Tag: Derion Kendrick

Should the Rams make a change at CB with Derion Kendrick struggling?

Derion Kendrick had his worst game of the season on Sunday, leading many fans to call for a change at cornerback

For the most part, it’s been an up-and-down season for Derion Kendrick at cornerback. The second-year defender has been a starter for all but one game in 2023, and while he’s had some excellent performances and made big plays, he’s also made too many mistakes in coverage.

His worst performance of the season came on Sunday against Washington when he allowed seven receptions on eight targets for a total of 153 yards and two touchdowns. He also committed a pass interference penalty in the end zone that helped set up the Commanders’ last touchdown.

Penalties and big plays have plagued Kendrick all season, often being the blemishes on what might’ve been solid outings. He’s been called for 11 penalties and has given up receptions that went for 38 yards, 39 yards, 42 yards and 48 yards.

His 566 yards allowed in coverage are the 17th-most among all cornerbacks this season, landing him a 59.9 overall grade this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

After Sunday’s performance where he allowed two long plays and committed a pass interference penalty, several Rams fans were calling for him to be benched – and understandably so. Sean McVay was asked about whether changes will be made in the secondary amid Kendrick’s struggles but he was non-committal on shaking things up.

“We’re just in the early parts of getting ready,” he said Monday. “You kind of accelerate your postgame process. I thought our defense played really well. There were those two drives that could make it feel a lot different than what it was. There were a lot of good things. We had some communication things on their first touchdown we got to do a better job of. And then you just mentioned it, (Commanders WR) Terry McLaurin is a baller and there were some isolation situations where sometimes it’s not going to go down for you and he ended up making some good plays. What I think we need to be able to learn from, and I want ‘DK’ to be able to learn from and not exclusive to him, us overall, is okay on the first touchdown, how do we make sure with a tool that we play that better so we don’t leave the corner route open? When we get them in a fourth down and seven, how can we make sure that we’re not giving ourselves a chance to foul and give them a fresh set of downs playing with the good techniques?”

It sounds like the Rams will probably stick with Kendrick as a starting cornerback again this week when the Saints come to town. McVay still wants to see him improve, particularly in the mental aspect of the game.

“Some of the things that we can control above the neck and being smarter situationally, those are the things that we want to improve upon,” McVay continued. “He’s shown that he can respond to that, but I think there’s a tendency, and I felt this way too, that oh man, it felt a lot different than what the totality of the game was because it was that most recent exposure in regards to when  (Jacoby) Brissett comes in and manufactures two scoring drives and the way that it went down. And it seemed like ‘DK’ was in the middle of that action, but he’ll learn from it. He’s a mentally tough guy and we’ll figure out what we think is the best way to try to defend a really good team that’s playing at a high clip on Thursday.”

If the Rams wanted to make a change at cornerback, there aren’t many options available. Duke Shelley is on injured reserve and Tre Tomlinson has a thigh injury, so he may not be healthy enough to play on Thursday night.

It’s possible the Rams could go with a starting lineup of Ahkello Witherspoon, Cobie Durant and Quentin Lake, along with Jordan Fuller and John Johnson III, but there’s been no indication that a change like that will be made.

It might be time to shake things up, though, because the playoffs are approaching and Kendrick hasn’t always been reliable in big moments.

Rams CB Derion Kendrick granted judicial diversion in gun case, could have charges dismissed

Derion Kendrick was granted a judicial diversion, which will require him to perform community service and a gun-safety program

Derion Kendrick was arrested on two gun-related misdemeanor charges in October after he was pulled over for a traffic stop and police allegedly found a loaded firearm in his car.

On Tuesday, a Los Angeles judge granted him a one-year diversion program, which will require him to complete 20 hours of community service and a gun-safety program, according to Patch.com. Kendrick has already completed the gun-safety program.

Additionally, he cannot use or own any deadly weapons as part of this judicial diversion program.

If Kendrick abides by the terms of the program, the two misdemeanor charges will be dismissed. The Los Angeles Times reports his next court case is on March 13.

Rams’ young defense shows out in 2nd half of win vs. Seahawks in Week 11

The Rams’ young defense was able to shut down the Seahawks offense in the 2nd half of Sunday’s win.

The Los Angeles Rams escaped with a 17-16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11, and most of the attention should be on the defensive unit. After facing a 13-7 deficit at halftime on Sunday, the young defense of the Rams shut down the Seahawks offense in the second half.

According to rbsdm.com, the Rams had the third-best EPA per play (-0.426) and the best success rate (20.7%) among defenses in the second half of contests this week. In the first half versus the Seahawks, the Rams were dead last in EPA per play (0.282) among the teams who have played this week, and they had the 13th-best success rate (47.1%).

With another come-from-behind win over the Seahawks, the Rams have now outscored their divisional foes 33-3 in the second half of their two meetings this season. This is a credit to Raheem Morris for making the necessary adjustments at halftime and to the players for stepping up their play in the final two quarters.

The defense has been far from perfect this season, allowing 22 points per game (13th-most in the NFL) and recording only 21 sacks (tied for the eighth-fewest in the NFL). But it is a positive sign to see a young defense like the Rams show signs of being a cohesive unit at times.

Aside from Aaron Donald and Ernest Jones making plays, we saw some of the younger players on the Rams step up in the second half. Kobie Turner and Byron Young were generating pressure on Geno Smith and Drew Lock, Derion Kendrick had a game-changing interception after a rough first half, and Quentin Lake continued to excel as the slot cornerback.

If the Rams want to have any chance of sneaking into the playoffs, Sunday’s game against the Seahawks was a must-win. And for a Rams team that has Matthew Stafford starting at quarterback, it was the defense that did the heavy lifting to help secure a victory in Week 11.

Watch: Derion Kendrick comes up with clutch INT, the 1st of his career

Derion Kendrick picked the perfect time for his first career interception, picking off Drew Lock on a deep ball in the fourth quarter

When the Rams needed a play, Derion Kendrick came through in the clutch. The second-year cornerback has struggled throughout the season, but he quietly had a very good game against the Seahawks – with his interception in the fourth quarter being the best play of the day.

Trailing 16-14 in the fourth, Drew Lock tried a deep ball to Tyler Lockett, but Kendrick was there to not just deny the completion, but pick it off. He intercepted the underthrown ball and set the Rams up with good field position, the first interception of his career.

Here’s a look at the play by Kendrick.

Rams’ Derion Kendrick is tied for the 4th-most penalty yards this season

Derion Kendrick has struggled for the Rams this season and he’s tied for the 4th-most penalty yards entering Week 9.

Derion Kendrick has had a rough go of it in his second year with the Los Angeles Rams. In seven starts (and eight appearances) this season, Kendrick has accounted for the fourth-most penalty yards given up among all players in the NFL.

Kendrick is tied with Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor for the fourth-most penalty yards (70). On the other hand, he’s tied for the second-most penalties called on him (7) with Jerry Jacobs of the Detroit Lions.

Through the first eight weeks, PFF has given Kendrick an overall coverage grade of 55.6. The second-year cornerback is also coming off arguably his worst game of the season, allowing six receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown on seven targets against the Dallas Cowboys.

Mistakes were expected to occur in the secondary for the Rams this season as they have a largely inexperienced group. But for Kendrick, there haven’t been many positives to outweigh the negative mistakes as we approach the midway point of the season.

Out of the first eight games, Kendrick has committed at least one penalty in five, and he’s registered eight missed tackles. With the Rams trying to decipher who can be long-term fixtures in the secondary, Kendrick will need to perform better down the stretch if he wants to remain a starter.

Rams CB Derion Kendrick could play vs. Steelers on Sunday

Sean McVay says Derion Kendrick has a chance to play Sunday against the Steelers following this week’s arrest

Derion Kendrick is back with the Los Angeles Rams after being arrested early Monday morning on a felony concealed weapon charge. The legal process is ongoing, but it’s up to Sean McVay to decide whether Kendrick will play on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

McVay told reporters Friday that Kendrick is practicing Friday and he could play this weekend. Kendrick has started all six games for Los Angeles this season and is a key member of the defense, so losing him for even one game would be significant.

McVay met with Kendrick and after speaking with him, he believes this will be a learning opportunity. He expressed trust in the second-year cornerback, feeling comfortable with moving forward from this incident.

If Kendrick doesn’t play, the Rams will likely use either Tre Tomlinson or Duke Shelley as the No. 3 cornerback behind Ahkello Witherspoon and Cobie Durant.

Sean McVay will decide whether Derion Kendrick plays Sunday following arrest

Derion Kendrick was arrested on Monday and while he’s back with the team, it’ll be up to Sean McVay to decide whether he plays on Sunday

Derion Kendrick was arrested early Monday morning after the Rams’ win over the Cardinals and faces a felony charge for carrying a concealed weapon. He was not with the team earlier this week but Raheem Morris said on Thursday that Kendrick is back in the building and will practice.

As for whether he plays on Sunday or not, that will be up to Sean McVay.

“Glad to have him back,” Morris said. “Now, (whether he’ll) play, that’ll be up to Coach. Obviously, we leave those things up to that. We’ll prepare with him and without him, just to do our due diligence and how you want to go about your business. Just where we’re at with that right now.”

Morris wouldn’t disclose who the Rams would use in place of Kendrick if he can’t play, but he did express confidence in both Duke Shelley and Tre Tomlinson, who would be the next guys up at cornerback.

Kendrick has started all six games up to this point and played a key role in the secondary, so if the Rams are without him on Sunday, it would likely mean more snaps for Cobie Durant outside and possibly a much larger role for either Shelley or Tomlinson.

McVay will speak with the media on Friday, at which point he may have a decision on Kendrick’s status.

Rams CB Derion Kendrick arrested for carrying concealed weapon

Derion Kendrick was arrested early Monday morning on a concealed weapon charge

Hours after the Los Angeles Rams’ win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Derion Kendrick was arrested. According to TMZ, Kendrick was stopped for a traffic violation in Los Angeles and police found a weapon in his car. He was booked at 2:14 a.m. PT on a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon.

TMZ reported that as of 2:30 p.m. PT, Kendrick was still in police custody.

On Monday afternoon, Sean McVay confirmed that Kendrick was arrested and said the Rams are still gathering information. He also said the league has been in contact with the team about the arrest.

Kendrick was a sixth-round pick by the Rams in 2022 and has been one of their starting cornerbacks this season. He’s played all six games and recorded three passes defensed with 25 total tackles.

6 Rams to watch in Week 6 vs. Cardinals

Here are six players from the Rams to keep an eye on in Week 6 versus the Cardinals.

The Los Angeles Rams are set to host their second straight home game in Week 6 with their first matchup against the Arizona Cardinals this season. The Rams are coming off a 23-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5 in Cooper Kupp’s return to the field following a four-game absence because of a hamstring injury.

Entering Sunday’s showdown with the Cardinals, the Rams possess a 2-3 record, making this a must-win game against a 1-4 divisional opponent. The Cardinals lost 34-20 to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, but they continue to play competitively each week under new head coach Jonathan Gannon.

Ahead of a Week 6 matchup versus the Cardinals, here are six players from the Rams to keep tabs on.

Is it time for the Rams to change things up at cornerback?

Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick have both had some rough patches this season. Should the Rams consider switching things up a little?

The Los Angeles Rams came into this season with high expectations for both Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant. Following the departures of Jalen Ramsey, David Long Jr. and Troy Hill, Kendrick and Durant were thrust into much larger roles as starters.

Unfortunately, it’s been mostly a mixed bad for the Rams’ two young corners. Kendrick has had some really positive moments and has allowed just 10 catches on 22 targets, but he’s also committed five penalties, which are the second-most by any cornerback in the NFL this season. And if you saw those penalties, you know they were costly. Three of them were defensive pass interference, two were horse collar tackles and one was a facemask, so we’re not talking about illegal contact or defensive holding for 5 yards.

As for Durant, he’s been much less consistent. He has a PFF grade of just 39.7 this season and has allowed 200 yards in coverage (15 receptions, 22 targets). Durant does have two pass breakups, but he’s also been called for two fouls, though neither of them went for very many yards: one pass interference and one holding.

Kendrick had a particularly tough time on Sunday against A.J. Brown, who caught two passes for 48 yards and two first downs against the Rams corner. Durant missed two tackles on crucial third-down plays, as well, allowing the Eagles to move the chains at inopportune times for the Rams.

On Monday, Sean McVay was asked for his evaluation of Kendrick and Durant thus far. He didn’t sound overly positive or encouraged, seeing plenty of room for them to learn and grow.

“I think a lot of learning. I thought DK, I thought the third-down-and-2 where they threw out the bubble screen and the possession before where he knocked that back. If they gain a yard right there, they’re running their patented sneak, which is a very difficult play to stop. So I thought that was a key and critical stop to force them to a field goal when they ended up going up 10-7. And then there are just some opportunities for learning. I think we can make sure that in that third down and one that they ended up hitting the explosive to A.J. Brown, you say, ‘OK, maybe we want to play it a little bit different technique wise.’ He wasn’t trying to horse collar him when he brought him down. He was just trying to bring him down by any means necessary and then there’s certain things, whether it be where we can help out with or the techniques and fundamentals when there’s seven seconds left in the half. Even though they had a timeout, you know the ball is probably got to go to the end zone and we just got to be smart and we got to be able to help him out. But he’s a resilient guy. I think he’s learned a lot. I think he’s done a lot of really good things and like anything else, you better have a short memory as a DB. He is mentally tough, and I think a lot of the same applies to Cobie Durant.”

By no means did McVay call out Kendrick or Durant, but he didn’t give them a ringing endorsement, either. Might it be time for the Rams to switch things up a little bit at cornerback and give some other guys opportunities.

The first player that comes to mind is Duke Shelley, who broke up a pass in the end zone during the second half on Sunday after Ahkello Witherspoon left due to cramping. The Rams signed Shelley just before the season began and have barely utilized him thus far, but he’s someone who can play in the slot or outside, having done both for the Vikings and Bears the last two years.

“I think there’s a good opportunity for guys to be able to earn some more snaps,” McVay said. “I’ve been pleased with those guys that have played a lot of snaps but been really pleased with Duke. I thought he did a nice job. He came in just a few weeks ago. I like the presence that he’s made on special teams. He’s a competitor. He’s played a lot of football. The game makes sense to him. He’s kind of one of us, if you will, in terms of just the way that he competes, the way that he goes about his business. And I was really pleased with the way that he played in those nine snaps, as you mentioned. And so, yeah, I think guys get what they earn. Exactly what the game plan looks like against Arizona, I’d be better equipped.”

Tre Tomlinson is another cornerback who fans have been clamoring to see after his standout preseason performance. He’s undersized like Shelley, but he showed in the preseason that he can hold up outside and cover bigger receivers.

I’m not saying the Rams should bench Kendrick entirely or give Durant no snaps moving forward, but it might be worth seeing what Shelley can do to help improve the coverage on the back end. Right now, they’re almost exclusively playing just three cornerbacks: Witherspoon, Durant and Kendrick. No other corner has played more than nine snaps this season.

You want your best players on the field and Witherspoon is one of them, but Kendrick and Durant have been a tad inconsistent.