Some other thoughts on the FA class
http://theramswire.usatoday.com/2017/06/30/los-angeles-rams-free-agent-profiles/
Meet the 2017 free agent class for the Rams
By: Bryan Kalbrosky
Heading into training camp and preseason, there will be some players on the Los Angeles Rams you will not recognize from last year.
With a
new coaching staff and
an impressive rookie class, we took the time to research all of the free agents who have joined the Rams for the upcoming 2017 season.
The Rams also signed Carlos Thompson (linebacker) but his role with the team will be as more of a backup. Meanwhile, others picked up (Aaron Murray, Tyrunn Walker, Andrew East) have since been waived from the team.
Meanwhile, these are the most important players the franchise has signed during the offseason.
Andrew Whitworth (Left Tackle)
View: https://twitter.com/PFF/status/852253997910065156
For the Rams, perhaps no player was more valuable in the free agency period than Whitworth. Last season, Los Angeles desperately needed an improved offensive line.
The Rams struggled to find momentum and consistency on offense in 2016 and much of this was because of struggles in the trenches. Jared Goff was constantly pressured and likely lost necessary confidence needed for a rookie quarterback.
Whitworth lets the team rebuild up front as they have moved on from former starters Greg Robinson and Tim Barnes. The former Bengals back-to-back Pro Bowl offensive lineman is a veteran in the locker room and sets a new culture of success.
Robert Woods (Wide Receiver)
Robert Woods during the offseason. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Earlier this offseason, we wrote about why we think
Woods can become a sleeper wideout for Los Angeles next season without Kenny Britt and Brian Quick on the roster.
During the 2016 season, the Bills had the second-lowest pass percentage (51.38 percent) in the NFL. The year prior, they threw the ball even less often (49.90 percent) for the lowest pass percentage in the league.
Last season, Washington threw the ball on 62.44 percent of plays in an offense led by the new Rams coach.
Greg Olson, who is now the quarterback coach for the Rams, was the offensive coordinator for Jaguars last year. In 2016, Jacksonville threw the ball even more often (62.74 percent) than Washington.
Eric Yarber, the new wide receivers coach for the Rams, last coached in the NFL for Tampa Bay in 2011. The Buccaneers threw the ball on 64.18 percent of plays when Yarber was with the team.
Expect an increased role with better production from Woods.
Lance Dunbar (Running Back)
Dunbar can become a valuable receiving target for Los Angeles.
(Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)
Los Angeles had the worst overall passing offense when targeting non-running backs in 2016. When they looked at running backs, however, this statistic jumped significantly to No. 19 overall
(via Sharp Football).
Washington, when run by Sean McVay, had a 51 percent success rate when targeting running backs last season. This was the 5th-best in the NFL.
During 2014, Dunbar averaged 12.1 yards per reception. Then in 2015, he had 10.2 yards per reception. He caught 91.3 percent of his targets. From 2012 until 2016, he had 68 catches for 646 yards.
Here is what one report said about Dunbar in Los Angeles (
via ESPN):
The Rams want Dunbar to establish himself in a role similar to that of Chris Thompson, who totaled 84 receptions for McVay’s offenses in Washington the past two seasons. That should mean less catches for Gurley, who saw his targets rise from 26 in 2015 to 58 in 2016.
Note that Washington running backs Thompson (3.88) and Rob Kelley (1.2) had more than five receiving targets per game.
John Sullivan (Center / Offensive Lineman)
John Sullivan with Sean McVay (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
It’s not one hundred percent clear Sullivan will start for the Rams moving forward. But the stories that have come out so far about the veteran with Los Angeles have been overwhelmingly positive.
According to a story via MMQB, during practice, Sullivan was “reading the defense and immediately calling out perfect offensive adjustments.”
He may be a plug-and-play option for Los Angeles this season but his NFL experience will go a long way for an offensive line considering one of the worst in the league last year. Regardless, his intelligence will be helpful for Goff next year.
Connor Barwin (EDGE Defender)
View: https://twitter.com/ConnorBarwin98/status/875444458527109122
If one thing is certain about Barwin, it’s that he fits into a 3-4 defense much better than a 4-3 scheme. While he was a fan favorite in Philadelphia when he played for the Eagles, his productivity struggled outside of the system he had success with while working with Wade Phillips.
Now playing for Phillips once again, Barwin could see a restoration to his impressive performance. Otherwise, however, he will be a fantastic locker room presence for the Los Angeles defense moving forward.
Kayvon Webster (Cornerback / Special Teams)
View: https://twitter.com/TroyRenck/status/840404975440257024
(quick note, that aint all good IMO)
Former teammates think Webster should be a starter in the NFL, which is a great sign for Los Angeles.
He was an ace on special teams but rarely played on defense because he was buried on the depth chart behind Pro Bowlers Aqib Talib and Chris Harris and 2014 first-round pick Bradley Roby.
The former Broncos defender excelled on special teams with the Broncos, where he was a captain, frequently pinning teams inside their own five-yard line on punt coverage.
Nickell-Robey Coleman (Slot Cornerback)
Robey-Coleman during OTAs (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Robey-Coleman and Woods have played on the same team now for
seven consecutive years. It’s no surprise they are now slated to be teammates yet again next season.
He has recorded three career interceptions as well as 26 passes defended and an impressive five sacks in his career. He is undersized, unfortunately, which will hurt during man-to-man coverage.
But according to Pro Football Focus, Robey-Coleman was one of the best slot corners in the league last season.
View: https://twitter.com/PFF/status/838842223177367552
(I thought Joyner was in here???)
Andrew Whitworth | Robert Woods | Lance Dunbar | John Sullivan | Connor Barwin | Kayvon Webster | Nickell Robey-Coleman
That's all folks....I like that FA OLB Carlos Thompson....but hey....this is Kalbrosky's write up....just wanted to add some more meat for a great discussion topic
@Rams43
