Get to Know a Rookie: Johnny Millard/Wagoner

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RamBill

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Get to know a rookie: Johnny Millard
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/9342/get-to-know-a-rookie-johnny-millard

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- We've officially reached the closest thing to a dead period the NFL has to offer these days as organized team activities are over and training camp has not yet arrived.

That means vacation time for the players, coaches and, yes, reporters. In the meantime, let’s get to know some of the less-heralded additions to the Rams roster: the rookie free agents.

Johnny Millard

Position: Linebacker

College: Cal Poly State

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 232 pounds

Stat to know: On his way to second-team All-Big Sky conference honors, Millard posted 108 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception. He started all four years for the Mustangs at outside linebacker and also served as a team captain.

Road to the roster: Few spots on the roster offer more opportunity than linebacker. A year ago, the Rams had three undrafted rookies make the initial cut to 53 (though one was cut soon after) and they still have little in the way of experienced depth behind projected starters James Laurinaitis, Alec Ogletree and Jo-Lonn Dunbar. Ray-Ray Armstrong and Daren Bates, the two undrafted rookies who stuck a year ago, are good bets to stay again this year with Armstrong potentially having an expanded role. But the team will probably keep six or seven and, barring a veteran addition, Millard could be an option. To do so, he's best served to follow the blueprint set forth by Armstrong and Bates by winning a role on special teams first and foremost.
 

BonifayRam

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"But the team will probably keep six or seven and, barring a veteran addition, "

Not so sure about that number of LB'ers myself. 4th rd selection SS Mo Alexander who is already bigger than Bates
http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/numroster/STL
& thicker than Armstrong
http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/numroster/STL
both are current reserve LB'ers.

IMO the need for better back up LB'ing is high but the overall secondary unit is a bigger priority. I could see our DC trying to get Mo on the field as much as possible in any fashion playing the standard Nickle as a LB'er or playing in a new version of a large Nickle with 3 safeties. But 7 Lb'ers on the master roster sounds very high @ the expense from what unit? CB's, WR's, Safeties or RB's