Michael Sam doesn "look" thinner, but he

[Robocop]

Why does a depth guy have to be put anywhere, besides Special Teams? No one is saying he should start or be part of the regular DE rotation. But they will keep 9 D-Linemen. If they decide to keep Westbrooks over Sam, where do they put him? And thus far, Michael Sam has a whole lot more potential to contribute on ST than Westbrooks does.

Where are you gonna put Daren Bates other than Special Teams? Bet he makes the team though. Not every player is kept because they have plans to be used as a STARTER. But I assume you know that.

cus hes too much of a tweener. i dont see him being fast enough or strong enough to make an impact in any subpackages designed for him. either he plays special teams or somehow gets a nose for the ball and is useful in subpackages. those are the options. not sitting as a 5th DE that isnt talented enough to fill in if god forbid we lose two DEs to injury. from simply what ive heard it sounds like Westbrooks might have a higher ceiling. nobody on the team is there just to fill up space. unless you go to the practice squad to hopefully develop

 

[CoachO]

cus hes too much of a tweener. i dont see him being fast enough or strong enough to make an impact in any subpackages designed for him. either he plays special teams or somehow gets a nose for the ball and is useful in subpackages. those are the options. not sitting as a 5th DE that isnt talented enough to fill in if god forbid we lose two DEs to injury. from simply what ive heard it sounds like Westbrooks might have a higher ceiling. nobody on the team is there just to fill up space. unless you go to the practice squad to hopefully develop

So, with all due respect, his measurables are the driving force for you? Have you not seem any of the actual game tape on the guy, playing against the top players in the country at a level to be named the DPOY and a 1st Team All American? Westbrooks is 2 inches taller, and weighed in a whopping 15 lbs heavier (pre weight loss by Sam). So what about his measureables says he will be able to hold up against better competition than he has ever faced in his life?

What you said makes no sense, and seems to be a contradiction. Michael Sam would be just there to "fill up space", but somehow Westbrooks would do more than that? Even tho there is no mention of Westbrooks even being considered as a Special Teams player.

 

[Robocop]

So, with all due respect, his measurables are the driving force for you? Have you not seem any of the actual game tape on the guy, playing against the top players in the country at a level to be named the DPOY and a 1st Team All American? Westbrooks is 2 inches taller, and weighed in a whopping 15 lbs heavier (pre weight loss by Sam). So what about his measureables says he will be able to hold up against better competition than he has ever faced in his life?

What you said makes no sense, and seems to be a contradiction. Michael Sam would be just there to "fill up space", but somehow Westbrooks would do more than that? Even tho there is no mention of Westbrooks even being considered as a Special Teams player.

im not just comparing his measurables im comparing his college opponents and offensive line challenges to the freakin NFC West. and a 4.9 im sorry wont cut it. and losing weight? is that making him faster or stronger what? but w/e theres no point in arguing about predictions lets just wait til after camp and preseason for the "i told you so's"

 

[DaveFan'51]

Having him off the bench as a seek and destroy DE is a benefit. You plug him in and give him one job on plays designed for that.

A full house blitz or just throw him out there as a decoy to confuse guys.

Maybe it's just me, but I think things are a bit more complex than that in the NFL. This isn't College Ball!

 

[CoachO]

im not just comparing his measurables im comparing his college opponents and offensive line challenges to the freakin NFC West. and a 4.9 im sorry wont cut it. and losing weight? is that making him faster or stronger what? but w/e theres no point in arguing about predictions lets just wait til after camp and preseason for the "i told you so's"

dude, I'm just having a discussion here,, the whole "I told you so" thing isn't my style. Might be yours, but you obviously don't know me very well.

 

[dieterbrock]

So, with all due respect, his measurables are the driving force for you? Have you not seem any of the actual game tape on the guy, playing against the top players in the country at a level to be named the DPOY and a 1st Team All American? Westbrooks is 2 inches taller, and weighed in a whopping 15 lbs heavier (pre weight loss by Sam). So what about his measureables says he will be able to hold up against better competition than he has ever faced in his life?

What you said makes no sense, and seems to be a contradiction. Michael Sam would be just there to "fill up space", but somehow Westbrooks would do more than that? Even tho there is no mention of Westbrooks even being considered as a Special Teams player.

Out of the 9 previous DPOY in the SEC, 8 of them were drafted in the 1st round, and 1 in the 2nd round.
Measurables werent there then either

 

[Mojo Ram]

I guess i'm in the minority then, when i think that M.Sam absolutely gets poached off the PS and/or immediately gets picked up if cut. It takes a GM less cajones to add him to a roster in need of a pass rusher-type than it did for Snead to actually draft him for a team loaded at DLine.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Look, I'm rooting for all our players...

But the day a 7th round pick doesn't make the roster isn't a bad thing. Instead it's a sign our depth is building.

I am rooting for the guy, but I won't be surprised if he doesn't make it.

 

[dieterbrock]

I guess i'm in the minority then, when i think that M.Sam absolutely gets poached off the PS and/or immediately gets picked up if cut. It takes a GM less cajones to add him to a roster in need of a pass rusher-type than it did for Snead to actually draft him for a team loaded at DLine.

Well, they do have to cut him before putting him on the PS....
I do agree though, that if he shows anything in pre-season, he'd get poached off the PS had he made it there.

 

[Robocop]

dude, I'm just having a discussion here,, the whole "I told you so" thing isn't my style. Might be yours, but you obviously don't know me very well.

im not making it personal relax, we'll just wait and see. but theres a reason he went in the 7th even with the pedigrees he was given and he didnt fall that low because hes gay. Fisher said it himself he only picked him cus it was the best value in the 7th which isnt saying much. so basically there was no need for a D linemen he just didnt see anything better available. that doesnt make any case in terms of Sam being useful or finding playing time, AGAIN besides contributing on special teams. why use him in packages when you have more athletic depth at both DE and LB to plug them into a package where they could be more useful than Sam. if he can develop on practice squad maybe get stronger and faster than maybe..

 

[SierraRam]

im not making it personal relax, we'll just wait and see. but theres a reason he went in the 7th even with the pedigrees he was given and he didnt fall that low because hes gay. Fisher said it himself he only picked him cus it was the best value in the 7th which isnt saying much. so basically there was no need for a D linemen he just didnt see anything better available. that doesnt make any case in terms of Sam being useful or finding playing time, AGAIN besides contributing on special teams. why use him in packages when you have more athletic depth at both DE and LB to plug them into a package where they could be more useful than Sam. if he can develop on practice squad maybe get stronger and faster than maybe..

Fisher also said we drafted a football player who always seems to be around the ball. We've drafted guys (Joyner, Alexander...) who GW will put in places to make plays. The one thing Sam has proven is he makes plays. Because he's tough, smart and aggressive, GW will love Micheal Sam.

There is a thread in "Sportsbook" where you can wager ROD Dollars on whether or not Sam makes the team. I'm betting he does

 

[Robocop]

Fisher also said we drafted a football player who always seems to be around the ball. We've drafted guys (Joyner, Alexander...) who GW will put in places to make plays. The one thing Sam has proven is he makes plays. Because he's tough, smart and aggressive, GW will love Micheal Sam.

There is a thread in "Sportsbook" where you can wager ROD Dollars on whether or not Sam makes the team. I'm betting he does

hmm i might make a bet.

 

[Blue and Gold]

So, with all due respect, his measurables are the driving force for you? Have you not seem any of the actual game tape on the guy, playing against the top players in the country at a level to be named the DPOY and a 1st Team All American? Westbrooks is 2 inches taller, and weighed in a whopping 15 lbs heavier (pre weight loss by Sam). So what about his measureables says he will be able to hold up against better competition than he has ever faced in his life?

What you said makes no sense, and seems to be a contradiction. Michael Sam would be just there to "fill up space", but somehow Westbrooks would do more than that? Even tho there is no mention of Westbrooks even being considered as a Special Teams player.

I think, for personal observation, Wesbrooks is a smoother, more exposive athleter. Sam is a hustle-guy and likely lost weight to keep up. Westbrooks, I think Rams are trying to hide. They list him as a DT, they asked him to get to 280 for OTAs, which he did and when he runs the drills is smoother. He looks like a better ball player. Now, Sam, hustles hard, but is more of s herky-jerky motion and does not have the explosiveness in the Rams "lift" technique which they teach.

That's not to say one over the other will make it. That's what camp is for. Rams think Sam was a 3-4 round value based on production and he was in teh SEC, so he's got plenty going for him. But with Rams listing Westbrooks as a DT (where he never played in rookie camp or OTAs) strikes me as odd. I know they like him. They think Sam is a "talker" kind of a "knows it all already" not the eyes open mouth shut kind of guy most coaches love. Again, though, that does not mean her won't make it. I think it will be a tough competition to the end.

 

[CoachO]

im not making it personal relax, we'll just wait and see. but theres a reason he went in the 7th even with the pedigrees he was given and he didnt fall that low because hes gay. Fisher said it himself he only picked him cus it was the best value in the 7th which isnt saying much. so basically there was no need for a D linemen he just didnt see anything better available. that doesnt make any case in terms of Sam being useful or finding playing time, AGAIN besides contributing on special teams. why use him in packages when you have more athletic depth at both DE and LB to plug them into a package where they could be more useful than Sam. if he can develop on practice squad maybe get stronger and faster than maybe..

I think its impossible to say that his "situation" didn't cause him to fall to that round. In most EVERY draft experts evaluation, he graded out at worst a mid round (4-5) talent. That he lasted til the compensatory picks in the 7th most certainly is attributed to his "baggage".

Do you or do you not agree that they will keep a 9th D-linemen? More than likely that player being a DE. No one is saying he is going to be put in a regular rotation at DE, nor will whomever that 9th DL ends up being. You keep saying he needs to get stronger and faster. Why? You say you aren't solely hung up on his measureables, but then you seem to say he isn't fast enough? I assume you are looking at his 40 time. How often does that really come into play as it pertains to a pass rusher? His burst is his biggest asset, and it is more than enough. Could he be bigger? Sure, ideally. But from watching this kid for the past TWO years, he makes plays. Period.

You continue to completely discount Special Teams as a way to make this team. Yet, on virtually every team at every level, the bottom 3rd of the roster is all about Special Teams. That's how UDFA's such as Armstrong, Bates, McLeod, Davis & Daniels et al, all made this team. Now people are clamoring for someone like Armstrong to be the next stud LB, all base solely off his ST play from a year ago.

Not sure what the dislike for Sam, or any of these other guys, who in your words, will be taking spots from other more worthy of the position.

 

[CoachO]

They think Sam is a "talker" kind of a "knows it all already" not the eyes open mouth shut kind of guy most coaches love. Again, though, that does not mean her won't make it. I think it will be a tough competition to the end.

Where in the world does that come from? Is that a personal observation on your part, or have you actually read something that directly attributes those comments to one of the coaches? Kind of "knows it all already"? WOW!

If anything, from what i have seen and heard, Michael Sam seems to be the epitome of ask and learn kind of rookie. Humble in his own talent evaluation, and all he has ever said, is he knows he has to work to make this team. He doesn't sound like a "I know it all already" rookie at all.

 

[Robocop]

I think its impossible to say that his "situation" didn't cause him to fall to that round. In most EVERY draft experts evaluation, he graded out at worst a mid round (4-5) talent. That he lasted til the compensatory picks in the 7th most certainly is attributed to his "baggage".

Do you or do you not agree that they will keep a 9th D-linemen? More than likely that player being a DE. No one is saying he is going to be put in a regular rotation at DE, nor will whomever that 9th DL ends up being. You keep saying he needs to get stronger and faster. Why? You say you aren't solely hung up on his measureables, but then you seem to say he isn't fast enough? I assume you are looking at his 40 time. How often does that really come into play as it pertains to a pass rusher? His burst is his biggest asset, and it is more than enough. Could he be bigger? Sure, ideally. But from watching this kid for the past TWO years, he makes plays. Period.

You continue to completely discount Special Teams as a way to make this team. Yet, on virtually every team at every level, the bottom 3rd of the roster is all about Special Teams. That's how UDFA's such as Armstrong, Bates, McLeod, Davis & Daniels et al, all made this team. Now people are clamoring for someone like Armstrong to be the next stud LB, all base solely off his ST play from a year ago.

Not sure what the dislike for Sam, or any of these other guys, who in your words, will be taking spots from other more worthy of the position.

no I dont think they need another DE, save the space for something else. AND ive constantly said he could be good on special teams. idk if your just ignoring it or what. again my quote from earlier. "that doesnt make any case in terms of Sam being useful or finding playing time, AGAIN besides contributing on special teams"

 

[CoachO]

no I dont think they need another DE, save the space for something else. AND ive constantly said he could be good on special teams. idk if your just ignoring it or what. again my quote from earlier. "that doesnt make any case in terms of Sam being useful or finding playing time, AGAIN besides contributing on special teams"

My bad, I misread that part. So you are of the mindset that they only need 8 dlinemen on the roster, because they don't need anymore. And what happens when Hayes or Sims, or god forbid, Quin or Long goes down with an injury? Do they "need" more than 4 DT's, even tho Hayes and Sims have shown the ability to move inside?

We obviously can agree to disagree on how the roster takes shape, but I would stake a pretty big wager that there will be NINE D-Linemen on the 53 man roster. Whether its Michael Sam or not, remains to be seen.

 

[Robocop]

NOPE

 

[CoachO]

EXACTLY this is my point! hes not there on the DE depth chart to actually take over if there are massive injuries. if he is kept around its purely for some subpackages (IF he can prove himself or for special teams) how pathetic and disastrous would it be if Sam had to actually start at DE?? the Rams would be screwed and would be much better off looking for a pickup in FA. He sure as hell wasn't drafted to take over for injuries on the line. better off bumping Donald to the end if that happened

That's where we definitely disagree. You REALLY don't like him do you? He manages to more than hold his own in a pretty good Div I Conference. If he is "forced" into playing DE, IMO, he will not embarrass himself at all.

 

[Robocop]

i dont dislike him hes just not Rams D worthy. and again your comparing holding your own in college football where most players careers end. this is the NFL