LA Rams: 4 rookies who need to shine most in training camp

Life on the edge

After the LA Rams lost the very promising and still young and developing defensive end Morgan Fox, the team’s roster had a void that many expected would be filled by up to four returning rookies from the 2020 Rams’ practice squad. Instead, the LA Rams chose 6-foot-5 270-pound defensive end Earnest Brown IV with the 174th pick (round five) of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Los Angeles Rams

While that is often where the LA Rams scouting department has found amazing success at adding big-bodied burly linemen to fill roles at either an offensive or defensive line of scrimmage position, Earnest Brown IV is a bit unique in that he was drafted into a position already loaded with talented and hungry players who are eager to earn a roster spot and playing time this year.

Brown was a bit of a surprise in that the 2021 class was a bit shallow and less talented than other draft classes, but he certainly brings enough intrigue to make it worthwhile and entertaining to monitor his progress. He is listed as a defensive lineman for the Rams and was in frequent communication with Rams defensive line coach Eric Henderson in the days leading up to the draft. That’s a pretty good indication that he will be playing as a defensive end for the Rams in the 2021 NFL season. Of course, that will depend on his ability to land a spot on the team’s 53-man roster.

Brown has the right frame to excel as an NFL defensive lineman, but he will need to improve on this strength, polish his techniques, and generate a quicker burst towards the quarterback as a rookie.  He is another clay-like defensive rookie to be molded by the master, Coach Henderson. Unfortunately, that will need to happen as On-the-Job-Training (OJT) as the competition is extremely heated for a shot to show up on the Rams’ game day.