Garrett Sickels Added To Rams Practice Squad

Ed “Pi Double i” Henderson

WorldWide Rams

Over the last week, the Los Angeles Rams practice squad was with only nine players after Troy Hill was reactivated from his mandatory two games suspension. The team filled that spot when they agreed to sign wide receiver Freddy Brown. The next following week, the Seattle Seahawks signed Quinton Jefferson from the Rams practice squad leaving only nine players. The Rams front office filled the 10th practice squad position today with the signing of rookie linebacker Garrett Sickels of out Penn State University.

Sickels had previously been on the rosters of the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns practice squads before the Rams signed him today. The team is in need of bigger and better linebacker help, as Sickels can provide that boast.

The six-foot-four and 270lb Sickels, played in a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme while at Penn State, as his Nifty Lion’s defense upset Ohio State. Sickel had three-and-a-half sacks against the Buckeye’s quarterback J.T. Barrett.

Sickel is very explosive off the edge, provides a great bull rush, while also playing the run. In that very same Ohio State game, he gave left tackle Jamarco Jones all sorts of problems with his strength and explosiveness off the ball, and especially tackling the speedy Curtis Samuels in the backfield twice for losses.

There is no question about the fact that the Rams are still searching for linebackers that can come and fulfill the position of stopping the run. The Rams run defense is currently 27th in the league but did do well last week against the Seattle Seahawks.

There is no timetable set on or whether Sickels will make it to the 53-man roster, but it seems as if defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is not happy with his core. Rams already released one starter this week, starting safety Mo Alexander, and will do whatever it takes to get this defense better.

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