Turf Show Times
Throughout the offseason, there was a lot of discussion about how the Los Angeles Rams needed to add at the cornerback position. With Ahkello Witherspoon and Darious Williams as the starters, it was a group that lacked youth and upside. However, the forgotten aspect in all of this was the addition of Emmanuel Forbes.
Last season, the Rams claimed Emmanuel Forbes off of waivers after he was cut less than two years after being selected in the first round. Prior to the 2023 NFL Draft, Forbes was a player that I had pegged as a perfect fit for the Rams at cornerback. He was one of the fastest cornerbacks in the draft with outstanding ball skills. While he had a smaller frame at 166 pounds, the Rams have proven time and time again that they don’t care about size.
However, Forbes went in the first round to the Washington Commanders and things did not go well to say the least. Following a regime change and system change, it was clear that it wasn’t going to work with Forbes in Washington.
In 2018, the Rams took a chance on another first round pick that didn’t have a future with their organization when they traded for edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. Fowler helped the Rams make the Super Bowl that season. Back in 2022, the Rams claimed a former No. 1 overall pick, Baker Mayfield, off of waivers. Mayfield helped the Rams to two wins in a lost season.
The Rams have a history of taking a player in a bad situation and helping them re-find that spark. Heading into the offseason, there was no guarantee that Forbes would make the roster. The Rams simply gave him an opportunity to compete and he rose to the occasion. All offseason, the coaching staff raved about Forbes’ progress. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula commended Forbes’ progress after OTAs for how smart he is and his ability to communicate. Head coach Sean McVay commended his coachability and willingness to learn.
Was it a risk putting all of the eggs in the basket that Forbes would re-find his form that made him a first-round pick? The answer to that question is probably yes. At the same time, if the risk paid off, the Rams essentially got a free first-round pick at the cornerback position.
On Sunday, the Rams made a surprise decision by starting Forbes who played 50 snaps to Ahkello Witherspoon’s 51. Meanwhile, Darious Williams didn’t play at all. It was very clearly Forbes as the CB2 across from Witherspoon. That should tell you everything you need to know about how the Rams feel about Forbes. The Rams took a player that they are comfortable with in Williams and played Forbes over him to start the season.
There were plenty of positives to take from Forbes’ first start with the Rams. He allowed one catch on one target for a single yard. While he did have a missed tackle, he also showed a willingness to be...
