The defensive backs were the stars of Rams training camp in 2017. They regularly engaged in good-natured trash talk and declared themselves to be the “bus drivers” of the team.
Now, after a solid season, there’s a new man behind the wheel.
The Rams have agreed to terms with Kansas City on a trade that will bring in star cornerback Marcus Peters when the NFL season activity for 2018 officially begins on March 14.
Peters is 25, with two more years of contract control and has 19 interceptions in three seasons. He will easily slot into the cornerback spot about to be vacated by Trumaine Johnson, the Rams’ No. 1 cornerback who is expected to leave as an unrestricted free agent next month.
The Rams made their big move in the secondary early in the offseason, but other questions and decisions remain. As part of an ongoing series, here’s an in-depth glance at the Rams’ situation at defensive back:
2017 STARTERS: Cornerbacks Trumaine Johnson (two interceptions, 65 tackles, one forced fumble), Kayvon Webster (one interception, 38 tackles) and Nickell Robey-Coleman (two interceptions, 49 tackles, one forced fumble); safeties Lamarcus Joyner (three interceptions, 49 tackles, one forced fumble) and John Johnson (one interception, 75 tackles).
RESERVES: Troy Hill (18 tackles), Cody Davis (one interception, 22 tackles), Blake Countess (one interception, 25 tackles), Kevin Peterson (two interceptions, 11 tackles), Marqui Christian (nine tackles), Dominique Hatfield (five tackles).
PENDING FREE AGENTS: T. Johnson, Joyner, Robey-Coleman, Davis, Hill (restricted).
GRADING 2017
The Rams knew, coming in, that the scheme of new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips put a premium on rushing the passer and thus put the defensive backs in position to either make plays or look bad.
For the most part, the Rams thrived. They allowed 21 passing touchdowns but grabbed 18 interceptions. A year earlier, under coordinator Gregg Williams, the Rams allowed 32 passing touchdowns and had only 10 interceptions. That’s a stunning turnaround given that the personnel didn’t change much.
Phillips seemed to have a keen sense of the talent on the roster and how to use it. Johnson and Webster (until a late-season Achilles injury) did fine, and free-agent addition Robey-Coleman was excellent in the slot.
The Rams raised some eyebrows when they waived safety Maurice Alexander, who had been a starter, but Johnson, a rookie, stepped in and played very well, and the Rams’ decision to make Joyner a full-time starter at safety was perhaps their wisest of the entire season. Joyner looked comfortable and arguably was the most valuable player of the Rams’ secondary. GRADE: B
ANALYZING 2018
The details of the Peters trade have not yet been announced, but assuming the Rams keep their first-round draft pick, the trade allows them to import a replacement for Johnson and also use the first-rounder to address another area of need.
Given how things line up now, that probably won’t be a defensive back. Peters will start, and the biggest remaining question is whether Webster’s Achilles will have healed enough for him to play at the start of the season. It figures to be a close call.
If not, the Rams still have decent depth at cornerback, particularly if they re-sign Robey-Coleman, which would be a sensible move. The Rams still will have Hill, a part-time starter, and Kevin Peterson, who didn’t attract much attention until he was given a bigger role late in the season and played well.
The Rams’ first, and perhaps biggest, order of business is to re-sign Joyner. The fall-back option is to apply the league’s franchise-player tag to Joyner and keep him under contract for one more season, but the Rams would like to work out a deal and ensure a long-term pairing of Joyner and Johnson at safety. LEVEL OF NEED: MEDIUM
Coming next: Chargers defensive backs