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No team can have too many pass rushers in a pass-happy league like the NFL. The St. Louis Rams have the reputation for fielding a dominant defensive line, so should they really look at Missouri’s defensive end Shane Ray? Consider this, the Rams were without the services of veteran Chris Long for a big chunk of the year due to injury. Long isn’t getting any younger, so finding his replacement wouldn’t be such a bad idea. If nothing else, a third rotational end would tire out offenses and create more opportunities for turnovers.
Here’s what Ray has to offer the Rams:
Pros: Ray is unique, because most defensive ends at his size aren’t nearly as strong. Standing at 6’3, and weighs 245 pounds, he surprisingly has a lot of upper body strength. He is a quality pass rusher, who is willing to fight with offensive lineman in order to get to his target. He is fast enough to rush off the edges, but Ray isn’t afraid to come back and pursue the play even if he overruns the pocket.
Ray has a motor that never fades, and even has that quick burst off the snap. He is a determined individual that pursues quarterbacks with so much aggression. He has a good understanding on how to use his body to gain leverage against offensive lineman. His hand placement is spot on and is quick enough to use them for swim moves. Ray understands how to fake out the opposition with footwork and head fakes.
During his first two seasons with the Tigers, Ray lived in the shadows of Kony Ealy and Michael Sam, but he still managed to contribute here and there. Last season was his opportunity to shine and he took advantage. He picked up 65 tackles, 14.5 sacks and had three forced fumbles.
Cons: Fighting off blockers can be a positive thing, but Ray sometimes won’t pick up his head to look for the ball. He gets too caught up in shaking off blockers and rarely looks to bat down balls. Furthermore, his advanced swim moves occasionally takes him out of the play. Ray also needs more experience at attacking the inside; he spent the majority of his career rushing on the outside. He also tends to try and rip the ball away from ball carriers when it’s more suitable to just go for the tackle. Ray will regret doing that in the NFL.
Bottom line: In reality, there is a ton of talent that Snead can look for in the 2015 NFL Draft. This is a very deep draft class for defensive ends and offensive tackles, so it really depends on how high general manager Les Snead values the top defensive ends. Ray would be a welcomed addition to the defensive line. It’s not as far-fetched as you might initially think. Still, there are other positions to watch out for.
Source: Sport-reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
2015, 2015 NFL Draft, Chris Long, featured, Kony Ealy, Les Snead, Michael Sam, NFL, Shane Ray, St. Louis Rams, University of Missouri
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No team can have too many pass rushers in a pass-happy league like the NFL. The St. Louis Rams have the reputation for fielding a dominant defensive line, so should they really look at Missouri’s defensive end Shane Ray? Consider this, the Rams were without the services of veteran Chris Long for a big chunk of the year due to injury. Long isn’t getting any younger, so finding his replacement wouldn’t be such a bad idea. If nothing else, a third rotational end would tire out offenses and create more opportunities for turnovers.
Here’s what Ray has to offer the Rams:
Pros: Ray is unique, because most defensive ends at his size aren’t nearly as strong. Standing at 6’3, and weighs 245 pounds, he surprisingly has a lot of upper body strength. He is a quality pass rusher, who is willing to fight with offensive lineman in order to get to his target. He is fast enough to rush off the edges, but Ray isn’t afraid to come back and pursue the play even if he overruns the pocket.
Ray has a motor that never fades, and even has that quick burst off the snap. He is a determined individual that pursues quarterbacks with so much aggression. He has a good understanding on how to use his body to gain leverage against offensive lineman. His hand placement is spot on and is quick enough to use them for swim moves. Ray understands how to fake out the opposition with footwork and head fakes.
During his first two seasons with the Tigers, Ray lived in the shadows of Kony Ealy and Michael Sam, but he still managed to contribute here and there. Last season was his opportunity to shine and he took advantage. He picked up 65 tackles, 14.5 sacks and had three forced fumbles.
Cons: Fighting off blockers can be a positive thing, but Ray sometimes won’t pick up his head to look for the ball. He gets too caught up in shaking off blockers and rarely looks to bat down balls. Furthermore, his advanced swim moves occasionally takes him out of the play. Ray also needs more experience at attacking the inside; he spent the majority of his career rushing on the outside. He also tends to try and rip the ball away from ball carriers when it’s more suitable to just go for the tackle. Ray will regret doing that in the NFL.
Bottom line: In reality, there is a ton of talent that Snead can look for in the 2015 NFL Draft. This is a very deep draft class for defensive ends and offensive tackles, so it really depends on how high general manager Les Snead values the top defensive ends. Ray would be a welcomed addition to the defensive line. It’s not as far-fetched as you might initially think. Still, there are other positions to watch out for.
Source: Sport-reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
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