Dante Fowler

[fearsomefour]

I'm truly appreciative of the depth of Edge OLB'ers the Rams have built, and that includes going forward without Fowler whom I believe is unaffordable to retain following this season. I agree with what you have suggested here, but replacing Brockers with a quality 5T just makes what you're asking for all that much more possible, and it makes Donald even more dangerous.

Available CAP dollars for quality free agents is likely to be more elusive this next off-season, but the Rams still appear to have 7 draft picks coming if we get that expected 3'rd round compensation pick. So how do we want to allocate these picks if BPA and need should happen to meet together ? My top priority is as already stated with our highest draft pick, a DE/DT to replace Brockers. In no particular order I likely utilize the two 3'rd round picks for an OT/OG and a CB. Ramsey has already replaced Peters and David Long is expected to replace Talib next season, but rebuilding depth here should be high on the to-do list going forward. Adding quality depth to the OL is a no-brainer. My 4'th & 5'th rounds would be for WR and Safety depth, again in no particular order, as Thomas is a free agent next season and Reynolds becomes a free agent following the 2020 season. Safety depth because Weddle also becomes a free agent or retires following the 2020 season. My final two picks are leaning towards a QB and ILB, again in either order. Bortles & Hager will be gone after this season, Kiser wasn't looking all that impressive prior to his injury, and the Rams will be seeking competition for our pre-season stand-out QB John Wolford.
The Rams could obviously improve any number of positions with their draft, I only offer this as a means to show how much I value using that early pick on a DE, and while i'm sure many others will clamor for an Offensive Lineman with that 2'nd round pick, I believe our current depth will provide given sufficient developmental time to get their act together. jmo.

Do they really have depth?
They have a bunch of guys who haven’t don’t anything.
Samson, save one huge game, has been ok. Plays situationally mostly.
The rest have done nada.
Doesn’t mean they can’t. We all want to see Oko work out. I personally think Patrick may end up working his way into considerable playing time.
But, they are unproven and as such hard to count as quality depth.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Do they really have depth?
They have a bunch of guys who haven’t don’t anything.
Samson, save one huge game, has been ok. Plays situationally mostly.
The rest have done nada.
Doesn’t mean they can’t. We all want to see Oko work out. I personally think Patrick may end up working his way into considerable playing time.
But, they are unproven and as such hard to count as quality depth.

Well, ... perhaps my definition of depth differs from yours. Once a player qualifies for the 53 man roster, and if they aren't deemed starters or rotational players which are pretty much used on a game day weekly basis, the remainder of the roster become 'depth'. Depth Charts are actually a thing, and they allow those who get to see & use them a list of who is healthy, available and in the desired pecking order coaches have chosen based on practices & previous games played. Lawler & Carraway were injured and placed on IR, so they are no longer on the current depth chart. Yes, I also count practice squad players as depth as they can be brought up with a days notice, others might not, ... imo they aren't all that different from those few roster depth players who are prevented from suiting up on game day.

When 100% healthy, the Rams Edge OLB starters appear to be Fowler & Matthews, Ebukam is more the rotational player. Obo and Patrick had previously had very little work, Atlanta finally got them more involved. Besides those on the 53, i'm equally excited to see what Polite and Durham will do once given an opportunity, but we are so loaded at the position, that's not likely until 2020. So yes, I believe these guys are the very definition of depth. jmo.

 

[PhillyRam]

Good Tuesday Morning River....

Yes DE Morgan Fox does enter FA'cy in March but the good news is he is a RFA not a UFA. I do not foresee Fox getting a Cory Littleton offer of $3.1 mil for 1 yr. However, I do see something close to what this past off season RFA Troy Hill was offered.... 2 year $3.3million contract. The chance & opportunity to be a starter with Aaron Donald. Fox as you well know was a UDFA.

I believe a 2nd round tender is out of the question because he has never been a starter like Littleton. Wade/ Henderson will suffer the loss of a starter in the DL does have Donald/ Gaines/ Joseph-Day/ Smart under contract. 5 tech Copeland stands a very good chance to be resigned too. That's five & Fox would be 6.

Like you I would expect Snead to draft another DL somewhere around where DL Gaines was taken this past draft. Mentioning Greg Gaines...he was inactive this past Sunday. GG has only been active for 3 of the 7 Ram games thus far. The talented Edge Rusher cadre continue to take snaps away from DL'ers GG & Smart. Expect GG to play a much larger role in this DL in 2020 with Brockers departed.

Highly probable that Rams secure both Fox & Copeland both 5 tech DL'ers for 2020. The rest of the DL & reserves remain the same. With SJD & GG entering 2nd seasons, young vets Smart & Fox entering 4th seasons & AD in his 7th along with Copeland that's a good nucleus to build on. I see no real issue with a lack of talent & abilities in that DL.

Seems like we are also on the same page in our future thoughts on ER Justin Lawler who is still stewing on the IR after foot surgery......I would expect him with his overall size & power to move to the DL in the 5 tech position. JL came into the NFL in 2018 @ 43 DL size. JL plays more like a DT than an end, being a power lifter. Strength to set the edge, If he has a future in the NFL it will be as a 5 tech DE in this defense. I expect to see him playing @ around 275lbs being over 6-4 fits with what Wade likes.

My prediction is Snead will NOT utilize any of his 2nd day draft selections on a 5 tech DL in this upcoming draft.

I disagree about the DL.... I want to see what Gaines and SJD can do with more reps, but the rest of the guys are JAGS.

They need to add at least one blue chip guy and maybe two, that will make teams pay for double teaming and even triple teaming Donald.

Look at that Niner DL, Donald is the only Ram DL who would start for them. The Rams need to get better and more athletic up front.

Our depth is so average, I could actually see Brockers come back as depth if he is willing to take a cheap deal and they decide to not keep Fowler.

 

[PhillyRam]

I disagree about the DL.... I want to see what Gaines and SJD can do with more reps, but the rest of the guys are JAGS.

They need to add at least one blue chip guy and maybe two, that will make teams pay for double teaming and even triple teaming Donald.

Look at that Niner DL, Donald is the only Ram DL who would start for them. The Rams need to get better and more athletic up front.

Our depth is so average, I could actually see Brockers come back as depth if he is willing to take a cheap deal and they decide to not keep Fowler.

Plus if they draft a couple rookies then Brockers might not be a bad guy to keep for leadership etc.... If he gives a discount to stay.

Then they must rely on the youth they have at OLB and OL since they can't spend big money there and to offset the spending on Littleton, Ramsey etc...

Of course you always can add a John Sullivan type for cheap vet experience on the OL as well along with all of the youth they have.

 

[BonifayRam]

Do they really have depth?
They have a bunch of guys who haven’t don’t anything.
Samson, save one huge game, has been ok. Plays situationally mostly.
The rest have done nada.
Doesn’t mean they can’t. We all want to see Oko work out. I personally think Patrick may end up working his way into considerable playing time.
But, they are unproven and as such hard to count as quality depth.

My response to your question is....Yes they have!.

 

[BonifayRam]

I disagree about the DL.... I want to see what Gaines and SJD can do with more reps, but the rest of the guys are JAGS.

They need to add at least one blue chip guy and maybe two, that will make teams pay for double teaming and even triple teaming Donald.

Look at that Niner DL, Donald is the only Ram DL who would start for them. The Rams need to get better and more athletic up front.

Our depth is so average, I could actually see Brockers come back as depth if he is willing to take a cheap deal and they decide to not keep Fowler.

I understand your present position. But Wade's defense is still undergoing changes & evolving in today's NFL. I certainly do not see the Rams 6 signed DL'ers not including Brockers as meeting my understanding of what the term Jags means.

I see something else here. When I see Wade increasing his utilization of just two interior DL'ers & then using two of his OLB'ers as his most used defensive front .....indicates to me that Wade prefers to use more non DL'ers & more edge rushing types. Wade does not just use this line up on passing down either.

Wade's top selected DL'er in this past draft was inactive this past week...just not needed. Fact is GG has only been active 3 games thus far. Leads me to think that DL'ers are not a big need & on Wade's mind this new season.

Next year when Brockers has left & a starting post is available I see that current signed DL'ers i.e. GG, SJD, Fox, Smart & Copeland can fill the void. It would not surprise me at all that Wade moves the ER'er Og Okoronkwo 6-2 260 down into DL cadre unit in contention @ the voided Brockers 5 tech post. Those two smaller DL'ers with a great get off will give the OL'ers fits in the future. Wait & watch give these younger DL'ers some time to grow into their assignments.

 

[Ram65]

Do they really have depth?
They have a bunch of guys who haven’t don’t anything.
Samson, save one huge game, has been ok. Plays situationally mostly.
The rest have done nada.
Doesn’t mean they can’t. We all want to see Oko work out. I personally think Patrick may end up working his way into considerable playing time.
But, they are unproven and as such hard to count as quality depth.

Ebu had the knee injury last year which slowed his progress down. I want to see what he does with more chances with the injury to Mathews. He has had a couple of good pass knockdowns. Seems to at least get some pressure on his pass rush.

Overall not much game action to speak of for the rest of them. Let's see what Obo does as well with the remaining playing time. Fowler hadn't done much till this past week. Even at that, he will be missed. Polite could be a nice replacement if he has his stuff together. He needs to gain weight and strength but, has that ability to pass rush.

It's kinda a wait and see but, will be an area of concern with no money to resign Fowler.

 

[RamsInfiniti]

Do they really have depth?
They have a bunch of guys who haven’t don’t anything.
Samson, save one huge game, has been ok. Plays situationally mostly.
The rest have done nada.
Doesn’t mean they can’t. We all want to see Oko work out. I personally think Patrick may end up working his way into considerable playing time.
But, they are unproven and as such hard to count as quality depth.

Not sure what your definition of depth is ….

Because depth players that can be legitimate starters/producers in this league - well, they get paid, and go become those things.

I look at this roster up and down and see more depth than I ever have with the exception of the OL.

Most teams have a couple superstars, a handful of really good players, and a bunch of JAGS.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I see something else here. When I see Wade increasing his utilization of just two interior DL'ers & then using two of his OLB'ers as his most used defensive front .....indicates to me that Wade prefers to use more non DL'ers & more edge rushing types. Wade does not just use this line up on passing down either.

As long as we're speculating, it could also indicate less confidence in his current DL getting QB pressure than his 2018 DL. First time starter Sebastian Joseph is being brought along slowly, he's receiving 43% of the defensive snaps in comparison to Suh's 88% last year. Suh also occupied double teams where Brockers & Joseph are not, thus freeing up Donald to have his record year. Brockers had his worst ever NFL year statistically in 2018, he's not showing much improvement in 2019, yet his defensive snap count is at 75% this season compared to 2018's 67%.
Wade looking for relief by utilizing faster Edge OLB's to get pressure seems a natural progression when the DL isn't getting it done, but it doesn't prevent opposing offenses from double & triple teaming Aaron Donald.
Free Agent Brockers needs to be replaced by a quality 5T DE/DT, someone who can not only apply far more pressure than he does, but also help absorb double teams to help allow Donald more freedom to do his own job. jmo.

 

[fearsomefour]

My response to your question is....Yes they have!.

Well, they at least have names on a piece of paper.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I disagree about the DL.... I want to see what Gaines and SJD can do with more reps, but the rest of the guys are JAGS.

They need to add at least one blue chip guy and maybe two, that will make teams pay for double teaming and even triple teaming Donald.

Look at that Niner DL, Donald is the only Ram DL who would start for them. The Rams need to get better and more athletic up front.

Our depth is so average, I could actually see Brockers come back as depth if he is willing to take a cheap deal and they decide to not keep Fowler.

Agree with everything but the Brockers part, ... he needs to move on to a 4-3 defense who can better utilize his interior skills. jmo.