Tag: warren mcclendon jr

Rams will likely be down to their 3rd-string RT on Sunday vs. Patriots

Rob Havenstein is out and Joe Noteboom is doubtful, meaning the Rams will likely be down to their 3rd-string RT on Sunday

Another week, another new offensive line combination for the Los Angeles Rams.

Sean McVay told reporters on Friday that starting right tackle Rob Havenstein has been ruled out for the second straight game due to an ankle injury suffered in Week 9. It’ll be his third missed game of the season, which certainly hurts the Rams heading into Sunday’s matchup with the New England Patriots.

Additionally, Joe Noteboom is considered doubtful to play after he aggravated his ankle injury in Monday night’s loss to the Dolphins. Noteboom missed seven games in a row from Week 2-9 before returning from IR on Monday, only to now injure his ankle again.

As a result of both players likely being out, the Rams will turn to Warren McClendon Jr. at right tackle. McClendon has started two games this season, one at right tackle in Week 1 and another at left tackle in Week 2. He also filled in for Havenstein in Week 9 after he went down, playing 19 snaps in the win over Seattle.

The Rams have been without Havenstein before, but the right side of the line always suffers when he’s not in the starting lineup. They’ll miss him on Sunday, especially with Keion White rushing off the edge for New England.

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.

Sean McVay is ‘tremendously confident’ in McClendon and Noteboom at tackle

The Rams may have to start two backups at offensive tackle in Week 1 but Sean McVay has a ton of confidence in both Warren McClendon Jr. and Joe Noteboom

The offensive line was looking like a strength for the Rams coming into the 2024 season after the signing of Jonah Jackson and the extension given to Kevin Dotson, but that group has undergone some serious shuffling since the start of camp.

Alaric Jackson is out for two games due to a suspension, Rob Havenstein is in danger of missing the opener with an ankle injury and it sounds like the Rams are flipping Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila at center and left guard.

At tackle, it’s expected that Joe Noteboom will start on the left side and Warren McClendon Jr. will start at right tackle if Havenstein is out, and they’re two players Sean McVay has the utmost confidence in.

“I’m tremendously confident in Warren McClendon and Joe Noteboom and the growth and maturation that we’ve seen from them in the meantime of Rob’s absence,” McVay said Thursday. “Rob, he’s a veteran. I think he understands what he needs to feel like and he’s able to do a lot to stay in shape. Now, to simulate football game-like movements and all the different things that occur, I think there’s a conversation that would be had. I do trust him, but it’s because of his experience and his maturity, I wouldn’t rule it out is basically the best way that I would look at it.”

Noteboom has started 31 games in his career, all across the offensive line with the exception of center. He has plenty of experience as an NFL lineman. McClendon, on the other hand, isn’t as seasoned.

He’s just a second-year player and while he was active for six games last season, he didn’t start any of them and played just 32 total offensive snaps. The Rams have been impressed by his play this summer but going up against Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport in a raucous environment in Detroit is a different animal.

Warren McClendon Jr. activated off PUP list after passing physical

The Rams activated Warren McClendon Jr. off the PUP list after passing his physical

Rookie offensive lineman Warren McClendon Jr. started training camp on the PUP list while dealing with a knee injury, but his stay there didn’t last long. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, McClendon passed his physical on Monday. Consequently, the Rams activated McClendon off the PUP list, adding him back to the camp roster.

McClendon is eligible to begin practicing at any time now that he’s been activated, which is great news for the rookie. He’ll compete for reps at right tackle and potentially inside at guard, giving the Rams some added depth along the O-line.

McClendon was a fifth-round pick out of Georgia this year, going 174th overall in the draft.

Rams waive Sam James, sign Nick Hampton and Warren McClendon Jr. to rookie deals

The Rams waived undrafted rookie Sam James and got two more draft picks under contract

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The Rams are on break until training camp next month, but that doesn’t mean Les Snead and Sean McVay aren’t at work churning the roster. We’ve seen the Rams make several changes in recent weeks, signing two free-agent receivers, Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson, as well as running back Sony Michel.

On Wednesday, they made another move. According to Aaron Wilson, the Rams waived undrafted rookie receiver Sam James, who they signed out of West Virginia. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise considering the Rams added Johnson and Robinson.

Additionally, the Rams got two more draft picks under contract: Nick Hampton and Warren McClendon Jr. That brings their total to eight signed rookies, leaving six more still to be signed to their first contracts.

With more than $10 million in cap space, the Rams could make a few more moves before training camp begins to fill out their roster and potentially add some juice to the defense. But for now, they’re looking like one of the youngest and least experienced teams in the league.

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5 things to know about Rams OT Warren McClendon Jr., who’s allowed 0 sacks since 2021

Warren McClendon Jr. was a standout lineman at Georgia, allowing zero sacks in his last two seasons there

Seeking offensive line help in the draft, the Los Angeles Rams found it with offensive tackle Warren McClendon Jr.. They selected the standout Georgia tackle with the 174th overall pick in the fifth round, solidifying their offensive line after previously drafting Steve Avila in Round 2.

McClendon was an all-conference player for the Bulldogs and helped them win back-to-back national championships as their starting right tackle. He may not have prototypical length for an offensive tackle, but he adds valuable depth at the position and could even transition to guard if needed.

Here are five things to know about McClendon.

Rams select Georgia OT Warren McClendon Jr. with 174th overall pick in 2023 NFL draft

The Rams added another Georgia Bulldog, selecting Warren McClendon Jr. in the fifth round

With the 174th overall pick in the draft, the Los Angeles Rams selected Georgia offensive tackle Warren McClendon Jr.

This selection came after the Rams traded down twice in the fifth round, acquiring two more picks in the seventh round to give them 11 total on Day 3.

McClendon is 6-foot-4 and 306 pounds, so he doesn’t necessarily have the size or length to hold up full-time at tackle. That could lead to a transition to guard at some point, depending on how the Rams view him.

He started for three years at Georgia, winning two national championships alongside Stetson Bennett, who was also drafted by the Rams. McClendon primarily played right tackle for the Bulldogs, a position currently occupied by Rob Havenstein.

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Colts make big moves in Touchdown Wire’s latest mock draft

A big trade involving the Colts shakes up Touchdown Wire’s latest mock draft.

As the 2023 NFL draft quickly approaches at the end of this month, the Indianapolis Colts are at the heart of it all, holding the role of tone-setters for the offseason’s biggest event.

Holding the No. 4 overall pick, the Colts have several avenues to consider. Selecting a quarterback prospect is one of those options. Another would be pulling off a blockbuster deal for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, something they haven’t dismissed.

Our friends over at Touchdown Wire conducted their latest three-round mock draft and in it, the Colts pulled off a big trade. They signed Jackson to an offer sheet of a five-year deal worth $250 million with $200 million guaranteed. In the process, they trade the No. 4 overall pick and their 2024 first-rounder to the Ravens.

In this case, the Indianapolis Colts sign Jackson to a five-year, $250 million deal with $200 million guaranteed in a deal that gives Jackson all he wants up front, and the Colts with some reasonable wiggle room on the back end. Baltimore gets Indianapolis’ fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, and whatever their first-round pick is in 2024.

It’s important to remember that mock drafts sometimes serve as exercises to see what would happen in a given scenario. It’s not always about projecting what will happen but sometimes looking at what could happen.

The contract is a big one, of course, and it’s likely what would give the Colts pause in making a deal like this. Sending the two first-round picks is a no-brainer.

So with Jackson essentially taking the spot of the No. 4 pick—of which the Ravens selected Anthony Richardson—the Colts were able to keep their second and third-round picks in the draft.

At No. 35 overall, they used the selection to bolster the wide receiver room by taking North Carolina’s Josh Downs.

An ideal slot option, Downs may be one of the more underrated prospects in this draft class. Despite his size (5’9, 171), Downs is explosive, fast, and brings nuance to his route running. He ran a pretty diverse route tree at North Carolina and his talent would immediately make him the WR3 behind Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce.

At No. 79 overall, it was time to add to the offensive line. The Colts did so in this mock draft by selecting offensive tackle Warren McClendon Jr. out of Georgia.

McClendon was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs and while he may be a bit on the lighter side, he has the length to stay on the edge if the Colts want him there. He also may be able to kick inside to guard but there are some questions about his overall play strength.

We don’t have any testing numbers on McClendon from the offseason so it’s difficult to gauge what kind of athletic upside he brings.

This mock draft would certainly cause some havoc. Even without addressing the cornerback position, the Colts would get their franchise quarterback while bolstering positions of need on what was a terrible offense in 2022.

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10 offensive linemen to watch for the Colts at NFL combine

Here are 10 offensive linemen to watch for the Colts at the NFL combine.

Watching offensive linemen at the NFL combine might not be the most enjoyable thing to do on a Sunday afternoon but this is still an opportunity for the Indianapolis Colts to find some draft prospects to help bolster their unit.

There were 51 offensive linemen that were invited to the combine but for the Colts’ purposes, there can be a focus more on the interior lineman over the tackles.

Braden Smith and Bernhard Raimann are set to be the bookend tackles for Indy in 2023. While Chris Ballard needs to find a swing tackle for depth purposes, a veteran likely will fill that role, and there are some versatile draft prospects that can play on the inside and outside of the line.

If there is one aspect of the testing of offensive linemen to pay attention to is their short shuttle. There is proof of players turning into at least quality starters in the NFL if they perform well at that drill.

As I mentioned, don’t expect to see tackles on this list of players unless they offer versatility to kick inside, and players that are expected to go early in the first round won’t be included.

Here are some names to watch for on Sunday: