Bryce Perkins (Photo by Duane Barker, MidValleySports.com)
By Joe Torosian
Off The Top:
I enjoyed watching Bryce Perkins for four quarters…I like him better than John Wolford, but Sean McVay doesn’t.
And that’s okay, but since it’s okay, I believe The Wolf needs some preseason reps. This guy hasn’t played a meaningful game since the end of 2020…and that season finale was his very first important game in the NFL.
(We’ll ignore the Wild Card start in Seattle.)
So when I direct an NFL franchise to the Super Bowl…I’ll be all over McVay’s butt…Or, when The Wolf flames out, I’ll make my thoughts clear to him.
Seriously, The Wolf needs some reps. Am I wrong on this?
***
In The Booth:
Andrew Siciliano is okay. I don’t have a problem listening to him. Any time you can turn on a game and avoid a Beth Mowins/Jim Nantz reaction is all good.
But the one thing I didn’t like, especially with the Rams not playing starters in the preseason, is that Siciliano doesn’t do a very good job setting the lineup. Tell me who’s in the game, in the backfield, and on the line before the ball is snapped and the play is made.
Call it Bob Starr hangover. The old Rams play-by-play guy was the best at that.
Mina Kimes didn’t do much of anything. In previous years, she has. Perhaps working with Andrew Whitworth for the first time put her off balance. Either way, she didn’t contribute anything beyond the obvious.
Regarding Whitworth, when he spoke, you felt like you were learning stuff. I enjoyed him.
***
Positives:
Perkins’ play was solid. I also loved seeing him run the offensive with empty sets–since that’s what Stafford loves.
Should The Wolf be hearing footsteps? Yes.
Is The Wolf hearing footsteps? No.
Lance McCutcheon has entered the conversation. The WR-room includes Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson, Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell…and–now–Lance McCutcheon.
(First cuts are Tuesday, and Warren Jackson’s time in Los Angeles is likely done.)
And because he’s hurt, Jacob Harris is behind McCutcheon. I’m not saying Harris is gone, but he SHOULD be hearing footsteps.
Rams Starting Offensive Line:
LT: Alaric Jackson, LG: Tremayne Anchrum, C: Jeremiah Kolone, RG: Logan Bruss, RT: Bobby Evans
After not appearing on the depth chart, it was interesting to see Evans get the start. Good, he needs the reps, but he’s in a bad spot.
Second half…Chandler Brewer came in at guard, AJ Arcuri at right tackle, and Jack Snyder closed the game at center.
There were moments they looked good and moments they did not. A.J. Rose made them look good, and Jake Funk showed he’s competent, but Funk needs a line to block for him—and they didn’t.
Bruss: Got trucked early on. Graded poorly in pass.
Evans: Graded poorly in pass and average in run…playing 30-snaps.
Anchrum: Graded average in pass, good in run, played both guard and tackle.
Jackson: Graded poor in pass, little above average in run.
Kolone: 45 snaps…good in run blocking and average in pass.
Arcuri: 31 snaps…average in run…poor in pass.
Brewer: 35 snaps…good in both run and pass….6-6/320…UDFA in 2019 out of Middle Tennessee State…appeared in 7 games in 2019. It’ll be interesting to see how he develops.
Snyder: 16 snaps at center (listed as a tackle) okay run-blocking…zero in pass. (Tuesday casualty?)
***
Daniel Hardy (Photo by Duane Barker, MidValleySports.com)
Who looked good?
Derion Kendrick: In coverage and tackling looked solid.
Daniel Hardy: Got the sack, got pressure, but didn’t do much as the game wore on. Was he gassed?
Robert Rochell: He’s just somebody you like to see back there.
Bobby Brown III: Hello! Sack!…Then an injury….News is optimistic.
Daniel Isom: Made the play at the end.
Grant Haley: Was aggressive, tackled well, but, at best, he’s a really good special teams player. He’s not a coverage guy.
Earnest Brown IV: Great to see him on the field and to get a sack…played 39 snaps.
Jake Hummel: 58 snaps, 10 tackles…
Negatives:
Terrell Burgess: Blown coverage on Chargers first touchdown.
Benton Whitley: Lost contain on game’s first series.
Cobie Durant: Missed tackle in the open field.
Ceasar Dancy-Williams: Could get cut on Tuesday.
Happy Birthday to:
Fred Strickland who turns 55 today.
Rams drafted him out of Purdue 2/47/88 (pick acquired in the Dickerson trade…of the six picks…he may have had the best career.)…he played 12 years with the Rams, Vikings, Packers, Cowboys, and Redskins.
The late Mike Henry would have been 86 today…
Played at USC…was drafted by the Steelers had a six year career…and started for three years for the Rams…
Both Strickland and Henry wore number 53 while with the Rams.
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