Wagoner’s Rams Buzz: Rookies Westbrooks and Bayer Could Make An Impact

[RamBill]

ESPN.com St. Louis Rams reporter Nick Wagoner says it will be tough for relatively unknown players to make an impact in training camp — though Ethan Westbrooks and Alex Bayer could be exceptions.

 

[Akrasian]

Isn't Westbrooks injured right now? Sort of hard to make an impact if you're hurt early in camp.

 

[Alan]

Thanks RamBill.

I'd like to have that minute of my life back though.

He is injured @Akrasian

 

[LACHAMP46]

Interested to get a looksie at Bayer...I heard he's a pass catcher that can really block too....Not sure what the deal is with Westbrooks, he better get healthy fast....

 

[Alan]

http://www.si.com/nfl/audibles/2014/05/07/2014-nfl-draft-sleepers-defense
DE Ethan Westbrooks, West Texas A&M

Westbrooks came to Division II by way of Sacramento City College, and hit the national radar when he amassed 19.5 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss in 2012. With every opponent lining up to over-block him in 2013, he still grabbed seven sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, and he further proved his worth when he was named the Defensive MVP of the East-West Shrine Game with two sacks against tougher competition. Westbrooks flies off the handle at times (he's known for an obscene amount of offside penalties), but he's strong, very quick and could turn into a dominant NFL strong side defensive end who can move inside to five-tech tackle in the right environment.

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/9818/rams-tweak-roster-before-camp
Rams tweak roster before camp

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams don't officially begin training camp until Friday, but they took care of a little housekeeping before the veterans join the rookies and they get down to business.

In a flurry of moves Tuesday evening into Wednesday, the Rams released four players, signed four more and put two players on the non-football injury list. All the moves dealt with players at the bottom of the roster.

The Rams released wide receiver Diontae Spencer, linebacker Tavarius Wilson, linebackerCaleb McSurdy and offensive lineman Abasi Salimu. All four were rookie free agents signed after the draft in May. They had all spent organized team activities and the offseason program in St. Louis.

To fill the vacated roster spots, the Rams signed offensive tackles R.J. Dill and D.J. Morrell and linebackers Pat Schiller and Lawrence Wilson. That quartet also doesn't come with any noteworthy NFL experience, as none have played in a regular-season NFL game.

Schiller, who played his college football at Northern Illinois, actually comes with a bit of an interesting story. His journey to the NFL was chronicled by the New York Times in 2012.

Elsewhere, the Rams added rookie defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks and safety Christian Bryant to the non-football injury list. Bryant has continued rehab from a foot/ankle injury since the Rams drafted him. Coach Jeff Fisher said at the end of the offseason program there was a good chance Bryant would not be available to open camp. Westbrooks' injury is unknown.

Bryant and Westbrooks still count toward the 90-man roster, and the Rams can activate them at any time once they've been medically cleared by a doctor.

The non-football injury list functions similarly to the physically unable to perform list but designates players differently. The NFI list is for players who either suffered an injury away from football or, for rookies, players who suffered injuries playing football in college or a league other than the NFL.

 

[RamBill]

101ESPN’s Kevin Wheeler: Lamarcus Joyner and Tre Mason could actually be Rams’ most impactful rookies. He likes Donald and Robinson too, but he explains why he’s picking Joyner and Mason.

Listen to Wheeler Talk Rookie Impact

 

[CoachO]

The only thing regarding Westbrooks, is I recall him missing the last round of OTAs. No explanation was given, as they don't reveal injuries in the off season. It could be just about anything, so I won't even begin to speculate.But the more time he misses, the less likely it is he will have much of an impact in the competition to make this roster.

 

[ReddingRam]

The only thing regarding Westbrooks, is I recall him missing the last round of OTAs. No explanation was given, as they don't reveal injuries in the off season. It could be just about anything, so I won't even begin to speculate.But the more time he misses, the less likely it is he will have much of an impact in the competition to make this roster.

Setting him up for the PS ?

 

[RamBill]

Fox2′s Martin Kilcoyne interviews Rams rookie DB Lamarcus Joyner as the rookies get on the field for the start of training camp. Includes some clips from practice. (2:20)

Watch Joyner Interview