No Fowler & Littleton Front 7

[Loyal]

His Holyness Loyal.

Hey, no one's perfect. Even I myself was wrong once....because it turned out I was right instead of being wrong that one time...

 

[…..]

LOL I love little games please tell us all how right you were It was one season. The Rams had a plan and we'll see how it works out in the end. BTW these same things were said with Kurt Warner, Orlando Pace, Eric Dickerson, Jerome Bettis, Kevin Greene, London Fletcher etc etc etc etc etc

I’m not really bent on being right you should know better than that by now. I just think that particular loss affected more than just that one position. And we don’t need to see how it works in the end because we already know, the line sucked and it took the whole offense down a notch to a degree. Any change from this point on is not measurable. We move on to another season.

it’s cool if you disagree, that’s why we’re here.

 

[payote75]

My worry is that this is what happened last year when we were told how good Noteboom and Allen were and letting Saffold and Sullivan go was ok because we had capable replacements ready to step in. Hopefully history isn't repeating itself with Kiser Young Obo etc. Replacing Littleton or Fowler. I'm so curious to see how this all unfolds not to mention it seems Snead/organization isn't too keen on restructuring contracts.

 

[FaulkSF]

Sort of forgot about him.

 

[Ram65]

Jachai Polite should at least make the roster IMO

He is the best natural "edge" pass rusher on the Rams. If he got his head straight and gotten back in shape he could be easily rotated in as a pass-rush specialist. Great first step and closing speed.

 

[Merlin]

Well, I was sooooo right, the Pope calls me for advice....

You need to hook up a Pope avatar.

 

[FarNorth]

Not moving to resign Fowler is a huge head-scratcher IMO. But if they feel they can afford to move on without him so be it. Considering they don't have a first round pick and 5th round pick they will probably be looking for one in the draft or in FA. But anyone they get in the draft will be only a part-time starter at best. What makes me curious about this attitude is they gave up a lot to get Fowler so to watch him walk could mean they have targeted someone else in FA or the draft. But until something breaks, and I'm not totally giving up on resigning Fowler I looked at the Rams roster and it's not bare by any means.

People need to realize that the Rams are running a true hybrid defensive scheme. In reality, they are running a 2-5 with both DE positions filled by OLB. Both Okoronkwo and Fowler are OLB not DE's. But in reality, when you look at the metrics of the players, Okoronkwo and Carraway are strictly a DEs not OLBs. When you look at Fowler he can play either position by his metrics. But by his style of play and his talent he's strictly a 4-3 DE as he is extremely limited as are the other two, in his ability to drop back. That was very apparent last year when he was asked to drop back. IMO it could be why they aren't pursuing him as aggressively as I thought they would.

They are very high on Kiser and IMO he's always been slated as the heir apparent to Littleton and I think they feel his time has come. So allowing Littleton to move on is no surprise to me. Kiser has the size and especially the speed they want at ILB. He gives them much more versatility at the position.

Young has the speed and build of a SS and although he's listed as an ILB I can see them playing him much as they would a 3rd safety in the passing package. Travin Howard is another ILB built like a SS with safety speed. Reeder has proven himself a good option as a two-down LB as well.

At OLB they do have an option to Fowler in Ebukam. He's shown he's an impact player who can play both the run and the pass better than Fowler who is limited in his ability to drop back. Fowler is really a classic 4-3 DE and not a true hybrid 3-4 OLB/Edge player. Ebukam is in fact the classic 3-4 hybrid OLB/Edge. So perhaps they will give him that shot? In fact, before they traded for Dante I felt that Ebukam was the guy they needed at the position.

Opposite Ebukam is Okoronkwo and he's shown enough that his time to be the fulltime Edge on the opposite side has come. Behind these two they have Mathews who IMO will become the fulltime 3 down SAM. I think the sleeper to watch is Josh Carraway. Before he got injured last year he flashed enough to see he has some upside as an Edge behind Okoronkwo. Carraway lacks the long speed but so does Okoronkwo. But what both these two have is an explosive first step. Ogbo uses his explosive first step to gain immediate leverage in his rush. Carraway does the same but where Ogbo is primarily a bull rusher, Carraway tries to win with leverage and technique.

So right now without the draft and or FA signing, IMO the front 7 looks like this. The Open TBD is where I think they will look to fill in the draft or FA signing.

DE Okoronkwo, Carraway
NT Gaines, SJD
DT AD, Open TBD
Edge/OLB Ebukam, Open TBD

MIKE Kiser
MO Reeder
ILB Young, Howard
SAM Mathews

What we might be seeing is that this team is really focusing upon scheme fit as much as anything else. In fact, when you look at the success of the Pats, (cheating aside) scheme fit is what has been a major factor in their ability to sustain their success even though they are forever drafting low. Seeking players that fit their scheme and not expecting them to play outside of that envelope.

IMO Ebukam has shown that he can be that 8-10 sack per year kind of Edge player I thought he was this time last year. Perhaps that was the rationale for signing Mathews to play SAM. With the expectation that now in 2021 Ebukam will be the replacement for Fowler and Mathews will be the bridge for them to develop the next SAM taken this year in the draft (remember Samson was a 4th round pick)

So IMO a SAM LB, Edge, DT, and FB are on their shopping list this offseason and draft.

Is it clear that we are letting both Fowler and Littleton walk without trying to sign them, or are we just speculating about what the roster might look like w/ o them?

 

[CGI_Ram]

View attachment 34236

 

[BonifayRam]

Rams meet with Texas Tech LB Jordyn Brooks at combine

The former Red Raider finished with 108 tackles in 2019

www.turfshowtimes.com

The Rams will potentially have to replace Cory Littleton in the middle of the defense and it looks like their doing their due-diligence.

My good friend Justin Melo over at The Draft Wire recently interviewed Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks and he listed a handful of teams that he met with formerly at the NFL Combine. This included the Rams, along with the Raiders, Packers, Chiefs, and several others.

Texas Tech LB Jordyn Brooks was a popular guy at the combine. He had formal interviews with the #Raiders, #Packers, #Chiefs, #Ravens, #Jaguars, #Rams and #Cowboys.#NFLDraft | #NFLCombine
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) March 6, 2020

The 6’1, 240-pound defender is coming off an extremely productive season where he was named a First-Team All-Big 12 selection and a consensus Second-Team All-American. He capped off his TTU career with 108 tackles, a mind-boggling 20 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a single forced fumble. His final career stat line in Lubbock looks like this: 367 tackles, 33 tackles-for-loss, seven sacks. two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

 

[BonifayRam]

Every Top NFL Free Agent's Biggest Red Flag
Maurice Moton
ILB Cory Littleton: Limitations Against the Run

View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2878943-every-top-nfl-free-agents-biggest-red-flag#slide1

Cory Littleton fits the mold of a modern-day linebacker. At 6'3", 228 pounds, he's a svelte athletic defender who can use his speed to track down ball-carriers and pass-catchers in the open field. The 26-year-old uses his fluid movement to mirror tight ends and cover the middle and seam areas on passing downs.

Despite Littleton's high tackle volume over the last two seasons (259), Pro Football Focus pinpointed a small hole in his game.

"… While potential suitors are going to love Littleton's ability to affect the passing game, he has had his struggles against the run. His 50.8 run-defense grade ranks just 103rd out of 126 qualifiers over the last two years, so that could hurt his value for teams looking for an all-around three-down linebacker," Monson and Palazzolo wrote.

Littleton isn't going to make his presence felt with consistency in the backfield. He's recorded 20 tackles for loss over the last four seasons. Because of his lean stature, teams will need to "keep him clean" with a strong defensive line that occupies blocks, which allows him to burst through clear pathways for stops.

If Littleton plays behind a leaky defensive line that can't stop the run and allows ball-carriers to reach the second level, his tackling may not hold up against bigger or more elusive running backs.

 

[Ram65]

Rams meet with Texas Tech LB Jordyn Brooks at combine

The former Red Raider finished with 108 tackles in 2019

www.turfshowtimes.com

View attachment 34246

The Rams will potentially have to replace Cory Littleton in the middle of the defense and it looks like their doing their due-diligence.

My good friend Justin Melo over at The Draft Wire recently interviewed Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks and he listed a handful of teams that he met with formerly at the NFL Combine. This included the Rams, along with the Raiders, Packers, Chiefs, and several others.



The 6’1, 240-pound defender is coming off an extremely productive season where he was named a First-Team All-Big 12 selection and a consensus Second-Team All-American. He capped off his TTU career with 108 tackles, a mind-boggling 20 tackles-for-loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a single forced fumble. His final career stat line in Lubbock looks like this: 367 tackles, 33 tackles-for-loss, seven sacks. two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

I was checking him out. His 40 times were 4.55 and 4.54. Here it's said he is a good sideline to sideline defender. Better run defender and not much pass defending experience. He is the opposite of Littleton.

Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech

Senior, 6'1", 245 lbs

thedraftnetwork.com

 

[OldSchool]

I like Brooks and I've seen him mocked to us multiple times in the 3rd round a few mocks I've seen him falling to the 4th.

 

[OldSchool]

I was checking him out. His 40 times were 4.55 and 4.54. Here it's said he is a good sideline to sideline defender. Better run defender and not much pass defending experience. He is the opposite of Littleton.

Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech

Senior, 6'1", 245 lbs

thedraftnetwork.com

Those 40 times are faster than what CL ran coming out of college too.

 

[PARAM]

Snead likes comp picks. If both Fowler and Littleton sign big deals they'll get a 3rd and a 4th for them. If they can sign Littleton, they'll still get one for Fowler. They'll get something for Saffold in the upcoming draft. And they like signing guys who have been released (Suh), so there's no off setting penalty against the comp formula.

They're high on Kizer. They'll probably draft a LB and maybe scoop up a edge rusher after they're released. And nobody can be sure we would have gone 12-4 with Saffold. How'd we do in the SB with him? How'd we do against the Bears with him last year? How'd we do against Philly. All good defenses that gave us trouble, even with Saffoldq

 

[Mojo Ram]

And nobody can be sure we would have gone 12-4 with Saffold. How'd we do in the SB with him? How'd we do against the Bears with him last year? How'd we do against Philly. All good defenses that gave us trouble, even with Saffold

Yes. This past seasons offensive struggles began long before Saffy & Sullivan left and Allen & Boom got in there. It was a loaded roster in '18 and a loaded roster last season too.

Evolve the scheme. It's all too familiar and tired.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Not resigning them is not the end of the world. I’m sure we’ll have multiple threads weekly next season with somebody saying I told you but Snead and McVay have done well building this team up. They get the benefit of the doubt from this fan.

Half our threads will be moot by the time FA slows and the draft starts. We'll add people in FA to fill holes, it may not be any stars but we'll add people.

 

[So Ram]

Yes. This past seasons offensive struggles began long before Saffy & Sullivan left and Allen & Boom got in there. It was a loaded roster in '18 and a loaded roster last season too.

Evolve the scheme. It's all too familiar and tired.

I always wondered how far The Rams would have went without CJ Anderson of all players. Then choosing Malcom Brown over him. Detroit releasing after just 2 games ??

-Yes Mcvay has had a new OC every season. His play calling fell short of late. That is why he brought in a real OC K.O”Connell should be a nice addition & be around for more than a season.
B. Staley will bring in a new flare,new flare,& ideas. It will be interesting to see how the defense will be put together.
I think JJ might do some of the play calling on D ?? He was a pro Bowler type before his injury, which a lot of Ram fans seem to have forgotten. Weddle was a player on this board that was criticized very often.
I think McSnead go LBer/DE,MLB,,WR,DT/DE with there 1st. 4 draft picks BPA by position.

 

[So Ram]

Those 40 times are faster than what CL ran coming out of college too.

CL was not even drafted a Snisher pick up.Les Snead has been awesome with his scouting team finding excellent UDFA’s

Snead also does best when trading back.
Brockers,Ogletree,Everett & JJ,Rapp

Not big on his trading back up though. Keeping an eye on G.Gains & D. Henderson
(Austin,Joyner) did get a comp for Joyner

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

And nobody can be sure we would have gone 12-4 with Saffold. How'd we do in the SB with him? How'd we do against the Bears with him last year? How'd we do against Philly. All good defenses that gave us trouble, even with Saffoldq

Not sure what you're trying for here. There were other factors, but the difference in our OL with/wo Saff was night and day.

 

[PARAM]

Not sure what you're trying for here. There were other factors, but the difference in our OL with/wo Saff was night and day.

Not trying for anything. Our offensive line was night and day without Saffold. Our offense was night and day without Gurley. Of course the natural reaction is 'well without a good O line, running backs don't look as good'. But I ain't buying that in this case. Was Rodger excellent on screens and swing passes?....because Gurley seems unable to catch them without Rodger blocking for him.