Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › Fairley
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March 13, 2015 at 12:13 pm #20351wvParticipant
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Ramfire – Fairley signing ?he was at the podium before Foles stepped up to the mike…
It would seem Fairley is a RAM…..no??
GO RAMS!!
March 13, 2015 at 12:15 pm #20352wvParticipantRams sign Fairley
http://www.rotoworld.com/teams/transactions/nfl/all/today/March 13, 2015 at 12:17 pm #20353wvParticipantSo the DLine will be:
Quinn, Fairley, Donald, Long.
(and Brockers, Hayes, Simms)Seems like that would be the best dline
since…?w
vMarch 13, 2015 at 12:30 pm #20354PA RamParticipantThe free agent signings are targeting the defense.
I expect the draft may go heavy on offense.
Although I’d be surprised if they didn’t sign at least one veteran lineman.
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick
March 13, 2015 at 1:42 pm #20359wvParticipant=========================
jankybill76#Rams signed DT Nick Fairley on a 1-year deal worth $5M base, source said. He can make up to $7.5M in incentives. A prove-it deal.
9:16 AM – 13 Mar 2015
=====================================March 13, 2015 at 1:45 pm #20360WinnbradParticipantThe free agent signings are targeting the defense.
I expect the draft may go heavy on offense.
Although I’d be surprised if they didn’t sign at least one veteran lineman.
Yeah. I’d be surprised and disappointed if the rams didn’t sign 2 O-lineman. I hope they do!
March 13, 2015 at 2:11 pm #20367AgamemnonParticipantMarch 13, 2015 at 2:15 pm #20368wvParticipantFairley basically finishes out Langford’s contract on a prove it basis. I can live with that.
I’m surprised he settled for a one-year deal. I would have
thought he could have gotten a multi-year deal somewhere.I’m excited about the DLine. They started So SLOW
last year. It was awful. But now, one would think
they know GW’s system and they oughta be able
to start fast.I know nothing about Fairley.
Is he a run-stopper only or an allround player?
What does he do best?w
v- This reply was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by wv.
March 13, 2015 at 2:22 pm #20370AgamemnonParticipantMedia just met w/a slimmed down Fairley at Rams Park. Says he weighs 280 pounds.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) March 13, 2015
March 13, 2015 at 2:23 pm #20371AgamemnonParticipantMarch 13, 2015 at 3:29 pm #20382znModeratorFairley and Ayers good fits for Rams
By Bernie Miklasz
Greetings from Jupiter … I’m watching the Cardinals and Marlins play at Roger Dean Stadium but wanted to take a few minutes to discuss the Rams’ signings of free-agent defensive tackle Nick Fairley and outside linebacker Akeem Ayers.
There’s risk involved, because Fairley was up and down in his career with the Detroit Lions. Fairley wasn’t always in the best shape, and his effort was questioned at times. And last season Fairley didn’t play after Oct. 26 because of a knee injury.
But the big man is talented. He’s one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the NFL, and it isn’t easy to find guys that can generate that inside rush on a consistent basis. According to Pro Football Focus, Fairley has been a top-15 pass rusher at the position in each of the last three seasons _ with just under 100 total QB pressures since the start of the 2012 season.
Not only that, but with this signing the Rams have an imposing tackle rotation with Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, and Fairley. The Rams already had a good, disruptive defensive line. And now it should be even better. Donald is already one of the league’s premiere DTs. Brockers has been disappointing in his three seasons as a Ram but still has the talent and attitude to be an elite performer at DT.
The Rams gave Fairley a one-year deal for a guaranteed $5 million and with incentives it could grow to $8 million. Fairley should be fired up, because he’ll be part of a group that will be relentless in getting after the quarterback. And Fairley will be playing for his next contract.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher is paying Fairley some good money in 2015 _ but he’s also giving Fairley an opportunity to reestablish his value for a potential long-term deal. Fairley seems like an ideal candidate for a Fisher career-rehab special.
I also liked the Rams’ signing of Ayers, a strong-side LB who ranked among the NFL’s top outside linebackers in a 4-3 alignment in 2013. Ayers was with Tennessee at the time, with Gregg Williams serving on the Titans staff as a defensive consultant/adviser. Williams, the Rams’ defensive coordinator, obviously knows how to maximize Ayers’ effectiveness. That’s a reason to have a good feeling about Ayers’ chances for success in STL.
Ayers was ranked No. 4 among all OLBs by Pro Football Focus in ’13 but wasn’t as comfortable in the change to a 3-4 alignment last season before the Titans moved him to New England.
If Ayers starts opposite of Alec Olgletree, the Rams will have two outside linebackers that can run well, blitz, and cover a lot of ground. Akers had 33 total QB pressures in ’13, and that fits the profile coveted by Fisher and Williams.
Now that we’ve offered some praise here, it’s time to ask the question again: when will the Rams restock their offensive line?
Maybe they’re planning to win low-scoring games in 2015 and are lining up extra defensive help.
March 13, 2015 at 7:33 pm #20418znModeratorRams offer Nick Fairley chance to reach his potential
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — In the 2011 NFL draft, the St. Louis Rams had the 14th pick and patiently waited their turn to make a selection while superstar pass-rushers such as J.J. Watt, Von Miller, Aldon Smith and Marcell Dareus came off the board. While Chris Long was locked into one position, the Rams desperately wanted to bolster their pass rush and kept their fingers crossed that one of the other top defensive linemen would fall in their lap.
As the Detroit Lions came up with the 13th pick, they took Nick Fairley. The Rams turned in the card with end Robert Quinn’s name on it nearly as fast as Quinn bends the edge against a left tackle.
On Tuesday morning, the Rams turned what four years ago was an “either/or” situation into a resounding “and.” A day after arriving in St. Louis, Fairley signed a one-year contract worth $5 million, which could reach the $8-million range with incentives.
That Fairley was even available was a product of a disappointing four-year stint with the Lions in which Fairley was plagued by injuries, weight problems and a couple of arrests. Despite glimpses of potential — especially in 2012 and 2013 when he posted 69 tackles and 11.5 sacks in 28 games — the Lions declined to exercise their fifth-year option on Fairley in hopes it would motivate him.
It didn’t necessarily work as Fairley had 14 tackles and a sack in eight 2014 games before knee injuries cost him the other half of the season. So it was that Fairley hit the open market on Tuesday in search of a chance to prove the potential that only came in small doses in Detroit can be consistently applied in a new locale.
In choosing the Rams’ one-year deal, Fairley essentially signed a “prove-it” deal intended to bolster his stock and allow him to cash in next season. And, though Fairley is likely to serve as the primary backup to Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, Fairley couldn’t have picked a better situation in which to bet on himself.
Fairley joins a defensive line that’s already stocked with pass-rushers Long and Quinn, defensive rookie of the year Donald, former first-round pick Brockers and quality backups such as William Hayes and Eugene Sims. He’s the fifth former first-round pick on the defensive line and should have no shortage of one-on-one pass rush opportunities.
“I feel like it’s a perfect fit for me,” Fairley said. “The guys in this group, the D-line, they are young and they’re moving forward and I want to be part of it.
“You got those guys up there and a guy next to me like Aaron is going to take on some double teams, I’m going to take on some double teams so it’s going to be a good fit for me.”
Line coaches Mike Waufle and Clyde Simmons also come with strong reputations in league circles and Waufle’s hard-charging style developed in years as a Marine should only serve Fairley well in maintaining discipline.
“[He’s] a great guy, matter of fact my dad is an ex-Marine so I know a little bit about ex-Marines,” Fairley said.
It also doesn’t hurt the Rams have become Auburn North with former Tigers Greg Robinson, Tre Mason and Daren Bates on the roster and general manager Les Snead offering input on the roster.
But even with that support system in place, it’s up to Fairley to become the player many thought he’d become. For his part, Fairley seems to have put in the work to come to St. Louis in shape.
At times during his stint with the Lions, Fairley’s weight ballooned to as high as 320 pounds but the help of a personal chef allowed him to trim down to about 290 pounds before last season. There were concerns the knee injuries he suffered last year might cause his weight to go back up, but Fairley continued to work with the chef and arrived in St. Louis at a sleek 280 pounds.
In fact, Fairley is now in position to actually put weight on before the season, though he’s looking to enlist the help of a local personal chef to help him do it the right way.
“I’m going to be looking for one out here so if anybody knows a chef, holler at me,” Fairley said, laughing. “I’m going to put on some muscle so when I come back in April with the group of guys in the conditioning and work program, I’m sure I’ll get to where I want to be.”
If he does, an already scary Rams’ defensive line could get even better, and Fairley’s one-year gamble could pay off in an equally big way.
March 13, 2015 at 7:46 pm #20421InvaderRamModeratorI read, that Suh said, that he had more talent than he did.
“I haven’t said this a lot or to many people, more or less, but Nick is more athletically gifted than me, and he has an opportunity to be better than me, and that’s what I want to see out of him,” Suh said Wednesday, according to Ashley Dunkak of CBS Detroit.
- This reply was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by InvaderRam.
March 13, 2015 at 8:07 pm #20428znModeratorI know why they are not spending resources on the offensive line.
They like watching their defensive line play.
So the more the offense just punts and gets out of the way, the better.
March 13, 2015 at 8:13 pm #20429HramParticipantFairly was a beast inside pass rusher and disrupter in college. He’s also a little bit of a knucklehead who doesn’t always work as hard as he should which is also evident in his weight problems.
A perfect Fisher project.
March 13, 2015 at 8:48 pm #20434sdramParticipantFairly was a beast inside pass rusher and disrupter in college. He’s also a little bit of a knucklehead who doesn’t always work as hard as he should which is also evident in his weight problems.
A perfect Fisher project.
I’m with ya on this – a “Britt” type one year deal is a great fit for him. It’s kind of all about Nick so far.
March 13, 2015 at 9:11 pm #20437znModeratorAdam Schefter breaks down how much Nick Fairley’s addition boosts the Rams’ defensive line. Fairley signed a one-year deal with St. Louis worth $5 million.
March 14, 2015 at 9:12 pm #20550znModeratorRams going all in with defensive line with Farley deal
ProFootballTalk: Mike Florio discusses Nick Farley’s one-year deal with the Rams and just how good St. Louis’ defensive line could be next season.
http://www.nbcsports.com/football/nfl/rams-going-all-defensive-line-farley-deal?t=0
March 14, 2015 at 10:59 pm #20551HerzogParticipantThis feels surreal. My first instinct is… What’s wrong with him.
However, if he plays up to his talent, than I can’t comprehend how good this defensive line will be.
Put ayers in as an additional pass rusher….. Just a nasty pass rush.
Too bad other facets of the game matter.
March 15, 2015 at 11:31 am #20597wvParticipantDunno if this has been posted. Interesting read, though:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2395773-nick-fairley-signing-gives-rams-deepest-scariest-d-line-but-will-it-matterSee link.
Excerpt below:
“…Not only did the Lions keep seeing inconsistency in Fairley in 2013, they kept seeing more of him.
He slowly put on weight throughout the season, a time when most players shed weight from the constant grind. He finished the season at a too-heavy 320 pounds.
In the following spring, Fairley had a corrective procedure to correct sleep apnea and changed his diet. He showed up for training camp at a relatively svelte 295 pounds, per Tim Twentyman of the Lions’ official site. Ironically, 295 was still outside his assigned weight range—too skinny!
By the start of the season, though, Fairley was back up to 315, per Kyle Meinke of MLive.com, and his play reflected his appearance. His lethargic, slogging efforts got him demoted to the second team.
“I don’t know where his head’s at. I wish I knew,” defensive tackle C.J. Mosley told Meinke. “If I knew, man, I’d grab his head and bring it back to where it’s supposed to be. I just don’t know.” First-team All-Pro linemate Ndamukong Suh, who also left Detroit, said something more promising—and more damning.
“I haven’t said this a lot, or to many people, more or less, but Nick is more athletically gifted than me,” Ndamukong Suh told Meinke. “He has an opportunity to be better than me.”…..
March 15, 2015 at 12:05 pm #20598WinnbradParticipantThis feels surreal. My first instinct is… What’s wrong with him.
However, if he plays up to his talent, than I can’t comprehend how good this defensive line will be.
Put ayers in as an additional pass rusher….. Just a nasty pass rush.
Too bad other facets of the game matter.
Yeah. I’m with ya. I understand the need for good D-lineman in this league, but the Rams have serious needs on the o-line. Why spend money on another DT? Or at least, why spend it right now?
PFF rates Fairly as “good” overall, whatever that means.
I’d rather have 2 or 3, “above average” o-lineman than another good DT. right now.
I don’t know. Maybe Fairly will be a beast. I doubt it, but we’ll see.
March 15, 2015 at 12:08 pm #20599znModeratorPFF rates Fairly as “good” overall, whatever that means.
Because the Rams think he can be more than that, and they think they are just the guys to bring it out of him.
They were right about Britt, so, they could be right about Fairley.
In terms of the OL…they still have some free agency moves left and there’s a draft coming and they may also think they have a guy on the roster already. So the OL has plenty of time to pull together.
March 15, 2015 at 12:22 pm #20603WinnbradParticipantWinnbrad wrote:
PFF rates Fairly as “good” overall, whatever that means.Because the Rams think he can be more than that, and they think they are just the guys to bring it out of him.
They were right about Britt, so, they could be right about Fairley.
In terms of the OL…they still have some free agency moves left and there’s a draft coming and they may also think they have a guy on the roster already. So the OL has plenty of time to pull together.
I know you’re right. I’m just impatient about the O-line.
Fingers crossed…
March 15, 2015 at 12:26 pm #20605ZooeyModeratorYeah. I’m with ya. I understand the need for good D-lineman in this league, but the Rams have serious needs on the o-line. Why spend money on another DT? Or at least, why spend it right now?
PFF rates Fairly as “good” overall, whatever that means.
I’d rather have 2 or 3, “above average” o-lineman than another good DT. right now.
I don’t know. Maybe Fairly will be a beast. I doubt it, but we’ll see.
They had only two DTs on the roster. Even with the Fairley signing, they will probably still add another one. What’s more, Fairley – with all his vast upside – is cheaper than keeping Langford would have been.
Meanwhile the prices are dropping on OL. The cost of resigning Barksdale is going down, not up.
March 15, 2015 at 12:34 pm #20607WinnbradParticipant&Winnbrad wrote:
Yeah. I’m with ya. I understand the need for good D-lineman in this league, but the Rams have serious needs on the o-line. Why spend money on another DT? Or at least, why spend it right now?PFF rates Fairly as “good” overall, whatever that means.
I’d rather have 2 or 3, “above average” o-lineman than another good DT. right now.
I don’t know. Maybe Fairly will be a beast. I doubt it, but we’ll see.
They had only two DTs on the roster. Even with the Fairley signing, they will probably still add another one. What’s more, Fairley – with all his vast upside – is cheaper than keeping Langford would have been.
Meanwhile the prices are dropping on OL. The cost of resigning Barksdale is going down, not up.
Good points. I hope the price drop continues.
March 15, 2015 at 12:40 pm #20608znModeratorHey WB.
Public service thing: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/board-stuff-using-quote-please-read/
Thanks
March 15, 2015 at 3:40 pm #20624WinnbradParticipantHey WB.
Public service thing: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/board-stuff-using-quote-please-read/
Thanks
Hey, it worked. Okay, that was easy. Thanks!
March 31, 2015 at 12:22 am #21838znModerator
Rams: Add to a strength with FairleyMichael Mountford | March 17, 2015
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/03/17/rams-add-to-a-strength-with-fairley/
PFF- Considering the production the Rams enjoyed from defensive tackle Aaron Donald in his rookie season, as well as the pass rushing threat posed by defensive end Robert Quinn, defensive line might not have seemed an immediate concern in St. Louis. However DT Michael Brockers, a former first round selection, hasn’t developed beyond average after three seasons in the league, and depth in the middle was a worry after the departure of Kendall Langford. The addition of Nick Fairley addresses any such concerns and could help give the Rams one of the most imposing defensive lines in the league.
Fairley has been frustratingly inconsistent for much of his young career, however, when at his best he can take over a game. After three seasons in the league Fairley had a cumulative +3.2 grade in run defense and +29.1 grade as a pass rusher, good marks that could have been so much better had Fairley not also had 10 games of -1.0 or worse in that same period.
Through the first eight weeks of the 2014 season (prior to suffering a season-ending injury), Fairley had begun to complement his impressive pass rushing skills with an improved stoutness against the run. At the time of his injury Fairley had a +5.7 run defense grade; he also had 22 total pressures, tied for fourth-most among tackles, and was third-best with a 10.0 Pass Rushing Productivity (PRP) score. Fairley’s career-low PRP score (6.4) came back in 2010, his rookie season. That compares favorably to Michael Brockers career-high PRP of 4.7.Michael Brockers should feature in the rotation on early downs, before giving way so that Donald and Fairley can be unleashed from the inside to wreak havoc on passing downs.
April 3, 2015 at 3:35 pm #22073znModeratorWhere Nick Fairley fits in Rams’ DL rotation
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/17501/where-nick-fairley-fits-in-rams-dl-rotation
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Heading into free agency, the St. Louis Rams had two players in mind when it came to adding to their defense.
While the bigger needs still remain on offense, the Rams apparently checked both boxes by signing defensive tackle Nick Fairley and linebacker Akeem Ayers.
“We actually targeted both Akeem and Nick,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “From a fit standpoint and a need standpoint, those were our top two defensive players. Walking away thinking that we were able to get both of them was really good.”
Last week, we covered where Ayers fits in the defense with Fisher saying that Ayers will be a versatile piece who will have the chance to compete with Jo-Lonn Dunbar for a starting job alongside James Laurinaitis and Alec Ogletree.
As for Fairley, a starting job probably isn’t in the cards barring some injuries. The Rams already have Michael Brockers and Aaron Donald in place, but Fairley still figures to get plenty of playing time in 2015.
“Yeah, (he’s in) the rotation,” Fisher said. “He was excited about one, coming into the building, and two, meeting (defensive line) coach (Mike) Waufle and watching and seeing what we were doing. They (the Detroit Lions, Fairley’s former team) had watched a lot of tape of ours, as we did of them because they have an outstanding pass rush as well. He was excited about being part of the rotation.”
Fairley is known more for his pass rushing abilities than stopping the run, though he’s struggled with consistency in part because of injuries and also because of weight problems. He had 13.5 sacks in four seasons with the Lions with 11.5 of those coming in 2012 and 2013.
In the Rams’ rotation, Fairley figures to have no shortage of opportunities even if he isn’t a starter. Kendall Langford, whom Fairley ostensibly replaced after the Rams released him, played 467 snaps or about 47 percent of the defensive snaps in 2014. That should give Fairley enough of a chance to make plays and potentially cash in on the free agent market next year.
Although Fairley hasn’t had a chance to be around Rams Park much since signing — the team officially opens its offseason conditioning program on April 20 — Fisher said he came away with a sense that Fairley is ready to meet his vast potential.
“Nick was injured last year,” Fisher said. “(He) was in his view ready to come back and play the final game but he did not. Since then he’s been doing nothing but working out. He changed his diet, his eating habits. His weight is under control. He’s in great shape right now. He’ll admit that he probably didn’t buy into it as best as he could have early in his career. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s buying into it now. He’s serious about his football.”
April 4, 2015 at 1:36 pm #22110znModeratorJeff Fisher believes in ‘good kid’ Nick Fairley
By Mark Inabinett
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/04/st_louis_rams_coach_jeff_fishe_1.html
Detroit never seemed too interested in re-signing Nick Fairley this offseason, even though the defensive tackle spent his first four NFL seasons in the trenches for the Lions. On the other hand, the St. Louis Rams “targeted” Fairley in free agency and landed him last month with a one-year, $5 million contract.
The Lions lost one of their defensive tackles, Ndamukong Suh, to the Miami Dolphins in free agency for the largest contract ever given to a defensive player. Even that didn’t light much of a flame under Detroit to keep Fairley, the Lions’ first-round choice out of Auburn in the 2011 NFL Draft.
“We’re kind of looking at our situation, what fits, what suits us at this point in time,” Detroit coach Jim Caldwell said at the NFL’s annual meeting last week. “Taking all things into consideration, we just thought it was obviously one of those situations where it didn’t work. We decided to go elsewhere, and those kinds of things. Nothing personal.”
St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher said Fairley and linebacker Akeem Ayers were at the top of the Rams’ defensive free-agency wish list, and the team landed both of the players.
Fairley was dogged by weight issues in Detroit, and that often got the blame for inconsistent play. Fairley also missed the second half of the 2014 season because of sprained knee ligaments.
Fisher has known Fairley for several years. The coach’s son Trent was a redshirt freshman and a teammate of Fairley’s on Auburn’s 2010 BCS national championship team.
“He’s going to be in shape ready to play,” Fisher said at the league’s meeting. “I know what kind of kid he is. He’s a good kid. … Where you saw the good plays out of Nick in Detroit, I think he can become consistently that player.”
Detroit never put Fairley on the injured reserve list after he got hurt last season, hoping he could make it back before the season ended. Fairley warmed up for the Lions’ playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys but didn’t play. In contrast to his past, Fairley kept the extra weight off while hurt and signed his contract with St. Louis weighing 280 pounds.
“Nick was injured last year, was in his view ready to come back and play the final game. He did not,” Fisher said. “So since then he’s been doing nothing but working out. Changed his diet, his eating habits. His weight’s under control. He’s in great shape right now. He will admit that he probably didn’t buy into it as best as he could have early on in his career. There’s not a doubt in my mind he’s buying into it now. He’s serious about his football.”
Although the Rams made adding Fairley a priority, the former Williamson High School star not assured of stepping into a starting spot. However, he will become a part of what is anticipated to be one of the NFL’s top defensive lines. St. Louis used Michael Brockers and Aaron Donald at the defensive tackle spots last season. Donald won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award for 2014. Brockers has started for the Rams since being selected out of LSU with the 14th choice in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Rams have hard-rushing ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn flanking the tackles.
Fisher said the Rams hoped to use a seven-player rotation on the defensive line in 2015 to keep the players fresh.
“He understands he’s going to be in the rotation,” Fisher said of Fairley. “In a perfect world, I’ve got a three-tackle rotation. Potentially, you might bring one of those ends down to rush inside. He understands if he wants to play he’s going to have to be productive.”
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