I say Lawler isn't an edge simply because of his physical traits. He's too slow (5.06) to compete against edge OTs. But he has the traits that old-school MIKES used to have. MIKE LBs used to be one or two down players, on early downs to be a force in the A gaps. With the advent of the pass-happy NFL that went out of vogue.
I would have rather seen what Max Roberts could have done. Morris was using Lawler as a strongside edge (JACK) which he isn't because he can't drop. With Morris intents to play a light box by converting SS Rapp and Gervase into coverage LBs he will have to use his other two ILBs to be a force inside vs the run. I couldn't tell who he was using because the camera angles were wrong.
I have no issue with the concept of using SS like Rapp and Gervase as coverage LBs but that basically means he will be playing only one true ILB on most snaps. That is a clear invitation to run right up the gut. Morris will have to retain his two ILBs and replace one of the OLBs.
Morris continues to run the hybrid concept and uses his OLBs as edge rushers on both sides. I have no problem with that but these backup DEs don't have the ability to drop so Morris is using SS, Rapp and Gervase as his MO ILBs. Staley did that and that isn't a problem per se but it absolutely means he needs to play 2 ILBs to cover those A gaps or inside run vulnerability will continue as it was with Staley and again last night.
Given his personnel choices and their limitations I'm not going to be overly critical of Morris. Last night looked like what it was, a defense cobbled together from the bottom of the roster. What I saw puzzling is his use of Lawler as a JACK (replacement for Floyd). He had better options in Banks, and Daka. I would have expected him to play both of them in the DE and JACK positions because they have the speed for the positions (both have 4.6 speed). It was clear that Rozeboom struggled to play as the ILB that appeared to be left alone to cover the A gaps. This is why I say Morris' use of his players seemed strange to me. If you are going to play a single ILB it would make more sense to play Daka and Banks as his edges and Howard as his MIKE.
Regarding the OL Brewer struggled as his lack of playing and practice (he opted out last year) showed. He is being asked to play inside when he was a collegiate OT as such it's going to take time to make the position change as the playing style is completely different between a OG and OT. So I give him a pass as this is his first game action in a couple of years and it showed. Kolone sucked as much as he has always sucked. Evans continued to get pushed around though not on every snap. Which would seem to me to indicate his erratic play has more to do with poor play recognition than anything physical. He looked like he was playing slow. Meredith didn't look good either but he's a rookie in his first game so he might get a pass (PS candidate). McVay looked like he was protecting the top 7 OL which makes sense. The way Alaric Jackson and Anchrum played that would be the 9 the Rams normally keep. Brewer could be out to make room for one of these two and be re-signed to the PS. This is why I'm not going to be overly critical of the OL as most who played aren't going to make the roster anyway.
Orr, Olumba and Harris are slow for CBs and it showed as they were clearly outmatched. Hall just got here so he needs a couple of weeks to get up to speed. JR Reed runs a 4.56 so if he was playing safety that would be average speed for the position, but leaving no room for slow play recognition. Again it's hard to criticize the secondary because all but Hall and Gervase are probably not going to make it. Gervase has decent speed to play SS but his lack of play experience showed as his play recognition was slow. Gervase should make the roster for his STs play. Paris Ford is painfully slow as was a non-factor. It will be interesting to see if Morris re-shuffles his secondary. But with his lack of speed in the secondary it limits his options.
