Greg Gaines and A’Shawn Robinson

[CGI_Ram]

If Aaron Donald DOES plan to retire in 2yrs… does that change how we approach Gaines and Robinson as 2023 free agents?

I guess… I sort of assumed they might be part of the Snead engine to return us comp picks… now, I’m wondering if we need to retain at least one of these guys as part of line continuity into 2024?

I really love these players. We are lucky to get another year of Donald, Robinson, and Gaines at DT and along the DL.

 

[Faceplant]

Great question. Yes, I think we would definitely need to keep at least one of them. I like both players a lot, but I would probably keep Gaines. He is a year younger and actually still ascending. I expect to see him do even more this season if he stays healthy. A'Shawn is a monster too, but I can see McSnead drafting his replacement and getting a comp pick for him.

 

[BonifayRam]

Great question. Yes, I think we would definitely need to keep at least one of them. I like both players a lot, but I would probably keep Gaines. He is a year younger and actually still ascending. I expect to see him do even more this season if he stays healthy. A'Shawn is a monster too, but I can see McSnead drafting his replacement and getting a comp pick for him.

Gaines is far more NT than 3 tech or 5 tech in this current DL. Last year drafted NT/DT, who is a monster-sized human, Bobby Brown might provide the answer this season as to which the Rams Org resigns. Brown's rookie season was a washout. He did take some snaps in the 3 tech post behind AD but that post is not suited to his known college skills backpack. We will see.......

Bobby Brown is almost a younger clone of the 5 tech Robinson. Snead did sign a UDFA rookie Elijah Garcia who has 5 tech size to him where Robinson plays at. Marquise Copeland, Jonah Williams & Ernest Brown are the other 5 tech DL'ers under contract.

Rams DL has plenty of 5 tech prospects. Not many NT's & 3 tech types. DL'er Mike Hoecht is the only real close fit filling in behind AD in the 3 tech post IMO. The Rams need to find a 3 tech DL'er in next year's draft in a bad way.

 

[den-the-coach]

Rams DL has plenty of 5 tech prospects. Not many NT's & 3 tech types. DL'er Mike Hoecht is the only real close fit filling in behind AD in the 3 tech post IMO. The Rams need to find a 3 tech DL'er in next year's draft in a bad way.

 

[Kupped]

If the Rams continue with their previous pattern.. they will absolutely sign one of those two guys.
Both? Unlikely.

 

[BonifayRam]

View attachment 54665

Yes he would do very well. Considered a mid-first rd selection. Snead does not work much on the first & second days of the draft den.

Florida lands major transfer in former five-star Georgia linebacker Brenton Cox

This should spice up the rivalry between Florida and Georgia

www.cbssports.com

 

[den-the-coach]

Yes he would do very well. Considered a mid-first rd selection. Snead does not work much on the first & second days of the draft den.

Florida lands major transfer in former five-star Georgia linebacker Brenton Cox

This should spice up the rivalry between Florida and Georgia

www.cbssports.com

Might last into the 2nd round maybe, but we will keep an eye on that position.

 

[BonifayRam]

NFL Most Underrated: Who’s Rams Best Candidate?

BY ZACH DIMMITT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED LA RAMS NEWS, JULY 01, 2022

https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/article263095908.html

The Rams are loaded with stars, but it's the underrated role players that help glue the team together The current mold of the Los Angeles Rams after a successful offseason in free agency almost fits perfectly under the Hollywood spotlight. Star-studded talent covers both sides of the ball, as the Rams are the kind of team you'd choose when loading up a game of Madden. But on a 53-man roster, not everyone can be a star. There are always important role players that help keep things going, even if not everyone notices. This is especially the case on a team defending a Super Bowl title. Sports Illustrated revealed its rankings on June 24 of every NFC team's most underrated player entering the 2022-23 season.

The pick for the Rams? Fourth-year defensive tackle Greg Gaines. Here's what SI had to say: I know I write about Kyler Murray’s disastrous pick-six from his own end zone a lot—maybe it’s just burned into my brain—but I’m still blown away by Greg Gaines’s ability to draw blocks from three separate offensive linemen at once while sharing a line with Aaron Donald. So I decided to pull up a random play—any play—from the 2021 season to see if Gaines did something special.

The result? A Week 5 game against the Seahawks. Gaines was sandwiched between two zone blockers, he somehow uppercut his way toward the ballcarrier and helped create a traffic jam that trapped the running back for only a yard gain. Gaines doesn’t get blown off the line of scrimmage, he’s deft on his feet and knows how to set the table for Donald.

What could be more valuable for the Rams right now? Gaines found himself a bit overshadowed on an elite Rams defensive line that included Aaron Donald, Von Miller, Leonard Floyd, Ernest Jones, and Sebastian Joseph-Day this past season, but he still played a vital role in helping LA win Super Bowl LVI. With Miller and Joseph-Day now gone via free agency, Gaines has more opportunity to build off his 28-tackle, 4.5-sack season. The 2019 fourth-round pick out of Washington played in all 17 regular season games and all four playoff victories. He had three tackles and an impressive two passes defended from his defensive tackle spot in the NFC Championship against the 49ers.

 

[dang]

Donald>Gaines>ARob. Will ascend to the undisputed top DL in the NFL this season.

 

[Corbin]

If Aaron Donald DOES plan to retire in 2yrs… does that change how we approach Gaines and Robinson as 2023 free agents?

I guess… I sort of assumed they might be part of the Snead engine to return us comp picks… now, I’m wondering if we need to retain at least one of these guys as part of line continuity into 2024?

I really love these players. We are lucky to get another year of Donald, Robinson, and Gaines at DT and along the DL.

Gaines is our guy, A’Shawn is 100% replaceable with talent from the draft.

The thing I’m scared of is when AD does hand em up is how much better is he making these two and what deficiencies is he covering up that will rear its ugly head when he’s gone? IMO need to keep our 1sts and draft a young talented ass DE to replace him to go with some vets that learned and played with him to pass along his work ethic, commitment, and excellence that rubbed off on them.

 

[Ram65]

My guess is they resign Gaines. However, AD will not retire in two years.

 

[oldnotdead]

Everyone makes a big deal about SJD but the guy is big that's all. He simply can't shed blocks and in most cases he doesn't even require double teaming. SJD's production was more a product of playing next to AD than on his own. IMO he won't last more than 2 years with the Chargers.

Gaines is often double teamed because he is capable of beating a single blocker. He's also been the primary rotational 3T behind AD. IMO if AD retired, Gaines would start at 3T. Gaines earned the starting role because of his play. He outplayed SJD by a wide margin. I expect the Rams to extend Gaines and I'm surprised they haven't done so already. But it could be tied to Robinson's money. They will probably not extend A'Shawn and use that cap money to pay Gaines.

Robinson runs hot and cold and it's the lack of consistency that cost him an extension. IMO he will play his contract out and become a comp pick. When he's on his game he's very good. But when he's not his production disappears and his play is average. This is Bobby Brown's year to step up and show he can play at this level. If he has a solid year that will seal Robinson's departure next year.

If the Rams repeat and win another Lombardi, I think the odds of AD retiring in 2 years is high. Gaines is a good 3T and if Bobby Brown steps up then the Rams DL will still be a good unit. It makes getting a long-term complement to Floyd all the more important. Gaines can push the pocket inside, but it's the edges that will bring the heat once AD is retired.

AD retiring at 2 years IMO is expected and why his contract is structured the way it is. If he retires after 2 years, then his rights remain with the Rams. He can't unretire after a year and sign with someone else. His 3rd year is fully guaranteed if he plays.

 

[Wisconsinram]

I suspect (and hope) we will see "playoff Robinson" all year this year. He feels appreciated, is happy, has always had immense physical gifts, and is playing for a big contract on a championship caliber team. If there was ever a year to be motivated to put all together, this is it. I won't be surprised to see him play at a level many always thought he was capable of this year.

 

[MachS]

If Aaron Donald DOES plan to retire in 2yrs… does that change how we approach Gaines and Robinson as 2023 free agents?

I guess… I sort of assumed they might be part of the Snead engine to return us comp picks… now, I’m wondering if we need to retain at least one of these guys as part of line continuity into 2024?

I really love these players. We are lucky to get another year of Donald, Robinson, and Gaines at DT and along the DL.

It's really an interesting question, when do we start preparing for AD to leave? Gaines is a stud we found in the 4th and A'Shawn was unbelievable in the playoffs last year. If he plays this year at that level he will be expensive to keep. But we also found SJD in what the 5th or 6th round? We've done a very good job at identifying and developing inside DL so it will be exciting to see what we do. Also once the AD money is off the books, where will that cap space go? Will we invest in a stud edge? Or invest it on offense or secondary? We will have a lot of options.

 

[BonifayRam]

Donald>Gaines>ARob. Will ascend to the undisputed top DL in the NFL this season.

LA Rams Greg ‘Gazelle’ Gaines is the NFL’s best NT​

LA Rams Greg ‘Gazelle’ Gaines is the NFL’s best NT

The glory days of the NFL nose tackle may have waned, but you can bet that has nothing to do with the outstanding performance of LA Rams nose tackle Greg G...

ramblinfan.com

 

[Merlin]

Grizzly Gaines > Gazelle Gaines. Who the F would ever call a DL a herd animal that runs from danger.

 

[dang]

Grizzly Gaines > Gazelle Gaines. Who the F would ever call a DL a herd animal that runs from danger.

Greg “The Keg” Gaines.

 

[badcop]

I think Robinson benefitted from playing next to Donald and Gaines this season. Both were regularly double and even triple teamed. Gaines regularly draws double teams I could swear a few games he equaled Donald on doubles and maybe a triple or two. Robinson not so much. Singles far more.

 

[Merlin]

He did benefit from playing in that front but Robinson also took things to a whole new level in the playoffs, especially vs the run. Some plays he made were really impressive. Kinds of plays that were not on his tape prior to that one good stretch of a season some years back. He might have found his niche with this group tbh.

If we get that guy through this season we should be in great shape on the DL. Because AD and Gaines are already excellent together. Who knows maybe even Brown will show in year two. We could really use a guy wrecking shit at 5T, which would make the rotation stronger too.

 

[BonifayRam]

He did benefit from playing in that front but Robinson also took things to a whole new level in the playoffs, especially vs the run. Some plays he made were really impressive. Kinds of plays that were not on his tape prior to that one good stretch of a season some years back. He might have found his niche with this group tbh.

If we get that guy through this season we should be in great shape on the DL. Because AD and Gaines are already excellent together. Who knows maybe even Brown will show in year two. We could really use a guy wrecking shit at 5T, which would make the rotation stronger too.

I see where some draft profiles on Bobby Brown claimed that BB was an Explosive three-technique tackle & maybe could play one-gap defensive lineman.

Bobby Brown, DT, Texas A&M - NFL Draft Player Profile

Texas A&M defensive tackle Bobby Brown sometimes falls under the radar, but he's an exciting NFL Draft prospect who's only trending upward.

www.profootballnetwork.com

Another said BB was "an Interior defender with the size and pad level to handle reps at nose or three-technique in an even front".

Bobby Brown III Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

www.nfl.com

Many say that BB would fit a 43DL.

The Draft Network

TDN

thedraftnetwork.com

Bobby Brown III - Nose Guard Texas A&M Aggies Scouting Report

BOBBY BROWN III | Texas A&M | DT | #5 | Jr | 6032 | 325 | 5.22e | Arlington, TX | Lamar HS | 08.07.00 Overview: The big and stout defensive tackle has started

www.si.com

If these sites are right then having a young 3 tech prospect fits in well with the Rams DL as it is compiled today. Coach Henderson has a good amount of 5 tech available to him. Maybe BB can play a major role as the 4th DL'er this season.

Greg Gaines would have the highest priority to resign of all the DL'ers by a large degree.