[safer]

This guy is our "jack of many trades" on our young D. Several times he has disrupted the pocket when another Dlineman gets the sack. He crushes TE's at the line when needed, and he is much more mobile (even thou he's always been quick) after dropping 40-45 pounds in the off season. He's become a very valuable part of this young D! I think he deserves more credit than he's getting. He's not a "star" but his versatility allows for Shula to move many guys around.

[Dare]

I always liked Hoecht since he was an UDFA rookie. I always thought he was misused. But as a rotational end he's being allowed to use his speed and power to be a disruptive force. He's only been allowed to focus upon being an OLB this year. Under Morris he was used as a OLB but he was still phyiscally carrying the weight they asked him to gain when he was behind Donald at 3T.

The Rams need to keep this guy to maintain a high level rotational player. These types of guys are hard to come by. I have no doubt he will receive offers from other teams to be a starter so I don't see him staying beyond this year. He's a UFA next year and would be on teams radar as an affordable starting #2 edge.

It's why they need to focus upon getting Hampton more involved. It's also why they drafted Brennan Jackson as Hoecht's replacement. I like Jackson as he has size and speed. That said he's as much of a developmental project as Hoecht was. That said Hoecht lacked a defined positional role under Morris and his development suffered. If Jackson who comes in painfully raw can learn from Hoecht's experience the Rams could have a real find in him Like Hoecht, Brennan is a high motor guy.

If they can develop Jackson to maximize his potential he can become another impactful rotational edge the same way Hoecht has become.

The problem with Nick Hampton is he lacks the size to play OLB in this system. They really need to transition him to ILB to play beside Omar. Hampton has excellent speed and could be potentially the kind of coverage LB they need to allow Speights to focus on defending the LOS. Hampton would give them an ILB who could be a blitz threat, something Hummel isn't.

[PARAM]

This guy is our "jack of many trades" on our young D. Several times he has disrupted the pocket when another Dlineman gets the sack. He crushes TE's at the line when needed, and he is much more mobile (even thou he's always been quick) after dropping 40-45 pounds in the off season. He's become a very valuable part of this young D! I think he deserves more credit than he's getting. He's not a "star" but his versatility allows for Shula to move many guys around.

Very, very few Rams fans thought Hoecht was an asset. But he's been that. Even McVay on his show said as much. Called him a "leader" for the young D. The only guys on D who've been in the NFL longer than Hoecht are Curl, Gallimore, Murchison, Reeder, D Will and Witherspoon. But none have been with the Rams as long as Hoecht.

[ramsman34]

We all ragged him in coverage but he’s even gotten better there. Dude is truly an asset. Great in rotation. Keeps the front very multiple.

[Dare]

Yeah people ragged on Michael under Morris. Why? Because he was asked to play a position he never had. In college he was a DT at 265-275 lbs and timed at 4.6. I saw an interview before his draft and he said he would play anywhere they wanted him to play even TE. In the NFL he bulked up to over 300 lbs because he was viewed as a 3T and originally slotted behind Donald.

Under Morris he was asked to play OLB at his DT weight. That was dumb, but that was Morris. Under Shula he's lost a lot of weight and regained most of his speed. He's found his fit as a rotational OLB/edge. Hoecht is a classic case of being played to his strengths.

They are making a similar mistake with Hampton, he has ILB size and speed. In a 4-3 scheme in college he would fit as an edge. But in a 3-4 hybrid scheme he's mismatched. In this scheme he's an ILB. His speed would allow him to blitz and play as a coverage LB on TEs or RBs. Hummel is fine but he's limited.

Where ever Hoecht ends up I think he will do well. He's coachable with an excellent work ethic. It would be nice to keep him but I don't think it will happen. He's got his ring now he wants to make money.

[PARAM]

Where ever Hoecht ends up I think he will do well. He's coachable with an excellent work ethic. It would be nice to keep him but I don't think it will happen. He's got his ring now he wants to make money.

Did you hear that somewhere or is it an assumption? Money is important but I remember players on the Patriots used to take less to stay. Being part of something bigger was more important than money. Of course we haven't won like they did but we also didn't play in a division with the Jets and Miami/Buffalo when 7 wins was something to be proud of. Perhaps Hoecht is of that ilk. He certainly seems like a 100% team guy.

[Elvis]

Jourdan had a lot on him today, here's some of it:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/593939 ... rse-fiske/

Another Rams captain, Quentin Lake, wears the “green dot” for the defense — meaning he has a small speaker in his helmet that allows him to receive the defensive play call from Shula and then communicate that to the rest of the defense. In “Cheetah”, Hoecht takes over communication up front. Without a speaker in his own helmet, Hoecht coordinates the call he gets from Lake with what he sees the offense do pre-snap in reaction to the defensive look.

The way the defensive line reads and fits the run varies depending on where the quarterback collects the snap (such as from the shotgun or pistol formations, or from under center). In “Cheetah” that means Hoecht’s job also changes, and it’s also his responsibility to set the run fits accordingly along the rest of the defensive line similarly to how a center would set protections for a quarterback.

“He’s able to get us exactly where we need to be,” said Turner, “he knows all of the drops. He knows the run fits when it comes up.”

[/zn/]

This guy is our "jack of many trades" on our young D. Several times he has disrupted the pocket when another Dlineman gets the sack. He crushes TE's at the line when needed, and he is much more mobile (even thou he's always been quick) after dropping 40-45 pounds in the off season. He's become a very valuable part of this young D! I think he deserves more credit than he's getting. He's not a "star" but his versatility allows for Shula to move many guys around.

It's how Shula uses him. Hoecht has a lot of responsibility when he's in setting the DL and edges and moving himself around the formation. So it's not just putting him in close against the run and pass, it's his veteran instincts being used to get the younger guys lined up too.

I got all this from listening to a Rodrigue podcast.

[RAMMAN76]

I think Hoeght is a very valuable player in this defense.

IMO he is more of a classic DE than he is a OLB/Edge.

I'm still not comfortable seeing dropping into coverage as he is usually out matched. Though Shula hasn't had him do it as much this season.