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2014 offseason in review: DT Alex Carrington
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16100/2014-offseason-in-review-dt-alex-carrington
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The 2015 edition of NFL free agency is set to begin on March 10 with a new batch of players set to hit the market and teams in pursuit of those players.
But before we look to the future, let's take a look back at what the St. Louis Rams accomplished in 2014. We turn our attention on Thursday to defensive lineman Alex Carrington, signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills.
Reason for addition: Although the Rams already had a strong starting front four, they clearly had designs on improving their rotation in the 2014 offseason, especially on the inside. Behind starters Kendall Langford and Michael Brockers, the Rams only other options were Jermelle Cudjo and Matt Conrath. Neither Cudjo nor Conrath had shown much in limited opportunities. So the Rams went bargain hunting in free agency and ultimately landed Carrington after kicking the tires on pricier alternatives such as Antonio Smith and Henry Melton. Coming off a quadriceps injury and after playing in multiple defensive schemes, Carrington looked like a potential low-risk, high-reward option. The Rams ended up landing Carrington on a one-year deal and spending a first-round pick on Aaron Donald to replace Cudjo and Conrath.
What he brought: Not much. Carrington was a fixture in the rotation for the first four weeks of the season, playing 63 snaps in a reserve role behind Brockers and Langford. But he didn't produce much in those games, posting just one tackle. In week 6, Donald stepped into the starting lineup and began playing the bulk of the snaps there, leaving Langford and Brockers handling the remainder of the reps at the other spot. Carrington was active in the four games that followed but didn't produce in those opportunities. A knee injury slowed Carrington over the season's second half and he was inactive for each of the final seven games. He finished with one tackle while playing 143 snaps in eight games.
What's next: Carrington is poised to re-enter the free-agent market and it would seem reasonable that the Rams wouldn't be in a rush to re-sign him. Another year removed from the quad injury, it's possible Carrington might be able to get it going but assuming the Rams keep Langford (likely at a reduced price), there aren't many snaps to go around at the position moving forward anyway.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16100/2014-offseason-in-review-dt-alex-carrington
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The 2015 edition of NFL free agency is set to begin on March 10 with a new batch of players set to hit the market and teams in pursuit of those players.
But before we look to the future, let's take a look back at what the St. Louis Rams accomplished in 2014. We turn our attention on Thursday to defensive lineman Alex Carrington, signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills.
Reason for addition: Although the Rams already had a strong starting front four, they clearly had designs on improving their rotation in the 2014 offseason, especially on the inside. Behind starters Kendall Langford and Michael Brockers, the Rams only other options were Jermelle Cudjo and Matt Conrath. Neither Cudjo nor Conrath had shown much in limited opportunities. So the Rams went bargain hunting in free agency and ultimately landed Carrington after kicking the tires on pricier alternatives such as Antonio Smith and Henry Melton. Coming off a quadriceps injury and after playing in multiple defensive schemes, Carrington looked like a potential low-risk, high-reward option. The Rams ended up landing Carrington on a one-year deal and spending a first-round pick on Aaron Donald to replace Cudjo and Conrath.
What he brought: Not much. Carrington was a fixture in the rotation for the first four weeks of the season, playing 63 snaps in a reserve role behind Brockers and Langford. But he didn't produce much in those games, posting just one tackle. In week 6, Donald stepped into the starting lineup and began playing the bulk of the snaps there, leaving Langford and Brockers handling the remainder of the reps at the other spot. Carrington was active in the four games that followed but didn't produce in those opportunities. A knee injury slowed Carrington over the season's second half and he was inactive for each of the final seven games. He finished with one tackle while playing 143 snaps in eight games.
What's next: Carrington is poised to re-enter the free-agent market and it would seem reasonable that the Rams wouldn't be in a rush to re-sign him. Another year removed from the quad injury, it's possible Carrington might be able to get it going but assuming the Rams keep Langford (likely at a reduced price), there aren't many snaps to go around at the position moving forward anyway.
