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

Jack of all trades

Last but not least is another offensive weapon hauled from the 2021 NFL Draft. This time, we’re talking about Notre Dame’s wide receiver Ben Skowronek. Skowronek is a nice height at 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 224-pounds. The overall theme for the Rams draft this year was to elevate the team’s speed and overall athleticism. A secondary objective was to elevate the play of the special teams.

On the whiteboard, Skowronek does all of that and more. To be honest, he reminds me of the mindset of former New York Giants tight end Mark Bavaro, one tough-son-of-a-gun who loved to mix it up on the line of scrimmage, come away with the football on contested catches, or simply pancake a linebacker or defensive back. That same mindset is the motivation for the Rams rookie.

The guy is off the charts in terms of athleticism, and that is a fantastic foundation for a player who loves to catch the ball in a crowd, run with the ball, but most of all, just want to go out and hit somebody. That mindset is perfectly suited for a receiver group that lives under the premise “Don’t block? No rock.” But there is always the challenge. A jack of all trades, master of none is the full phrase, and that is the concern over Skowronek’s rookie season. Will he be so diverse in applying his athletic skills that he will fail to move the needle in any singular aspect of his football game?

He can be an excellent player on offense, in coverage, and in the return game. But will he have enough time to master any one of these roles quickly enough to earn a spot on the team’s roster? That is certainly the goal of his training camp, showing up well enough in a role to warrant earning a spot on the team’s 53-man roster. Can he do it? Will any of them do so? Or will all show up large and in charge?  Stay tuned…