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Rams show interest in Dismukes
By Nate Latsch
http://stl.scout.com/story/1521324-rams-show-interest-in-dismukes?s=124
The St. Louis Rams leaned on their connections to the Auburn University program to select two Tigers in the 2014 Draft: offensive tackle Greg Robinson and running back Tre Mason. It’s possible that they could add another Auburn prospect in the 2015 Draft.
The Rams were one of the teams to speak with former Auburn center Reese Dismukes at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Dismukes, who measured in at nearly 6-foot-3 and 296 pounds at the Combine, is rated by Scout.com as the second-ranked center in the draft class and has some impressive credentials.
The Alabama native was a four-year starter for Auburn and was awarded the Rimington Trophy (awarded to the nation’s top center) as a senior as well as being an Outland Trophy finalist (awarded to the top lineman), first-team All-Southeastern Conference (coaches and Associated Press) and a consensus first-team All-American (Associated Press, Scout.com, ESPN, Football Writers Association of America, CBSSports.com and Walter Camp).
"He's a four-year starter in the SEC, which I think is very important,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn told reporters at the Senior Bowl. “He's like another quarterback on the field, and like a coach on the field, too. He doesn't have any bad days.”
Dismukes graded out at better than 90 percent over his final two seasons.
He recorded 124 knockdowns as a junior, when he was the first-team All-SEC center and a Rimington Trophy finalist.
“This zone blocker is very alert to stunts, twists and blitzes,” Scout.com draft analyst Dave-Te Thomas said. “Do not let his adequate size fool you — he is a tough hombre in the Olin Kreutz mold.”
Kreutz was a third-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1998 and the 6-2, 292-pounder went on to have a 14-year NFL career with the Bears and New Orleans Saints. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a first-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press in 2006.
That’s obviously a lofty comparison by Thomas.
“He plays on his feet well and has the first step needed to chip and seal the linebackers shooting the gaps,” Thomas said of Dismukes. “He has the upper-body strength to neutralize the bull rush and good balance along with proper hand placement, as he is quick to recoil and reset his hands. He has a very good feel for taking angles and comes off the snap low and with a wide base, doing a nice job of maintaining the rush lanes.”
The Rams’ interest in Dismukes at the Combine shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering the franchise’s connections to the Auburn program.
General manager Les Snead played at Auburn. Coach Jeff Fisher’s son, Trent, also played for the Tigers.
The Rams may look to add a center this offseason.
Starting center Scott Wells could become a salary cap casualty — according to OverTheCap.com, cutting Wells would save the Rams $3.75 million in salary cap room — and backup Tim Barnes is a restricted free agent.
Barrett Jones was a fourth-round pick in 2013 but has only played in 10 games (zero starts) over his first two NFL seasons because of injuries. Demetrius Rhaney was a seventh-round draft pick in 2014 but suffered a knee injury in practice and spent his entire rookie season on the injured reserve list.
The Rams will have some decisions to make at that position this offseason, including whether to release Wells and pursue a veteran center during free agency or let some of the youngsters compete for the starting spot.
Depending on what they decide to do at that spot, Dismukes could be an intriguing option for the Rams in the 2015 Draft.
By Nate Latsch
http://stl.scout.com/story/1521324-rams-show-interest-in-dismukes?s=124
The St. Louis Rams leaned on their connections to the Auburn University program to select two Tigers in the 2014 Draft: offensive tackle Greg Robinson and running back Tre Mason. It’s possible that they could add another Auburn prospect in the 2015 Draft.
The Rams were one of the teams to speak with former Auburn center Reese Dismukes at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Dismukes, who measured in at nearly 6-foot-3 and 296 pounds at the Combine, is rated by Scout.com as the second-ranked center in the draft class and has some impressive credentials.
The Alabama native was a four-year starter for Auburn and was awarded the Rimington Trophy (awarded to the nation’s top center) as a senior as well as being an Outland Trophy finalist (awarded to the top lineman), first-team All-Southeastern Conference (coaches and Associated Press) and a consensus first-team All-American (Associated Press, Scout.com, ESPN, Football Writers Association of America, CBSSports.com and Walter Camp).
"He's a four-year starter in the SEC, which I think is very important,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn told reporters at the Senior Bowl. “He's like another quarterback on the field, and like a coach on the field, too. He doesn't have any bad days.”
Dismukes graded out at better than 90 percent over his final two seasons.
He recorded 124 knockdowns as a junior, when he was the first-team All-SEC center and a Rimington Trophy finalist.
“This zone blocker is very alert to stunts, twists and blitzes,” Scout.com draft analyst Dave-Te Thomas said. “Do not let his adequate size fool you — he is a tough hombre in the Olin Kreutz mold.”
Kreutz was a third-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1998 and the 6-2, 292-pounder went on to have a 14-year NFL career with the Bears and New Orleans Saints. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a first-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press in 2006.
That’s obviously a lofty comparison by Thomas.
“He plays on his feet well and has the first step needed to chip and seal the linebackers shooting the gaps,” Thomas said of Dismukes. “He has the upper-body strength to neutralize the bull rush and good balance along with proper hand placement, as he is quick to recoil and reset his hands. He has a very good feel for taking angles and comes off the snap low and with a wide base, doing a nice job of maintaining the rush lanes.”
The Rams’ interest in Dismukes at the Combine shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering the franchise’s connections to the Auburn program.
General manager Les Snead played at Auburn. Coach Jeff Fisher’s son, Trent, also played for the Tigers.
The Rams may look to add a center this offseason.
Starting center Scott Wells could become a salary cap casualty — according to OverTheCap.com, cutting Wells would save the Rams $3.75 million in salary cap room — and backup Tim Barnes is a restricted free agent.
Barrett Jones was a fourth-round pick in 2013 but has only played in 10 games (zero starts) over his first two NFL seasons because of injuries. Demetrius Rhaney was a seventh-round draft pick in 2014 but suffered a knee injury in practice and spent his entire rookie season on the injured reserve list.
The Rams will have some decisions to make at that position this offseason, including whether to release Wells and pursue a veteran center during free agency or let some of the youngsters compete for the starting spot.
Depending on what they decide to do at that spot, Dismukes could be an intriguing option for the Rams in the 2015 Draft.
