Tag Archives: St. Louis Rams

NFL

Lyght, Todd

aprks91 lyght pset91 lyght

Cards: Pro Set 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o The Philadelphia Eagles
Sent:   5/9    Received: 6/7    (29 days)

A first team All-American at Notre Dame in 1990, Todd Lyght had 49 tackles and 2 picks playing corner- eventhough he missed 2 games due to a hamstring injury. A quality cover man (4.45 40) who is also an enforcer in run support, teams avoided Lyght after his 1989 season for the Golden Domers when he intercepted 8 passes. Todd also is a valued member of special teams, returning his first punt 53 yards for a touchdown.  The Los Angeles Rams were reeling from being burned by the 49ers and drafted Lyght with the 5th pick in 1991.

It wasn’t until 1994 that Todd actually was able to play a full 16 slate for the Rams. As the Rams moved to St. Louis, Lyght’s numbers really picked up.  He’d record 22 interceptions over the next 5 seasons. In 1999 the Rams won the SuperBowl and Todd had the best numbers of his career. He’d have 6 interceptions for 112 yards, 2.5 sacks, 54 tackles and a forced fumble. Todd signed with the Lions in 2001 and played there through the 2002 season.

Lyght has been working his way up the coaching ranks for about the last 10 years or so. He got his first really big break getting hired on board at Oregon as an intern defensive coach for the Ducks in 2011. Todd followed Oregon head coach Chip Kelly to the Philadelphia Eagles, joining their staff in 2013.

G/Gs  175/167     Tac 725    Sac 6   Fum 6   Int 37   Yds 462   Avg      Td 4     Lg 59t

 

Arena, CFL, NFL

Dukes, Cliff

tntafl11 dukesCard: TNT AFL 2011
Acquired: IP 2014,  San Antonio Talons vs. Arizona Rattlers

Cliff Dukes played collegiately for the Spartans of Michigan State starting 35 games and collecting 15.5 sacks over his time there. After hopping around the practice squads of the Rams (2005-2006) and Saints (2006), Cliff joined the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League in 2008 but notched only 1 tackle. He’d head north and play for the Toronto Argos of the CFL in 2009. Returning to Tampa in 2010, Dukes unleashed havoc across the league and was named second team All-Arena after collecting 34.5 tackles and 7 sacks for the Storm. In 2011 Cliff led the league with 12.5 sacks. He’d be traded in 2012 to the Kansas City Command, but the Command would trade him just a few short days later to the Arizona Rattlers in a blockbuster trade. Since he joined the starting lineup of the Rattlers, Dukes has solidified the defensive front of the team and helped them win the past two Arena Bowls.  Dukes was cool enough to sign his card for me and thanked me for the support. An imposing figure, Cliff’s recognizable afro seems almost out of character on his menacing frame.

 

NFL

Long, Jake

Card: Topps 2008
Acquired: Trade 2013, Sportscollectors.net

The Long family has an impressive pedigree that has emerged (at relatively the same time as the Matthews clan) as quality players in the NFL. Following in the footsteps of his father Howie and his brother Chris, Jake chose to attend college at Michigan back in 2003. He was so highly touted, that Jake accepted the college offer before his Junior year of High School concluded.

A consensus All-American in 2006 and 2007, Jake was drafted with the first overall pick of the 2008 draft by the hapless Miami Dolphins, and immediately became a fixture on the team’s offensive line at left tackle. Jake was to be the cornerstone to the team’s overhaul along the line, and started 61 consecutive games before a torn biceps sidelined him ending his 2011 season. Again in 2012, he landed on IR with a season ending injury. Due to his large contract, recent spate of injuries, and declining rating among starting tackles in the league, Jake was allowed to test the free agent waters in 2013.  While the Dolphins did make a push to resign the venerable right tackle to a more cap friendly contract, the St. Louis Rams aggressively courted (with no less than 8 physicals) and signed him to a 4 year $34 million dollar contract, stunning the Dolphins. Long had a very good season blocking for the Rams, but in a week 16 contest against the Buccaneers, he tore both his ACL and MCL. Due to the seriousness of the injury, there is grave concern that Long will miss the entire 2014 season.