Derion Kendrick

[Angry Ram]

Last years loss to Tampa Bay
The Whiner game this year and yesterday’s game.
All PI against him in the end zone.
All loses
A good CB plays the ball and the receiver.
Playing with your back to the ball doesn’t work, especially with the new rules.

Last year he was a 6th round rookie. Has no bearing this year.

I pointed out that the shitters passing numbers were good. PIs happen. I"m not gonna fault a guy to the point of over ripping him for it.

Overall point is he's a former late 6th rounder going against some elite WRs dawgs this year and all those things considered doing well. Certainly not needing to be ripped.

 

[rdlkgliders]

Yeah man, I agree with probably 95% of your football takes on the Rams, but this play falls into the 5% where I disagree.

To me, the snapshot below looks like a foul:

View attachment 61782

I see a DB right in the WR's way, cutting off his route. And it looks to me like the DB's arms are extended clearly BEFORE the WR makes body contact. If this were a "chuck" near the line of scrimmage, that would be fine, but this is way downfield. To me, the DB has to play either inside or outside his man-- he can't just stand his ground and extend his arms and make contact and impede progress like that.

Wish we were in a bar so we could actually talk... hard to figure this shit out via text. Regardless, no biggie, maybe we just have different interpretations of the rules on this play. There's certainly plenty of grey area with holding, as we all know! CheersView attachment 61782

TT's arms are extended and beyond 5, the extended arms are a trigger for reffs

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Without a pass rush getting to Hirts, it’s no wonder our DBs couldn’t cover.

 

[gabriel18]

Last year he was a 6th round rookie. Has no bearing this year.

I pointed out that the shitters passing numbers were good. PIs happen. I"m not gonna fault a guy to the point of over ripping him for it.

Overall point is he's a former late 6th rounder going against some elite WRs dawgs this year and all those things considered doing well. Certainly not needing to be ripped.

A decent pass rush would help take pressure off the DB’s.
Donald can’t do it all. Young looks like a future star, but they need a lot more help.

 

[RamFan503]

Can we let the kid develop before ripping him? Just a thought

No. Now where did I put that pitchfork and torch?

 

[majrleaged]

Well, when we get a number one CB this off season, he will be a well seasoned back up.

 

[Ellard80]

Those penalties he has made at the end of the half have been game changing.

It's hard to look past those.

 

[Cjcinec]

This thread is titled Derion Kendrick.

Bench Him. Too slow for the NFL, or move to safety Or move to ILB. But I prefer the bench for him.

I’m just glad you have no part in the decision making. Leave that to the people who actually know what they’re doing. Keyboard coaches are a dime a dozen and that’s an overpay.

 

[Cjcinec]

I am a fan of DK, I see a lot of good there, does he make mistakes yes and they have been very visible. He has something I like great confidence, some swagger and extremely competitive. I see him as a possible long term starter he just needs to keep developing. Read faster, clean up his play at the point of confrontation and keep battling. Oh yeah lastly he should never read the GDT

The kid is out there on an island usually matched against some of the most talented and physical WR. He’s faced Metcalf, Samuel, Chase and Brown in his first 5 games of the season. Rams have struggled to get pressure on the opposing QB’s so playing defensive back is quite a challenge. He’s had his share of struggles but he’s giving everything he has and trying to improve. He’s learning the hard way but not quitting. Rams just don’t have anyone on their roster who could play better. For those who are advocating his replacement my question would be who do you replace him with. Tomlinson is 5’9 180 lbs. He wouldn’t have a chance against the likes of which Kendrick has faced. Rams coaching staff knows that and that’s why he hasn’t seen the field. Kendrick’s has had issues but in terms of someone needing to be sat down I think it’s clear that the most disappointing player in the Rams secondary is Durant He can’t cover and can’t tackle. I’d like to see more of Shelley in place of Durant.

 

[Snaz]

The kid is out there on an island usually matched against some of the most talented and physical WR. He’s faced Metcalf, Samuel, Chase and Brown in his first 5 games of the season. Rams have struggled to get pressure on the opposing QB’s so playing defensive back is quite a challenge. He’s had his share of struggles but he’s giving everything he has and trying to improve. He’s learning the hard way but not quitting. Rams just don’t have anyone on their roster who could play better. For those who are advocating his replacement my question would be who do you replace him with. Tomlinson is 5’9 180 lbs. He wouldn’t have a chance against the likes of which Kendrick has faced. Rams coaching staff knows that and that’s why he hasn’t seen the field. Kendrick’s has had issues but in terms of someone needing to be sat down I think it’s clear that the most disappointing player in the Rams secondary is Durant He can’t cover and can’t tackle. I’d like to see more of Shelley in place of Durant.

Michael Ojemudia 6' 1" 200
Cameron McCutcheon 6'1" 204

DK is 6' 190 So start either of those too if your concerned about height,
But Shelley is my replacement for him.

 

[Tano]

The kid is out there on an island usually matched against some of the most talented and physical WR. He’s faced Metcalf, Samuel, Chase and Brown in his first 5 games of the season. Rams have struggled to get pressure on the opposing QB’s so playing defensive back is quite a challenge. He’s had his share of struggles but he’s giving everything he has and trying to improve. He’s learning the hard way but not quitting. Rams just don’t have anyone on their roster who could play better. For those who are advocating his replacement my question would be who do you replace him with. Tomlinson is 5’9 180 lbs. He wouldn’t have a chance against the likes of which Kendrick has faced. Rams coaching staff knows that and that’s why he hasn’t seen the field. Kendrick’s has had issues but in terms of someone needing to be sat down I think it’s clear that the most disappointing player in the Rams secondary is Durant He can’t cover and can’t tackle. I’d like to see more of Shelley in place of Durant.

Durant is having the same issues Ramsey had. The star position screws with the coverage ability. That position is basically a see what's out there and try to make a play. Ramsey was good at it for the most part with his tackling ability. However, that position sometimes causes the player to be beaten on pass plays because they have to read what the QB is doing and sometimes they guess wrong.

If they have to have the position, I would put someone who can read plays better and also be a very good tackler.

I think JJ3 would be much better at the Star position than Durant.

 

[oldnotdead]

The Ram's front 7 struggles to get pressure up front because of the way they are playing the DL. This one and a half gap is fine if you have a dominant 4 man front. The Rams don't. Morris apparently doesn't understand that. You play that style to allow you to play a dime secondary. You have to accept that it's going to slow the pass rush. Because the Rams really only have a 3 man DL with Young, Donald and Turner they simply can't play that style.

Teams have gone to a simple one gap penetration style with their fronts because even if they have less than dominant players up front they can get the most pressure possible. Donald exemplifies that style as he simply plays the run on his way to the QB. A one gap is designed to disrupt the offense on their side of the LOS. The gap and a half style defends the LOS and is primarily for stopping the run.

Play an OL of Young, Donald, Turner, and Mathis in a one gap style and they can get pressure. They can play 2 ILBs with MIKE Jones, WIL Rozeboom. Secondary of boundary CBs Witherspoon, Ojemudia, safeties of Lake and Yeast with Kendrick playing the intermediate middle zone. This would allow them to play two deep, or quarters, or zone with their safeties and man outside.

Kendrick is simply a zone CB. He lacks the speed to play outside it's why he gets grabby in coverage. That is plainly obvious. In reality I would rather see Sperry at SCB in a nickel scheme. He's faster, more agile and a proven SCB.

For whatever reason McVay and Morris who has the ultimate say, ignore what is clear when you watch the film. If they want pressure then ditch the gap and a half and return to the one gap. They have the players for that. Young wide 9, Donald 4T, Turner 1T, Mathis 4/5T with Jones over the A gap not covered by Turner and Rozeboom at WIL.

Morris is more concerned about opposing RBs but he leaves the QB unaccounted for. Mobile QBs are killing the Rams. A one gap will help contain them with Young at wide 9 and a WIL and still control the gaps. That's why most defenses have returned to the one gap style. Simply said the Rams DL doesn't have the personnel to play a gap and a half and still get pressure. So just change the style that plays to the strengths of the players they do have which is one gap.

Staley could play a gap and a half because look at who he had up front. Floyd wide 9, Donald 4T, Sebastian Josepth Day 0T, Brockers 4T and Ebukam who played both WIL and SAM depending upon the down and the team. That is why it worked under Staley but is a failure with Morris. Morris says he didn't have the players to play man coverage, okay if you believe Ramsey couldn't. But to think he has the players to play a gap and a half with the DL is ludicrous. Where is his two gap NT, his DE, and his WIL/SAM. He doesn't have them.

The Rams in their folly allowed one of the best 1T NT in the league to walk in Gaines because they believed Morris when he told them Brown could play a 2 gap NT ( 0T ). Turner can be a very good 1T but the Rams lack a 0T NT. It was just plain foolish. Just like they allowed Floyd to walk when they simply could have added Young opposite him with Donald and Gaines inside. Think of how good that DL would be.

What it comes down to is simply coaching failures by both McVay and Morris. Not understanding their player's strengths and weaknesses. They also lack an understanding of the requirements of the scheme they want to play and the players you need to play it. Rather than play to their roster strength they continue to pound square pegs into round holes. That's why the defense is struggling. It's McVay for trusting Morris and Raheem for not accepting his limitations.

 

[Pupped]

Um... the Rams don't have any edge rushers of note, so it's very easy to focus attention on Donald.

It's about the players, not the scheme.

And.. to this point... this defense has been much better than I expected, given the personnel.

You should seek help for your obsessive nature. Seems unhealthy.

 

[OldSchool]

Durant is having the same issues Ramsey had. The star position screws with the coverage ability. That position is basically a see what's out there and try to make a play. Ramsey was good at it for the most part with his tackling ability. However, that position sometimes causes the player to be beaten on pass plays because they have to read what the QB is doing and sometimes they guess wrong.

If they have to have the position, I would put someone who can read plays better and also be a very good tackler.

I think JJ3 would be much better at the Star position than Durant.

John Johnson III in a heavy coverage role?

 

[Tano]

John Johnson III in a heavy coverage role?

I think Star is more Read React than Coverage but I could be wrong

 

[NorthernRam]

Um... the Rams don't have any edge rushers of note, so it's very easy to focus attention on Donald.

It's about the players, not the scheme.

And.. to this point... this defense has been much better than I expected, given the personnel.

You should seek help for your obsessive nature. Seems unhealthy.

Oldnotdead's post was excellent, thorough and technically sound.

He makes a lot of excellent points, most of which I agree with.

Give the man some respect, most of us are passionate about the Rams. I don't see it as obsessive in the least.

No need to get personal.

 

[Merlin]

Durant is having the same issues Ramsey had. The star position screws with the coverage ability. That position is basically a see what's out there and try to make a play. Ramsey was good at it for the most part with his tackling ability. However, that position sometimes causes the player to be beaten on pass plays because they have to read what the QB is doing and sometimes they guess wrong.

If they have to have the position, I would put someone who can read plays better and also be a very good tackler.

I think JJ3 would be much better at the Star position than Durant.

I don't profess to know the responsibilities of the way the Rams run that star position. You could be on to something though. But for myself either way I'm not worried about his coverage ability, it is his tackling that has been piss poor and he needs to improve there.

Never have liked him in the slot but up until he starts tackling better he won't be in the mix for the outside roles. You gotta tackle out there in the NFL and this division in particular is rough if you can't.

 

[Pupped]

Oldnotdead's post was excellent, thorough and technically sound.

He makes a lot of excellent points, most of which I agree with.

Give the man some respect, most of us are passionate about the Rams. I don't see it as obsessive in the least.

No need to get personal.

His posts about Morris are 100% obsessive.

He has great knowledge and insight and gets derailed by this distraction. It's a constant attack on a guy who very much helped the Rams win a Super Bowl.

When something good happens on D, someone else gets credit. When something bad happens on D, it's all his fault.

It's an obsession. That's not personal, it's an observation of many, many posts.

 

[Tano]

I don't profess to know the responsibilities of the way the Rams run that star position. You could be on to something though. But for myself either way I'm not worried about his coverage ability, it is his tackling that has been piss poor and he needs to improve there.

Never have liked him in the slot but up until he starts tackling better he won't be in the mix for the outside roles. You gotta tackle out there in the NFL and this division in particular is rough if you can't.

I agree about his tackling - it sucks

 

[Ramlife]

He’s too costly.