Rams need mass at NT

[SoCalRam78]

330 pounds of run stuffing ability. Pass rush not very important. A guy that can suck up a center and a guard and allow Donald and Brockers to wreak havoc at the end spots.

Williams and Hankins are both guys available. Looking for that Alvin wright type. Remember him? Was a physical guy in the 3/4. Not a household name but a guy that can anchor the inside with our ILB to be named later.

Westbrook and smart need to be depth guys.

 

[Kevin]

Wade does not run an old-fashioned 3-4 where you need a big fat slob at NT. I expect we will draft an athletic tackle in the 315 lb range.

 

[dang]

I don’t think Williams adds anything to Tyrunn Walker or evenTsnzel Smart. Hankins appears to be big and athlectic. The question is how much? $5M plus incentives might work for Rams but I think he is going to want more guatanteed $$$.

 

[fanotodd]

Personally, I think it's more important to replace our MLB with a more traditional type than OTree was, and who has more instinct to hit the right hole vs a star NT.

The MLB is out there every play. Our DL relies on depth and can handle the NT duties by committee. It's more important to have 2-3 solid guys in a rotation than it is to have only one good player at NT.

I thought Walker did a great job in his limited role last season and hope he returns. Drafting a day 2 or 3 DT/NT plus Smart in his 2nd season could be enough. Save the $$.

 

[WestCoastRam]

In Wade's one gap 3-4 defense, we don't necessarily need mass. Though it might help. What we need is what would be equivalent to one more guy capable of starting at DT in a 4-3. We really don't have that.

If all you did was clone Brockers and put him DE and DT we'd have a stellar defense.

We had success with Westbrooks there cause he could execute as a one-gapper in the middle though he was probably too light to hold up over time there and may have got worn down over games.

Don't need a space eater, need a big guy who can move.

 

[Ram_Rally]

We're gonna resign easly and mice brockers to nt

 

[Angry Ram]

Personally I think that position is becoming faster rather than bigger. I think Vince Wilfork may have been the last old school fattie NT. Everyone else has smaller guys and more athletic.

 

[Ram65]

Wade does not run an old-fashioned 3-4 where you need a big fat slob at NT. I expect we will draft an athletic tackle in the 315 lb range.

This makes sense but with this off season you don't know what the Rams are going to do. Tim Settle fits the bill. Drafting @ 23 in the first round makes it hard to know who is going to be available. Edge Rusher Landry then ILBer Evans are the first choices in first round if available. It would be nice to have the NT spot filled before the draft.

 

[Merlin]

We need a nose and probably another depth DL for the rotation tbh. But the LB needs are more severe. LB is the primary reason why this team sucks balls against the run.

 

[den-the-coach]

The Rams will settle the NT position with their selection in the 2018 NFL Draft!

 

[Gandalf]

What does everybody think about Dominique Easley?

 

[WestCoastRam]

What does everybody think about Dominique Easley?

Well PFT just reported we're trying to resign him. It did sound like they were really disappointed when he went down and expected a lot from him last year. Not a space eater type at all.

Someone help remind me, was he at DE or DT during minicamps??

 

[OldSchool]

What does everybody think about Dominique Easley?

Not the run stopper we need there, he'd be better backing up Brockers and rotating at NT on passing downs. That's if we could rely on him staying healthy.

 

[NERamsFan]

If we could somehow come out with Evans or Landry, then Settle, I legit would not give a a shit about rest of the draft!! lol

 

[WestCoastRam]

Help me if I get this wrong. Brockers started the year at NT but Tanzel Smart took over and ended up starting at NT for a quarter of the season starting around the Cowboys game. Ethan Westbrooks then took over after that with Smart getting only limited snaps afterwards in relief.

Smart and Westbrooks play around 280-290 and so does Dominique Easely. I'm guessing Easely would actually end up in rotation at NT and they'd keep Brockers at DE where he florished after being moved from NT.

Regardless, it seems like Philips wants a penetrating DT at NT and not just a space eater. It makes me wonder if Vea or some of the other top DTs are real fits for Wade.

 

[Ram65]

Well PFT just reported we're trying to resign him. It did sound like they were really disappointed when he went down and expected a lot from him last year. Not a space eater type at all.

Someone help remind me, was he at DE or DT during minicamps??

He did last long at camp IIRC.

Easley has a quick get off but not great strength.

Not the run stopper we need there, he'd be better backing up Brockers and rotating at NT on passing downs. That's if we could rely on him staying healthy.

Good answer.

 

[WestCoastRam]

PFF had Easely as a better run defender than Brockers in 2016 (take that FWIW, they're not gospel but they're no worse than anyone's opinion on here). Might be an apples and oranges comparison with the switch to 3-4. I think he provides something there if healthy.

https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2017/...-dominique-easley-florida-gaters-aaron-donald

 

[Gandalf]

Well PFT just reported we're trying to resign him. It did sound like they were really disappointed when he went down and expected a lot from him last year. Not a space eater type at all.

Someone help remind me, was he at DE or DT during minicamps??

Yeah, that was why I asked. I saw we were looking at him.

 

[Karate61]

Wade does not run an old-fashioned 3-4 where you need a big fat slob at NT. I expect we will draft an athletic tackle in the 315 lb range.

I ran this by our crap run defense, and it said get me a fatty!