Discuss the current Defenses depth chart

[BeefJurky]

Gaines will start because Tru is getting traded on draft day and we'll have a 2nd or 3rd round CB on the bench/rotating.

 

[jrry32]

Like I said, I wasn't trying to be a dick. But people keep making the assumption that Brockers will play end. When that simply won't be the case. I can guarantee you he will be our starting NT when the season starts. He's played that position his whole career. Why would they put him on the edge where he's never been.

Wade's LDE doesn't play on the edge. He aligns about where Donald did in GW's scheme.

Okay seriously people. Michael Brockers WILL NOT PLAY DEFENSIVE END. I'm not trying to be a dick, but in the history of football there has NEVER been a 3-4 DE that weighed 330 pounds. Wade a Phillips likes his NTs to be finesse type guys. Not space eaters. It will be Donald-Brockers-Easley as of right now.

That's incorrect, Legatron. Haloti Ngata is one very clear example of a 3-4 DE who weighed more than 330 pounds.

It remains to be seen where Brockers will play. Wade has played guys like him at LDE and NT. He could play either one in this scheme.

I also have strong doubts that we plan to go into the year with Easley as the starting LDE.

 

[tempests]

but in the history of football there has NEVER been a 3-4 DE that weighed 330 pounds.

I can't leave this alone. It's not that common but it's hardly unheard of. Haloti Ngata played DE for the Ravens and was probably 340ish.

I doubt Brockers is at DE, but it's not the first time I've heard that either. Coming out in the draft, some speculated his size, strength, long arms and athleticism would allow him to play 3-4 DE in the pros.

 

[PARAM]

Thank you Wade Phillips for joining the conversation! I didn't realize you'd joined our board

Come on Old School, where have you been?!?! All team message boards are made up of NFL employees!! It's what we do in the off season and then once the season starts we let our kids post!!!

Seriously, if you belong to a sports forum and you don't have a strong opinion, then you're going to develop one.

I wish I could remember the guy who suggested to Martz to move Mike Furrey to safety!!!

 

[DaveFan'51]

As I'm looking at it with the latest signing lets discuss the depth chart. The only thing IMO that is really up in the air is the LDE and NT and their rotations. I'm not really assigning roles to the CB group just top 3 and backups at any and all position. This is my take on it this is 31 people which is much more than we'll carry for a 53 man roster (likely 25ish).

RDE: Donald, Longacre
NT: Walker, Easley, Brockers
LDE: Brockers, Easley, Trinca Pasat

WLB: Quinn, Fox
ILB: Ogletree, Forrest, Grigsby
ILB: Barron, Hager, Northrup
SLB: Barwin, Thompson, Littleton

CB: Johnson, Jordan, Christian
CB: Webster, Hill, Countess
CB: Robey-Coleman, Gaines

FS: Joyner, Davis, Christian
SS: Alexander, Randolph, Johnson

My personal take on this^ is the Rams need to improve on the Quality in the area of depth at just about all the positions! JMHO!

 

[Legatron4]

I can't leave this alone. It's not that common but it's hardly unheard of. Haloti Ngata played DE for the Ravens and was probably 340ish.

I doubt Brockers is at DE, but it's not the first time I've heard that either. Coming out in the draft, some speculated his size, strength, long arms and athleticism would allow him to play 3-4 DE in the pros.

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/06/26/haloti-ngata-detroit-lions-nfl
Not sure where you and @jrry32 got your info. But Ngata played NT for Baltimore. He switched positions in Detroit but basically was still playing to his strengths.

 

[Ram65]

I thought I read that Wade was moving to the smaller DT and getting away from the really big run stopper guys. That's because the passing game has taken over the NFL.

Seems like Brookers would be the starting NT. He could play both positions. At this time he seems to be the best option to be disruptive in the middle of the line. Tyunne Walker as the backup at 6'3" and 310 LBs or so. He would be close in size to Brokers 6'5" and 326 Lbs or so. I would guess that Brokers could stay at in the mid 320's or even lose some weight now that he is only covering one gap.


http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/michael-brockers?id=2533050
OVERVIEW
Brockers is an elite athlete who has been gaining a lot of steam on draft boards in recent months after declaring for the draft after his redshirt sophomore year. He came to Baton Rouge as a thick linebacker prospect before putting on good weight and moving to the line and eventually inside to DT. He has positional versatility and could even be attractive to 3-4 teams as a defensive end, as he is athletic enough to work from the edge in a scheme that seeks bigger DEs to maintain blockers and keep linebackers free. He has more value as a 3 tech DT within a 4-3 defense and will have an immediate impact on the line as a rookie.

 

[tempests]

But Ngata played NT for Baltimore.

Because of his versatility, Baltimore moved him around their line. And he did play the nose more as he got older. But his first few years in the league, Kelly Gregg was the Ravens NT. Ngata was at DE.

 

[LACHAMP46]

The biggest worry I come to is Barron playing next to Ogletree. They are both undersized - weight wise.

I wish everyone could see Tree next to most players. He's not lacking in size....or strength. Very impressive player. 245 lbs but appears smaller.
Barron does seem a little slight when compared to most front 7 players.

 

[BonifayRam]

Some of my thoughts here in this discussion on the DL situation.....

Easley, Brockers, Westbrooks all could be inserted in this 34 open LDE post & perform well. If the newly signed Walker turns out to be starting material @ NT. But Walker (who just happens to be the size of most all of Wades past NT's with a 1 or 2 exceptions) has yet to remain a starter for more than 8 games in his 5 yrs in the NFL. Walker has either been a in street clothes or just a back up to injured......not something to really count on as a starter. The big hope is a slim chance Walker might be a good back up NT & fair enough reserve at the DE posts in 2017 & remain healthy.

So IMO Snead needs to find a true NT if Brockers is to be able to room the DL at will. IMO Brockers would have MUCH more impact @ LDE than over the nose. When your are the highest paid DL one would think you might want to place this highest paid player in a position to best earn such a high mount of pay would you not?????

Easley is much better as a pass rushing specialist than run stopper. Why would you want to place this valuable commodity so that his best talent is wasted on full time duty? Easley is a serious pass rusher that can be inserted in normal passing situation & created instant pressure on the OL & QB from all three DL posts. Playing Easley full time deletes his best item he brings to the DL table! Pass rushers are rare from the interior DL positions that's what makes Donald so valuable when you have two like that it would be foolish to wear out a lightweight DL on all those ful time run downs. Should I bring up the big negative on Easley's skill set????He looses sight of the ball carrier easily & to top it off has a known history of wearing down easily when used on full time use.

Ethan Westbrooks is young tough undamaged after 3 NFL seasons & generally plays the run & pass with equal effectiveness. He was the Rams LDE main back up for the last two seasons. EW has just earned a new near 2 million dollar contract & a nice pay raise based off his 3 yr of past Ram performances. EW is a perfect LDE prospect for Wade's new 34..

I forgot to add in NT Louis Tricant Pasat. IMO Wade being hired was the best thing for for the 6-1 292 pound first yr player. Seems to me he fits perfect in Wade's 34 aggressive scheme as a NT prospect. Some of the things he did real good as a 3 yr starter was: great twisting moves to tie up 2 blocker leaving holes for others to make plays, good power on one on one blocks, outstanding balance & is never on the ground, pursues with fervor.

If the Rams do draft a DL in this draft I would bet he will be a NT with the hopes he could immediate be a rotational DL'er so to free up Brockers.

RDE-Donald/Easley/Fox
NT-Brockers/Walker/Tricant-Pasat
LDE-Westbrooks/Longacre (Brockers)

 

[So Ram]

Found this OldSchool

It clearly states that DE Ethan Westbrooks is under LA Rams contract for the 2017 season & will be a UFA in 2018.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/los-angeles-rams/ethan-westbrooks-15106/

Ethan Westbrooks signed a 1 year, $1,797,000 contract with the Los Angeles Rams, including an average annual salary of $1,797,000. In 2017, Westbrooks will earn a base salary of $1,797,000, while carrying a cap hit of $1,797,000.

I can see Brockers playing a ton of LDE in Wades 34 defense myself. When we see him in camp & see just how he looks ....if he is cut & much thinner then that should tell us a lot. I am betting Brockers comes into camp under 320 pounds easy ready for whatever Wade wants him to do. I would also guess that that Brockers would love to start on the opposite side of Aaron Donald & get a chance to showcase his developing pass rush moves.

Go to The Rams site . They had a workout Monday of players working out. Freaking Aaron Donald is so quick , just working on his foot work & speed.

Blockers always workouts hard in the offseason . 2 years ago Tree & he were doing mma workouts together.
Blockers looks like he can play DE in a 3/4 .
I ask the question when has he played a straight up NT ? Sometimes it is good just to move players around on the line $ not keep them in a box.

--Once again McVay talks about cross training players that works with keeping top 11 on the field.

 

[So Ram]

As I'm looking at it with the latest signing lets discuss the depth chart. The only thing IMO that is really up in the air is the LDE and NT and their rotations. I'm not really assigning roles to the CB group just top 3 and backups at any and all position. This is my take on it this is 31 people which is much more than we'll carry for a 53 man roster (likely 25ish).

RDE: Donald, Longacre
NT: Walker, Easley, Brockers
LDE: Brockers, Easley, Trinca Pasat

WLB: Quinn, Fox
ILB: Ogletree, Forrest, Grigsby
ILB: Barron, Hager, Northrup
SLB: Barwin, Thompson, Littleton

CB: Johnson, Jordan, Christian
CB: Webster, Hill, Countess
CB: Robey-Coleman, Gaines

FS: Joyner, Davis, Christian
SS: Alexander, Randolph, Johnson

ROBERT QUINN !!!! Maybe The Best Player when Healthy ???

Can he be a 19 sack guy ever again. How will this defense benifits him ?? The Rams have him listed as a OLB

 

[So Ram]

Very nice effort, OldSchool.

No room for Westbrooks in that front 7? I think Westbrooks makes our 53, tbh.

A drafted CB, possibly early, seems quite likely, too.

Love the way this staff keeps finding and signing second tier FA's at numerous positions, but if a LB and/or a S were to fall into their laps, I do think that they would pounce in the draft.

FA has demonstrated three things to me.

1) They have a coherent Big Picture overall strategy for upgrading their roster.

2) They understand and recognize talent all up and down the roster positions, not just on one side of the ball or the other.

3) When they see an opportunity for a good player fit, they seize it.

All these things bode well for a successful draft, as well.

I'm thinking offense of playmaker early.
If
OBi. Or Peppers are there ?? I think it could be a safety . Those are some good football players.
-- Watt is another guy The Rams could draft.
I like the kid from SC at WR or CB .

--Then again McVay is in Snead's ear showing him the player he wants. There are some good WR's & TE's in this draft. The Rams released Lance Kendrick & have not add to the postition.

Quick & Britt gone , & Woods is the only WR brought in .

 

[MAXWELL]

you all are way off. ngata has been an interior lineman his entire career. brockers is an ideal NT. you all are silly.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NgatHa20.htm

 

[OldSchool]

you all are way off. ngata has been an interior lineman his entire career. brockers is an ideal NT. you all are silly.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NgatHa20.htm

Two things! One that actually does list a year he spent time at DE. Two those kind of sites don't list everything a player does. For instance there were times that Aaron Donald last year lined up at DE and it doesn't show it.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DonaAa00.htm

Hayes and Sims often lined up at DT on passing situations and the site doesn't note that either. Hell for Sims they list him as a LB but each year he played DE.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HayeWi99.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimsEu99.htm

 

[bomebadeeda]

I think Quinn will be used at DE on some passing downs and then be a "rush" OLB in other situations. The odd guy out might be Barron as w/ Quinn and Conner being the outside guys Unless there would be some wierd hybrid flex, I just can't see Barron as an inside LB, unless Conner slides inside and Barron takes the coverage LB position. It will be interesting the next few weeks on how many changes happen to our "core" defense (to the guys leftover from the previous regime.....).
Upfront. I'm in the group seeing Donald, Brockers and Easly being the first 3 guys. I think it's a group that will certainly get a drafted guy or 2 added.

 

[DaveFan'51]

I also have strong doubts that we plan to go into the year with Easley as the starting LDE.

I sure hope we get an upgrade over Easley!! He's not up to my standards!!

 

[DaveFan'51]

I forgot to add in NT Louis Tricant Pasat. IMO Wade being hired was the best thing for for the 6-1 292 pound first yr player. Seems to me he fits perfect in Wade's 34 aggressive scheme as a NT prospect. Some of the things he did real good as a 3 yr starter was: great twisting moves to tie up 2 blocker leaving holes for others to make plays, good power on one on one blocks, outstanding balance & is never on the ground, pursues with fervor.

I like this idea, I have been wanting to see what Trinca-Pasat can do every sense he was Drafted! I like his attitude!!

 

[rdlkgliders]

I don't think Brockers weight has anything to do with him playing the DE as some have said. He is a natural NT, DT. He may move outside in some packages bit his technique does not lend itself to him playing there.

 

[jrry32]

http://mmqb.si.com/2015/06/26/haloti-ngata-detroit-lions-nfl
Not sure where you and @jrry32 got your info. But Ngata played NT for Baltimore. He switched positions in Detroit but basically was still playing to his strengths.

I got my info from watching film. The Ravens don't run a traditional 3-4. Ngata played as a 3-technique in Baltimore in addition to a 1-technique nose. The Ravens started a guy named Kelly Gregg at nose tackle in their scheme for years while Ngata was there (Ngata played some nose after he left after the Terrance Cody experiment failed before Brandon Williams became the starting NT). Ngata primarily lined up in the gap that Donald and our LDE will line up in on many of their snaps. Although, Ngata did see snaps at nose tackle on some passing downs.

So I'm not sure where you're getting your information, but it is inaccurate. In fact, you can see Ngata playing as a 3-technique here:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Yk1LnAuZ4