3 Rams debut defenders who will shine in 2021 debut
By Bret Stuter
Inside linebacker
The LA Rams drafted inside Ernest Jones with the 103rd pick of the draft. So what did they get? In a word? Swagger. Hey, he’s young, boisterous, and absolutely inexperienced.
Los Angeles Rams
But he’s got a gift of confidence. He is the player who will shut down the boasts of opponents who claim they will make SoFi Stadium their own. He is the one who will be sure that opposing wide receivers don’t do social media selfies dancing on the LA Rams logo.
He brings a bit of pissed-off dare you to cross that line swagger with him to the LA Rams defense, and that is something that has been long overdue. When the South Carolina defense faced a 2020 season without three of five captains, he said matter-of-factly: “This is my defense”.
No, I’m not saying that the Rams need a player who talks a good game to the news media and then disappears at game time. Rather, I believe that the opposite is true. Ernest Jones is the type of player who won’t let opponents get away with nonsense. That includes the loud and way-too-boisterous San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, whose NFL career of two years finds him at just 1,193 yards, four touchdowns, and two fumbles. Now, he will face his former teammate. This will be worth the price of admission.
But perhaps the best words I’d ever read spoken by an incoming rookie are these:
"“If a teammate of mine is having a bad day, I’m the one that is going to pick you up and I’m the one that’s going to be in your ear making sure you’re doing the right thing. I’m always here for my teammates because these are my brothers.” – Ernest Jones per John Del Bianco of 247Sports.com"
I love this pick because the Rams will not rely upon defensive lineman Aaron Donald to set the emotional pace for the team. Ernest Jones is a leader and will be a leader for the Rams as well. a young man who played light’s out for the South Carolina Gamecocks will not be playing behind Aaron Donald. If he delivers even a small portion of his potential, this should turn out very well.