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May 29, 2015 at 9:07 pm #25656
znModeratorExamining Rams’ defensive ceiling in 2015
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/18873/examining-the-rams-defensive-ceiling-in-2015
EARTH CITY, Mo. — As the St. Louis Rams prepare to officially open organized team activities Tuesday, they do so knowing exactly what they have coming back on defense.
For the first time under coach Jeff Fisher, the Rams return the same defensive coordinator, the same defensive coaches and all of their defensive starters. It’s a recipe that yields no questions about who or what the Rams are going to be on that side of the ball. The only real question is how, as in how good can this group be in 2015.
“We all have a better feel for each other,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “It’ll be nice to have the same language, the same expectations, for two years in a row.
“They’ve set this thing up well with the way they’ve gone about it. We have a lot of young players that’ll be in their third [or more] year. It’s about that time for us.”
For the Rams defense, anyway, it’s seemingly been about that time for the past three years. In each season under Fisher, many have expected that group to take a step forward from middle-of-the-pack statistically to a top 10 or even top five group. It hasn’t happened.
Since 2012, the Rams rank 14th in the NFL in yards allowed (346.4), 17th in yards per play (5.43), 15th in run defense (110.23) and 19th in pass defense (236.19). Those numbers don’t exactly inspire much confidence but they also have to come with some important caveats.
On paper, the defense has clearly had more talent than those numbers might indicate but they haven’t had the consistency to turn that into production. Dominant performances, like the back-to-back shutouts against Oakland and Washington last year, are often followed by massive clunkers like the 514 yards allowed to the New York Giants.
And for every statistic the Rams have dominated — like their 145 sacks over the past three years (second in the NFL) — they’ve been equally bad at things like allowing completions, where their 67.5 percent allowed is the worst in the league in that same time frame.
But with an offense that has struggled and still looks to have plenty of question marks heading into 2015, the Rams defense still doesn’t have much margin for error. As they enter these OTAs, the quest for consistency will be at the top of the list. It’s a quest that should come easier with Gregg Williams in charge.
Last year, the Rams took time to get acclimated to Williams’ many wrinkle and it took him time to best learn how to deploy the talent at his disposal. When Williams simplified things a bit and everyone got on the same page, the results were impressive.
Over the final eight games, the Rams were tied for fourth in sacks with 26, fifth in average points allowed at 16.8 and fourth in run defense at 84.4 yards per game. All of that after a group of mostly the same personnel struggled through the first eight games, ranking 23rd in sacks, 27th in points allowed per game and 29th in run defense.
Now, Williams knows exactly what type of talent he has available and the Rams even added some shiny new toys in the form of defensive tackle Nick Fairley and linebacker Akeem Ayers. He’s had the entire offseason to spend in the lab figuring out ways to add them to what should be a dangerous defensive mix.
Until the offense proves itself, the onus will fall on the defense to finally live up to the lofty expectations that come with a strong finish and continuity at every position.
“It’s not a young team any more,” Laurinaitis said. “It might be young still by age, but there’s a lot of experience out there, a lot of guys that have played a lot of minutes. And so the expectations are going to be extremely high.”
May 29, 2015 at 9:07 pm #25495znModeratorSt. Louis Rams offseason roster review: An important year for defensive ends
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/18822/st-louis-rams-offseason-roster-review
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams don’t start organized team activities until June 2 but with most of the offseason heavy lifting complete, the roster you see now likely has the vast majority of players who will be on it come the start of the regular season.
With that in mind, we’ll spend the next week or so delving into each position group with some thoughts on who will start, who might be on the bubble and how the depth chart could shake out.
Position: Defensive end
Returning: Chris Long, Robert Quinn, Eugene Sims, William Hayes, Ethan Westbrooks
Newcomers: Martin Ifedi, Matt Longacre
Departures: None
Projected starter(s): Quinn, Long
Battle to watch: There’s very little drama to be found here as Quinn and Long are set in their spots with Hayes and Sims as one of the best backup duos in the league. That leaves a battle similar to what the Rams had in last year’s camp although with far less profile for a fifth defensive end. In 2014, it was Ethan Westbrooks overcoming Michael Sam for the fifth end and ninth defensive lineman spot. This year, the battle figures to center on Westbrooks and Ifedi. Ifedi is a seventh-round pick but is coming off injury and the Rams are intrigued by his upside. But Westbrooks is also a player the Rams believe in and his versatility makes him especially enticing. Longacre can’t be entirely overlooked, either, after a wildly productive college career.
Outlook: This is an interesting and big year for this group. Quinn is locked in through the 2019 season and remains the team’s most proven elite player. Beyond Quinn, though, there are plenty of questions that need answering. Long would be the first to say he needs to have a strong bounce back year after an injury derailed his 2014 season. Even after coming back from that ailment, he was playing at about two-thirds of his usual speed. He’s due to count more than $14 million against the cap in 2016 so ideally he could get back up to speed and earn an extension. Sims and Hayes add important depth because of their ability to line up anywhere on the line but both are also scheduled to become unrestricted free agents after the season. Westbrooks has similar versatility to Hayes and Sims and some believe Ifedi could offer the same. Much is expected from this group in 2015 and the more it provides, the better the chances it will have to remain together beyond this season.
June 1, 2015 at 4:32 pm #25657znModeratorRams offseason roster review: Nick Fairley adds more push at DT
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams don’t start organized team activities until June 2, but with most of the offseason heavy lifting complete, the roster you see now likely has the vast majority of players who will be on it come the start of the regular season.
With that in mind, we’ll spend the next week or so delving into each position group with some thoughts on who will start, who might be on the bubble and how the depth chart could shake out.
Position: Defensive tackle
Returning: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Doug Worthington
Newcomers: Nick Fairley, Louis Trinca-Pasat
Departures: Kendall Langford
Projected starters: Donald, Brockers
Battle to watch: There’s really not much suspense to be found here. Donald and Brockers will start, with Fairley getting plenty of opportunities to work his way into the mix, especially on passing downs. Theoretically, Trinca-Pasat and Worthington could evolve into a competition for a possible fourth defensive tackle spot on the roster. But the Rams paid Trinca-Pasat a hefty bonus, and he appears to be in the driver’s seat for a job. One thing that could alter the situation is how the Rams view end Ethan Westbrooks. Westbrooks can play inside as well and so, too, can fellow linemen William Hayes and Eugene Sims. Most likely, the competition won’t be to win the fourth defensive tackle spot so much as competing to prove they should keep one.
Outlook: Donald changed the entire look of this group in 2014, instantly becoming one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the NFL on his way to the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Entering his second season, Donald should be even better than he was as a rookie. And it should only help him that the Rams have added a motivated Fairley, who signed a one-year “prove it” deal with an eye toward cashing in following a big season. He’s already trimmed his weight below 300 pounds and looks poised for a breakthrough season. With Fairley, Chris Long and Robert Quinn, the Rams have a group that should leave plenty of one-on-one opportunities. Brockers embraced his role as a run-stuffing nose tackle in the latter stages of last season but is still only 24 years old with plenty of upside as a pass-rusher. Trinca-Pasat is built like Donald but without the quickness or hands. He still figures to have some upside as a pass-rusher. Donald, Brockers and Fairley should handle the majority of the work inside on a line that should again be among the best in the league in 2015.
June 1, 2015 at 7:09 pm #25664znModeratorWhere Rams’ D-line ranks among top position groups
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — When the St. Louis Rams signed defensive tackle Nick Fairley to a one-year deal back in March, it gave them five former first-round picks on their defensive line.
Over at NFL.com, analyst Bucky Brooks recently tried to put that group in perspective relative to the top position groups around the NFL. Brooks ranked the top 10 position groups in the league, with the Rams’ defensive line checking in at No. 3.
Brooks believes the presence of a line that includes Fairley, Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers should provide the foundation for a defense that could become one of the best in the league.
“The Rams have the ability to attack the line of scrimmage with a number of big-bodied athletes with exceptional size, strength, power and explosiveness. With coordinator Gregg Williams adept at using blitzes to create one-on-one opportunities for his disruptive defenders at the point of attack, the Rams should pummel opponents at the line of scrimmage on their way to becoming one of the NFL’s premier defenses.”
The only two groups ranking ahead of the Rams are the Buffalo Bills’ defensive line and the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line.
June 1, 2015 at 7:35 pm #25665
rflParticipantEARTH CITY, Mo. — As the St. Louis Rams prepare to officially open organized team activities Tuesday, they do so knowing exactly what they have coming back on defense.
I don’t. Know, that is.
I mean, I know what our talent level is. I know what the bunch can do at their best.
But, as Wagoner’s piece makes clear, that defense last year was profoundly erratic. You never knew, week to week, what defense you’d be seeing. As, indeed, the NYG game proved.
To me, it all comes down to one variable: Williams’ ego.
If he realizes he has a pass rush built in and plays to stress QBs’ reads rather than to prove how creative his blitzes are, we’ll be damn good.
But I don’t really trust him to do that. At least not consistently. Our Defense really should be good. But it could be elite and it could be top half. And it could win games or piss them away by yielding soft yards and points.
“It’s not a young team any more,” Laurinaitis said. “It might be young still by age, but there’s a lot of experience out there, a lot of guys that have played a lot of minutes. And so the expectations are going to be extremely high.”
He got that right.
Anyone talking about us being a “young team” this year should be horsewhipped. Except for the OL.
There is no excuse for the defense not to be Top Ten and threatening the Top 5. It’s on Williams to recognize the strength of the unit, play to that strength, and break offenses with it. If he can’t get it done, he’ll need to go.
And of course it’s up to Fisher to make all this clear to Williams.
I am not optimistic about what Williams will do with a superb D front that last year he showed he didn’t know how to use.
By virtue of the absurd ...
June 1, 2015 at 7:40 pm #25666rflParticipantEntering his second season, Donald should be even better than he was as a rookie.
I hate this all-too-common, lazy assumption.
There is no earthly reason to ASSUME that anyone will be better in Year 2. The phrase “Sophomore Jinx” was coined for a reason.
And Donald was remarkable for entering the league with veteran-type skills. He won’t be better because he knows how to play. He came in knowing how to play. He simply does not possess the kind of room for growth that a “raw” guy shows going into Year 2.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr …
Of course, you guys know I love Donald to bits. I think he’s a Top 5 DT. He has a chance at the Hall, I think.
But this kind of lazy projection is the sort of folly that drives me crazy, especially when displayed by a professional pundit.
By virtue of the absurd ...
June 1, 2015 at 9:06 pm #25677
ZooeyModeratorEntering his second season, Donald should be even better than he was as a rookie.
I hate this all-too-common, lazy assumption.
There is no earthly reason to ASSUME that anyone will be better in Year 2. The phrase “Sophomore Jinx” was coined for a reason.
And Donald was remarkable for entering the league with veteran-type skills. He won’t be better because he knows how to play. He came in knowing how to play. He simply does not possess the kind of room for growth that a “raw” guy shows going into Year 2.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr …
Of course, you guys know I love Donald to bits. I think he’s a Top 5 DT. He has a chance at the Hall, I think.
But this kind of lazy projection is the sort of folly that drives me crazy, especially when displayed by a professional pundit.
I will echo this.
And…let me just add…almost every fan of every single team is saying the same thing about their team. “These guys will be better this year because they have more experience.”
June 2, 2015 at 6:41 am #25685
wvParticipantI will echo this.
And…let me just add…almost every fan of every single team is saying the same thing about their team. “These guys will be better this year because they have more experience.”
Well, I share the basic ‘wait and see’ mentality,
but i also have read that players ‘in general’
make a jump from year one to two. More so, than
other years. I think we’ve all read that.
So, i think its a reasonable ‘expectation’ even
though its not a sure thing.w
vJune 2, 2015 at 1:14 pm #25689
DakParticipantWell, the plus is that Donald will contribute immediately and therefore have a full year of wreaking havoc on offensive lines. But, teams may pay more attention to him, and if that’s the case, than Brockers and Fairley should benefit.
June 2, 2015 at 5:01 pm #25693
HerzogParticipantEARTH CITY, Mo. — As the St. Louis Rams prepare to officially open organized team activities Tuesday, they do so knowing exactly what they have coming back on defense.
I don’t. Know, that is.
I mean, I know what our talent level is. I know what the bunch can do at their best.
But, as Wagoner’s piece makes clear, that defense last year was profoundly erratic. You never knew, week to week, what defense you’d be seeing. As, indeed, the NYG game proved.
To me, it all comes down to one variable: Williams’ ego.
If he realizes he has a pass rush built in and plays to stress QBs’ reads rather than to prove how creative his blitzes are, we’ll be damn good.
But I don’t really trust him to do that. At least not consistently. Our Defense really should be good. But it could be elite and it could be top half. And it could win games or piss them away by yielding soft yards and points.
“It’s not a young team any more,” Laurinaitis said. “It might be young still by age, but there’s a lot of experience out there, a lot of guys that have played a lot of minutes. And so the expectations are going to be extremely high.”
He got that right.
Anyone talking about us being a “young team” this year should be horsewhipped. Except for the OL.
There is no excuse for the defense not to be Top Ten and threatening the Top 5. It’s on Williams to recognize the strength of the unit, play to that strength, and break offenses with it. If he can’t get it done, he’ll need to go.
And of course it’s up to Fisher to make all this clear to Williams.
I am not optimistic about what Williams will do with a superb D front that last year he showed he didn’t know how to use.
The Rams blitzed 45% last year. First in the NFL.
As opposed to the Seahawks who blitzed 23 %We have a better defensive line than the seahawks.
June 2, 2015 at 5:54 pm #25694
InvaderRamModeratorI will echo this.
And…let me just add…almost every fan of every single team is saying the same thing about their team. “These guys will be better this year because they have more experience.”
Well, I share the basic ‘wait and see’ mentality,
but i also have read that players ‘in general’
make a jump from year one to two. More so, than
other years. I think we’ve all read that.
So, i think its a reasonable ‘expectation’ even
though its not a sure thing.w
vi would also add that donald is one of those extremely rare high floor high ceiling players. he did come into the league more prepared than most. but this is also a guy with rare athleticism and even rarer work ethic.
so do i worry about a sophomore slump? yeah. but with donald i worry a lot less.
as opposed to a guy like ogletree. ya know. i’m just glad he hasn’t been arrested or suspended the last two years. a guy like him is more prone to that sophomore slump. guys like him you hope mature as they get older and eventually are able to put it all together.
with donald. no. i don’t really worry too much although it’s still possible that he regresses.
and i would also say that most units aren’t as young and as full of potential like this defense is. so while other fans might say the same things, i don’t think it’s as true as it is for this defense.
although. all that potential might just be potential and they might never realize it so yeah. it’s by no means a sure thing.
June 2, 2015 at 6:09 pm #25697InvaderRamModeratori also think this makes a huge difference. although i do agree with people who say williams has to reign it back a little.
For the first time under coach Jeff Fisher, the Rams return the same defensive coordinator, the same defensive coaches and all of their defensive starters. It’s a recipe that yields no questions about who or what the Rams are going to be on that side of the ball. The only real question is how, as in how good can this group be in 2015.
“We all have a better feel for each other,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “It’ll be nice to have the same language, the same expectations, for two years in a row.
“They’ve set this thing up well with the way they’ve gone about it. We have a lot of young players that’ll be in their third [or more] year. It’s about that time for us.”
June 2, 2015 at 6:10 pm #25699ZooeyModeratorIf Donald gets any better, I may have to get his poster from SI like I used to do when I was a kid.
I could probably take down my Farrah Fawcett poster to make room for it.
June 3, 2015 at 12:54 pm #25737znModeratorand i would also say that most units aren’t as young and as full of potential like this defense is. so while other fans might say the same things, i don’t think it’s as true as it is for this defense.
Another element here: coach Waufle.
Waufle has a long, long history of getting the most out of his D-linemen.
For example, in the first Giants/Patz superbowl, they clearly beat NE with their DL. If you look at the history of some of those guys, they didn’t do as much before Waufle. That was a great DL. Yes it had Strahan, but that’s 1 guy, however good…in that year they had 4 guys playing very good football.
For example Fred Robbins arrived in NY as a 5th year vet who had not done much before, and with the Giants he clearly raised his game.
June 3, 2015 at 1:00 pm #25740
AgamemnonParticipantI believe he gets a lot of credit for Quinn developing.
AgamemnonJune 3, 2015 at 2:44 pm #25745znModeratorRams offseason roster review: Akeem Ayers adds to linebacker depth
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams finally begin organized team activities on Tuesday and with most of the offseason heavy lifting complete, the roster you see now likely has the vast majority of players who will be on it come the start of the regular season.
With that in mind, we’ll spend the next week or so delving into each position group with some thoughts on who will start, who might be on the bubble and how the depth chart could shake out.
Position: Linebacker
Returning: James Laurinaitis, Alec Ogletree, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Daren Bates, Marshall McFadden, Korey Toomer
Newcomers: Akeem Ayers, Bryce Hager, Cameron Lynch, Keshaun Malone
Departures: Will Herring
Projected starter(s): Laurinaitis, Ogletree, Ayers
Battle to watch: Laurinaitis and Ogletree are as settled as can be in their spots. It’s the third linebacker spot that bears watching. That should come down to a battle between new addition Ayers and incumbent Dunbar. Dunbar knows the system and is a well-respected leader in the locker room, but the Rams clearly went out and got Ayers for a reason. At the March owners meetings, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Ayers and Dunbar would compete for the starting spot. It’s a competition that figures to begin in OTAs and carry on into training camp. Dunbar is known as more of a run-stopper while Ayers flashed pass-rush potential in his stint with the Patriots at the end of last season. It’s possible the Rams could use both and safety Mark Barron’s name should be mentioned here as well but given the investment made in Ayers, it stands to reason he’s going to win the job. Either way, that’s the position to watch as the rest of the spring and summer unfold.
Outlook: Laurinaitis is still the captain and leader of the entire defense. His knowledge of the system and ability to put his teammates in the right spot is as valuable as his ability to tackle. He remains the focal point of this group heading into 2015. Ogletree is the player who might be most poised for a breakout season. After some serious struggles early in 2014, he hit his stride midway through the year and went on to lead the team in tackles as well as forcing four fumbles and coming up with a pair of interceptions. He also had 10 pass breakups. If he can become more consistent, Ogletree has a chance to continue to ascend this season. What happens with the other spot is more up in the air as Dunbar and Ayers battle for snaps. Barron also figures into the mix and the Rams might begin tinkering more with their alignments on third down and in the nickel. Ogletree looks to be the only member of this group all but assured of staying on the field all three downs for the bulk of the time. The rest of the group should be able to provide depth and special-teams value though there looks to be some jobs available. Dunbar is currently the backup in the middle, but the Rams will be examining all options behind the starting group. Bates is a core special-teams player and unlikely to go anywhere. Hager could fit into a similar role but he’ll have competition from the likes of Toomer, McFadden, Lynch and Malone.
June 3, 2015 at 11:02 pm #25799znModeratorRams offseason roster review: Seeking improvement in static secondary
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams officially began organized team activities Tuesday and with most of the offseason heavy lifting complete, the roster you see now likely has the vast majority of players who will be on it come the start of the regular season.
With that in mind, we’ll spend the next week or so delving into each position group with thoughts on who will start, who might be on the bubble and how the depth chart could shake out.
Position: Secondary
Returning: Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, Rodney McLeod, T.J. McDonald, E.J. Gaines, Lamarcus Joyner, Marcus Roberson, Brandon McGee, Mark Barron, Maurice Alexander, Cody Davis, Christian Bryant
Newcomers: Imoan Claiborne, Montell Garner, Jacob Hagen, Jay Hughes
Departures: None
Projected starter(s): CB Jenkins, CB Gaines, Joyner (nickel), FS McLeod, SS McDonald
Battle to watch: Let’s put a finer point on the potential position battle set to take place at cornerback. Jenkins figures to have one starting spot locked up. The way the other outside spot shapes up will have a definitive trickle-down effect on how the rest of the picture looks. At the March owners meetings, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he anticipated Gaines and Johnson battling for the spot opposite Jenkins. After Gaines’ impressive rookie season, it’s hard to imagine him losing out on that spot but the Rams might feel like they can go different directions to put the three best corners on the field in the nickel. In other words, it’s possible Gaines will win the job opposite Jenkins and then kick into the slot in nickel situation. Perhaps more likely, Gaines will stay outside with Joyner in the slot in those nickel packages, leaving Johnson as the fourth corner. Really, the question could be whether the Rams feel better with Johnson on the outside or Joyner on the inside to determine how this all eventually works out.
Outlook: This is a big year for the Rams, especially at cornerback. Jenkins and Johnson are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents after the season and my hunch is that they’ll attempt to keep Jenkins. If he can cut down on some of the lapses he had in coverage a year ago and continue to make big plays, he’d be worth a future investment. Gaines looks like he’s going to be a big part of the team’s future one way or another but the Rams will need to find his best fit. Joyner also still figures into the plans as a nickel back capable of helping at safety if need be. Roberson is an X-factor, for whom the Rams have high hopes for down the line. McGee will need to prove himself all over again and Claiborne is an interesting name to watch among the undrafted class. At safety, it’s still status quo but it’s an important year for McLeod as he heads toward free agency. The Rams think highly of him and would like to keep him around. A big year could mean a nice payday. McDonald was one of the team’s most improved players a year ago and should only continue to ascend moving forward. Barron is perhaps the most intriguing player on the entire defense as coordinator Gregg Williams will continue to devise ways to get him on the field more in his second season with the team. Overall, this group should be improved in 2015 but there’s still plenty to prove for a unit that allowed too many big plays in 2014.[
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