Omar Speights might be the steal of 24

[majrleaged]

Not sure what the point is .... the Rams won a SuperBowl with Reeder as a starter

I explained coincidence in a post on another thread.

 

[Merlin]

Thing about Speights is he had to wait for his shot. So his production has been a small number of games. Where would he be if they had started him game one.

Either way hope he has a huge game on Monday night.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I like Speights. He’s an upgrade from Reeder.

However, it’s a bit funny. McVay and Snead devalued the linebacker position to the point where Speights making a play that most linebackers should be making, is very impressive to us.

It’s a bit sad.

 

[So Ram]

I like Speights. He’s an upgrade from Reeder.

However, it’s a bit funny. McVay and Snead devalued the linebacker position to the point where Speights making a play that most linebackers should be making, is very impressive to us.

It’s a bit sad.

Don’t think you’re giving Rosenboom enough credit!!!

EJ53 coming into the season & the season he had sure looks like they trusted what they had & wanted to move on more for what Sean Mcvays (John Wooden) pyramid stands for. You go back to the 70’s Bill Walton -R.I.P.-

 

[dang]

I like Speights. He’s an upgrade from Reeder.

However, it’s a bit funny. McVay and Snead devalued the linebacker position to the point where Speights making a play that most linebackers should be making, is very impressive to us.

It’s a bit sad.

You can’t afford elite players at every position but a ‘B-‘ player like Speights is noticeably different from a ‘D’ player like Reeder. Would love to match Speights up with a ‘B+’ ILB. My grading might be a little subjective but IMO the comparison is pretty accurate.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

You can’t afford elite players at every position but a ‘B-‘ player like Speights is noticeably different from a ‘D’ player like Reeder. Would love to match Speights up with a ‘B+’ ILB. My grading might be a little subjective but IMO the comparison is pretty accurate.

Yes, but my point still stands. We are far more impressed with “B” linebacker play than we likely should be. If the Rams had Roquon Smith or Jeremiah Owusu-Karamoah we’d be in shock at what they do on Sundays.

I’m just putting it into perspective. I do like Speights, but wish the Rams had even better.

 

[sloramfan]

i agree with jrry..

speights is not close to elite... BUT

in short yardage he seems to show up more, and i mean WAY more than not show up....

i get that he 's probably not the best cover LB.. he doesn't have elite speed...

but run instinct is a very strong case for a middle linebacker..

film study can close the gap on coverage ability... i'm sure he's working on that...

no one can deny, he's been a joy to watch on most snaps he is in on...

go omar..

go rams

slo

 

[Jacobarch]

We'll see on Speights. It's hard to be the steal of a year when you aren't a star player, and thus far, he hasn't looked like that caliber of player. I'd just settle for a solid starter at ILB. Right now, Bucky Irving is looking like the steal of 2024. Beaux Limmer is also looking like quite the steal.

He flashes consistently game in and game out. That is a huge plus in his long term development. If he can continue to grow and get better there's no reason why he won't be one of the better ILBs in the NFL. Time will tell. But so far he's been pretty damn good

 

[Merlin]

Yes, but my point still stands. We are far more impressed with “B” linebacker play than we likely should be. If the Rams had Roquon Smith or Jeremiah Owusu-Karamoah we’d be in shock at what they do on Sundays.

I’m just putting it into perspective. I do like Speights, but wish the Rams had even better.

There's truth in that. Like you I am tired of watching poor ILB play, even though I understand it has not been a priority in the way the Rams valued things on defense.

But in previous years we got away with weak ILB due to strong DL, and having AD in there wrecking shit. AD being gone, there's a chance the Rams build that front a little better across the board. Also Shula seems to value the ILBs. I'm not counting snaps and shit in saying that, I just find it interesting that in his first year as DC we unearth a UDFA ILB who can play.

Also one problem has been that the Rams haven't managed to hit on the position in the draft. They haven't prioritized it outside of taking Jones. But Jones was a disappointment in his lack of range, that bum knee wasn't getting any better, and he seemed to be a bit too high on his own ability as demonstrated by his contract year travels. Truth is I would take Speights over him right now, no hesitation, because he's cheaper with team control and younger and healthier. I don't see a ton of dropoff from Jones to him and that's the heart of it for me.

I'm wondering what Speights looks like back there once he gets fully vested in the system and has no downs/distances where he's thinking. How good he may get is going to come down to the quickness of his processing.

in short yardage he seems to show up more, and i mean WAY more than not show up....

i get that he 's probably not the best cover LB.. he doesn't have elite speed...

One thing that is interesting is Speights is not a bad athlete for ILB. He for example is close to Fred Warner athletically in his forty time. Warner ran a 4.64 forty. Speights ran a 4.62 forty. Now Warner's the better athlete for sure, as he was carrying more weight and he outperformed him in the three cone and vert. But Speights weight isn't too big a concern for me as he has stopping power when he hits. The dude hits backs like a guy weighing 250. They stop.

So he's a really nice find for the Rams. I don't think he's going to be an elite backer or anything. But like you I am enjoying watching him develop. It's great to see him and Rozeboom playing like they have been. And maybe we see the Rams invest in a SS conversion to pair with him in this next draft, one of those oversized types with some range in the box.

 

[TheTackle]

There's truth in that. Like you I am tired of watching poor ILB play, even though I understand it has not been a priority in the way the Rams valued things on defense.

But in previous years we got away with weak ILB due to strong DL, and having AD in there wrecking shit. AD being gone, there's a chance the Rams build that front a little better across the board. Also Shula seems to value the ILBs. I'm not counting snaps and shit in saying that, I just find it interesting that in his first year as DC we unearth a UDFA ILB who can play.

Also one problem has been that the Rams haven't managed to hit on the position in the draft. They haven't prioritized it outside of taking Jones. But Jones was a disappointment in his lack of range, that bum knee wasn't getting any better, and he seemed to be a bit too high on his own ability as demonstrated by his contract year travels. Truth is I would take Speights over him right now, no hesitation, because he's cheaper with team control and younger and healthier. I don't see a ton of dropoff from Jones to him and that's the heart of it for me.

I'm wondering what Speights looks like back there once he gets fully vested in the system and has no downs/distances where he's thinking. How good he may get is going to come down to the quickness of his processing.


One thing that is interesting is Speights is not a bad athlete for ILB. He for example is close to Fred Warner athletically in his forty time. Warner ran a 4.64 forty. Speights ran a 4.62 forty. Now Warner's the better athlete for sure, as he was carrying more weight and he outperformed him in the three cone and vert. But Speights weight isn't too big a concern for me as he has stopping power when he hits. The dude hits backs like a guy weighing 250. They stop.

So he's a really nice find for the Rams. I don't think he's going to be an elite backer or anything. But like you I am enjoying watching him develop. It's great to see him and Rozeboom playing like they have been. And maybe we see the Rams invest in a SS conversion to pair with him in this next draft, one of those oversized types with some range in the box.

I posted about this in the undrafted thread if someone can dig it out. He tested in some elite ranges during his pro day. I explained why he might be a steal and he has already surpassed any reasonable expectations

This is a great draft to find an ILB to play alongside him

Bassa at Oregon is a former Safety