Players That Should Still Make The List

Chris Long should once again make the list this year. He’s not on the list yet, but he should be on it soon. If he doesn’t end up making the list it should be a crime. Long ranked tied for 9th in total sacks last year among all defensive players and ranked 5th among defensive ends with 11.5 sacks. Long may have not gotten as many sacks as he did last year, but he was still in the double digits, and he opened things up for Robert Quinn and Michael Brockers to make plays. Long has yet to make a pro bowl in his career, but as the team hopefully continues to win, Long should be making his pro bowl debut soon.

Although he still isn’t on the team, Steven Jackson will forever be a Ram, and he should also make the list. Jackson ranked 37th last season and should be in the same area this season. Look for him on the next episode. If Chris Johnson can make the list by being almost non-existent since rushing for 2,000 yards, Steven Jackson should be able to make this list by rushing for over 1,000 yards the past eight seasons. Jackson has earned the respect among fellow players throughout the years and without a doubt will be on the list soon.

Players That Will Get Snubbed

This will probably be the biggest snub on the team, but without a doubt James Laurinaitis should be on the list, but probably wont make it. Laurinaitis lead the NFL in tacks last season and has consistently been a good player on the Rams defense. Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson made the list at number 59 and Laurinaitis had more tackles, combined tackles and more interceptions than Johnson. In every other category Laurinaitis and Johnson were dead even or pretty close, with Johnson having the slight edge in sacks with two compared to Laurinaitis’ 0.5. Laurinaitis will get on the list as the team starts winning, but for now, James may just get snubbed.

Another big name player on the Ram that will probably get snubbed is Robert Quinn. As good as Quinn is, Long gets most of the credit and is seen as the main guy on the Rams defensive line. However, Quinn did tie for the 17th most sacks last season and ranked 7th among DE’s in sacks. Quinn has a shot at still making the list, but with how far along the list is, it is highly unlikely. Quinn plays a major role on the Rams defensive line, but because of the Rams and their losing ways, Quinn will miss out.

One of the snubs that I am going to be most disappointed with is that of Janoris Jenkins and Corland Finnegan. I am going to be more disappointed with Jenkins not making the list, but Finnegan deserves to be on it as well. Jenkins however was tied for 11th in the NFL in interceptions with four and tied for 17th in the NFL in passes defended. Jenkins was also tied for first in the NFL in interceptions returned for touchdowns. Last season it seemed like every time Jenkins touched the ball he was in the end zone. With Richard Sherman and Darrell Revis already on the list, it seems doubtful that Jenkins or Finnegan will make it. If both players play as well as they did last year or even better, both players will not only have a shot at making the list, but making the pro bowl as well.

Honorable Mentions

Sam Bradford had a good season last year, and it’s disappointing that a guy like Cam Newton makes the list, but Sam doesn’t. If Sam takes advantage of his playmakers this season and has a career year like he’s projected to have, Bradford could be on the list next year.

Michael Brockers also will just miss out this season, but if he plays just a little better than he did last year, it wont be long before he is on the list.

Greg Zurlein is also a player that I wouldn’t mind seeing on the list. Zurlein was the first player to make a 50 and 60 yard field goal in the same game. Zurlein set a rookie NFL record for longest field goal by making a 60 yarder and was the first player in NFL history to make two field goals of 58 yards or more in the same game. He also set a record for most 50+ yard field goals attempted in a season. Zurlein set many records, but because he is a kicker, he will probably miss out.

Chris Givens is another player that will miss out on the list. However, there is no doubt Givens could become one of the best receivers in the game and could make this list within the next few seasons.

Unfortunately because the Rams have had a tradition of losing for the past decade, many of their players that deserve to go to the pro bowl or be on a top 100 list, aren’t. With winning, will come recognition. These lists are usually a big popularity contest and players always get ranked too high, too low, or players that shouldn’t make the list do. It is impossible to get these lists 100% accurate as everybody has their own opinion, and for Rams fans, their opinion is that their players may be getting snubbed.

December 2, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Kendall Langford (98) and outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (58) tackle San Francisco 49ers fullback Bruce Miller (49) during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. St. Louis defeated San Francisco 16-13 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Throughout the season the Rams have been preaching the motto “one game at a time.”

And they should.

In last week’s victory over the reigning NFC West champs, St. Louis accomplished what most teams couldn’t dream of doing. Not only did the Rams defeat one of the best teams in the NFL, but their defense bottled up Frank Gore and the 49ers second-ranked rushing offense. Gore was held to 58 yards rushing on 25 carries, resulting in a 2.5 yard average. Colin Kaepernick did gain 84 yards on nine carries, but a chunk of his yardage came late in the fourth quarter on a 50-yard scamper down the sideline.

If the Rams wish to stay afloat in the playoff standings, the Rams tenacious defense must continue to make reservations in their opponents backfield. St. Louis defense is off to a great start with their effort against the bruising 49ers rushing attack, but this week they face a two-headed monster in Buffalo.

Fresh off a 232 yard outing against the hapless Jaguars, the Rams have their hands full containing the speedster C.J. Spiller and the versatile Fred Jackson.

Spiller and Jackson has led Buffalo the NFL’s fourth-ranked rushing offense. Spiller currently ranks 10th with 907 yards with only 137 attempts resulting in a staggering 6.6 yards per carry. In seasons’ past, Jackson has been the feature back, but concussions and knee injuries has limited him to 423 yards on 106 carries.

With enough to worry about this coming Sunday in the frigid temperatures at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the Rams’ defense must remain stout as they face more formidable rushing attacks down the stretch.

Next week the Rams face arguably the best back in the NFL in Adrian Peterson and the Vikings third-ranked rushing offense. Peterson leads the NFL in rushing with 1,446 yards; remarkable for a guy who had reconstructive knee surgery a little under a year ago. Then St. Louis travels to Tampa Bay to take on heralded rookie Doug Martin and the Buccaneers 11th ranked rushing attack. The muscle hamster is tied for third with 1,106 yards. In the season finale, the Rams look to remain undefeated in the NFC West as they face the  NFL’s second leading rusher in Marshawn Lynch and the Seattle Seahawks and their seventh-ranked rushing attack. Gore was ninth with 972 yards.

Right now, none of these games matter. Buffalo is first on the agenda. Michael Brockers has to continue his massive push up the middle along with the inside rush from Kendall Langford. If the Rams defense can nullify Spiller and Jackson early, Chris Long and company can pin their ears back and rattle the one time Ram and turnover prone Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Taking away Buffalo’s one-two punch also lies in the hands of the offense. The Bills can continue to pound away at the clock if the score is tight. In the last three games, Rams’ rookie cornerback Janoris Jenkins has scored 21 points to the offense’s 25 points.

The offense is moving the ball, but they must put points on the board. With Buffalo’s 30th ranked rushing defense, this may turn into a low scoring affair if the Rams unsheathed their own double-edged sword in Steven Jackson and Daryl Richardson; undoubtedly adding more pressure on the defense.

In the coming weeks, this defense has to step up to the challenge as they cling on to their hopes of reaching the playoffs.

Aug 12, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers (90) tackles Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Austin Collie (17) at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats St. Louis 38-3. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Michael Brockers (Round 1, Pick 14) DT, LSU

Michael Brockers was bookmarked into the starting defensive line unit the minute his name was called in the first round. He was widely touted at the best run-stuffing defensive tackle, but had also been consistently labeled as “raw” and some questioned his abilities as a pass rusher. Luckily, the Rams just so happened to have two defensive ends that have a special niche for wrangling down opposing quarterbacks. The real question has been, can he improve our rushing defense that was ranked 31st in the league in 2011, giving up 152 yards per game and allowing 4.8 yards per carry to opposing running backs. Moreover, can he be a presence in the middle that demands a consistent double team, freeing up the linebacking unit and taking some of the pressure off of the opt-double or triple teamed Chris Long.

The defensive tackle position is hard to analyze based purely off the box score statistics, although he has accumulated a respectable 3 tackles so far. His true effectiveness can somewhat be determined by the improvement seen in the run defense. Currently, the Rams rank 11th in the league, allowing a little under 97.5 yards per game in their two preseason contests. More impressive than that is the fact that the Rams have yet to give up a rushing attempt over 20 yards, when last year they were among the worst in the league in allowing big gains, permitting 14 rushes of 20+ yards (T-9th) and 7 rushes of 40+ yards (1st). Of course, these number have to be taken with a grain of salt, as it is the preseason and the first team units are not seeing too much of the field. Brockers has been impressive so far in camp and throughout the preseason, but did get moved out of the play on the dump screen from Andrew Luck on his first play of his NFL career. And although he was brought in primarily as a run stuffer, the Rams are hoping that he can convert some of that raw talent into an effective pass rush, which we have yet to see come to fruition.

Grade: B+

May 11, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Brian Quick (83) runs as cornerback Trumaine Johnson (22) defends during mini camp at ContinuityX Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE

Brian Quick (Round 2, Pick 33) WR, Appalachian State

Brian Quick has been hot and cold in his rookie debute, fading from relevance with a lowly single reception in the Week 1 loss to the Colts, but springing back nicely against the Chiefs with 3 receptions for 20 yards before leaving the game in the 3rd Quarter with back spasms. Quick was praised this past week during practice by a number of people, including Head Coach Jeff Fisher and QB Sam Bradford. “Wow, it looked like the lightbulb came on today for him,” Bradford said following Thursday’s practice. ”He had a great practice, made a lot of tough catches in practice.” Bradford’s statement mirrored what he had saw earlier in the preseason during the first couple of practices,

“I think Quick obviously has got a lot of talent. He’s made some big catches during camp. It’ll be nice to get him rolling. I’m really happy with where he’s at right now. Like I said, we’ve still got a couple weeks and I think if he can continue to make progress and make the strides that he’s already made, I think he’ll definitely be a major contributor for us during the regular season.”

We except that players at practice look spectacular, but we need to see those performances translate into production during a real game, against real teams. That means that he will need to continue to make his presence known on the field and, more importantly, stay on the field. The preseason is a time for the coaches to test out various players at various positions. Fisher is doing a great job of mixing player combinations,  shifting player from the slot to the outside, and signaling pre-snap motions,  even shuffling them into backfield at times. In shared time, Quick has shown he has can make the catches, but if he is truly our #1 receiver of the future, he will need to show that he can consistently get separation from the defender in man-coverage, and prove that he can find of the openings in zone coverage.

Grade: B-

August 18, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) forces a fumble from Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Jon Baldwin (89) in the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE

Janoris Jenkins (Round 2, Pick 39) CB, North Alabama/Florida

While the Rams cornerbacks were struggling to stay on the field in 2011, Janoris Jenkins was having his own troubles trying to stay out of jail. Jenkins was removed from the University of Florida football program following his third arrest as a member of the team, and was forced to transfer to North Alabama in hopes of keeping his dream of playing professional football alive. Prior to the draft there was no doubting his ability to play; rather, doubt that he would be eligible to play. Sports Illustrated had a tough time saying anything negative about Jenkins in his 2012 Draft Profile, describing him as a “talented cover corner with the ability to shut down opponents.” They go on to rave about his “fluid” movements and his quickness, while adding in that he is “tough defending the run.” If there were a checklist for the cornerback position, Jenkins has a thick, black mark in every single category. Luckily for the Rams, the “character issues” caused him to drop into the waiting hands of the Jeff Fisher, Les Snead, and the St. Louis Rams secondary.

Jenkins has been hit and miss so far in the Rams two preseason games, but for the most part has been every bit as good as advertised. Jenkins perfectly read Colts QB Andrew Luck on a quick out pattern, jumping the route, and setting himself up in good position for a, would-be, pick-6. Instead, the ball squeaked through his fingertips and into the hands of T.Y. Hilton for a first down. As expected, the Rams have run a lot of zone coverage, particularly in the opener where the defensive game plan was stripped down to it’s bare minimum. Jenkins did not record a tackle against the Colts, primarily because Luck was busy picking apart Craig Dahl’s blown coverage. However, Jenkins led the defense in tackles against the Chiefs with 4 tackles and 1 assisted tackle. More impressively, Jenkins showed off his play making ability on the Chiefs opening possession, forcing his first fumble by stripping the ball from the receiver, which was recovered by Craig Dahl.

Some also expected to Jenkins to contribute on special teams after watching him light up the field at North Alabama. If you have not seen the tapes, here is a highlight reel of some of this returns. Sadly, he has seen limited action on special teams, tallying 1 punt return for 1 yards, with no kickoff returns. Coach Fisher has employed a round robin format for selecting his return men, as there has seemingly never been the same player sitting back deep on consecutive tries. Already, four different players have recorded yards on kickoff return and three on punt return. However, with all the injuries sustained in the secondary last year, I have no problem keeping Jenkins out of the mix.

Overall Jenkins has played extremely well in coverage, made quick, sure tackles when his man makes the reception, and displayed his willingness to go out and attempt to make plays. Once the regular season hits, stability in the secondary and increased complexity in masking the coverage and in the blitz packaging should help Jenkins to continue his progression at the professional level. Still, until he is comfortable with the speed of the NFL, taking too many risks in favor of the “big play” could lead to big gains for the opposing offense.  Even more important than his play on the field is his less-than-notable play off the field. No arrests, no crazy partying, no running through the rain in New York with his shirt off. As long as Jenkins continues to let the game come to him, and keeps his head out of the headlines and in the books, he should continue to receive good marks from across the league.

Grade: A-… but for staying headline-free, A

Thursday, grades will get handed out to Isaiah Pead, Trumaine Johnson, and Chris Givens. Go Rams!