RIP

For anyone interested. Really liking the personality of the two young guys.

How a roster with many new and young faces is impacting the Rams' approach to OTAs​

The calendar says 2023, but it feels more like 2018 for the Rams coaching staff.

Organized Team Acitivities (OTAs) have begun with several new and young faces on the roster – more than 40, to be exact – a departure from the continuity from previous springs.

In a word, "significant" is the impact of such a youthful and overturned Los Angeles roster on the staff's approach to spring workouts, according to head coach Sean McVay.

"It's a lot different because we get a chance to practice a lot more," McVay said after Tuesday's OTA session. "There's a real importance on…When we've had the continuity that we've had in years past, you can really say, 'Hey, these guys have played a lot of snaps let's make sure that we're smart and cognizant of, alright, we just finished up in the middle of February. How do we get them ready to go by the time training camp and what's the best way to supplement that?' Whereas, hey, you get better at football by being able to play it and especially with a lot of guys that haven't done that. So really this is the closest thing since 2018 in terms of actually doing some real team work."

Indeed, this spring does bear some similarities to the spring of 2018.

From the 2017 roster, L.A. saw six defensive starters depart and two offensive starters. This spring, seven defensive starters (Bobby Wagner, Leonard Floyd, Jalen Ramsey, A'Shawn Robinson, Greg Gaines) and two offensive starters (Allen Robinson II and David Edwards).

The one key contrast is a combined rookie class of 18 players (11 draft picks plus seven undrafted free agents) in the spring of 2018, compared to 40 (14 draft picks and 26 initial undrafted free agents signed) this year. Whereas the Rams are taking a disciplined approach this year to create a healthier salary cap situation for the future and had several contributors depart via trade or free agency, in the spring of 2018 they traded for Pro Bowl cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib and signed veteran defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, while also re-signing some of the key contributors from the previous season like offensive lineman John Sullivan and slot cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman.

Regardless of roster construction method, it's still an apt comparison because there was enough turnover that spring to emphasize the team work McVay referred to. And the team work done in the spring of 2018 set the foundation for an eventual 13-3 regular season record and Super Bowl appearance.

McVay said the team still wants to be smart based on the protocols for OTAs, but having that approach with this roster has been "very different" and "refreshing."

"You got a lot of guys that are eager and excited about their opportunities," McVay said. "I think there was a handful of guys that played last year that could develop some confidence, (and) say, 'Okay, I've been here,' and then we were able to really reestablish how do we want to operate? What are the ways that we're teaching these things to make it as digestible as possible for the players? What are the solves? How can you get a little bit ahead of it? And I can't say enough about the job our coaching staff has done and we know we want to continue to do that every single day from here on out."

The impact of a roster with so many fresh faces was evident in a number of ways, from new faces on special teams and how that facilitated the way the unit operated, to quarterbacks coach/pass game coordinator Zac Robinson spending time with the three new quarterbacks Stetson Bennett, Dresser Winn and Brett Rypien toward the end of Tuesday's OTA, as a couple examples.

If 2018 serves as a helpful reference to the approach the coaching staff is taking, an educational spring should set the stage for a successful summer and fall for the Rams.

Rams Rookie Shares Unique Challenge From Sean McVay he’s Adjusting to​

Stetson Bennett is already used to playing fast. After all, speed was everywhere in practices at Athens, Georgia and now he’s witnessing a similar tempo in Thousand Oaks for Los Angeles Rams practices.

But there’s one adjustment the national title winning quarterback has to take on that also comes at him at a rapid fire pace: Sean McVay getting out his play call.

Bennett admits it’s far different from receiving hand signals from the Bulldogs’ sidelines then getting lined up. Now, the rookie has to hear McVay’s voice…and he’s noticing McVay’s words can be quick.

“The first day I was kind of freaking out with the play calls and stumbling over my words a little bit. It’s weird to hear the playset or the play call from the earpiece. Just completely different from seeing signals which is what we did in college,” Bennett told reporters following the Rams’ Tuesday, May 23 practice.

However, that doesn’t mean Bennett and McVay aren’t on the same page. All it really is for both is an adjustment during OTAs, including for rookies getting acclimated to a new kind of tempo.

“He’s been helpful with that. With all the rookies, he’s been very helpful,” Bennett said.

Although, Bennett shared how it’s different for fellow Georgia Bulldog Matthew Stafford when it comes to hearing his head coach.

“Matthew said ‘I can hear him pretty clear.’ And I was like ‘I can’t,’ Bennett said which drew laughs from the media. “So I’ve got to work on that.”

‘It’s Really Fast Out Here’

Again, Bennett got used to the speed of the Southeastern Conference and moving rapidly during Georgia practices. Now, he’s transitioning to the Rams’ movement.

“It’s really fast out here,” Bennett said. “But it’s been good. We’ve got a big rookie class and we’re just trying to work through the playbook together, get it down and there’s a bunch to it. But it’s been fun.”

But, is the Rams’ rapid pace already faster than what he was used to at Athens?

“No I wouldn’t say that. We practiced hard at Georgia and we got after it,” Bennett said. “And we had a lot of numbers. As far as just like the speed of the players, just them knowing where they need to be, people have a bit more freedom I’d say in their positions and what they can do. So that’s what makes it [Rams practice] a little bit faster and a little bit more sped up. You better be on your P’s and Q’s going to the right spot or otherwise, something bad is going to happen.”

‘He’s Really Smart’

As for McVay, he’s enduring his own rare adjustment with Bennett: Working with a rookie passer the Rams drafted.

Never in his tenure as head coach have the Rams ever drafted a QB until Bennett came along. It’s given McVay a new perspective.

“It has, and really, it’s a little bit different, but he’s really smart,” McVay said of Bennett. “Both he and Dresser [Winn] are really conscientious guys. It’s a totally different vernacular and so in a lot of instances, sometimes you’re getting plays communicated with just flashing a card in college. I do think once you get comfortable with it, that’s an advantage that we have and that’s why it’s so important to be able to make sure that you’re building the foundations.”

McVay further explained that while there’s a ton of information that’s being fed inside Bennett’s brain, he wants to help build in bitesize increments for his new passer. He added how during the seven-on-seven portion of practice, Bennett showed he can throw the ball with accuracy and anticipation.

Still, every Rams QB under McVay had to be a quick study regarding the playbook and play calling…and he’s expecting Bennett to be no different.

“Yeah, that’s definitely something that we haven’t had to do in a while [work with a rookie passer], but the guys that we have had to do it with, whether it was a John Wolford or Baker (Mayfield), those guys were really quick studies and they had at least accumulated some experience. So it is a little bit different than anything we’ve done.”

Rumors are flying between those 3 star RB’s being traded, any of you interested?

Tennessee Titan schedule release lol



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Who belongs on this list?

Mike Florio
Skip Bayless
Mike Lombardi

Who else?

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Fun watch foe some first-hand info from the 1st day of OTA's

In each of Sean McVay’s first five seasons with the Rams, they ranked in the top 11 in total yards on offense. It earned him the title of being an offensive genius, but things couldn’t have gone worse for Los Angeles in 2022.

The Rams finished last in total yards and 27th in points scored, struggling all season long – even before Cooper Kupp, Matthew Stafford and Allen Robinson got hurt. Technically, there’s no way for the Rams to finish lower than 32nd next season, but that’s not the reason Mike Martz of the 33rd Team picked Los Angeles to be one of the five most improved offenses in the league this season.

The former Rams coach believes L.A. will be much better now that Stafford and Kupp are healthy again, and with the offensive line expected to improve, too. And Martz doesn’t just think the Rams will go from 32nd to 28th. He sees them jumping into the top half of the league as an offense.

The Los Angeles Rams were dead last in the league on offense for many reasons: injuries to their offensive line, WR Cooper Kupp and QB Matthew Stafford.
If they stay healthy, repair that offensive line a bit, continue to run the ball effectively and keep the pressure off that passing game, they’ll make a move offensively.
I think they’ll be in the upper half of the teams in the league. And that’s a big jump from where they were this past season.

Click to expand...

It’s not an unreasonable take by Martz. On the surface, it seems illogical to say the Rams will improve on offense after trading away Robinson and making no free-agent additions. However, Robinson didn’t do much with Los Angeles and the Rams now have a fully healthy Kupp and Stafford back in the mix.

The offensive line should also get better with the arrival of second-round rookie Steve Avila, as well as the returns of Joe Noteboom, Logan Bruss, Brian Allen and Alaric Jackson to full health.

It was almost unbelievable how many injuries the Rams suffered on the offensive line – and throughout the roster, really – last season so it’s hard for things to get any worse than they were in 2022.

2​

Are these practices mandatory?​

No, these sessions are still voluntary, as workouts have been all offseason thus far. Players won’t be required to attend practice without potential fines until mandatory minicamp from June 13-15. After that, the team won’t be together again until training camp begins in July.
Even though these practices aren’t mandatory, it’ll be worth watching which players attend and which ones decide to skip them. Ideally, the Rams will have full attendance for OTAs.

Click to expand...

​

I Didn't know this, I damn sure hope this doesn't hurt our 14 rook's and more UDFA's!

The Miami Heat are on an historic run through the playoffs, as they now sit one game away from making the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed. Nobody expected this team, consisting of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and a bunch of guys most have never heard of, to get this far. That said, if any team was going to do this, many would agree that Miami, with its “Heat Culture,” would be one.

So what is the formula, and can an NFL team like the Rams take something from the Heat’s example?

I do see some similarities. Sean McVay and Erik Spoelstra are, in some ways, cut from the same cloth. Both are highly analytical, even tempered, and careful to push privately and praise publicly.

You could also draw a comparison between Jimmy Butler and Aaron Donald, who are both tough, no-nonsense, lead-by-example types.

Do the Rams have a winning culture like the Heat, though? Hard to say. Certainly, its more difficult to maintain a true culture on a 53 man roster (as opposed to an NBA roster of 15) and in a league in which longevity with a single franchise is rare.

McVay has certainly pushed a culture of “we, not me.” Has it stuck, and does it impact the product on the field? Again, hard to say. I did see some fight, though, in the late part of last season, despite all of the Rams troubles.

The Heat has consistently played above expectations. Can we expect that from the Rams? Is there a “Rams Culture?”

Oh, and… GO HEAT!!!!

I couldn't help myself after the two Goff related threads.

Opposition increases to new fair catch rule​

The next evolution in the kickoff rule was supposed to be the adoption of the NCAA-style rule that results in a fair catch inside the 25 being placed at the 25. That apparently won’t be happening.

As recently explained by Albert Breer of SI.com, special-teams players and coaches have accelerated the opposition to the rule.

The proposal was passed unanimously by the Competition Committee in March. The issue was tabled from March to May, an acknowledgement that the vote would have failed if it had happened at the annual meeting in Arizona.

Based on Breer’s report, it sounds as if it’s even more likely to fail now.

The issue, according to Breer, was discussed last week during a regularly-scheduled call among the league’s special-teams coordinators. They decided to recruit special-teams players to participate in active opposition against the rule.

One concern with the rule is that it will spark more squib kicks inside the 25, which couldn’t be fair caught and would have to be returned. That could create more, not less, chaos on special teams.

The proposed change comes from an overriding desire to make the most dangerous play in the game, as the league has called it, more safe. It’s been a focal point for the past decade or so, with gradual changes aimed at making the play safer.

It started with efforts to spark fewer returns. Several years ago, a more comprehensive change to the rules was devised to reduce the full-speed nature of the impacts during kick returns.

One question that emerged in the aftermath of the March meetings was whether playing surface has a role in the question of injuries during kickoff returns.

If switching to grass could make the play safer, it’s another reason to switch to grass. But the NFL has no desire to do it, because it would be expensive to do so.

So in lieu of spending a little extra money to make the game safer in all phases, the NFL would rather make dramatic changes to one of the most important aspects of special teams.

Around the League Topic

I’ve been seeing chatter all offseason that the Titans might move Henry.

The Titans are in that spot transitioning to a new QB… are they rebuilding? How quickly do they test drive Levis? Having a solid running game behind the rookie QB makes sense, so maybe you keep him for that reason alone.

But Henry is 29. Should they cash in his value with a contender?

Dude rushed for 1,500yds last year and we hardly knew it. He’s still a massive weapon.

But the question is when and where? This article does a decent job trying to answer that.

I’d like to see Henry traded to one of those 3 suggested. That would make those teams even more intriguing.

LINK

When?

Running backs get hurt, though, and I wouldn't blame the Titans for holding out until the inevitable happens in training camps or early in the regular season. The trade deadline typically takes place after Week 8, so there's plenty of time and little reason to rush this.

Besides, they may want to wait for the market to crystalize. Right now, there's a lot up in the air with trade rumors surrounding veterans Dalvin Cook and Austin Ekeler, and with New York Giants' franchise-tag recipient Saquon Barkley seemingly squabbling with the team. Plus, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Kareem Hunt remain on the open market.

Still, anyone willing to take him Henry off the Titans' hands for a second-round pick should be greeted with a welcoming smile.

Where?

As for teams that should consider making runs at Henry, you've got to be a realistic contender (forget it, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans) willing to sacrifice some future draft capital for an obvious offensive upgrade (not easy for the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints, all of whom have given away some 2024 Day 2 capital), and you probably can't be in salary-cap poverty (looking at you, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins).

Take out teams that don't really need a new No. 1 back (the Giants for now, along with the Eagles, Lions and Falcons following the draft, as well as teams with standout backs like the 49ers, Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys), and the rest of teams that have lower-half Super Bowl odds (Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, Washington Commodes and Los Angeles Rams), and you're left with the following squads:

Baltimore Ravens: They have three decent backs in J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill, but none are game-changers like Henry, and Dobbins and Edwards have had have some trouble remaining on the field. If they're going all-in with Lamar Jackson, this would be the move.

Cincinnati Bengals: After June 1, the Super Bowl-or-bust Bengals save $10 million in salary-cap space by releasing veteran Joe Mixon. A one-for-one replacement with Henry would make a lot of sense as they bridge the gap to rookie fifth-round pick Chase Brown and/or 2019 sixth-rounder Trayveon Williams.

New York Jets: This would be one way to make Aaron Rodgers happy, and this was a bottom-eight rushing game in terms of DVOA in 2022 that could use an upgrade over Breece Hall (who is coming off a torn ACL) and Michael Carter (who averaged just 3.5 yards per carry last year).

Of course, that's barring unpredictable injuries. A lot could still happen, but the market and the logic exist regardless.

They were the #9 offense last year and add Jaxon Smith-Njigba to compliment Metcalf, Lockett, and Noah Fant in the passing game. That will be a tough group to stop.

They add Charbonnet to 1000yd rusher Kenneth Walker. That’s solid depth.

They have another year under the belt of young tackles Cross and Lucas. The oline should gel more.

That looks like an offense that could step up to top 5, to me. They will be damn good on this side of the ball.

A lot depends on which Geno Smith they get… but he was VERY good last year.

Got to give Pete Carroll credit, they reloaded fast after the Wilson era.

Why it’s time for the National Football League to adopt an NFL Draft Lottery​

The National Football League is the most popular sport in the United States, with yearly revenue nearly matching the NBA and MLB combined. With the NFL Draft serving as one of the biggest events on the offseason calendar and the league looking to grow, an NFL Draft Lottery could be the next step for growth.

All three other major sports use a draft lottery. The NBA adopted it in 1985 followed by the NHL’s introduction of its draft lottery system in 1995. More recently, the order for the upcoming 2023 MLB Draft was determined by a weighted draft lottery system.

It leaves the NFL, a league that is always looking for new ways to increase its revenue and promote itself, as the last league standing. While implementing a weighted lottery to determine the NFL Draft order might not be on the table in the immediate future, it’s something that the league officials must consider for the future.

NBA proves there’s money to be made with NFL Draft Lottery

The hype surrounding Victor Wembanyama made the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery a must-see event. It’s rare for the NBA to have any non-playoff game represented among the most-watched events on television on any given night, but this year’s draft lottery is different.

According to Sports Media Watch, the NBA’s draft lottery this year drew a 2.0 final rating and surpasses 3 million viewers. It’s a double-digit increase from last year and was the third-most watched draft lottery ever on ESPN in nearly 20 years. Even when there isn’t a once-in-a-generation prospect in the class, the NBA Draft lottery has consistently averaged nearly 3 million viewers since 2013.

Arguments against the NFL Draft Lottery focus on tanking not being a real problem in pro football. There are also points made for rewarding the worst teams in the NFL and a belief that landing the first pick isn’t as impactful for the NFL as it is in the NBA.

However, all of that misses what matters most to the NFL. Money. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has been marching the league toward its goal of earning $25 billion in revenue in annual revenue. In 2022, the league earned $18 billion in revenue.

The clearest path towards reaching the $25 billion milestone is television revenue. NBCUniversal is paying $110 million for the streaming rights to a single playoff game and the NFL will receive more than $100 billion collectively over the next 10 years from its broadcasting partners.

ESPN, FOX and CBS would all engage in a bidding war for the broadcasting rights to an NFL Draft lottery and a safe estimate is that a five-year deal would pull in more than $100 million for the NFL. Importantly, that’s just for the NFL Draft Lottery on its own.

A draft lottery would also provide the NFL with something to integrate into its offseason TV programming, draft lottery simulators would be created and that means boosted traffic online for the NFL and its media partners. The NFL wouldn’t even need to have a Wembanyama-level prospect for fans to be interested, the spectacle itself would pull in a massive audience every year.

Rookie scale QB contracts are the most valuable asset in sports

While the NFL might not be particularly concerned about tanking right now, there are recent examples of it around the league. The Philadelphia Eagles effectively tanked in 2020, benching Jalen Hurts late in the game and using Nate Sudfeld so they could lose and improve their draft position.

We’ve also seen the Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans tear their rosters apart and put themselves in a position to have a top-10 pick multiple years in a row. Heading into the 2023 season, there are already rumors about NFL teams tanking for Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. While the NFL hasn’t disciplined anyone for it, everyone recognizes what is happening.

Of course, there’s a reason teams will field the worst rosters in football multiple years in a row. Quarterback is the most important position in sports. It’s why the highest-paid NFL quarterbacks make far more than players at any other position. If multiple teams believe an MVP-caliber quarterback is worth $50-plus million per season, that speaks volumes about the value of a star quarterback playing on a rookie contract.

Multiple NFL teams have gone on deep playoff runs with quarterbacks on rookie-scale contracts and it comes as no surprise. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals were able to take advantage of the exploitative nature of rookie-scale contracts for quarterbacks.

The Chiefs won their first Super Bowl when Patrick Mahomes accounted for just 2.4% of their cap spending and made it back the following year when his salary was only 3.95% of the Chiefs’ cap total. It’s a similar story with the Bengals (Joe Burrow, 4.22% in 2021 and 4.65% in ’22), Eagles (Jalen Hurts, 0.73%), Bills San (Josh Allen, 2.66% in 2020 and 5.42% in ’21) and the San Francisco 49ers.

While having a high-end quarterback playing four-plus seasons on a rookie-scale contract doesn’t guarantee playoff success, it allows good NFL general managers to build much stronger football teams. It’s why the Carolina Panthers were willing to trade D.J. Moore and multiple first-round picks to draft Bryce Young.

If a once-in-a-generation talent comes along at quarterback, the smartest thing for a non-competitive team to do is to tank for that player. We’ve seen it done in recent years and it will likely happen again in 2023 in the race for Caleb Williams. Because of the unmatched value young quarterbacks provide and the financial upside for annual revenue, an NFL Draft Lottery is the best thing for the league.

So a member Oldnotdead posted something about Goff, then some people accuse him of being an attention seeker, and others want it locked so no one can reply, because THEY feel its been talked about to much. What is wrong with you people!? The topic was very clear on what the post was about, yet you still choose to click on it and call him a "Attention seeker" and ask for it to be "locked".... I just don't get it! Why? Why be so petty? Why act like your post's and comments are so much better and worthy? I'm sure this will get removed or locked as well, or I'll be made fun of, and most likely banned for stating my unpopular opinion, but I read these comments and ask myself.... Why do people feel the need to be bullies, and try to make someone feel like their opinion or thought on a particular topic doesn't matter anymore? If You're tired about discussing or hearing about Goff, Then don't click on the topic! BE NICE, and please teach your kids or grandchildren to that the world needs more kindness, and set an example. We were all taught.... If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it at all.

Davante Adams offered praise to his fellow wideouts on the I Am Athlete podcast. And a couple of his selections raised eyebrows among the NFL Twitter populace.

Check out his list below, transcribed by Dov Kleiman.

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@CGI_Ram told us to create threads that bring discussion. So…without further ado, let’s discuss!

Will Steve Avila Secure a Starting Spot at Guard for the Rams In 2023?​

The Los Angeles Rams didn’t make many significant moves in their offensive line during the off-season, but they did make a statement by drafting guard, Steve Avila, with the 36th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. With an impressive career at TCU, Avila now must transition to the NFL. The burning question for many fans and analysts alike is whether Avila will secure a starting role as a guard for the Rams in the upcoming season.

Let’s take a closer look at Avila:

Steve Avila’s Impressive College Career

During his time at TCU, Avila was an iron man on the offensive line, leading all TCU offensive players with 1,044 snaps played in 2022. More impressively, Avila did not allow a sack in back-to-back seasons (2021 and 2022), showcasing his skills as a reliable pass protector.

Versatility on the Line

Steve Avila’s versatility sets him apart. During his TCU career, he made 35 starts across four positions: 17 at center, 15 at left guard, two at right tackle, and one at right guard. This ability to adapt and perform across the line will undoubtedly be a plus for the Rams and is something the organization values across the board.

A Force on the Field

Avila’s natural strength, combined with his mass, enables him to displace defensive linemen and create running lanes for the ball carrier. Avila’s strength comes into play particularly when dealing with power rushers, effectively anchoring and stopping defenders from penetrating into the backfield.

However, Steve Avila’s place in the Rams’ starting lineup is not guaranteed. There is plenty of competition at the Rams interior offensive line positions despite many players returning from injuries. Veteran players like Brian Allen and Coleman Shelton provide stability and leadership, and other young prospects like Logan Bruss and Alaric Jackson are also vying for a starting spot.

So, will Avila be able to break into the starting lineup? It’s a question that has been circulating among Rams fans and analysts alike. Steve Avila certainly has the potential, but will he be able to outshine his competition during training camp and preseason games?

5 Rams on Defense Needing a Breakout 2023, Including ‘Underrated’ Member​

On paper, the Los Angeles Rams look like they have a completely revamped defense for 2023. After all, there’s no more Jalen Ramsey, the safeties Nick Scott and Taylor Rapp are gone and the front seven lost Bobby Wagner, Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson.

But in reality, even with as many as six defenders gone, the Rams still have defenders who know how this defensive scheme works — and have a golden opportunity to show they can work in this system.

The criteria here is this: Five defenders, all of them have been in the scheme for three seasons or less, but now each have the opportunity to finally prove to the Rams and themselves they’re ready to take the next step…plus fill the holes left behind. Here are the five Rams needing to create a breakout 2023.

Decobie Durant, Cornerback

Here’s when you know Durant has the large microscope on him: He’s taken the podium to address every member of the L.A. media before OTAs — a job description Ramsey held. And Durant is doing that in his second season in the league.

Durant managed to become the best ballhawk on the Rams. He also allowed a 52.7 passer rating in coverage. But he’s now been recognized as a member of Bleacher Report’s “All-Underrated Team” ahead of 2023.

He said it: “In his second season, Durant doesn’t have to measure up to what Ramsey has done in his decorated career, but the versatile cornerback’s ability to line up on the perimeter or in the slot and force turnovers will propel him into the spotlight. Ultimately, he could benefit from Ramsey’s departure.” — Maurice Moton of B/R.

Derion Kendrick, Cornerback

Sticking with the CB room, Kendrick has a chance to be the sticky coverage defender next to the ball-hawking Durant.

The 2022 rookie showed an early taste of denying six — going toe-to-toe with the towering Allen Robinson during 2022 training camp and swiped away a 50-50 ball in the back of the end zone…best known as the catches “A-Rob” commonly comes down with. He went on to surrender 90 receiving yards his side twice while allowing 50 yards or less in six games. He’s physical at the line and has a slide and weave footwork capable of matching the receiver’s release.

He said it: “The thing about DK is he’s a battler. He’s going to go out there and he’s going to fight. Whether it bounces his way or not, he’s going to fight. He’s got the utmost confidence in himself and his game. I think he going to be one of them special players.” — Troy Hill, Free Agent and Past Ram during the 2022 season.

Robert Rochell, Cornerback/Safety

One more defensive back to mention. But this one has the potential to fill the “star” defender role Ramsey bequeaths.

One reason why the Rams took in Rochell back in 2021? His versatility and foot explosion. Rochell, though, went from five starts his rookie season to zero in 2022. Now in year three and Ramsey off to Miami, it’s a prime opportunity for Rochell to become the “star” and make effective use of his versatility.

He said it: “In some aspects it’s unfair and unwise for the Rams not to put Rochell on the field: the team knew when they drafted him that they were investing in his athletic traits and needed to be patient with his football development. How can a young player develop football acumen without ever getting on the field? The Rams need a plan to unlock the full potential of their young corner, someone they were jumping in the pool for less than two years ago.” — JB Scott, SB Nation on January 31.

Daniel Hardy, Outside Linebacker/Edge

The Rams no longer have their leading rusher from last season Leonard Floyd. They also severed ties with Terrell Lewis, Justin Hollins and Takkarist McKinley during the year.

And, while the Rams drafted four edge rushers, it’s the second-year rusher Hardy with the edge in experience. He’s flashed his rapid fire feet before. He has a golden chance to go from seventh rounder to sack leader.

He said it: “Even if Byron Young turns into a Day 1 starter and Nick Hampton contributes as a rookie, there’s plenty of room for Hardy (or Keir Thomas) to emerge as a starter alongside Michael Hoecht, who could also transition back to a defensive end role.” — Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire/USA Today on Wednesday, May 17.

Bobby Brown, Nose Tackle

Brown is making the attempt to fill an underrated spot on the Rams’ defense — A’Shawn Robinson’s old spot.

While not considered a household name, Robinson was still the gap filler for the Rams and handled the dirty work of taking on up to two blockers to free up Aaron Donald. Brown now has the chance to occupy the trenches to clear a path for “A.D” in season three.

He said it: “Unlike Robinson, Brown features a little more quickness and ability to drive the pocket back. He may not put up huge sack totals, but Brown III will likely be the next Rams defensive lineman to take a jump in year three (similar to Sebastian Joseph-Day and Gaines).” — Steven Ridings, SB Nation on April 19.

Rams DB Cobie Durant Blossoming into Leadership Role​

Los Angeles Rams defensive back may be entering just his second NFL season, but he is already becoming a leader in the secondary.

Given the state of the Rams' secondary, a young player like Durant had to step up. With Jalen Ramsey and other key players departing this offseason, the unit is severely lacking in experience. In fact, Durant is already the fourth-most-experienced member of the secondary with just 13 games played, trailing only cornerback Robert Rochell (28) and safeties Jordan Fuller (31) and Russ Yeast (15).

Even though he's still learning himself, Durant is more than comfortable stepping up as a leader.

"We're going to compete at a high level," Durant said via the Rams' website. "We got each other's backs. Jalen's gone, David Long's gone, Troy [Hill]'s gone, Taylor Rapp, Nick Scott, all those guys. So we're young in the back end, but we got some ballers back there and we just drafted some more guys. It's a great opportunity for us to step up and show the league what we got.

A fourth-round pick in 2022, Durant had an impressive showing in his rookie season. In 13 games, he had five passes defended and three interceptions, one behind Ramsey for the team lead. With so many losses in the secondary, the Rams will be counting on Durant to build on his success in a bigger role.

A year ago, Durant was a fresh draftee and just getting accustomed to life with the Rams. Now, he's one of the leaders for a key part of the defense. Goes to show how quickly time passes in the NFL.