Observations from Rams training camp

Nate Latsch

http://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1570980-observations-from-rams-training-camp

ST. LOUIS — The Rams have only had one full team padded practice so far, but here are some early observations from training camp…

• Everyone knows this defensive group has talent and is expected to be one of the best in the NFL this season, but I’ve been surprised by the amount of depth they have. And it’s across the board with key reserves along the defensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary. That should help when they get hit with injuries, which we’ve already seen with second-year cornerback E.J. Gaines getting hurt.

• The lack of depth along the offensive line could really hurt the Rams if they suffer an injury there. There won’t be much game experience with whoever lines up with the starting unit, but there will be even less with the backups behind those guys.

• Second-year left tackle Greg Robinson worked to shed weight this season and looks to be in great shape. I’ve seen more false starts from him than I’d like to see, but it’s important to note he’s still young and still developing. He’s actually younger than most of his rookie offensive linemen teammates — supplemental pick Isaiah Battle is a few months younger than Robinson.

• The Rams have worked a lot on their playaction and screen games early in training camp and that’s to be expected with the young and inexperienced offensive line. Nick Foles will need to get the ball out quickly as often as he can to avoid getting hit. With his injury history, it’s imperative the Rams try to protect him at all costs.

• Seventh-round draft pick Martin Ifedi is an impressive physical specimen. I need to watch him more closely but he certainly looks the part. The Rams have been playing him at left defensive end, behind Chris Long and backup William Hayes, but if he impresses in the preseason like Ethan Westbrooks did a year ago Ifedi could position himself to be in the mix for a significant role in 2016 when Long (salary cap), Hayes (free agent) and Eugene Sims (free agent) could all be elsewhere.

• Westbrooks has been getting reps at defensive tackle, which can be considered a good sign that he’ll make the roster. The Rams have three good defensive tackles with Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers and Nick Fairley, but no established reserve behind those guys. Westbrooks’ ability to play either inside or out has to help his chances.

• Two second-year guys who have had strong training camps so far are safety Maurice Alexander and cornerback Marcus Roberson. The better those guys play, the more it will press the players ahead of them on the depth chart to perform better.

zn wrote:

we’re going to be very physical and very fast with a high tempo offense and a fly around defense.

My guess? A high tempo offense means quick ball control passing.

Which statistically anyway Foles is good at.

But it’s the Fisher Rams so IMO what they aim to do is execute ball control passing and the running game well enough to set up play action and other designed big plays.

This isn’t exactly accurate in how I am using the terms, but it’s 85% WCO and then 15% big play Coryell.

Except (and now my sarcasm bubbles up) if they execute it well and win games, they won’t call Foles “the checkdown king.”

Tipsheet: This must be Tavon Time for Rams

Jeff Gordon

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff-gordon/tipsheet-this-must-be-tavon-time-for-rams/article_2ca58330-adb3-508a-8e4a-7f9aae9d2392.html

Brian Schottenheimer can’t take the fall for Tavon Austin any more. The former Rams offensive coordinator is at the University of Georgia now, facing a whole different sort of professional pressure.

Frank Cignetti moved over to the Rams hot seat for this season and made some changes in the run-oriented attack. Nick Foles arrived to play quarterback, bringing a long arm and more height to the position.

Will these changes spur a breakout season from Austin? SI.com columnist Don Banks explored that topic:

If Nick Foles really is the answer at quarterback for the Rams this season, then the questions about Tavon Austin’s production might finally cease. See how that works? Shore up the Rams’ long-standing issues at the game’s most critical position, and the ripple effect promises to lead in a lot of different positive directions.

That’s the plan at least in St. Louis, where arguably no one stands to benefit more from Foles’s arrival than Austin, the undersized receiver-return specialist whose play has yet to live up to the lofty expectations that came with the Rams trading up to select him eighth overall in the 2013 draft, making him the first receiver taken.

Austin hears the steady background noise as he enters his pivotal third NFL season. He knows it’s time to show more than flashes of the tantalizing and versatile skill set that made him a top 10 pick. But he also realizes his first two years in the NFL featured four different Rams quarterbacks throwing to him, and 25 of those 32 games were started by the likes of career backups Kellen Clemens (nine), Shaun Hill (eight) and Austin Davis (eight). Sam Bradford, the Rams’ oft-injured franchise passer, played just seven games with Austin, losing most of the past two years to season-ending ACL tears. That most definitely was not the plan.

But enter Foles, the former Eagles starter who was traded to St. Louis in exchange for Bradford, and add in the elevation of Rams quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti to offensive coordinator in place of the departed Brian Schottenheimer, and there’s hope that a new quarterback and new play-caller will translate to a dramatically new level of playmaking impact by Austin. Sounds like a plausible preseason storyline, but only time will tell if it comes to pass.

Yes, well, because it’s up to Austin to prove he really is an impact player. Thus far he has been an eighth-overall pick playing like a third- or fourth-round selection.

Fans and experts alike blamed Schottenheimer for failing to utilize Austin correctly, but there is no evidence that Tavon can actually get separation against NFL defenses.

Did Rams quarterbacks fail to spot him because he is short? Or as it the fact he was seldom open?

Much of his activity to this point has come on swing passes, sweeps, slant passes, runs up the middle and the occasional ill-advised fade pass toward the end zone corner. He took a step back in Year 2, struggling to do what he is supposed to do best — make defenders miss in the open field.

And what about his route-running? The transition from college to the pro game these days can be very hard for receivers not trained to run precise NFL-style patterns.

So we’ll see about Austin. He appears to be healthy again, back to full speed. He is working hard and saying all the right things in his interviews.

There are no excuses now. It’s time to produce.

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while wondering how much gas is left in the Cardinal bullpen for today’s game:

Are you surprised that Bill Belichick has even heard of Snoop Dogg?

Should NFL players issue spoiler alerts while discussing “Game of Thrones” in their locker room?

What’s more entertaining than dog surfing?

WHAT OTHERS ARE WRITING

Here are sports takes from some of our favorite scribes:

Bill Barnwell, ESPN.com: “The 2014 Cardinals were an 11-5 team that outscored their opposition by a mere 11 points. There have been 88 other 11-5 teams since the league went to the 16-game schedule, and 86 of those 88 teams posted a better point differential than these Cardinals. Head coach Bruce Arians is very familiar with one of those two other teams, since he was at the helm for most of its stunning season as the interim head coach of the 2012 Colts. They kept their 11-win stretch up despite a variety of numerical indicators suggesting they would decline. The other example, the 2004 Falcons, dropped off from 11-5 to 8-8 the following year. Different paths! The 11-point differential suggests the Cardinals were basically about average. The Pythagorean expectation has them playing at the level of an 8.3-win team last season. That gap between their actual win total and their expected win total, 2.7 wins, is the largest in football. No other team had a gap of two wins or more, with the Bengals in second at 1.9 wins.”

Mike Tanier, Bleacher Report: “The Eagles’ offseason was so tumultuous that some of the stranger details were easy to forget. Frank Gore agreed to contract terms then backed away to sign with the Colts instead. (DeMarco) Murray and Ryan Mathews arrived at Eagles headquarters at the same time to apply for the same job; both were hired. Also, there were nonstop rumors about a Marcus Mariota trade. And then (Tim) Tebow. The final haul was heavy on players coming off major injuries (Sam Bradford, Kiko Alonso), players with hefty price tags (Bradford, Murray, Byron Maxwell), (Chip) Kelly’s former Oregon players (Alonso, Walter Thurmond), major risks and baffling questions. The Eagles’ offseason transactions flew in the face of both conventional wisdom and the football management survival instinct. A new coach on a rebuilding team might swap quarterbacks, running backs, and much more to jump-start his regime. But coaches of 10-win teams are hardwired to keep the team intact for 10 more wins so everyone stays employed. Gamble big and lose big, and the house goes on the market, the kids get pulled out of school, and everyone’s careers go (at best) sideways.”

MEGAPHONE

“Franchise quarterbacks hit the free-agent market? Name one. Unless they have an injury. So it’s going to be an onus on our scouting staff to find a guy in the lower first round, second or third round. We accept that challenge. It’s where we are, and it’s been good that we have enough talent around that we’re in that situation, but it’s not an easy answer. There isn’t.”

Buffalo Bills GM Doug Whaley, to WGR radio

Rams’ Maurice Alexander impressing in camp

Nate Latsch

http://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1570720-rams-maurice-alexander-impressing-in-camp?hootPostID=92a7bc9f2331330451c756647b043b0d

ST. LOUIS — Maurice Alexander came to Rams training camp a year ago as a fourth-round pick with a compelling story, but failed to make much of an impact as a rookie. Now, the safety impressing the coaching staff with his progress going into his second season.

For Alexander, being healthy has made a world of difference between his rookie season and his second training camp. He feels good now, maybe better than he’s felt since participating in his first organized team activities a year ago.

“It’s a big difference when you’re injured and when you’re not injured,” Alexander said. “We did a good job rehabbing in the offseason. I’ve been here the whole time. I’m from here, so I just stayed here and (worked hard). I feel good. I haven’t been 100 (percent) yet. I’m about 95 percent. I’ve been feeling good.”

The 24-year-old said his injury issues started during OTAs last year.

He would end up having surgeries to fix the meniscus in both of his knees before he would really feel better.

“It started with the left one, OTAs,” Alexander said. “Then I got to training camp, preseason, and I got my right one hit. Docs told me I was going to need surgery one of these days. They could tell there was loose cartilage in there.”

The 6-foot-1 safety, who said he now weighs 212 pounds after weighing in at the 2014 Combine at 220 pounds, said his focus was affected by the injuries throughout his rookie campaign.

“Last year I was more focused on my injuries,” Alexander said. “It’s hard to be injured and then try to think about plays and this and that. It was tough. I was trying my hardest to think last year but my mind would go right back to my leg, if I make this cut I’m going to hurt something, if I make this cut I’m going to hurt something. So this year I’m just focused directly on ball.”

The Eureka (Mo.) High School product’s increased focus has led to him impressing the coaching staff during OTAs and now in training camp. It’s still early in camp, but Alexander has been getting snaps working with the starting defense in place of Rodney McLeod, T.J. McDonald and Mark Barron at times.

No, that doesn’t mean the second-year player is going to steal the spot of one of those veteran safeties. But it does show how the coaching staff regards the youngster at this point.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams lauded Alexander during OTAs.

“If you want to talk about a guy that’s drastically different than last year, it’s Maurice,’’ Williams said. “He could hardly speak what we’re doing last year. He’d only played one season in college as a DB and now he’s in the NFL as a DB. Holy Cow, he was lost, but we knew he was talented. He’s had a great spring because he’s gotten more reps — next man up — because T.J. and Mark haven’t had as many.”

Rams coach Jeff Fisher called Alexander a “tremendous surprise” early in training camp when he was asked about returning all 11 starters from a year ago.

“We got the 11 (returning starters), but we also got some great competition at the backup spots, so we’ve got some depth,” Fisher said. “So, when you look at Maurice, for example, who’s just a tremendous surprise. You’re OK with him playing safety if you have a problem. That gives us a comfort level.”

Fisher was asked a few days later what, exactly, has made the youngster so impressive in his second training camp.

“You know he is playing really fast right now and that implies that he knows what to do,” the veteran coach said. “I mean he’s sure, he’s decisive. He makes good decisions. He is reacting. He’s very athletic and he’s playing fast. He’s going to make a lot of plays for us.”

Alexander was considered a bit of a project a year ago when the Rams selected him in the fourth round (No. 110 overall) out of Utah State.

He was a defensive lineman and linebacker in high school and played linebacker in college — he spent two years at Arizona Western College before Utah State — before later switching to safety.

He also got into trouble at Utah State. He was kicked off the team and ended up in jail after a fight with a friend and teammate. It was during Alexander’s time away from his college team, back in 2012, that he worked as a janitor at the Edward Jones Dome and cleaned up after Rams games.

It was then that Alexander could only dream of one day playing for the Rams … and it was only a dream at that point.

That’s also why he said he can’t be too disappointed by his rookie season, in which he appeared in just nine games and recorded seven special teams tackles.

“I dealt with way worse adversity than that,” Alexander said. “I always stay positive in everything I do. It’s hard to bring me down. I’m always positive.”

And now he’s making a positive impression on the coaching staff after working hard to bounce back from the injuries and learn the playbook.

“The coaching staff makes it very easy for me,” he said. “We’ve got great coaches. We’ve got Dennard (Wilson). We’ve got Brandon (Fisher). We’ve got Gregg (Williams), Chuck (Cecil), all those guys. They just make it easy. Once you’ve got coaches like that, they make it more simple.”

So far in training camp, it’s been like night and day from a year ago.

“It comes and goes,” Alexander said. “It’s very fast. I’m taking advantage of every moment.”

Micheal Young joined Kevin Wheeler to talk about some the media’s early predictions for the Rams, and he gave his thoughts on Frank Cignetti’s new system and some of the other storylines in Earth City.

I see out there that this one gets a lot of praise.

I thought it was a good listen.

Here’s a detail:

***

RangerRam

[Young talks] about foles’ not looking that great–holding ball . . . .
but looked good in 2 minute . . . .

good listen

***

Young discusses Foles at about 7:25 in.

.

Rams think Tavon Austin can have a “breakout year”

josh Alper

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/08/05/rams-think-tavon-austin-can-have-a-breakout-year/

Last year’s rookie class of wide receivers was as good or better than any the league has seen, but the first receiver taken in the 2013 draft hasn’t had the same kind of success.

Tavon Austin has 71 catches for 660 yards through his first two seasons with the Rams, but the team doesn’t think Austin’s been wholly responsible for his low production. Sam Bradford’s torn ACLs have left the Rams with backup quarterbacks for most of Austin’s time, something the team feels has stifled their creativity on offense as a whole.

Nick Foles is in town now and Austin told Don Banks of SI.com that he thinks they’ll “make some plays” this year. Coach Jeff Fisher believes Foles’s height (he’s 6’5″) will help Austin tap into what the team hasn’t been able to access thus far.

“This has nothing to do with Tavon,” Fisher said. “It’s not a reflection on what he’s done. Tavon has done everything he possibly can. He’s in great shape, and he’s highly talented and a passionate teammate. This has been more about the circumstances of our situation. This potentially could be a breakout year for him. Because he’s got the potential to win outside and inside.”

General Manager Les Snead agrees with Fisher and compares Austin to a thoroughbred “ready to break” from the gates. The Rams offense needs that kind of threat and Austin needs to make that break to prove his quiet first two years have been a result of circumstances.

12intheBox

SOME FOLLOW-UP

I finally understood what others meant when they talked about GZ hitting the guy in the box. The coaches have these platforms that they stand on that elevate like 40 yards off the ground for an arial look. They have one of these behind the goal post – and while I didn’t see Greg hit the guy – it’s clear that he would need to be aiming for him – the guy is up there.

A guy I didn’t touch on much was Tree. As a caveat, Tree was one of my guys pre draft so I look at him with rose colored glasses. He didn’t flash a ton in this practice to me – but what I did notice is his coverage – especially on the tight ends in the flats – he was nice and physical off the line with them and stuck with them thru the sidelines on the skeleton drills I watched.

As for D Rodriguez, I think the PS is in his future. Yeah, he is catching the ball out there but he is going up against 2s and mostly 3s when he does.

All in all, I was surprised how quiet practice was. Gregg Williams was animated early in practice but even he quieted down. Most of that is probably just a distance from the action thing. Hopefully, they will do more work on the near field next time. I mentioned a few skirmishes and they were just that. About 4-5 seconds of pushing for the worst of them – all followed by smiles – which I took to be a decent sign of discipline.

Chris Long was a lot like JL – just hustling from drill to drill. I didn’t see him flash much – not sure if was full go for practice or not – but he was setting a good practice tone as a leader.

Every now and then I would catch a ball rocketing into the air and it would be Hekker just launching one. It’s even more impressive in person than it is on TV.

For a team that wants to run the ball, they sure threw a lot in practice. Id say it was 65/35 pass/run at the best. May have been the focus of this practice – but that’s about what I saw.

It was impossible to see what kind of holes the O line was putting together in the run game – a few runs got stuffed early and a few broke free – but they weren’t tackling all the way to the ground and Mason was playing well thru the whistle which gave the impression that some runs were going longer than they really would have. Several of the deep passes clearly would have been sacks as well if the bullets were live.

101 ESPN was reporting live and interviewed Aaron Donald after the practice – he is a thick man and he was very patient with the fans to sign, take pictures, etc – even though it wasn’t D Line autograph day.

Keep in mind with these “reports” that luck plays a big part in what I see. There are like 6 different drills going on at a time, so when I see a negative or a positive – it’s just a chance thing. Extremely small sample sizes for my impressions on all of these guys.

Thursday’s focus is going to be O line for me on offense and probably DBs on defense – assuming I can see a bit better.

Gore on Luck: ‘He runs the huddle. I never had that’

By Kevin Patra

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000506767/article/gore-on-luck-he-runs-the-huddle-i-never-had-that

During his 10-year run with the San Francisco 49ers, Frank Gore was part of teams that went to a Super Bowl and three consecutive NFC Championship games.

The running back told NFL Media’s Nate Burleson on Tuesday that his new Indianapolis Colts team could be the best collection of offensive talent he’s played with, and he specifically singled out Andrew Luck.

“I think if we keep working and keep going and get that gelled, I think by far it can,” Gore said. “Especially with No. 12, man. I’m not knocking my other quarterbacks, I respect them other guys, but being around this guy a couple months, he’s a different breed. He’s smart. He makes me feel young. He runs the huddle. I never had that.”

During his stint with the 49ers, Gore played with quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick, Alex Smith and Shaun Hill, among others. None came close to possessing Luck’s talent and poise.

Playing with a superstar quarterback should allow Gore more room to run. As Around The NFL’s Chris Wesseling broke down last month, Gore, even at 32, displayed pop down the stretch last season, carrying 61 times for 302 yards in his final two games in San Francisco.

The veteran running back believes he has plenty left in the tank. He could join Barry Sanders with 10-plus consecutive seasons averaging 4-plus yards per carry.

“I feel that I have to prove something to my team,” he said. “What I done in San Francisco, that’s done. That’s in the past.”

With Luck, Gore, T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson, Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett, the Colts are poised to battle the Packers and Steelers for the NFL’s top offense in 2015.

Rams Training Camp: Fisher, Saffold & Mason

This Rams Training Camp features head coach Jeff Fisher talking about his young offensive line. Roger Saffold also comments on all of the rookies that will contribute to the 2-15 Rams O-line. Tre Mason talks about the competition at running back, especially when rookie first round pick Todd Gurley is completed cleared to participate after knee surgery last season while playing at the University of Georgia.

http://fox2now.com/2015/08/04/rams-training-camp-fisher-saffold-mason/

———–

Rams Training Camp: Foles, Davis and Barnes

Rams Training Camp rolls on. In this report, new quarterback Nick Foles says he leaves his contract up to his agent, although he is enjoying playing for the Rams already, before his first ever game with his new team. Sports Director Martin Kilcoyne, also talked about the competition for the backup quarterback spot, which includes last year’s main quarterback, Austin Davis. Former Mizzou center Tim Barnes is in competition for the starting spot at center. He talks about his hopes to finally be a starter in the NFL.

http://fox2now.com/2015/08/04/rams-training-camp-foles-davis-and-barnes/

2015 NFL Predictions: NFC West in-depth preview

by Aryan von Eicken

tp://nflspinzone.com/2015/08/03/2015-nfl-predictions-nfc-west-depth-preview/4/

St. Louis Rams:

Key Additions: QB Nick Foles, DT Nick Fairley, OLB Akeem Ayers, RB Todd Gurley, T Rob Havenstein

The Rams needed a change at QB, as they simply didn’t want to deal with the constant injuries to Bradford. Statistically Foles will not be as good as he was in Philly, but I think they made a good trade here and got a solid QB. Fairley was a low risk signing and will give the Rams three good DT’s.

Ayers looked like he might already wash out of the league before getting traded to the Patriots, but then he blossomed. He should be a solid addition to this great defense. Gurley has the potential to be a star if he can get back into his pre-injury shape. Havenstein was a very good right tackle in college and that should transfer to the pro level and he will start right away and help the decimated line.

Key Losses: QB Sam Bradford,T Mike Person, T Joe Barksdale, T Jake Long, G Davin Joseph DE Kendall Langford

Bradford was driving the Rams management crazy with his injuries, so they shipped him out and they are happy to be rid of him, though when healthy he could be a good QB. The Rams seemingly wanted to revamp their offensive line. Letting Long go was a no brainer, especially after his season ending injury last year, as he was simply owed to much.

Barksdale is a solid tackle, but the Rams seem satisfied with who they have. Person isn’t very good as he showed when he started the entire 2014 season. Joseph also started the entire 2014 season, but the Rams were not satisfied either. Langford is a good player, but the Rams are so stacked on the defensive line, that he was not needed.

Verdict:

The Rams offense will be the key to their season this year. Nick Foles is a good quarterback, but nobody who can put a team on his shoulders and lead them. That role must go to the running game which will feature Gurley and Mason. That will be a nasty combination and should have a lot of success, if the line can play at least decently.

Foles main targets will be Britt, Austin,Quick, Bailey and Cook. All four WR’s are very decent, but won’t blow you away and Cook is an above average tight end who should help Foles. The line will be key for the success and the pressure will be on the rookie RG and RT. If they can play well, the line will be good and Rams offense will have some success.

This defense is great. If Long can return from injury as good as he was prior, the Rams defensive line is the best in the NFL. Loaded with four first round picks, Long, Donald,Brockers and Quinn will be an unstoppable force, both in stopping the run and the pass. Ogletree and Laurinaitis are both great linebackers.

Ayers is clearly the worst player on this front seven, but that is no shame when you see the quality of players he is surrounded by. The secondary is their weak spot, but it isn’t all too bad. Gaines was surprisingly good last year and if he can repeat that, him and Jenkins will be a solid duo. McLeod and McDonald are also solid safeties which results in a decent secondary too complete a very good defense.

Prediction:

Best Case Record: 12-4

Worst Case Record: 8-8

Prediction: 11-5

Team’s Offensive MVP: T Greg Robinson

Team’s Defensive MVP: DT Aaron Donald

Rookie Standout: T Rob Havenstein

My prediction obviously displays my belief in the Rams this year. I think they have the talent to really have a great year. A lot of that will depend on the passing game, but if that can come through, they will be on the road to success. Best case scenario is that they get through the division with a 5-1 or 4-2 record and just lose a few games against both North divisions.

Worst case scenario is that the Rams continue their unpredictable play in which they seem to be able to beat any team, but they can also lose to most teams too. In that case the offense will really disappoint and the secondary will be very inconsistent and struggle at times.

And then there’s this:

St. Louis Rams Defensive Stat Predictions

by Curt Popejoy

There aren’t many teams in the league that can boast the type of individual talent on defense that the St. Louis Rams can. They Rams project to have nine of their 11 starters on defense being drafted in the first three rounds, including five first-round picks. With all that talent, they should be able to really do some damage.

The stars of this show are the defensive linemen. All four starters, and the first guy off the bench area all former first-round choices and can create beautiful havoc up front. The Rams have two exceptional linebackers, and a pair of defensive backs poised for greatness. Let’s take a shot at some predictions for these defensive superstars.

Defensive Line

Chris Long, defensive end: 61 total tackles, 9.5 sacks

Michael Brockers, defensive tackle: 34 total tackles, 3.0 sacks

Aaron Donald, defensive tackle: 67 total tackles, 13.5 sacks

Robert Quinn, defensive end: 50 total tackles, 16.5 sacks

Nick Fairley, defensive tackle: 31 total tackles, 7.5 sacks

Keep in mind that Fairley is likely a situational pass-rushing defensive tackle for the Rams initially. I think he’ll eventually supplant the one-dimensional Brockers, but for now, those numbers will come in a reserve role. Donald and Quinn are going to monstrous this season. Just mark it down. St. Louis might have the best pass-rushing defensive end and all-around defensive tackle on their team.

Linebackers

Alec Ogletree, outside linebacker: 135 total tackles, 3 sacks, 3 interceptions

James Laurinaitis, outside linebacker: 115 total tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions

Akeem Ayers, outside linebacker: 72 total tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception

This is a huge year for Ogletree. I expect him to really step up, and take those tackles away from the defensive backs behind him. Too many plays in 2014 got past this group of linebackers, but I’m counting on big improvement across the board. Keeping plays in front of them, and limit big plays by opposing offenses.

Defensive Backs

T.J. McDonald, safety: 115 total tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 sacks

Janoris Jenkins, cornerback: 48 total tackles, 4 interceptions

E.J. Gaines, cornerback: 68 total tackles, 6 interceptions

Rodney McCloud, safety: 73 total tackles, 2 interceptions

Over the past two seasons, the secondary has been something of a weak link for the Rams. Perhaps this year they can right the ship, and create some turnovers. McDonald and McCloud are a grossly underrated tandem at safety, and a full season of Gaines is going to really excite fans.

As for Rhaney, he suffered his injury while getting bull-rushed blocking on the Rams’ extra point unit in practice last August. He suffered , and in the process Rhaney said his tibia and fibula bones “banged together,” resulting in a fracture.

There was no ligament damage and no surgery. But Rhaney had to use crutches as the injury healed.

Some have speculated that Rhaney was a “redshirt stash” on IR. I have even done a bit of that myself.

Well, apparently not. A hyper-extended knee resulting in a fracture? Ouch.

Rams make roster moves

Nate Latsch

http://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1570369-rams-make-roster-moves

ST. LOUIS — The Rams made some roster moves on Tuesday, signing an undrafted rookie cornerback and releasing a wide receiver who spent time on the team’s practice squad last season.

The Rams signed Trovon Reed and released Devon Wylie in a move that adds another cornerback to the roster with two corners currently dealing with injuries.

“We’ve got Brandon McGee that’s about a week away, so we needed some help,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “So we signed a corner (Trovon) Reed from Auburn and had to let Devon go. The hard part about camp, but we just want to make sure that we keep our corners legs’ fresh.”

The 5-foot-11, 191-pound Reed was a five-star wide receiver prospect from Thibodaux, La. — the same hometown as Rams’ left tackle Greg Robinson — who signed with Auburn over LSU as a high school senior.

He had just 39 receptions for 384 yards and one touchdown in three seasons as a wide receiver before he switched to cornerback. He recorded 12 tackles, three interceptions and four passes defensed in 12 games a year ago as a senior and went undrafted.

Reed signed with the Seattle Seahawks but was released.

Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout and CBS Sports listed Reed as his 44th best cornerback prospect going into the 2015 Draft.

“Reed is obviously raw and still learning the dos and don’ts at the position, but uses smooth footwork to mirror and shadow receivers and shows the physical nature needed in run support, despite being new to the responsibility,” Brugler wrote in his scouting report. “He requires patience as he continues his development on defense, but Reed shows promise with his size, athleticism and confidence to be a coach’s project during training camp.”

Wylie was a fourth-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2012 and had played in a total of 12 regular season games with the Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers between the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He was on the Rams’ practice squad last year.