The loss of
Micah Kiser was a sizeable damaging event for the Rams run defense very early in 2019. The soon following injury to 5 season veteran MLB
Bryce Hager intensified & compounded the bad situation. UDFA
Troy Reeder found himself in a story book kind situation as a result. It worked out very well for him.
Wade went into 2019 off season planning to utilize former MLB'er
Cory Littleton in the vacated
Mark Barron WSILB'er post. Wade stuck mostly to his plan. However over the later half Wade did utilize ILB Travin Howard a little more in the WSILB'er post with CL sliding into the MLB'er post. Howard gave a good account for himself too.
A healthy Kiser should provide DC Staley a better overall combo pass/run MLB over the Hager/Reeder combo of 2019. I still believe Kiser gets judge & shortchanged on his pass coverage skills. Many here will be surprised by what they will see in this element of his game this season.
The injuries to both MLB'ers (Kiser/Hager) early in the 2019 season gave rise to MLB'ers Troy Reeder's 8 gms starts & 16 gms that he played in. TR's 36 tackles & 2 forced fumbles in limited action was not a bad start for this UDFA from Delaware. Reeder proved to be highly fast learner & fully capable filling Eric Weddle's role as defensive caller if needed. I predict when we see TR in TC & preseason, he will physically leaner quicker & faster model over the 2019 version.
The addition (trade) for ILB'er
Kenny Young who was an experienced former starter (for the Ravens) brought nothing to the Wade D ???. Rams needed a ILB'er last season in the worse way, but he never saw the field...I think that says a lot.
It would not surprise me if
Natrez Patrick moves back to his natural ILB'er position over Young.