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Keeping Mark Barron key to Rams' linebacker plans
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...ping-mark-barron-key-to-rams-linebacker-plans
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The free-agent market is scheduled to open Wednesday and teams may begin negotiations with those poised to hit the market beginning Monday. We'll count down to that with a position-by-position look at what the Los Angeles Rams have in place, who is set to hit the market, what they might need, and who might fit the bill.
Position: Linebacker
Under contract: Alec Ogletree, Akeem Ayers, Bryce Hager, Cameron Lynch, Matt Wells, Zack Hodges
Pending free agents: James Laurinaitis (released), Mark Barron, Daren Bates (restricted)
What's needed: The Rams are going through some serious renovations in the linebacker crew this year after releasing Laurinaitis. The plan is to move Ogletree to the middle and re-sign Barron to take Ogletree's spot on the weak side. Which means the Rams need a weakside linebacker until they can get Barron re-signed. Ayers is still under contract and could step back into the strongside spot, though don't be surprised if the Rams look around at possible options. Bates is a key special teams contributor and if he's ever going to contribute on defense, one would think he's ready to show it now. He's likely to be brought back on a tender offer. Hager and Lynch are promising special teams contributors who probably aren't ready to help on defense just yet. Everything the Rams do or need this offseason at linebacker will spin off what happens with Barron.
Possible fits: Finding true 4-3 outside linebackers is difficult enough these days, but the teams that have them generally try to keep them. So while players such as Tamba Hali, Courtney Upshaw, Nick Perry and Mike Neal are available, they're a better fit in a 3-4. Seattle's Bruce Irvin figures to land the biggest contract in this group, but he's more of a strongside linebacker and the Rams are unlikely to want to pay the price required to get him. Barron is not only the best fit for the Rams but they look like the best fit for him. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams revived Barron's career, and they released Laurinaitis specifically with Barron (and Ogletree) in mind. Barron played well enough in 2015 to draw interest from other teams who might be willing to get creative in using him, but all things being equal it's fair to expect the Rams to prioritize keeping Barron and making it happen. If not, they'll have to rethink their entire strategy for the linebacker group going into 2016.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...ping-mark-barron-key-to-rams-linebacker-plans
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The free-agent market is scheduled to open Wednesday and teams may begin negotiations with those poised to hit the market beginning Monday. We'll count down to that with a position-by-position look at what the Los Angeles Rams have in place, who is set to hit the market, what they might need, and who might fit the bill.
Position: Linebacker
Under contract: Alec Ogletree, Akeem Ayers, Bryce Hager, Cameron Lynch, Matt Wells, Zack Hodges
Pending free agents: James Laurinaitis (released), Mark Barron, Daren Bates (restricted)
What's needed: The Rams are going through some serious renovations in the linebacker crew this year after releasing Laurinaitis. The plan is to move Ogletree to the middle and re-sign Barron to take Ogletree's spot on the weak side. Which means the Rams need a weakside linebacker until they can get Barron re-signed. Ayers is still under contract and could step back into the strongside spot, though don't be surprised if the Rams look around at possible options. Bates is a key special teams contributor and if he's ever going to contribute on defense, one would think he's ready to show it now. He's likely to be brought back on a tender offer. Hager and Lynch are promising special teams contributors who probably aren't ready to help on defense just yet. Everything the Rams do or need this offseason at linebacker will spin off what happens with Barron.
Possible fits: Finding true 4-3 outside linebackers is difficult enough these days, but the teams that have them generally try to keep them. So while players such as Tamba Hali, Courtney Upshaw, Nick Perry and Mike Neal are available, they're a better fit in a 3-4. Seattle's Bruce Irvin figures to land the biggest contract in this group, but he's more of a strongside linebacker and the Rams are unlikely to want to pay the price required to get him. Barron is not only the best fit for the Rams but they look like the best fit for him. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams revived Barron's career, and they released Laurinaitis specifically with Barron (and Ogletree) in mind. Barron played well enough in 2015 to draw interest from other teams who might be willing to get creative in using him, but all things being equal it's fair to expect the Rams to prioritize keeping Barron and making it happen. If not, they'll have to rethink their entire strategy for the linebacker group going into 2016.
