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Los Angeles Rams: 4 rookies to watch in the NFC West

By Steve Rivera

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: John Kelly #4 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs for a 34-yard touchdown over David Reese #33 of the Florida Gators during the second half of their game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: John Kelly #4 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs for a 34-yard touchdown over David Reese #33 of the Florida Gators during the second half of their game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: Rasheem Green #94 of the USC Trojans attempts to sack Keller Chryst #10 of the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: Rasheem Green #94 of the USC Trojans attempts to sack Keller Chryst #10 of the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

The once mighty Seattle Seahawks defense is not so mighty these days. Their decline was largely due to factors beyond even the best controls of a solid franchise. Both age and injury caught up to them, and by the latter stages of 2017, the toll was evident.

Gone are malcontents like Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett. Tough losses, and ones’ that leave a hole tough fill, but not impossible.

One player who head coach Pete Carroll hopes can begin the rebuilding process is defensive end Rasheem Green from USC.

Green was the 79th selection in the third round of the draft.

The USC product is 6-foot-4 and goes 275 pounds. His best trait coming out of college is his versatility, having played both defensive end and defensive tackle. He’s also durable, having gotten all 14 starts in 2017, and earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors last season. His stats were solid, with a team high 12.5 tackles (four of which were for a loss), and also had 10 sacks.

Make no bones about it, the Seahawks are in a rebuild mode entering the 2018 season. It would be miraculous for Seattle to be in a position to challenge for a division title with the likes of the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers clearly moving ahead of the one time West leader.

Green is a player who will likely contribute right out of the gate. Whether he can be the first piece in recreating a new “Legion of Boom” remains to be seen, but he’s a good player who helps where Seattle needs help right now.

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