RamView year in review: Secondary

AP

The Ram secondary was a major disappointment in 2013. They played like the worst secondary in the league at times. None of them tackle fundamentally well and they're all easy for receivers to fool with simple moves or double moves. They severely let down an outstanding front seven with inexplicable weeks where they couldn't cover the likes of Golden Tate or Steve Smith or Anquan Boldin. They don't all fail here individually, but they could have, because they failed as a unit. I gave some benefit of the doubt for their youth and for the coaching staff's dubious coverage schemes. A repeat of this level of play as a unit in 2014, though, just can't be allowed to happen.

Trumaine Johnson (68 tkl, 3 INT): C+

The Rams' steadiest corner last season. QBs had a much worse passer rating throwing at him than they did throwing at Janoris Jenkins. Lays a mile off receivers a lot, but closes well and broke up a decent number of passes. Lot of passes completed in front of him, though, too. Supported the run well and was good at covering big receivers and anticipating their moves. Will get burned by double moves and isn't a good match for speed receivers. Will be a good complementary back if the Rams get any shutdown-level play from the other side.

Janoris Jenkins (60 tkl, 1 INT): C-

As polarizing a player as the Rams have, Jenkins' level of play this season did not come up to his physical gifts or his rookie-season promise. Jenkins was much better in year 2 at defending end zone fade routes but there are still plenty of flaws in his game, starting with a swagger and ego inflated far greater than his play backs up. He talks, and tackles, like he's Deion Sanders but got beat too often for deep balls and long TDs, including an inexcusable two by Golden Tate on identical plays. Janoris' blabber seems to mostly fire up his opponent, and you're often left wondering how well he even has his own head in the game. Predominantly soft coverage doesn't carry the whole blame for Jenkins' arguable regression in 2013, because it's hard to trust him as a press corner. He gambles too much, is too easy to outmuscle on quick slants and too easy to beat off the line with a simple shoulder shimmy. Your "shutdown corner" can't get turned around by 4th- and 5th-string receivers the way Jenkins did at times, either. Jenkins needs to get stronger and less concerned with his press clippings to have the bounceback season the Rams need out of him in 2014.

T.J. McDonald (52 tkl, 1 INT in 10 starts): C

Like a rookie, got out of position a lot early in the season, then missed half the season after breaking his leg. Developed pretty quickly after returning and looks like a promising defender for next season. Very willing hitter, and by the end of the season, was supporting the run well, was a blitzing menace and was shutting down Jimmy Graham. Like the entire secondary, needs to improve his tackling form and miss fewer tackles. The whole group does nothing but shoulder-tackle.

Rodney McLeod (76 tkl, 2 INT, 2 forced fumbles): C-

Missed a lot of assignments at safety and missed too many tackles against the run. Rarely provided the right help on deep balls. Became nickelback after Finnegan's season ended and seemed much better-suited to it; McLeod was the one Ram DB who looked good playing zone. He defended short passes quite well, and is a willing hitter who tackled receivers much better than he did RBs. Saved Jenkins' bacon a couple of times with TD-saving tackles or making a big play the next play after a Jenkins misplay. Major liability in deep coverage but is all over the short stuff, and enhances his stock as very much a plus-player on special teams.

Matt Giordano (8 tkl, 1 INT returned for TD): D-minus

Spared a failing grade for his pick-six against Arizona and for forcing a fumble on special teams. As a safety, he was every bit as bad as Craig Dahl, with too many bad whiffs as a tackler. And like Dahl, he pairs that with very suspect coverage skills. Simple moves by receivers freeze him like a deer in the headlights, and you can turn him inside out pretty much by winking at him.

Brandon McGee (9 tkl): D

Big disappointment as a rookie. Cortland Finnegan's injury cleared the way for him to get valuable playing time but he contributed very little. Was so overwhelmed Fisher actually called a timeout during one game to get him off the field and put an injured McLeod back in.

Darian Stewart (34 tkl in 6 starts): F

Made a play here and there, but career-long pattern of injuries kept him off the field, and when he was on it, he was out of position constantly. His game against Tennessee may have been the worst single game by a Rams player this season. Also, in a season where the Rams outdid themselves committing penalties, Stewart actually managed to commit a penalty FROM THE BENCH in Seattle. That is beyond useless.

Cortland Finnegan (27 tkl, 1 INT in 7 games): F-minus Looked like Finnegan peaked during training camp pie fights. Was a sieve in the secondary before dropping out of the season early with injuries. Couldn't cover anyone, gave up TDs and big gains in unforgivable situations, tackled poorly, got run over in the running game, did little as a blitzer and committed stupid penalties. Completely unacceptable performance physically and mentally from a high-dollar veteran expected to provide leadership.

Looking ahead: The Rams are much too thin at corner and desperately need to add a quality safety to pair with McDonald. It's unimaginable that Finnegan will return for 2014 at his scheduled salary, which could free the Rams to make a big-splash move for someone like Jairus Byrd or Alterraun Verner. Cap reality, though, may force the Rams to pin their hopes on Finnegan playing a lot better in 2014 for a lot less. Inexperience is already such a huge problem in this secondary that drafting players to fill the gaps could almost be counterproductive. At least one good free agent move is going to be a necessity.

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