Young DBs forcing Rams to make difficult decisions in secondary

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Riverumbbq

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By: Cameron DaSilva | 13 hours ago

In terms of top-line talent, the Los Angeles Rams are one of the best teams in the NFL. Between Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Jared Goff and a host of others, the Rams’ starting lineup looks as strong as any.

What might set them apart is the depth they have further down the roster, particularly in the secondary. Eric Weddle, John Johnson, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib are going to get most of the attention – as they should – but there’s a host of lesser-known defensive backs who could contribute if needed.

That’s become evident this preseason with the secondary playing extremely well. Through two weeks, the Rams have allowed just 405 passing yards and two touchdown passes. They’ve come down with three interceptions and broken up 11 passes, including seven against the Cowboys on Saturday.

This is all without a single starter playing a snap, too. Weddle, Johnson, Talib, Peters, Nickell Robey-Coleman and Troy Hill have all gotten the veteran treatment, sitting out both preseason games thus far. That won’t change in the next two weeks, either.

Instead, it’s players such as Kevin Peterson, Steven Parker, Taylor Rapp, Dont’e Deayon and Darious Williams locking down the secondary. As a result, the Rams will have some difficult decisions when it comes time to make final roster cuts on Aug. 31.

Rapp is obviously a lock to make the team, as is fellow rookie David Long Jr. But behind them is a group of players who have risen to the occasion and made a case for the final roster.

Williams has broken up three passes and made eight tackle, though he has been beat for a couple of big plays. Parker has an interception and two pass breakups, including a diving deflection against Dallas – a play so good that the Cowboys challenged it for pass interference (and lost).

Peterson made a great play against Dallas to break up a pass on an out-breaking route, adding to his already-strong preseason. In the first game, he picked off Mike Glennon. Deayon stood out against the Cowboys with an interception of his own, coming back to the ball on an underthrown pass.

The Rams are going to get a quality player no matter who they keep, but making that decision will be tough. In our latest roster projection, we have them keeping Peterson at cornerback behind the starters, Hill and Long. At safety, it’s Marqui Christian and Nick Scott who get the nod, not Parker.

Things can change between now and the end of August, considering there are still two preseason games left. Another strong performance from Parker or Deayon could land them on the 53-man roster.


 

Riverumbbq

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Long-Term Plans May Affect Rams' CB Corps
August 18th, 2019 at 6:51pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • The contract-year statuses of Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters may force the Rams to consider the big picture when finalizing their roster. Les Snead could well keep an extra corner this season because of the potential 2020 departures of the team’s starting corners, Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic writes (subscription required). In addition to Talib and Peters, slot starter Nickell Robey-Coleman, Troy Hill and third-round pick David Long will be roster locks. That leaves one or two spots left for a host of players who have shown well in camp, with Bonsignore singling out 2018 waiver claim Darious Williams and 2017 UDFA Kevin Peterson as the leaders to round out the corner corps. The latter missed all of 2018 due to injury, but both players have had standout camps. In addition to the Colts, Patriots and Saints, the Rams may begin receiving trade calls on some corners.
 

CGI_Ram

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Long-Term Plans May Affect Rams' CB Corps
August 18th, 2019 at 6:51pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • The contract-year statuses of Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters may force the Rams to consider the big picture when finalizing their roster. Les Snead could well keep an extra corner this season because of the potential 2020 departures of the team’s starting corners, Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic writes (subscription required). In addition to Talib and Peters, slot starter Nickell Robey-Coleman, Troy Hill and third-round pick David Long will be roster locks. That leaves one or two spots left for a host of players who have shown well in camp, with Bonsignore singling out 2018 waiver claim Darious Williams and 2017 UDFA Kevin Peterson as the leaders to round out the corner corps. The latter missed all of 2018 due to injury, but both players have had standout camps. In addition to the Colts, Patriots and Saints, the Rams may begin receiving trade calls on some corners.

^This was my thought after reading the first article.

IF the play at CB continues to be strong, it’s a great problem for where this team is at in future years.
 

TexasRam

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If Christian makes the team over Parker i’ll be pissed. Christian has no where near the coverage ability as Parker and is also a penalty factory.
 

BonifayRam

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Long-Term Plans May Affect Rams' CB Corps
August 18th, 2019 at 6:51pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • The contract-year statuses of Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters may force the Rams to consider the big picture when finalizing their roster. Les Snead could well keep an extra corner this season because of the potential 2020 departures of the team’s starting corners, Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic writes (subscription required). In addition to Talib and Peters, slot starter Nickell Robey-Coleman, Troy Hill and third-round pick David Long will be roster locks. That leaves one or two spots left for a host of players who have shown well in camp, with Bonsignore singling out 2018 waiver claim Darious Williams and 2017 UDFA Kevin Peterson as the leaders to round out the corner corps. The latter missed all of 2018 due to injury, but both players have had standout camps. In addition to the Colts, Patriots and Saints, the Rams may begin receiving trade calls on some corners.
It would be very foolish to do otherwise. Snead needs to replace Peters who will demand $13 mil a season & Talib who might be talked out of retirement @ 35 yrs old for a 2 yr deal worth over $12 million ...with low cost sound outside corners. Release like Peterson, Williams & Deayon depart leaves the CB unit basically empty.

Rams 2020 Free Agents 9 of which are starters
PlayerPos.2019 Team2020 TeamTypeSnapsAgeCurrent APYGuarantees
Dante Fowler, Jr.34OLBRamsUFA57%26$12,000,000$12,000,000
Andrew WhitworthLTRamsUFA94.3%39$11,250,000$15,000,000
Michael Brockers34DERamsUFA67.4%30$11,083,333$18,146,000
Aqib TalibCBRamsUFA38.7%34$9,500,000$11,500,000
Cory LittletonILBRamsUFA95.3%27$3,095,000$0
Troy HillCBRamsVoid42.1%29$2,625,263$2,025,525
Marcus PetersCBRamsUFA90.6%27$2,396,040$9,584,160
Greg ZuerleinKRamsUFA30.3%33$2,250,000$2,375,000
Blake BortlesQBRamsUFA74.7%29$1,000,000$1,000,000
Bryce HagerILBRamsUFA5.2%28$805,000$90,000
Tyler HigbeeTERamsUFA71.6%27$730,215$580,860
Donte DeayonCBRamsERFA10.5%26$645,000$0
Morgan Fox34DERamsRFA0%26$645,000$0
Dominique HatfieldCBRamsERFA0.6%26$645,000$0
Brandon AllenQBRamsRFA0.6%28$645,000$0
JoJo NatsonWRRamsRFA0%26$645,000$0
Marqui ChristianCBRamsUFA34.3%26$637,550$210,200
Mike ThomasWRRamsUFA0%26$614,017$116,068
Austin BlytheRGRamsUFA100%28$600,497$61,988
KhaDarel HodgeWRRamsERFA7.7%25$570,000$0
Aaron NearyLGRamsERFA0%28$570,000$0
Josh Carraway34OLBRamsERFA0%26$570,000$0
Kevin PetersonCBRamsRFA0%26$570,000$0
Justin DavisRBRamsRFA0.5%25$560,000$15,000
Johnny MundtTERamsERFA3.6%26$525,000$0
Brock MillerPRamsERFA0%29$495,000$0
Jeremiah KoloneRGRamsERFA0%26$495,000$0
John Wolford