Opponent Scouting Report: Rams Cornerbacks
By Evan Rappe
Los Angeles will look to give the Colts trouble defensively on Sunday afternoon, but will the Rams cornerbacks help them do that?
As our other scouting reports have found, there are some bright spots on the Rams’ defense — even without Aaron Donald. What about their cornerbacks?
Standing at 6’2″, Trumaine Johnson is uniquely equipped to give receivers a difficult time. His size allows him to disrupt passes while still moving well on the field, and he tackles well. He had his best year by far in 2015, logging 7 interceptions and 71 combined tackles. In 2016 he only managed one interception, so he will be looking to make more plays on the ball in 2017.
Behind Johnson is Nickell Robey-Coleman, a USC alum with a much smaller frame. Quick and crafty, he recorded 2 picks and 27 tackles last year. Robey-Coleman spent the first four years of his career with Buffalo, and his contract year was not his strongest season. As a result, he is likely seeking a chance to impress his new team and fan base.
While neither of these guys blow away the NFL’s statisticians on paper, they have athletic abilities to be reckoned with. Their athletic ability is magnified against a backup quarterback like Scott Tolzien.
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On the right side of the Rams‘ defense is Kayvon Webster, who just came over from Denver this offseason. He has not been an everyday starter at any point in his career, but had solid contributions in the first two years of his career.
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Behind Webster on the depth chart is Dominique Hatfield, an undrafted free agent out of Utah. Hatfield possesses a build similar to that of Robey-Coleman and has impressive speed. He started college as a wide receiver, and finished his career in the secondary. His junior season was by far his strongest where he picked off 4 passes.
While three of the four corners on the Rams’ depth chart are very much what you see is what you get, Hatfield provides that X-factor that can make any defensive unit dangerous. While he may not make an immediate impact against the Colts, look for him to break out at some point during his rookie season.