Next on Wade's List--- LB

[DaveFan'51]

Evans who can play in the middle, move around blitz from anywhere and rush from the edge on pass downs.

So can Esch!!!:mrburnsevil:

 

[Corbin]

View: https://youtu.be/XscHU2Ks52I

So we are all in agreement that we don't want a thumper at ILB strongside LB type and want James Laurinitis 2.0?
His tape looks eerily similar to me.

 

[Ranma]

View: https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/979040429298499584

 

[London59]

So we are all in agreement that we don't want a thumper at ILB strongside LB type and want James Laurinitis 2.0?
His tape looks eerily similar to me.

What? Do you think Laurinitis had a 40 inch vertical? This guy is bigger, stronger, and faster than Laurinitis. He has longer arms, quickness, and actually hits people hard. Just because they are both White doesn’t mean they are similar.

 

[Merlin]

Honestly Harold Landry at 23 with Ebukam and our other OLB on the roster and an ILB or two in the 4th and/or 6th round and this defense is amazing.

Landry is more talented than the ILBs if he is there at 23, but his film is not better. ILB is much safer at 23, and if they go ILB they should also be able to slide down a little and still get a very nice addition.

There are also some very nice edge options into rounds 3 and 4, guys like Nwosu or Okorongkwo, who would pair well with a guy like Evans or Vander Esch. From a combination perspective there are a lot of different ways they can go, but taking the ILB early is very much a consideration IMO.

Wade's success with unheralded guys doesn't mean he cannot maximize a greater talent at ILB. If they take Evans, Wade gets a guy he can move around and blitz/cover/stuff the run. Vander Esch he gets a tackling machine who has superb size and range.

IMO a trade down is a high possibility. I think Rams will be looking at great CB value at 23 and will move down and still get one of the LBs they covet. Ideally IMO would be a move down and getting Lorenzo Carter while picking up a round three pick.

 

[Ram65]

What? Do you think Laurinitis had a 40 inch vertical? This guy is bigger, stronger, and faster than Laurinitis. He has longer arms, quickness, and actually hits people hard. Just because they are both White doesn’t mean they are similar.

I read where he can/needs to get stronger and fill out with more muscle. For a guy weighing 255 plus he looks skinny. He cold be a real monster in a year or two. Would be interesting if Rams pick him.

 

[Corbin]

What? Do you think Laurinitis had a 40 inch vertical? This guy is bigger, stronger, and faster than Laurinitis. He has longer arms, quickness, and actually hits people hard. Just because they are both White doesn’t mean they are similar.

James Laurinaitis
Height: 6-2Weight: 244
COMBINE
STATS:

• 3 Cone Drill 6.93 secs
• Broad Jump 115.0 inches
• 40 Yard Dash 4.72 Secs
• Bench Press 22.0 reps
• 20 Yard Shuttle 4.24 secs
• Vertical Jump 33.0 inches

LEIGHTON VANDER ESCH
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
ARMS
6' 4"
256 lbs

40 Yard Dash
4.65
SECONDS

Bench Press
20
REPS

Vertical Jump
39.5
INCHES

Broad Jump
124.0
INCHES

3 Cone Drill
6.88
SECONDS

20 Yd Shuttle
4.15
SECONDS

Well your opinion is your opinion but the facts are when their measurable's tell the story. Coming out JL had two more reps on the bench so technically he was stronger and Vander Esch is only marginally faster. Very similar players and measurable's.

He is 2 inches taller and about 10 lbs heavier so I guess he might grow more into his frame.

 

[RamFan503]

Ok....and after I saw some of those dudes at the combine, I wanted to replace our LB's too. I still don't understand how he got an extension during last season?
Tough move? Naw....Tree was hurt this season....that elbow thing....but the number of missed tackles....hell, I wanted to cut him after the playoff game. I like Tree tho....good energy....I don't think that was "him" last year. That elbow injury was too tough to overcome. he wasn't the greatest tackler before that either.

My boss was saying he simply does not get leverage. He looks for a LB that plays slightly behind the runner or finds the off shoulder of the blocker because it not only keeps him from cutting back but uses the runner's momentum against him and allows the LB to shed blockers. He doesn't see many defenders learning that skill and says they need to have it innately.

We all saw how bad Tree's angles were in the open field and his inability to shed blocks. It appeared he was starting to get it at the beginning of the season but his habits came back.

 

[OnceARam]

If the Rams stay at 23 don't be surprised if they take their LOT of the future. This draft is deep at LBer and they can find good ones in the 3rd or 4th rounds.

A small glimmer of sanity. As much as I'd rather have a splash play LB'er, you're right from a longer term perspective.

 

[London59]

James Laurinaitis
Height: 6-2Weight: 244
COMBINE
STATS:

• 3 Cone Drill 6.93 secs
• Broad Jump 115.0 inches
• 40 Yard Dash 4.72 Secs
• Bench Press 22.0 reps
• 20 Yard Shuttle 4.24 secs
• Vertical Jump 33.0 inches

LEIGHTON VANDER ESCH
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
ARMS
6' 4"
256 lbs

40 Yard Dash
4.65
SECONDS

Bench Press
20
REPS

Vertical Jump
39.5
INCHES

Broad Jump
124.0
INCHES

3 Cone Drill
6.88
SECONDS

20 Yd Shuttle
4.15
SECONDS

Well your opinion is your opinion but the facts are when their measurable's tell the story. Coming out JL had two more reps on the bench so technically he was stronger and Vander Esch is only marginally faster. Very similar players and measurable's.

He is 2 inches taller and about 10 lbs heavier so I guess he might grow more into his frame.

Uhhh you just proved LVE beats him in every category! Bigger, stronger, and faster. LVE has ridiculously long arms so his bench press total of course is his one weakness but look at lineman and due to their long arms they don’t bench well either. Yet they are strong! LVE beats him in every other category and is getting bigger every year. Laurinitis was a ballooned up weight, while LVE is still quite slender in his build.

 

[London59]

So we are all in agreement that we don't want a thumper at ILB strongside LB type and want James Laurinitis 2.0?
His tape looks eerily similar to me.

This says 4.88 for his 40. Laurinitis is shorter, weighs less, is slower in short and long distances, and can’t jump like LVE. Yet it said Laurinitis had a good combination of size and speed! LVE is near freak level for his size. He is no Laurinitis.

James Laurinaitis ()
HT: 6'2" WT: 244LBS.

POSITION: ILB

SCHOOL: Ohio St.


OVERVIEW
A three-time AP All-American, Laurinaitis is the most recognized player in the 2009 draft. Blessed with a rare combination of size and athleticism -- drawing comparison to Bears Pro Bowl MLB Brian Urlacher -- Laurinaitis burst onto the scene as a sophomore, earning the 2006 Bronko Nagurski Award (top defensive player). He won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker and the Lott Trophy in '08 as the nation's best all-around defensive player. Despite his gaudy statistics (366 career tackles) and unrivaled trophy room, there are elements to Laurinaitis' game that concern scouts. The value of his reliability and consistency can't be overstated. Laurinaitis is viewed by many as the safest pick of the 2009 draft.


COMBINE RESULTS

• 40 YARD DASH: 4.88 SEC
• BENCH PRESS: 22 REPS
• VERTICAL JUMP: 33.0 INCH
• BROAD JUMP: 115.0 INCH
• 3 CONE DRILL: 6.93 SEC
• 20 YARD SHUTTLE: 4.24 SEC

 

[badnews]

Laurinaitis wasn't perfect, but damn you guys are brutal.

Dude was a 2nd round pick, helped turn around a defense that had been terrible for years into something competitive and not embarrassing.
Rams leading tackler and an iron man.
Yes, Ray Lewis would be ideal but we can do worse than a "James Laurinaitis"...

 

[Riverumbbq]

RotoWorld :

Cory Littleton - LB - Rams
ESPN's Alden Gonzalez believes the Rams are "set" at inside linebacker with Mark Barron and either Cory Littleton or Ramik Wilson as the starters.

Linebacker appears to easily be the Rams' biggest on-paper weakness at the moment, but Barron is a capable starter and Littleton played heavy snaps down the stretch late last season. He's a third-year UDFA at 6'3/225 who was a pass rusher at Washington. DC Wade Phillips has never put a premium on inside linebacker, instead opting to develop late-rounders and UDFAs.


Source:ESPN.com
Mar 30 - 9:50 AM

 

[Corbin]

Uhhh you just proved LVE beats him in every category! Bigger, stronger, and faster. LVE has ridiculously long arms so his bench press total of course is his one weakness but look at lineman and due to their long arms they don’t bench well either. Yet they are strong! LVE beats him in every other category and is getting bigger every year. Laurinitis was a ballooned up weight, while LVE is still quite slender in his build.

Your posts make no sense.

How do I prove LVE is bigger stronger and faster and in the next sentence you say JL is stronger and make an excuse that’s his one weakness?
Look if you want to argue about what I just typed I don’t know what to tell you.


Facts are LVE is weaker, marginally faster than JLau and comparable as a linebacker.

http://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=8267

 

[Corbin]

Laurinaitis wasn't perfect, but damn you guys are brutal.

Dude was a 2nd round pick, helped turn around a defense that had been terrible for years into something competitive and not embarrassing.
Rams leading tackler and an iron man.
Yes, Ray Lewis would be ideal but we can do worse than a "James Laurinaitis"...

Personally I liked JLau and didn’t see what everybody else complained about just because he wasn’t Rey Lewis. He did start to decline as all players do the last year or so with us but he wasn’t awful.

 

[SeminoleRam]

So can Esch!!!:mrburnsevil:

Personally, I prefer Vander Esch but will be very happy with either him or Evans!!!

 

[den-the-coach]

If the Rams do indeed keep the pick, then I'm leaning towards Harold Landry of Boston College....John Johnson III came from Boston College, so they seem to coach up their players well on defense combine him with Samson Ebukam and you have two young flying edge rushers to go with the triple threat up front.

I expect Mark Barron & Corey Littleton to be the inside backers with Ramik Wilson and other draft choice(s) to provide depth at ILB. In many mocks Mark Barron has been given up for dead, but still seems to be last man standing of the starting linebackers in 2017, barring the return of Connor Alfred Barwin!

 

[Ramstien]

I would not be surprised if they moved Barron to the outside which I believe he may be a better fit there then inside, with is ability to rush the passer and drop into coverage.

 

[Rams43]

If the Rams stay at 23 don't be surprised if they take their LOT of the future. This draft is deep at LBer and they can find good ones in the 3rd or 4th rounds.

There are some who claim that no LOT will be worthy of the #23 pick when it arrives.

Should we pass up a higher rated player that’s sitting there just so we can say we drafted a LOT? Best case scenario would be he sits until ‘19, at least. And that’s BEST case scenario.

 

[Akrasian]

I suspect the Rams draft a swing tackle/guard after the first - one they think can be trained up in a year to be an acceptable starting tackle. That provides them with some of the insurance they need for cheap, while still allowing them to draft a guy to finish off the defense, or a WR or TE to finish off the offense. I doubt good value falls to them at 23 for an OT.

As I and many have said, unless a great prospect falls to the Rams at 23, a trade down could easily occur, especially if there is an option to trade down 3-7 spots.