SCOUTING THE NFL: NFC WEST PLAYERS TO WATCH
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SCOUTING THE NFL: NFC WEST PLAYERS TO WATCH
St. Louis Rams
Rookie Who Is Needed Early Players Who Need to Develop Quickly Veteran Who May Be Ready to Decline Most Intriguing to Study Excited About Expanded Role
Rob Havenstein Jamon Brown / Tavon Austin Chris Long Nick Foles Akeem Ayers
St. Louis hopes that Nick Foles, finally, is the answer at quarterback. The former Philadelphia Eagles signal-caller posted a terrific season in 2013, showing accuracy and efficiency with a superlative 27:2 touchdown to interception ratio. But 2014’s results were not as clean and Foles was then injured. Not wanting to commit to him long term, the Eagles swapped QBs with the Rams, who saw Foles as a better long term bet. Whether it was a mistake or not will be the Most Intriguing Thing To Study this season. If Foles is capable of bringing his 2013 game, the Rams and their all-world defensive line will challenge for a playoff spot. But if Foles is not the player St. Louis thinks he is, they could be squandering a talented roster with an overpaid, ineffective quarterback.
It would help Foles tremendously if several of the young Rams offensive players were to also show some NFL worthiness. Rookie right tackle and second-round pick Rob Havenstein is Needed Early, while fellow tackle and third-round pick Jamon Brown also needs to Develop Quickly. Havenstein is a mauling, nasty tackle from Wisconsin where he paved the way for many Melvin Gordon runs over the last few seasons. He needs work on his pass block technique and footwork, and his athleticism limits him to the right side.
Brown will start the season at right guard, and with a new center as well and the inexperienced Greg Robinson at left tackle, this is a unit with significant question marks. Another massive human being, Brown needs much more work than Havenstein, struggling with many technical fine points of play. However, his upside is also higher if he receives the proper coaching and overcomes concerns about his conditioning.
Another player who needs to Develop Quickly is diminutive receiver Tavon Austin, the eighth overall pick of the 2013 draft. His first two campaigns have been disappointing, as he has as yet to translate the dynamic playmaking ability he flashed in college to the NFL. But the potential remains, as he is one of the quickest and most elusive players in the league when in space. New offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti is not as ball control oriented as the departed Brian Schottenheimer, and surely has been instructed to find a way to get Austin more involved in the offense.
Free-agent signing Akeem Ayers is the player to be Excited About In An Expanded Role, joining a linebacking corps that benefits tremendously from the dominant individual talents in front of them on the line. Ayers escaped Tennessee in the final year of his contract, landing in New England in a midseason trade. There, Ayers proved his ability to do more than rush the passer, showing an ability to set the edge and play in coverage as well. Moving to a Rams defense where any pass rush he is asked to execute will result in a one-on-one matchup, Ayers has the potential to be a real impact player because the talent surrounding him commands attention, most likely allowing him to slip under the radar.
One of those excellent defensive lineman surrounding Ayers is Chris Long, a Veteran Who May Be Ready To Decline. The now 30-year-old missed 10 games last season because of injury and it remains to be seen if he will recover the form that that produced four consecutive seasons of more than 8.5 sacks. The problem for Long is that the competition is fierce, with strength-in-depth up and down the line, with wunderkinds Robert Quinn and Aaron Donald leading the way. Long’s decline may be masked by the presence, and talent, of his linemates, who will ensure he gets plenty of one-on-one matchups.
Follow Dan on Twitter @Dan_Hatman
SCOUTING THE NFL: NFC WEST PLAYERS TO WATCH
St. Louis Rams
Rookie Who Is Needed Early Players Who Need to Develop Quickly Veteran Who May Be Ready to Decline Most Intriguing to Study Excited About Expanded Role
Rob Havenstein Jamon Brown / Tavon Austin Chris Long Nick Foles Akeem Ayers
St. Louis hopes that Nick Foles, finally, is the answer at quarterback. The former Philadelphia Eagles signal-caller posted a terrific season in 2013, showing accuracy and efficiency with a superlative 27:2 touchdown to interception ratio. But 2014’s results were not as clean and Foles was then injured. Not wanting to commit to him long term, the Eagles swapped QBs with the Rams, who saw Foles as a better long term bet. Whether it was a mistake or not will be the Most Intriguing Thing To Study this season. If Foles is capable of bringing his 2013 game, the Rams and their all-world defensive line will challenge for a playoff spot. But if Foles is not the player St. Louis thinks he is, they could be squandering a talented roster with an overpaid, ineffective quarterback.
It would help Foles tremendously if several of the young Rams offensive players were to also show some NFL worthiness. Rookie right tackle and second-round pick Rob Havenstein is Needed Early, while fellow tackle and third-round pick Jamon Brown also needs to Develop Quickly. Havenstein is a mauling, nasty tackle from Wisconsin where he paved the way for many Melvin Gordon runs over the last few seasons. He needs work on his pass block technique and footwork, and his athleticism limits him to the right side.
Brown will start the season at right guard, and with a new center as well and the inexperienced Greg Robinson at left tackle, this is a unit with significant question marks. Another massive human being, Brown needs much more work than Havenstein, struggling with many technical fine points of play. However, his upside is also higher if he receives the proper coaching and overcomes concerns about his conditioning.
Another player who needs to Develop Quickly is diminutive receiver Tavon Austin, the eighth overall pick of the 2013 draft. His first two campaigns have been disappointing, as he has as yet to translate the dynamic playmaking ability he flashed in college to the NFL. But the potential remains, as he is one of the quickest and most elusive players in the league when in space. New offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti is not as ball control oriented as the departed Brian Schottenheimer, and surely has been instructed to find a way to get Austin more involved in the offense.
Free-agent signing Akeem Ayers is the player to be Excited About In An Expanded Role, joining a linebacking corps that benefits tremendously from the dominant individual talents in front of them on the line. Ayers escaped Tennessee in the final year of his contract, landing in New England in a midseason trade. There, Ayers proved his ability to do more than rush the passer, showing an ability to set the edge and play in coverage as well. Moving to a Rams defense where any pass rush he is asked to execute will result in a one-on-one matchup, Ayers has the potential to be a real impact player because the talent surrounding him commands attention, most likely allowing him to slip under the radar.
One of those excellent defensive lineman surrounding Ayers is Chris Long, a Veteran Who May Be Ready To Decline. The now 30-year-old missed 10 games last season because of injury and it remains to be seen if he will recover the form that that produced four consecutive seasons of more than 8.5 sacks. The problem for Long is that the competition is fierce, with strength-in-depth up and down the line, with wunderkinds Robert Quinn and Aaron Donald leading the way. Long’s decline may be masked by the presence, and talent, of his linemates, who will ensure he gets plenty of one-on-one matchups.
Follow Dan on Twitter @Dan_Hatman