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| Sports Illustrated |
With holes in a secondary that was
disappointing last season anyway, the Rams made a low-risk signing March 23rd of former Florida State cornerback Greg Reid.
Well, low-risk in that it won't cost anything if they end up cutting
him. An undrafted 2013 rookie free agent, Reid himself is a pretty
high-risk combination of Janoris Jenkins' off-field record and
Danario Alexander's knees. Reid started shooting down a pretty
promising football career in 2011, getting kicked off the FSU
football team for “multiple arrests”, including a marijiuana
possession/driving with suspended license combo. He transferred to
Valdosta State in 2012 but tore an ACL and missed the season. He was
invited to the 2013 NFL Combine, but while training for it, learned
he had torn that ACL again. As a result, he hasn't played football in
2 years.
Reid's on-field resume at Florida State
wasn't half-bad. He was a freshman all-American punt returner,
leading the NCAA with an average of 18.4 yards a bringback. He
started at nickelback the next two season, intercepting 5 passes,
with 14 pass breakups and 17 pass defenses just in 2010. He returned
three punts for TDs and would have broken Deion Sanders' school
record for career kickoff returns had he finished out his career at
FSU. (Yet, curiously, Jeff Fisher, who must not have actually watched
any of the Rams' kickoff returns last season, recently said the Rams
do not have a need for a returner.)
Pros from the scouts: Electrifying
special teams player. Natural playmaker, tremendous elusiveness and
field vision makes him a threat to score any time he touches the
ball. Aggressive tackler and vicious hitter. Moves fluidly and tracks
the ball well. Shows well in big games.
Cons:
Only 5'8” 178. (Has been listed as high as 190.) Too small to line
him up outside. Only did 10 bench presses; Rams owner Stan Kroenke
has done 12. His 40 time has been reported at 4.58, but Gil Brandt
reported him at 4.69 with an underwhelming 30” vertical. He
actually pulled a hamstring on his 2nd
run. Instincts and technique need to be better. Gets beaten in man
coverage and gives up big plays.
Early speculation has already got Reid
installed as the Rams' nickelback ahead of disappointing 2013 rookie
Brandon McGee, but let's slow our roll just a bit. We're talking
about a guy who's too small, too weak, too slow, and hasn't played in
two years. Might just want to wait till at least training camp before
we start sending the guy to the Pro Bowl. The Rams were reportedly
happy with his workout, though, and since Jenkins seems to have very
much cleaned up his act after getting kicked out of a major program,
there's reason to believe Rams Park will be a good place for Reid to
pull his career back together. Who knows, maybe he can even return
kickoffs in the event Jeff Fisher figures out the Rams need someone
who can do that.
-$-
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