[ramsman34]

There are a number of ILBs in the draft with high level skills. None are perfect. But that’s ok. Chris Paul Jr. looks like the real deal to me. Already talked about Jihaad Campbell but he will go in the first. Likely not what the Rams do. There are some run stop specialists/2-down backers like Danny Stutsman and Kobe King as well. Gonna dive deeper into the ILBS and corners between now and the draft.

[Elvis]

All options are no doubt on the table, and there are exceptions, but the Rams have a habit of fielding UDFAs and lower tier FAs when it comes to ILB...

[BobCarl]

There are a number of ILBs in the draft with high level skills.....

rr34 your insight into defenses goes beyond evaluating prospects. And your understanding of X's and O's go beyond anything we'll read by seasoned reporters in the media. That being said, what trends have you seen over the past few years on how the Rams use the ML?

Is the Mike always the green-dot? Or does it change from play to play? Is setting the edge and then plugging the gaps with everyone else the basic run plan? For passing plays do ILB's focus on man-to-man or zone, or a zone-man coverage?

Does consistency in reading the keys matter more than hitting as hard as Dick Butkus did?

From your optics, what made the Rams defense so successful in the last 1/3 of last season? (in relation to or in spite of the ILB)

[ramsman34]

rr34 your insight into defenses goes beyond evaluating prospects. And your understanding of X's and O's go beyond anything we'll read by seasoned reporters in the media. That being said, what trends have you seen over the past few years on how the Rams use the ML?

Multiple ways depending on the player. They liked to blitz E Jones, did that with Speights too end of this season. Standard run gap responsibilities, generally. Same for coverage. Rams don’t do much Tampa-2 (asking the Mike to drop into the deep middle). When they put Hoecht off-ball, they did a few exotics with him as the 5th rusher.

Is the Mike always the green-dot? Or does it change from play to play? Is setting the edge and then plugging the gaps with everyone else the basic run plan? For passing plays do ILB's focus on man-to-man or zone, or a zone-man coverage?
Rams have used the Mike or a safety as the green dot. It doesn’t change unless that player comes off the field. They use ILbs in both zone and man but much more in zone with Safeties in man.
Does consistency in reading the keys matter more than hitting as hard as Dick Butkus did? As far as basic run plan yes, outside players set the edge with the intent of spilling plays inside where more help is. All players have a run gap responsibility. That gets muddles when OLs change from a a man/power scheme to duo to zone as the gaps, in effect, move or shift depending on the strength of the play (typically where the TE is at the snap). I would say consistencies out weighs hitting power. With tackling fundamentals being paramount, pure hitting looks cool, but not that important.

From your optics, what made the Rams defense so successful in the last 1/3 of last season? (in relation to or in spite of the ILB)

Well, inside, Speights and Rozeboom played well together and inside the framework of the D. However, the collective weakness was against elite, fast RBs - as well as saw. Add to that big, powerful OLs and a QB that is a threat to run. Luckily, not many teams boast that combination of players. The cohesiveness of the front 3 and 2 edge players was a huge lift as was the creativity of Shula and his ability to identify what his players excelled at and to put them in positions to flex those skills more often than not. All the while he improved at pre snap disguise of what his D was actually doing. This is a general overview. If we all had the time and didn’t have responsibilities. We could watch tape together and see some of this in action. Not knowing the play calls makes that incomplete but we’d have a better understanding of the intent.

[ramsman34]

And I appreciate the kind words Bob. My responses are imbedded in your quoted post, BTW.

[BobCarl]

The cohesiveness of the front 3 and 2 edge players was a huge lift as was the creativity of Shula and his ability to identify what his players excelled at and to put them in positions to flex those skills more often than not. All the while he improved at pre snap disguise of what his D was actually doing.

Nice! The cohesiveness is a great way of qualifying the results, is this something that can be coached or something that the scouting dept looks for? ... and the pre snap disguise gives me something to watch in this upcoming season.

We could watch tape together and see some of this in action.

I wish! If you ever get a chance, put a video together and breakdown a play or two, I'm sure everyone here would love it.

[ramsman34]

Nice! The cohesiveness is a great way of qualifying the results, is this something that can be coached or something that the scouting dept looks for? ... and the pre snap disguise gives me something to watch in this upcoming season.

I wish! If you ever get a chance, put a video together and breakdown a play or two, I'm sure everyone here would love it.

Cohesiveness, from the scouting aspect is about assessing the players football IQ as well as their ability to work within a system. I.E. putting we before me. Then it’s all about understanding what is being asked of you as an individual. The next level - and we hear it when players say “he knows what everyone else’s assignment is on every play” is understanding the full vision of a play. How all the gears work in unison. It is scouted and it can be coached. But the player has to have it within them.

I have thought about the film breakdown. It’s a time thing - I just don’t have enough of it and I am not tech savvy enough to do it quickly. I actually asked Jake Ellenbogen to get together and do it with me but he’s, well where he is and doesn’t know me at all. I have also talked to Elvis about doing our own RFU YouTube channel which I would be really down for that level of collaboration. I would make the time if I had a team to work with, so to speak. But I will see what I can do in lieu of all that in the meantime.

Kind of an open invitation to all here at RFU as far as putting together. YouTube channel.

[ramsman34]

And I don’t want to come off as a know it all, far from it. I have coached at the JC level and played a bit so I have a decent understanding of things. But certainly not at the complexity and detail of the NFL level. And my experience is on the defensive side of the ball mostly.

[PARAM]

And I don’t want to come off as a know it all, far from it. I have coached at the JC level and played a bit so I have a decent understanding of things. But certainly not at the complexity and detail of the NFL level. And my experience is on the defensive side of the ball mostly.

Shula disguising his post snap looks pre snap, sounds a lot like a Vic Fangio trait, right? This Shula guy might work out, eh?

[ramsman34]

Shula disguising his post snap looks pre snap, sounds a lot like a Vic Fangio trait, right? This Shula guy might work out, eh?

I have been very impressed with him, and he got better/really good at the end of the year. A few more pieces to add and his unit should become elite.