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znModeratorWyatt Miller@wymill07
New Rams CB Roger McCreary has played almost exclusively in the slot over the past 2 seasons. Quentin Lake is the Rams’ primary slot defender and has a 100% snap share.
When Sean McVay was asked by @AdamGrosbard how McCreary fits into this defense, this was his response:
znModeratorJim Youngblood 53@53_jim70721
Just guessing … McCreary to slot and Lake to dime LBer in place of McCullough.
McCreary, could play perimeter CB, taking reps from CD, EF, DW.
Could also play slot and Lake plays safety and either Curl or Kinchens get benched.
Or McCreay slot, Lake S, Curl dime LB
With this set of DBs, McCreary, Lake, Curl McCullough they can do lots of combos.
I am curious to see …could go 7 DBs with 2 safeties as LBers
…
The McCreary signing gives LA one of the better young Nickels in the NFL & allows Lake to play as the Dime.
The Rams run Dime on almost a third of their snaps, 10 more points than the second-place Giants.
Also gives them a hybrid CB that can play inside or out for depth.
— https://t.co/YonSsWoqDe pic.twitter.com/ldH5Ld2Gty— Cody Alexander (@The_Coach_A) October 27, 2025
znModeratorRoger McCreary, playing slot, rotates to deep 1/2 safety in a non-traditional Tampa-2 cverage
and picks off ball — high points it, QB boot left
passed off his original assignment to pick up deep crosser.
Fine play pic.twitter.com/DmjRk64d76
— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) October 27, 2025
znModeratorfrom Nate Atkins: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6754415/2025/10/27/roger-mccreary-titans-rams-trade-news-nfl/
McCreary made sense as a player in a contract year on a Titans team that had already fired its coach. He brings a good mix of experience with 38 starts, prime skills at age 25 with 7.5 yards per coverage snap allowed in his career, and versatility to play inside and out. He could free a budding star in Quentin Lake to move around and disguise his role just a little more in Chris Shula’s defense.
Ideally, the Rams would have added a slightly more physical cornerback than one who is 5 feet 11 and 190 pounds. Bigger outside receivers have given them some trouble, as Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Cobie Durant are built more for speed. But Williams has leveled up his play in that area in recent weeks, and the team still hopes to get Witherspoon back later this season. McCreary’s ability to play inside in nickel and dime packages adds to his long-term value this season if Witherspoon does take back his role.
The Rams were in a spot where they wanted to be aggressive to win, with Matthew Stafford playing at an MVP level at age 37, but needed to protect their top draft capital next year, which includes two first-round picks, to chase a quarterback of the future. Swapping Day 3 picks for a cornerback in a contract year became that fit.
October 27, 2025 at 2:33 pm in reply to: setting up Saints game … injuries, broadcast map, etc. #158940znModeratorNate Atkins@NateAtkins_
Darious Williams suffered a shoulder and lat strain. He spent the bye rehabbing, but it’s unclear if he can play this week vs. the Saints.So, we could see some Roger McCreary action early. Williams has played at least 60% of the snaps in each game without Ahkello Witherspoon.
October 27, 2025 at 2:22 pm in reply to: setting up Saints game … injuries, broadcast map, etc. #158937znModeratorBrock Vierra@BrockVierra
Per Sean McVay: Darious Williams has a shoulder issue that he suffered in the second half against the Jaguars.It’s unknown if he’ll play this week but the expectation is that he should be back next week at the latest.
znModeratorRams new CB Roger McCreary 👀 pic.twitter.com/fIfSBBU6no
— 𝚂𝚌𝚘𝚘𝚝 (𝟻-𝟸) (@_SC00T) October 27, 2025
znModeratorNate Atkins@NateAtkins_
Sean McVay said the Rams needed some depth in the DB room on the whole, and new CB Roger McCreary answers that in a couple ways.He mentioned letting Quentin Lake “wear a bunch of different hats.”
On McCreary: “He can play inside or outside… I like him for his versatility.”
Ian Rapoport@RapSheet
CB Roger McCreary is being traded to the #Rams, some real help for one of the NFL’s top defenses.Mike Clay@MikeClayNFL
Quentin Lake has manned the slot for the Rams, which was McCreary’s job in Tennessee. The Rams been rotating 3 guys (Durant, Williams, Forbes) on the boundary.Rams Bros.@RamsBrothers
CB Roger McCreary is on his way to Los Angeles. Think he’s going to add value almost immediately. Only 25 years old and has 38 starts in his 4 year career with Tennessee.Jim Youngblood 53@53_jim70721
He *can* play perimeter CB, But has been mostly a slot. Cannot imagine Lake losing reps as slot CB. The safeties have been good, Curl and Kinchens — if Lake played more S, one of those guys sit.*maybe* Lake moves to dime LBer in place of McCullough some?
znModeratorfrom https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Roger-McCreary-DB-Auburn#google_vignette
Scouting Report: Strengths
Decent measurables 6’0″ 190lbs with 4.5 speed with nice quickness and smooth loose hips
One of the best man/press corners in college football – able to leave him on an island with the opposing team’s best receiver and will not be beaten by double moves
Experience in multiple schemes – happy to play all levels of zone
Nice fluid hips give him the lateral ability to cover sideline to sideline
Tracks receivers perfectly on deep routes – turns his back, runs step for step, and then looks back at the right time to break up the reception
Solid in run defense and Is a strong tackler – skills learned from his experience at safety – could easily still play FS in a pinch
Doesn’t tend to bite on play fakes – has the ability to read the quarterback’s eyes and the experience to know where the pass is going
Closes to the ball well and possesses the hands to snatch throws away from his frame.
Plays the ball as if it was thrown for him, showing burst back to the ball as well as good timing for the jump ball.
Anticipation skills and explosive, downhill burst could make him a star in a zone-based scheme.
Always seems to find the ball quickly enough to at least get a hand on it. Not afraid to stick his nose into traffic against the run despite his size.
Reads the QB and gets good breaks on the ball. Bigger hitter than his slight frame implies. Closes quickly and generates explosion.Scouting Report: Weaknesses
Not as tall as you would like and his arm length is is only average limiting him as a red zone jump ball defender
In zone coverage has had problems with comebacks across the middle and will need to work on this area of his game in the NFL
He has good speed but it’s not elite and his strides are somewhat short
Needs to get stronger. Too easily lost in the trash. Not a sudden athlete and shows body stiffness when attempting to quickly redirect.
NFL quarterbacks may take advantage of his aggressiveness in man and zone to eye up short routes and go over the top
Has tense ankles and hips with choppy footwork when attempting to redirect and doesn’t always look natural changing directions.
Has managed to stay injury-free throughout his college careerScouting Report: Summary
McCreary was one of the most impressive man cover corners in college football last year as he become a shutdown player. He has nice top speed, is quick twitchy combined with great agility, and never lets the receiver beat him deep, and is a quality run defender who gives his all.
He however doesn’t come without reservations – he doesn’t have the perfect length for the position, can be outmuscled by bigger receivers, and has had only one year of really dominating play (as a senior). The combine will be important for McCreary and will likely determine his place in the draft, a good outing and he will likely firmly establish himself as a solid day one pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
We expect good things for McCreary and currently consider him to be the third-best corner in the class and a likely quality NFL starter – ideally suited to the slot or as a nickel cover guy – who has the talent to go one on one with most receivers at the next level.
znModeratorfrom der wiki
Roger McCreary
Born February 10, 2000 (age 25)
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg)The Tennessee Titans selected McCreary in the second round (35th overall) of the 2022 NFL draft.[15] He was the fifth cornerback selected.
He started all 17 games in his rookie season, finishing with 84 total tackles, one interception, and eight passes defensed.[16] McCreary also helped force a notable turnover on Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers, by jumping out of bounds to tip a pass mid-air by Justin Herbert, which was received by Joshua Kalu for an assisted interception.[17][18]
McCreary moved into the starting nickelback position for the 2023 season. He played in 15 games with 11 starts, recording 86 tackles, two sacks, six passes defensed, one interception, and a forced fumble.[19]
During the 2024 season, McCreary appeared in 15 games, recording 50 tackles, a pass deflection, three pressures, and a sack.[20]
znModeratorOverall PFF grades: Offense (min. 70 snaps)
Top 5
WR Puka Nacua – 92.6
WR Matthew Stafford – 91.0
WR Davante Adams – 80.5
RG Kevin Dotson – 78.1
LG Steve Avila – 76.Overall PFF grades: Defense (min. 70 snaps)
Top 5
EDGE Jared Verse – 90.1
EDGE Byron Young – 84.9
DL Poona Ford – 84.1
CB Darious Williams – 75.2
S Quentin Lake – 73.6znModerator5 interesting stats that define the Rams’ 5-2 start to the 2025 season: All-around defensive success, Matthew Stafford’s big plays
Wyatt Miller
The Rams’ 5-2 start has been fueled by consistency and impact plays on both sides of the ball. Matthew Stafford has successfully attacked downfield more than he has in recent years and the defense has aggressively pursued ball-carriers and quarterbacks without risking explosives.
Here are five interesting stats that have defined the Rams’ strong start to the season.
Stafford leads the league in big time throws with 19 after having just 23 all of last season, according to Pro Football Focus
A big time throw is defined as, “A pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window.” That pretty much describes what Stafford does on a weekly basis, especially when it matters most. And the stats back that up, as he’s registered at least one big time throw in every game this season.
Stafford has been one of the best passers in football through seven weeks. His 17 touchdown passes lead the league, while his 1,866 yards and 109.3 passer rating rank third and fourth, respectively. In his 17th pro season, Stafford’s 17-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio would be the best of his career, and 17.2% of his passes have gone for at least 15 yards (maybe 17 is his lucky number).
The Rams lead the league in defensive expected points added (EPA) with -68.4, according to Next Gen Stats
This means the Rams’ defensive playmaking has kept 68.4 expected points off the scoreboard compared to what the average defense would have achieved. That’s largely a product of their 10 takeaways (tied for fifth in the league) and timely stops that have kept opponents out of the end zone. They are also the only team that has yet to allow a run of 20 or more yards.
As a result, the Rams’ 16.7 points per game allowed ranks second in the NFL. Only the Texans (14.7) have allowed fewer points per game so far this season.
The Rams’ 7.7 third-and-longs (seven-plus yards) forced per game and 8.2 average yards to the marker on third downs both lead the league, via nflverse data
Head coach Sean McVay always says the Rams need to “earn the right” to rush the passer, and they have done just that with stout defense on early downs. Rams opponents have averaged a league-low 4.3 yards per play on first and second downs, putting them in third-and-long situations consistently and giving the defensive line opportunities to rush the passer in true pass sets. No play-action, no gadgets, just dropping back to throw downfield because everyone knows they have to.
L.A. has forced the second-most third downs per game (14.3) and ranks fourth in the NFL in opponent third down conversion rate at just 34%.
Despite missing nearly two whole games, Puka Nacua ranks first in the NFL in reception EPA (45.5), according to Next Gen Stats
Nacua’s 2025 performance has been second to none in terms of adding expected point value to an offense. Whenever the Rams need a big play, they turn to Nacua, and those 45.5 expected points added to the Rams’ offense don’t even include the 5.0 that he’s added on the ground this season, which are also the most among receivers.
Even Jaxson Smith-Njigba, whose accumulated over 200 more yards than Nacua for the Seahawks, hasn’t produced as much EPA as Nacua. That’s likely because Nacau’s caught a higher percentage of his targets, many of which have come at critical junctures.
He also ranks top 10 in the NFL in receptions (54, second), receiving yards (616, third), yards per route run (3.5, second), first downs (33, second), yards after catch (244, third), contested catches (eight, tied-fifth), catch rate (83.1%, fourth) and catch rate over expected (13.4%, eighth) among qualified receivers, according to Next Gen Stats and PFF.
The Rams’ 50 big plays (10-plus-yard rushes or 20-plus-yard passes) lead the league, via nflverse data
The Rams have 20 big runs (11th) and 30 big passes (first) through seven weeks. Last season, the Rams produced 88 big plays all year, tying for 25th in the league.
A split backfield between running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum has given the run game more juice, and wide receiver Davante Adams has opened up the passing game to take advantage of more downfield shots.
znModeratorNext week,
Lions host Vikings
Packers host Panthers
Falcons at Patriots
and
SF at NYG
Seattle at Washington
ARZ at Dallas
znModeratorAtlanta and San Francisco lost.
I’ll take it.
KyTheRamsGuy@kytheramsguy
The #Falcons currently own the 12th overall pick with matchups against the #Patriots and #Colts ahead.znModeratorMitchell Schwartz@MitchSchwartz71
Trent Williams has been gotten a few times on bull rushes this year. Verse got him at least once, Will Anderson just got him. Even with wide hands and more of a catch technique he used to eat that in his sleep. Not used to seeing that from him.znModeratorTexans and Falcons both win.
And in recent years anyway the Rams are always better coming out of a bye. The improvement this time won’t be as dramatic cause they’re already purty good, but it could be a good enough difference to matter.
…
Albert Breer@AlbertBreer
Atlanta’s the hardest team in the NFL to get a read on.znModerator…well…at the 36 minute mark they talk about how concussions will save the Republic. Thats all I’m sayin.
But, concussions cause vaccines.
And vaccinations will destroy the republic.
znModerator49ers very seriously on the ropes.
McCaffrey is limited with another calf injury. 8 carries for 25 yards.
znModeratorWhat a heads up play by Chase Brown… turned a flea flicker disaster into a 1st down pic.twitter.com/NebE5SiPnu
— trey wingo (@wingoz) October 26, 2025
znModeratorAnd Atlanta down 24-3 to the Dolphins.
Now 31-3.
Atlanta apparently realized how unfair it was to give the Rams a less valuable 2026 first rounder, and are making up for it.
…
znModeratorHALFTIME 1 PM GAMES
Miami leading Atlanta 17-3.
Eagles leading Giants 21-10.
Texans leading 49ers 16-7.
znModeratorA lunk-head view by Greg Olson.
After he started going, I couldn’t bear to watch. Does anyone respond to him. Like, with facts?
znModeratorDianna Russini@DMRussini
the Bills and Steelers are in the receiver market, while the Ravens, Colts, Lions and Rams are inquiring about corners, sources say.October 25, 2025 at 11:09 pm in reply to: The Stafford thread…update 12/31: huge S.I. article #158907znModeratorznModeratorTony Holzman-Escareno@FrontOfficeNFL
The Seahawks are the only team to have 4 players with more than 20 QB pressures this season, per
@NextGenStats
:Byron Murphy – 25 (T-2nd among DT)
Uchenna Nwosu – 25
Demarcus Lawrence – 22
Boye Mafe – 21znModeratorThe NFL fined #Rams TE Tyler Higbee $14,491 for unsportsmanlike conduct (violent gesture) — the banned “nose wipe” celebration last week in London. pic.twitter.com/WwlJjvIdDl
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 25, 2025
znModeratorTRENDING: A #Giants fan reportedly started yelling at a couple of Arab #Eagles fans wearing keffiyehs, and so the team upgraded these fans to first-row seats.
…
This video has gone viral on social media, sparking considerable controversy.
pic.twitter.com/uXw9J96j3y— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 25, 2025
znModeratorTHROWBACK: Old footage of #Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has resurfaced and gone viral.
Stafford was interviewed by a British reporter from the Travel Channel, who knew nothing about the game of football.
😭😭😭
pic.twitter.com/0GSg56jyne— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 25, 2025
znModeratorSean McVay Breaks Down The SECRET to Successful Play Calling | Check the Tape
znModeratorRams’ OL Star Quietly Putting Together Stellar Campaign
Los Angeles Rams guard Kevin Dotson continues to be worth his lofty price tagBrock Vierra
https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/los-angeles-sean-mcvay-matthew-stafford-kevin-dotson-pff-jeffrey-simmons
Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Kevin Dotson has quickly established himself as one of the best guards in football, and as he continues to perform in year three with the organization, the numbers paint a clear narrative on Dotson’s dominance.
Dotson’s Strong Start
“Kevin Dotson ranks 2nd in offensive grade (78.1) and run blocking grade (79.5) among all NFL guards that have played at least 50% of their team’s offensive snaps, according to @PFF,” stated the Rams PR team. “Among all NFL OL, his run blocking grade ranks 7th while his offensive grade ranks 13th (min 50% snaps).
McVay Praises Dotson
Rams head coach Sean McVay has continually praised Dotson, mentioning back at training camp that Dotson’s attitude and energy have been infectious, while his veteran leadership is a pillar of the organization.
“Yeah, he’s just got this enjoyment for coming out here and he’s got a great vibe,” stated McVay. “I mean whether it’s shooting jump shots on air after we score, but he’s got this great energy about himself. He’s obviously a really productive player, but I think as he’s gotten more and more comfortable… When we traded for him in the 23’ season, he comes in late in the part of training camp where getting comfortable starts to make himself and his presence felt in the Indianapolis game.”
“And he’s just gotten more and more comfortable. Guys love him. When you’re around a guy that’s got that kind of vibe and then there’s that physical toughness, his ability to do some special things. We love ‘K-Dot’ and all his teammates love him as well.”
McVay again spoke about Dotson before the Rams’ week two matchup against Tennessee, mentioning how critical Dotson is at stopping Jeffrey Simmons.
“He’s a great player and [Titans Defensive Tackle T’Vondre] Sweat is too,” stated McVay. “They’re excellent across the board. This is a defense that there’s a style of play and this team is tough as a whole. We have a lot of respect.”
“We have our work cut out for us. When you talk about how deep and the caliber of players that they have on the interior parts of their defensive line, it’s a big deal. Kevin Dotson brings so much to us.”
Dotson has been the most reliable and, quite frankly the best offensive lineman the Rams have had since he was acquired via trade.
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