Michael Sam

[LumberTubs]

I'm not sure if this has been done before and it's very speculative but I thought it might make a change from talking about balls and relocation.

I've been wondering since the season ended whether Michael Sam should've been kept on the roster.

According to the Rams website, Ethan Westbrooks played in 6 games, making 5 tackles in total (2 solo, 3 assists). Many felt it was a choice between him and Sam. Bizarrely, the Rams website lists Westbrooks as a DT on the main roster list but as a DE when you click into his profile.

Alex Carrington (another D lineman that was on the bubble) had 1 tackle in 8 games. He's listed as a DE but I thought he was a DT (I realise these things are fluid depending on the situation).

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and this is just designed to generate some debate but it seems to me that Sam would have had a good chance to make more of an impact than either of these guys. Chris Long missed most of the season so there was plenty of opportunity for a back up end (behind the likes of Hayes and Sims I mean) to make an impression but it doesn't look to me as if Westbrooks or Carrington were able to make the most of it.

I'd be interested to see what others think.

 

[Blue and Gold]

Westbrook is better than Sam.

 

[PressureD41]

Westbrook is a better athlete and more explosive, where as Sam seems more stiff

 

[DaveFan'51]

I don't know if Carrington is back next season!

 

[PressureD41]

I agree Dave, Carrington had a tough time getting onto the field. I thought he was a good signing but it didn't turn out as planned

 

[LumberTubs]

I don't know if Carrington is back next season!

He was almost a non factor. I'd be very surprised to see him back. I realise stats oversimplify things with any player but we can easily replace Carrington.

 

[Blue and Gold]

He was almost a non factor. I'd be very surprised to see him back. I realise stats oversimplify things with any player but we can easily replace Carrington.

Depends on Langford.

 

[FRO]

Sam is a one trick pony who lacks size and explosive traits to be an every down guy. Westbrooks has more tools and showed a lot in the preseason as well. Sam is a pass rush only guy. I thought he played very well in preseason. I'm surprised he is out of the league. I feel like the Rams went with the better overall player who had more upside.

Simms and Hayes are both much better than Sam. Sam wouldn't have seen the field much, just like Westbrooks.

 

[RamsJunkie]

Yep Westbrook is just a lot more talented and versatile than MS is. MS is a one trick pony and thats rushing the passer. Westbrook is an good run defender, can rush the passer ,and can play DE and DT. So IMO the rams made the right call and I believe Westbrook will improve and be on this team for a long time.

 

[LumberTubs]

Depends on Langford.

We save £6m if Langford is cut. I'm not so sure we can expect to replace him so easily. He's consistently healthy and is still under 30 (I think). He's no longer a starter but with greater needs elsewhere I wouldn't be surprised if he stays around.

 

[bomebadeeda]

Westbrook and Carrington both could slide inside (play DE or DT), giving the Rams more versatility than Sam offered. That been said, I'm not sure if Carrington would be back. (As other have stated, it probably hinges on what they do w/ Langford.....) But that there were an easy 2 deep and in some situations 3 deep in front of Sam. Other than a camp body, I don't see how he could help this team. He would be better suited to a team that maybe switching to a 4-3 or one that has some cuts where he gets a better look. I think he can be a solid rotational player. But it has to be in the right situation. And the Rams aren't that team for him w/ that many people in front of him.

 

[dieterbrock]

Sam has been a FA for quite awhile and the Rams had space on the PS. He obviously didnt make an impression. Forget guys on the 53, he wasnt even a thought for PS

 

[Mackeyser]

Well, in all fairness, he wasn't a thought for the PS because of very strong needs at other positions.

That said, I'd LOVE for the Rams to ask Michael Sam back and give him another shot. I think he could definitely be better than Carrington.

It would help if much of the starting DL wasn't injured to start OTAs because last time, Michael Sam had camp legs and was really starting to wear down (he had the most snaps of any DL in the off-season iirc... that or the second most...which, for a rookie is a LOT.)

I realize many feel he's a one trick pony. I disagree. He can learn, stretch and grow. Plenty of run blockers became very good pass blockers. Plenty of pass rush specialists *cough* Robert Quinn *cough* have become downright beasts against the run. Plenty of RBs who never caught a pass in college actually became pretty good in the passing game...picking up blitzes...running good routes...catching the ball like a receiver, maintaining balance and getting into RAC position asap, if that's apropos to the play.

I try not to discount ANY player, so my feelings on this aren't unique to Michael Sam. Otherwise, Coaches wouldn't teach at the pro level and we KNOW for a fact that even HoFers like Peyton Manning spend time learning even as he approaches 20 years in the league and he seeks out coaches who can teach him.

What I saw on the video when I broke down Michael Sam was a football player with a very solid motor. And I'm putting it out there that if George Selvie can be a productive starter in this league, then Michael Sam ABSOLUTELY can be a productive starter in this league. Oh, and to be clear, I like Selvie a lot, the USF product whom I wanted the Rams to keep.

 

[BonifayRam]

Ethan Westbrook can play 3 DL posts, both DE posts & plays the Aaron Donald DT post. Westbrook also broke his hand early in the regular season but did return to play. Michael Sam played only one post RDE behind Quinn & Sims.

I watched both Matt Conrath & Alex Carrington in pre season I thought Conrath play a bit better but Fisher went with Carrington. Carrington continued where he left off when he was with the Bills....injury after injury. Carrington plays the Aaron Donald DT Post but has played some LDE too.

Rams signed ex Redskin DT Doug Worthington is over 6-5 @ 320 pounds he is a bigger DT who may be able to play the NT Brockers post which is key to this 2015 DL if Kendall Langford is released, something that I am strongly against. Langford was Brockers back up & plays both DT post very well. Rams need DT's who can play the NT. Something Sam, Carrington & Conrath can not do.

 

[Mackeyser]

Well, hopefully, Worthington replaces Carrington...

I mean... it seems they want to keep the "..ington" tradition alive... Hopefully Doug is "worth" it...

Okay... that went too far...

 

[bluecoconuts]

I don't expect any of them to make a significant contribution.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Kinda tough to crack this lineup

Quinn, Brockers, Donald, Long, Hayes, Langford

 

[blackbart]

Sam was not good enough to make the roster according to the coaches judgement so I'll take that as no he would not have had a bigger impact. In addition to that he could not make the Dallas roster either so there are two teams of NFL coaches saying he wasn't good enough to make it. The Rams did him a favor by giving him an opportunity he just wasn't good enough. Should have tried Canada

 

[Boffo97]

Sam's not good enough for the NFL. It has nothing to do with who he sleeps with or wants to sleep with.

Did he excel at the college level? Yes. Have there been tons of guys who excelled at the college level and failed at the NFL level, particularly when size is a factor? Yes.

We made the right call because Westbrooks outplayed Sam both in preseason and camp (going by reports).

 

[Mackeyser]

Plenty of guys have been outright CUT by several teams... only to later become role players or better.

Sam got beat on one of if not the best DL in football and... we're supposed to trust the Dallas coaching staff? The same staff that was responsible for the worst defense in modern football history?

So, I take it we shouldn't bring in any "camp arms or legs" for QB or kicker, either... because they just can't make it? Don't even give them a shot?

What in the hell? All I said was that I HOPED the Rams brought him back to CAMP.

All of a sudden, the absolute and certain proclamations came out! He's a failure! He'll never do it! Well no, if he's only ever given that one chance, no, he won't.

Good thing George Selvie got more than that one chance... I recall he wasn't all that good when he was here and he bounced around a bit. Rams in 2010, Carolina in 2011, Jacksonville in 2012. Now, he's a starter in Dallas.

Guess it's a good thing he got more than the ONE shot.

Oh, and I read PLENTY of Rams fans who were CERTAIN that Selvie would never start a game in the NFL and he's just one example.

My point is that no one on this forum can KNOW if Sam's good enough. He's had ONE training camp and if it weren't for Ethan Westbrook, he would have made our team. AND, he played better during the same "garbage time" periods that other players did who made teams and PS. Not saying the guy is an All-Pro. Just saying I think the team would be wise to bring him back to camp.

I mean, given the choice between Alex Carrington and Michael Sam? I take MS every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Carrington didn't do squat...