Do the Rams need anything more than a QB?

I’ll be honest, when I started to write this article, I began looking at the attributes of players. Being a WR, you know I had to take a look at the position and see who would be the best fit for the Rams going forward. Of course, speed is the first thing the amateur scout will review. However, I went a different route. Weight was the category I was searching for. I was looking for a receiver built in the mold of Anquan Boldin or Keenan Allen. There was one that stood out to me, that I am not hearing much about. The Los Angeles Rams should be in the market for a young big body, “tough as nails” receiver who could really bring balance to the corps. Leonte Carroo is that guy.

Toughness is critical…

This 6-0, 211lbs former Rutgers star is a big stage player, who may be ready to start day-1. I say that because of the physicality of this young man. He has an uncanny ability to make fearless catches in traffic, knowing that punishment is soon to follow from close defenders. Nothing is more valuable to a coach than knowing on third-and-seven, there is a guy who is not scared to go over the middle for your team. With the loss of TE Jared Cook to the Green Bay Packers, Carroo could replace that physical mentality. It is definitely not there at the moment.

Who is currently in-house?

Let’s take a look at the current WR situation in Los Angeles (still sounds weird to not say St. Louis):

Name Ht Wt EXP School

Quick, Brian 6’3″ 218 5 Appalachian State

Long, Deon 6’0″ 192 1 Maryland

Marquez, Bradley 5’10” 196 2 Texas Tech

Austin, Tavon 5’8″ 176 4 West Virginia

Bailey, Stedman 5’10” 194 4 West Virginia

Britt, Kenny 6’3″ 223 8 Rutgers

Colter, Kain 6’0″ 195 1 Northwestern

Ferguson, Isiah 6’5″ 218 2 Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Size doesn’t mean they play big…

Is there some size there with Kenny Britt, Isiah Ferguson, and Brian Quick there? The answer is yes. However, Kenny is entering his now eight season. The average shelf life of a receiver is eight years and he might not be with the team after next season. Brian Quick is not the answer at the position at all. Quick didn’t even score one TD in 2015. The last big boy is Isiah Ferguson. He did not even see the field in 2015. I don’t think the Rams are comfortable going into the season with this set of receivers.

Knock knock…

Carroo is a puzzling player though. He tends to show up big on the bigger stage games like Michigan State (7-recs, 134-yds, 3-TDs), and then completely disappears when it comes to the “easy kills” like the Army game (4-recs, 37-yds). This may be because of his inability to beat press coverage convincingly. The majority of the time his speed kills, so players on the college level aren’t bold enough to try him, for fear of being beat over the top. However at this next level, everyone will be flying around with 4.5 speed or better. With that said, the college standout will need to master his release and climbing the ladder for the catch.

Another knock on the guy is off the field issues. NFL.com had this to say in the players draft profile:

“Scouts have concerns regarding Carroo’s personal character and reliability. Suspended two games for his role in a simple assault charge involving a domestic dispute and missed the first half of the first game after being suspended for missing curfew.”

Those charges were dropped of course. People make mistakes. It should not scar them for life especially at such a pivotal moment for this young man.

Better get him while he is hot…

Overall I believe that any guy racking up 29-TDs in three seasons should be in the top five of WRs, Off-the-field issues or not. Especially when one of the guys in Mayock’s actual top-5 has a 4.75 40-time. This game is not all about speed; it is about toughness. It is about the testicular fortitude to go up and make the catches to move the chains. If the Saint Louis…I mean Los Angeles Rams plan to make any waves this season in a Defensively tough NFC West, they had better pick up this aggressive New Jersey Native.

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Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Facebook or twitter.