Defending the draft

Hey everyone, last year I submitted this report for the “Defending the Draft” thread on /r/NFLDraft. I'll post again so you all can read read about the 11 players we drafted this year. I apologize in advance, it's lengthy. Go Rams!

Three themes of the LA Rams 2018 Draft:


Senior Bowl - Out of the eleven players the Rams drafted this year five of them were invited to the Senior Bowl, and only one of the draftees was a Junior. Since General Manager Les Snead started his tenure in 2012 he has relied heavily on the talent at the Senior Bowl; Everett, Kupp, Reynolds, Smart, and Rogers (2017) Josh Forrest (2016) Rob Havenstein & Sean Mannion (2015) Aaron Donald & Michael Sam (2014) T.J. McDonald (2013) Janoris Jenkins, Brian Quick, and Isaiah Pead (2012). Snead has hit on some of these players but has missed on others. Similar to last year’s draft, LA’s front office drafted 5 players from the Senior Bowl again. For the last 7 years, the Rams have preferred senior talent especially if they were invited to Mobile.

Consistency - Looking at the players the Rams selected this year I realized the majority had impressive feats of consistency. Here are some examples; Noteboom and Demby respectively missed one game over the last 3 years, Brian Allen has started in 28 consecutive games, Sebastian Joseph-Day played in every game after redshirting his freshman year, and lastly Kiser, Howard & Lawler were all three-year starters at their respective alma maters. If it counts for anything, that kind of on-field production speaks to their dedication off the field to consistently help their team. Not every player that Les drafted remained fully healthy during ALL of their college years but multiple players share this specific trait, a trait that could help them all transition into the pros.

Power-5 schools - Half of the players that Snead’s drafted over the years came from Power-5 schools (62 total). Out of those 31 players, 17 were from the SEC. There is some legitimacy in the debate that the SEC is the conference with the highest competition, however smaller-school prospects still have potential to become big-name stars in the NFL. The Rams doubled up on picks out of the Big 12, BIG 10, and ACC this year. And as usual, Snead drafted one player out of the SEC, having picked from 10 of the 14 schools. However, LA did draft three players from lesser D1 football programs (Stephen F. Austin, Maine, and Southern Methodist). Something that all three prospects have in common? All three were seniors that started for the last three seasons at their respective schools.

Round 3, Pick 89 - Joseph Noteboom, OT, Texas Christian University

The pick - Noteboom is 6’5” 310 lbs lineman that came out of high school as a top 100 recruit. The Texas native had college offers from multiple Big 12 schools but chose to stay local and play for the TCU Horned Frogs. After redshirting his freshman year, Noteboom missed only one game in his career and made appearances at both LT and RT. His agility paired with his NFL frame helps him be more of a finesse pass blocker on the edge than a nasty road-grader. Noteboom keeps his feet under him while run-blocking but struggles to finish blocks with the nastiness that you’d like to see from an NFL tackle. He showed good footwork in pass protection and has the quickness to get up field in space as a screen blocker. He had an impressive week at the Senior Bowl and was slotted as a Day 2 prospect.

The fit - LA had one of the best and most underrated free agent signings in 2017 by reeling in Andrew Whitworth. The 37-year old vet moved out to LA to play alongside the NFL’s youngest team and head coach. Not only was he a ultra-reliable LT, he brought experience to our locker room and earned enough respect to wear a “C” on his chest during his first year. I don’t think any Ram fan could have predicted our offense exploding like it did last year, I’d argue that none of that production would have been possible without Whitworth’s presence. With all that being said, he isn’t getting any younger so drafting an OT was a smart front office move. Noteboom was drafted as a depth player and possible future starter but learning small things like hand technique and placement from a savvy vet like Whitworth could help improve his game.

Round 4, Pick 111 - Brian Allen, C, Michigan State

The pick - At 6’1” 300 lbs, Allen is considered an undersized interior offensive lineman that has experience at all three positions (LG, C, RG) during his tenure at Michigan State. Allen was praised for his toughness and leadership, he was named a team captain and was invited to the Senior Bowl. Before becoming a Spartan, Allen had some impressive athletic achievements in high school. Not only did he contribute in the trenches for his football team, he also reached the Illinois state wrestling championship 4 years in a row. His wrestling background has stayed with him throughout college showing an ability to be a grinder in the run game by exhibiting power at the point of attack and finishing blocks. For his size, he has good bend in pass protection but has room for improvement with his quickness and blocking in open space.

The fit - Earlier I mentioned that consistency was a theme of this year draft, Brian Allen showed consistency as the anchor in the middle of the offensive line at MSU. Throughout his career he started 38 games (LG-16, C-17, RG-5). Earlier in his career he played behind his brother, NFL Free Agent Jack Allen, before taking over starting roles for his last 28 games consecutively. In the NFL he will project to be a better center than guard which is the reason the Rams drafted him. Similar to Whitworth, John Sullivan is not getting any younger. He played well this past year but we need a plan for the future at center. LA was very lucky last year, 5 offensive lineman started 15 games last season. It is rare to have all your starting O-line to stay healthy. If something were to happen, knock on wood, Allen is in a good place to be the next man up.

Round 4, Pick 135 - John Franklin-Meyers, DE, Stephen F. Austin

The pick - Most draftniks spend months before the draft watching film, making boards, creating mocks. When the name John Franklin-Meyers was announced on draft day my first though was “WHO?!” Coming from a Southland Conference school, Franklin stands out on tape. He uses his 6’4” frame to explode off the line of scrimmage and frequents violent punches and rips with his long upper body. Franklin doesn’t have the most fluid bend but is able to shed his blocker and use quickness to close in on the ball. The SFA prospect looks the part of an NFL defender but comes with question marks about his college production relative to his competition. He showed a knack for bludgeoning lineman and getting his nose in the backfield by leading his team with 13.5 tackles for loss during his senior year.

The fit - Although the Los Angeles native didn’t turn many heads during his college career, it was rumored that John Franklin-Meyers flashed some potential at the NFLPA game. Unfortunately, notoriety has not always been on Franklin’s side. Before receiving a scholarship to Stephen F. Austin, his high school football program went winless over a 4 year span. In an interview with Rams Insider, Myles Simmons, John reflected on the winless experience saying it was “really frustrating”. He also alluded to the difficulty of being scouted as a college prospect when you’re a member of a winless team. With all that being said John Franklin-Meyers shows an intriguing up-side and most likely has a desire to win football games … something that our front office seemed to push this offseason.

Round 5, Pick 147 - Micah Kiser, ILB, Virginia

The pick - Kiser was raised in Baltimore, Maryland and attended a prep academy with a prestigious athletic program, the Gilman School. After receiving offers from schools in each of the power-5 conferences, Kiser chose to play ball at Virginia. He was an impressive three-year starter that earned his starting role through special teams his freshman year. Once he became a starter for the Cavalier defense he averaged (131 tkls, 11.5 tkfl, 6 sacks, 4 pass deflections and 1 ff&fr) EACH SEASON. With a persistent non-stop motor, Kiser could help in pass coverage but his natural instincts shine through in the run game. He is a sound tackler with a nose for the ball but isn’t a hard-hitter, he plays with quickness and flashes brilliant pursuit skills through the gaps. He meets ball-carriers at the line of scrimmage and very rarely takes himself out of the play by over-pursuing on tackles and sacks.

The fit - The Rams defense received a facelift this summer when LA decided to trade away Quinn/Ogletree and trade for Peters/Talib … all in one day! Last season Ogletree was our leader and Barron played the other ILB position. Barron’s ability to be a MIKE and lead a defense has been a question since converting to a LB. Ogletree’s departure and the questions surrounding Barron’s skill set justifies drafting Micah Kiser. Not only did Kiser lead the ACC in tackles for three straight years, he also won the Campbell Trophy Award this season, an award given to a CFB player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance. Some refer to the award as the Academic Heisman. Kiser’s ability to lead and communicate showed up while he was down at the Senior Bowl. If he brings those skills out to LA, he will earn a shot to become a mainstay on our defense.

Round 5, Pick 160 - Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, EDGE, Oklahoma

The pick - During the Senior Bowl, I was very high on Okoronkwo and felt confident that that Snead would draft him. He went much lower than many expected but thankfully he’s a Ram. His draftday fall is sensible due to his 6’1” 240 lb frame. That isn’t elite size for an edge defender but his production during his time at Oklahoma could lead you to believe otherwise. Obo averaged (73 tkls, 14 tkfl, and 8 sacks) over his two seasons as a starter. He tends to use finesse pass rushing moves with quickness and agility, he evades more than out-powering or out-leveraging his opponent. At times, he played fluidly but can look a tight and stiff on tape. His senior season helped him become the co-winner of the Big 12 Defensive Player of the year, splitting it with Texas Linebacker Malik Jefferson. People close with the Sooner football program praise Obo for his growth and maturity.

The fit - The Sooner defense primarily featured a 4-man defensive front but oddly enough Oklahoma’s roster had Obo listed as one of the four DE/LB on the entire team. With a bevy at DTs on the team, the Sooners must have used multiple 3-techniques in earlier downs and trusted Okoronkwo to set the edge in the run game and attack the pocket on passing downs, somewhat like a 4-3 Under. His smaller frame gives him a low center of gravity and allows him to be quick and agile. He will most likely put pressure in the backfield off the edge, dropping into pass coverage is not something I’d expect to see him doing. On paper Obo’s college scheme doesn’t match the Rams 3-4, but his skills set is one that Wade desires. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Okoronkwo compete for Barwin’s vacant role. With lots of young linebackers, someone has to step up and stand out I think it could be Obo.

Round 6, Pick 176 - John Kelly, RB, Tennessee

The pick - The 5’9” Detroit native played three years as a Tennessee Volunteer and declared for the NFL draft after going winless in conference play for the first time since forming the SEC in 1933. Conversely, Kelly began the 2017 season with a bang by putting up 163 total yards on 24 touches and 4 scores in a double overtime thriller versus Georgia Tech. Although Kelly is small, he is stout and was used as a downhill in-between-the-tackles runner. He doesn’t always create space for himself as an inside runner, he’ll either find the lane or he doesn’t. He utilizes stiff-arms and doesn’t like to go down after first contact. Not only did he led his team in rushing, he also was tied for the team-high in catches (37). The skill is there but Kelly’s biggest challenge will be staying out of trouble off the field. Kelly had maturity issues while in college and recently pleaded guilty to a marijuana charge.

The fit - At first I was a bit surprised by this pick but after doing some research I found that Les Snead has drafted at least one skill position player (QB, RB, WR) in every draft since the beginning of his tenure in 2012. Some of his earlier-round picks like Tavon Austin, Brian Quick, and Tre Mason didn’t pan out but selections like Gurley, Goff and Kupp have given LA fans a rediscovered sense of hope. With McVay running the offense the expectation for success is very high, and like many other good coaches McVay is going to try and get the most out of his star players. That’s exactly what he did with Gurley by giving him 279 carries and targeting him 87 times. Gurley will continue to be our bell cow back but we needed some insurance. Kelly comes with some question marks but can certainly supplement the pass-catching responsibilities out of the backfield.

Round 6, Pick 192 - Jamil Demby, OT, Maine

The pick - The South Jersey native was not heavily recruited but made a spot for himself at the University of Maine. During his 40 game career as a Black Bear, Demby started all but one game at LT. Going into his junior year he was named a team captain and was awarded as Maine’s Offensive Lineman of the Year. Although his team hovered below .500 while facing middling small-conference opponents, Demby was awarded a handful of accolades for his athletic performance and graduated with the highest honor, Summa Cum Laude. When he showed up at the Senior Bowl Demby was not as big or as long as the other prospect but played well and flashed pass blocking skills. He brings the punch at the point of attack but can also lunge in pass protection. He looks to have more potential as an NFL guard but will need to improve on blocking up to the second level in the running game.

The fit - With three of the last seven picks being hog-mollies, Snead has chosen to value offensive lineman this year. Oddly enough, Snead has been streaky when it comes to drafting offensive lineman from 2017-2013; (0, 0, 4, 3, 0) respectfully. This seems to be a trend, if he chooses to focus on a position need he’ll take multiple prospects. Another trend particular to this year’s draft was drafting intelligent offensive lineman. They say you can’t teach size, but having the ability to diagnose and understand a playbook would only be advantageous for any young rookie trying to make an NFL roster. Demby did himself a favor by being smart and strong but also had some professional networking connections in LA. The Black Bears offensive coordinator during Demby’s junior and senior seasons, Liam Coen, recently joined the Los Angeles coaching staff as the assistant wide receivers coach.

Round 6, Pick 195 - Sebastian Joseph-Day, NT, Rutgers

The pick - The 6’4” 305 lb redshirt senior saw action in every game during his time at Rutgers, when healthy. Joseph transitioned from a dominant DE at Stroudsburg High School to a NT soon after arriving in Piscataway. For a NT he is on the lighter side but Joseph uses his long arms, strong hands, and quick first step to make an impact directly over the ball. He’s got an excellent motor and looks to fit the role of a run-stopping grinder that warrants double teams to clog up the holes and make stops at the line of scrimmage. He doesn’t have the bulk to muscle his way through blockers but he does have good extension and release before shedding, scraping and seeking the ball carrier. He may not offer much pass rushing potential but he does offer our 3-4 defense run support by plugging up the middle.

The fit - When looking at Sebastian Joseph Day he fits all the criteria listed above; senior, consistent, power-5 school. The only thing that doesn’t fit is the pick. You could say that he doesn’t stand out on tape, that we might have reached for him, or it wasn’t a position of need. Especially after all the improvements to our defense in the offseason, specifically Ndamukong Suh, defensive line wasn’t a glaring need. But clearly Les Snead and company thought otherwise. Before this year Snead had only drafted 5 d-lineman over a six year span (2 1st and 3 day-three prospects). However this year, Snead drafted 5 defensive LOS players, if you were to include EDGE. The need for a d-line rotation is prevalent around the league, and we all know the NFL’s a copycat league. If SJD can eat up double teams leaving Donald and Suh with 1-on-1’s … watch out for the Mob Squad.

Round 6, Pick 205 - Trevon Young, EDGE, Louisville

The pick - Trevon Young is a Des Moines, Iowa native that was came out of high school as a heavily recruited DE. After getting looks from the Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, ACC, and the MAC, Young initially committed to be an Iowa Hawkeye but that didn’t last for long. In 2013 Young was arrested for two separate cases of burglary and trespassing, he was also “running around with the wrong crowd” and got himself shot in the wrist and ankle. This led to Iowa and others revoking his scholarship and Young headed to JUCO for his freshman season at Iowa Western Community College where he stood out as a MLB. He soon transferred to Louisville and began to show promise as a pass-rusher in 2015 but suffered a serious hip injury leading him to have two surgeries and miss the whole 2016 season. He found the field again during his senior season and was invited to the NFL combine.

The fit - At 6’4” 258 lbs, Trevon has the length and frame to be an EDGE rusher, but for me, there are a lot of concerns surrounding him. At a Young age he made some poor decisions that could have seriously affected his football career and he’s also got an injury history that scared away many teams during the combine medical examinations. With that being said, Trevon does have some positive attributes too. Over the years Young has shown a lot of maturity. Coaches and teammates rave about his work ethic and mental toughness, especially after recovering from injury and missing a whole season. Snead doesn’t shy away from character concerns, as seen during NFL free-agency. LA is really buying into risk and reward with some of their bigger name stars. If Young can stay healthy, and if he works on converting speed to power, he could become a rotational contributor for Wade.

Round 7, Pick 231 - Travin Howard, LB, Texas Christian University

The pick - The Texas native was recruited out of high school as one of the top safeties in the state but choose to attend TCU and found a role as a linebacker. During his freshman year Howard saw the field on special teams but didn’t record a single statistic. After earning the starting role as a strong-side LB, Travin led the TCU defense in tackles for three consecutive seasons breaking the century mark each year. He has a nose for the ball and flies around the field making sideline-to-sideline plays. He predominately plays as an off-ball LB filling holes, lining up man-to-man, and dropping back into coverage. He’s a modern-day athlete that every team is looking for. Similar to his experience as a TCU Horned Frog, I’m sure Wade Phillips will ask a lot out of Howard and maximize his athleticism and versatility.

The fit - Since being drafted by the Rams as a LB in April, Howard now finds himself listed as a SS on LA’s depth chart. With mini-camps going on right now, I’m sure there is a lot of fine-tuning being made to the roster so Howard’s position could be subject to change by the time the season rolls around. Luckily, his skill set and previous experience fits the new-age box safety role that is heavily-sought after in the NFL. Not saying that Travin Howard compares to Mark Barron, but both players have a unique skill set in that both very much rely on their pure athleticism to make plays around the field … and don’t have a concrete position. Conversely, Barron was an early-round SS and Howard’s a late-round LB, Barron converted because he’s a liability in coverage, maybe Howard can cover better than Barron and that’s why he’s a SS. We’ll just have to wait to see where he touches the field.

Round 7, Pick 244 - Justin Lawler, DE, Southern Methodist University

The pick - Before graduating from his Texas high school, Lawler was getting looked at by smaller in-state programs; the University of Texas-San Antonio & the University of North Texas, before choosing Southern Methodist University. As a three-starter Lawler totaled 124 tkls, 28 tkfl, and 13 sacks. He even saw action on the offensive side of the ball with 44 catches, 719 yards and 11 scores! He has the frame, size, and physical attributes of an NFL athlete, has no character issues and is rumored to be a weight room junkie. Teams showed interest in him during the East-West Shrine game and received an offer to attend the NFL combine. He didn’t test well which could be the meaning behind a solid prospect like Lawler falling so far in the draft. He plays aggressive and utilizes his long arms and upper body strength but can look both stiff and fluid in the same game, regardless he fits our scheme.

The fit - The other day I read some B/R ‘article’ about Lawler making a splash at Rams mini-camp because he received reps with the first-team defense in practice. I’m sure there will be lots of similar headlines from every other team in the NFL predicting their dark-horse starter that is either very low or very new to their team’s depth chart. Like I stated earlier there are lots of changes happening to rosters, all across the NFL, so it doesn’t surprise me to hear that the Rams coaches are playing with their new chess pieces trying to scheme for the upcoming season. Lawler primarily played with his hand in the dirt as a DE but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was asked to stand up and be a 3-4 OLB off the edge. Edge pressure is what our team needed the most this offseason. With all these new additions, our team is shaping up nicely on the offensive side and the defensive side.

I know this is lengthy but thank you for reading, feel free to comment, Go Rams!