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- May 16, 2019
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Not moving to resign Fowler is a huge head-scratcher IMO. But if they feel they can afford to move on without him so be it. Considering they don't have a first round pick and 5th round pick they will probably be looking for one in the draft or in FA. But anyone they get in the draft will be only a part-time starter at best. What makes me curious about this attitude is they gave up a lot to get Fowler so to watch him walk could mean they have targeted someone else in FA or the draft. But until something breaks, and I'm not totally giving up on resigning Fowler I looked at the Rams roster and it's not bare by any means.
People need to realize that the Rams are running a true hybrid defensive scheme. In reality, they are running a 2-5 with both DE positions filled by OLB. Both Okoronkwo and Fowler are OLB not DE's. But in reality, when you look at the metrics of the players, Okoronkwo and Carraway are strictly a DEs not OLBs. When you look at Fowler he can play either position by his metrics. But by his style of play and his talent he's strictly a 4-3 DE as he is extremely limited as are the other two, in his ability to drop back. That was very apparent last year when he was asked to drop back. IMO it could be why they aren't pursuing him as aggressively as I thought they would.
They are very high on Kiser and IMO he's always been slated as the heir apparent to Littleton and I think they feel his time has come. So allowing Littleton to move on is no surprise to me. Kiser has the size and especially the speed they want at ILB. He gives them much more versatility at the position.
Young has the speed and build of a SS and although he's listed as an ILB I can see them playing him much as they would a 3rd safety in the passing package. Travin Howard is another ILB built like a SS with safety speed. Reeder has proven himself a good option as a two-down LB as well.
At OLB they do have an option to Fowler in Ebukam. He's shown he's an impact player who can play both the run and the pass better than Fowler who is limited in his ability to drop back. Fowler is really a classic 4-3 DE and not a true hybrid 3-4 OLB/Edge player. Ebukam is in fact the classic 3-4 hybrid OLB/Edge. So perhaps they will give him that shot? In fact, before they traded for Dante I felt that Ebukam was the guy they needed at the position.
Opposite Ebukam is Okoronkwo and he's shown enough that his time to be the fulltime Edge on the opposite side has come. Behind these two they have Mathews who IMO will become the fulltime 3 down SAM. I think the sleeper to watch is Josh Carraway. Before he got injured last year he flashed enough to see he has some upside as an Edge behind Okoronkwo. Carraway lacks the long speed but so does Okoronkwo. But what both these two have is an explosive first step. Ogbo uses his explosive first step to gain immediate leverage in his rush. Carraway does the same but where Ogbo is primarily a bull rusher, Carraway tries to win with leverage and technique.
So right now without the draft and or FA signing, IMO the front 7 looks like this. The Open TBD is where I think they will look to fill in the draft or FA signing.
DE Okoronkwo, Carraway
NT Gaines, SJD
DT AD, Open TBD
Edge/OLB Ebukam, Open TBD
MIKE Kiser
MO Reeder
ILB Young, Howard
SAM Mathews
What we might be seeing is that this team is really focusing upon scheme fit as much as anything else. In fact, when you look at the success of the Pats, (cheating aside) scheme fit is what has been a major factor in their ability to sustain their success even though they are forever drafting low. Seeking players that fit their scheme and not expecting them to play outside of that envelope.
IMO Ebukam has shown that he can be that 8-10 sack per year kind of Edge player I thought he was this time last year. Perhaps that was the rationale for signing Mathews to play SAM. With the expectation that now in 2021 Ebukam will be the replacement for Fowler and Mathews will be the bridge for them to develop the next SAM taken this year in the draft (remember Samson was a 4th round pick)
So IMO a SAM LB, Edge, DT, and FB are on their shopping list this offseason and draft.
People need to realize that the Rams are running a true hybrid defensive scheme. In reality, they are running a 2-5 with both DE positions filled by OLB. Both Okoronkwo and Fowler are OLB not DE's. But in reality, when you look at the metrics of the players, Okoronkwo and Carraway are strictly a DEs not OLBs. When you look at Fowler he can play either position by his metrics. But by his style of play and his talent he's strictly a 4-3 DE as he is extremely limited as are the other two, in his ability to drop back. That was very apparent last year when he was asked to drop back. IMO it could be why they aren't pursuing him as aggressively as I thought they would.
They are very high on Kiser and IMO he's always been slated as the heir apparent to Littleton and I think they feel his time has come. So allowing Littleton to move on is no surprise to me. Kiser has the size and especially the speed they want at ILB. He gives them much more versatility at the position.
Young has the speed and build of a SS and although he's listed as an ILB I can see them playing him much as they would a 3rd safety in the passing package. Travin Howard is another ILB built like a SS with safety speed. Reeder has proven himself a good option as a two-down LB as well.
At OLB they do have an option to Fowler in Ebukam. He's shown he's an impact player who can play both the run and the pass better than Fowler who is limited in his ability to drop back. Fowler is really a classic 4-3 DE and not a true hybrid 3-4 OLB/Edge player. Ebukam is in fact the classic 3-4 hybrid OLB/Edge. So perhaps they will give him that shot? In fact, before they traded for Dante I felt that Ebukam was the guy they needed at the position.
Opposite Ebukam is Okoronkwo and he's shown enough that his time to be the fulltime Edge on the opposite side has come. Behind these two they have Mathews who IMO will become the fulltime 3 down SAM. I think the sleeper to watch is Josh Carraway. Before he got injured last year he flashed enough to see he has some upside as an Edge behind Okoronkwo. Carraway lacks the long speed but so does Okoronkwo. But what both these two have is an explosive first step. Ogbo uses his explosive first step to gain immediate leverage in his rush. Carraway does the same but where Ogbo is primarily a bull rusher, Carraway tries to win with leverage and technique.
So right now without the draft and or FA signing, IMO the front 7 looks like this. The Open TBD is where I think they will look to fill in the draft or FA signing.
DE Okoronkwo, Carraway
NT Gaines, SJD
DT AD, Open TBD
Edge/OLB Ebukam, Open TBD
MIKE Kiser
MO Reeder
ILB Young, Howard
SAM Mathews
What we might be seeing is that this team is really focusing upon scheme fit as much as anything else. In fact, when you look at the success of the Pats, (cheating aside) scheme fit is what has been a major factor in their ability to sustain their success even though they are forever drafting low. Seeking players that fit their scheme and not expecting them to play outside of that envelope.
IMO Ebukam has shown that he can be that 8-10 sack per year kind of Edge player I thought he was this time last year. Perhaps that was the rationale for signing Mathews to play SAM. With the expectation that now in 2021 Ebukam will be the replacement for Fowler and Mathews will be the bridge for them to develop the next SAM taken this year in the draft (remember Samson was a 4th round pick)
So IMO a SAM LB, Edge, DT, and FB are on their shopping list this offseason and draft.
