Tag: Tre’Davious White

Sean McVay explains decision to bench former All-Pro CB Tre’Davious White vs. Packers

Sean McVay explains why the Rams benched Tre’Davious White on Sunday, making him a healthy scratch against the Packers

Tre’Davious White has been in the NFL since 2017 but Sunday marked the first time he was a healthy scratch. The Rams shockingly benched White against the Green Bay Packers, making him one of their inactives for Week 5.

White, a two-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro from his time with the Bills, struggled badly in the first four weeks of the season and now faces an uncertain future in Los Angeles heading into the bye.

After the Rams’ 24-19 loss to the Packers, Sean McVay explained the decision to bench White and make him unavailable for the game, saying it was partly because of the depth at cornerback and partly because of special teams.

“It was a coaching decision,” McVay said. “He’s been a pro in every sense of the word but you get Darious back, we felt like we were going to have a larger role for Ahkello and so there are some special teams considerations that go into it, so that was what resulted in him being inactive.”

White has been a weak link in a bad Rams secondary this season, committing four penalties and allowing multiple touchdowns in coverage. He’s been a frequent target for opposing quarterbacks and he simply hasn’t risen to the occasion.

His two defensive penalties last week, including a pass interference that set up the Bears at the 1-yard line, might’ve been the last straw.

In his place, Ahkello Witherspoon and Darious Williams played better, helping hold Jordan Love to 224 yards passing.

Rams bench Tre’Davious White, make him inactive vs. Packers

The Rams are making a change at cornerback, benching Tre’Davious White after four tough games

The Los Angeles Rams are making a huge change at cornerback. With Darious Williams back from injury and Ahkello Witherspoon promoted from the practice squad, Tre’Davious White has been benched.

Not only did he lose his starting job, but he’s been made inactive for today’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

He wasn’t dealing with any injuries so he’s a healthy scratch, sitting out the game because of performance. Stetson Bennett, Cooper Kupp and Desjauan Johnson are also among the Rams’ inactives for this matchup against Green Bay.

White was signed as a free agent this offseason but has struggled in his first four games with the Rams, committing four penalties and allowing multiple touchdowns in coverage.

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.

Sean McVay frustrated by poor communication, ‘pretty egregious’ penalties in Rams secondary

Sean McVay is clearly growing frustrated with the poor communication and “pretty egregious” penalties by the Rams’ DBs

It’s one thing to get beat by a good receiver. It’s another to allow a big play because of a breakdown in coverage.

There’s no doubt the Rams have faced some outstanding receivers to start the year, but the secondary has also been plagued by issues that are fully in their control – something Sean McVay is clearly growing frustrated with.

The two biggest problems? Poor communication and penalties.

During an appearance on the “Coach McVay Show” Monday, McVay was asked about the team’s communication on the back end being a problem on defense, and he was quick to also mention the “pretty egregious” penalties being committed by his corners and safeties.

“Yeah, I think so. I think when there’s been some issues, yes,” he said of the communication being a concern. “And playing with the techniques to avoid the penalties that have extended drives that are pretty egregious that we just can’t do. You’re giving people an opportunity – we’re getting home with the rush and then you see those yellow flags on the back end and it’s all for naught. Those are difficult jobs. There’s different reasons why it’s occurred but the communications and then making sure that we understand the consequences if we don’t play with the techniques that we want to be able to play with in terms of what that does to extend drives – especially when you’ve earned the right to be in third-and-long situations where it can be as simple as an (illegal) contact penalty that’s a 5-yarder, but what is it? An automatic first down. So that’s definitely been something that’s not helped us.”

Penalties were a major story of Sunday’s loss to the Bears and Tre’Davious White was once again a culprit at cornerback, but he wasn’t alone. In the second quarter on a third-and-10, he was called for defensive holding on a play where Jared Verse sacked Caleb Williams to take Chicago out of field goal range. That extended the drive, even if it was only a five-yard penalty.

Two plays later, Kamren Curl was called for holding on second-and-6, another play where Verse (and Byron Young) sacked Williams. Automatic first down. That drive didn’t ultimately end in points because Braden Fiske forced a fumble on third down, but those two penalties are what McVay hates to see.

On the very next drive, the Bears had third-and-9 from the Rams’ 15-yard line. Williams targeted Keenan Allen over the middle and the pass fell incomplete, but White was called for pass interference, setting up Chicago at the 1-yard line. One play later, they were in the end zone with a 7-6 lead. In essence, it was a four-point penalty because Chicago would’ve had to settle for a short field goal if not for White’s infraction.

McVay mentioned that game-changing pass interference penalty in his press conference Monday, too.

“You give them a short field with a one-play drive that shouldn’t have occurred and then you end up maybe looking like you’re going to get a sudden-change stop and there’s a penalty that occurs that puts the ball in the 1-yard line and it’s 7-6 and you’re saying, ‘What? How did that end up happening?’” he said.

The Rams have had to shuffle their secondary with Darious Williams and John Johnson III out, which has created some issues. Rookie Kamren Kinchens is struggling at safety and White is committing costly penalties on the back end.

The communication has to be better, too, because the disconnects in the secondary are leading to big plays – like the ones made by Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jauan Jennings where receivers are wide open.

“I think there’s been some good,” he said. “We’ve to do a better job communicating consistently. There’s been some things that have led to some disconnect.”

The hope is that Williams and Johnson returning at some point will solve some of these issues. Perhaps even Ahkello Witherspoon can help in this department. But for the time being, the Rams simply have to live with the secondary they’ve assembled, penalties and all.

6 plays that cost the Rams in their overtime loss to the Lions

The Rams missed opportunities on these 6 plays against the Lions on Sunday night

The opportunities were there for the Los Angeles Rams in Sunday night’s loss to the Detroit Lions, but they were unable to capitalize. Every game has missed opportunities for both teams but the Rams will be kicking themselves about six specific plays in their overtime loss.

If they execute properly on these plays, they likely beat the Lions and start the season 1-0. From a failed fourth-down conversion to a costly penalty by a rookie defender, these six plays cost the Rams the most against the Lions at Ford Field.

Failed fourth-and-4 from Lions’ 23

It’s hard to blame Sean McVay for going for it in this situation. The score was 3-3 and the Lions aren’t a team you necessarily beat with field goals, so McVay wanted to stay aggressive and go for six instead of settling for three points. It was still early in the game, with about 6 minutes left in the second quarter, so they had plenty of time to make up for it.

It’s just unfortunate that the ball went through Cooper Kupp’s hands while trying to make a catch against tight coverage. Had he picked up the first, the Rams could’ve gone up 10-3 instead of allowing the Lions to lead 10-3 on the ensuing drive.

Matthew Stafford’s interception in end zone

This play was even costlier than the failed fourth-down conversion. The Rams had nothing going on offense in the first half but they put together a nice drive before halftime. On second-and-goal from the 8, Stafford floated a pass to Tyler Johnson in the end zone and it was picked off by Kerby Joseph, taking at least three points off the board for the Rams.

If that pass falls incomplete, at worst the Rams run one more play and settle for the field goal to make it 10-6. Better yet, they might’ve scored on third down to tie the game. An interception was the worst possible outcome.

Jameson Williams’ 52-yard touchdown catch

Tre’Davious White had a decent game but this rep was not one he wants to watch again. He got burned by a double-move, grabbed Williams and still let him run wide open down the left sideline for a 52-yard touchdown despite White being flagged for illegal contact.

It came on third-and-3 from the Lions’ own 48-yard line, too, so it’s not as if they were in field goal range. If White stays with Williams and forces an incompletion, the Lions either punt or go for it on fourth down instead of going up 17-3 early in the third quarter.

A.J. Arcuri’s holding penalty on Jordan Whittington’s touchdown

It’s always painful when penalties take points off the board. Arcuri’s holding penalty on the goal line when the Rams ran a perfect jet sweep to Whittington on second-and-1 was a backbreaker. It negated the touchdown and put the Rams in second-and-11, which forced them to take the field goal instead of a touchdown – a four-point swing. Whittington’s touchdown would’ve tied the game at 17 and given the Rams even more momentum.

Warren McClendon Jr.’s false start in fourth quarter

Leading 20-17, the Rams got the ball back with a chance to really put the game away late in the fourth quarter. From their own 20-yard line, they had second-and-12 with 2:31 left to play. There’s no guarantee they would’ve converted on the next two plays, but McClendon was called for a false start to make it second-and-17.

A 7-yard run by Kyren Williams set up third-and-10, but the bad news is Williams went out of bounds instead of staying in and forcing the Lions to use their timeout. Stafford’s third-and-10 pass was incomplete so the Lions got the ball back with two timeouts and 2:11 to play, eventually kicking a game-tying field goal.

Kamren Kinchens’ personal foul

On the Lions’ final drive of regulation, they got a huge assist from the rookie Kinchens. Sam LaPorta caught an 18-yard pass over the middle and Kinchens landed a helmet-to-helmet hit on the tight end, leading to a 15-yard penalty. So the Lions went from their own 36 to the Rams’ 31 in one play, already putting them in field goal range while trailing by just three points.

It was one of just five snaps played by Kinchens, but it was a very costly one.

Dion Dawkins will cheer for Tre White after, not during, Bills vs. Rams (video)

It will be different during the game:

Dion Dawkins will be all business when the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams are facing each other next season.

But he does still have a soft spot for Tre’Davious White like the former Bill said he thinks the Buffalo faithful might have for him upon his return.

In Week 14, the Rams will visit Highmark Stadium. After being released due to salary cap restraints earlier this offseason, White landed on his feet in L.A.

Known as a fan favorite among Bills Mafia, White always loves a joke. During a previous interview with the “Up and Adams” show, White said if he picked off Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen that day, he thinks Bills fans will actually cheer for him… and there is that possibility considering the fondness for him.

Dawkins discussed that scenario potentially playing out. For him personally, Dawkins will be focused on getting the win.

But Dawkins did admit after the final whistle, he’d be happy for his former longtime teammate. He might even give him a call.

Dawkins discussing White’s return can be found below:

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Sean McVay can’t say enough good things about Tre’Davious White – the player and the person

Tre’Davious White hasn’t played a game for the Rams yet but his impact on the team has certainly been felt already

Tre’Davious White hasn’t played a game yet for the Los Angeles Rams, but his impact is already being felt on the field and in the locker room. The eighth-year cornerback has a wealth of experience and he’s bringing that to Los Angeles after earning two Pro Bowl selections and a first-team All-Pro nod during his time in Buffalo.

In his prime, White was viewed as one of the best corners in the game and has a reputation of being an absolute ball hawk thanks to his 18 career interceptions in only 82 games.

Sean McVay always appreciated his talent from afar but now that he’s gotten an up-close look at White on the practice field, he’s even more grateful to have him on the Rams’ roster. McVay heaped praise on the veteran corner after Thursday’s walkthrough, not just for being a great player, but for his leadership qualities and character off the field.

“He’s such a special guy. He’s all about the right stuff. Even when you get a chance – you watch him from afar and you think this is how he’s going to be, and then he’s even better when you get to know him,” McVay said. “You meet with him on his visit, and you hear the things he’s passionate about with his family, with football, with the ability to overcome some of the things that he’s gone through as he’s had an incredibly successful career. You go through injuries where, you look at the Achilles, you look at the ACL and some of the different challenges that it forces you to go through, but [that’s] where the real growth occurs. I’ve been so impressed with him. I think what comes with that is a gratitude, a perspective, and an appreciation. He’s been awesome.”

White is beloved in Buffalo for all that he accomplished with the Bills and the way he supported the local community, but players in the locker room loved him, too. He’s already imparting his wisdom on the Rams’ younger defensive backs, helping them improve ahead of the 2024 season.

For a secondary that was incredibly young last season, White’s mentorship and experience should help players such as Cobie Durant, Quentin Lake, Russ Yeast and Tre Tomlinson.

“You can just see it’s very seamless and easy for him to want to mentor and to want to help other guys,” McVay added. “The respect that the other guys in the room with him have… when you look at the way that a Cobie Durant looks up to him, listens to him, even a Russ Yeast. He’s so willing to put his arm around these guys and be able to share and offer his perspectives. That’s what it’s all about. There’s been really cool experiences throughout our tenure like you mentioned.”

In addition to coaching up younger players, White is also very coachable himself. That’s something McVay has noticed in their brief time together this offseason.

“I just think the perspective and the willingness to share,” McVay said. “I have a funny feeling he’s probably always been that way, but you gain some wisdom. He is still young. He has an amazing amount of experience and wisdom that he’s gathered through his experiences at LSU or even in Buffalo. To be able to provide that mentorship and then how receptive he is to Aubrey [Pleasant], to coach [Chris] Beake, and to [defensive assistant] Mike Harris. It’s been really fun to watch.”

Watch: Puka Nacua made an awesome leaping grab over Tre’Davious White in camp

Puka Nacua is poised for another big year in 2024, already looking outstanding in training camp this summer

This time last year, Puka Nacua was trying to earn a spot on the Los Angeles Rams’ 53-man roster. Now, he’s looking to establish himself as one of the best receivers in football.

He’s off to a hot start in training camp, earning rave reviews from Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and everyone who’s ushered his name at Loyola Marymount.

On Saturday, Nacua flashed some of what made him such a special rookie last season, going up for a leaping grab over Tre’Davious White in practice. There aren’t any pads on yet but that doesn’t detract from a play like this being made by a stud like Nacua.

Nacua said he’s worked on his body control and hands this offseason and both seem to be improved based on this clip. And that’s no slouch in coverage. White is a former All-Pro but Nacua made a tough catch look easy.

Tre White jokes the Bills might cheer for him if he picks off Josh Allen

Tre remains a treasure:

Tre’Davious White is gone from the Buffalo Bills but not forever and not for long.

Despite White signing with the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, an NFC team, Buffalo will travel out LA for matchup in Week 14 next season.

White was asked about facing his former team recently, and in a typical Tre way, he had fun with the idea.

Chatting with the Up & Adams show, White downplayed the game at first. But then admitted he still feels so much love from Buffalo still that he joked the Bills might cheer for him if he picked off Josh Allen.

White’s response can be found in the clip below:

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Rams not putting firm timetable on Tre’Davious White’s return from Achilles tear

Tre’Davious White is still rehabbing a torn Achilles and Sean McVay doesn’t yet know when he’ll be ready to go

Tre’Davious White was one of the Rams’ most notable free-agent signings this offseason, inking a one-year deal worth $4.25 million with Los Angeles. The Rams signed him knowing he was coming off a torn Achilles, an indication they were confident he could still play at a high level in 2024.

That confidence hasn’t gone away but there’s still not clear timeline for White’s return to the field. He was held out of regular practices during OTAs, only participating in meetings and above-the-neck work such as Tuesday’s walkthrough.

Looking ahead to training camp, McVay is still unsure whether White will be healthy enough to participate fully. The goal is for him to be ready for Week 1 so the Rams aren’t putting a firm timeline on his recovery from the torn Achilles he suffered in October.

“You know, he’s making good progress,” McVay said. “He was able to partake in the walkthrough. It’s obviously a significant injury that he’s overcome. He’s gotten a lot of good stuff done on the side. You could see he’s really locked in and engaged in the meeting setting. As far as what his actual process will be in training camp, we’ll see where he’s at. He does such a great job, understands his body, and so I don’t think we want to pigeonhole ourselves into one approach. ‘All right, how’s he feeling? What does it look like relative to when (Head Team Physician) Neil ElAttrache checks up on him and what’s going to be the best thing for him?’ Not only for hopefully being ready to go for the opener, but for the totality of the season.”

White has unfortunately dealt with serious injuries in two of the last three years. In November of 2021, he tore his ACL and missed the remainder of the season, as well as the first 10 games of the 2022 campaign. Last season, he tore his Achilles in October and missed13 games, a devastating blow for not only him personally, but for the Bills as a team, too.

He hasn’t played at least 14 games since the 2020 season when he was a Pro Bowler, missing a total of 30 games in the last three seasons, excluding the playoffs. Given the severity of an injury like a torn Achilles, the Rams have to be open to the possibility of White missing at least some time this season, especially if they want him to be healthy the rest of the way.