Los Angeles Rams rookie report: Week 1

The Los Angeles Rams opened up its 2018 season with a BANG!! The LA based team finished out strong on the road at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum on Monday Night Football in Week 1, drudging the Oakland Raiders 33-13.

Different from years past, this opening-day roster only included nine rookies, all of whom were selected in the 2018 NFL Draft; in other words, none of the rookies on the team are undrafted free agents.

So, without further ado, here’s the rookie report card:

Report Card

OT Joe Noteboom

The third-round rookie’s services went unneeded in Monday night’s victory. Noteboom – drafted out of Texas Christian – is the team’s swing tackle and can play inside as well so it is pretty much just a matter of when – knock on wood because we do not want injuries along the offensive line – the rook gets some PT.

Grade: N/A Incomplete

C Brian Allen

Like his fellow rookie offensive lineman, C Brian Allen is tasked with the duty of serving as the team’s backup center. And since Allen is a rookie reserve, he did not log in any playing time.

Grade: N/A Incomplete

DL/OLB John Franklin-Myers

One of the Rams rookies to get more than a handful of snaps; Franklin-Myers played an integral part of the rotation at OLB, opposite of Samson Ebukam.

In his rotational time, JFM logged in two tackles on 25 defensive snaps. He fared well in his debut, and did not look lost which is great for any player. He will continue to get the snaps as long as he continues to improve – a bit more juice from a pass rushing POV would be greatly appreciated.

Grade: B

ILB Micah Kiser

A standout performer during the preseason, ILB Micah Kiser failed to register a snap among the other defensive players. This, however, was anticipated – Kiser is behind Mark Barron (who did not play), Cory Littleton, and newcomer Ramik Wilson in the depth chart.

Grade: N/A Incomplete

EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

There were FOUR rookies that did not dress for this game. Edge rusher Obo Okoronkwo – unfortunately – did not dress not because of his position along the totem pole, but because of injury. The former Oklahama Sooner injured his foot back in May’s OTAs and has been on the PUP List ever since.

Okoronkwo came in to the league with lofty expectations. Hopefully Obo can pick things up quickly once he is able to contribute.

Grade: N/A Incomplete

RB John Kelly

Running back John Kelly is one of the other three rookies on the game-day inactives list.

Kelly is the type of back that elicits awe and excitement. He ran all over the field throughout the preseason – displaying his shiftiness and burst. He would most likely have ran with the same determination, but the numbers game got to him.

Grade: N/A Incomplete

DL Sebastian Joseph-Day

Another game-day roster omission, rookie defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day was done in by the sheer strength and depth along the defensive line. With a starting unit consisting of Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, and Ndamukong Suh, there will not be many D-Linemen snaps to go around. That is not including super-sub Ethan Westbrooks.

Grade: N/A Incomplete

EDGE Trevon Young

Edge rusher Trevon Young – drafted out of Louisville – is the final member of our Street Clothed rookies. Young is on the outside looking in, in the outside linebacker timeshare. It looks like the wait time there will take a while.

Grade: N/A Incomplete

DE/OLB Justin Lawler

Justin Lawler was one of the rookie playmakers that has caught the attention of many. Drafted in the seventh round, no one expected him to contribute as early as he has. Despite his draft status, the former SMU Mustang played a part of the outside linebacker rotation – along with JFM, and veterans Dominique Easley and Matt Longacre.

Lawler is already great at setting the edge defensively and stout against the run. Let’s see how he continues to improve.

Grade: C

That concludes Week One’s Rookie Report Card. Tune in next week y’all as the Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals at the Coliseum!