9 LA Rams players from FCS Schools may be difference makers

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Is any LA Rams player less appreciated than offensive guard Jamil Demby who hails from the Univerity of Maine? All Demby did was accept one of the most difficult roles to pull off in the NFL. He was that “in case of emergency, you’re up” role of offensive linemen. That guy who, no matter who goes down to injury on the offensive line, places his helmet on and rushes into the game to start the very next play cold-turkey. There is a reason nobody applauds these players. It’s virtually impossible to remain proficient at five distinctly different NFL offensive line positions.

Rather, the concept is more akin to the “Emergency roadside” donut, designed to swap in case of a flat, but only designed to get you to the next service station. Demby accepted the role because the team desperately needed him to do so.  Even so, the 6-foot-5, 325-pound behemoth could not possibly guess just how riddled-with-injuries the Rams offensive line would become in 2019. But the woes of 2019 become a valuable experience for 2020. Look for Demby to be slotted in at one offensive line position this year, and do very well at it.

Delaware diamond-in-the-rough

The news of the LA Rams needing help at the linebacker position hasn’t reached the ear of Troy Reeder from the University of Delaware. After all, as far as he’s concerned, just give him the nod and in he goes. After all, he was good to go for the Rams in 2019, He is a great size for a linebacker, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 245 pounds.  He started eight games for the Rams in 2019, as Micah Kiser and Bryce Hager both fell to injury. For that sudden promotion to the starting role, he certainly held his own well enough, racking up 58 tackles for the season.

Where he needs to up his game is in pass defense.  He struggled mightily to defend passes, surrendering 16 completions of 17 targets for 246 yards and two touchdowns. That pass defense usually meant Reeder was pulled for a defensive back in passing downs. That is why he only saw action for 27 percent of the defensive snaps despite starting 50 percent of the games.  But he was an undrafted rookie who was thrust into a starting role. Experience is the best teacher, and Reeder will be all the better for it this year.