Rams front 7

We will learn a lot about these guys soon enough. Outside of Donald and Jones, we don’t know what they have.

One figure that will most likely get playing time but is still a relative unknown is Michael Hoecht. Hoecht is intriguing, as we know. A very fast 285 DT who the Rams have been playing at OLB.

He was a UDFA who signed with the Rams very likely because, as he said in an interview before the 2020 draft, his favorite NFL defensive player was Aaron Donald.

Is this the year Hoecht gets it all together?

Anyway I just thought I would post a few 2020 pre-draft reports on him.

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* from https://www.downtownrams.com/single-post/2020/05/01/meet-the-los-angeles-rams-udfas-defense/

Hoecht was apart of a Brown defense that competed with some of the best in the Ivy League. He’s extremely quick as he posted a virtual combine workout video in March that showed a 4.65-second clocking in the 40-yard dash which would have been the third-highest time at the NFL Combine.

The Brown defensive lineman is a two-year captain and was named second-team All-Ivy last season. He was also selected with the 10th pick in the second round of the CFL Draft by the Ottawa Red Blacks.

* from https://3downnation.com/2020/03/23/brown-university-dl-michael-hoecht-posts-insane-40-yard-dash-in-virtual-pro-day/

The six-foot-four, 295-pound defensive tackle ran a blazing 4.65 forty-yard dash on his first attempt and followed that up with a 4.68 on his second attempt. Those times are virtually unprecedented for a player of his size.

The rest of Hoecht’s testing was strong as well with: a 7.05 three-cone; 4.21 shuttle; 33.5-inch vertical; nine-foot, two-inch broad jump; and 23 reps on the bench press.

* from https://bnbfootball.com/most-underrated-players-2020-nfl-draft/

Michael Hoecht is more of a deep sleeper than an underrated prospect, but I’m including him here anyway because he should really be getting more attention.

Hoecht was a good player in the Ivy league, always being the centerpiece of opposing offenses’ scouting reports. As a junior, he racked up 69 total tackles as he got sideline to sideline with ease. Senior year the number was down to 42, but he had 9 tackles for loss from the inside of the line and garnered 2nd-team all conference measures.

That’s all fine and dandy. The reason he’s a big time NFL prospect was his pro day, where the 6’4″ 295 pounder reportedly ran a 4.65 40 yard dash, coupled with a 33.5″ vertical. That would have been the fastest time ever by a DT at the NFL combine.

Now, this was a virtual pro day and pro day numbers are often faster than combine numbers. But this guy is scary fast. And it will show on film.

Hoecht has a very fast first step and can engage the linemen with power. He is very raw in terms of pass rushing moves, but has the size and athleticism that will make coaches drool.

I’m sure he’s heard a lot from the NFL since his fast run, and as an Ivy leaguer likely made for a good interview. Most don’t even know his name, but he’ll likely be drafted.