Eric Weddle unretiring to play for Rams.

[dieterbrock]

Practice


Squad

 

[hotanez]

Well, he's got seasoned fresh legs lol


View: https://twitter.com/DiehardDerrick/status/1481299585842700290?s=20

That looked like our Defense in the 2nd half of the 9er game

 

[jrry32]

This is an odd one. Maybe he's going to help Nick Scott and Terrell Burgess with preparation?

 

[SteezyEndo]

This is an odd one. Maybe he's going to help Nick Scott and Terrell Burgess with preparation?

Seems more of an advisory role if anything. Surprised Weddle wasn’t called upon to maybe help the Ravens. Obviously someone on the Rams had Weddle on speed dial when we were in dire need of a veteran mind with tons of experience to season our guys… This may be a good move on our part.

 

[Logy]

IMO, this is bad, Weddle was slow in 2019, I'm sure he's slower in 2022.

I’m pretty sure that the Rams obtained a waiver from the NFL that will allow Weddle to use a Rascal Scooter while on the field.

 

[Loyal]

It would be hilarious if he made a Mike Jones -like tackle to win a playoff game...lol

 

[Steve808]

It would be hilarious if he made a Mike Jones -like tackle to win a playoff game...lol

That would but the opposite could happen too.

I guess no team had a practice squad guy any better?

 

[FarNorth]

Eric Weddle is probably going to play as that SS/ILB combination player. At this point, he probably has LB speed but his strength has always been his ability to quickly read plays, and generally, he is a good tackler.

Since Morris plays a passive zone his lack of speed won't be noticed, i.e. Morris' scheme is wheelchair compatible.

Blake countess probably has around 4.6 speed at his age so he definitely can play in a zone scheme.

At this point in the season, they are grabbing vets who can get up to speed quickly having played in a variety of schemes. Both Countess and Weddle fit that requirement as both having played for Wade Phillips who also played a man/zone coverage scheme.

If Weddle plays it's got to be at deep safety. Reaction quickness there is more important than speed since the receiver is moving downhill. Knowing what you and others are doing, taking the right angle on the right guy, and hitting hard are what matter.

He can rest in the wheelchair when the offense is on the field for 15 straight run plays.

 

[FarNorth]

Seems more of an advisory role if anything. Surprised Weddle wasn’t called upon to maybe help the Ravens. Obviously someone on the Rams had Weddle on speed dial when we were in dire need of a veteran mind with tons of experience to season our guys… This may be a good move on our part.

You don't sign someone for the roster unless he might play. Of course he may advise the other guys too.

If he shows he can still move in practice I think he actually will play.

The biggest threat for the Rams right now is broken coverages with the safety out of position. Weddle may still be better than any of the young second tier safeties at being in the right place to prevent disasters like the Niners' game tying TD drive deep completions.

 

[AppeasFBlGods]

They think a guy who has been retired for 2 years is going to be in better position than the depth guys who have been practicing all year? This is desperate...

 

[sdakotaram]

Good lord this season!

Maybe this is a good time to start sniffing glue……..taking brand name suggestions.

No blue font cause I am in serious consideration.

Shirley you can't be serious?!!

 

[Psycho_X]

View: https://twitter.com/JourdanRodrigue/status/1481461383862665216?s=20

 

[RamsSince1969]

Am I only one who remembers how awful Weddle was in the 2019 season?

I haven't been this excited since the time we signed Jason Sehorn!

 

[So Ram]

View: https://twitter.com/JourdanRodrigue/status/1481461383862665216?s=20

A depth move ? Yeah - I like the move,because the 2021 season is over
& The Rams young players can’t be claimed now ?
I honestly don’t know how things work,but practice squad players should be protected across the board now ?
I’ve always said Mcvay really liked having Eric Weddle & he is such a classic player. In 2019 it was Jalen RAMsey & Tyler Rapp who got caught in the 4th qrt. On a 3rd & or a 4th & 18. Think it happened twice,but the 2nd one was them getting caught up at the line of scrimmage.
I think The Rams have always had a chance to win a SuperBowl with Sean Mcvay. 2020 with the QB being hurt(both) was the toughest. Wade got fired in 2019.That Niner loss was a big part of it.If The Rams made a playoff run who knows ?
Eric Weedle is just such an awesome locker room guy.He is a respected leader. I was thinking that he would be a Rams coach next year because of his relationship with Mcvay & knowledge of the game.
Whitworth every becoming a coach seems to me very silly thinking.
Family is important to him. His kids are so young the travel is not healthy when you have everything from playing.

 

[PhillyRam]

He's been around so long and has seen so much he won't have any problems handling Morris' checks. If there is one real advantage to Weddle it's the cerebral side. The dude is sharp.

Maybe he can sit back there and diagnose things, and Nick Scott or Rapp can carry him around to where he tells them to go.

 

[Corbin]

WTF?!
SMFH isn’t this why we have a coaching staff for? Why do we need him to coach up anybody?

Hell it might be time to give the Great One a call…

King Bad Angle Dahl Where art thou?

 

[CGI_Ram]

6 thoughts on Rams bringing back Eric Weddle for playoffs

Eric Weddle is coming out of retirement for the Rams’ playoff run. What does this mean for Los Angeles and how will he be used?

theramswire.usatoday.com

6 thoughts on Rams bringing back Eric Weddle for playoffs​

Not only will the Los Angeles Rams have a 40-year-old left tackle, but they could also have a 37-year-old safety on the field when they face the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night.

The Rams are signing Eric Weddle for their playoff run, bringing him out of retirement after two years. With Jordan Fuller out for the year and Taylor Rapp suffering a concussion on Sunday, the Rams were desperate for safety help.

They found depth with Weddle, but how much will this move really help and what will his role look like? Here are six quick thoughts on this shocking signing.

Not a great sign for Rapp’s availability

We already knew Fuller won’t be available for the playoffs, but the addition of Weddle is probably a bad sign for Rapp, too. Sean McVay said Rapp suffered a concussion in Sunday’s game against the 49ers and is being evaluated.

He’ll need to clear the concussion protocol before he can play against the Cardinals, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to. The severity of a concussion varies case by case, so perhaps the Rams know Rapp’s is pretty significant and don’t expect to have him on Monday night.

And after waiving JuJu Hughes, who was claimed by the Lions, the Rams are lacking depth at safety with Nick Scott and Terrell Burgess being the only two healthy players before Weddle’s addition.

Weddle is likely to play a limited role

Don’t expect Weddle to come in and play 60 snaps. He hasn’t taken the field since 2019 and while he might be in good shape, going from retirement to starting a playoff game is unrealistic. More likely, he’ll be a role player similar to the way Scott has been, rotating in as the third safety in specific packages.

Assuming he doesn’t have the same speed he once did, Weddle would fit best as a box safety near the line of scrimmage where he can help against the run and diagnose plays. It’s reasonable to think he’ll play anywhere from 10-20 snaps.

He’s always been a good tackler

Throughout his career, Weddle has been a sure tackler. Only twice in 13 seasons did he finish with a tackling grade below 70.0 at Pro Football Focus. In 2019, he made 108 tackles and only missed eight times, a miss rate of just 7.3%.

Tackling was a huge problem for the Rams in Week 18, missing 19 attempts against the 49ers. Elijah Mitchell, Jauan Jennings and JaMycal Hasty were breaking tackles left and right, whether it was on the first, second or third level of the defense.

Weddle should help in that department against the Cardinals, who forced nine missed tackles against the Rams in each of their first two meetings.

Ramsey and Weddle had good chemistry

Weddle and Ramsey only spent half the 2019 season together in Los Angeles, but their chemistry was obvious. They’re two leaders in the secondary and shouldn’t have any trouble communicating their assignments and coverages when they’re on the field together.

There have been some miscommunications in the secondary lately, leading to big plays by the opponent. That bit the Rams badly against the 49ers – they allowed four plays of 30-plus yards – and should be a focal point in practice this week leading up to Monday’s game.

With Ramsey and Weddle back together, hopefully the communication will improve.

This isn't the same defense from two years ago

When Weddle was last with the Rams, Wade Phillips was the defensive coordinator. The Rams haven’t necessarily overhauled their scheme on defense since then, but they’re now on their third coordinator after Raheem Morris replaced Brandon Staley – who took Phillips’ place in 2020.

Weddle should have some familiarity with the system and the verbiage, but it’s not like he’s joining the same exact scheme he was in two years ago. Not to mention, the only player still in the secondary from last time he was with the Rams is Ramsey, barring Rapp’s potential return this week.

Cardinals are likely to test him on Monday

When Weddle is on the field, expect the Cardinals to test him. Whether it’s with deep shots if he’s lined up as the single-high safety or with outside runs when he’s in the slot, expect Kliff Kingsbury to draw up plays that put Weddle in a spot to make a play.

After all, it’s not often a player comes out of retirement to take the field for a playoff game two years after his last appearance. Every smart coach would test that player at least a few times early on to gauge his comfort and play recognition.

The Rams will try to put Weddle in a spot where he’s not in single coverage or easily targeted, but the Cardinals will find ways to challenge him.

 

[-X-]

The solution is so simple, I don't understand why McVay can't see it.
Just put Kupp in at RB and run the ball 30+ times a game.

Like I said.
Simple.

 

[NJRamsFan]

This years Rams are built on star power.

Hell the entire premise of our defense is essentially a bet that you can’t consistently run 10-12 play TD drives before AD/JR/VM/LF do something special. Now please I’m not looking for a defensive philosophy debate, what I’m getting at is this team is top heavy in terms of the way our money is allocated throughout the roster. Sure the entire team will need to contribute and the better the secondary players (as in non stars not the position group) are, less of a burden will be put on our big names but make no mistake we invested resources with the intention of our stars carrying our team.

Now by no means am I saying the loss of fuller and others is insignificant because it certainly complicates things and puts more pressure on our stars, but if we are to win a Super Bowl with this roster it was and was always going to be on the backs of AD, Jalen, Stafford, Kupp, Floyd, Von, and somewhat unexpectedly OBJ. They will need to play like the all world players they are for us to have a shot….it’s simply the way we allocated resources that demands this. Others will need to step up as it seems happens every year in the post season (I’m looking at you Sony/Cam) and the rest will need to limit mistakes and play solid football.

 

[So Ram]

The solution is so simple, I don't understand why McVay can't see it.
Just put Kupp in at RB and run the ball 30+ times a game.
View attachment 51175
Like I said.
Simple.

This is a Eric Weedle post so how this got here. If you want to know there is a topic Mcvay brought up.He used an excuse,but IMO I’d say he knows how he game called.
I personally don’t like the theory,but if has worked.I’d like more play action & quicker throws.I do always think back of what if with Goff plus a pick ? DJ1 & him both from Cal.
— So Burgees(gay) was a guy that I’m sure Mcvay knew about because of the Utah connection.It’s cool to see him being able to play with a player like Weedle who is a Legend & if The Rams make a SuperBowl run with him would help his chances to maybe being a HOF player?
Von Miller & OBj are such amazing talents & love how they have stepped up.If you go by last week. OBj needs the ball more & changing the pocket & throwing underneath.Play action & that will bring me to topic above.
Von Miller on a play late needed to stay home & not give up that passing lane.If he wants to put pressure on at that time & roll back move would have been awesome.No matter how good a player is they can always be better & no player is ever perfect.
Fuller being hurt only makes sense because of it to bring in a Weedle.Who knows maybe big Whit would do the same.Wonder if not Von Miller would Clay be ready ? He lives in Thousand Oaks.