Tag: Samson Ebukam

Rams need Terrell Lewis to make immediate pass-rush impact when activated

Terrell Lewis can be activated as early as this week, but it sounds like he probably won’t play Sunday vs. the Giants.

There’s a lot to be excited about with the Rams this season, especially after a tumultuous offseason that involved major changes to both the roster and coaching staff. The pass rush, however, is not something fans (or the team) should feel good about after three weeks.

It’s been arguably the weakest part of the team, with everyone not named Aaron Donald struggling to generate much pressure on the quarterback. The edge rushers, in particular, have struggled through three games, with Leonard Floyd being the only one to record a sack; he has two so far.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Rams’ outside linebackers have combined for a total of four pressures on opposing quarterbacks. And as if that’s not bad enough, all four have been by Floyd.

Samson Ebukam, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Jachai Polite and Justin Hollins have zero quarterback pressures combined this season. They haven’t knocked down the quarterback once, generated one hurry and have just 12 total tackles.

All this is to say the Rams need Terrell Lewis now more than ever, which is a scary proposition considering he’s a third-round rookie with no NFL experience – not even a preseason snap. But that’s the position Los Angeles is in because Ebukam, Okoronkwo and the rest of the edge rushers are simply not getting it done. Even Floyd’s impact has been underwhelming despite the fact that he has two sacks in three games.

Lewis is currently on the reserve/non-football injury list after undergoing a knee scope to determine whether he had an infection from a previous surgery. Fortunately, he didn’t have one, but his timetable to return remains unclear.

Technically, he could be activated this week and play on Sunday against the Giants. But according to Sean McVay, the team hasn’t discussed that possibility yet and it would be optimistic to think he’ll make his debut this week.

He may only be a third-round rookie, but his ceiling is high and we saw some glimpses of his ability in training camp. At 6-foot-5 and 260-plus pounds, Lewis is a physical specimen who moves extremely well. He’s explosive off the line, possesses great length as a pass rusher and knows how to set the edge in the running game.

He shouldn’t be expected to come in and rack up 10 sacks as a rookie, but any contributions as a pass rusher will be valuable to a Rams defense that’s starving for pressure from someone besides Donald. Because if things don’t change in a hurry, teams will simply double- and triple-team Donald more than they already do and bet that the Rams’ other pass rushers won’t hurt them.

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It sounds like Samson Ebukam has inside track to starting OLB role

Brandon Staley seemed to suggest Samson Ebukam will be a starter at OLB opposite Leonard Floyd.

Having productive and dynamic edge rushers in a 3-4 defense is crucial, especially when it comes to freeing up an interior defender like Aaron Donald. The Rams have been cycling through outside linebackers since 2017, and they have yet to land on a long-term plan at the position.

They put a Band-Aid on the situation by signing Leonard Floyd to a one-year, $10 million contract that’s fully guaranteed, but they don’t have a surefire starter on the other side.

Or do they?

Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley hinted at Samson Ebukam being the other starter opposite Floyd, returning to the role he held in 2018 when he started 14 games. Here’s what Staley said about the outside linebacker competition in camp, immediately pointing toward Ebukam after mentioning Floyd.

“Outside rusher, you really have Leonard Floyd – who we’re just really excited to have him – and he is going to be leading that group,” Staley said on a conference call this weekend. “Then Samson has played a lot of football here and played a lot of winning football here. He is a guy that I followed throughout his career as a young player to now. We are excited for him to be able to take a step forward and really get a chance to show what he can do.”

The Rams certainly don’t lack depth at outside linebacker, specifically young talent. Behind Floyd and Ebukam are unproven edge rushers such as Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Terrell Lewis, Jachai Polite and a few others.

If Ebukam is going to be a starter as it sounds he will, the others will be fighting for snaps in sub-packages and as situational pass rushers. Staley didn’t leave them out, they just weren’t mentioned in the group with Floyd and Ebukam. But he did indicate that the competition at outside linebacker will be ongoing throughout the season, which is a good sign for these younger players.

“And then you’ve got really a bunch of young players that are looking to prove themselves in the NFL. I’m talking about ‘Obo,’ I am talking about Terrell Lewis, Natrez Patrick, Justin Lawler, all those guys, Jachai Polite,” Staley continued. “There is a group of young players that are looking to establish themselves in the NFL. So, a lot of competition at that position. (Outside linebackers coach) Chris Shula is one of the best coaches I know coaching them, so that process is going to be all the way up until the game and probably throughout the season. You will see a lot of competition at that position and just sorting through who is going to play what role and all that good stuff.”

The Rams don’t lack intriguing options at edge rusher, it’s just a matter of sorting through the competition and finding which players can emerge as playmakers.

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Rams OLBs coach notes athleticism of Ebukam, Okoronkwo and Polite

The Rams don’t lack potential or athleticism on the edge.

Athleticism isn’t everything in the NFL, but when it comes to rushing the passer, it’s one of the most important traits. Explosiveness, burst and quickness help edge rushers get off the line quickly, and if they can turn the corner around tackles efficiently, it greatly drives up their chances of getting to the quarterback.

The Rams may not boast much experience at outside linebacker, nor many proven playmakers, but they certainly don’t lack athleticism. Outside linebackers coach Chris Shula highlighted three players who are athletic and prepared for the 2020 season, and one of them could be a surprise contributor.

Samson Ebukam and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo are two obvious picks to have an impact in 2020, but hearing Jachai Polite as someone Shula is excited to coach is certainly notable.

“Guys that are really coachable, want to do it exactly right, want to prove themselves (and) are really excited,” Shula said, via TheRams.com. “We’re athletic and prepared, with guys like Samson and Jachai and Obo. We’re really athletic, fast and smart, so I’m really excited to work with this group.”

None of those players are locks to start in 2020, but Leonard Floyd essentially is. After the Rams gave him $10 million guaranteed for one season, he’s all but guaranteed to play significant snaps in his first season in L.A.

Terrell Lewis is the wild card in the group because as a rookie, he’ll have a tougher transition this offseason. However, his athleticism popped off the screen at Alabama and his potential will be hard to keep down.

Shula got to know Lewis during the pre-draft process and is understandably happy to have him in the mix.

“He’s a really, really smart person and football player – it all makes sense to him,” Shula said. “He has a great memory, great recall of what he had in college. And then he was in a system in college where he was asked to do a lot of the same things that we’re asking him do to here, so I’m expecting the transition to be pretty simple.”

Training camp will be more important for the outside linebackers than just about any other position group on the Rams’ roster, and there’s plenty for the coaches to sort out before the season begins.

Watch: Samson Ebukam is ready for the insane ‘Body Shot Challenge’

Samson Ebukam’s abs took on a medicine ball in this unusual workout.

Samson Ebukam has been sharing clips of his offseason workouts all spring and summer, and he looks primed for a strong 2020 season in Los Angeles. This week, he posted a clip on Twitter of his abs taking on a medicine ball while he hung from a machine in what can only be described as an unusual exercise.

The purpose? Ebukam wants to try boxing phenom Ryan Garcia’s “Body Shot Challenge,” in which he punches people in the stomach until they curl over in pain.

If you haven’t seen any of his videos before, here’s a sample of one.

My abs hurt just watching that video, and the same can be said after seeing Ebukam’s workout. Here’s how the Rams pass rusher is preparing for the “Body Shot Challenge,” telling Garcia that he’s ready to give it a try.

It takes an incredible amount of strength and muscle to withstand constant shots to the stomach from a medicine ball being thrown at you, which puts into perspective just how strong Ebukam’s core is.

Now, that may not translate to the breakout season he’s hoping to have, but at least he’s putting in the work to make it happen.

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Look: Samson Ebukam, Rams’ new uniforms featured in ‘Madden 21’ trailer

Check out Samson Ebukam in the trailer for “Madden NFL 21”

It hopefully won’t be long before the Los Angeles Rams are running out of the tunnel at SoFi Stadium wearing their new uniforms for their first game at the $5 billion stadium. The coronavirus could delay that if the preseason is shortened, but regardless, the Rams are expected to take the field in the next couple of months.

Also happening in a couple months is the release of EA Sports’ “Madden NFL 21,” which is set to release on Aug. 25. EA released its first trailer for the game on Tuesday and the Rams player who made the most prominent appearance was Samson Ebukam.

He was shown tackling Seahawks running back Chris Carson at SoFi Stadium while wearing the Rams’ all-blue uniforms.

Here’s a snippet from the trailer.

In the full trailer, Aaron Donald is also seen along the Rams’ defensive line at SoFi Stadium, promoting the game’s new pass-rush mechanics.

The Chargers actually provided the best glimpse at SoFi Stadium from the trailer, sharing a clip of Joey Bosa sacking Derek Carr.

Madden already showed what the Rams’ new uniforms look like in the game after the team revealed them, but it’s always nice to get another peek.

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5 players the Rams could sign to extensions this offseason

The Rams have to be looking ahead to the 2021 offseason.

(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Rams have their hands full with the five starters who are set to become free agents, but building a roster in the NFL doesn’t consist of narrowly looking toward the upcoming season. It involves a wider scope that includes looking ahead to future years with the salary cap in mind.

That being said, the Rams could potentially sign a player or two to extensions one year before they become free agents – something they like to do and have done with Rob Havenstein, Tyler Higbee, Todd Gurley and Jared Goff in recent years.

“You have to take it in process, but strategically we’ve always enjoyed checking that box for not only us, but for the player so that we all know, OK, we’re here together and we’re working toward the same goals for a long time,” Snead said at the combine of extending players early.

Here are five players the Rams could consider extending this offseason rather than waiting.

WR Cooper Kupp

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The Rams already have two wideouts under contract for the next few years with Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks. However, Kupp will be a free agent after the 2020 season and continues to get better each and every year.

If the Rams want to potentially save some money, they can sign him to an extension this offseason before he puts up great numbers again in 2020. If he does that, and with the salary cap always increasing, his price tag is only going to grow. Kupp’s eventual contract could replace that of Cooks’ if the Rams move on at some point, too.

This isn’t to say the Rams should sign him to a new deal now, but it’s certainly something that’s on the table.

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How Cooper Kupp, 3 other Rams doubled their salaries for 2020

Four Rams players entering their fourth seasons earned significant raises in 2020.

The NFL rewards players who outperform their draft position and earn significant playing time in their first three seasons, and four Rams players are earning raises in 2020 as a result. That’s done with Proven Performance Escalators, which players drafted in the third round or later can qualify for.

In order to earn the PPE, players either have to play 35% of their team’s snaps (offense or defense) in two of their first three years, or play at least 35% of the total snaps over the course of their first three seasons.

For 2020, these PPEs go to players drafted in 2017. The Rams nailed that draft class and have gotten key contributions from players selected that year, primarily with Cooper Kupp and John Johnson. Josh Reynolds and Samson Ebukam have also played key roles in the last three years and all three qualify for PPEs in 2020.

Kupp has played 63.7% of the snaps in his career, with Johnson playing 65.9%. Both players missed significant time in the last two years due to injury, each landing on IR. Ebukam was a starter in 2018 and has played 50.7% of the defensive snaps, while Reynolds has played 41.9%.

All four players will see their salaries increase in 2020, and not by an insignificant amount. Their base salaries will rise to the lowest restricted free agent tender amount in 2020, which is projected to be $2.144 million, according to Over The Cap.

Here’s how much each player’s base salary was set to be in 2020 before earning PPEs.

  • Kupp: $961,169
  • Johnson: $775,577
  • Reynolds: $735,000
  • Ebukam: $735,000

This will have an impact on the salary cap for the Rams, costing the team about $4.6 million more than originally expected. Of course, the Rams knew these raises were coming, so it’s not as if this is a surprise to Les Snead and the front office. If the salary cap is $200 million in 2020, the Rams will have about $21 million in cap space after these raises take effect.

All four players will also be free agents in 2021.

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Samson Ebukam calls out Collinsworth, Michaels for getting his name wrong

Samson Ebukam called out Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels for getting his name wrong on Sunday Night Football.

Samson Ebukam was a fourth-round pick in 2017, has started just 21 games and recorded only 8.5 sacks in his career. He certainly isn’t a household name among NFL fans, but having been in the league for three years, it’s reasonable to expect that the most well-known commentators would be able to pronounce his name by now.

On Sunday night against the Seahawks, Ebukam recorded two sacks and five tackles, getting his name called fairly often throughout the game. Yet NBC’s Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels couldn’t seem to get the pronunciation of Ebukam right.

He called them out on Twitter for pronouncing it “Ekubam.”

According to the Rams’ official media guide, his name is pronounced “eh-BOO-kahm.” That’s not how Collinsworth and Michaels said it, and this isn’t the first time a commentator has gotten it wrong.

This season, Ebukam has 3.5 sacks in 13 games, making five starts. He also has four tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits, providing good production off the bench for the Rams.

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5 takeaways from the Rams’ 16-point victory against Seattle

The Los Angeles Rams took care of the Seattle Seahawks in a must-win game on Sunday Night Football. Here are a few takeaways from the big win.

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Rams took care of business against the Seattle Seahawks in dominant fashion on Sunday night. It was a must-win for the Rams, who remain a game out of a playoff spot in the NFC at 8-5. Here are five takeaways from the big 28-12 win.

Goff produces another stellar performance

Jared Goff was able to get back on track last week against Arizona after a fairly rocky season so far. Arizona’s pass defense is awful, so it was hard to decipher whether or not it was a return to form for Goff or simply a result of bad defense. After tonight’s performance, it feels like the former.

Goff once again shined against Seattle on a big stage, completing 22 of his 31 passing attempts for 293 yards and two touchdowns. Goff was particularly impressive out of the pocket, completing all seven of those passes for 134 yards and a touchdown. We were reminded why the Rams gave Goff a big payday this summer tonight.

Still, there was a brief stretch in the third quarter where Goff looked rough. He threw a pick-six thanks to a miscommunication on a pass to Robert Woods. The interception wasn’t entirely Goff’s fault, but he should know where Woods is heading on that play. A few plays later, with the ball on Seattle’s 37-yard line, Goff tossed a deep ball into double coverage that was intercepted. It wasn’t a shot Goff needed to take at the time.

One major takeaway from Goff’s two interceptions isn’t the interceptions themselves, but that he was able to come back from them. Goff threw a few nice passes following the turnovers, including a dime down the sideline that was dropped by Brandin Cooks and a great play-action rollout pass to Tyler Higbee deep in Rams’ territory. If Goff can continue to play like he did tonight for the remainder of the season, the Rams might actually find themselves playing in January.

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Samson Ebukam making push for more snaps with strong Week 12

Samson Ebukam was arguably the Rams’ best defender in Week 12.

Samson Ebukam was somewhat of an afterthought for the Rams early in the season, getting replaced by Clay Matthews as the starting outside linebacker. His role grew after Matthews broke his jaw in Week 5, but he didn’t have much an impact.

On Monday night against the Ravens, though, he was clearly the Rams’ best defender on the field – which admittedly isn’t saying much, since they allowed 45 points and 285 yards rushing. He had 1.5 sacks and a tackle for loss, making seven total tackles. He also hit the quarterback three times, which is the same number he had on the year entering Week 13.

Ebukam played 44 snaps, which was just six fewer than Dante Fowler Jr. and 10 fewer than Matthews. He’s making a push for more playing time as the Rams continue to rotate their edge rushers, putting together one of the better performances in the NFL this past week.

The Rams’ next opponent has a quarterback with similar speed and agility as Lamar Jackson, and on Monday night, Ebukam’s athleticism was apparent against Baltimore’s offense. He’s always been explosive, but that really stood out in Week 12.

The Rams could use that speed on the edge against Kyler Murray, so don’t be surprised if Ebukam gets more playing time after his standout performance in Week 13. He can have an impact on this game, even without playing every snap.

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