terrell Burgess

Dubbed by his college head coach as a “football swiss-army knife,” the No. 104 pick provides Staley with a versatile defensive back to use in his defense. That skillset also mirrors what safeties are being asked to do in the NFL right now, based on how Bowen evaluates them.

“I always look at three things with a safety in today’s game: Can you play the post? Can you cover down in the slot? Can you play in the run front?” Bowen said. “He checks all three of those boxes.”

Having a player like Burgess who can play multiple positions in the secondary is valuable for defensive playcallers like Staley because it allows Staley to do different things, according to Bowen.

As an example, Bowen said a playcaller could employ a bigger nickel package – a sub package which swaps the weakside linebacker for a fifth defensive back – by using a third safety as the fifth defensive back instead of a smaller slot corner. Now, the playcaller has a run-defending safety like Burgess who can also cover the slot, something that gives said playcaller an advantage.

“Again, another very good value pick based on draft position, where they drafted him, and how he fits their scheme as that multi-dimensional defensive back,” Bowen said.

Jordan Fuller

The sixth-round pick and 199th overall selection from Ohio State plays faster than his combine results may have shown.

“I don’t have his testing numbers in front of me, but I know when I watched him on film, he gets to the ball fast,” Bowen said. “And if you’re a defensive backs coach, that’s what matters, right?”

Fuller’s 6-2, 203-pound frame also stood out to Bowen, as well as his football intelligence because of how he plays on the field. Bowen said Fuller is at his best when playing downhill with speed, and is physical enough to play in the run front because of his tackling ability.

That skillset should allow him to carve out a role on special teams.

“If he makes the team, he should be one of your top cover guys on special teams,” Bowen said. “If I’m the head special teams coach of the Rams, on the first day of camp, when we go into kickoff coverage and punt coverage, I want to see him getting down the field and making plays.”

Clay Johnston

Similar to Fuller, Johnston was another Day 3 selection by the Rams, going off the board at pick No. 234. A late-round draft pick himself, Bowen as a former sixth-round selection said Johnston projects as an inside linebacker who will have to make the team through special teams.

That said, it’s a good developmental path to allow him to build on the traits he already possess, according to Bowen.

“I think he’s very instinctive, I think he sees the field very well, I think he’s a good tackler, and I think he has upside at the position in terms of coverage traits the more experience he gets as a pro athlete,” Bowen said.

2020, let's do this.

The schedule is set! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/v5oyvFZ4Hj

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 7, 2020

NO Saints? I like playing against the whiners.

I think the Rams will draft WRs, Center, a RB, DBs, and an EDGE guy.

Football Gameplan’s 2020 NFL Draft Grades: Los Angeles Rams

Regarding CBA players vote on today.

Rosters would increase to 48 players from 46 on gameday, with overall rosters going to 55 from 53; practice squads would increase to 14 players in 2022, and 12 this year, up from 10.

Teams would be allowed to bring back 3 players from IR.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 21, 2020

2020 NFL draft grades: How experts view the Rams' haul

2020 NFL draft grades: How experts view the Rams’ haul

Cameron DaSilva
6 hours ago

The Los Angeles Rams pulled off a handful of surprises over the course of their two-day draft haul, including the decision to draft a running back with their first pick and making only one trade all weekend. They strengthened their offense with Cam Akers, Van Jefferson and Brycen Hopkins, though they shockingly waited until their very last pick to add an offensive lineman.

The defense was also bolstered with OLB Terrell Lewis and DB Terrell Burgess, while S Jordan Fuller will contribute on special teams and as a backup safety.

It came as no surprise that the Rams drafted a kicker in Round 7, even after signing two before the draft.

Overall, it’s hard to hate the team’s haul across Days 2 and 3, considering the talent Los Angeles got at key positions – even if they weren’t at the weakest spots on the roster.

We handed out our grades for each pick the Rams made, but here’s how the experts graded the team’s draft:

A: 2
B+: 1
B: 2
B-: 2
C: 2

Draft Wire: B

Another team not far removed from a playoff run, the Rams put together a solid start to their draft, despite not having a first-rounder. There were bigger needs to address, but taking Florida State running back Cam Akers late in the second round to replace Todd Gurley was a solid pick.

Touchdown Wire: C

Without a first-round pick this year, the Rams had to make the most of their picks. They got a couple of interesting developmental players who could succeed wildly in the NFL on a “what-if” basis. Second-round running back Cam Akers managed to be productive in a garbage-fire offense at Florida State, but some of Akers’ college issues (like a sub-par offensive line) will follow him to the NFL. And third-round edge-rusher Terrell Lewis from Alabama has all the traits you want in a high-performance disruptor — he only fell that far because of his lengthy injury history. Safety Terrell Burgess from Utah, another third-round pick, is the surest thing in the Rams’ 2020 class with his ability to cover in both the deep third and the slot. It’s a good haul if everything goes right.

USA TODAY: B

They haven’t picked in the first round since 2016, when QB Jared Goff was the No. 1 overall pick. But surrendering this year’s first-rounder brought CB Jalen Ramsey, and GM Les Snead appeared to pick up four players Friday – RB Cam Akers (Round 2), WR Van Jefferson (Round 2), OLB Terrell Lewis (Round 3) and S Terrell Burgess (Round 3) – who could contribute early to a squad little more than a year removed from the Super Bowl.

Sports Illustrated: A

On the back end don’t be at all surprised if Terrell Burgess plays significant snaps right away. The Rams are very thin at linebacker and, in recent years, have preferred to play a three-safety dime package, keeping just one LB on the field. With Taylor Rapp being a dynamic box player, John Johnson being better down near that area as well and no proven depth behind those two, the runway is clear for Burgess to slide in as the centerfielder on passing downs.

NFL.com: A

Day 1 grade: A-
Day 2 grade: A
Day 3 grade: A
Overall grade: A

Draft analysis: For the fourth straight draft, GM Les Snead didn’t have a first-round pick. But the savvy decision-maker was able to make the most out of the four Day 2 picks (two second-rounders, two third-rounders) he did have in his arsenal. He added future contributors at running back (Akers) and receiver (Jefferson) while getting excellent value at edge (Lewis) and nickel (Burgess). Finding Hopkins in the fourth was an excellent value, while Fuller could be another Kurt Coleman-type pickup at safety. The loss of Cory Littleton in free agency, might make room inside for Johnston to fit in. Although it makes sense for the Rams to want competition at kicker, it is interesting that they opted over Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship. Anchrum excelled at tackle for Clemson but will transition inside for the Rams.

Sporting News: B+

The Rams got their replacements for Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks and Dante Fowler Jr. right off the bat. Lewis was the best pick of the three, but Akers and Jefferson have good opportunities to improve on their college production. Hopkins was a steal later for some depth. There was no early linebacker to help replace Cory LIttleton, but Burgess can be useful in coverage. Les Snead and Sean McVay finish right in the middle.

SB Nation: B-

This grade would be better if the Rams targeted a guard at some point before the seventh round.

ESPN’ Mel Kiper: B-

I didn’t have high grades on any of L.A.’s Day 3 picks, and I’m pretty surprised the Rams took only one offensive lineman, late, particularly with a 38-year-old starting left tackle. That seems like a clear miss here, even if I’m a fan of the first three picks.

Pro Football Focus: C

A quiet Day 1 turned into a busy Day 2, as the Rams had multiple selections in both Rounds 2 and 3. Cam Akers is used to running behind shaky offensive lines at Florida State, and he’s had some success doing so, as evidenced by his 82.8 rushing grade in 2019. Unfortunately, he’ll be running behind another poor offensive line in Los Angeles. The tools are there for him to be a good runner at the NFL level but we still gave him a fourth-round label, which means the value wasn’t there in the second round with some of the other needs on the Rams’ roster.