The Los Angeles Rams surprised many when they made their first overall pick at number 61 in the second round after holding the 31st overall pick. While Rams fans expected the team to trade down, 61 seemed a bit far. Overall the Rams made eight selections. Here are some numbers to know about each pick.
0.15 – Yards allowed per coverage snap by David Long which led the Power-5.
1 – Number of players drafted from Last Chance U. Dakota Allen starred on the Netflix documentary in 2016.
2 – Number of first round quarterbacks Bobby Evans blocked for.
2 – Number of offensive linemen from Wisconsin on the Rams’ offensive line after taking David Edwards.
2 – Number of seasons Nick Scott spent as a special teams captain at Penn State.
3 – Number of first downs allowed by David Long in 595 coverage snaps.
3 – Quarterback hits allowed last season by David Edwards.
6.11 – Yards created per attempt from shotgun formations by Darrell Henderson. This is higher than Saquon Barkely at Penn State.
6.2 – Yards Darrell Henderson averaged after contact last season which led the nation.
7.0 – Yards Darrell Henderson averaged after contact last season while running outside zone, leading the nation.
8 – Number of sacks given up by David Edwards in three years at Wisconsin.
8.9 – Darrell Henderson’s yards per carry last season at Memphis.
9 – Number of receptions allowed by David Long last season at Michigan.
9.8 – Run stop percentage for Greg Gaines which ranked seventh.
10.7 – Yards per carry Darrell Henderson averaged while running outside zone.
11.9 – Passer rating allowed by David Long when targeted last season at Michigan.
12.0 – Passer rating allowed by Taylor Rapp when target in coverage at Washington last year.
14.1 – Pass rush win percentage by Greg Gaines last season at Washington which led Pac-12 eligible for the draft.
15 – Total penalties in four years at Wisconsin for David Edwards.
16 – Number of broken tackles by Darrell Henderson while running outside zone last season.
19 – Number of tackles on special teams for Nick Scott in three years at Penn State.
20 – Number of pressures Bobby Evans allowed in 441 pass blocking snaps last season at Oklahoma.
23 – Percentage of routes Darrell Henderson lined up as a wide receiver.
29 – The completion percentage allowed by cornerback David Long which was the best in the country.
30 – Number of carries at running back for Nick Scott at Penn State.
36 – Number of defensive stops from Greg Gaines which led draft eligible Pac-12 defensive linemen.
46 – Nick Scott completed two passes for 46 yards at Penn State.
57 – Missed tackles forced by Darrell Henderson in 2018.
85 – Bobby Evans’ run blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus.
89.9 – Dakota Allen’s run defense grade according to Pro Football Focus which led Big-12 linebackers.
91.1 – Taylor Rapp’s tackling grade according to Pro Football Focus.
92.9 – Run defense grade by Pro Football Focus which ranked fourth among interior defenders.
Notable Numbers
Numbers that stand out are certainly those of David Long and Taylor Rapp. The Rams took a player that was a shutdown cornerback at Michigan and while he’ll initially be a depth piece, he certainly has the ability to be a starter down the line. His 0.15 yards allowed in coverage per snap and 11.9 passer rating when targeted are most impressive. Rapp’s 12.0 passer rating and 91.1 tackling grade are noteworthy as well.
Everybody knows the numbers for Darrell Henderson. His 6.12 yards after contact and 8.9 yards per carry are about at eye-popping as they come. However, it’s his numbers while running outside zone, something that the Rams run a lot of, that should stand out for fans. It shows just how much of a good fit he’s going to be in the Sean McVay offense.
Along with Taylor Rapp, the Rams clearly made an effort to get better in defending the run this season. To go with Rapp’s tackling, high run-stop percentage and run defense grade according to Pro Football Focus, shows why the Rams drafted him.
However, it’s one of the the Rams’ late day three picks that I was the most intrigued by. Coach John Fassel is known for his creativity on special teams and Nick Scott played all over at Penn State. He started as a running back before being moved to special teams and eventually safety. The former Nittany Lion tallied 30 total carries at running back and threw two passes. It would not be surprising to see him in some potential fake packages this season.
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