LA Rams: Travin Howard leads stiffer ILB competition in 2021

Mandatory Credit: John McCoy-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: John McCoy-USA TODAY Sports
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LA Rams News Rams Training Camp Ernest Jones
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Rams added a valuable drafted rookie in Ernest Jones

Facing the loss of all four inside linebackers from the 2020 53-man roster, the LA Rams needed to invest a meaningful draft pick into the position. While there were plenty of talented candidates available to the Rams, the team called out the name of South Carolina Gamecock Ernest Jones. Jones shared history with Rams running back coach Thomas Brown, who undoubtedly steered the selection process to Jones.

He may be a rookie, but he has maturity ahead of his time. A maturity that is indeed critical if you are playing behind All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald.

When will Ernest Jones wrestle a starting role away from the competition? Without pads, that part is still shrouded in fog. But there is not a sense that he won’t, that the role is just too big for him, that the Rams took a shot and missed.

This is a young man who is pretty easy to like, pretty natural to cheer for. He is a smile and an infectious personality off the field. But put on the helmet and pads, and put him onto the football field, and the guy takes on a warrior’s mentality, a sense of football is his world, and he is out to conquer and dominate his world.

He has a lot to learn, and he is the only rookie at the position this year (unlike the half dozen or so in 2020), which places a lot of pressure to get up to speed. But he’s already caught the attention of head coach Sean McVay. That’s a huge step in the right direction.

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