Rams address needs, find scheme fits with Connor Barwin, Lance Dunbar

Rams address needs, find scheme fits with Connor Barwin, Lance Dunbar

Alden Gonzalez

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/33338/rams-address-needs-find-scheme-fits-with-connor-barwin-lance-dunbar

LOS ANGELES — Rams fans, a message from Meat Loaf. Yes, Meat Loaf.

Don’t be sad, ’cause two out of three ain’t bad.

The Los Angeles Rams on Thursday failed to land the center they targeted, when the Bills decided to match the Rams’ offer sheet for Ryan Groy. But the Rams did sign linebacker Connor Barwin and running back Lance Dunbar. Their search for a center continues — probably through free agency, though Nick Mangold doesn’t appear to be high on their list — but in the meantime, the Rams addressed a couple of needs at a reasonable price.

Connor Barwin, reunited with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, looks to be a good fit for the Rams at linebacker. Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Let’s take a look. (Promise, no more Meat Loaf references.)

Terms: Dunbar and Barwin each signed one-year contracts. Barwin’s deal maxes out at $6.5 million, while Dunbar’s maxes out at $3 million, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Caplan.

Grade: Let’s give the Rams a C-plus. Not splashy or head-turning, but necessary and productive. Coach Sean McVay’s offense calls for a change-of-pace running back who can be a threat in the passing game as well as the running game. As the offensive coordinator in Washington, McVay had that with Chris Thompson, and now the Rams hope he has it with Dunbar, who is a better fit for this style than the departing Benny Cunningham, a traditional backup running back. Dunbar also has familiarity with Rams running backs coach Skip Peete, who was Dunbar’s first running backs coach with the Cowboys.

Likewise, Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips coached Barwin when both were with the Texans in 2011 and ’12. The Rams needed another starting linebacker, and they landed an accomplished one who has made 96 consecutive starts.

What it means: It means Todd Gurley needs to improve in pass protection, a point Peete stressed recently. Dunbar — with 94 carries for 422 yards and 68 catches for 646 yards in 54 career games — isn’t coming in as a third-down running back, per se. He’s coming in as an added element to the offense. Dunbar has some experience in kickoff returns, but he hasn’t thrived in the role as Cunningham has. The Rams will probably use Pharoh Cooper to return kickoffs now.

For Barwin, 30, the move means a return to the position where he is most comfortable. He converted to defensive end when the Eagles went to a 4-3 last season and struggled, graded 100th among 109 edge defenders by Pro Football Focus. Barwin can rush the quarterback — he had 76 disrupted dropbacks from 2011 to ’15, third-most in the NFL — and can also drop back into coverage. That’s perfect for Phillips and the Rams.

What’s the risk? With Barwin, it’s that he might eventually break down. As mentioned earlier, he hasn’t missed a game since 2011. His 5,577 defensive snaps during that six-year period rank 11th in the NFL. With Dunbar, 27, it’s that he has a tough time staying healthy. He has had only one fully healthy season in his five-year career and had major knee injuries in 2013 and ’15. Behind each new signing, the Rams have only unproven players. But they’re short-term deals, so naturally the risks are mimimal.