http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2015/5/29/8690051/st-louis-rams-top-5-players-25-or-younger
St. Louis Rams: Top 5 Players 25 or Younger
By Brandon Bate @NoPlanB
A little over a week ago,
Fox Sports listed their
Top 25 NFL players at 25 years old or younger. The
St. Louis Rams - the league’s annual young bunch - had two players make the list. It may come as no surprise, but both of them earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2014...
...hard to argue.
Robert Quinn may very well be the best 4-3 defensive end in the game, and
Aaron Donald didn’t miss a step in his jump from college to the NFL. He consistently dwelled in the opposition’s backfield, and his dominant play earned him Rookie of the Year honors.
After that, though, rounding out the Top 5 for the Rams gets a bit murky. And that’s where I need your help.
According to the Rams’ official website, they have 28 players that are 26+ years old. They have 62 players that are 25 or under.
So, you’ll be the judge.
A Few Options
Johnny Hekker - He’s the only other Ram to have gone to a Pro Bowl [2013]. He’s started every game as the Rams’ punter since being [un]drafted in 2012. In an oft unappreciated position, Hekker’s ability to pin opponents deep should not be underestimated.
Trumaine Johnson - Another 2012 pick [3rd round], Tru has played in 41 games in his first three seasons in the league; yet only started in 20. He’s recorded 8 INT’s and a pick-six against Matt Schaub [who hasn’t?]. He’s also forced one fumble.
Tavon Austin - Austin has the speed, and ability, to change the game in the blink of an eye. He’s Rams’ most dynamic weapon, but there's much discussion surrounding whether or not he was properly utilized in Brian Schottenheimer’s offense. He’s recorded 4 receiving touchdowns, 3 rushing touchdowns, and 2 punt return touchdowns since being drafted in 2013. One need look no further than the 2013 matchup vs.
Colts,
where he tallied 314 all-purpose yards, to see the potential.
Alec Ogletree - Ogletree is, at this point, the best linebacker on the Rams’ roster. The "
most tackles" accolade seemed like an annual gimme for MLB James Laurinaitis until 2013 when Tree was drafted. He’s lead the team in tackles [117 and 111, respectively] ever since. He’s also racked up three INT’s; one
a 98-yard pick six against
T.J. Yates in his rookie year.
Greg Robinson - He may [or may not] have been a Top 5 player last year, but the Rams certainly need him to be in 2015. Playing left tackle on an offensive line riddled with new faces, he’ll need to live up to his draft status [2nd overall from 2014]. With former No. 1 pick
Sam Bradford in Philly, G-Rob joins
Chris Long as the highest drafted player on the squad.
Tre Mason - Mason, a 3rd round pick from 2014, earned the starting job at running back prior to the onset of his rookie campaign. He rushed for 765 yards in 12 games, scoring four times. He also hauled in 148 receiving yards and another score. That said, the Rams drafted
Todd Gurley 10th overall in the
2015 NFL Draft, and that may mean playing second fiddle in the upcoming year.
E.J. Gaines - Many deemed Gaines the "
steal" of the 2014 NFL draft for the Rams. A 6th round selection, Gaines consistently showed up on Sundays and looks to be in line for the CB2 spot for the 2015 season. He may very well be the best cornerback on the roster. We’ll find out soon enough.
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Others who may garner attention:
Michael Brockers,
Mark Barron,
T.J. McDonald,
Brian Quick,
Stedman Bailey
Rookies: Todd Gurley. That is all
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So tell me...who are the Rams’ 3rd, 4th, and 5th best youngsters?
