Rams report, 6/1: Rams sign Davin Joseph

Buccaneers.com

* The Rams continued to beef up their offensive line depth this week with the signing of veteran guard Davin Joseph. Joseph, 6'3" 313 and 30 years old, was drafted by Tampa Bay in 2006 and played all eight years of his career to date there, making the Pro Bowl in 2008 and 2011. He got a big contract before the 2011 season, which became a white elephant when he tore a patellar tendon in 2012, wiping out that season and likely leading to a poor 2013 season in which he graded out as one of the league's worst guards. The Bucs cut him after the season rather than pay the $6 million he would have been due for 2014.


Even in his Pro Bowl seasons, Pro Football Focus didn't think that much of Joseph's work. They've consistently given him negative ratings throughout his career, saying he "loses far too many battles at the point of attack" and is "mostly a subpar run blocker." Part of Joseph's arguable decline after the big contract could also be tied to Tampa's switch to a zone-blocking scheme. Better health and better scheme fit here could be reasons to believe the Rams have made a good low-ball signing, but he'll have to prove the negative scouting reports wrong to make it pay off.

Joseph's signing should definitively end any chance of Harvey Dahl returning to the Rams; if you're going to gamble on a veteran lineman coming off an injury, you're going to pick the cheaper guy, and the guy who's had more time to recuperate. Joseph's 2-for-2 there.

Another question is whether Joseph will be considered offensive line depth or if the Rams see him as a starter. I'm less and less convinced that Jake Long is actually going to start the season at left tackle, which would mean the Rams are going to need another starting guard when they bump Rodger Saffold (or possibly Greg Robinson) out there.

Less than eight weeks now before we start getting some of these questions answered.

New York Daily News

* The Rams have also signed rookie free agent WR/KR Diontae Spencer, bringing their roster to the full 90-man limit. Spencer is about the size of your average high school freshman at 5'9" 162. He did, however, run a 4.34 40 at McNeese State's pro day and recorded a 40" vertical. The Rams signed him after the Bears cut him earlier this week. Spencer had two kick return TDs and a punt return TD all in the same game last November against Stephen F. Austin. (I'm imagining SFA cheerleaders sometime during that game yelling, "If you think our special teams stink, give me a hell yeah!") He also scored a TD against Dick Vermeil's National team in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in January. With Spencer and Tre Mason, the Rams at least have a couple of accomplished kickoff returners on the roster, which is two more than they've had most recent seasons.


* Rams alumni report:
- Tampa Bay signed former Rams defensive back / special teams player Quinton Pointer;
- Pittsburgh signed rookie free agent tackle Emmanuel McCray, who was a Ram for three days earlier this month.

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