Rams have given Emmanuel Forbes what he needs to truly unleash his strengths

The Los Angeles Rams relied on cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. more than they would have liked last season. They had no choice with injuries ravaging the secondary. As a result, Forbes started a career-high 14 games, plus one more in the playoffs. 

To be clear, Rams fans are grateful for the way he stepped up in the face of necessity. An aggressive playmaker, he came down with three picks and a forced fumble. At times, though, that same aggression produced blown tackles and untimely coverage lapses, the painful drawbacks of playing Forbes beyond his bandwidth. 

The Horns won't have that problem this season. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson will be the primary outside corners, letting Forbes play to his strengths in a more limited role. The freedom born of that support could set him up for his best season yet.

Rams have set up Forbes for success

With McDuffie and Watson locking up the opponent's best receivers, the Rams will be able to deploy Forbes as an agent of chaos rather than a main cover corner. The former first-round pick is nothing if not active in pursuit of the football, tying for the team lead in interceptions and easily pacing Rams DBs with 18 passes defensed. 

This season, he'll be able to line up in the slot or the middle of the field knowing he has a strong safety corps at his back if ball carriers get by him. When McDuffie shifts to the slot - and the new Rams CB1 is versatile enough to roam all over - Forbes can also slide to the outside to cover lesser receivers. 

For example, in a hypothetical game against the Lions, whom LA does not play in the regular season but very well might in the playoffs, McDuffie would be tasked with hounding No. 1 receiver and dominant slot threat Amon-Ra St. Brown. Scenarios like that are where Forbes can step in as the Rams' default CB3, but he won't have to keep up with a team's No. 1 or No. 2 option. He'll get burned a lot less often if he overcommits on a route or is distracted by eye candy.

That - getting badly burned - was a problem last season. Forbes posted a 21.2 percent missed tackle rate, per Pro Football Reference, and owns a 20.2 percent career mark. According to PFF, which charged him with 16 whiffs on the year, Forbes ranked third-worst in the category out of 114 qualified corners. Yikes.

While he effectively broke up intended targets (PFF has Forbes second with 13 pass breakups), he also gave up big plays. PFF lists his 15.3 average yards allowed per catch as seventh-most. He surrendered six touchdowns on 84 targets, including the playoffs.

For comparison, MVP Matthew Stafford threw for a league-best 46 TDs on 597 pass attempts. At the same volume, Forbes would be on pace to allow 42.6. Again, not pretty. 

Forbes can shine in a role more tailored to his strengths and weaknesses, harnessing the good while mitigating the bad. He'll have safeties Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, and Kamren Kinchens at his back and McDuffie-Watson handling the opponent's best route-runners. The Rams have given Forbes the support. Now it's on him to use it as a trampoline.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow