Rams waive DT Tyrell Thompson

[tomas]

The Los Angeles Rams are only a few days into summer break after wrapping up minicamp on Tuesday, but they’ve already begun making roster moves during this lull in the offseason. On Friday, the team waived undrafted rookie Tyrell Thompson, according to multiple reports.

Thompson, a defensive tackle out of Tarleton State, was signed in May after the draft.

The Rams have good depth along the defensive line with Sebastian Joseph-Day, Greg Gaines, John Franklin-Myers, Tanzel Smart and Morgan Fox being among the top options. It was always going to be difficult for Thompson to make the team, as is the case with any undrafted free agent.

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/20...g&utm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=recirc-latest

 

[den-the-coach]

Need to drop some guys in order to add a kicker and possibly deep snapper for training camp and if the Rams do add a kicker, most likely, he will get an opportunity to punt as well in preseason even if had not punted in college.

I'd sign former San Diego Fleet kicker Donny Hageman...Kicked well for the Fleet, has a nice back up kicker name and in junior college he was a kicker and punter.

Played two years at Mt. San Antonio College, where he was a first-team all-Central Conference kicker and punter ... Was the recipient of the Outstanding Specialist Award as a sophomore ... Made 19-of-20 field goal attempts and 54-of-56 PAT's for 111 points ... Had a long field goal of 43 yards ... Also served as punter for the Mounties, recording 35 punts for an average of 42.4 yards ... Had a long punt of 66 yards and landed 12 inside the opponents 20-yard-line ... Also competed in track and field at Mt. SAC.

https://goaztecs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=889

 

[BonifayRam]

The highly probable main six (Donald/ Brockers/ Fox/ Franklin-Myers/ SJD & Gaines) of the DL is going to be tough to crack even with the losses of Suh & Westbrooks.

Thompson was a tall light NT that was fighting it out with other pure run stuffers NT types Bryant Jones/ Marquise Copeland/ Tanzel Smart & Boogie Roberts.

Snead/Wade has invested in two young NT's by way of valuable draft assets with Sebastian Joseph-Day & Greg Gaines. Plus there's always Brockers who can shift into the middle so the competition is going to be hot for those youngsters.

 

[oldnotdead]

SJD was a mid 6th round pick (195) and Gaines was taken at the bottom of the 4th round so I don't consider that a lot of draft capital for a starter and backup. Lets hope SJD can step up and make this roster. Remember SJD wasn't a polished player coming in which is why he fell to the 6th. Also he's being asked to switch from a 5T which he played at Rutgers to a 1T in the NFL. That's a totally different animal. The techniques are different and he needed to strengthen and work on his consistency. It remains to be seen how well he can play after he has.

Playing inside at 6'4" he's going to have to play with leverage on every play. Hand fighting and placement are key techniques he will need inside on every play and were weaknesses in his game in college. If he can master playing inside he has the build and talent to be valuable in the inside rotation and he will see his share of snaps on game day. It wouldn't surprise me if Gaines plays early and run downs with SJD rotating in on passing downs.

For Gaines he's going to need to play not just a 1T but also a 3T to start for Wade. Remember Wade shifts his people around and alignments change from play to play. The offense isn't going to know how the defensive front is going to align prior to moving to the LOS. It places a huge amount of pressure on the opposing center to make the proper blocking calls.

Wade's defense may appear simplistic on paper but in execution, not so much. That is why he converted to the 3-4 hybrid scheme as its far more flexible than a standard 4-3.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Sebastian Joseph Day was a defensive end at Rutgers at 310 lbs.?

I can't find any reference to that @oldnotdead.

 

[OldSchool]

Sebastian Joseph Day was a defensive end at Rutgers at 310 lbs.?

I can't find any reference to that @oldnotdead.

He played NT for Rutgers.

 

[Soul Surfer]

He played NT for Rutgers.

That's what his stats sure look like.

A 0 Tech.

 

[Soul Surfer]

It wouldn't surprise me if Gaines plays early and run downs with SJD rotating on passing downs.

That'd be awesome if Joseph-Day could bat down a dozen passes this year. ball:

 

[BonifayRam]

SJD was a mid 6th round pick (195) and Gaines was taken at the bottom of the 4th round so I don't consider that a lot of draft capital for a starter and backup...........

At first glance I might have thought as you about the amount of draft capital spent (not much) ...in the past.

However for a team that has not had a first-round selection since 2016......& the amount of effort that Snead has put forth in acquiring draft capital in order to secure the proper fitting fresh young talent ......any amount is & has been considered valuable for him & to this team as it moves through its new path & in the big ocean waters with the present & future large $$$ contracts pending for come of age Ram star players.

Snead did trade two 5th round 2019 draft elections to put his team into a position to select Greg Gaines. IMO Snead badly needs a large supply of 3rd-day draft ammo to be effective in his drafts. I am thinking that Snead highly values 3rd-day draft selections much more than most.

 

[jap]

Need to drop some guys in order to add a kicker and possibly deep snapper for training camp and if the Rams do add a kicker, most likely, he will get an opportunity to punt as well in preseason even if had not punted in college.

I'd sign former San Diego Fleet kicker Donny Hageman...Kicked well for the Fleet, has a nice back up kicker name and in junior college he was a kicker and punter.

Played two years at Mt. San Antonio College, where he was a first-team all-Central Conference kicker and punter ... Was the recipient of the Outstanding Specialist Award as a sophomore ... Made 19-of-20 field goal attempts and 54-of-56 PAT's for 111 points ... Had a long field goal of 43 yards ... Also served as punter for the Mounties, recording 35 punts for an average of 42.4 yards ... Had a long punt of 66 yards and landed 12 inside the opponents 20-yard-line ... Also competed in track and field at Mt. SAC.

https://goaztecs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=889

We definitely need to save Greg the Leg's golden leg. However, I don't know if johnny got enough work last year. Too many lengthy Horn drives. Hemay have to work some this pre-season just to earn hie paycheck.

 

[oldnotdead]

This is from SB Nation

"He played a five-technique at Rutgers as a three-year starter in their 3-4 defense"

SJD also occasionally played NT but struggled. That said I believe Rutgers ran a traditional 3-4 scheme and that would make it a 2 gap scheme. The Rams play a 1 gap scheme so he would play offset as a 1T. His poor 40 time and other factors had him as a 3T in a 4-3 scheme in the pros which is why he was listed as a DT for the draft. 4.97 is good inside but is a problem outside as we see with Brockers who ran slightly over 5 as a rookie.

To his credit he seems to play faster than he times. He's got a pretty decent first step and a very good work ethic. One of the issues he faces playing 1T in the NFL is he wasn't strong at the POA in college against the run. He had difficulty in shedding blocks.

Again I don't dislike SJD but like the situation with Blythe at RG I think the better option would be Gaines and I think the Rams coaching staff and FO feel likewise. The Rams took SJD in the 6th round as a developmental project due to his overall athleticism so they saw at least a depth player in him at some point. If he can be more than that great. Like I've posted I think even if Gaines "starts", I think SJD will see snaps on obvious passing downs and in rotation. If the game is close Wade's MO is to give his rotational players more snaps in the 3rd quarter to rest his starters for the 4th. But he can't do it if he doesn't have the depth.

Also note Brockers plays a 5T among other spots and he's 305 lbs.

 

[BonifayRam]

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/sebastian-joseph?id=32194a4f-5328-0126-c7d1-ee2dea9d9a91

 

[OldSchool]

This is from SB Nation

"He played a five-technique at Rutgers as a three-year starter in their 3-4 defense"

SJD also occasionally played NT but struggled. That said I believe Rutgers ran a traditional 3-4 scheme and that would make it a 2 gap scheme. The Rams play a 1 gap scheme so he would play offset as a 1T. His poor 40 time and other factors had him as a 3T in a 4-3 scheme in the pros which is why he was listed as a DT for the draft. 4.97 is good inside but is a problem outside as we see with Brockers who ran slightly over 5 as a rookie.

To his credit he seems to play faster than he times. He's got a pretty decent first step and a very good work ethic. One of the issues he faces playing 1T in the NFL is he wasn't strong at the POA in college against the run. He had difficulty in shedding blocks.

Again I don't dislike SJD but like the situation with Blythe at RG I think the better option would be Gaines and I think the Rams coaching staff and FO feel likewise. The Rams took SJD in the 6th round as a developmental project due to his overall athleticism so they saw at least a depth player in him at some point. If he can be more than that great. Like I've posted I think even if Gaines "starts", I think SJD will see snaps on obvious passing downs and in rotation. If the game is close Wade's MO is to give his rotational players more snaps in the 3rd quarter to rest his starters for the 4th. But he can't do it if he doesn't have the depth.

Also note Brockers plays a 5T among other spots and he's 305 lbs.

Sorry SB Nation can call him whatever they want but he was not a 5T. Rutgers and his draft profiles from all the scounting sites identify him as a DT/NT. When the Rams drafted him it was as a DT.

 

[Soul Surfer]

I found this on Sebastian Joseph-Day on nfl.com;

Overview;
Three-year starter with an excellent motor to go along with above-average toughness.
Joseph's athletic ability and quickness serve him well as a run defender but he is unlikely to be much of a factor as a pass-rusher on the next level.
Joseph will need to add mass but he has a shot to fit into a rotation as either a 3-technique or shade nose in a 4-3 defense.
Strengths;
Plays with very good quickness off the snap impressive 4.97/40 at his pro day with a 10 yard split to match.
Quick hands, strong hands, flashes two gap sensibilities with ability to punch, spy and disengage plus agility to scrape along the line to mirror the runner. Explosive lateral burst to snare Running Backs from the backside.
Never stagnant with relentless motor.
Good feel for blocking schemes and attacks his attacker.
Makes impact tackles near the line of scrimmage.
Weaknesses;
Lacks pass rush production relative to his athletic ability.
Was often subbed out on obvious passing downs.
Has played nose at Rutgers and could move and could face move to three technique in Pros.
Could use more mass and anchor at the point of attack can be stalemated when facing quality strength across from him.
Was unable to impose his will against Michigan State's Brian Allen.
Needs twists and games(?) to help him get off the mark as a rusher.

(I'm not sure what they mean by "games")

 

[shovelpass]

From the Rams official site

https://www.therams.com/team/players-roster/sebastian-joseph-day/


COLLEGE: Fifth-year senior played in 50 career games overall, including 49 consecutive to end career...as a senior in 2017, started all 12 games at nose tackle...named honorable mention All-Big Ten in the coaches’ vote...split the Homer Hazel Award for the team’s MVP...named to the Academic All-Big Ten list for the third-straight year...honored as the team’s recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award...totaled 41 tackles with 4.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks, one pass batted down, one forced fumble one blocked field goal...in 2016 as a junior, played in all 12 games with 11 starts at nose tackle...named to the Academic All-Big Ten list...made 30 tackles on the season with 3.5 for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble and one blocked field goal...as a sophomore in 2015, started all 12 games at nose tackle...one-of-22 in the program to be named Academic All-Big Ten...finished third on the team with 5.5 TFL...totaled 22 tackles on the season...as a redshirt freshman in 2014, played in all 13 games on the defensive line... registered three total tackles on the season...as a true freshman in 2013, appeared in one game before receiving a medical redshirt.



Sure seems like he played a lot of NT.

 

[BonifayRam]

I expect to see SJD as Wade's primary NT this season with rookie GG increasing his workload after the bye @ NT. SJD was not a well sought out DL'er in the 2018 draft. He does seem to be a perfect type fit for the NT position in our defense.

It does appear that SJD has typical 5 tech size IMO not the normal type NFL NT. Wade certainly does not need SJD to see much time playing the 5 tech post this season since he has Brockers/ Franklin/ Fox/ Rookies M. Copeland & Boogie Roberts all being predominant 5 tech DL'ers available. I said this before but I expect Copeland to sign on to the 2019 Practice Squad.....in preparations for March 2020 UFA status of Brockers & RFA status of Morgan Fox.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Joseph-Day has decent weight for a nose tackle but not huge.

Definitely tall for a nose tackle.

Gaines has more of a prototypical size.

Should be an interesting and very important battle. :boxing:

 

[BonifayRam]

Joseph-Day has decent weight for a nose tackle but not huge.

Definitely tall for a nose tackle.

Gaines has more of a prototypical size.

Should be an interesting and very important battle. :boxing:

I expect to see the SJD & GG situation closer to a marriage relationship than an ongoing battlefield event. Performing as a run defender in our DL will demand a ton of energy & outstanding conditioning both will need to depend heavily on each other to make the NT post successful.

 

[Akrasian]

I expect both will get playing time. My feeling is that if it is close in camp, Gaines will end up the nominal starter - they were very excited to get him, and the reports indicate that he is meeting expectations so far. They gave up two picks higher than what SJD cost to get Gaines. While they will let them battle in camp, they didn't do that trade if they didn't expect him to get a lot of playing time, and Gaines' strengths fit in towards filling the run defense hole that was a major issue last season. I think eventually Gaines will be a 3 down player as he improves at pass rushing, but his strength as a run stopper is needed immediately.