[actionjack]

Les Snead wouldnt give any detail on the trade of EJ with his recent pressor. Les wanted to keep it in house. Just said lots of variables. So who knows, unfortunate for us we will have deal with him again, be interesting if Seattle decides to sign him to a contract.

[Elvis]

The Earnest Jones effect?

[Elvis]

What's this about?

[safer]

DAMN!!! I still miss Earnest Jones!

[Zen_Ronin]

I have to assume that's a Seattle media thing? I don't think that was ever said by anyone in the Rams organization, and I didn't see it on any Rams social media.

FWIW, my speculation on letting EJ go was that he was purposefully sitting out practices on the excuse of rehabbing his knee (while also looking for a new pay day), so "sitting out" contract talks without actually sitting out contract talks. I just think it got to be too much missed practice, and maybe a little attitude, and that's all it took. And as far as I know EJ never missed a moment of practice once he was a Seahawk, so I guess that knee wasn't that bad huh? McVay said it himself when asked about the EJ release, he felt the player had missed too much practice and by the time would come that he'd be ready to go, someone else was ready...er?


Good player, but he's no Aaron Donald, and was replaceable. One thing we ALL know by now is McVay does not tolerate a boat rocker. Snead wouldn't have traded EJ without express consent from McVay.

All complete, personal speculation of course....


So, you know, grain of salt and all that jazz.

[Dare]

I think last season showed that Speights is an upgrade over Jones. They both tend to be on the bit undersized on the typical ILB (MIKE) positional role. But what makes Speights a significant upgrade over Jones is that he's not only faster overall, but quicker and plays with the violence you expect from a good MIKE. Traditionally, the MIKE ILB position was the thumper in the front 7. His added speed and quickness gives him better positional range.

Speights gives Shula a more versatile player at ILB. They will be looking for his counterpart this year. My only concern is his lack of size. Hopefully, he will bulk up and strengthen over this offseason. Omar looks to have a much higher ceiling than Jones who has pretty much maxed out his potential as evidenced by his trades. That said in a complimentary defensive scheme Jones can be a good and effective player but lacks positional flexibility that Omar brings.

Speights being an UDFA and a player such as Alex Anzalone who was a third round pick show that a first round pick isn't necessary for the position. I would expect normally, a team would look for a starting ILB in the third or fourth round, but the way Snead is able to mine talent it wouldn't surprise me if he's looking at another Speights type of ILB.

Again they could also think about moving Nick Hampton to ILB as he lacks the size they want outside. But he brings good speed and bulk as an ILB. The Rams need two players to improve their run defense. IMO those are a NT who has shown he has the strength and ability to shed blocks. An ILB with speed and size. Hampton's 6'2" and 4.58 speed along with his 250 lbs is a physical fit for the position. He simply needs to be coached up in the position. He also gives them a good inside blitzer when needed. They can re-sign FA Gaines to fill the NT position and with those changes could save themselves two picks in this draft.

As I mentioned that before the 2023 draft Nick was scouted by teams as an ILB and I think that might be his best fit. The Rams seemed to have settled on a physical type for the OLB position and Hampton doesn't fit the metric at OLB but would at ILB.

[Elvis]

Jones staying in Seattle, i guess they don't think he's a cancer...