Tag: Cobie Durant

Rams announce 2022 season awards: MVP, Rookie of the Year and more

The Rams handed out awards to 4 players for the 2022 season, including their MVP and Rookie of the Year

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The Los Angeles Rams still have one game left to play, but with the season just about over, they announced recipients of this year’s awards. They handed out honors for team MVP, Rookie of the Year, a sportsmanship award and an Ed Block Courage Award to four different players, recognizing their efforts and play on and off the field.

With so many veterans and key players getting hurt throughout the year, the choice for MVP was fairly obvious: Bobby Wagner. In his first season with the Rams, he was voted the team’s top player, a huge honor for the former Seahawks linebacker.

Below is the complete list of award-winners for the Rams this year.

Behind Enemy Lines: Previewing Week 17 with Rams Wire

Answers to a few burning questions about the Rams ahead of their matchup with the Chargers on Sunday.

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The Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams are about to duke it out in the Battle for L.A. on Sunday afternoon.

Before the matchup, Rams Wire managing editor Cameron DaSilva spoke with us about Los Angeles’ opponent.

What should we expect from Baker Mayfield in this one? Is he operating mostly within the offense, or is it a good bit of freelancing still?

He’s certainly not freelancing and has actually played pretty well. There have been times when he’s late on a throw and nearly makes a costly mistake, but for the most part, he’s taking what the defense gives him and going through his reads the way the play was designed to. Sean McVay’s offense fits Mayfield really well, too. He’s had a lot of open receivers thanks to the route concepts, and when no one does get open, he’s able to extend plays with his legs and create off-script.

Cam Akers has come on as of late after struggling this season. What’s been his key to improvement, and how do the Chargers lock him up?

His vision has gotten much better in the last few weeks. Earlier this season, he wasn’t seeing cutback lanes and sometimes not hitting holes that the play was designed to create, so he’d get stuffed in the backfield. Now, he’s seeing lanes much better and when he does have a little room, he’s making defenders miss with his lateral agility and physicality. It’s been fun to watch him improve over the last month or so because it seemed like he’d played his last snap with the Rams before the trade deadline.

The Rams cranked up their usage of 12 personnel last week in their throttling of the Broncos. Would you expect that to continue on Sunday?

Absolutely. A big reason for that was the absence of Ben Skowronek, who’s out for the year. He blocks like a tight end and plays like a receiver, so he could do a little bit of everything. With him out again, I’d expect Brycen Hopkins to get more snaps alongside Tyler Higbee, and that should provide a spark in the running game, too.

Who are some under-the-radar defensive players that have improved for the Rams this season that Chargers fans need to look out for?

Cobie Durant has played really well the last four weeks as the Rams’ nickel corner, taking over for David Long Jr. and Derion Kendrick. He’s a playmaker and ball hawk in the secondary, picking off two passes last week against the Broncos – including an 85-yard pick-six. Michael Hoecht is another player to watch after transitioning from defensive tackle to edge rusher. He’s had some growing pains, particularly when facing motion and play action, but he can get after the quarterback.

What’s your prediction for the game?

I think the Rams will manage to keep it relatively close for about three quarters thanks to their defense, but the Chargers will make a few too many plays to pull away late. I just don’t think the Rams, who did score 51 against the Broncos, will have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Chargers. I’ll say the final score is 24-16.

Chargers’ reasons for optimism vs. Rams

Reasons why the Chargers should beat the Rams on Sunday.

The Chargers and Rams face off in a game people will call the battle for Los Angeles on Sunday. But the Bolts have shown that at least this season, they’re the superior squad in the city.

Here are four reasons to be optimistic about a Chargers win.

Season-enders

While the Chargers’ injury troubles have been well-cataloged this season, the only impact player they continue to miss is Rashawn Slater, who may be able to return for a playoff run with the team. Joey Bosa is back and should play in limited fashion as he works himself back into game shape. Pundits always talk about the playoffs coming down to being healthy at the right time, and the Chargers certainly seem to be trending in that direction. The Rams, meanwhile, are not. Their season is already over, but that’s primarily because injuries to Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald have either ended or effectively ended the seasons of the star players. That has left the Rams to fend with Baker Mayfield, Tutu Atwell, and Larrell Murchison in lieu of their big three, which is an awful lot worse. If you haven’t caught a Rams game recently, you’ll be surprised at how different this team looks from the one that won a Super Bowl last year.

First quarter shutdowns

The Rams jumped out in front of the Broncos in the Nathaniel Hackett Christmas Day massacre game thanks largely to a 17-point first quarter that propelled them to a 51-point total. That’s not likely to happen again against the Chargers because the Bolts have shut out their opponent in the first quarter in each of their last four games, the longest streak the franchise has enjoyed since 2011. Brandon Staley’s defense has been humming, from game planning down to execution, and it’s shown in their results. As long as they can continue that on Sunday, they should be able to fend off this patchwork Rams offense.

Turnover prone

Baker Mayfield has only thrown one interception in his three games as the Rams’ starter, but we’ve all seen him before. Mayfield is a known quantity as a fifth-year NFL player, and what we know is twofold: he’s wildly inconsistent and turnover-prone. The inconsistency is essential: so far, Mayfield has played well, middling, and exceptional in that order. Sean McVay’s offense has managed to avoid the disastrous performances that ultimately drove Mayfield out of Cleveland and Carolina. But that performance is likely just part of who he is as a quarterback, and it’s not unreasonable to think it may come this week against a Chargers defense that has forced 21 takeaways this season and at least two in three of their past four games.

Weak secondary

Even Jalen Ramsey has been in somewhat of a slump this season, which has only exacerbated the issues in a young and inexperienced Rams secondary. Injuries have touched the position group as well, with safety Jordan Fuller on injured reserve. Rookies Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant have been on one heck of a rollercoaster ride to start their NFL careers, with Durant playing well as of late. Taylor Rapp still can’t seem to get his eyes in the right place at safety, but the Rams don’t have many more options besides him. All of this combines to form the 20th-best pass defense in the NFL by DVOA. Justin Herbert would certainly like a bounceback game after failing to throw a touchdown pass in either of the last two games. The Rams will certainly provide that opportunity if season-long trends are any indication.

Raheem Morris loves the growth of Cobie Durant across his rookie season

Raheem Morris broke down the season Cobie Durant has had, from his performance in Week 2 to his hamstring injury to his reemergence

Cobie Durant joined the Rams as a fourth-round pick this year, hailing from South Carolina State where he was a ball hawk in the secondary. He didn’t get an opportunity to play right away, but he also didn’t have to wait long.

In Week 2, he took the field after Troy Hill got hurt and quickly recorded his first career sack and interception. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury sidelined him for three games, and after getting back healthy, he strictly played special teams for five weeks in a row.

In the last four games, he’s reemerged as a playmaker on defense, highlighted by his two interceptions against the Broncos last week. Raheem Morris has seen Durant go through an up-and-down year but he loves the growth the rookie cornerback has shown.

“We started the season without our starters obviously, and then people got hurt in that Atlanta game,” Morris said Thursday. “I don’t know if you remember that or not, but Cobie came in, was the first one off the bench, went out there, got his first sack, got his first pick in a game, almost ran back for a touchdown and pulled his hamstring on the very next play. Had to miss some time coming back. It was something, but he missed some time and then that provided the opportunity for (Derion Kendrick) to step in. DK stepped in, played well a lot of the time there and did some really good things for us. Then Cobie came back ready, eased him back into the process, got some of our starters back, played those guys. Cobie got his next opportunity and he’s done nothing but go out there and absolutely shine and show some of that brilliance that he showed in training camp. Some of the things he did in training camp, picking off the ball, covering the best wideout in the National Football League in Cooper Kupp.”

What has really helped Durant carve out a role in the secondary is his position flexibility. He’s a smaller corner, but he has the ability to play outside or in the slot.

Morris admitted the Rams had no idea he could play the “star” role inside, which is where Jalen Ramsey often lined up last year, so he’s fit nicely in that spot as a rookie. The Rams still move him around a little bit, but in the last four weeks, he’s played 103 snaps in the slot and 40 outside.

“Then when he came in, we had no idea that he could play nickel, the star position, and he was able to go into the star position, really impress his coaches and do some of those things really well which was exciting knowing that he was (an) outside guy,” Morris said. “He really bought into that system, really got into that role and owned it and now he’s out there and he’s just kind of been able to be flexible and move and move like a vet. He’s grown every single week and learning from his guys and he’s having fun with (DB) Jalen (Ramsey), and I think Jalen’s having fun with him. Getting him to play around a little bit with some of his lineups, some of the things that he’s doing. It’s been fun.”

It’s still early in Durant’s career, but he certainly looks the part of a starting cornerback in the NFL. He’s getting valuable experience late in the year with the Rams out of contention, which gives him a leg up on the competition heading into 2023 when he could be expected to start alongside Ramsey.

He has the instincts, speed and coverage skills to excel in the NFL, and he’s proved that in the last four weeks.

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5 Rams to watch in Week 17 vs. Chargers

The Rams are set to face the Chargers in Week 17 and we have 5 players to keep tabs on during Sunday’s matchup.

The Los Angeles Rams will be the road team in Sunday’s matchup with their neighbors, the Los Angeles Chargers, at SoFi Stadium. The Rams are looking to build off of their lopsided 51-14 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 16 with a strong finish to the season.

Entering Week 17, the Rams now boast a 5-10 record, good enough for third place in the NFC West. Meanwhile, the Chargers own a 9-6 record and have clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2018.

Ahead of the battle of Los Angeles, here are five players to watch from the Rams

Cobie Durant records 2nd-fastest play in Week 16 on pick-six

Cobie Durant recorded the 2nd-fastest play in Week 16 on his 85-yard pick-six against the Broncos.

Cobie Durant had a remarkable performance for the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16 versus the Denver Broncos and he showed off his speed on one of his interceptions. According to Next Gen Stats, Durant had the second-fastest play in Week 16, clocking in at 21.5 mph on his 85-yard pick-six.

The only player to have a faster play in Week 16 was Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins, who clocked in at 21.68 mph on an 84-yard touchdown reception. On the season, Durant now owns the ninth-fastest play in the NFL.

Tutu Atwell previously had the fastest play for a player on the Rams this season on a 54-yard reception from Matthew Stafford in Week 5. The second-year wideout reached 21.46 mph on his long reception.

The rookie cornerback for the Rams would finish Sunday’s blowout win over the Broncos with two pass breakups and two interceptions that would result in 100 yards and a touchdown. As a result of his stellar outing, Durant led all players on the Rams in PFF grade in Week 16.

Even though Durant struggled with injuries earlier in the season, it’s clear that he’ll continue to get more playing time down the stretch due to his playmaking ability and speed at the cornerback position.

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Cobie Durant is proving Rams should’ve given him a chance much sooner

Cobie Durant is making the most of his recent opportunities and proving he should’ve gotten a chance much sooner

Cobie Durant was thrust into action in Week 2 out of necessity, stepping in after Troy Hill went down with an injury. He made an immediate impact, picking off Marcus Mariota and returning it 51 yards – to go along with a sack later on in the game.

But after that performance against Atlanta, the rookie cornerback didn’t play a single defensive snap again until Week 13. He missed Weeks 3-6 with a hamstring injury, but he returned and was able to play special teams in Week 8 … and Week 9, 10, 11, and 12. Yet, still no defensive snaps.

It wasn’t until Week 13 that he got another shot, playing 40% of the defensive snaps against the Seahawks. Then he played 62% the following week, 65% in the next game and finally a season-high 76% on Sunday against the Broncos.

And he’s continued to get better as the season has gone on, putting together a career-best performance against Denver with two picks that he returned for a total of 100 yards – including an 85-yard pick-six to cap off a 51-point day by the Rams.

Both of his interceptions were impressive plays, the first being a leaping grab over the middle and the second being an excellent read on the quarterback, jumping in front of the pass for the pick.

According to PFF, he finished the game with a 94.7 overall grade, which was not only the highest on the Rams, but the best in the NFL for any defensive player this week.

All of a sudden, Durant leads the NFL with 151 interception return yards, showing he’s a playmaker when he does get a chance on defense. The question now is why wasn’t he given a chance earlier in the season when he was exclusively playing special teams for five games?

Sure, he’s made some rookie mistakes on defense, like coming downhill too aggressively on screen passes, but he’s also made some great plays – including a diving pass breakup against the Seahawks in Week 13.

He has the athleticism and instincts to be a starting cornerback and he’s shown that in the last four weeks. It’s fun to see him flying around the secondary making plays alongside Jalen Ramsey, it just would’ve been nice to see him get a shot while the Rams were still in contention, not after the season was all but lost.

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Watch: Cobie Durant’s 85-yard pick-six caps off 51-point day for Rams

Cobie Durant capped off a spectacular performance by the Rams, returning a pick 85 yards for a touchdown

Can you say 50 burger?

Thanks to Cobie Durant’s late pick-six against the Broncos, the Rams became just the second team all year to score 50 points – and it’s just the first time they’ve topped 50 points since their 54-51 win over the Chiefs in 2018.

With Brett Rypien in at quarterback, Durant jumped the out route and picked off the pass, returning it 85 yards for a touchdown to cap off a spectacular game by the Rams.

This one wasn’t close at any point after the Rams went up 10-0, but to see them put up 51 points is shockingly impressive.

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Acrobatic pick by Cobie Durant sets up Rams touchdown

The Rams capitalized on a Russell Wilson interception for a TD

Russell Wilson continues to make bad decisions.

The Denver Broncos’ quarterback tried to find a receiver Sunday at SoFi Stadium and the ball wound up being intercepted by the Rams’ Cobie Durant,

Spectacularly.

The interception set up a TD pass from Baker Mayfield to Tyler Higbee that had the Rams up 10-0 after the PAT.

5 Rams to watch in Week 16 vs. Broncos

The Rams will host the Broncos on Christmas in Week 16 and we have five players to keep an eye on.

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The Los Angeles Rams are set to host the Denver Broncos on Christmas in Week 16 at SoFi Stadium. Both the Rams and the Broncos have been among the most disappointing teams this season, with both teams already being eliminated from playoff contention.

Following a loss to the Green Bay Packers on Monday night in Week 15, the Rams fell to 4-10 on the season, giving them the second-worst record in the NFC. Meanwhile, the Broncos improved to 4-10 in Week 15 after beating the Arizona Cardinals.

With the Rams and Broncos just looking to finish the season strong — and healthy — here are five players to watch in Sunday’s matchup on Christmas.