This LA Rams rookie wide receiver is anything but Polky

[ROD-BOT]

This LA Rams rookie wide receiver is anything but Polky

LA Rams undrafted rookie WR Brandon Polk may have fallen out of the 2020 NFL Draft, but with his speed, he's anything but Polky

ramblinfan.com

This LA Rams rookie wide receiver is anything but Polky

Out of necessity, the LA Rams traded away a very fast but expensive wide receiver when they struck up a deal with the Houston Texans to send WR Brandin Cooks and a 2022 fifth-round pick to the Texans in exchange for the Texans 2020 second-round pick. That allowed the LA Rams to pick up the deceptively productive wide receiver Van Jefferson with the 57th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. In the process, the Rams shed a financial nightmare of a player contract in the nick-of-time to ignite some hope of retaining a few of the team’s projected 2021 free agents. Take a hit in 2020 to save some funds for 2021.

Still, it was a bittersweet victory for the Rams. Cooks was a very productive wide receiver who was blessed with so much speed that he literally ran away from defenders. And the thrill of plays where quarterback Jared Goff would heave the football for all its worth, watching that arc so high, only to come down into the fast-moving arms of Cooks was a true sight to behold. Oh, if only the Rams fans could enjoy that thrill once more, that would really be something.

A stroke of lightning and good luck

Fortunately, the Rams were neither caught by surprise nor unprepared. They had been grooming relations with a 5-foot-9 180-pound speedster by the name of Brandon Polk. Polk was a Penn State student who transferred to James Madison University. The reason for the transfer was quite apparent as his numbers from four seasons at Penn State were a mere fraction of his production at JMU. At JMU in one season, he caught 79 passes for 1,179 yards and 11 touchdowns. That’s impressive.

But he also found his niche in the kick return game, where he returned 14 kicks for 360 yards, good for an average of 25.7 yards per return. He was able to do so well because he clocked a 4.28-second 40-yard dash time. To place that into perspective, that is 0.05-seconds faster than Brandin Cooks.

The Rams are the perfect team to make use of all of Brandon Polk’s many talents. While he fell through the cracks of the 2020 NFL Draft, don’t use that standard as a reason to discount this young man’s potential. He is an ideal candidate to win the Rams role as both a punt and kick returner. And while he ravages opposing teams in the return game, he will be meticulously groomed to take on a larger role for the team in pass routes.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I recall Polk committing to Penn State. We were all so excited about the speed he’d bring to the offense, but his game never materialized there. He had some good receiving threats ahead of him, not great. I wonder if a guy who couldn’t start at PSU can start in the NFL.

 

[JonRam99]

Who???
Oh ya Polk, CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!

 

[badnews]

Based on his size, speed and experience running the ball from the WR position, Polk could be used in the same way McVay used Tavon Austin.
Tavon never produced at a level appropriate for the 8th overall pick, but Polk has no risk of being an overpaid draft bust and he might be a little better route runner than Austin ever became. He doesn't come close to having Austin's suddeness though.

I believe Tavons effect on McVays run game was missing without him. It's a very useful way to slow down the defense, forcing them to respect the speed of a small blue blur behind the O-line. As good as Cooks, Woods and somehow even Kupp is at running the ball on end arounds and reverses, none of them could put the defense on its heels.
Last season's woes in the run game had a lot to do with front 7s being able to pin their ears back and out power and out man our O line on their way to meeting Gurley behind the LOS.
I don't see many scenarios where Polk can get on the field outside of ST unless our WR corps takes some big hits, but if he can turn on that 4.28 speed and occasionally stretch the field, get open and catch the ball, who knows. He could end up being a nice chess piece for McVays water cooler designs.

 

[den-the-coach]

I wonder if a guy who couldn’t start at PSU can start in the NFL.

All depends, Penn State did not use him for punt returns or for some reason used him more as a RB then WR. IMO, he moved to James Madison to have an opportunity to see more action at WR and don't take this the wrong way, but Penn State QB's have not been the best from a throwing perspetive.

The Nittany Lions run the ball under James Franklin and great program with IMO one of the most underrated Head Coached in College Football, but not sure how many changes Polk received and if the plan is for him to be a special teams guy, with the ability to come in and run some gadget plays with that 4.28 speed of his maybe he has a shot.

 

[Ram65]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6EjmfCToq0

 

[Ram65]

If he can win the punt and KO return job then he should get a chance at some PT even though it's hard to take PT from other WRs. Slip him in here and there when someone needs a rest and send him deep to tire out the CBs. Use the end around some too. He looks like he runs like a RB without the power but, has the moves. I really hope he can get those nice gains that Natson got in the punt return game. It looks like he has the same speed and quickness that JoJo had.

 

[jap]

At 5' 9", 180 pounds, the Horns will want to maximize the strength for his frame without compromising any of that prodigious speed. It may even be possible to INCREASE his speed and explosion a little more, much like they did with Cooper Kupp when he returned from his last ACL tear.

 

[Rams43]

All depends, Penn State did not use him for punt returns or for some reason used him more as a RB then WR. IMO, he moved to James Madison to have an opportunity to see more action at WR and don't take this the wrong way, but Penn State QB's have not been the best from a throwing perspetive.

The Nittany Lions run the ball under James Franklin and great program with IMO one of the most underrated Head Coached in College Football, but not sure how many changes Polk received and if the plan is for him to be a special teams guy, with the ability to come in and run some gadget plays with that 4.28 speed of his maybe he has a shot.

I think that you nailed it, den.

Polk’s ticket to the NFL is likely as a returner and maybe as a gadget player.

This Ram WR unit is a tough one to get snaps in other than in blowout games. Whew!

 

[1maGoh]

At 5' 9", 180 pounds, the Horns will want to maximize the strength for his frame without compromising any of that prodigious speed. It may even be possible to INCREASE his speed and explosion a little more, much like they did with Cooper Kupp when he returned from his last ACL tear.

No. No. No. Nobody ever gets faster. You can't teach speed. We've heard it a million times. Track and field coaches are frauds. Exercise is a waste. You can't teach speed. He'll never get faster.

 

[RamFan503]

Sounds small but doesn't appear to play small. He might be interesting to watch to see if he can stick.

 

[Merlin]

Who knows but of course this is the silly season for us where the rainbows and unicorns all seem possible. His translatable role as a rook will be jet sweeps and screens, as well as special teams where he should have a look at punt returner.

But tbh his route tree will limit him for now. Teams will know he's only really a threat on nines and posts and not being a threat on a full tree will keep him off the field. Similar to Tavon in this offense just without the stupid contract.

And also... We have a pretty fucking nice group of UDFA wideouts this year. It's going to be fun to watch that's for sure. If I'm Polk my plan is to win the punt returns job first off, and from there try to bust a big run or two on the jet sweeps with the 2s and 3s in preseason. There is definitely a need for greater threat on the jets, making teams re-consider their 2019 plan of ignoring that motion would be beneficial to the scheme at large.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

All depends, Penn State did not use him for punt returns or for some reason used him more as a RB then WR. IMO, he moved to James Madison to have an opportunity to see more action at WR and don't take this the wrong way, but Penn State QB's have not been the best from a throwing perspetive.

The Nittany Lions run the ball under James Franklin and great program with IMO one of the most underrated Head Coached in College Football, but not sure how many changes Polk received and if the plan is for him to be a special teams guy, with the ability to come in and run some gadget plays with that 4.28 speed of his maybe he has a shot.

Trace was a pretty good passer. We just tend to think there were too many designed runs.

I’m not as high on Franklin. He is a great GM type but we’ve seen that when his good assistants leave the team struggles. Every indication so far is that Ciarocca is a PA resident and considers PSU a destination job. I hope he works out and stays for a while. Franklin hiring his buddy as OC was a pathetic move spawned from loyalty. Ricky Rahne May end up being a decent HC but he was a lousy OC and an enormous step down from Moorhead.

Back to Polk. PSU had some players come to the forefront. Polk never did. His size seemed to be a big hindrance. One thing that I like a lot about Franklin is he makes people earn their spots. Polk never seemed to get there.

They recently had a five start receiver transfer. Justin Shorter was the no. 1 receiver in recruiting and he couldn’t do enough to start. A lot of people were angry, but Franklin stuck to his guns.

 

[snackdaddy]

He's fast. But how fast in pads? Seemed like a few of those highlights he didn't have that extra burst to finish the run. There's usually a reason a guy isn't drafted.

 

[Psycho_X]

We definitely need someone to take the top off so hope the kid sticks. Probably hoping a lot that he'd be playing this season but hopefully his special teams play keeps him around and he develops into a replacement for Cooks down the road.