Stock up, stock down from Rams training camp: Allen and Jackson rising, Lewis falling

Stock up, stock down from Rams training camp: Allen and Jackson rising, Lewis falling

Brian Allen and DeSean Jackson are among the biggest risers from training camp, while Terrell Lewis is falling behind.

theramswire.usatoday.com

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Stock up, stock down from Rams training camp: Allen and Jackson rising, Lewis falling​

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Cameron DaSilva

August 11, 2021 8:28 am PT

The Rams wrapped up training camp at UC Irvine on Tuesday afternoon, their 10th and final practice on campus. They now head back to Thousand Oaks as they prepare for their first preseason game, which is on Saturday against the Chargers.
There’s still time to sort out position battles and figure out who on the roster bubble will wind up making the team, but camp helped provide a lot of clarity on the Rams’ current collection of players.

Here’s a stock report from camp, highlighting those who are rising and pointing out players who are heading in the wrong direction.

1
Stock up: C Brian Allen​

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
In the final two days of camp, Allen managed to go from clear backup to current starter at center. He took first-team reps on Monday and Tuesday before Sean McVay told reporters at the end of camp that he would be the team’s starting center over Austin Corbett if they were to play a game right now.
McVay even went as far as to say he was one of the Rams’ standouts in camp. Now healthy again, Allen seems poised to start in Week 1.

2
Stock down: OLB Terrell Lewis​

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Lewis just can’t seem to stay healthy. He was held out of practice this week after his knee started acting up again, as McVay described it. The second-year pass rusher didn’t have his name called often during camp and is clearly behind Justin Hollins opposite Leonard Floyd at outside linebacker. It seems he’s destined for a similar role as he had last season, coming into the game situationally as a pass rusher.

3
Stock up: WR DeSean Jackson​

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
There were plenty of doubters and skeptics when the Rams signed Jackson to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million this offseason, but he’s looked fantastic in camp. Seemingly every day he’s making catches deep down the field for touchdowns, proving he still has that top-end speed and can threaten defenses. Expect him to play a big role on offense this season, assuming he’s able to stay healthy.

4
Stock down: TE Brycen Hopkins​

(AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
The Rams have shared plenty of highlights of Tyler Higbee and Jacob Harris making plays, and we know Johnny Mundt has been getting reps with the second team, looking like the No. 2 tight end. But Hopkins had a very quiet camp, similar to the way his rookie year went. He’s listed as the third tight end on the depth chart, but it’s hard to see him having much of a role this season, especially if Harris keeps rising the way he has.

5
Stock up: ILB Kenny Young​

John McCoy-USA TODAY Sports
Young has emerged as a likely starter for the Rams at inside linebacker, which is a pleasant surprise. They need a steady player at that position after cycling through guys last season, and Young has previous experience as a starter with the Ravens. He still has to earn the starting spot and it remains to be seen who will be the Rams’ third-down linebacker in nickel and dime packages, but Young really stepped up in camp.

6
Stock down: RG Bobby Evans​

(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
McVay has said glowing things about Allen and Corbett, clearly stating that if Allen starts at center, Corbett will be the right guard. He mentioned that Evans is a guy they have confidence in to come in and play if needed, but he hasn’t earned a starting job on the offensive line. In fact, it might be Evans’ play that has led the Rams to move Corbett to right guard and bumping Allen up to the starting role. Evans is a good player, but he still has room to improve as a guard.

7
Stock up: RB Xavier Jones​

John McCoy-USA TODAY Sports
McVay said Tuesday that he thinks Jones is “going to carve out a role for himself” and someone the Rams are “expecting to count on throughout the season.” That’s high praise for the second-year back, and it seems he’s poised to emerge as Darrell Henderson Jr.’s backup. McVay added that Jones is aware and willing in pass protection, a crucial part of playing the position, especially if he’s going to be a third-down back for the Rams. Jake Funk has also done a nice job and impressed McVay, but Jones has received a lot of high marks from the coach.

8
Stock down: ILB Christian Rozeboom​

(AP Photo/Andy Clayton- King)
Rozeboom is an intriguing player but one who’s fallen behind a bit at outside linebacker. Ernest Jones had a good camp, as did Young and Travin Howard. Micah Kiser and Troy Reeder don’t seem to be going anywhere, either, making Rozeboom the sixth linebacker. That’s probably not enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster, unless he can vault Kiser, Reeder or Howard in the preseason. He could be destined for another year on the practice squad if he doesn’t make the 53-man team.

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[snackdaddy]

Most of us have been pretty down on Allen. Maybe the light finally went on? I do know if he becomes a serviceable center we're much better moving Corbett to guard. Like Noteboom, Evans seems to be more suited for tackle than guard.

Noteboom and Allen are in their final year of the rookie contracts. I honestly don't see them re-signing Noteboom. We will have to see Allen's work this year.

I don't know enough about Jones to know if he can be a decent backup. His ability to play in the pass game will likely be the deciding factor. If he can play well enough as a blocker and catching passes, he obviously locks up the number two spot.

Disappointed in Lewis inability to stay healthy. I thought we mighta had a steal getting a first round talent in the 3rd. Too bad for the kid. Its not decided but it ain't looking good.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I am too.

Then I thought of this perspective; the 2020 oline was good, but I want to see improvement from the play we saw there (all of us do)…

The thought of Corbett at C and Evans at RG felt like sizeable change.

Now… we are “just” swapping Blythe for Allen. So, how much better will the line be? Doesn’t feel much different from last year.

Then again… Stafford helps the oline with his veteran play.

It’s all so connected in weird ways.

Allen may be a fraction better than Bythe in some areas and that’s all we need. That plus Stafford factor and maybe the whole line goes up a notch.

Yep. Blythe was better than Allen and Blythe was not good. Some even say bad. So how can Allen get so much better in one summer?

Sounds like we will be bitching about center for the third straight year. When will this team finally just draft a good center early in the draft?

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Most of us have been pretty down on Allen. Maybe the light finally went on? I do know if he becomes a serviceable center we're much better moving Corbett to guard. Like Noteboom, Evans seems to be more suited for tackle than guard.

Noteboom and Allen are in their final year of the rookie contracts. I honestly don't see them re-signing Noteboom. We will have to see Allen's work this year.

I don't know enough about Jones to know if he can be a decent backup. His ability to play in the pass game will likely be the deciding factor. If he can play well enough as a blocker and catching passes, he obviously locks up the number two spot.

Disappointed in Lewis inability to stay healthy. I thought we mighta had a steal getting a first round talent in the 3rd. Too bad for the kid. Its not decided but it ain't looking good.

Maybe they figure that they can play Allen, and he performs well enough, they can get a comp pick of he moves on, instead of him being a waiver wire claim or a low contract free agent that nets them zero comp picks?

 

[majrleaged]

Maybe they figure that they can play Allen, and he performs well enough, they can get a comp pick of he moves on, instead of him being a waiver wire claim or a low contract free agent that nets them zero comp picks?

At this point I would guess this decision is solely about the 5 best lineman. Earlier this year I said Allen has to show up big or he is gone. Now the question is did he show up big or did he just keep his place while all the other possibilities took a step back.
See the season.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

You're kidding, right? He ran with the two's last year. He is #2 because Higbee is the #1 TE. McVay favors 11 personnel so there is only one TE on the field at a time. If he plays a 12 personnel set I would expect it to be Higbee and either Hopkins or Harris. So how is running with the twos a downgrade?

Remember the only one Hopkins needs to impress is McVay and Wes Phillips the TE coach. Impressing the media who get it wrong more than right is not even in the mix.

Also, this is the same media that was crowning Corbett as the starting center while I understood there were good reasons for Allen to play center. His experience, building off of a decent 2019 and financial. Also, understanding that you can't develop a top-tier center in just a few weeks from someone who hasn't played it in years. As I posted before the change that it simply did not make sense to bench Allen if you indeed want to start the 5 best OL on the roster.

I'm saying the same dynamic also applies to the TE position. Why demote a player with a much higher ceiling that they spent a 4th round pick for last year, that is faster with better hands? Hopkins is far and away more versatile than Mundt and brings more to the table. This is the same Mundt they knew they couldn't use as a lead blocker in the run game last year so they tried Everett. IMO he makes the roster if they carry 4 TEs which they haven't done in years, if not I don't see him making the roster.

Maybe. It sounds like some guessing is involved there. Just because they have Hopkins getting snaps with the twos could simply mean they want to see him more before deciding to cut him.

When Hopkins was drafted a lot of us felt it was a forced pick to replace Everet in 2021. Hopkins was mainly a receiving threat in college with a penchant for dropping passes. How does he suddenly become a good blocker when he didn’t really even block in college nor is he built like a blocker?

I get that he is a fourth round pick but, Snead is not guaranteed to hit on all of his picks. He seems to have missed on Long. If anything Hopkins seems like a fourth or fifth TE who is battling Blanton to stay on the roster. I don’t think there is any certainty that Hopkins makes the roster, since Blanton seems like the more capable blocker.

But I guess you could be right about Mundt being on the bubble. Aside from Higbee and Harris I don’t see a sure thing to be on the roster, especially when you look at receiver depth right now. How often is McVay going to be willing to go with anything other than 11 personnel or empty backfields? 12 personnel does not seem like it will be a priority with better weapons available.

 

[CGI_Ram]

You have to look at TEs by role. Hopkins is unlikely to win the backup job behind Higs because he was a passing game specialized guy in college. Very unlikely a guy like him is an under-the-radar all star blocker in one offseason.

Plus Mundt has had a good camp. He is well steeped in the offense and can be plugged in to any situation. Not sure that is true with Hopkins.

I see Higs > Mundt as the inline guys. We need two there who can block. In the move role Hopkins is almost surely behind Harris, so that means Harris > Hopkins as best case for Hopkins. And being bottom of the TE barrel means he's competing with the WR depth. And I don't know how anyone can look at Hopkins and think he compares favorably to the WR depth options, almost all of whom have had good to strong camps

That’s where my head is at.

 

[Merlin]

Yep. Blythe was better than Allen and Blythe was not good. Some even say bad. So how can Allen get so much better in one summer?

Sounds like we will be bitching about center for the third straight year. When will this team finally just draft a good center early in the draft?

As I've admitted I really have no idea what to expect from Allen. It would not surprise me if he's the same guy or if he's better, because we haven't seen a thing from him since watching him fail in his first shot.

But the thing with Allen that is a bit different than some other guys are the outside factors when he failed that first shot. He had two terrible OGs next to him first off. Boom was not anywhere near strong enough and Demby should never have been out there. Also Allen was in a situation where he was not good enough on the protection calls which made things worse. He was not ready to do that.

I have no idea if he's better on the calls now, but I suspect he is because he's had plenty of time to study up. And QB has changed too, lessening the requirement of the Center supporting with strong calls.

And re: the guys next to him he's got Edwards who is a stud and maybe a Pro Bowl level OG this year if he keeps growing, and Corbs who is excellent too. Both big, strong, physical OGs.

The whole situation is different.

 

[CGI_Ram]

But the thing with Allen that is a bit different than some other guys are the outside factors when he failed that first shot. He had two terrible OGs next to him first off. Boom was not anywhere near strong enough and Demby should never have been out there. Also Allen was in a situation where he was not good enough on the protection calls which made things worse. He was not ready to do that.

Good point.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

As I've admitted I really have no idea what to expect from Allen. It would not surprise me if he's the same guy or if he's better, because we haven't seen a thing from him since watching him fail in his first shot.

But the thing with Allen that is a bit different than some other guys are the outside factors when he failed that first shot. He had two terrible OGs next to him first off. Boom was not anywhere near strong enough and Demby should never have been out there. Also Allen was in a situation where he was not good enough on the protection calls which made things worse. He was not ready to do that.

I have no idea if he's better on the calls now, but I suspect he is because he's had plenty of time to study up. And QB has changed too, lessening the requirement of the Center supporting with strong calls.

And re: the guys next to him he's got Edwards who is a stud and maybe a Pro Bowl level OG this year if he keeps growing, and Corbs who is excellent too. Both big, strong, physical OGs.

The whole situation is different.

I hope you are right

 

[Merlin]

I hope you are right

Me too man. Hopefully worst case he won't be as bad as Blythe was last season.

 

[Neil039]

Me too man. Hopefully worst case he won't be as bad as Blythe was last season.

Only Blythe can be as bad as Blythe…..

 

[bubbaramfan]

All I know is what my eyes have told me. First thing I notice is how much bigger he is, then how well he was at holding up with the twos. Then the pads go on and and he's tossing SJD aside, standing up AShawn Rob, opening holes for the run and even holding up AD. Coaches noticed too. Now Allen gets his chance. Hopefully they give him snaps in pre-season, he still has to prove himself vs oposing teams.

Kinda proves that you can't really evaluate OL until the pads go on (aparently they didn't until a few days ago).
My eyes do say he's much improved.
I'm still not completly sold until I see more from him.

Kudos to the Rams for not getting locked in. there's still time to go back to "plan A".

 

[Merlin]

Your eyes have been pretty damn accurate to date Bubba.

 

[BonifayRam]

Most of us have been pretty down on Allen. Maybe the light finally went on? I do know if he becomes a serviceable center we're much better moving Corbett to guard. Like Noteboom, Evans seems to be more suited for tackle than guard.

Noteboom and Allen are in their final year of the rookie contracts. I honestly don't see them re-signing Noteboom. We will have to see Allen's work this year.

I don't know enough about Jones to know if he can be a decent backup. His ability to play in the pass game will likely be the deciding factor. If he can play well enough as a blocker and catching passes, he obviously locks up the number two spot.

Disappointed in Lewis inability to stay healthy. I thought we mighta had a steal getting a first round talent in the 3rd. Too bad for the kid. Its not decided but it ain't looking good.

I see LT Joseph Noteboom as the first 2022 UFA's that the Rams resign.

 

[TheTackle]

The front office thought Allen was an upside pick who had the drive and wrestling background to develop into a plus starter. Maybe they were right? I am looking forward to seeing how he has developed

 

[den-the-coach]

Another Malcolm Brown type back?

That was Jones plus coming out of SMU, he could pass protect and pick up the blitz, which Brown did excel at. Jones might be a tad more elusive, but if Jones can stick his head in there and block, plus catch the football, the Rams might not be adding a veteran as some think.

 

[den-the-coach]

The front office thought Allen was an upside pick who had the drive and wrestling background to develop into a plus starter. Maybe they were right? I am looking forward to seeing how he has developed

He was not good when called upon in 2019, but he did get injured and did not get the whole year to start, plus Allen was restricted because of COVID in 2020. He worked hard adding strength & weight and not only had glowing reports from the likes of @bubbaramfan & @VeteranRamFan who watched it with their own eyes, the coaches observed it too.

Overall, they felt Allen would be the guy after Sullivan, it didn't work out that way, but he's ready now, bigger & stronger combined with Corbett going back to RG, barring injury, this OL could be better than expected in 2021.

 

[Tano]

have you seen his college tape. His bread and butter is change of direction and cutting ability. I didn’t see that from Brown.

No

I was just asking a question from what I have read about in these forums.

Everything they state says a Malcolm Brown type back.

I am hoping you are right and that he is even better than Malcolm Brown because Malcolm was a very good backup who just couldn't do much when running after catching a ball. He needed a full head of steam before he could get going.

 

[So Ram]

Do you understand how pumped about Brian Allen I am? Just think about it. We were all okay with the idea of Austin Corbett being the starting center. But apparently Brian Allen has played so well that McVay is now comfortable with leaving Corbett at guard? That's an incredible gem to find in the offseason. I think we're going to find out a lot in these preseason games. Because of Allen doesn't even play much then he certainly is the starter.

 

[So Ram]

I stayed late Monday at camp.

#96 was out there helping #61 & # 66
It was cool to see Max working so hard.He wanted to go with Whitworth’s group after those 2 left.
He stayed out there & was working on his pass Pro form.