Players Rams Should Keep their Eyes on this Off-season

(Written 12/14/15)

Coming off a tremendous victory over the Detroit Lions, the St. Louis Rams are sitting at 5-8 with a highly unlikely chance of earning a top five pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. There is also no guarantee they will remain in the top 10 with a chance to beat the Buccaneers this Thursday and the 49ers in Week 17 (Seattle is playing on another level right now, so their chances of beating them in Week 16 seem rather bleak). Regardless, here are five players fans should pay close attention to this college football postseason and beyond:

Carson Wentz, QB (North Dakota State): Wentz is a high riser, and rightfully so. After siting behind Brock Jensen in 2013, Wentz started all 16 games in 2014 as he lead the Bison to their fourth straight FCS National Championship throwing for 3,111 yards (school record) and 25 touchdowns against 10 interceptions; he also completed 63.7 percent of his passes (his 228 completions and 358 attempts were both school records) and added another 642 yards (NDSU’s second leading rusher) and six touchdowns on the ground. He started 2015 on fire, completing the same percent of his passes for 1,454 yards and 16 touchdowns with a mere two interceptions before suffering a wrist injury on October 17 that has kept him sidelined. With NDSU facing Richmond in the semifinals this Friday, there is a chance Wentz could return for the National Championship. At 6’5, 241 pounds, Wentz possess serious size and arm strength with the ability make throws to any part of the field. 

Pros:

• Despite playing in only six games, Wentz’s accuracy and touch were on display
• Ability to throw to a spot
• Very sound mechanically as he possess strong hips and core that allow him to throw the ball with such power and velocity
• Doesn’t over stride, finishes over the top, and has an over-the-top release that allows very few passes to be batted down by defensive linemen
• Ball explodes out of his hand
• Stands tall in the pocket with slight bend in knees
• Poise and presence in the pocket; senses pressure well and shows ease when moving around within the pocket
• Ability to extend plays and retain good mechanics when throwing on the run
• Excellent decision making; very rarely takes sacks
• Unique combination of speed, athleticism, and strength for his size
• Sells fakes well

Cons:

• Often stands flat footed in the pocket, disallowing him to engage lower half and be ready to hit an open receiver at a given moment
• Drops look lackadaisical; doesn’t set up very quickly
• I would like to see him look off defenders more often
• Consistency in mechanics and selling fakes

Wentz is a first round pick and ultimately could end up in the top 10 with a strong Senior Bowl performance. The Rams’ quarterback issues have been well documented this season as they are in dire need of a franchise quarterback that Wentz could become. With the tendency of quarterbacks to fall in the draft (see: Brady Quinn, Geno Smith, Aaron Rodgers), the Rams should be in a position to take Wentz no matter what pick they are but have two second round picks that could be used to move up in the first round.

Will Redmond, CB (Mississippi State): As I just mentioned, the Rams possess two second round picks which hold great trade value. There is, however, no guarantee they will trade up or down in the draft. Although Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins are free agents, the Rams have $35.7 million in cap space and it’s highly unlikely St. Louis will give defensive tackles Nick Fairley ($4.75 million in ’15), Williams Hayes (30, $4.48 million), and Eugene Sims ($2.39 million) all pay raises. Linebacker Mark Barron is due for a raise ($2.36 million), safety Rodney McLeod ($2.35 million), Johnson ($1.7 million) and Jenkins ($1.58 million) as those on defense who should see their 2015 salary double next season. Regardless, the Rams are rather thin at talent behind Jenkins and Johnson as Lamarcus Joyner and Marcus Roberson are more of nickle players than they are corners Enter Redmon, the 6’0, 186 pound corner who lead the Bulldogs in interceptions in 2014 with three.

Pros:

• Tremendous straight-line speed
• Great coverage skills and anticipation
• Can run with quick receivers and doesn’t get out-muscled by bigger, more physical receivers
• Tracks the ball well with solid hand-eye coordination
• Mirrors receivers well and doesn’t allow himself to get beat over the top
• Physical and aggressive but disciplined on double moves, play-action
• Swift hips and rotates them quickly, allowing him to take better angles on ball carriers and get his body in position to play the ball in coverage
• High football IQ, recognizes assignments in Zone
• Explosive in jams
• Not afraid to take on blockers
• High motor; plays at the same speed all four quarters
• Fearless

Cons:

• Needs to vastly improve his tackling ability; puts head down and can’t see what he’s tackling, significantly improving his chance of injury
• Doesn’t shed blocks well; tries to run around them rather than fight through them
• Ankle bitter; doesn’t wrap up and will struggle against NFL backs with a combination of power and speed
• Size and range aren’t desirable
• Inconsistent when taking necessary angles to bring down ball carriers
• Looks lost in space from time to time

Redmond is a great athlete and has potential to be a ball-hawking corner despite his lack of size. Unfortunately, Redmond tore his ACL in October and will likely fall in the draft but could be a positive for the Rams should they take him as he is a first round talent.

Tyler Boyd, WR (Pittsburgh): As a mentioned before, the quarterback struggles are well documented. To be fair though, who do they have to throw to? Tavon Austin has been more involved and Kenny Britt is having a solid (enough) year but there is no true, prototypical number one receiver. Boyd has the ability to change that as he is the ACC’s only player to ever record 1,000 season in both his freshman and sophomore seasons (the same conference that has featured the likes of Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Sammy Watkins, and Peter Warrick to name a few). His 85 receptions for 873 yards this season helped him become the school’s all-time leader in receptions (248) and yards (3,308) and first and second in the conference respectively.

Pros:

• Size (6’2, 200 pounds)
• Big play ability
• Consistency (3+ catches for 38+ yards in every game including five with 10+ for 89+)
• Posted 10 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown against Iowa’s Desmond King, the Thorpe Award Winner
• Great YAC earner
• Refined route running; ran full route tree out of multiple sets
• Soft, consistent hands; solid hand-eye coordination
• Long strider who can hit the next gear
• Uses his body well to box out and out-jump defenders
• Averaged 7.7 receptions and 79.4 yards despite being the sole focal point of defensive schemes
• Sound footwork and ability to sell fakes
• Knows when to extend for passes or haul them in close to his body
• Exceptional athlete; 10th in the nation in kick return average (27.6 yards) and first in the ACC in punt return average (10.1) in 2014

Cons:

• Not exceptionally fast; won’t take the top off of defenses
• Rather lean, would like to see him add 10-15 pounds to his frame
• Lacks great quick-twitch
• Occasional focus drops
• Doesn’t possess great strength, will often go down after first tackle attempt
• Poor off-field decisions (DUI arrest during the summer of 2014)

Despite his off-field issue, Boyd embodies the receiver who dominates a game as the absence of running back James Conner left Boyd as the only offensive player defenses keyed on and schemed around. His cons can be refined in the next few months as he is a player who could have a major impact on any team.

Bryce Williams, TE (East Carolina)

The Rams simply need more targets to throw to, and neither Jared Cook or Lance Kendricks have been good at doing just that as Cook has dropped four of 64 targets (6.4% of targets) and Kendricks has dropped three of 30 (10%), which is even worse as he’s seen fewer targets; both drop percentages are among the highest of all tight ends. Williams is a big bodied (6’6, 258 pounds), sure handed tight end who was a First Team All-AAC choice this season.

Pros:

• 41 of his 96 career catches went for 10 or more yards
• Great numbers (58 receptions for 588 yards and four touchdowns)
• YAC earner
• Smooth route runner who can find open windows
• Faster and stronger than most linebackers
• Great size/speed combination
• Tremendous catch radius
• Moves and catches passes like a receiver
• Strong hands
• Good awareness and vision
• Moves very well in open space
• Is a solid 258, very little body fat
• Had multiple catches in each game, 5+ seven times highlighting his consistency
• Showed tremendous signs of progress from freshman to senior season

Cons:

• Is more of a receiver than blocker
• A little too lean; 5-7 extra pounds would make a true threat
• Lacks power for someone his size
• Questionable functional strength
• I wonder if he would put the same numbers in a Power 5 conference

Williams is an intriguing prospect that will likely be available in the third round. His versatility allows him to line up split-out, as an H-Back, or a three point stance; he will need to refine his run blocking ability but should still be better than both Cook and Kendricks in that department as well.

Jack Allen, C (Michigan State): Tim Barnes has been a disappointment all season, ranking 30th among all centers overall with some of the NFL’s worst run and pass blocking grades (all via Pro Football Focus). Barnes, 27, will be a free agent this season and is not worth resigning at this point as he has been nothing but an average (at best) player his entire career. Barrett Jones was cut and Barnes’ backup Demetrius Rhaney is completely unproven. Allen has made 46 career starts (41 at center), allowing a mind-boggling three sacks in 47 career games. The Rimington Trophy Finalist has been invited to the Senior Bowl and is a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection.

 Pros:

• Extremely high football I.Q.; can recognize and pick up blitz
• Toughness and durability is highlighted by his 46 career starts
• Unparalleled level of consistency
• Functional strength and anchor
• Uses size and strength to engage blockers and generate drive
• Solid technique

Cons:

• Lacks physical tools
• Will struggle against bigger and stronger defensive tackles
• Often too aggressive and will fall off blocks; not a great bender
• Balance
• Can be dominated at point of attack and will need to improve his pad level

Allen is quite a project with tools that need to be developed or refined but has quality experience against some of college football’s toughest and most talented fronts. His level of consistency and durability makes him an intriguing prospect with a high ceiling.