By Austin Turner — Columnist
Is there a better way to top off San Jose State’s surprise football season than with a couple of NFL players? Defensive tackle Sails Latu and quarterback Josh Love were signed to the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Rams respectively on Saturday, and both players have a chance to make their rosters.
How do they stack up with their competition? Find out below.
Sailosi Latu
Latu enters an interesting situation on the Falcons defense. Atlanta typically runs a 4-3 set, which means Latu will need to adjust from SJSU’s 3-4 hybrid.
The transition is ideal for him at the NFL level. According to his virtual pro day video, Latu is 6-foot-1 and 310 lbs., which is ideal for an NFL 4-3 interior lineman. He has the speed for the 4-3, having played some snaps at defensive end at SJSU and running an unofficial 5.05 in his virtual pro day. So all things considered, Atlanta is an excellent schematic fit for Latu.
Latu is going to have some serious competition to make the roster. The Falcons spent a second-round pick on Auburn’s Marlon Davidson, a do-it-all lineman that spent most of his college days as an EDGE rusher, but will likely transition to the interior for Atlanta. At 6-foot-3, 303 lbs., Davidson is capable of playing anywhere on a 4-3 defensive line, and the versatility and second-round status will make him a sure bet to make the team.
Atlanta, like most 4-3 teams, only carries four interior linemen. This means that Latu has two main competitors for the final spot: Deadrin Senat and Jacob Tuioti-Mariner. Senat, a former third-round pick, is heading into his third season with the team, and only appeared in two games last season. Tuioti-Mariner, however, played eight games last year and finished with 14 tackles.
It’s a steep hill for Latu to climb to make this team, but it’s possible. With his size, he’s an ideal run-stopping 4-3 DT, he’ll just need to prove he has the athleticism and strength to shed blocks at the NFL level.
Josh Love
There are few — very few — teams that would have given Love a better shot to make an NFL roster than the Rams. The phone call from GM Les Snead was almost the best-case scenario.
The Rams have a franchise quarterback. Jared Goff signed a $134 million contract extension over four years before the start of last season, so he’s obviously not going anywhere. But as of right now, Los Angeles is in need of Goff’s back-up.
Last year, former Jaguar Blake Bortles had the job, and he wasn’t needed. Goff stayed healthy, so Bortles only threw two passes all season. Bortles was on just a one-year deal, and he wasn’t re-signed when free agency started in March.
The only quarterback other than Goff on the roster before Saturday was Wake Forest grad John Wolford, who spent his rookie season on the practice squad.
It’s safe to say that Wolford isn’t Love’s biggest competition to make the team.
The Rams also signed Virginia QB Bryce Perkins on Sunday. Perkins is a fascinating prospect in his own right. He has a size-advantage over Love, as he’s listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 lbs.
Statistically, Love and Perkins had similar seasons as passers. They both threw for over 3500 yards and 20 touchdowns.
There’s one key trait that Perkins has over Love, and it’s his ability as a runner. Perkins is absolutely electric with his legs. In his senior season, Perkins ran the ball 227 times for 769 yards. Depending on what the Rams are looking for, the added dimension could be something hard to pass up for a back-up quarterback.
But looking at the tape, Love is a significantly better passer. He has a stronger arm and pinpoints accuracy. Perkins’ deep ball has a lot of air under it, and that could cause some problems in LA’s passing game.
The battle ultimately depends on what the Rams and head coach Sean Mcvay are looking for in a back-up QB. Do they want someone who isn’t as refined as a passer, but can run when needed? Or are they looking for someone that can step in for Jared Goff while possessing a similar skillset?
Another added wrinkle, there’s still a solid veteran QB market out there. If the Rams aren’t satisfied with Love or Perkins, they could bring Bortles back in, or a guy like Joe Flacco or Trevor Siemian.
One thing is for certain: Josh Love is going to get his chance to compete for this job. He’s a perfect fit schematically. Like Goff ahead of him, Love can make nearly any throw. He has precision on his deep ball, and puts enough touch on his throws to make any ball catchable. He has enough mobility to escape the pocket when needed and run for those vital first downs.
The battle for the Rams back-up QB position will be one to watch this summer. Friendly reminder, the Rams will be featured on this year’s edition of Hard Knocks on HBO, so fans may get an up-close and personal view of the competition.
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