Will the LA Rams secondary be more Jolly this week?

The LA Rams appear to be asking around the NFL for the best trade packages that the team can execute to improve the roster before the NFL Trade deadline. Right now, positions that the LA Rams are rumored to be inquiring about include running back, wide receiver, outside linebacker, and perhaps even offensive linemen.

Curiously, the Rams roster has been hit hardest with injuries along the offensive line and defensive secondary. But no defensive back is currently rumored to be in the LA Rams’ sights.

Of course, lest we forget, the LA Rams did in fact sign defensive back Shaun Jolly to the team’s active roster off of the Cleveland Browns practice squad. So far? Nothing.

When the Rams signed Jolly to the roster on September 22, 2022, we noticed his similarities to that of former LA Rams starting defensive back Darious Williams. Here is what that comparison table looked like:

• Name          Shaun Jolly            Darious Williams
• Height           5-foot-9                 5-foot-9
• Weight          177-pounds          184 pounds
• Arm length   30.375 in                30.75 in
• Wingspan      73.625 in               73.00 in
• 40 yd dash     4.52 sec                 4.44 sec
• Vertical           36.5 in                     39.0 in
• Shuttle            4.13 secs                4.34 secs
• 3 cone             6.95 secs                6.85 secs

The only problem is that Jolly has not seen any action on the Rams’ defense just yet. Is that a sign that he just isn’t cutting it? I would hold off on any negative conclusions at this point.

LA Rams are rich in talented DBs right now

The LA Rams drafted a number of excellent defensive backs in the 2022 NFL Draft, and the team has been quite pleased with their production so far in the secondary. Even though the Rams have been fighting through numerous injuries in the secondary. When the Rams added Jolly, the move was to ensure that the team have enough healthy players on the roster to deploy nickel and dime defensive packages.

The Rams have relied primarily upon rookie DB Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick to take up the slack in the Rams’ secondary, and even veteran DB Grant Haley has been of great help to the Rams.  But so far, no sign of the Rams playing Shaun Jolly so far.

Don’t be discouraged. He joined the team mid-season and is learning the defensive schemes and playbook. He is well behind the learning curve of some pretty talented rookie defensive backs. But he is still a promising defensive back who has the potential to perform well in the NFL.

Will the Rams be Jolly this week? Perhaps not. But the team has a blessing of DB riches with Shaun Jolly on the roster. And that should make Rams fans happy.