Sunday 9/2:
* The Rams on Sunday cut presumed starting left guard Quinn Ojinnaka and tight end Michael Hoomanawanui. The guess here is that Robert Turner will take over there until Rok Watkins is ready. Just the switch to Turner is probably an improvement over Ojinnaka, who seemed to miss a lot of blocks in preseason play. However, Howard Balzer says it's going to be Wayne Hunter, so you might want to go with that.
Hoomanawanui was cut to make room for an extra offensive lineman. The Rams picked up Ty Nsekhe, a tackle, from the Colts and Shelley Smith, a guard from the Texans. Nsekhe is a monster 6'8", 325, a former Arena League player, believe it or not, for the San Antonio Talons. He's played in the AFL the past five seasons, with the Talons, Philadelphia Soul, Dallas Vigilantes and Corpus Christi Sharks. He scored three TDs with Philadelphia, so I'm thinking monster blocking tight end. He's a 26-year-old out of Texas State, but I believe the Colts were his first NFL camp.
Shelley Smith, last I was aware, was one of ESPN's NBA reporters. I'm not sure when she bulked up enough to play guard in the NFL. Also, you'd think the NFL's first female player would have been a much more newsworthy event.
Oh, there's also a 6'4", 300 guard the Texans drafted in the 6th round in 2010 out of Colorado State. He's yet to appear in a regular-season game and was out all of last season due to an ankle injury. Rotoworld called him a "good athlete with long-term upside in a zone-blocking scheme." PFW ranked him the #10 guard in that year's draft, and he had the best vertical leap of any guard at the 2010 Combine. 30-plus college starts. Strong, quick-footed, recognizes the blitz well. Appears to have a bit of a history with ankle injuries, though.
The Rams also added 6'2" 320 tackle Brandon Washington to the eighth and final slot on the practice squad. Washington was cut by the Eagles, who drafted him in the sixth round this year from Miami. RamView's Combine notes on Washington: should have stayed in school. He needs a lot more coaching. His kick-slide footwork was atrocious, like he was trying to skip backwards. And talk about playing out of control - he nearly veered off the course running the 40. And he looked like a horror show when he was on course, like a very large Pekingese.
Washington played right guard for the 'Canes as a sophomore and left tackle last year. Pro Football Weekly called him a disappointment at LT, saying it looked at times like he was "playing while wearing an inner tube," but ranked him as a 4th-5th round prospect for his physical upside. Light on his feet, explosive pull blocker, good lateral movement, good range. Needs to gain a lot of strength and needs a lot of polish on his technique. The Eagles had been working him at guard according to reports.
Finally, Jerome Murphy has already been claimed by, guess who, Steve Spagnuolo and the Saints. He'll be coached by fellow Spagvaney Era refugees Ken Flajole and Andre Curtis.
Saturday 9/1:
* Traded Greg Salas to New England for a late-round pick in 2015.
* Lost Sammy Brown on waivers to Miami.
* Signed RB Terrance Ganaway, the Jets' sixth-round pick this year. Hilariously, the Jets have already cut half of their 2012 draft, and Ganaway was the only Jet player to score a TD this preseason. Big back, 6'0, 240, out of Baylor, where he ran for 1,500 yards and 21 TDs last year, his only year there as a full-time starter. Straight-line runner, tough inside runner, liability in pass protection.
* Signed DT Kellen Heard, who was with the Bills last year after spending 2010 on Oakland's practice squad. Apparently the NFL has a one-Kellen-per-team limit. He's 6'6", 340, and had 21 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble last season. 5 tackles this preseason. Actually played both ways at Memphis, also lining up at guard. Scouts Inc. ranks him as a good backup. Massive, can defend the run at the point of attack and can push the pocket against the pass, but plays too high, has no range and needs a lot of work as a pass rusher.
* Heard will take the roster spot of Jerome Murphy, who was cut Saturday evening. Could be a tough road from here for Murphy. Safety/corner tweener, blew a lot of assignments his rookie year, missed his whole 2nd year due to injury, and cut by a team that appears to believe it's better off keeping Quinton Pointer. (The Bradley Fletcher trade rumor appears to have been a bad one, however.)
* Practice squad:
Tim Barnes
Mason Brodine
Aaron Brown
Corey Harkey
Nick Johnson
DeAngelo Peterson
Chase Reynolds
Brandon Washington
One to go. Barnes is a nice move; I should have realized he had practice squad eligibility. Gives them some insurance at center and also worked out at guard.
Additional moves this weekend will be updated right here.
-$-
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