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https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/03/nfl-rams-breakout-players-2019/
Every year, several players on each team break out in one way or another. That was the case for the Rams last season with John Johnson III and Rob Havenstein really elevating their play for Los Angeles.
The team’s current roster features several young players who could enjoy breakout seasons in 2019, including players on both sides of the ball.
Here are four players who could emerge as key contributors for the Rams.
LB Cory Littleton
Littleton had a decent 2018 season in which he performed well in coverage, but he struggled against the run and wasn’t necessarily a well-rounded linebacker. That could very well change in 2019, his second season as a starter. Expect him to remain just as good in coverage, but Littleton should also improve as a run defender.
The Rams will have a bigger nose tackle in the middle with either Greg Gaines or Sebastian Joseph-Day replacing Ndamukong Suh, who wasn’t a true 3-4 nose tackle. They’ll eat up blocks and make life easier on Littleton and likely starter Micah Kiser.
Littleton is on a one-year deal and assuming the Rams don’t sign him long-term before the season begins, he’ll have to prove he’s deserving of an extension in 2019. Expect him to do just that.
Yes, he was a Pro Bowler last year, but that was as a special teams player. He’ll make his name more widely known next season.
C Brian Allen
Allen hasn’t started a single game in the NFL and only played 36 snaps as a rookie. But with John Sullivan gone, Allen has the tall task of anchoring the interior of the Rams’ offensive line. He’ll have to make pre-snap calls, identify blitzers and really assist Goff at the line of scrimmage.
Allen won’t be a Pro Bowler in Year 1, but his physical style of play will really catch the eye of fans everywhere. He loves finishing blocks and putting defenders on their backs, which will make him an asset in the running game. He’ll likely be an upgrade over Sullivan on the field.
TE Gerald Everett
It feels like we’ve been saying this for two years now, but Everett could truly enjoy a breakout campaign in 2019. The Rams reportedly considered trading Tyler Higbee last year, which can be seen as a vote of confidence for Everett and a desire to play him more. Sean McVay was a tight ends coach with the Redskins and was excellent when it came to utilizing the position, but the same can’t be said of his time with the Rams.
He essentially took over the TE1 role in the postseason, playing more than Higbee down the stretch. Is that a sign of things to come next season? It very well could be. Everett is the more explosive and dynamic tight end of the two and can take the Rams offense to new heights if he can consistently play at a reasonably high level. It’s impossible not to get excited about prospect of Everett being a Jordan Reed-type tight end for the Rams, which is why the hype surrounding him is always high at this point each year.
DE/OLB John Franklin-Myers
Where Franklin-Myers plays has yet to be determined, but the Rams are going to find ways to get him on the field. Whether it’s as an edge rusher at outside linebacker or as a defensive end in sub-packages with Michael Brockers kicking inside to nose tackle, he’s going to get playing time.
Last season as a rookie, he played 301 snaps, a number that should increase in 2019. The Rams don’t have Ndamukong Suh anymore, which creates the opportunity for more players to get on the field. Brockers is open to playing more nose tackle next season, which will allow Franklin-Myers to play a larger number of snaps. He should be good for about five sacks and a handful of tackles for loss, improving after a promising rookie year.
Every year, several players on each team break out in one way or another. That was the case for the Rams last season with John Johnson III and Rob Havenstein really elevating their play for Los Angeles.
The team’s current roster features several young players who could enjoy breakout seasons in 2019, including players on both sides of the ball.
Here are four players who could emerge as key contributors for the Rams.
LB Cory Littleton
Littleton had a decent 2018 season in which he performed well in coverage, but he struggled against the run and wasn’t necessarily a well-rounded linebacker. That could very well change in 2019, his second season as a starter. Expect him to remain just as good in coverage, but Littleton should also improve as a run defender.
The Rams will have a bigger nose tackle in the middle with either Greg Gaines or Sebastian Joseph-Day replacing Ndamukong Suh, who wasn’t a true 3-4 nose tackle. They’ll eat up blocks and make life easier on Littleton and likely starter Micah Kiser.
Littleton is on a one-year deal and assuming the Rams don’t sign him long-term before the season begins, he’ll have to prove he’s deserving of an extension in 2019. Expect him to do just that.
Yes, he was a Pro Bowler last year, but that was as a special teams player. He’ll make his name more widely known next season.
C Brian Allen
Allen hasn’t started a single game in the NFL and only played 36 snaps as a rookie. But with John Sullivan gone, Allen has the tall task of anchoring the interior of the Rams’ offensive line. He’ll have to make pre-snap calls, identify blitzers and really assist Goff at the line of scrimmage.
Allen won’t be a Pro Bowler in Year 1, but his physical style of play will really catch the eye of fans everywhere. He loves finishing blocks and putting defenders on their backs, which will make him an asset in the running game. He’ll likely be an upgrade over Sullivan on the field.
TE Gerald Everett
It feels like we’ve been saying this for two years now, but Everett could truly enjoy a breakout campaign in 2019. The Rams reportedly considered trading Tyler Higbee last year, which can be seen as a vote of confidence for Everett and a desire to play him more. Sean McVay was a tight ends coach with the Redskins and was excellent when it came to utilizing the position, but the same can’t be said of his time with the Rams.
He essentially took over the TE1 role in the postseason, playing more than Higbee down the stretch. Is that a sign of things to come next season? It very well could be. Everett is the more explosive and dynamic tight end of the two and can take the Rams offense to new heights if he can consistently play at a reasonably high level. It’s impossible not to get excited about prospect of Everett being a Jordan Reed-type tight end for the Rams, which is why the hype surrounding him is always high at this point each year.
DE/OLB John Franklin-Myers
Where Franklin-Myers plays has yet to be determined, but the Rams are going to find ways to get him on the field. Whether it’s as an edge rusher at outside linebacker or as a defensive end in sub-packages with Michael Brockers kicking inside to nose tackle, he’s going to get playing time.
Last season as a rookie, he played 301 snaps, a number that should increase in 2019. The Rams don’t have Ndamukong Suh anymore, which creates the opportunity for more players to get on the field. Brockers is open to playing more nose tackle next season, which will allow Franklin-Myers to play a larger number of snaps. He should be good for about five sacks and a handful of tackles for loss, improving after a promising rookie year.
