Rams sign vet CB Ahkello Witherspoon

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Rams top 3 CBs look to be Witherspoon, Durant and Kendricks now (yeah, I know people hate on him and with good reason but Rams are talking him up this offseason and I'm pegging him as a starter till I see someone stealing his reps).

Witherspoon and Kendricks manning the outside and Durant picks up where he left off on a promising start at nickel.

Ship has sailed on Rochelle and I wonder if he makes the final 53.
 
I been reading about this guy. Could prove to be our best corner. He's got some upside.
 
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I always felt like Witherspoon was a boom/bust corner, kind of a bigger and better version of Hill. He'd destroy some lesser wideouts but when he was mismatched it could get hideous. I didn't watch much of the Steelers last season so no idea what his deal was, but his PFF rating is extremely low so that plus the Steelers moving on he clearly had a bad season.

What I like is the vet presence though. He's a guy who has been shit on and fought through it and there's a lot of value in that. And he makes the battle for our third corner equation look a bit better. If he can slot into that top three or even just add depth we're a better secondary for it.

I did figure the vet they add first would be DL. But clearly this indicates they're relatively happy with that room which is a good sign. Hopefully that holds up when pads come on.
 
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I’ve heard his old man Tim is delighted with this news.
 
WestCoastRam said:
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Ship has sailed on Rochelle and I wonder if he makes the final 53.
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Hope this is not the case but I tend to agree.

One of the late-2022-season disappointments for me (after all the injuries and the season was lost), was that Rochelle did not get any reps over the final 4-5 games. Durant and Kendrick had already played a lot and were banged-up. Hill and Long figured to be out-the-door. I would have expected Rochelle would get some game-action but almost nothing ... eight defensive snaps in the final eight games!
 
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Allen2McVay said:
Hope this is not the case but I tend to agree.

One of the late-2022-season disappointments for me (after all the injuries and the season was lost), was that Rochelle did not get any reps over the final 4-5 games. Durant and Kendrick had already played a lot and were banged-up. Hill and Long figured to be out-the-door. I would have expected Rochelle would get some game-action but almost nothing ... eight defensive snaps in the final eight games!
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I think Morris just does not like his ability to play in his off coverage scheme

Rochelle is more of a man to man corner that off coverage corner and he probably sucks during Morris practices
 
Tano said:
I think Morris just does not like his ability to play in his off coverage scheme

Rochelle is more of a man to man corner that off coverage corner and he probably sucks during Morris practices
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We play zone-match which is in some way an amalgam of man and zone. He doesn't seem to have distinguished himself there. Have we ever just seen him play man... not sure what evidence there is (other than his physical gifts) that he'd be good at it.

Maybe he's not smart or instinctive enough to play zone-match so I guess you could argue that man which is just the closest to "use your speed and height" to make a play would indicate he's better. But I think we're lacking evidence that he can play corner at a high level, period.
 
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Merlin said:
I always felt like Witherspoon was a boom/bust corner, kind of a bigger and better version of Hill. He'd destroy some lesser wideouts but when he was mismatched it could get hideous. I didn't watch much of the Steelers last season so no idea what his deal was, but his PFF rating is extremely low so that plus the Steelers moving on he clearly had a bad season.

What I like is the vet presence though. He's a guy who has been shit on and fought through it and there's a lot of value in that. And he makes the battle for our third corner equation look a bit better. If he can slot into that top three or even just add depth we're a better secondary for it.

I did figure the vet they add first would be DL. But clearly this indicates they're relatively happy with that room which is a good sign. Hopefully that holds up when pads come on.
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It’s still early though. They could add more players
 
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I'll never forget when the Browns started an entire secondary off the street and picked us off three times in 2019, and all of us recall Ramsey getting beaten. I subscribe to the theory that CB play is completely random and dependent upon so many factors....so I'm all for these kinds of signings
 
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He won’t be the first CB to succeed at a 2nd or 3rd stop and it won’t be the last
 
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I like the signing, I'm glad we went in a different direction rather than just bring Hill back. It's show and prove time now for Rochelle. Witherspoon is talented, but Rochelle has the tools to be able to beat him out for the starting job. If he doesn't, his spot on the roster may be at risk.
 
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We just need him to lay the smack on Deebo Samuel!

Tiny Lister Friday Movie GIF
 
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