Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › Wagoner on off-season plans for the defense
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March 4, 2016 at 5:47 pm #39984
znModeratorKeeping Mark Barron key to Rams’ linebacker plans
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The free-agent market is scheduled to open Wednesday and teams may begin negotiations with those poised to hit the market beginning Monday. We’ll count down to that with a position-by-position look at what the Los Angeles Rams have in place, who is set to hit the market, what they might need, and who might fit the bill.
Position: Linebacker
Under contract: Alec Ogletree, Akeem Ayers, Bryce Hager, Cameron Lynch, Matt Wells, Zack Hodges
Pending free agents: James Laurinaitis (released), Mark Barron, Daren Bates (restricted)
Mark Barron, Robert Turbin
Mark Barron found a home at linebacker in Gregg Williams’ 4-3 scheme with the Rams.
What’s needed: The Rams are going through some serious renovations in the linebacker crew this year after releasing Laurinaitis. The plan is to move Ogletree to the middle and re-sign Barron to take Ogletree’s spot on the weak side. Which means the Rams need a weakside linebacker until they can get Barron re-signed. Ayers is still under contract and could step back into the strongside spot, though don’t be surprised if the Rams look around at possible options. Bates is a key special teams contributor and if he’s ever going to contribute on defense, one would think he’s ready to show it now. He’s likely to be brought back on a tender offer. Hager and Lynch are promising special teams contributors who probably aren’t ready to help on defense just yet. Everything the Rams do or need this offseason at linebacker will spin off what happens with Barron.Possible fits: Finding true 4-3 outside linebackers is difficult enough these days, but the teams that have them generally try to keep them. So while players such as Tamba Hali, Courtney Upshaw, Nick Perry and Mike Neal are available, they’re a better fit in a 3-4. Seattle’s Bruce Irvin figures to land the biggest contract in this group, but he’s more of a strongside linebacker and the Rams are unlikely to want to pay the price required to get him. Barron is not only the best fit for the Rams but they look like the best fit for him. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams revived Barron’s career, and they released Laurinaitis specifically with Barron (and Ogletree) in mind. Barron played well enough in 2015 to draw interest from other teams who might be willing to get creative in using him, but all things being equal it’s fair to expect the Rams to prioritize keeping Barron and making it happen. If not, they’ll have to rethink their entire strategy for the linebacker group going into 2016
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Rams have free-agent work to do on defensive line
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The free-agent market is scheduled to open March 9 and teams may begin negotiations with those poised to hit the market beginning March 7. We’ll count down to that with a position-by-position look at what the Los Angeles Rams have in place, who is set to hit the market, what they might need and who might fit the bill.
Position: Defensive line
Under contract: Robert Quinn, Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Matt Longacre, Ethan Westbrooks, Doug Worthington, Louis Trinca-Pasat.
Pending free agents: Chris Long (released), William Hayes, Eugene Sims, Nick Fairley.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
What’s needed: The defensive line has been this team’s focus for most of the Jeff Fisher regime. The Rams have spent plenty of draft picks and large sums of money to make that group one of the best in the league. Now they find themselves in something of a transitional period with their front four. They already said goodbye to Long and they have three key pieces to their defensive line rotation set to become unrestricted free agents in Hayes, Sims and Fairley. From that trio, Hayes would appear to be the primary target as a likely replacement for Long. Hayes filled that role more than capably over the past two seasons with Long battling injuries. Sims also has proved a reliable fill-in, stepping in for Quinn last year and working in a rotation for most of his career. Fairley played well in his one season with the Rams as the primary backup to Donald and Brockers. Longacre, Westbrooks and Trinca-Pasat also have flashed potential as long-term depth. All told, the Rams need a starter to replace Long and some bodies for depth behind the front four.
Possible fits: There’s no shortage of big names set to hit the market on the defensive line, led by Denver’s Malik Jackson, who figures to strike it rich in the opening hours of the market. Also at end, the New York Giants’ Jason Pierre-Paul and Robert Ayers, Miami’s Derrick Shelby, Carolina’s Charles Johnson and Buffalo’s Mario Williams are all poised to see what’s out there. Among defensive tackles, the group is solid as well with names like Kansas City’s Jaye Howard, the New York Jets’ Damon Harrison, San Francisco’s Ian Williams and Washington’s Terrance Knighton available. For the Rams, keeping Hayes is the first and most important domino. He and Fisher are close and it would be a surprise if he landed with any other team. Sims also would like to remain a Ram and likely won’t cost that much to bring back. If the Rams do somehow miss on Hayes, they could be active in pursuing a free agent. If they keep Hayes, don’t be surprised if they also start planning for the future behind him in the draft. As for the interior, the Rams like the potential of Trinca-Pasat and Westbrooks (who can play outside as well) but probably need an option who can come in and play reliably right away. Bringing Fairley back isn’t out of the question, though he’s expected to get a bigger deal than the Rams can offer. If Fairley departs, don’t be surprised if the Rams seek a similar player to Fairley circa 2015. Which is to say an experienced tackle with something to prove on a relatively cheap one-year deal. Either way, look for the Rams to be active in retaining and tweaking their defensive line this offseason
March 5, 2016 at 3:12 pm #40028znModeratorPlenty of work to be done for Rams in secondary
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The free-agent market is scheduled to open March 9 and teams may begin negotiations with those poised to hit the market beginning March 7. We’ll count down to that with a position-by-position look at what the Los Angeles Rams have in place, who is set to hit the market, what they might need and who might fit the bill.
Position: Defensive back
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Under contract: T.J. McDonald, E.J. Gaines, Marcus Roberson, Lamarcus Joyner, Eric Patterson, Maurice Alexander, Christian Bryant, Troy Hill
Pending free agents: Trumaine Johnson (franchise tag), Rodney McLeod, Janoris Jenkins, Cody Davis (restricted),
What’s needed: There’s really three options of what could happen here: The Rams could go through a complete makeover of the secondary, keep all of their pieces in place or something in between. If the Rams have their way, it will be option No. 2. They’ve already made some progress in that regard by using the franchise tag on Johnson. It’s unlikely he’ll go anywhere now as a team probably won’t cough up two first-round picks to land him. That means the Rams can then turn their attention to McLeod, Jenkins and Mark Barron (who we addressed in the linebacker preview). Both McLeod and Jenkins should have plenty of suitors and they won’t come cheap but the Rams would like to keep them both. However, if they are unable to do so, one would think the Rams are more likely to keep McLeod since they don’t have an obvious replacement for him on the roster. If Jenkins departs, the Rams still have E.J. Gaines, Marcus Roberson and Lamarcus Joyner to complement Johnson. Davis is a special teams dynamo, and the Rams will likely extend a tender offer to keep him around for that role and to provide depth. Rams general manager Les Snead and coach Jeff Fisher have made it clear that getting this secondary taken care of is the team’s top priority as the new league year begins.
Possible fits: The cornerback market isn’t exactly teeming with top talent if the Rams were to lose Jenkins and decide to pursue a replacement using that avenue. The Giants’ Prince Amukamara, Green Bay’s Casey Hayward and Kansas City’s Sean Smith figure to join Jenkins as the best players available at the position. Because corners are so valuable, don’t be surprised if the prices for those players rocket to or beyond the $10.5 million annual salary Byron Maxwell coaxed from Philadelphia last year. At safety, there are some intriguing options should the Rams lose McLeod or explore other options. San Diego’s Eric Weddle, Cincinnati’s Reggie Nelson and George Iloka and Cleveland’s Tashaun Gipson would all be worth a look if McLeod departs. Weddle is the most experienced of that group but is still a good player. Nelson and Iloka are intriguing talents with Nelson fitting more the role of a true “centerfielder.” Gipson had a down year in 2015 but could be something of a bargain as he looks to bounce back. In the end, the Rams are likely to hold on to at least two of the three of Johnson, Jenkins and McLeod with Jenkins appearing the best bet to get a big offer and go elsewhere.
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