12 Players to watch over the next few games.

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Florida_Ram

Florida_Ram

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Some thoughts and personal insights leading up to the Rams NFL week 3 heavyweight matchup vs the Bucs on Sunday.

Like every new season in the first 2 or 3 games, there are NFL players that don't look as good as we projected them to be and other players that show flashes of being better than the year before.

Every new season, players ascend, look more of the same or take a step back from their production from the previous season.

It's only been 2 games but fans pick up on trends and quickly get concerned.


A small step back early in the 2021 season ?

Darious Williams = Wearing his new jersey #11 in a contract year, he doesn't look as sharp, fast or aggressive as he was in 2020.

Jordan Fuller = He wears the green dot now, but he's done nothing special and it appears he's gotten off to a slow start in 2021.

Terrell Burgess = Still working his way back from last seasons injury, it seems like he's a few more weeks away from hitting his stride.


A step up from 2020 ?

Sebastian Joseph-Day = He's playing well and looks to be improved from his 2020 performance.

Troy Reader = Has the look of an ascending player.

Justin Hollins = Picked up where he left off last season and has shown signs of taking another step.

David Long = Even thought it's early in the season, nobody has been missing the loss of Troy Hill.

Greg Gaines = So far so good after 2 games.


Flashes of taking the next step ?

Brian Allen = (didn't play last season) but so far he's been proving the Rams right by not giving up on him.

Van Jefferson = He splashed in week 1 and he will be under the microscope the next few games.

Rob Havenstein = Perennial Right Tackle is off to a great start in 2021.

Robert Rochell = Has the early votes for Rams rookie of the year.

I'm sure I left other solid candidates off of this list.




Still very early in the season but...
observations.jpg
 
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nice post, and agree with it....

taylor rapp... i've been down on him before this year, but let's see how he does.. i'm always hopeful...

the secondary as a whole just feels like they are late...

run d... nuff said...

let's hope this game is the coming out party that i want it to be, i think it will...

go rams

slo
 
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Honestly, I'd keep an eye out for Bobby Brown III. BB3 was my favorite pick in the draft, and if he gets time, he could help Donald in both pass-rushing and run-stuffing. And also Chris Garrett and Terrell Lewis should be solid.

Also looking at Austin Corbett. He had an astoundingly-difficult test against Buckner (I have no idea why the 69ers traded him; he's arguably the second best pass-rushing tackle behind AD.), and he held up quite well. I want to re-sign Corbett before he gets too expensive, but honestly, I think he could hold up to Vea (a dominant run-stuffer with some pass rushing skill) with Allen's help.

Finally, I'll look at Jacob Harris and Chatarius Atwell. I imagine that McVay is going to go with things that the Fuckaneers have never seen. I see him using the players I mentioned, incorporating them more and more into the offense.
 
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Memento said:
Finally, I'll look at Jacob Harris and Chatarius Atwell. I imagine that McVay is going to go with things that the Fuckaneers have never seen. I see him using the players I mentioned, incorporating them more and more into the offense.
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Do you not like the name Tutu lol?
 
Listen to the 11 personnel podcast. Jourdan expressed some concerns but said some players are still getting used to the defense and their new roles. Fuller calling plays. Rapp just playing in general. Williams playing some at star. It seems the defense is not ready to turn the heat up just yet.
 
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Elmgrovegnome said:
Listen to the 11 personnel podcast. Jourdan expressed some concerns but said some players are still getting used to the defense and their new roles. Fuller calling plays. Rapp just playing in general. Williams playing some at star. It seems the defense is not ready to turn the heat up just yet.
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This^^
Except for all world Ramsey, the entire secondary seems to be consistently late to the party when it comes to reading, reacting, and making plays—not all the time, but certainly enough to notice.

It has to be a transitional thing because there’s just too much talent back there. This would be a good week to put it together, though.
 
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fanotodd said:
Except for all world Ramsey, the entire secondary seems to be consistently late to the party when it comes to reading, reacting, and making plays—not all the time, but certainly enough to notice.
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A lot of it has to do with that soft ass zone coverage that Morris has the secondary playing. I hate it!
 
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Nice post, Florida.

About the seconearby in general and DW in particular. I’m afraid that Morris’ scheme has somewhat ‘neutered’ them. Not completely, of course, but partially.

Kinda pisses me off, actually.

I will say that Morris has done a great job of unleashing Ramsey, however. So there is that.
 
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Good list.
It's not on topic.. but one thing that jumps out to me is the fact that the Rams have three guys they spent nothing to get playing key roles on defense, as well as a 4th rounder and 2 sixth rounders. Incredible.
 
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I'm really expecting some Harris plays this week as well as some more shots to DJax or Atwell. I have to feel that McVay has been saving some of his best/most surprising plays for this game. You have to go all out to beat the defending champs and it will solidify our spotlight as a sure fire SB contender. I am just hoping for the D to step us also, they've been a lot of bend don't break. Won't work against Tom.
 
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TexasRam said:
Williams, Long and Rapp have been liabilities thus far.

Agree with the rest.
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Better thrown in safety Jordan Fuller who may be the worst of the 3 you have listed.

I don't care how many tackles he has he is not playing well & not on top of his game @ all.

Brady will make him look silly this Sunday mark it down & keep an eye on just how late Fuller arrives if he arrives at all to any run play. His coverages in the deep zones are pathetic. Do you want to talk about reaction time & proper angles.....he is said to be really football smart but he is not the most gifted athlete & just plain slow....... to get my point here? Yes, Fuller had his best game in 2020 against the Buc's I am fully aware of that.

I feel really bad about ragging on a promising Ram safety. I really love what I observed from his play last season when he was healthy & not ladened down with defensive captain & play calling, but I would just say to my Ram buds who might disagree to take time to rewatch the last two games & you tell me what you see in his on-field performance that has been good.

My solution @ this time is to give the play-calling duties to full-time starting 4 yr veteran ILB'er Kenny Young & let this 2nd yr safety Fuller turn all his attention to improving his overall performance back to what it is was in 2020. Jordan Fuller only finished 10 gms in the NFL until this season last season & might be too green to be making the calls in this defense against Brady.:bueller:

SS Taylor Rapp lacks & brings zero hits with all his tackles. I wish I had the stats on how many whiffs or how often he is drugged for several more yards after he makes contact in making his tackle in just 2 gms? But his performance in coverage has improved slightly from the 2 previous seasons. Rapp still is a liability.
 
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fearsomefour said:
DeSean Jackson.....
Is he going to contribute or was he just a “window dressing” signing.
Lewis, Oko, Garrett.....any other outside rushers going to step up?
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McVay desires a more seasoned deep wideout on the field like Jefferson.

Weak Side OLB Lewis may be getting close to being fully healthy & is seeing additional snaps but has yet to really show any play-making abilities thus far this season. I am waiting to see if he can fulfill all that hype that everyone has anointed onto him since his arrival from Bama.

I feel positive about the OLB'ers & there is a good chance we might see a few of these ER's step up this Sunday!
 
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