Former Steelers DL Cam Thomas Signs With Rams

[den-the-coach]

BY DAVE BRYAN JUNE 6, 2016 AT 01:48 PM

[www.steelersdepot.com]

It took a while, but former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Thomas has finally found a new home.

According to his agent, Thomas has agreed to a contract with the Los Angeles Rams after playing two seasons in Pittsburgh with the Steelers. While no financial details have been released, it’s a good bet that Thomas signed a one-year deal for the veteran league minimum.

DEC Management @davidcanter
Congratulations to #TeamDEC client Cam Thomas on agreeing to terms with @RamsNFL

Thomas, who entered the league in 2010 with the San Diego Chargers as a fifth-round draft pick, recorded 29 total tackles during his two seasons with the Steelers that included him dressing and playing in all 32 regular season games during that span.

Thomas certainly won’t be missed in Pittsburgh and the team has since signed former Chargers defensive lineman Ricardo Mathews and drafted defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in order to help strengthen the depth of their defensive line.

The loss of Thomas via free agency to the Rams will also not factor into the 2017 compensatory formula being as the transaction took place after the May deadline.

 

[den-the-coach]

[mobile.twitter.com]

 

[Mojo Ram]

Thomas certainly won’t be missed in Pittsburgh...

???

 

[den-the-coach]

???

Steelers defense sucked last year.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Steelers defense sucked last year.

That may be so, but that still sounds like a statement that needs more clarification from the writer in terms of calling out one individual player.

 

[Mikey Ram]

Fans (and media to a lesser degree) are many, many times the wrong ones to look to for an unbiased, educated critique of a former player...Rams fans have done the same many times...Trash a guy whether he may have deserved it or not...Maybe not a great idea, but I would rather trust the Rams coaching staff.m.

 

[den-the-coach]

Needed depth at defensive tackle and Thomas at 6'4 335lbs sure has the size and could provide a backup for Brockers.

 

[den-the-coach]

That may be so, but that still sounds like a statement that needs more clarification from the writer in terms of calling out one individual player.

IDK if there was an issue, but IMO the Rams have the best defensive line coaches in the game in Mike Waufle and Clyde Simmons so if Thomas has game, Waufle & Simmons will get it out of him.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Good signing. Someone to come in and spell Brockers. Cam's a pure nose tackle, 6'4 and 330. Rams won't be asking much from him, plug the middle, take on blockers. Rams D didn't have another big wide body like Brockers. Now they do.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Been skimming through Steeler fan boards. Sounds like a player who has teased with some occasional upside but mostly has a reputation(among the fan base) as a guy who hasn't played well or contributed much despite being given opportunities.

 

[den-the-coach]

Been skimming through Steeler fan boards. Sounds like a player who has teased with some occasional upside but mostly has a reputation(among the fan base) as a guy who hasn't played well or contributed much despite being given opportunities.

Again the Steelers defensively have been trending downward over the last couple of years and is why Tomlin pushed Dick LeBeau out the door and promoted former linebacker coach Keith Butler who last year did not impress me much.

Thomas has good size and the Rams needed a run stopper behind behind Michael Brockers and I trust Mike Waufle & Clyde Simmons although Steeler DL Coach John Mitchell has been there for 22 years.

 

[Prime Time]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cam_Thomas

Date of birth: December 12, 1986 (age 29)
Place of birth: Eagle Springs, North Carolina
Height: 6 ft 4 in
Weight: 335 lb
College: North Carolina
Bench Press: 31 reps

Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2014
Tackles: 88
Sacks: 6.5
Pass deflections: 3
Interceptions: 1
Forced fumbles: 0

http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2016/6...geles-rams-roster-depth-chart-sign-cam-thomas

Thomas clearly slides in nicely at the reserve DT spot as the Rams have some competition building for the spot abdicated by Nick Fairley who was signed a year ago before heading to the New Orleans Saints in free agency this offseason. Behind Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, you've got a glut of newly-signed Dominique Easley, position tweener Ethan Westbrooks and lowkey option Louis Trinca-Pasat.

Strangely, Thomas (2006-09) is the third among the former UNC defensive lineman teammates now on the Rams' DL along with DE Robert Quinn (2008-09) and 2016 FA addition DE Quinton Coples(2008-11).

 

[Riverumbbq]

Similar overall PFF grade to Doug Worthington, ... both he and Thomas had limited snaps, and where Worthington graded better while pass rushing, Thomas graded better in rush defense. And Easley far out- graded both of them in pass & rush defense, ... not even close.
Is Worthington on the bubble ? Trinca-Pasat is built more in the Donald/Easley vein, so maybe this is about securing a better run defender for Brockers rotation ?

 

[den-the-coach]

Thomas graded better in rush defense.

Rams need a body that can stuff the run behind Brockers, this is where Thomas excels, they have others that can rush the passer from the interior in Westbrooks and even Coples so I would give Thomas the edge over Worthington at this point.

 

[Akrasian]

I had hoped in a draft supposedly heavy in DTs that the Rams would get a big body DT, but there were too many other needs. So I'm glad that they've filled the hole for one year at least, even if it's not somebody they can hope would fill in for Brockers longer term if he gets too big an offer in free agency.

 

[…..]

I'm not giving him the edge over anyone until we see him play. He looks fat and out of shape even in uniform.

This late in the game, its safe to assume minimum contract liability. If he aint Ram material, we can hit the eject button.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I had hoped in a draft supposedly heavy in DTs that the Rams would get a big body DT, but there were too many other needs. So I'm glad that they've filled the hole for one year at least, even if it's not somebody they can hope would fill in for Brockers longer term if he gets too big an offer in free agency.

There is still hope. A lot of DT's went high in this last draft, so it's likely several older guys will become CAP casualties as we get closer to the final camp cuts. jmo.

 

[den-the-coach]

He looks fat and out of shape even in uniform.

Do you like this picture better? He's further away and donning black, which has a slimming effect.

 

[Prime Time]

He looks fat and out of shape even in uniform.

Isn't that what most run-stuffing NFL DT's look like? The Thomas being out-of-shape part is hard to know for certain this early in the offseason.

 

[…..]

lol damn guys