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znModeratorBenjamin Allbright@AllbrightNFL
Luis Perez is signing with the Rams===
From bowling star to QB in five years, Luis Perez is the NFL draft’s most unlikely prospect
Perez won D-II title despite not playing high school ballLuis Perez enrolled at Southwestern College, a junior college in Chula Vista, Calif., just a few miles down the road from where he grew up, in 2013 with a plan. It was all so clear in his head.
Perez knew exactly what was in store for him. A friend pointed him in the direction of the school’s football facility and marched into the office of head coach Ed Carberry with an edict. Perez announced he was there to play quarterback for Carberry’s squad.
Only one problem: Perez had never played QB in organized football.
At any level.
“We get a lot of guys who want to play quarterback here who have played Madden football,” said Carberry, who is in his 42nd year of coaching. “But nothing quite like Luis’ story.”
Perez wasn’t coming from his couch with a controller in his hands. Although he had spent the previous several years dominating the California bowling circuit as a top-rated amateur, Perez spent much of his free time dreaming of being a Division-I college quarterback despite never as much as throwing a ball in an organized practice.
He had played a tiny bit of high school football but was moved to a few positions — none of which included the letters “Q” and “B” — and promptly quit. That’s when his bowling career really took off. But even after he graduated high school, having never played the position, Perez remained undaunted.
If he was ever going to play quarterback, Southwestern quickly emerged as his best — and maybe only — real bet to get that shot.
“[Carberry] asked where I was from, where I played high school and where my highlight tape was. He kind of laughed at me,” Perez told PFW recently by phone. “I had no options. I had no film. I had nothing. I couldn’t send my stuff out to other teams. I had no stuff to send.”
But the next day, Perez was out on the field for spring practice. The team gave him a helmet that was way too big. His pads were meant for a lineman. There were eight other quarterbacks on the team. Perez found himself ninth on the depth chart at a position he’d never played at any level and one no one believed he could or had any business playing.
“I didn’t care,” Perez said. “I always knew I wanted to play quarterback. This is going to sound weird, but the moment I decided to stop football I still knew I wanted to play college football and play quarterback. I don’t know how or why I still felt that. I just felt somehow, some way, I was going to find a way to do it.”
Slowly but surely he worked his way up the depth chart. Guys quit or transferred. There were injuries. And Perez, it turned out, wasn’t too shabby at this quarterback thing. He was accurate and a quick study — two of his biggest assets to this day, along with his absolute belief in himself.
Assets that, incredibly, have the 23-year-old on the radar of NFL scouts as we close in on the 2018 NFL draft.
“It’s been a whirlwind. It’s been an unbelievable experience,” Perez said. “To be able to have NFL teams shake my hand, go to my pro day and all that. It’s been my dream, my No. 1 goal, to play in the NFL as a kid.”
And the most unlikely ascension story of the draft started when he got his shot at Southwest. Perez earned the backup role behind starter Frank Foster, passing up the other seven quarterbacks that had been on the roster. When Foster suffered a sprained AC joint in the fourth game of the 2013 season, the player no Southwestern teammates had a clue about a few months earlier was in the game on the road at San Bernadino.
“Everyone is going, ‘Oh no, Luis has to go in,’” Perez said.
But all he did was complete 4-of-5 passes in relief and throw a touchdown to earn the save in the 41-20 Southwestern win.
Carberry, of course, remembers the first snap as well as any of them.
“He’s out there in the shotgun, pointing at stuff, like he’s Aaron Rodgers,” Carberry said, “and the center snaps the ball and hits him right in the chest. Kind of an inauspicious start.”
Perez laughs at that — and he even had a touchdown called back in the game. He knew there might be a bump or two on this unusual road. But Carberry said Perez always acted like he belonged. The next week Perez threw for three TDs and ran for another in a blowout victory.
“He has always had tremendous belief and confidence in himself,” Carberry said. “He comes by me [after his first start] and says, ‘Hey, I told you I could do it.’”
Perez appeared to be the guy for the rest of the season before he suffered a broken fibula. A few teammates chanted “one-hit wonder” and figured that might be the end of Perez’s cute story, especially when a hot-shot quarterback, Isaraelu Paopao, transferred in the next year.
But Perez beat him out, too, and put together a nice 2014 season (18-3 TD-INT ratio, 1,846 pass yards) even though he and Paopao would rotate in games that year. It was enough for 10 D-I schools to take serious notice — including Oklahoma State and Kansas State, both of which offered him a preferred walk-on spot — although none made scholarship offers. Cal-Davis did extend an offer, and he was set to go there, but the program pulled the offer last minute.
Once more out of options, Perez landed at Division-II Texas A&M-Commerce in July of 2015. They had a senior quarterback, so the school invited Perez to come in, redshirt and work toward earning a spot the following season.
For the next year, Perez was alongside the freshmen for 5 a.m. workouts and spent every last minute watching tape and listening to the play callers. Even at a D-II program most of the players on the roster grew up steeped in football, but Perez was still a relative neophyte. He even traveled on his own dime to attend the Lions’ road games, accompanied by his new wife, Brenda, just to be around and soak up as much as he could and stoke his craving for this new passion.
Perez knew he had to get not only bigger and faster but also smarter and wiser.
“I always had that mentality of wanting to learn fast,” he said. “I was always playing catch-up because I was always so far behind. That was one of the things that really has helped me so far. I wanted to be a sponge and learn from every single person I could learn from. And learn fast.”
Learn fast he did, and in 2016 all Perez did was win the starting job, earn first-team all-conference status, set a school record for TD passes in a season, be nominated for the Harlon Hill Trophy (awarded to the Division II College Football Player of the Year) and lead his Commerce team to the D-II playoff semifinals.
After they lost to top-ranked Grand Valley State, Perez — who threw for 312 yards but also three picks in the loss — had another vision. He was going to lead Commerce to a championship in his senior season. So he dragged Brenda along for the 500-mile car ride to Kansas City, Kan., which was the site of the D-II championship game “so I could get a taste of what was in store for us,” he said.
The sat through a veritable blizzard and a wind chill of minus-7 that day, and it frankly wasn’t the most exciting game in the annals of football: Northwest Missouri State 29, North Alabama 7. Brenda tapped out in the third quarter, and the price for them going was Luis doing a week’s worth of dishes, he said, but in his mind it was all worth it.
“I knew I was going to be there in that game the next year,” Perez said.
And wouldn’t you know it? This time Perez did win the Harlon Hill Trophy, made massive statistical gains (from 3,326 passing yards to 4,999; from 32 TD passes to 46) and — yep — did lead the Lions to the national championship. In the 37-27 win, Perez completed 23-of-30 passes for 323 yards against a West Florida defense that came in allowing fewer than 200 pass yards per game and 6.5 yards an attempt.
Carberry just marvels at how the story unfolded.
“The guy who knocked on my office door, who never played quarterback before, is the national player of the year,” he said. “I mean … come on. This just doesn’t happen.”
Now the 6-foot-3, 219-pound Perez is attracting legitimate NFL attention. After a nice week of practice and performance in at the NFLPA Collegiate Game (completing 8-of-10 passes for 69 yards), Perez caught a big break when Texas A&M — yes, the Aggies — allowed him to be the quarterback at their March 26 pro day, which annually is heavily attended by NFL heavyweights, scouts and coaches alike. Perez drew up a 56-throw script and emailed it to the Aggies’ receivers, including top-50 draft prospect Christian Kirk.
And then? Here comes Johnny.
Oh yes, as in Johnny Manziel — the former A&M quarterback and Cleveland Browns first-rounder who had burned out of the NFL in spectacular fashion but now was on the comeback trail, hoping for a resurrection in the league. An A&M compliance officer broke the news to Perez: Manziel also would be throwing at the pro day, complicating matters quite a bit.
But Perez didn’t see it as a detriment. He viewed it as an opportunity.
“I said, ‘That’s fine.’ I actually liked it because I knew I would be throwing alongside a first-round pick. I knew scouts could compare me to him and make their own minds up,” Perez said.
Perez assumed Manziel would want his own script of throws, but to his surprise Manziel walked up to him early that day and said, “Hey, we’re going to do the script you sent Christian.” Perez scrambled back to his bag to retrieve the script and memorize the throws in a matter of minutes, but New Orleans Saints WR coach Curtis Johnson helped out by calling out the routes.
Perez helped himself out by having a terrific throwing session, and he did so with a packed out — NFL Network and ESPN were on hand for Manzielmania — completing nearly every pass and showing composure and ability to take command of the workout. A few days later, Perez had his second pro day back in Commerce and threw the ball well there, reportedly looking great in position drills and flashing a better arm than some scouts believed he had.
Among the teams that have spent the most time looking at Perez include the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints.
Perez’s calling card is his accuracy. He completed 70.6 percent of his passes this past season – first-round prospect Baker Mayfield completed 70.5 percent, Josh Allen just 56.3 percent – Carberry calls it uncanny.
“He’s unbelievably accurate. He just can throw the ball exactly where he wants it to go,” he said. “If you watch NFL games, the windows are so small. You have to be so precise. He’s able to do that. I don’t know if it’s from all the bowling he did as a young kid or what …”
Yes, had this incredible story never unfolded on the football field, Perez likely would be rolling strikes on a lane somewhere. He’s had 12 perfect games of 300 in his lifetime — not bad for a sport he picked up at the age of 9, when he beat his dad by 50 pins (on his dad’s birthday, no less) on his first try.
Perez might not be a tremendous athlete by quarterback standards, but he does seem to have a flare for the dramatic. When he got bored as a kid on dollar bowling Tuesday nights, he’d bowl the ball down the lane backward — and usually get a strike. He’s now replaced that with football tricks, such as throwing the pigskin through a basketball hoop a long way away.
But more than just his natural knack for throwing the ball, and even more than his precision as a thrower, Perez has the drive to be great. After all, you don’t go from never having played quarterback to being on the doorstep of the NFL — playing maybe sports’ most vaunted and demanding positions — without that rare drive.
“I wasn’t recruited. I never went to a football camp. I never had the private QB coach growing up. I had to work my way through every single thing,” Perez said. “I’ve had four years of football, really. Maybe my arm isn’t as great as some of these guys. But I have a different mentality. A different level of commitment. I’m married. Coaches never have to worry about me doing things I am not supposed to be doing.
“I am not even supposed to be here. Now this is everything to me. There is absolutely no chance I am going to blow this opportunity.”
Will he be drafted? That’s hard to say. But at worst, he’s earned a shot in an NFL training camp somewhere. And if you’ve doubted Perez’s ability to make it up to this point …
“Well, then I am just going to have to prove you — really, everyone else except my family — wrong again,” he said.
znModeratorI wouldn’t be surprised to see Kiser starting day 1 next to Littleton or Barron.
Littleton replaced the injured Barron against the Titans in that game. I think Hager, not Littleton, replaced Ogletree when he was banged up with the elbow.
So I’m guessing Littleton will be competing with Barron for one ILB spot & Ramik Wilson will be competing with Kiser for the other spot.
We’ll see.
You’re probably right.
.
znModeratorBrian Allen might be the centerpiece of Rams’ draft
link: https://www.ocregister.com/2018/04/28/brian-allen-might-be-the-centerpiece-of-rams-draft/
THOUSAND OAKS — “The basement” has become a metaphor for cyber-driven dysfunction, a teenage wasteland below ground.
The Allen basement, in Hinsdale, Ill., is an exception.
It is the headwater for a long stream of large people in Michigan State uniforms.
On Saturday, it contributed its second son to the NFL.
Brian Allen, Spartan center for four years and the king of the high school mat in his time, was the first of the Rams’ fourth-round picks on Saturday.
His older brother Jack was undrafted after his Michigan State career but made the New Orleans roster in 2016 anyway.
His younger brother Matt is a redshirt freshman in East Lansing and was the top recruit among centers in the Midwest..
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio was asked to compare Jack to Brian.
“I don’t really like to do that,” he said, “especially in this case, because one of them will get mad at me.”
Dantonio has been to the basement.
“There’s a wrestling mat down there,” he said. “There’s a three-year gap between all the brothers, so they get after it. For us, we’ve had an Allen in the program since 2011 and we’ll have one until 2020. So that’s pretty good.
“When we go to the house, they already know what we’re all about and what our direction is.”
Offensive line coach Mark Staten has gone down those steps, too.
“There’s holes in the wall, they’ve had to get people to come down and work on the sheetrock,” Staten said. ‘It’s about what you’d expect with three brothers like that.”
All three Hinsdale Central wrestlers won Illinois state championships. Brian was the first to get medals all four years. He went 49-0 as a junior, 45-2 as a senior.
John, the father, wrestled at Purdue. Jim Zajicek, John’s stepbrother, was an assistant wrestling coach at Hinsdale Central.
Brian also won the state shot put title and, in football, played on both sides. He was a starting guard alongside Jack as a freshman at East Lansing, moved to center when Jack left, and started his final 28 games for the Spartans, including a blowout win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl.
Pro Football Focus, in its draft guide, praised Allen’s low stance and noted that he was “never overmatched” in any MSU game.
It also knocked his athleticism and said he was undersized, even though he lists at 6-foot-2, 302.
Staten, who played with Rams offensive line coach Aaron Kromer at Miami of Ohio, says the mat has a way of equalizing all that. Wrestling is the extracurricular activity that football coaches want to see on the worksheet. It identifies want-to, and exposes fear.
“There’s no excuse when you wrestle,” Staten said. “You’re either winning or you’re losing. It’s that one-on-one thing that you have to have when you’re lined up. And you also pick up a lot off things about the physical angles and the leverage.
“Brian learned from his brother. He was our team captain. He knew when to put a boot up somebody’s (backside) and when to put his arm around somebody. He played with a hip problem and some other things, but it was hard to tell because he’d never admit it.”
An NFL scout tabbed Allen “the bully of the Big 10,” but then nobody picked him in the first two days of this draft. It brought up brief nightmares from Jack’s undrafted year. Brian had said beforehand that he would hold no draft party.
“I’ll probably just hang out with the family and sit on the couch like a loser,” he said. “Expect the worst, hope for the best.”
He even pointed out to Staten that he had an extra year of eligibility he could use on wrestling. Academics weren’t a problem, since Allen was a 3.3 economics student.
Roger Chandler, the wrestling coach, had suggested that very thing for years..
“I told Brian to forget it, you’re going to be playing football,” Staten said.
Allen got clarification, in his mind, when he came to Thousand Oaks. “I was telling my agent today that I thought the Rams would take me,” he said.
The current center, John Sullivan, signed a two-year extension, but turns 33 during training camp. The Rams dare not pretend they can get through another 16-game season without a sidelining injury to a starting lineman.
They drafted 10 of their 11 players on Saturday alone. Even a tape freak like Rams general manager Les Snead risked eyestrain.
“But if you’ve been watching football players all fall and December, February and April and you’re kind of dozing off,” Snead said, “you put the Michigan State center on film.”
Soon the basement will be appearing on the Coliseum floor.
znModeratorRob Rang Draft Grade: B-
https://www.themaven.net/nfldraftscout/news/rang-grading-the-nfc-ns8alu5hMEGh5f85MnoGkg/?full=1
Los Angeles Rams
After trades that netted the club wide receiver Brandin Cooks, as well as cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, the Rams were the last team to make a selection in the 2018 draft, investing their first pick (No. 89 overall) in tackle Joseph Notebloom. His selection kicked off a lineman-heavy draft that included blockers Brian Allen (center) and Jamil Demby (guard); each of whom have the look of future contributors but not necessarily starters. I’m highest on fellow fifth-rounders Micah Kiser and edge rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. Kiser lacks elite speed to the flanks, but he is a classic run-stuffing thumper on the inside. At just 6-foot-2, 253 pounds, Okoronkwo lacks height but he possesses disproportionately long arms (33 3/4 inches), as well as burst and tenacity as an outside rusher – traits that defensive coordinator Wade Phillips may be able to take full advantage of given the Rams’ fearsome front. Needless to say, Todd Gurley II is the Rams’ bell-cow, but sixth-round pick John Kelly could prove an ideal complementary threat. The Rams are not likely to receive much of an impact from this rookie class, but the veterans added via draft picks certainly boost the grade – if that is, they manage to live up to expectations.
Grade: B-minus
znModeratorWow.
Come on, Nittany. Not everyone has the time to read through your voluminous verbosity regarding current movies. I mean, some of us are just too busy with our semi-retirement days for any such laborious endeavor.
Would you mind summarizing your take a bit, please? Could you please put all of that in a “Hack-size” post, instead?
I ain’t no Nittany, ain’t no Nittany man’s son
But I can talk some movie till the Nittany man comeA couple of quick things.
If you are even remotely considering seeing this, do not let yourself learn one single thing about the film. And in years of posting about movies here, this is the first time I have ever stressed that about a film.
Also though, there’s a core of MCU films you have to see before seeing this one. If you haven’t seen them, this film will not always make much sense.
….
znModeratori also read positive things on kiser seemingly everywhere i turn on the internet. so is he a possibility as an inside backer?
brockers suh donald
ebukam littleton kiser okoronkwo
I don’t see Kiser as a replacement for Barron. Wade wants a Barron out there IMO. They even drafted another one in Howard.
I see him as being in competition with Littleton.
Kiser is an instinctive run stopper. Littleton as far as we know is a pretty good to good linebacker…but not with the high instintiveness of a Kiser. I think it’s even possible Kiser starts over Littleton this year.
znModeratorNFL.com Rams Draft Grade: A-
Chad Reuter, Draft analyst
Los Angeles Rams
Draft picks:
TCU OT Joseph Noteboom (No. 89 overall)
Michigan State C Brian Allen (No. 111 overall)
Stephen F. Austin DE John Franklin-Myers (No. 135 overall)
Virginia LB Micah Kiser (No. 147 overall)
Oklahoma LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (No. 160 overall)
Tennessee RB John Kelly (No. 176 overall)
Maine OG Jamil Demby (No. 192 overall)
Rutgers DT Sebastian Joseph (No. 195 overall)
Louisville LB Trevon Young (No. 205 overall)
TCU LB Travin Howard (No. 231)
SMU DE Justin Lawler (No. 244 overall).Day 1 grade: A
Day 2 grade: B
Day 3 grade: A
Overall grade: A-The skinny: Les Snead pulled the trigger on a trade with the Patriots to land receiver Brandin Cooks, giving up the team’s first-round pick and swapping a sixth-rounder for a fourth-round selection. Jared Goff is already thriving under coach Sean McVay, and now he has a very reliable pass-catcher in Cooks. This is a “win-now” move, which makes more sense than relying on a rookie receiver to help the offense. Snead gave up his second-round pick for Sammy Watkins, who played well for a year and then moved on. I’m sure that’s not what the team had in mind when trading for him. Finally able to pick in the middle of the third round, the Rams get a swing tackle in Noteboom, who showed impressive movement last season. This was a good pick for a team needing depth at the position. The Rams did some work on Day 3 well before the draft, grabbing picks in trading away Robert Quinn and Alec Ogletree and giving up picks for cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. Franklin-Myers is an interesting edge rusher whom I valued as a top-150 pick. Kiser could take Ogletree’s starting spot in 2018. The Rams went nuts on edge rushers later, but all had good value. Kelly is also a strong pick in the sixth round.
znModeratorAndy Benoit (Sports Illustrated) grades Rams Draft – C+
Los Angeles Rams
They entered the draft with major needs at defensive end and, because of Alec Ogletree’s trade to the Giants, linebacker. But short on picks after trading for Brandin Cooks and Marcus Peters this year, the Rams didn’t address those areas until they drafted defensive end John Franklin (who may not be a pure edge rusher anyway) late in the fourth round and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo in the fifth round. Normally, that’d be grounds for a reprimanding, but drafting offensive line with their first two picks makes sense for this reason: Three O-linemen—Rob Havenstein, Jamon Brown and Rodger Saffold—are in contract years, and the other two—Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan—are feeling their age. Personnel changes up front are looming in 2019, and all those fancy L.A. skill position players mean little without an O-line that allows the offense to function.
Grade: C+https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/28/nfl-draft-2018-team-grades-picks-analysis
znModeratorPFF’s Draft Grades
Below lists every team’s selection in the 2018 NFL Draft by: round (overall selection), player, position, school or university, PFF overall grade.]
RAMS
3 (89) Joseph Noteboom, OT, TCU, 84.0
4 (111) Brian Allen, C, Michigan State, 86.5
4 (135) John Franklin-Myers, DI, Stephen F. Austin, n/a
5 (147) Micah Kiser, LB, Virginia, 78.4
5 (160) Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Edge, Oklahoma, 86.6
6 (176) John Kelly, RB, Tennessee, 80.9
6 (192) Jamil Demby, G, Maine, n/a
6 (195) Sebastian Joseph, DI, Rutgers, 81.1
6 (205) Trevon Young, Edge, Louisville, 82.7
7 (231) Travin Howard, LB, TCU, 83.1
7 (244) Justin Lawler, Edge, SMU, 89.5Day 1: n/a
Day 2: With just one pick to play with over the first two days of the draft, the Rams didn’t come on the clock until the 89th pick of the draft, and they used that to select Joseph Noteboom, an offensive tackle out of TCU. With Andrew Whitworth over 35 years of age and coming off a season in which he looked mortal for the first time in a while, Noteboom makes a lot of sense as an insurance policy. Noteboom allowed just 13 total pressures in his final year at TCU, and that gave him his second strong college season of pass protection. Run-blocking has been more of a challenge for him, but that has never been less of an issue in the NFL given how much the league is pass first in 2018.
Day 3: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo could prove to be an important player for a team in need of edge rush. He had 10 sacks and 47 total pressures in 2017. John Kelly is an intriguing smaller back that runs with power and determination, breaking 37 tackles last season. They went back to the well at edge with Trevon Young in Round 6 as Young had 40 total pressures in 2017.
Overall grade: Average
April 29, 2018 at 9:26 am in reply to: Justin Lawler: tweets n bits n articles n vids n stuff #85660znModeratorI appreciate all the additions, CR.
You may have noticed already, but since we have so many dedicated threads this draft (with 11 picks) I made a guide that links you to each individual dedicated player thread. Makes it easier to find them on a board that is bouncing around a lot. That’s here: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/guide-to-2018-draft-discussion-threads/
April 29, 2018 at 9:22 am in reply to: Snead, McVay, vid & transcript … + rookie conference calls… 4/28 #85659znModeratorGeneral Manager Les Snead & Head Coach Sean McVay – Draft Day 3 News Conference
(Opening Remarks)
Snead: “I know it was a busy day. I think we ended up with 10 picks today. I don’t know how we really did that or where we started, but I do know we ended with 11 total. Also, today during the draft, traded (WR) Tavon Austin and if I were to say anything about one of my favorite human beings on the planet – one of the most competitive, mentally tough, glad I was a part of his life. Tough to make those decisions. But as a human being…last year Tavon, unfortunately, when (Head Coach) Sean (McVay) got here, he had the wrist injury and couldn’t get on the field and fell behind. Unfortunately for him, we kind of moved on in terms of adding people to the roster and by the time he was able to get back, was never really able to get into the rotation. So, we did feel like Tavon deserved a chance to go try to be Tavon. But, I can’t say enough about that human being – just what he went through last year, where he was at on the depth chart by the end, but still being an unbelievable team guy. Can’t say enough about that human being.”
McVay: “Yeah, and in this short year that you’re around him, what a special, unique person he is. Clearly an incredible talent where you see the athleticism, the explosiveness that he has to be able to create the big plays. I think you find out a lot about people when they go through some hardships or some adversity and all he continued to demonstrate is that he’s all about the right stuff. Can’t really echo enough about what Les (Snead) said, just the amount of respect you have for the human being. But also, the football player. He’s the epitome of class. Wish him nothing but the best and I know he’ll do great things for the (Dallas) Cowboys. There’s a special place for Tavon because those decisions are never easy. But, what a class act. What an impressive human being, most importantly. A lot of respect and appreciation for Tavon.”
(On if Snead ever felt like he was able to find the right fit for Austin during his time with the Rams and if not, why it didn’t work out the way he had hoped)
Snead: “Tavon led our team in touchdowns the year before we signed him to the contract and it was never necessarily to be, hey, a number one receiver. But, he was a weapon for us on special teams and in the offense. He led our team in touchdowns and he had a lot of special teams touchdowns called back. So, he was just a unique weapon on offense. I do think, us going through a lot of QB changes, even coordinators, probably hindered his progress. Because any time you’re let’s call it, a shorter receiver – if you were with the same QB for a while, you’d get used to let’s call it, passing the ball to that person. There’s a lot of factors that go into it…the guy led our team in touchdowns and was a threat to go the distance. So, he did have a productive career with us. It would’ve been interesting to see if he would’ve been healthy last year how it turned out, but it didn’t and this is where we are today.”
(On fourth-round pick Center Brian Allen)
Snead: “He’s just one of those guys where if you’ve been watching college football players all Fall months, December month, February and all April and you’re asleep, kind of dosing off – put the Michigan State center on film. He’s just kind of fun to watch. Not only does he block people he just finishes, gets position and drives people off the ball and then he’s played against some good players. Just a fun guy to watch. Other than that, really good technician, very smart, great guy but mean on the field, one of those types and just everything he would draw up in a Michigan State center.”
(On if they had been talking to the Dallas Cowboys about trading Austin before the draft or if not how the deal came together)
Snead: “Back during the combine, when the rumors were we going to release him, all of that, teams were trying to figure out were we really going to release him or not. Obviously, we restructured his contract and all of that. Today, really out of the blue, teams have checked in, ‘Hey are you still going to keep him?’ All of that through this whole process and yes we are, we restructured his contract, this kid’s fast, good player. Somewhere in the draft today, got a text and a call from (Cowboys Director of Player Personnel) Stephen Jones and he asked if he would be available. Talked with Sean and we thought it was the best thing for us and Tavon.”
McVay: “Yeah a lot of the same, Les had the majority of the dialogue that went on. I think it’s a combination of you certainly don’t like to lose players that can make plays and do special things like Tavon has done over the course of his career. But, I think you also want to be mindful of what a special, unique, person he his. We felt like that opportunity and all things being considered it was the right thing and to do right by him as well. With the way that he’s handled this last year because you have so much respect for the human being. I think that is a credit to Tavon and I think he’ll do good things for the Cowboys under (Head Coach) Coach Garrett’s and (Offensive Coordinator) Coach Linehan’s leadership.”
(On taking four linebackers in the draft and how that played out)
McVay: “Yeah, I think you look at it, you like some of the depth that you’re able to create with some guys that can play on the edge whether it be the ‘Sam’ or the ‘Will’ linebacker. You’re able to address the inside linebacker spot with a guy like Micah Kiser, who’s a great communicator, got a great command. You look at what he’s done and listen to what his coaches talk about how he just handles himself day in and day out. Bring him in for a visit, he’s an incredibly impressive person and then you talk about (Travin) Howard from TCU and some of the things he’s been able to do athletically. So, you add some interior players that can do some different things and allow us to be a bit more versatile at some of those spots and add some depth. Then you’ve got some different guys coming off the edge with that ‘Sam’ and ‘Will’ backer spots. I think really our personnel staff, I don’t think you can say enough about them being able to have it tiered down where we are able to kind of strategically go right down and end up with ten picks today and that’s really a credit to Les and his staff. I know the coaches are all excited about getting 11 picks in here and seeing how these guys compete and add to our team.”
Snead: “Before you go, I appreciate you all mentioning my name, but I can’t say enough about our player personnel staff. From the area scouts on up, to the guys that took these guys from the top-30 visits from the airport and back, let us know what they were like. All of that it’s a great process, Sean’s staff, they’re involved and when you get involved in the personnel side it’s not easy. There’s a lot of extra work on your plate and they do a heck of a job. This day couldn’t have gone as smooth as it did without their work.”
(On how they would evaluate their draft overall considering they did not have a first and second-round pick this year)
Snead: “I always say time will tell. We’ll find out in a couple of years and that’s the honest truth. But, knowing that we didn’t have picks early and we focused on those middle rounds – we had a lot of players that different scouts, coaches, position groups wanted. So, we did think that if we could turn a lot of the – let’s call it, fourth, fifth, sixth round picks into more picks, we’d have a chance to get fits and fill some roles or get players with traits that have a chance to fill some of those roles. So, that was the strategy and we were able to do that today. Now, we’ll go to work and get them on the field and start developing them.”
McVay: “Yeah, a lot of the same. I think you see where you go into a situation and you want to have some different scenarios and you anticipate some of the things that could potentially take place. To be able to come away with 11 players that we feel good about, that really supplement us with some depth on both sides of the line of scrimmage on offense and defense and then to be able to get a running back that we feel like adds some toughness to that room and will add some competition. Those are the things that you feel really good about. I think going into year two, you can be a little bit more strategic with some of the needs. Because collectively, as a coaching staff and with our personnel staff, we have a much better idea of how our players that have been here fit and the way we want to utilize them in our offensive and defensive systems and then how they would help (Special Teams Coordinator John Fassel) Bones’ as well. I thought today was a credit to them, again. Now, it’s our job as a coaching staff to do a great job developing these guys and continue to have a competitive roster where it makes it difficult for us to whittle it down to that 53 when those decisions have to come.”
(On if they will hold a rookie camp)
McVay: “We’re not planning on having a rookie camp. We’ll have something more similar to a tryout camp. That will be in a couple weeks. You look at some of the people that we envision adding to really get us to around that 87 to 88, and then you’ve got a couple spots to get up to your 90 (man roster) allotment. I think we’ll use that as an opportunity to see if we can find some spots just based on the numbers and how we want to allocate that 90 over the course of some of the different positions. Again, it’s a credit to feeling good about some of the depth that you have some understanding with, with some of the guys that are available in the latter half of the draft and through college free agency. Our guys have done a great job with that and I think that comfort level that we do have has enabled us to take that approach as opposed to feeling like you need to have that rookie minicamp.”
(On if they targeted draft picks that earned academic all-conference honors)
Snead: “I don’t think you ever start out and say, ‘Let’s just get academic All-Americans’, but I do think that the human beings that take pride in – let’s call it – they’re student athletes and we’ve all been in college and sometimes school is not a priority. But, if that human being actually says, ‘You know what, I’m going to make this priority. I’m going to sacrifice some things in college to be really good in school.’ I think just those traits as a human being, bleeds over to the football meeting room and on the field and the preparation they put into it and all of that. We like to call it, sometimes you’re drafting traits, sometimes you’re just drafting really good football players. I think those guys fall into that. They’re football players and whatever mixture of DNA that leads to that, I think that’s a part of it.”
(On why the Senior Bowl has been such a useful tool for Snead in evaluating players)
Snead: “You get to see guys go compete against really good seniors in their class. A lot of times, depending on what conference the player came to, we drafted a kid from Maine, who I think first went to the East-West (Shrine Game) and we always say he graduated to the Senior Bowl and it might have been the NFLPA game, but he went to either NFLPA or East-West, had a good week, got called up from AA to AAA. When you’re able to see a guy from Maine go block, let’s call it a guy from Oklahoma that we drafted – ‘Obo’ – you wouldn’t get to see that when you’re watching him play at Maine and you get to see it at the Senior Bowl. I do think it helps you go, ‘Okay, some of the traits that he has will transfer to this league.’”
(On primarily drafting defensive players and linemen with the exception of RB John Kelly and what led to that selection)
McVay: “When you look at it, any time that you’re able to acquire people that can make plays with the ball in their hands, that’s always something that’s exciting. I think looking at this running back draft class, we felt like John did some good things. Especially some of the offset gun-runs that he had at Tennessee playing against a really high-level caliber of defenses that he’s playing week-in and week-out and you see the explosiveness, you see the toughness and the way that he finishes runs. We feel like he will be a really good complement to (RB) Todd (Gurley II) and we have (RB) Malcolm Brown in place. Those are some guys that have had some success in this league and we feel like John will be a nice complement to that room to add to that competition that we always try to create. When you look at upfront, we feel really good about our starting five and some of the guys that we were able to re-sign in free agency. You look at developing (C/G) Austin Blythe, but then when you add three linemen and someone like (T) Joe Noteboom that can add some depth at the edges and learn under (T) Rob (Havenstein) and (T) Andrew (Whitworth) like we talked about. Then, you talk about the competiveness of (OL Brian) Allen and what he’s done year-in and year-out at the Big 10, a former wrestler, you see his leverage. Then, (OL Jamil) Demby is a guy that, I think, has some guard-tackle flexibility. So we’re able to acquire three players that kind of fit the mold of what (Run Game Coordinator) Coach (Aaron) Kromer is looking for in guys to develop.”
znModeratorA future starter with toughness and intelligence.
lead singer making the protection calls and checks…voted a senior captain with exemplary competitive toughness
A team leader in East Lansing, Allen has terrific intangibles, toughness and intelligence that will win over pro coaches.
TexasRam sez:
Sure there are many consensus rankings, but teams will have a diff emphasis on some traits that will affect their rankings. Teams have different systems and prospects can vastly differ in value per system and team.
And in the case of Notebloom and Allen you can see they both have quick feet and the ability to block in space. Perfect fit for our zone scheme and the Mcvay offense that uses a lot of movement by the Oline with the screen game.
Neither one are maulers, though if you watch Allen’s film such as vs Ohio state you can see him really moving some huge bodies.
znModerator#Rams fans, John Kelly is a stud. I wrote about him in my RB rankings:https://t.co/9aAhwG6jR4
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) April 28, 2018
znModeratorSeems like an ideal fit for a team looking to fill the two down inside linebacker role, preferably in a 3-4 where his play in space isn’t needed as often.
I wonder if that makes him a fit for the Rams?
znModeratorCowboys will use Tavon Austin in Lance Dunbar’s former role
Cowboys will use Tavon Austin in Lance Dunbar’s former role
The Cowboys didn’t trade for Tavon Austin the receiver. They traded for Tavon Austin the web back.
The Cowboys plan to use Austin the way they used Lance Dunbar.
Dunbar had 94 rushes for 422 yards and a touchdown and caught 68 passes for 646 yards in 54 games with the Cowboys when he wasn’t injured.
“We’re talking about a web back here that is supersized in terms of how explosive he can be,” Stephen Jones said. “We intend to use him just as we’ve used Dunbar in the past. We feel like with Zeke [Ezekiel Elliott] and Rod [Smith] that they fill their roles, and that Tavon can really do some special things for us in addition as well as being a nice threat in the return game.”
The Rams called the Cowboys on Thursday about a possible third-day trade for Austin. The Cowboys did their homework and came to the conclusion that Austin could add “juice” to their offense.
Dallas hopes to get Austin around 12 touches a game, Jones said.
“Obviously, he’s a really talented guy,’ Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “He was the eighth player taken in the draft in 2013. Dynamic college football player. One of the issues for him has been his size and how you use him in the NFL. We probably see him as a guy who can be versatile for us. Stephen reference a web back, kind of a dynamic mismatch, running back out of the backfield. Obviously, he played slot. He’s a returner. And so what you try to do is you try to get the ball in his hands a number of different ways. When we played the Rams this year, they lined him up as a running back. They tried to hand it to him, to throw it to him throughout the year, and that’s what people have tried to do throughout his career. He’s certainly a dynamic guy, and we just felt like for the value he could come into our football team and help us, and add some explosiveness to our offense.”
znModeratorEvan Silva’s Rams Draft Grade: B+
http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/79568/174/2018-nfc-draft-grades
Los Angeles Rams
3. (89) TCU OT Joseph Noteboom
4. (111) Michigan State C Brian Allen
4. (135) Stephen F. Austin DE John Franklin-Myers
5. (147) Virginia ILB Micah Kiser
5. (160) Oklahoma OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
6. (176) Tennessee RB John Kelly
6. (192) Maine OG Jamil Demby
6. (195) Rutgers DT Sebastian Joseph
6. (205) Louisville OLB Trevon Young
7. (231) TCU LB/S Travin Howard
7. (244) SMU OLB Justin LawlerOverview: Brandin Cooks, Marcus Peters, and Aqib Talib should be included in this class after the Rams acquired them for 2018 picks. Noteboom, Allen, and Demby look like long-term backups on the line. GM Les Snead took four day-three shots on pass rushers in Franklin-Myers, Okoronkwo, Young, and Lawler. Kiser was a consistent playmaker in college and is a well-above-par athlete. He will push for snaps right away following Alec Ogletree’s departure. Kelly is better than in-place backup RB Malcolm Brown, Joseph will compete for a rotational role, and Howard has the skill set to play nickel/dime linebacker, an increasingly valued position. I don’t think the Rams will get a ton of year-one impact from their rookies, but proven high-impact veterans Cooks, Peters, and Talib make this haul a strong one.
Grade: B+
znModeratorjrry32 sez:
These are my opinions for better or worse:
Joseph Noteboom: B – Developmental guy with potential to be a starting LT. But his film didn’t blow me away.
Brian Allen: F – I hope I’m wrong on this one, but it came out of nowhere. He’s similar to his brother, who went undrafted a couple years ago and is already out of the NFL. Kromer is a genius, though, so we’ll see what he can do. I would have strongly preferred Tony Adams, who went undrafted.
John Franklin-Myers: B – He’s another developmental guy with potential. I’ve heard good things about him.
Micah Kiser: A – Great fit in the scheme as a thumper next to Barron. Has some coverage limitations and lacks sideline-to-sideline speed, but he’ll do the dirty work against the run. We needed a guy like him.
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo: A+ – Had a top 60 grade on him. Not the greatest run defender, but he can drop into coverage and is a very crafty pass rusher with great quickness.
John Kelly: A – Loved this pick. Had a 3rd/4th round grade on him. He’s not the fastest guy, but he’s very difficult to tackle, can be a major contributor in the passing game, and can carry the load if Gurley is injured. He had better rushing numbers than Alvin Kamara at Tennessee in 2016.
Jamil Demby: A – It’s a good pick. Demby has all the attributes we look for in a guard in this scheme. And I always like college LTs moving inside.
Sebastian Joseph: F – I have no idea whom this guy is.
Trevon Young: B – Young is a do-it-all SOLB type. He was a highly regarded guy before the hip injury. We’ll see if he can regain some the juice as he distances himself from the injury. If he can, he’ll offer some pass rush potential. If he can’t, he won’t.
Travin Howard: B+ – This is a Bones pick. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s another Daren Bates for us. Small LB but very fast and productive.
Justin Lawler: B – I like the thought here. He’s a productive try-hard guy who’s a bit of a tweener in most schemes. It’s worth a flier at this point in the Draft.
Overall, I’d give the draft a B. It’s not as good as it could have been, but that’s JMO.
April 29, 2018 at 1:20 am in reply to: Rams draft in general — tweets n bits n posts n articles etc. #85640znModeratorDeadpool sez:
This draft accomplished a few things:
1. It is insurance against OL injuries that the Rams magically avoided last year and I doubt they avoid this year.
2. They also added enough OL depth as to have to force a OT or OC in the first round next year. DL/Edge is deep in the first next year and maybe they get a guy like Clelin Ferrell, Austin Bryant, Montez Sweat, Joe Jackson (a personal favorite).
3. They added a ILB,(a second 1 in UDFA) and a bunch of edge rushers. Ogbo is a pass rusher, Young is a project that if he can get healthy is a steal and Lawler is a Barwin replacement that can also rush the QB. So they covered their bases in their one weak spot – LB
4. They added some actual 34 DEs. They really have 3 43 DTs on the starting DL right now in Brockers, Suh and AD.
5. they got a replacement for Lance Dunbar. As Gurley goes, so goes the Rams. I preferred Walton or Wadley or Chase Edmonds but I’m ok with Kelly.Overall a solid draft where it was obvious due to lack of talent, teams where moving around for scheme and need fits. The Rams are not far from being a complete team and some of these picks are going to have to hit as you cannot pay everyone.
RB is set, WR is set OL is now deep and the only questions are backup QB and TE.
As far as defense, DL is set, LB is set and DB are set. Safety depth could be an issue.
As far as what I am paying close to attn to in next years draft class: NT (Suh is a 1 yr rental) Edge (its just so deep ) TE for the middle rounds. LT help because its a great class. And a backup QB.
3 (89) Joseph Noteboom
My bigboard comments:
134. Joseph Notebloom – OT – TCU- 6′-5″ 309 lbs. – Great size with room to grow, athletic and good footwork. Needs to be more consistant and learn how to really use his hands as a tool.I thought they reached on him by a round, but he has rare feet for a guy his size and will continue to grow into that frame. I think with a year or 2 under his belt, he will learn to fight with his hands and along with added NFL weight room strength will give him a legit chance to start. My biggest concern is his lack of aggressiveness. That is inherent. Not taught. If he can’t get a little more nasty then he is, he is nothing more then a poor man’s Jason Smith.
I was thinking that Tyrell Crosby was the pick if it was a OT, but the more I got into him, the more I realized he is a RT only. I think the concussion angle lead to his slide on top of his limited position value.
My pick at OT was Cappa, but I think he is being projected at OG. Good for Humboldt State and good for this kid. Overall knowing how the draft turned out I am fine with this pick.
Josey Jewell went 5 picks before the Rams 1st pick in the 4th but they had the ammo to get him if they wanted him. They didn’t, they wanted Kiser.
4 (111) Brian Allen OC TCU
My bigboard comments:
218. Brian Allen – OC – Michigan State – 6′-1″ 298 lbs. – A strong, tough center that is sluggish in his movement. A workhorse.My admitted blindspot is OC. I had him obviously as a reach. 117 picks too high, but I only had 2 true OCs rrated higher, Quessenberry and Boizeman and Bozeman wasn’t a scheme fit. Brian Allen come from a football family, was a stud HS wrestler, which means he knows how to manipulate an opponents weight and can use his hands really well. A leader (captain) as well. He is a bit stubby and is limited athletically but has a real chance to be a OC in 2 years.
This pick cost me Dorance Armstrong Jr., and at first I was upset but trying to be analytical it made sense and I felt better about the pick. I have been told to trust McSneads process with No Chainz, and Peters and Suh and Cooks. Well I am trying. And part of that means trusting the draft process. I think the Rams are targeting specific players and will stick to that plan. They knew OO would be there later and had a backup plan if he wasn’t.
Rock solid pick.
4 (135) John Franklin-Myers
No bigboard comments
Played in the NFLPA all star game and showed some pass rush ability. Nice length for a 34 end but I’m pretty sure is raw coming from SFA.
Was not on my stacked board or big board.
At the combine he looked tight hipped, he pops upright out of his stance instead of forward so he will get stood up at the next level and other then his 4.75 40 time, was not very explosive.
How he makes the team I have no idea. Andrew Brown made much more sense as a 34 end.Hurst at DL as well. Or a couple of TEs like Fumagalli or Schultz made more sense. My Cruikshank CB/S pick made a ton of sense.
Poor pick. see him on the PS. Or as Westbrooks dumbassery insurance.
5 (147) Micah Kiser – ILB – Virginia
My bigboard Comments:
128. Micah Kiser – ILB -Virginia – 6′-0″ 238 lbs. – A stat machine that is constantly coming forward and under control. @ 240 lbs, can hold his own, a bit tight but has made plays in the passing game.Thank goodness. I love this pick. He diagnoses quickly, is built like a tank and with this line, he is going to just stack up stats. A plus blitzer, and I think has a real chance to be a starter sooner then later. He will be a fan favorite due to the fact when he hits you, you go down. He doesn’t over pursue and he loves contact. Intelligent as a bonus and a community leader, not just his team leader. I loved Denzel Perryman from the ’15 draft and I love this pick in the 5th as a close comp.
Love the pick.
5 (160) Ogbonnia Okoronkwo – Edge - Oklahoma
My bigboard Comments:
97. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo – Edge - Oklahoma – 6′-2″ 253 lbs. – A tad short, but explosive and makes plays. Takes a variety of paths to the QB but is too stiff to dip and rip to get the edge.Wow, back to back picks I loved. He follows a theme of hard working, high motor, high effort winners. He will get after the QB and with the line in front of him he is going to get one on one matchups all day. THe only reason he slide is he is not 6′-5″. He is packed into a 6′-2″ frame. He takes different paths to the QB, will go low to get home, and can get narrow. He can get stonewalled, but will not give up on a play.
Great value meeting a need, great pick.
6 (176) John Kelly RB Tenn.
No Bigboard comments
THe only reason I didn’t include him on my bigboard was his misdemeanor pot possession and a slow 40 time. He would have been a 6th rounder if he ran in the 4.5 range. He has 3 down back size at 5′-10″ 215 lbs. Poor mans Kamara or maybe even Corey Clement come to mind. I preferred Akrum Wadlry, but no one else did, so shows what I know. He has power for his size, and plays like a 230 lb back. Little wiggle without homerun speed, but he catches the football and was highly productive. he could be a steal if he keeps his nose clean and his head down.
I like the pick.
6 (192 Jamil Demby OG – Maine
No Bigboard comments.
I mentioned him as a possible draft pick about a month ago. The Rams hired Liam Coen to be the QB coach, he was the OC at Maine, so he had to have some insight on him. Huge human being at 6′-5″ 320 lbs. Thank goodness our QB came from Ventura Community College and has the skill set to throw around him. He needs to be coached up but has natural strength and held up reasonably well at the Snead Bowl, I mean, Senior Bowl.
I preferred a number of guys including: Equanimeous St. Brown and marcel Ateman.
I was OK with this pick.
6 (195) Sebastian Joseph – DT – Rutgers
No Bigboard Comments.
This came from right field for me. They took the wrong Rutgers defender (Turay) He is big, strong and athletic that just never had the stats to match. High motor and maybe some upside.
I find it hard to see him making the team. PS possibility.
6 (205) Trevon Young -edge – Louisville
My Boigboard comments:
173. Trevon Young – Edge – Louisville – 6′-4″ 258 lbs. – a speed to power guy that has had serious medical issues so he either passes and gets drafted or fails the medicals and goes undrafted.He is still recovering from a hip injury. He has not regained his flexibility yet, but his combine was promising. He could go 3 ways. Doesn’t recover enough to stick, recovers enough to stick on the PS or gets healthy and is the steal of the draft. He is my favorite type of edge. A speed to power converter with plenty of length and motor to really do some damage.
I liked Ola Adeniyi – Toledo or Ada Aruna – Tulane as safer picks. But:
If he is healthy, I love this pick.
7 (231) Travin Howard – LB – TCU
No Bigboard Comments.
WTH, I have no idea where he fits. He is a 210 lb. LBer. So a conversion to S? I prefer to convert CBs to S, like John Johnson. And if anyone forgets how much I loved John Johnson before anyone else, I will not allow that to happen.
My guess – ST help or bust.
My least favorite pick, but its the 7th round.
7 (244) Justin Lawler – Edge – SMU
No Bigboard Comments.
He is a replacement for Connor Barwin with the ability to rush the passer. A bigger edge (Strong side) at 6-4″ 265 lbs.
He’s another high motor, high character, strong but a little limited athletically, defender. I think he has a shot to make it.
I like the pick.
LB Tegrey Scales was grabbed in UDFA. He was a personal favorite of mine. And ranked 151 on my bigboard. NFL.com likened him to Brandon Marshall…with a 5th round grade.
My bigboard Comments:
151. Tegrey Scales – ILB – Indiana – 6′-0″ 230 lbs. – A bit undersized for an ILB at 6′-0″. +instincts and is always moving forward. Has trouble disengaging from blocks at times.znModeratorRamBill
2018 NFL Draft: Micah Kiser is a perfect fit for the Rams’ defense
The Virginia LB should mesh well in Los Angeles===========
Micah Kiser selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round
Virginia linebacker heading west after going at the No. 147 overall pick.znModeratorRamBil]
Oklahoma Sooners Football – 2018 NFL Draft Profile: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
He has moves. He has a motor. He may have a bright future ahead.
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Former Oklahoma Sooners LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo selected by Los Angeles Rams in 5th Round
The reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year is now a Los Angeles Ram!
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April 29, 2018 at 12:35 am in reply to: Rams draft in general — tweets n bits n posts n articles etc. #85637znModeratorSelecting 11 Players, Snead, McVay Pleased with 2018 Draft Class
After three long days, the 2018 NFL Draft has officially come to a close. And although the Rams were slated to select eight players in this year’s event, Los Angeles finished with 11 in total — including 10 players selected on Day 3 alone.
Los Angeles kicked things off in the fourth round on Saturday, choosing offensive lineman Brian Allen at No. 111 and defensive end John Franklin at No. 135. The franchise then selected two linebackers to bolster its defense, picking up Micah Kiser at No. 147 and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo at No. 160.
L.A. added running back John Kelly (No. 176), offensive lineman Jamil Demby (No. 192), defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph (No. 195), and outside linebacker Trevon Young (No. 205) in the sixth round. And the club chose linebacker Trevin Howard (No. 231) and defensive lineman Justin Lawler (No. 244) in the seventh.
These 10 picks along with the clubs’ Day 2 selection — offensive lineman Joseph Noteboom at No. 89 — make up the Rams’ 2018 draft class.
“To be able to come away with 11 players that we feel good about and that really supplement us with some depth on both sides of the line, those are things that you feel really good about,” head coach Sean McVay said.
After bringing in Noteboom as a potential successor for Andrew Whitworth at left tackle, the Rams continued to add depth on their offensive line at the top of the fourth round.
While the Rams O-line was arguably one of the best in 2017, it features two starters who are on the back nine of their NFL careers. Noteboom and Allen fill that long-term need on the roster. They’re characterized as two durable, young players who will have the chance to develop greatly under Whitworth and center John Sullivan.
And in what was a talented pool of offensive linemen, general manager Les Snead said Allen’s tape in particular stood out.
“Not only does he block people, he just finishes, gets in position and drives people off the ball,” Snead said of Allen. “Just a fun guy to watch. But other than that a really good technician, a very smart, great guy.”
After taking two big men on offense, the Rams focused on the other side of the ball, selecting their first defensive player. Franklin finished his collegiate career as one of Stephen F. Austin’s top defensive performers of all-time and should provide depth on Los Angeles’ D-line.
Then it was time for the club’s first of five trades on Day 3. Instead of picking at No. 137 as originally slated, L.A. sent that selection to the Panthers in exchange for No. 147 and No. 197.
“Knowing that we didn’t have picks early and we focused on those middle rounds, we did think that if we could turn some of those into more picks, we’d have a [better] chance to get some fits and fill some roles,” Snead said. “That was the strategy and we were able to do that today.”
And with their additional fifth-round picks, Snead focused on linebackers. Not only were the Rams able to bring in two ILBs in Kiser and Howard, they were also able to supplement their depth on the outside with Okoronkwo and Young.
“You like some of the depth that you’re able to create with some guys that can play on the edges,” McVay said of the latter. “You’ve [now] got some different guys coming off the edge that can play that ‘Sam’ and ‘Will’ linebacker spot.”
“You’re able to address the inside linebacker spot with a guy like Micah Kiser, who is a great communicator and has got a great command,” he added. “And then you talk about Howard from TCU and some of the things that he’s been able to do athletically.”
The Rams added Kelly in the sixth round, who, according to McVay, will “add some toughness to that room, [along with some] added competition.”
“When you look at it, any time you’re able to acquire people that can make plays with the ball in their hands, that’s always something exciting,” McVay said. “We feel like he will be a really good complement to Todd Gurley, and we have Malcolm Brown in place [too].”
The final two picks of the sixth round saw Los Angeles drafting yet another offensive and defensive lineman. As was the case with several of the selections above, Demby and Joseph are solid prospects who will bring even more depth to the Rams 90-man roster.
Finally, the Rams capped off their Day 3 with a seventh-round pick acquired in a trade with Atlanta. Listed at
6-foot-4, 265 pounds, Lawler is a solid defensive player with an impressive skill set on special teams as well — tying a national lead with three blocked kicks in his senior season.
And following a recent trend in the club’s draft history, Lawler was one of several participants in this year’s Senior Bowl.
“You get to see guys go compete against really good seniors in their class,” Snead said. “A lot of times depending on what conference the player came to, you’ll get to see [them compete against a higher level] at the Senior Bowl. And I do think it helps you go, ‘OK, some of the traits he has will transfer into this league.”
With the 2018 NFL Draft having come to a close, the real work will begin for the coaching staff and its 11 new additions. Though the Rams will not have a traditional rookie minicamp — as the team did last season — the club will hold a “tryout camp” of sorts in the coming weeks.
“It’s a credit to feeling good about some of the depth that you have some understanding with some of the guys that are available in the latter half of the draft and through free agency,” McVay said. “Our guys have done a great job with that and I think that comfort level that we do have enabled us to take that approach.”
“We’ll go to work and get them on the field and start developing them,” Snead added.
April 29, 2018 at 12:14 am in reply to: Rams draft in general — tweets n bits n posts n articles etc. #85635znModeratorSimmons & Farr on the Rams 2018 Draft
April 29, 2018 at 12:09 am in reply to: Rams draft in general — tweets n bits n posts n articles etc. #85633znModeratorAndrew Whitworth@awhitworth77
2018 @NFL draftees congrats! Enjoy the moment! 2018 UDFA’s go claim your spot! Time to put the work in, embrace the challenge, trust yourself, and find out how much it means to you to chase the best player/person that you can be daily!! Go get it! 💪🏼!
#06draftwestillhereJoe Curley@vcsjoecurley
Per @Jason_OTC, Rams needed to make Tavon Austin deal to create enough cap room to sign rookiesAndrew Brandt@AndrewBrandt
And my favorite story of my career when signing an undrafted player:
I once told a player we would sign him for a $500 bonus. His response: “I only have about $100 now, but I can get you the rest next week.J.B. Long@JB_Long
Ogbo Okoronkwo (6) assumes @RamsNFL lead for most Os in name. Joseph Noteboom (4) had made strong move to overtake Robert Woods, Pharoh Cooper (3). With Cooper Kupp & Ethan Westbrooks, @MylesASimmons @Alden_Gonzalez @Rich_Hammond @LATimesklein will replace keyboard Os at the bye.znModeratorMyles Simmons@MylesASimmons
Snead calls C Brian Allen a “really good technician” and “very smart.” Adds he’s a “great guy, but mean on the field.”znModeratorMyles Simmons@MylesASimmons
McVay calls Micah Kiser a “great communicator” at the inside linebacker position.znModeratorJon Ledyard@LedyardNFLDraft
Rams nailed it by picking Okoronkwo. He’s a perfect fit there. Similar to Samson Ebukam. And the kind of guy who will contribute on special teams right awayApril 28, 2018 at 11:50 pm in reply to: Snead, McVay, vid & transcript … + rookie conference calls… 4/28 #85628znModeratorRamBill did this:
Transcripts: Rams Rookies Conference Calls
TRANSCRIPT: Los Angeles Rams rookie OL Jamil Demby conference call
Here’s what the Rams’ versatile sixth-round offensive line had to say to the media today.==========
TRANSCRIPT: Los Angeles Rams rookie RB John Kelly conference call
Here’s what the Rams’ new backup for RB Todd Gurley had to say to the media last night.=========
TRANSCRIPT: Los Angeles Rams rookie EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo conference call
Here’s what the Rams’ newest player out of Oklahoma had to say to the media.=========
TRANSCRIPT: Los Angeles Rams rookie ILB Micah Kiser conference call
Here’s what the Rams’ first linebacker of the 2018 NFL Draft had to say to the media=========
TRANSCRIPT: Los Angeles Rams rookie DL John Franklin-Myers conference call
Here’s what the Rams’ first defensive draft pick of the 2018 NFL Draft had to say to the media.=========
TRANSCRIPT: Los Angeles Rams rookie C Brian Allen conference call
Here’s what the Rams’ new center had to say to the media.=========
TRANSCRIPT: Los Angeles Rams rookie DE Justin Lawler conference call
Here’s what the Rams’ final pick of the 2018 NFL Draft had to say to the media today.========
TRANSCRIPT: Los Angeles Rams rookie LB Travin Howard conference call
Here’s what the Rams’ penultimate pick of the 2018 NFL Draft had to say to the media today.========
TRANSCRIPT: Los Angeles Rams rookie EDGE Trevon Young conference call
Here’s what the Rams’ newest pass rusher out of Louisville said to the media today.=========
TRANSCRIPT: Los Angeles Rams rookie DL Sebastian Joseph conference call
Here’s what the Rutgers product had to say to the media today.znModeratorI thought it was the best Marvel movie. Some might disagree and rank this or that other one before it. It’s in the converstion though.
BUT. (And you will agree nittany): if we discuss it at all, it should be in a different thread. One that has huge WARNING SPOILERS signals in the subject titles to alert people who have not seen it yet.
You HAVE TO see this movie without knowing a SINGLE spoiler. That’s crucial all the way through the movie from beginning to end.
And it is impossible to discuss without bringing up spoilers.
I thought it had a couple of clunky character arcs (I will save comments on that for the WARNING SPOILERS thread) but for the most part it was just so well done, from the acting to the storylines.
…
znModeratorDeadpool sez:
Dalton Keene, DL, Illinois State – played inside out of position. Is a 34 End. had a game as a freshman in the NCG against NDSU. Not athletic, but a fierce worker. Glad he is out of the MVC.
Steven Mitchell, WR, USC – undersized wr that was never healthy. Has zero chance of even sniffing a PS spot.
Steven Parker, S, Oklahoma – The bizarro-JJ3, good against the run, plenty aggressive, but no pass defending instincts and little recovery.
Tegray Scales, LB, Indiana – awesome get, Alyo likes him as an OLB, I love him inside. A tad undersized but great instincts, looks like a leader on the field, not afraid to take on blockers. His size could be an issue. I had him ranked 151 (middle of the 5th) really love this pick.
znModeratorJust to put it in black n white.
3 OL (Noteboom, Allen, Demby)
3 DL (Franklin, Joseph, Lawler)
4 LB/edge (Okoronkwo, Kiser, Howard, Young)and 1 RB…no WR, no TE, no DBs, no CBs
Notice they drafted an entire front 7 (not that every one of them will make the cut).
That would be:
Okoronkwo…Kiser…Howard…Young
…Franklin……Joseph….LawlerSee the fits? Franklin is a DE/3-tech DT, Howard is Barron, Young is Barwin.
I don’t think this is a coincidence.
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