zn wrote:

at 6’5, 300 Fiske can play 3/4 DE or DT, either in the 3 DL sets or in the 3rd down 4 DL sets.

that’s why i like the pick. that’s why i liked orhorhoro. i thought he could similarly play different positions for the dline.

fiske is much faster and quicker than orhorhoro. while orhorhoro likely has more power and strength.

i trust the rams on this one though.

i like cooper dejean as well, but i understand why they went dline. it’s just a bigger need at this point. dejean just went to the eagles.

zn wrote:

A different issue is whether he is effective in space as an LB, handling the whole array of LB duties in space. I don’t know. I can only say Kevin Greene wasn’t known for that. Though I have seen Verse compared to Fowler. How good was Fowler as a traditional LB in space?

that’s a good distinction and i should have been more clear.

there was three figure eight drill where the guy has to run around in a figure eight and pick up bean bags and place them in another position all while continuing to run at full speed. he struggled to maintain balance and had to use his hands to keep from falling. he did it twice and could not do it. maybe it’s just a matter of reps? i don’t know but that drill tests a players flexibility and “bend”.

the other drill involved lateral movement and again he looked stiff. he also looked stiff moving forward and backwards. that’s what makes me wonder if he can switch to linebacker. although could he be any worse than hoecht was when they moved him to lb? fowler i don’t know. i’m sure verse can learn it to some extent but it definitely doesn’t come naturally.

apparently rams were interested in trading up to get bowers?

probably not the best idea to trade up for bowers, but i fully expect the rams to draft a tight end at some point. in fact i’d be disappointed if they didn’t.

The Rams had an offensive player they had their eyes on through the entire process: Brock Bowers

When he went off the board, their decision got a lot easier. They are thrilled with Jared Verse at 19. ⁦@gmfb⁩ pic.twitter.com/mf488L4na3

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 26, 2024

• This reply was modified 9 months ago by InvaderRam.

zn wrote:

Just an IMO, but…I think an end/LB conversion is not that big an issue. From the sounds of it he can be coached into an adjustment. Cosell mentions false steps when he’s standing up. That can be coached out.

i am by no means an expert. and i will continue to have an open mind.

but i’m worried. i watch his combine drills (and yeah it’s the combine not an actual football game). and he looks so stiff. like no flexibility. not very athletic. especially compared to how latu looks in the drills and so i wonder how easy the conversion will be for him. it just intuitively makes sense to me that to be effective at linebacker you need to have more of that bendiness which verse lacks and which is why some reports say he is strictly a de.

but if they move him around to different positions maybe it doesn’t matter as much?

well cosell states he’s a pure 4-3 end which to me sounds like the defense is gonna have to change. or am i missing something?

he was very effective rushing the passer according to these metrics. right up there with latu and robinson.

we’ll see.

Notable EDGE prospects career pressure rates and weighted pass rush grades. We’re in a pass protection epidemic but this draft class still has some juice. pic.twitter.com/otB9WNCRzF

— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) April 4, 2024

• This reply was modified 9 months ago by InvaderRam.

i also should say i don’t think the first round could have unfolded any better for the rams. i almost preferred that they traded back. lots of good defensive players still available.

one guy i keep reading about is ruke orhorhoro. versatile big long fast. but also raw. one of the impressive defensive lineman from a purely physical standpoint. but extremely raw. maybe available in the second round.

6’4″ 294 lbs 34″ arms 93/8″ hands.

4.89 40

1.67 10 yd split

32″ vertical

9’7″ broad

29 reps on bench press

Sources: The #Rams are flying to Happy Valley today for a private visit with Penn State pass rusher and projected 1st-rounder Chop Robinson.

Sean McVay and Co. hold the 19th pick in the draft. pic.twitter.com/fW3RoItxS1

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 17, 2024

i love that those two are training together.

zn wrote:

Rookie sack leaders each season since 2016

well we’ll find out how much was due to playing next to ad. how much of a leap he can make in his sophomore season. i like the kid.

need bobby brown iii to step up too. lots of youth and potential still on that dline.

mohamed kamara and chris braswell also up there.

dallas turner notably not quite up there.

zn wrote:

Notable EDGE prospects career pressure rates and weighted pass rush grades. We’re in a pass protection epidemic but this draft class still has some juice.

well i notice chop robinson is near the top there… whatever the case i guess i should just trust that snead and company make the right decision on this. i’ve seen articles note that guys like danielle hunter and chandler jones had similarly low production in college and went on to flourish as pros. even micah parsons. actually chop has outproduced all three in sack totals although parsons missed his last year due to the pandemic.

https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2024/4/6/24122892/rams-draft-needs-edge-rusher-defense-chop-robinsin

thought this was a good article explaining the case for chop robinson.

zn wrote:

Blaine Grisak@bgrisakTST The difference drop off after the top-5 edge rushers to that next tier and the depth at DL is why the Rams have to prioritize EDGE over DL in round 1. Huge drop off between Chop Robinson, Latu, etc. and Trice, Kneeland compared to Murphy to Fiske, Orhorhoro, etc.

ya know. if they ended up getting latu in the first round and fiske or orhorhoro in the second i’d be over the moon.

i suspect though that latu will be gone by that point. maybe rams trade down and get robinson or verse? i don’t like either of those guys at 19.