- Joined
- Feb 9, 2014
- Messages
- 20,922
- Name
- Peter
http://www.dailynews.com/2017/11/30...for-first-nfl-start-after-early-frustrations/
Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam ready for first NFL start after early frustrations
By RICH HAMMOND
Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam, right, hits Texans quarterback Tom Savage to force a fumble during their game at the Coliseum Sunday, November 12, 2017
(Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Samson Ebukam dominated a special-teams drill on the fourth day of training camp. Then, in a moment that required little interpretation, Ebukam reached for the back of his leg.
“It was the first day of pads,” Ebukam said. “I was like, ‘Come on, man, I’m trying to prove myself.’”
Ebukam, a linebacker drafted by the Rams out of Eastern Washington in the fourth round this year, missed most of camp with that strained hamstring. Slowly but steadily, Ebukam has showed himself worthy of playing time, first on special teams and then on defense, and now his big moment has arrived.
Starting linebacker Connor Barwin broke a bone in his forearm last week, so Ebukam is expected to start his first NFL regular-season game Sunday when the Rams play the Arizona Cardinals.
“It’s a dream come true,” Ebukam said. “Everything that has happened to bring me to this point, it’s all God’s plan. I really hate seeing any of my teammates get injured, especially the way he did, but he’s done a great job of leading me to where I am today.”
Ebukam increasingly has given the Rams reason to trust him. Last week, after Barwin hurt his arm late in the first half against New Orleans, Ebukam stepped in. He sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the second half, and the Saints scored only 10 second-half points in the Rams’ 26-20 victory.
Ebukam started this season as a backup who played approximately 20 percent of the Rams’ defensive snaps, but he had a breakthrough three weeks ago against Houston, when he crushed Houston quarterback Tom Savage for a sack and a forced fumble.
Now the Rams are confident that Ebukam, who played 23 of 57 snaps last week while he continued his role as a valuable special-teams player, is ready for an even bigger role.
“He has played well, rookie-wise, for the time he has been in there,” Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said after Thursday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “I think he will come in and do a good job for us. He has worked hard. He’s a smart kid and he’s got a world of talent.
“He’s got some talent and I think he’s ready to go. He told me he was nervous. I said, ‘Are you nervous?’ He said, ‘Heck yeah, I’m nervous.’ I said, ‘Well, you better be.’ He’s got all the energy.”
The Rams took something of a chance on Ebukam when they drafted him in the middle of the fourth round. Ebukam, a team captain at small-school power Eastern Washington, received a fifth-round draft grade from NFL.com and was valued for his speed but criticized for a lack of refinement.
Ebukam then didn’t participate in most of the Rams’ summer program, first because of an NFL rule that prohibited him from practicing until his class at Eastern Washington graduated in mid-June. Then came the August hamstring injury that kept him out for approximately three weeks.
“I missed everything,” Ebukam said, “I was trying to prove myself and get some trust from the team. I knew I couldn’t do it if I was injured and sitting on the sideline, doing nothing. I was really (upset), but I trusted the process and we have the best trainers in the league, and they got me back just in time.”
Ebukam played in the final preseason game and became a reliable special-teams contributor at the start of the season. He was allowed to grow into a larger role on defense and received 10 to 15 snaps per game until this month, when he received increased time after the Rams’ bye week. In particular, Ebukam’s speed and athleticism have made him a threat on pass-rushing downs.
Rams coach Sean McVay recently praised Barwin for his willingness to mentor Ebukam, on and off the field. Ebukam agreed, and said Barwin and fellow veteran linebackers Alec Ogletree, Mark Barron and Robert Quinn have helped him rebound from mistakes and “stay calm and not get too hyped up.”
Barwin is expected to miss at least two games as his forearm recovers, so this could be an audition for Ebukam, in part because Barwin signed only a one-year contract with the Rams in March.
The Rams have several important roster decisions to make on defense after this season, so even though Ebukam might end up replacing Barwin as the Rams’ strongside linebacker, Ebukam expects Barwin to provide plenty of advice and encouragement before Sunday’s game.
“Yeah, probably,” Ebukam said. “He’s going to be in my ear and, hey, that’s fine with me. He’s been playing for, like, nine years. He’s got all the tips. Keep them coming. I’m going to soak all that in.”
Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam ready for first NFL start after early frustrations
By RICH HAMMOND
Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam, right, hits Texans quarterback Tom Savage to force a fumble during their game at the Coliseum Sunday, November 12, 2017
(Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Samson Ebukam dominated a special-teams drill on the fourth day of training camp. Then, in a moment that required little interpretation, Ebukam reached for the back of his leg.
“It was the first day of pads,” Ebukam said. “I was like, ‘Come on, man, I’m trying to prove myself.’”
Ebukam, a linebacker drafted by the Rams out of Eastern Washington in the fourth round this year, missed most of camp with that strained hamstring. Slowly but steadily, Ebukam has showed himself worthy of playing time, first on special teams and then on defense, and now his big moment has arrived.
Starting linebacker Connor Barwin broke a bone in his forearm last week, so Ebukam is expected to start his first NFL regular-season game Sunday when the Rams play the Arizona Cardinals.
“It’s a dream come true,” Ebukam said. “Everything that has happened to bring me to this point, it’s all God’s plan. I really hate seeing any of my teammates get injured, especially the way he did, but he’s done a great job of leading me to where I am today.”
Ebukam increasingly has given the Rams reason to trust him. Last week, after Barwin hurt his arm late in the first half against New Orleans, Ebukam stepped in. He sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the second half, and the Saints scored only 10 second-half points in the Rams’ 26-20 victory.
Ebukam started this season as a backup who played approximately 20 percent of the Rams’ defensive snaps, but he had a breakthrough three weeks ago against Houston, when he crushed Houston quarterback Tom Savage for a sack and a forced fumble.
Now the Rams are confident that Ebukam, who played 23 of 57 snaps last week while he continued his role as a valuable special-teams player, is ready for an even bigger role.
“He has played well, rookie-wise, for the time he has been in there,” Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said after Thursday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “I think he will come in and do a good job for us. He has worked hard. He’s a smart kid and he’s got a world of talent.
“He’s got some talent and I think he’s ready to go. He told me he was nervous. I said, ‘Are you nervous?’ He said, ‘Heck yeah, I’m nervous.’ I said, ‘Well, you better be.’ He’s got all the energy.”
The Rams took something of a chance on Ebukam when they drafted him in the middle of the fourth round. Ebukam, a team captain at small-school power Eastern Washington, received a fifth-round draft grade from NFL.com and was valued for his speed but criticized for a lack of refinement.
Ebukam then didn’t participate in most of the Rams’ summer program, first because of an NFL rule that prohibited him from practicing until his class at Eastern Washington graduated in mid-June. Then came the August hamstring injury that kept him out for approximately three weeks.
“I missed everything,” Ebukam said, “I was trying to prove myself and get some trust from the team. I knew I couldn’t do it if I was injured and sitting on the sideline, doing nothing. I was really (upset), but I trusted the process and we have the best trainers in the league, and they got me back just in time.”
Ebukam played in the final preseason game and became a reliable special-teams contributor at the start of the season. He was allowed to grow into a larger role on defense and received 10 to 15 snaps per game until this month, when he received increased time after the Rams’ bye week. In particular, Ebukam’s speed and athleticism have made him a threat on pass-rushing downs.
Rams coach Sean McVay recently praised Barwin for his willingness to mentor Ebukam, on and off the field. Ebukam agreed, and said Barwin and fellow veteran linebackers Alec Ogletree, Mark Barron and Robert Quinn have helped him rebound from mistakes and “stay calm and not get too hyped up.”
Barwin is expected to miss at least two games as his forearm recovers, so this could be an audition for Ebukam, in part because Barwin signed only a one-year contract with the Rams in March.
The Rams have several important roster decisions to make on defense after this season, so even though Ebukam might end up replacing Barwin as the Rams’ strongside linebacker, Ebukam expects Barwin to provide plenty of advice and encouragement before Sunday’s game.
“Yeah, probably,” Ebukam said. “He’s going to be in my ear and, hey, that’s fine with me. He’s been playing for, like, nine years. He’s got all the tips. Keep them coming. I’m going to soak all that in.”
