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We talk about bloodlines a lot at Turf Show Times.
Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher and his son, Defensive Backs Coach Brandon Fisher. Rams Offensive Coordinator Frank Cignetti, Jr., and his dad, former West Virginia University Head Coach Frank Cignetti, Sr. Rams Special Teams Coach John Fassel and his dad, former New York Giants Head Coach and proponent of NFL spring football leagues Jim Fassel. Rams Offensive Line Coach Paul T. Boudreau and his son, Rams Special Teams Assistant Coach Paul F. Boudreau. Rams middle linebacker James Lauriniaitis and his dad, Road Warrior Animal aka Joe Laurinaitis (Currently not accepting arguments that it's the other way around this time. Thank you for your correspondence.).
Chris Long, Howie Long. T.J. McDonald, Tim McDonald. Tre Mason, De La Soul.
We've talked about bloodlines on multiple occasions throughout the roster preview series as well.
So noting that former Cincinnati Bengals QB and 14-year NFL pro Jeff Blake is the father or Rams WR Emory Blake shouldn't surprise you.
Football bloodlines are kind of a thing around here.
Roster Battle
WR depth recap:
Top tier: Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Kenny Britt, Chris Givens and Brian Quick.
Second tier: Blake, Isiah Ferguson (roster preview), Bradley Marquez (roster preview), Daniel Rodriguez (roster preview), Tyler Slavin (roster preview), Damian Williams (roster preview) and Devon Wylie (roster preview).
The reps among that second tier will obviously be something we pay special attention to in the coming weeks.
Expectations
This could well be Blake's last shot at sticking with the Rams after an on again, off again romance that wasn't helped when Blake and former Rams WR Austin Pettis were late for a team activity in mid-October of last year leading to, uh, contractual modifications. The Rams did, though, re-sign Blake on a reserve/futures contract at the end of the season.
Chances of Making Final Roster (3.5/10)
Jeff Fisher clearly has a proclivity for male offspring of NFL figures. Blake, though, was once the young UDFA of promise. As that promise continues to go unfulfilled, he'll be challenged by new waves of upcoming replacement options. I wouldn't be shocked at all if the Rams decide it's best to move on.
That might be motivation enough for Emory Blake to take a step forward that we haven't seen in his young career. For some, the preseason is their postseason. Blake's biggest stage begins a month from yesterday.