Tag: Darious Williams

These three players got game balls from Sean McVay after Rams’ win over 49ers

Sean McVay handed out three game balls after the Rams’ win over the 49ers, two of which went to clutch defenders

The Los Angeles Rams’ offense carried the defense to a win in Week 14, but the defense returned the favor on Thursday night. The special teams unit chipped in, too, providing the only points for the team against the San Francisco 49ers.

The Rams won a close one, 12-6, in a game that featured six field goals and no touchdowns. It wasn’t the way they expected the game to go, but the defense did its job and held San Francisco to its second-fewest yards ever under Kyle Shanahan.

While the 49ers were talking about a player quitting after the game, Sean McVay was talking to his guys about a huge win led by the defense. The Rams coach handed out three game balls to a trio of deserving candidates: Joshua Karty, Kobie Turner and Darious Williams.

Karty went 4-for-4 on field goals, Turner had two sacks and Williams’ interception helped seal the win for Los Angeles.

Check out McVay’s full locker room speech in the video below.

Saquon Barkley runs the Rams out of SoFi Stadium, carrying the Eagles to their 7th straight win

A sea of Eagles fans took over SoFi Stadium, carrying Philadelphia to its 7th straight win on Sunday night as Saquon Barkley rushed for 255 yards on the night

The Eagles are 9-2 and have won seven straight games after Saquon Barkley exploded in the running game, and A.J. Brown was dominant in the passing game. Philadelphia put the league on notice with a 37-20 win at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

If not for a late Matthew Stafford touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp, Philadelphia would have exited Los Angeles with a 37-14 road win just seven days before a monster matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13.

Barkley rushed for 255 yards on the night and had 302 total yards of offense in a game that saw A.J. Brown log 109 yards receiving and a touchdown on seven targets.

Rams snap counts: LA benches two DBs, Blake Corum rises to RB2

Breaking down the Rams’ snap counts from Sunday’s loss to the Packers, which shows a big shakeup on defense

After starting 1-3 and struggling badly against the pass on defense, the Los Angeles Rams thought it was a good time to shake up the secondary. They made several changes to the defensive backfield on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, including the decision to bench Tre’Davious White by making him a healthy scratch for the first time in his career.

Offensively, the Rams mostly kept the status quo. However, Blake Corum did take over as the No. 2 running back behind Kyren Williams. He replaced Ronnie Rivers in that role, playing a season-high 11 snaps in the 24-19 loss.

We broke down the snap counts below, starting with the offense.

Offense

After playing the third-most snaps of the Rams’ receivers last week, Demarcus Robinson played most of the game on Sunday, only missing two snaps. Jordan Whittington was a close second with a 92% snap share, and that was with missing the end of the game due to a shoulder injury. Tutu Atwell was WR3 again, with Tyler Johnson (11 snaps) and Xavier Smith (8 snaps) operating as the reserves.

At running back, Kyren Williams played 86% of the snaps, which is about his average for the year. Corum, not Ronnie Rivers, was his backup, with the rookie playing a season-high 11 snaps. He touched the ball six times on those 11 plays, rushing for 25 yards on five carries and catching an 8-yard screen pass.

Colby Parkinson remains the No. 1 tight end, playing 79% of the snaps. Hunter Long played 22% and Davis Allen played 4%, so the Rams did mix in some 12 personnel again on Sunday.

All five starting linemen played the entire game again, which is a good sign for their continuity.

Defense

The defense is where the biggest changes were made by the coaching staff, specifically in the secondary. White was benched after four games of being a starter, sitting this game out as a healthy scratch. In his place, the Rams gave Ahkello Witherspoon a prominent role (81%) and Darious Williams played 49% of the snaps in his season debut. Cobie Durant was a major factor in this game, playing all but three snaps.

Josh Wallace was also given a big opportunity as an undrafted rookie, playing 31 snaps, mostly as the nickel corner in the “star” role. That allowed Quentin Lake to be a more traditional safety, once again playing every snap on defense alongside Kamren Curl.

You’ll notice Kamren Kinchens’ name is missing from the list above and that’s because he was the other defensive back benched by Chris Shula. The rookie had been struggling in place of John Johnson III, so the Rams took him out of the lineup and gave him zero defensive snaps. That opened the door for Jaylen McCollough to play more, getting on the field for 15 snaps, coming up with a key pick-six on one of those plays.

At inside linebacker, it was still Troy Reeder and Christian Rozeboom manning the middle, but Reeder played just 86% of the snaps despite being the signal caller with the green dot. Rozeboom played 71% of the game as the No. 2 linebacker.

Byron Young continues to be the top option at edge rusher, playing 80% of the snaps. Jared Verse and Michael Hoecht were almost an even split, with Verse playing 69% and Hoecht plating 64%. They were the only three edge rushers again.

Kobie Turner played 81% of the snaps as the top defensive lineman, with Braden Fiske being the next-closest player at 51%. Bobby Brown, Neville Gallimore and Tyler Davis continue to rotate along the front, with Jonah Williams playing one snap in his debut with the team.

Darious Williams expected to make season debut vs. Packers

Sean McVay is excited to get Darious Williams back in the secondary this weekend

Darious Williams was forced to miss the first four games of the season due to a hamstring strain that landed him on injured reserve but he’s ready to return to the Rams secondary. Williams was designated to return from IR this week and practiced all three days, a terrific sign for his status ahead of Sunday’s game. Sean McVay said Friday that Williams is expected to play and he’s excited to get the veteran corner back on the field.

“We’ll see how he feels after today, but he’s had a really good week. That’s a positive for us,” McVay said.

When asked if Williams looks like himself, McVay said “he does.”

“He’s got a great look in his eye,” McVay said. “He’s feeling good. He’s locked into the preparation so we’re excited to have him back.”

It’ll be interesting to see how the Rams deploy their defensive backs now that Williams has returned because like Tre’Davious White, he’s at his best on the outside rather than in the slot. McVay didn’t share any insight into how the Rams plan to utilize their corners but Cobie Durant or White is going to see a reduction in playing time regardless.

For a secondary that’s struggled, Williams brings a lot to the table in Los Angeles.

“Experience, confidence [and] production when he’s played,” McVay said. “All those things are reasons why we were so excited to be able to get him back. This guy’s got a great concept trigger, just a natural feel. Certain guys have a knack for being able to get their hands on the ball if those opportunities present themselves. We’re excited to get Darious back.”

Williams last played for the Rams in 2021 before spending two years with the Jaguars. He was cut by Jacksonville this offseason, opening the door for a reunion with the Rams.

Rams have secondary decisions to make with Darious Williams nearing a return

Darious Williams could return as soon as this weekend but how will the Rams fit him in at CB?

It’s always good when a starter returns from injury but that can sometimes come with difficult decisions, too. That’s going to be the case for the Los Angeles Rams with Darious Williams making his way back from IR as early as this week.

Williams practiced for the first time on Wednesday and has been designated to return already. The Rams will need to activate him before he can take the field on Sunday, but that seems like a good possibility.

If Williams does return to face the Packers this weekend, the Rams will need to figure out a way to fit him into the secondary – a secondary that’s been struggling without him in the first four games of the season.

They have a few different options to consider, none of which is simple.

Bench Tre’Davious White

The first option is to bench the cornerback who’s been playing the poorest this season: Tre’Davious White. He may have all the accolades as a former All-Pro and Pro Bowler, but his play has hurt the Rams’ pass defense. Whether it’s giving up big plays to Jameson Williams and Marvin Harrison Jr. in coverage or committing costly penalties that extend drives, White has not played well thus far.

According to Aaron Schatz, White has the worst coverage DVOA of any cornerback this season.

 

The problem with benching him is he’s a high-profile defender who may not be playing well, but he could potentially turn it around as he gets further and further removed from the torn Achilles he suffered last year.

White and Williams are both at their best as outside cornerbacks and there are only two of those spots available each snap. Perhaps a more limited role for White could do him some good.

Bench Cobie Durant

A second option is benching the other starter on the outside, Cobie Durant. He actually has the lowest coverage grade on the team, per Pro Football Focus, but he’s allowed just 82 yards to White’s 151 on three fewer targets. He also hasn’t allowed a touchdown or committed a penalty yet, while White has given up four scores and committed five penalties (one declined).

Like Williams, Durant is slightly undersized for an outside cornerback, which could create some mismatches for offenses with bigger receivers. Therefore, starting both of them may not be the best approach. But Durant’s speed is also beneficial when the Rams are facing faster receivers who can stretch the field vertically.

Durant may not be playing particularly well right now but he has traits that make him valuable.

Move Durant into the slot and Quentin Lake to safety

If the Rams want to get a little bit more creative, there’s a third option that involves making changes at two positions. They could choose to start Williams at outside cornerback, move Durant into the slot and push Lake back to safety where he would replace the struggling rookie Kamren Kinchens.

This could solve two problems for the Rams. It’ll take Durant off the island of being on the boundary, and it’ll also relieve Kinchens of the heavy workload he may not be fully prepared for as a third-round rookie.

It also presents some hurdles. Right now, Lake has been the Rams’ best defender in the secondary. Per PFF, he’s played 120 of his 258 snaps in the slot, with another 60 snaps as a deep safety and 67 in the box. He can line up anywhere in the secondary and also play dime linebacker, making him a chess piece for Shula to deploy.

While he may be needed at safety, moving him further away from the ball could lead to a regression when it comes to stopping the run – something that’s already been a big problem for the Rams.

It’s a difficult choice no matter what the Rams decide to do, but getting a good player back is always a positive for any team. Hopefully Williams can help turn around a secondary that’s been struggling so far this season.

Rams designate Darious Williams to return from IR

The Rams have designated Darious Williams to return from IR, a sign he could play as early as Sunday

The Los Angeles Rams have struggled against the pass this season but Darious Williams seems close to returning. On Wednesday, Williams was designated to return from injured reserve, suiting up and practicing for the first time this season.

Larrell Murchison also returned to practice but he hasn’t been designated to return yet.

The Rams will still need to activate Williams before he’s eligible to play, but the fact that they’ve already designated him to return suggests he could play as early as this Sunday against the Packers.

How the Rams manage their secondary when Williams returns is another question. Tre’Davious White is struggling badly but benching the veteran will be difficult. Quentin Lake is playing well in the slot so moving Cobie Durant there and keeping Williams on the outside may not be an option, either.

Rams CB Darious Williams expected to return to practice this week

Sean McVay shared a positive update on Darious Williams, who’s expected to return to practice this week

Finally, the Los Angeles Rams are getting some good news on the injury front. Sean McVay told reporters on Monday that the team plans to open the practice window for Darious Williams and Larrell Murchison this week.

Both players are currently on IR and eligible to return on Sunday against the Packers, but they’ll need to be activated first. By opening their practice windows, the Rams will then have 21 days to decide whether to activate them to the 53-man roster or leave them on IR for the rest of the season.

Williams’ impending return is big for the Rams’ secondary, which has struggled in his absence. He’s been sidelined since the second day of training camp when he suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on IR just before the start of the season, forcing him to miss the first four games.

Upon his return, the Rams will then have Tre’Davious White, Cobie Durant and Williams as potential starting cornerbacks. Quentin Lake has been manning the slot all season so the Rams will need to figure out how to get all four defensive backs on the field.

Rams unsure when CB Darious Williams will return from IR

Darious Williams is eligible to return next week but Sean McVay doesn’t sound certain he’ll be back by then

Darious Williams is one of the 11 players on injured reserve for the Los Angeles Rams right now after he suffered a hamstring strain in training camp and then aggravated it just before the season. His absence has been felt in the secondary but the Rams will get him back at some point.

It’s just unclear if he’ll return when first eligible for the team’s Week 5 game against the Packers. Sean McVay was asked about Williams’ status Wednesday and he says the team hasn’t had discussions about activating him yet, which isn’t exactly encouraging to hear.

“I don’t know that yet,” he said. “We haven’t had a chance to talk about that but I do know this, he’s making good progress. As far as when he will be able to return, [we] have not decided that yet.”

Hamstring injuries can be tricky, as we saw with Cooper Kupp last season when he strained his and then suffered a setback before the season, similar to Williams. The Rams always talk about a player returning to performance, not returning to play, so they want to ensure that Williams is all the way back before activating him.

They signed the veteran cornerback to a three-year deal this offseason, bringing him back to Los Angeles after he had a two-year stint in Jacksonville. Once he returns, he’s expected to be one of the starting cornerbacks on the outside, which will impact Cobie Durant’s playing time.

Early bye week could be blessing for banged-up Rams

The Rams’ bye week is on the earlier side this year but that might actually be a good thing with all the injuries they’ve suffered

The Los Angeles Rams haven’t had their bye scheduled earlier than Week 7 since Sean McVay was hired in 2017, but they’ll break that trend this year. The Rams will have their bye in Week 6, the second-earliest possible bye on the NFL’s schedule.

There’s no doubt McVay and his players prefer a bye closer to the middle of the season but it could actually work in the Rams’ favor this year. With all the injuries they’ve suffered already, it might be a blessing to get a week off early in the year rather than later on in, say, Week 12 or 14.

Los Angeles is dealing with a litany of injuries, most of which don’t have a clear recovery timeline yet.

  • Puka Nacua: Knee
  • Steve Avila: MCL sprain
  • Joe Noteboom: Ankle
  • Darious Williams: On IR, can return Week 5
  • Rob Havenstein: Ankle, returning soon

With an early-season bye, the Rams can potentially avoid some of their players missing an extra game. For example, if Avila has to go on IR and miss at least four games, he’ll be out for Weeks 2-5 and then will get an extra week of rest in Week 6 before the Rams return from their bye in Week 7.

It’s a similar story for Williams. He can technically return in Week 5, but with it being a soft-tissue injury, the Rams can hold him out of that game, giving him another week to recover in Week 6 when the Rams are off anyway.

We’re waiting for further clarity on Nacua’s knee injury but it wouldn’t be surprising to hear it’s a multi-week recovery timeline and potentially an IR stint. That would put him in a similar situation as Avila, with Week 6 being an extra week of rest.

Los Angeles needs to get healthy as quickly as possible and the Week 6 bye could actually prevent some of the team’s key players from missing an extra game.

Sean McVay explains why Rams decided to put Darious Williams on IR

Sean McVay said Darious Williams “re-tweaked” his hamstring this week and an MRI showed it wasn’t healed

Darious Williams strained his hamstring on the second day of training camp, forcing him to miss more than a month of practice. He was seemingly making progress and Sean McVay said before Wednesday’s practice that the cornerback was doing well, but he was then placed on injured reserve.

The move came as a huge surprise, leading the Rams thin at corner entering Week 1. On Friday, McVay explained what led to the decision to put Williams on IR, revealing that he “re-tweaked” his hamstring and an MRI revealed it wasn’t fully healed.

It sounds like the Rams aren’t even certain Williams will be back when first eligible in Week 5, saying they want to be smart with their free-agent cornerback.

https://twitter.com/StuJRams/status/1832118363730100690

The Rams haven’t yet filled Williams’ roster spot, but now that he’s on IR, they don’t have to release anyone in order to make room for any potential additions to the roster.

It’s unfortunate that he’s going to miss at least four games but the good news is that Cobie Durant should be good to go for Sunday night against the Lions. He’s also dealing with a hamstring injury but is expected to play.