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 by ramsman34
11 hours 23 minutes ago
 Total posts:   9816  
 Joined:  Apr 16 2015
United States of America   Back in LA baby!
Moderator

When defenses shifter to smaller, safety sized ILBs is was to counter the 11P passing game. Offenses have shifted with bigger, more physical OL matched with above average to elite RBs. The Eagles and Rams have done this. The Ravens as well. The adjustment to the adjustment to the adjustment is to have fast and physical ILBs who can take on bigger OL and stop the run. While also not being a liability in pass coverage. Adding the ability to blitz and even move to the outside on known passing downs is another bonus. I want a guy like that. I want our defense to be Elite. All of which protects Stafford and makes our offense better a a whole.

 by AvengerRam
10 hours 25 minutes ago
 Total posts:   8883  
 Joined:  Oct 03 2017
Israel   Lake Mary, Florida
Hall of Fame

Elvis wrote:If you're in win now mode, not sure you should count on drafting a rookie to start but like i said, i'm sure they have a plan and things work out more often than not for this version of the Rams...

It's somewhat ironic that you say that given that Ernest Jones started at ILB as a rookie when the Rams won the Super Bowl.

 by Elvis
10 hours 23 seconds ago
 Total posts:   40812  
 Joined:  Mar 28 2015
United States of America   Los Angeles
Administrator

AvengerRam wrote:It's somewhat ironic that you say that given that Ernest Jones started at ILB as a rookie when the Rams won the Super Bowl.


True but he didn't become a starter till midway through the season and Rams had starters on the roster ahead of him. He wasn't drafted to be an immediate starter...

 by ramsww
9 hours 37 minutes ago
 Total posts:   706  
 Joined:  Aug 11 2022
United States of America   LA Coliseum
Veteran

AvengerRam wrote:It's somewhat ironic that you say that given that Ernest Jones started at ILB as a rookie when the Rams won the Super Bowl.


Wasn’t that Von Miller by his side? lol. With FA, the draft and waiver wire we have to grab 5-6 LBs and sort it out with marginal talent. I won’t rule out 2 Rookie LBs but that’s a lot of pressure on that group. God help us if injuries hit. Oh wait, we’ll sign Reeder…nailed it. 🤪

 by AvengerRam
9 hours 23 minutes ago
 Total posts:   8883  
 Joined:  Oct 03 2017
Israel   Lake Mary, Florida
Hall of Fame

ramsww wrote:Wasn’t that Von Miller by his side? lol. With FA, the draft and waiver wire we have to grab 5-6 LBs and sort it out with marginal talent. I won’t rule out 2 Rookie LBs but that’s a lot of pressure on that group. God help us if injuries hit. Oh wait, we’ll sign Reeder…nailed it. 🤪

What does Von Miller have to do with anything? If the Rams draft an ILB this year, he'll have Byron Young and Jared Verse next to him. Does that mean he'll automatically succeed or that you should discount his success if he plays well?

You say we need 5-6 LBs. Are you including OLBs, or just ILBs? We already have two very good starting OLBs (Young, Verse) and some viable backups (B.Jackson, D.Johnson).

At ILB, we are obviously thin, with Speights as the only returning player of note. We can certainly obtain another starter and some depth in the secondary FA market and/or draft.

 by AvengerRam
9 hours 19 minutes ago
 Total posts:   8883  
 Joined:  Oct 03 2017
Israel   Lake Mary, Florida
Hall of Fame

Elvis wrote:True but he didn't become a starter till midway through the season and Rams had starters on the roster ahead of him. He wasn't drafted to be an immediate starter...

I think there are several ILBs in this draft who could be immediate starters. In the Rams defense, that would mean being on the field for somewhere between 2/3 and 3/4 of the snaps, as we often rotate ILBs out. I don't think that's too much for one of the top 5-6 guys at that position in the draft to handle.

 by Indrid Cold
9 hours 4 minutes ago
 Total posts:   968  
 Joined:  Sep 24 2015
United States of America   Redington Beach, FL
Veteran

Good discussion. But I'm much more concerned about CB than ILB.

 by AvengerRam
8 hours 48 minutes ago
 Total posts:   8883  
 Joined:  Oct 03 2017
Israel   Lake Mary, Florida
Hall of Fame

Indrid Cold wrote:Good discussion. But I'm much more concerned about CB than ILB.

I agree. Without Witherspoon (who may or may not be brought back), they don't have enough size at the position, particularly if (as I suspect is the plan), Chris Shula wishes to mix in more press coverage.

I'd be happy to see a CB in round 1 and an ILB in Round 3.

 by PARAM
7 hours 38 minutes ago
 Total posts:   12961  
 Joined:  Jul 15 2015
Barbados   Just far enough North of Philadelphia
Hall of Fame

If they are looking for a LB (which I have to wonder if they are early) a trade down to pick up an extra pick would be perfect. But we all know one of McVay's sayings is "you can't have too many weapons". I gotta believe they're going WR or TE at 26 (if they don't trade down). But WTF do I know?

CB and ILB are needs (in that order) but so are TE and WR (in that order?).

 by AltiTude Ram
6 hours 46 minutes ago
 Total posts:   2394  
 Joined:  Jul 09 2015
United States of America   Denver
Pro Bowl

Speights was a UDFA last year. I don't know if the Rams can continue to find talent that deep in the draft but I trust they've got a plan.

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24 posts Mar 13 2025