Travin Howard

[jrry32]

I think cornerback depth is a big need, especially if they lose Darius. I've seen enough of Deayon. Long finally started playing better. I don't understand what took him so long. Maybe he needed Weddle's presence on the field and at practice to guide him. He looked much different in the playoffs.

I also think the Rams safeties could be upgraded. Rapp, Scott, and Fuller are okay but there isn't a standout in the group. Plus two are in their third year and free agents in 2023 offseason, along with Gaines. Wouldn't it be good to get some replacements on the roster to start grooming?

Our projected picks are:
Round 3 Pick #40
Round 4 Pick #39
Round 5 Pick #32
Round 6 Pick #32
Round 6 Pick #33
Round 6 Pick #35
Round 7 Pick #17
Round 7 Pick #32

All this to say that the odds of us upgrading at safety aren't great. With Fuller, Scott, Rapp, and Burgess, I think I'd go safety late in the draft and look for a guy who can contribute on special teams (like we did with Nick Scott). I feel like Scott proved himself to be a solid starter, and Fuller has already proven to be a pretty good starter.

I do agree we'll need depth at CB. It's why I'd draft at least one. I'd also look into a CB on a rookie contract who has fallen out of favor on another squad who could be a worthwhile reclamation project.

Personally, I'd be looking for an ILB with one of our first two picks. With the depth and talent in this draft, we should be in the right spot to snag a guy who will fill a need (rangy ILB who can cover). Reeder's weaknesses are too easy to exploit.

 

[JonRam99]

Our projected picks are:
Round 3 Pick #40
Round 4 Pick #39
Round 5 Pick #32
Round 6 Pick #32
Round 6 Pick #33
Round 6 Pick #35
Round 7 Pick #17
Round 7 Pick #32

All this to say that the odds of us upgrading at safety aren't great. With Fuller, Scott, Rapp, and Burgess, I think I'd go safety late in the draft and look for a guy who can contribute on special teams (like we did with Nick Scott). I feel like Scott proved himself to be a solid starter, and Fuller has already proven to be a pretty good starter.

I do agree we'll need depth at CB. It's why I'd draft at least one. I'd also look into a CB on a rookie contract who has fallen out of favor on another squad who could be a worthwhile reclamation project.

Personally, I'd be looking for an ILB with one of our first two picks. With the depth and talent in this draft, we should be in the right spot to snag a guy who will fill a need (rangy ILB who can cover). Reeder's weaknesses are too easy to exploit.

What I was going to say. Our draft position and need at ILB makes sense to get one there.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Our projected picks are:
Round 3 Pick #40
Round 4 Pick #39
Round 5 Pick #32
Round 6 Pick #32
Round 6 Pick #33
Round 6 Pick #35
Round 7 Pick #17
Round 7 Pick #32

All this to say that the odds of us upgrading at safety aren't great. With Fuller, Scott, Rapp, and Burgess, I think I'd go safety late in the draft and look for a guy who can contribute on special teams (like we did with Nick Scott). I feel like Scott proved himself to be a solid starter, and Fuller has already proven to be a pretty good starter.

I do agree we'll need depth at CB. It's why I'd draft at least one. I'd also look into a CB on a rookie contract who has fallen out of favor on another squad who could be a worthwhile reclamation project.

Personally, I'd be looking for an ILB with one of our first two picks. With the depth and talent in this draft, we should be in the right spot to snag a guy who will fill a need (rangy ILB who can cover). Reeder's weaknesses are too easy to exploit.

I don’t know why Howard and Jones can’t be the LBs. During the season Reeder’s snaps were really reduced once Jones got established. I don’t know why Howard wasn’t used in the Super Bowl. I like him better than Rapp. But the Rams often only used one Linebacker anyway. I could see a depth guy drafted.

I guess starting with one of the last picks in round 3, that’s all you can plan on.

 

[jrry32]

I don’t know why Howard and Jones can’t be the LBs. During the season Reeder’s snaps were really reduced once Jones got established. I don’t know why Howard wasn’t used in the Super Bowl. I like him better than Rapp. But the Rams often only used one Linebacker anyway. I could see a depth guy drafted.

I guess starting with one of the last picks in round 3, that’s all you can plan on.

They don't seem to trust Howard. And frankly, I think we sorely need a quality starting ILB.

 

[fearsomefour]

Hybrid weakside ILB/Strong Safety Travin Howard is a defensive playmaker!

Travin Howard should never leave the field to give way to Safety Taylor Rapp or MLB Troy Reeder for any reason unless he needs a rest.

Matchups my man, match ups.
Howard is a player for sure but when Rapp came back he was playing because of the match up I assume.

 

[BonifayRam]

Matchups my man, match ups.
Howard is a player for sure but when Rapp came back he was playing because of the match up I assume.

Hey there fearsomefour!

I must be blind I almost never see Rapp or Reeder win a pass play matchup. Just there for the tackle after the first down has been gained.

Just review the SB win Ram player grades....Taylor Rapp will be found as always near the bottom of the Ram defenders playing...Taylor Rapp: 49.6 ....I am sure Troy Reeder is just a little bit ahead of Rapp in those grades.

 

[blackbart]

Hey there fearsomefour!

I must be blind I almost never see Rapp or Reeder win a pass play matchup. Just there for the tackle after the first down has been gained.

Just review the SB win Ram player grades....Taylor Rapp will be found as always near the bottom of the Ram defenders playing...Taylor Rapp: 49.6 ....I am sure Troy Reeder is just a little bit ahead of Rapp in those grades.

51 solos, 30 assists, 1.5 sacks, 6 passes defended, 4 ints.

He could do better but we could do worse than him too.

 

[BonifayRam]

51 solos, 30 assists, 1.5 sacks, 6 passes defended, 4 ints.

He could do better but we could do worse than him too.

I really do not have any real issues in how DC Morris was using Rapp this last Sunday...mostly because Rapp was not lined up in any of the safety posts but @ ILB'er.

 

[blackbart]

I really do not have any real issues in how DC Morris was using Rapp this last Sunday...mostly because Rapp was not lined up in any of the safety posts but @ ILB'er.

Seems like that has been a model since Barron got moved in there. I’m sure there are guys to fill those spots, maybe just not a priority?

I did like the way Howard was playing.

 

[Kupped]

Our projected picks are:
Round 3 Pick #40
Round 4 Pick #39
Round 5 Pick #32
Round 6 Pick #32
Round 6 Pick #33
Round 6 Pick #35
Round 7 Pick #17
Round 7 Pick #32

All this to say that the odds of us upgrading at safety aren't great. With Fuller, Scott, Rapp, and Burgess, I think I'd go safety late in the draft and look for a guy who can contribute on special teams (like we did with Nick Scott). I feel like Scott proved himself to be a solid starter, and Fuller has already proven to be a pretty good starter.

I do agree we'll need depth at CB. It's why I'd draft at least one. I'd also look into a CB on a rookie contract who has fallen out of favor on another squad who could be a worthwhile reclamation project.

Personally, I'd be looking for an ILB with one of our first two picks. With the depth and talent in this draft, we should be in the right spot to snag a guy who will fill a need (rangy ILB who can cover). Reeder's weaknesses are too easy to exploit.

The only thing I disagree with here, rather strongly, is drafting another ILB at that point. It'd be nice to have another three down linebacker.. but they can survive with a strong first down guy.. then move into hybrid packages with Rapp.

Bringing Reeder back on the minimum isn't the end of the world in this scenario. Howard too.

 

[jrry32]

The only thing I disagree with here, rather strongly, is drafting another ILB at that point. It'd be nice to have another three down linebacker.. but they can survive with a strong first down guy.. then move into hybrid packages with Rapp.

Bringing Reeder back on the minimum isn't the end of the world in this scenario. Howard too.

We need speed and coverage skills at ILB. While subpackages are nice on passing downs, it makes us far too vulnerable when we can't go to those subpackages. It's a big reason why SF is able to exploit our defense so well.

 

[NorthernRam]

Rapp's stats are actually quite revealing - 81 tackle involvements, 6 pass breakups and 4 interceptions are indications of a player who is targeted by opponents because of their inability to cover. Teams game planned to exploit Rapp's weakness against the pass.

Rapp had a lot more opportunities to make plays because QB's passed to his area without fear and with a great deal of success. Rapp seldom broke up passes and would instead make tackles after the catch.

Judging players by their interception numbers is a flawed strategy, e.g., Trevon Diggs of Dallas who gets burned repeatedly but gets a lot of picks. More telling is how often QB's throw at him.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

I checked out the SB snap counts and discovered that Travin Howard did not have one defensive snap.
I found this odd in that he looked pretty good in the Whiner game the week before IMO.
Mebbe he had a bad week of practice or something.
Any other thoughts?

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[Merlin]

Better quality CB at CB2/3 is going to be important. Rams need more juice there, more ball threat to take advantage of what that defensive front forces. Williams was our only ball skill guy and he wasn't the same dude this year. Ramsey has never had great ball skills and never will. Long got it done but he was up/down all season.

This secondary needs some dogs IMO. Even just one guy with some real fight in him and ability to break on the ball will help tremendously.

ILB looks pretty good to me. My areas of greatest concern are interior OL (we need to run the ball better to not have so much on 9's shoulders) and the secondary. Slot corner is becoming more and more of a prime position given guys like Kupp being moved around there to get matchups and a little more talent behind Ramsey will give Morris leeway to be creative in matchups vs those teams.

 

[fearsomefour]

Hey there fearsomefour!

I must be blind I almost never see Rapp or Reeder win a pass play matchup. Just there for the tackle after the first down has been gained.

Just review the SB win Ram player grades....Taylor Rapp will be found as always near the bottom of the Ram defenders playing...Taylor Rapp: 49.6 ....I am sure Troy Reeder is just a little bit ahead of Rapp in those grades.

Hey Bonny....
I was away from the board since about week 10 or until just before the Super Bowl.
Missed this great place.
Had crazy work schedule and then had computer issues....
Anyway, I agree about Rapp and Reeder.
Rapp really played well in his first year, then, with Morris sort of fell off. He isn't a terrible player by any stretch but usually is not a difference maker. He can still develop as he is a young player still. A little different role in Morris' scheme is the reason for his fall off I think.
To me, Reeder is one step of quickness away from being a really good MLB.
He usually reads pretty well and is a physical player and certainly is a try hard guy.
Just that lack of quickness....that one step of quickness....compromises him in coverage and at time in the run game he often will over run a play to try and over come his limitations.
All of that said, Reeder has been a contributor his entire time in LA. Remarkable given he is an undrafted player.
To me, Reeder is an idea back up MLB.
He is good on special teams and if you need him to fill in for a stretch he can handle it and will bring high effort every time.
I like Howard as well and his contributions can't be over looked.
I am interested to see what the Rams do with Miller (I doubt he comes back, but, who knows?) and Hollins.
Hollins started kind of rough for the Rams, then developed into a contributing player, then got injured.
Hollins, Howard, Jones, Reeder, Lewis, Garrett....there is some talent there that can continue to develop.

 

[PressureD41]

ADD:

a) Taller CB
b) 3 down ILB
C) LG

 

[CanadaRam]

I really don't see a need at S or ILB. Decisions have to be made on Reeder and Howard, but both could be back on the cheap.
Jones will be in on all plays.
Scott has emerged as very good S depth.
IMO Rams will enter 2022 in much better position in middle of D (S and ILB) than in 2021.

 

[den-the-coach]

Hybrid weakside ILB/Strong Safety Travin Howard is a defensive playmaker!

Travin Howard should never leave the field to give way to Safety Taylor Rapp or MLB Troy Reeder for any reason unless he needs a rest.

My Ram Brother is right on point here, however, listening to Raheem Morris talk about Troy Reeder is glowing. Morris gushes when speaking about Reeder. I believe this, Reeder is very smart and does well on the Blitz, but I concur with @BonifayRam I want Howard on the field more than Reeder and I'm not a huge fan of Rapp either.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I really don't see a need at S or ILB.

Agree. Do not see much of a Need. However, the Rams have recently been unwilling to extend safeties and inside-backers. Both Rapp and Scott will be unrestricted free agents in 2023.

Decisions have to be made on Reeder and Howard, but both could be back on the cheap.

Reeder is a restricted free agent; and Howard is listed as an exclusive rights free agent. So unless the Rams do not want to retain them, they should be back

 

[BonifayRam]

Agree. Do not see much of a Need. However, the Rams have recently been unwilling to extend safeties and inside-backers. Both Rapp and Scott will be unrestricted free agents in 2023.

Reeder is a restricted free agent; and Howard is listed as an exclusive rights free agent. So unless the Rams do not want to retain them, they should be back

The Rams should be in decent condition as I see it @ ILB'er/Safety cadres this season. The ERFA of SS/WSILB'er Travin Howard is sure to be signed to a contract. He is certainly trending upwards but I do not understand why DC Morris refuses to utilize Eric Jones & Howard together primarily as the starters @ LB'er. I think Jones will be fine in the MLB'er role with some additional size & strength in the off-season. Howard is just fine as he is now.

As far as the reserves ...Troy Reeder who DC Morris seems to prefer is a good backup MLBer & should be an economy resign as an RFA here in a month or so. I would look for TR to get the Low-level tender that is close to $1.907 million. TR has is one healthy tough LB'er who IMO can play also both OLB'er posts if needed. He has earned a pay raise for his work over the last two seasons. TR was a starting strong-side 4/3 OLB'er for most all his college years.

MLB'er Christian Rozeboom is slated to return for his 3rd season as a Ram. Rams also just signed a Tarvin Howard clone in Antoine Brooks Jr.