Laurinaitis underwent ankle surgery after season ended.

[RamsJunkie]

Rams MLB James Laurinaitis underwent ankle surgery just after the 2013 season.
It was a "cleanup" procedure, and Laurinaitis is "full speed now." The 27-year-old Mike 'backer is coming off a disappointing season, particularly in run defense. The Rams are scheduled to pay him a whopping $10 million salary in 2014.
Source: Jim Thomas on Twitter

 

[V3]

I cringe every time I see his salary.

 

[Mojo Ram]

The entire team struggled in run defense until they turned it around in week 10.

 

[Rams and Gators]

Doesn't tell the whole story but our week by week run D:
3.3
2.3
5.7
5.5
3.8
5.1
2.7
2.9
5.7
1.2
3.1
2.8
3.3
3.1
2.6
3.1

Key:
Better than league best yards/carry
Better than league average
Worse than league average
Worse than league worst

Surprisingly the 3 weeks we allowed worse than the league worst we lost (31-7 Dallas, 35-11 San Fran, 28-21 Tennessee).

 

[Legatron4]

Doesn't tell the whole story but our week by week run D:
3.3
2.3
5.7
5.5
3.8
5.1
2.7
2.9
5.7
1.2
3.1
2.8
3.3
3.1
2.6
3.1

Key:
Better than league best yards/carry
Better than league average
Worse than league average
Worse than league worst

Surprisingly the 3 weeks we allowed worse than the league worst we lost (31-7 Dallas, 35-11 San Fran, 28-21 Tennessee).

So 10 out of 16 games we were the best at stopping the run in the entire NFL and people are saying Leonidas(yeah, I went there, wanna fight aboutit?) had a bad year? I realize most of it has to do with our defensive line but I thought he had a great year. He's always around the ball and is super smart. He's gunna be our MLB till he retires.

 

[Ramhusker]

I hope this slowed him down a little last year and this year well see him play with his hair on fire!!!!!

 

[RaminExile]

People are always down on J Lau's run defence. Basically its not his strength. He's a rangy, smart coverage linebacker with great instincts and always is around the ball. Someone on here (I think! - sorry not to give credit where its due) put it best and said "he makes stops - not plays which I think is fair.

The knock on him since the day he came out of college is his lack of stoutness at the point of attack. That's fair enough. Its just who he is. He does other things that are great for us and for our D as a whole.

The bigger question for the Rams D has been who can we sit next to Brockers to stuff the run? We need a big bodied DT as an upgrade on Kendall Langford (who after all was a DE before he came to St Louis!)

 

[V3]

So 10 out of 16 games we were the best at stopping the run in the entire NFL and people are saying Leonidas(yeah, I went there, wanna fight aboutit?) had a bad year? I realize most of it has to do with our defensive line but I thought he had a great year. He's always around the ball and is super smart. He's gunna be our MLB till he retires.

How many ROD bucks you wanna bet on that?

 

[V3]

People are always down on J Lau's run defence. Basically its not his strength. He's a rangy, smart coverage linebacker with great instincts and always is around the ball. Someone on here (I think! - sorry not to give credit where its due) put it best and said "he makes stops - not plays which I think is fair.

The knock on him since the day he came out of college is his lack of stoutness at the point of attack. That's fair enough. Its just who he is. He does other things that are great for us and for our D as a whole.

The bigger question for the Rams D has been who can we sit next to Brockers to stuff the run? We need a big bodied DT as an upgrade on Kendall Langford (who after all was a DE before he came to St Louis!)

Langford was our best DT last year.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Good MLB's don't grow on trees. Remember 2002 through 2009?
I'm thankful we have one in JL.

 

[BonifayRam]

I am fine @ this point with JL. As this young defense matures JL should improve. What I have notice is that JL expects & places himself in hard spots many times. I think that it shows a sign of leadership IMO. He always takes the long hard road giving the younger maybe weaker players the lesser better roads & better positions. Has anyone else seen this?

 

[Ramrasta]

From what I have seen from Laurinaitis, I wouldn't take anyone else. This guy is 110% dedicated to the Rams and is the brains of our defense. He might not be an all-star in his play but he is basically an on-field defensive coordinator and hypes up the team in key moments. He has the experience at the position that is crucial for a MLB I see him giving all he has. He builds relationships with his teammates which is important for a young team looking to develop chemistry. He was even active in free agency trying to get Saffold to stay. The guy has value which cannot be replaced, IMO.

 

[RamsAndEwe]

We have 12 draft picks. I would like to draft some middle linebacker depth with a mid to late pick.

 

[Mojo Ram]

We have 12 draft picks. I would like to draft some middle linebacker depth with a mid to late pick.

So would i...and i did in my mock.

 

[Alan]

I hope we draft an OLB in the 4th round or so. It is one of our needs IMO. Without his usual dose of PEDs, DUMBars play has regressed considerably.

 

[V3]

I hope we draft an OLB in the 4th round or so. It is one of our needs IMO. Without his usual dose of PEDs, DUMBars play has regressed considerably.

It could have been the new scheme we had last year, also. Dunbar knows Williams' scheme. He had something very similar two years ago. He didn't with Walton. Hopefully he bounces back this year.

 

[CGI_Ram]

It could have been the new scheme we had last year, also. Dunbar knows Williams' scheme. He had something very similar two years ago. He didn't with Walton. Hopefully he bounces back this year.

Good point.

 

[Alan]

V3 with a solution:
It could have been the new scheme we had last year, also. Dunbar knows Williams' scheme. He had something very similar two years ago. He didn't with Walton. Hopefully he bounces back this year.

Hopefully we don't need him to bounce back because we have a new stud. But either way is good.

 

[BonifayRam]

Spoon was the back up to JL last season. Fisher has signed 3 possibilities to back up JL thus far. JoLunn Dunbar, Caleb McSurdy who was a late round 2013 Dallas selection. Here a summary of McSurdy abilities prior to him being drafted.
http://www.nfl.com/player/calebmcsurdy/2533337/combine.
And MLB'er Etienne Sabino 6-3 240 who played for Ohio State
http://www.nfl.com/player/etiennesabino/2539282/combine.

 

[TheDYVKX]

From what I have seen from Laurinaitis, I wouldn't take anyone else. This guy is 110% dedicated to the Rams and is the brains of our defense. He might not be an all-star in his play but he is basically an on-field defensive coordinator and hypes up the team in key moments. He has the experience at the position that is crucial for a MLB I see him giving all he has. He builds relationships with his teammates which is important for a young team looking to develop chemistry. He was even active in free agency trying to get Saffold to stay. The guy has value which cannot be replaced, IMO.

Yeah, he's not the best player, but his football knowledge, leadership and intelligence in general are tough to replace, along with his consistency. Unless you can find a better physical player that also has his intangibles, we don't need a replacement and it doesn't make sense to get one as of now. Maybe a depth guy to develop into that role, but nothing more.

He's going to be important for Williams' defense, because it's very complicated and JL being the on-field general that he is, will be able to make it run seamlessly. He is the heart of our D.