Tag: Quentin Lake

Quentin Lake and Russ Yeast were two of the draft’s best slot defenders

Quentin Lake and Russ Yeast were both among the best power-five defenders in the draft when it came to covering the slot

The Rams added some much-needed safety help after they watched the position become dangerously thin last postseason – so much so that they had to sign Eric Weddle out of retirement. Los Angeles drafted Quentin Lake and Russ Yeast on Day 3, bolstering the back end of the defense.

But what makes Lake and Yeast exciting players for the Rams is their versatility. Both safeties can do much more than just defend the deep half or middle of the field. They’re very capable of covering the slot, which is one of the most important roles on defense.

According to Steven Haglund, Lake allowed the lowest passer rating when targeted of any draft-eligible power-five defender. That includes players from the ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12.

Impressively, Yeast ranked third in that department – and it was in a sample size of at least 150 snaps.

In all likelihood, Lake and Yeast may not play many snaps on defense as rookies. They’ll start out on special teams before fighting for reps on defense behind Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott, Taylor Rapp and Terrell Burgess.

But injuries happen, and all of those four players have been hurt at one point or another during their NFL careers.

The position flexibility of Yeast and Lake gives them an even clearer path to playing time in the event of injury, too.

4 things to know about new Rams S Quentin Lake

Get to know Quentin Lake, whose dad was an All-Pro defensive back and coach with the Steelers

Safety was a position the Rams prioritized in the NFL draft this year, seeking to add depth to a group that was decimated by injuries late last year – to the point where Eric Weddle had to come out of retirement in the playoffs.

In the sixth round, the Rams selected Quentin Lake out of UCLA, a player who reminds many of Jordan Fuller. He still has a lot to prove in the NFL, but he could wind up being a steal like Fuller was.

Here are four things to know about Lake.

Grading every Rams pick in the 2022 NFL draft

The Rams made eight selections in the 2022 NFL draft and we handed out grades for each prospect they drafted.

Fans of the Los Angeles Rams have grown accustomed to waiting for their beloved team to make a selection in the NFL draft in recent years. The Rams have taken an aggressive approach in trading picks in exchange for proven talent, which resulted in them winning a Super Bowl this past season.

On Friday night, the Rams finally made their first selection of the 2022 NFL draft at pick No. 104. Los Angeles took Logan Bruss out of Wisconsin, an interior offensive lineman that addresses a need on the roster.

While we won’t know if certain picks are a success for years to come, I’ll be handing out grades for each prospect the Rams select in the draft. Each grade is based on the team’s needs, other prospects that were available at the pick, and whether or not the prospect fits the makeup of the current roster.

Did the Rams just find another Jordan Fuller in Quentin Lake?

Quentin Lake shares a lot of similarities with Jordan Fuller, which should have Rams fans excited about the pick

The Los Angeles Rams struck gold with Jordan Fuller in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft, selecting him 199th overall – the same spot Tom Brady was drafted in 20 years prior. Could they find similar success with UCLA safety Quentin Lake?

They certainly hope so, and based on the scouting reports of both players, they share similar traits. Fuller is a safety who doesn’t have any elite traits. He’s not the fastest player, nor the rangiest or most physical. The same can be said about Lake.

And look at the similarities in their measurables and speed.

  • Lake: 6-foot-1, 201 pounds, 31 ¼-inch arms, 4.59 40-yard dash
  • Fuller: 6-foot-2, 203 pounds, 31-inch arms, 4.67 40-yard dash

What makes these two players so similar are their instincts and play recognition. That’s what has allowed Fuller to contribute so consistently in the secondary, starting from Day 1 as a rookie in 2020. He sees the field extremely well, watching how plays develop and breaks on the ball to disrupt the opposing offense – whether it’s in the passing game or as a run defender.

Lake has many of those same traits. Here’s what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote about Lake in his scouting report, which sounds eerily similar to Fuller’s game.

Safety prospect with the size, bloodlines and intelligence to make an NFL roster. Lake isn’t the fastest or the most athletic player and has coverage limitations that cap his ceiling, but he has a high football IQ and impressive ball skills. He sees the field well, which helps him get to where he needs to go. He’s not an enforcer near the line of scrimmage but does tackle with good strength and technique to finish the job. He was a demon on special teams as a freshman and will likely reprise that role as a backup in the league.

The NFL bloodlines come from Lake’s father, Carnell Lake. He was an All-Pro cornerback with the Steelers. He grew up in a football family, which will only help his chances of succeeding at the NFL level.

He put together good tape at UCLA, too. He just didn’t test incredibly well at the combine, which had some teams lower on him. In five seasons with the Bruins, he had six interceptions and 15 passes defensed, totaling 179 tackles. So the production was there, as was the experience at a big-time program.

Lake may not have the range and speed to play over the top as the single-high safety, but neither did Fuller. The Rams have made it work by utilizing a lot of split-safety looks and put Fuller in a situation where he doesn’t have to be the centerfield safety.

Lake can play that role alongside Fuller, giving the Rams two quality and reliable players on the back end. He’s also capable of playing the slot or in the box, with versatility being a key trait of his.

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