Rams to be tested by Lions receiver Marvin Jones, who has replaced the retired Calvin Johnson

JACK WANG / STAFF WRITER

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-731991-goff-jones.html

The Rams and the Lions are only 10 months removed from their most recent meeting, which the former won by a touchdown. But according to Jim Caldwell, that doesn’t necessarily mean there will be much familiarity heading into Sunday’s rematch at Ford Field.

“The team changes probably about 30 percent or so each and every year,” the Detroit coach said. “And you add a few injuries to that and it’s almost a completely different group that you’re working with.”

Both teams are hoping for change, having finished with 7-9 records in 2015.

But while the Rams have undergone plenty of transformation – moving across two time zones, drafting and sitting a No. 1 overall pick in Jared Goff – it’s the Lions who are moving into a distinctly new era.

This past offseason, Calvin Johnson quietly retired, forgoing grand announcements but nevertheless drawing his fair share of tributes. Former teammate Nate Burleson, a receiver-turned-analyst, wrote about his skill and humility – while also encouraging him to somehow sign with the Patriots and get a Super Bowl ring. Charles Tillman, who lined up across from Johnson for years as a Bears cornerback, narrated an open letter produced by NFL Films.

Considering his six Pro Bowls and single-season record for receiving yards, it was a fitting farewell – one that also left the Lions with a problem.

“There’s no way humanly possible to replace Calvin Johnson,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Wednesday. “But they’ve done a good job, and they’ve got weapons all over the place now.”

One in particular stands out. The key to Detroit’s post-Megatron effort has been Marvin Jones, whom the team signed to a five-year deal worth up to $40 million.

The signing did not send shockwaves around the NFL. Since entering the league as a fifth-round pick out of Cal in 2012, Jones has been more widely regarded as a capable second or third receiver – one who could be effective in an offense that included another top weapon. Playing next to A.J. Green in Cincinnati, Jones twice topped 700 receiving yards, totaling 14 touchdown catches in his last two healthy seasons.

But in his first five games as a top target this season, the 6-foot-2 wideout has outperformed expectations. His league-leading 519 receiving yards put him just ahead of Green, who has 518, as well as other Pro Bowl receivers such as Julio Jones (517), T.Y. Hilton (507), and Antonio Brown (447).

“He’s explosive,” said Rams cornerback Troy Hill, who got a close look at Marvin Jones when they were both in Cincinnati.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was nonchalant about the transition. Although he acknowledged that losing a talent such as Johnson “affects some things,” he said it didn’t take him long to adjust to life without the future Hall of Famer.

“You get out there on the field, and you throw to the guys you have, and whoever is open gets the ball,” Stafford said. “That’s kind of how I’ve always been.”

Still, Jones deserves credit for his production, particularly given his new surroundings.

“He’s one of those guys that has a natural knack for the position,” Caldwell said. “I think he’s a very fine route-runner, but he’s also a guy that’s really a stickler for details. He and Matt worked intensely for quite a while during the spring and that is still carrying over even today.

“I don’t think you ever really get a real good feel for one another until you’ve kind of been through it all together. But I think they’re working in that direction.”

Zooey wrote:

I flew into LA Friday morning etc.

sanbagger wrote:

would like to see a little more aggressive approach in the Red Zone, but they may be a coaches preference thing.

I just thought that Buffalo is very stingy in the redzone and that there was nothing there. Not for Keenum anyway, who is a touch passer and isn’t going to laser 10 yarders between defenders.

Buffalo is 2nd best in the league in redzone TD percentage. 2nd only to Carolina. Seattle btw is 6th.

Tampa is 20th. Arizona is 27th. Detroit is 32nd.

…

Agamemnon wrote:

The game is back up on YouTube.

Thanks ag.

.

The first two weeks we were 6 of 27 on third down (22.2%). The last 3 weeks we were 16 of 39 (41.0%)

That would rank 13th.

Practice Report 10/11: Without Johnson, Young DBs to Receive Opportunities

By Myles Simmons

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Practice-Report-1011-Without-Johnson-Young-DBs-to-Receive-Opportunities/d7da0296-ffc0-4e5d-a0af-4db31a210cae

When cornerback Trumaine Johnson exited Sunday’s game against the Bills with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter, Troy Hill stepped in and played in Johnson’s place opposite E.J. Gaines on the outside. The same lineup appears likely for this week in Detroit, after head coach Jeff Fisher delivered an update on Johnson’s condition following Tuesday’s practice.

“He’s probably not going to go this week,” Fisher said. “It’ll be week-to-week.”

And if Johnson is indeed unavailable?

“Troy steps up like he did in the game,” Fisher said. “I can sleep at night knowing that E.J. is back and playing good.”

Hill started the Rams’ victories over the Buccaneers and Cardinals in Weeks 3 and 4, respectively, before Gaines got back in the lineup opposite Johnson on Sunday. On Tuesday, Hill described what he’s looking to improve as a starter this time around.

“I’ve just got to play the game — not try to make the big play,” Hill said. “Just stay calm and just stay focused and stay true to my technique and fundamentals. Just let it come to me.”

According to Fisher, those are two strengths of Hill’s game that come through when he plays.

“He understands what we’re doing and he can really run and he has got ball skills,” Fisher said. “Even though he’s a little slight, he’s a run-support guy.”

Hill also recognizes that teams will likely throw at him whenever he’s out there. Seattle seemed to pick on him in Week 2, and he recorded 11 tackles against the Buccaneers in Week 3 — illustrating just how much quarterback Jameis Winston went after him.

But the young cornerback is used to the approach, as teams have been doing it to him for as long as he’s been playing.

“You’ve just got to expect it, especially when you’re not the big-time corner and you don’t have a lot of experience — that’s what you’ve got to expect,” Hill said. “So every play I’m out there, I have to expect the ball is coming to me. … And it just makes you a lot hungrier to make the plays and prove yourself.”

Hill’s counterpart on the opposite side of the field expects him to do just that.

“I think that he’s a confident player, man,” Gaines said. “I think that he’s going to go out there and play well in Tru’s spot.”

ADDING GRATZ

While Hill may be in Johnson’s spot for now, the club also added depth at cornerback by picking up Dwayne Gratzoff waivers. The Jaguars picked Gratz in the third round of the 2013 draft, and the cornerback has made three interceptions, 12 passes defensed, and 119 tackles for Jacksonville in the four seasons since.

“We were really surprised. We were doing our homework with the potential with Trumaine’s injury and the lack of depth there, so we did our research,” Fisher said. “We kind of got wind that they were going to make a choice there — they did, they let Dwayne go. We submitted the claim and we were awarded the claim. He’ll be there in the morning.”

Fisher said he liked Gratz coming out of Connecticut, adding the club was excited to have him aboard.

“Great, great young man, really smart, a team guy,” Fisher said. “I think he was a little caught off guard by the release. Yeah, he’ll be here in the morning and we’re get him coached up as quick as we can to play special teams — he played predominately inside for them the last year and a half, but has the skills to play outside.”

And with a game across the pond coming up, the Rams have avoided a potential issue, given the team Gratz is coming from.

“He’s familiar with London — that’s the last place he played, so he’s going back. I didn’t have to ask him if he had a passport or not,” Fisher said with a laugh.

nittany ram wrote:

Keenum threw for 270 yds with over an 8 yard per attempt average. Subtact the pick 6 and it was probably his best day as a Ram. He completed passes to 6 different receivers.

The receivers didn’t drop any passes that I recall.

sanbagger wrote:

1) CK had a 68% completion percentage and is getting better each game
2) Gurley started finding some room
3) The receivers did a great job catching the ball and were getting a lot of YAC
4) The O had some chemistry

I would add that the D stepped up in the 2nd half, even in its depleted state.

I liked Malcolm Brown.

I really liked the play where CK ducked out from under a rush, ran forward to the LOS and found Quick for a good play. That;s just not the kind of play you usually see from a Rams qb and WR … in fact maybe for years and years. That’s usually the kind of play you see someone make against the Rams.

off the net from alyoshamucci

Huge fan of Gratz …

I don’t know what happened with he and the other kid they drafted that year … but my guess is he was not utilized correctly. Long arms … like … crazy long.

Had to look it up, 32 1/8th … ran a 4.47 and put up 22 reps

With star CB Trumaine Johnson (high-ankle sprain) set to miss a few weeks, the #Rams were awarded ex-#Jaguars CB Dwayne Gratz off waivers

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 11, 2016

===

Report: Tru Johnson has high-ankle sprain

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/7530/trumaine-johnson

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports Rams LCB Trumaine Johnson will be sidelined a “few weeks” with a high-ankle sprain.

A high-ankle sprain was always the most likely diagnosis after a fracture was ruled out. Johnson will miss multiple games, something the Rams tacitly confirmed by claiming CB Dwayne Gratz off waivers. It’s a big loss, as Johnson has been amongst the best corners in the league this season. It means more snaps for E.J. Gaines and Troy Hill, and perhaps Gratz.

leoram

Obvious points:

Wentz is a generational QB in the mold of Rothlisberger.

Keemun has limitations.

Goff would take time to learn the system.

Goff may be talented and better someday than Wentz but we won’t see that for awhile.

Keemun played well against Buffalo within the structure of this offense.

If our O Line were better, Keenum and Gurley would be better….so would Goff.

Our offense, while getting better, lacks downfield threat.

Wentz was schooled and experienced at play action behind center.

We Ram fans are frustrated over this loss and need to vent.

We all want to see Goff on the field soon.

Fisher is a coach that divides our loyalties because we expect to win.

2013 SCOUTING REPORT

CB DWAYNE GRATZ

5’11”
201LBS

OVERVIEW

Even though Connecticut’s 2011 Orange Bowl, 48-20, blowout loss to Oklahoma was not particularly fine moment for the Huskies -– or Big East Conference football -– Gratz actually matched his team’s offensive point total (six, as the other touchdown came on a kickoff return) by intercepting Sooners quarterback Landry Jones and returning the ball 46 yards to the end zone. Making that sort of play as a sophomore, and building on it over the next two years, has allowed scouts to project him as mid to late-round pick.

Gratz was a first-team all-region pick in Piscataway, N.J., as well as an all-county pick in track (he set the school record in the 55-meter hurdles), but Big East rival Rutgers couldn’t lock him up. In his redshirt freshman season, he played in all 13 games, coming on to start four of the last five games of the regular season (20 tackles, four pass break-ups). He started all 13 games of UConn’s co-Big East championship 2010 season (63 tackles, two interceptions, nine pass break-ups) that unfortunately ended with the BCS bowl loss to the Sooners. The team didn’t make it to a bowl at all in 2011, though Gratz played well enough as a 12-game starter (53 tackles, 4.5 for loss, three interceptions, four pass breakups) to garner second-team All-Big East honors from league coaches. As a senior, Gratz registered 53 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He was named second-team All-Big East for the second consecutive year.

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS Combines NFL height and overall strength. Stays low in his stance and when opening up in bail coverage. Good closing ability, quick to attack short passes to knock them away or make the tough tackle. Aggressive hitter, can put his helmet on the ball or cut down ballcarriers equally well near the line or in space. Used as a blitzer regularly and is fast to close off cutback lanes on run plays when uncovered. Quick hands and feet to consistently beat receiver blocks. Capable of making the interception with his hands or body on poor throws, fair ball skills to grab low or high passes.

WEAKNESSES Aggressiveness can be used against him, keeps his eyes in the backfield a long time, allowing his man to get deep and he lacks pure recovery speed to catch up. Struggles to track the football. Drops his head and goes down to the ground too early on some tackle attempts. Backpedal can be slow and choppy. Looks to be stiff in the hips.

BOTTOM LINE Gratz first stepped into the limelight with a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown against Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones in the team’s 48-20 loss to the Sooners in the 2011 Orange Bowl. He followed that up with two consecutive second-team All-Big East seasons, using his NFL-quality size, strength, and agility to handle receivers on the outside. As there are some questions about his long speed and hips, a potential move to safety could be in his future. However, Gratz will still likely find himself selected in the middle to late rounds.