Under Brandon Staley and now Raheem Morris, the Los Angeles Rams have prioritized versatility when it comes to their defensive backs.
The Rams feature Jalen Ramsey in the “Star” position, which allows him to roam around the formation and remain closer to the action instead of on the outside. Los Angeles found Ramsey help when they traded for Troy Hill, who originally played the “Star” in their scheme, which means the two may toggle at that spot depending on the matchup.
Los Angeles made it a point to shore up their secondary in the 2022 NFL Draft, and they took a flier at No. 253 on Kansas State defensive back Russ Yeast. Yeast has played both safety and corner and believes that makes him a valuable player, according to Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“It definitely helps, having corner experience,” Yeast said during his video conference following his selection. “It helps me be able to cover better in the slot as a safety. Just being able to have those coverage abilities sets me apart.”
The Rams suddenly have a crowded defended backs room, but that is not going to deter Yeast from trying his best to earn playing time:
“I try not to compare myself to other guys,” Yeast said. “I’m just going to go in there and compete every day and put my best foot forward every day and see how that falls. I’m really confident in what I can do and I’m not shying away from competition.”
That type of mindset is something the front office and coaching staff must love about him, and it should help him to secure a roster spot come the summer. Yeast’s versatility on the field should prove useful should he make the team and it will be interesting to see if he is able to crack the rotation and contribute right away.
