from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2022/07/07/rams-bobby-wagner-linebacker-rankings-poll-nfl/?taid=62c989edecd7890001bd95eb&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

ESPN polled NFL executives, coaches, players and scouts to rank the top off-ball linebackers in the NFL and Wagner came in at No. 8 – five spots lower than last year’s rankings.

One NFL coordinator acknowledged that “he might be in decline but is still a damn good player.” Another AFC scout sees his athleticism and speed declining, thus resulting in him being overtaken by other linebackers.

“You know what you’re getting with Bobby — production, athleticism, leadership,” an AFC scout said. “It’s just his game was elite athleticism and speed, and when that starts to go a bit, that can affect you.”

Where Wagner struggled slightly last season was in coverage, allowing 63 catches on 82 targets for a total of 596 yards, according to Next Gen Stats. He’ll be asked to cover a lot in Los Angeles, but the Rams also have Ernest Jones, who operates well in space as a coverage linebacker.

The great Marshall Faulk had 108 yards in his last home game in St. Louis against Philadelphia. Faulk still looked to have some juice left in the tank in year 12! @marshallfaulk got me into the sport of football so I appreciated every touch of #28 pic.twitter.com/7XUhJS2BUw

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) July 10, 2022

"I want to be a better football player than I was the year before."

🎥 Behind the Grind with @CooperKupp. Tomorrow at 11AM. pic.twitter.com/TOxkTVThNq

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 10, 2022

zn wrote:

Rams not getting enough respect.

That may be true. And they are pretty tough. But I don’t see them as being crassly neglected–power rankings are routinely putting them in the top 5.

Still, regardless of rankings or expectations, their schedule is a nightmare and may be the toughest I’ve seen a Rams team face. They can hold their own against that if all things go right, but a key injury or 2 makes that schedule even more brutal.

from

Every NFL team’s most underrated player heading into 2022

• https://theramswire.usatoday.com/lists/rams-nfl-players-most-underrated-2022/?taid=62cc70efbebb4a000147a4fb&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Los Angeles Rams: C Brian Allen

<p id=”caption-attachment-90900″ class=”wp-caption-text”>Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports</p>

At this point last year, Allen appeared destined for another year as a backup. But thanks to a strong showing in training camp, he regained his starting role. And last season, he played the best football of his career, even being selected as a Pro Bowl alternate. Yet, he’s still the Rams’ most underrated player on a team filled with stars. His chemistry with Matthew Stafford and work in pass protection made a huge difference for the Rams, and he was well-deserving of the extension he signed this offseason. The Rams should feel good about the center position for years to come with Allen operating in the middle. – Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire

wv wrote:

I agree on Brian Allen. Oline’s seem so different to me, than they did in the olden days. Remember the old Rams OLines from the 70’s and 80s. Same guys every year, year after year, dominating. Ploughing along. Nowadays, I am not sure what a good or great OLine even looks like. The Rams won a F’ing Super Bowl with an Oline that just looked ‘pretty good’ to me, and at times, during that 3-game slump, they looked totally over-matched. Seems like OLines are more ‘up and down’ in this new-NFL. I dunno. Maybe not, but it seems that way to me. I dont watch a lot of the other teams (only highlights) but i dont get the impression there are any ‘dominating’ OLines anymore. But, I dunno. I think my expectations/standards have changed when it comes to evaluating Olines, given what i saw the Rams accomplish last year. w v

I like their OL coaching and player development and depth. It’s not a star OL and there is no single star on it. It is though an inexpensive, pretty good OL. Obviously way better than years worth of Rams problem  OLs starting in 2007.

I am beginning to think that round about 2019 Kromer was getting old and tired and that dumping him for Carberry was a really smart move. And I was always a big advocate of Kromer.

I posted an article years ago showing how since free agency and the cap, the old method of keeping your line around forever is no longer possible. Teams lose on avg. 3 OL starters every 2 years. Continuity has to be established by coaching, not retention.