Here's BonifayRam...
Wade seems to have a good size cadre of deep free safety candidates already signed & under contract IMO. Not sure why I see so many members desiring to use one of the top 2 draft choices on this position.
LJ who has been basically a starter since he was a rookie 2014 (3 yrs) has now been discussed widely as the top FS candidate .....should [we] also consider another 2014 drafted DB who has been a starter for 2 seasons & would have been a starter for 3rd season if not for the serious damaging foot injury in 2015 pre season EJ Gaines should also a bona fide candidate too?
It was clear to me early & then very clear late in the season that EJ Gaines physically was NO longer able to play the outside corner posts. EJ as a rookie was a 4.55 to 4.6 in the 40 at best. It was his serious professional approach that he displayed that placed him solidly on the roster as a rookie. He was a good physical zone corner that played tough with ultra football IQ with ball awareness that made him a good rookie starter.
That foot injury damage now brought to light his big HOLES in his skills....he was now tight as hell in his hips his former very average transitional quickness was GONE he can not plant that foot & flip his hips any-longer without loosing several steps! His days as a starting outside CB in the NFL is done. Wade should not consider him as a valid reserve to either of those two posts. Leaving the Nickle & FS posts as possible posts to complete.
The deep safety post would utilize his better skills & talents using that high NFL IQ & ball awareness skills. The 5-9 1/2 EJ Gaines plays bigger than his size & is tough. Playing FS would let him put on some needed additional size & muscle to bring the hit with his tackles. Great eyes and route recognition skills that the deep safety is in need of would come in handy. If EJ damage foot does improve a bit this off season then EJ might be a decent Nickel Back reserve too.
Wade already has the 6-2 206 pound veteran FS Cody Davis who is the Rams fasted Ram DB, Brian Randolph, Jerome Couplin & Marqui Christian ready to go you add in LJ & EJ into the mix @ FS & it should give you some excellent contenders by the time pre season ends. I see Zero need for drafting any safety with so many needs elsewhere.
I do not see EJ Gaines making this roster in 2017 if he remains as a outside CB candidate.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/02/2017 08:35AM by Rams43.
