Ramswire: Best ILB target for the Rams in each Round

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Best ILB target for the Rams in each round of the draft

There are plenty of intriguing linebacker options for the Rams in the upcoming draft.

theramswire.usatoday.com

 

[Corbin]

alm:

 

[jrry32]

I don't agree with them. Let's nip this in the bud now, we're not going to trade up into the first for an ILB, so I won't even bother with that round. My opinion is:
Round 2 - Zach Baun ILB Wisconsin
Round 3 - Troy Dye ILB Oregon (but Davis-Gaither is also a good pick)
Round 4 - David Woodward ILB Utah State
Round 5 - Evan Weaver ILB California
Round 6 - Joe Bachie ILB Michigan State
Round 7 - Shaun Bradley ILB Temple

But who knows who will be available in the 5th through 7th rounds.

 

[FaulkSF]

Is it just me or is this draft rather thin on ILB?

 

[jrry32]

Is it just me or is this draft rather thin on ILB?

Eh, I'd call it an average ILB Draft. The previous two classes were ridiculously strong years, so that might be why it seems thin.

 

[Memento]

I don't agree with them. Let's nip this in the bud now, we're not going to trade up into the first for an ILB, so I won't even bother with that round. My opinion is:
Round 2 - Zach Baun ILB Wisconsin
Round 3 - Troy Dye ILB Oregon (but Davis-Gaither is also a good pick)
Round 4 - David Woodward ILB Utah State
Round 5 - Evan Weaver ILB California
Round 6 - Joe Bachie ILB Michigan State
Round 7 - Shaun Bradley ILB Temple

But who knows who will be available in the 5th through 7th rounds.

Where's Willie Gay Jr. on your list?

Seriously, though, he's grown on me as a prospect. If he was available with our fourth, I'd take him.

 

[jrry32]

Where's Willie Gay Jr. on your list?

Seriously, though, he's grown on me as a prospect. If he was available with our fourth, I'd take him.

Gay Jr. is a tough one. His athletic upside and hitting are tantalizing, but his character and skill are not. He was suspended for 8 games for academic misconduct in 2019 and then was suspended again for the bowl game after he punched his team's starting QB in the face and fractured his orbital bone. On the field, his athleticism shines through, and he flashes major ability. But he also takes a lot of bad angles (due to overestimating his athleticism), isn't always disciplined in his approach (needs to play with more gap integrity), and has ups and downs in coverage. The kid clearly has potential. But the character is a huge question mark.

 

[dieterbrock]

Round 7 - Shaun Bradley ILB Temple

Man, I really thought that kid was going to be something special after his sophomore year. Just didn’t seem to take it to a higher level though he didn’t have much help.

 

[Merlin]

I've accepted that this will be another draft where we go the dev route with ILB. And btw my top option in round 2 is Uche, I love his skill set and what they could do with him in this scheme. Not as stout as Baun, but more likely to be there when we pick and has exceptional range and agility along with some stoutness vs blockers.

It's gonna be hard to take ILB though if you have options like Okwara on the edge, or Jones as OT etc looking at you at 52. But that said it's pretty clear what the rough combos are going to be if they start out with OT, C, or Edge at 52.

 

[Ram65]

I've accepted that this will be another draft where we go the dev route with ILB. And btw my top option in round 2 is Uche, I love his skill set and what they could do with him in this scheme. Not as stout as Baun, but more likely to be there when we pick and has exceptional range and agility along with some stoutness vs blockers.

It's gonna be hard to take ILB though if you have options like Okwara on the edge, or Jones as OT etc looking at you at 52. But that said it's pretty clear what the rough combos are going to be if they start out with OT, C, or Edge at 52.

Nice post. Always need the good Edge rushers.
Seems like it is hard to get an ILBer that can stop the run and cover unless it's very early in the draft.

 

[Merlin]

Gay Jr. is a tough one. His athletic upside and hitting are tantalizing, but his character and skill are not. He was suspended for 8 games for academic misconduct in 2019 and then was suspended again for the bowl game after he punched his team's starting QB in the face and fractured his orbital bone. On the field, his athleticism shines through, and he flashes major ability. But he also takes a lot of bad angles (due to overestimating his athleticism), isn't always disciplined in his approach (needs to play with more gap integrity), and has ups and downs in coverage. The kid clearly has potential. But the character is a huge question mark.

Yeah I just noted him on the SPARQ thread on the main forum. Hadn't really paid much attention to him due to the above but 94th percentile means someone will see him as a nice dev option.

He's a typical supersized safety type athlete and those guys always seem to suck at run fills lol. But still it sure would be nice to strike gold again with an ILB development type even if it's just for coverage and passing situations.

 

[Memento]

Yeah I just noted him on the SPARQ thread on the main forum. Hadn't really paid much attention to him due to the above but 94th percentile means someone will see him as a nice dev option.

He's a typical supersized safety type athlete and those guys always seem to suck at run fills lol. But still it sure would be nice to strike gold again with an ILB development type even if it's just for coverage and passing situations.

Gay's 6'1", 231 lbs. Not exactly safety sized. And he's at least willing to tackle and fill in the run; he just needs to improve his technique and stop being a dumbass when it comes to character.

Like I said, I'd love to have him in the fourth.

 

[Merlin]

Gay's 6'1", 231 lbs. Not exactly safety sized. And he's at least willing to tackle and fill in the run; he just needs to improve his technique and stop being a dumbass when it comes to character.

Like I said, I'd love to have him in the fourth.

Yes but in experience (he is very raw as a LB) and with his SPARQ scores he's going to be similar to the big safety types in terms of projecting how he'll help a defense. Guy will start out as a sub option as a big nickel type.

Not sure where I'd draft him tbh. I am not a big believer in rolling the dice on guys who do stupid shit lol. Hard to say.

 

[jrry32]

I've accepted that this will be another draft where we go the dev route with ILB. And btw my top option in round 2 is Uche, I love his skill set and what they could do with him in this scheme. Not as stout as Baun, but more likely to be there when we pick and has exceptional range and agility along with some stoutness vs blockers.

It's gonna be hard to take ILB though if you have options like Okwara on the edge, or Jones as OT etc looking at you at 52. But that said it's pretty clear what the rough combos are going to be if they start out with OT, C, or Edge at 52.

I love Uche as an OLB. I don't think he has the instincts to be an ILB. He certainly has the athleticism to do it. Baun is my draft crush at LB. I think he'd be an insanely good ILB. He's the full package. Instinctive, physical, good athlete, phenomenal blitzer, and a quality cover guy. Somebody is likely to take him before us because he has major potential as an EDGE too. But damn, I'd love to have that guy as an ILB. He has Clay Matthews sort of upside. And I'm not talking old man Clay. I'm talking prime, DPOY caliber Clay.

Yeah I just noted him on the SPARQ thread on the main forum. Hadn't really paid much attention to him due to the above but 94th percentile means someone will see him as a nice dev option.

He's a typical supersized safety type athlete and those guys always seem to suck at run fills lol. But still it sure would be nice to strike gold again with an ILB development type even if it's just for coverage and passing situations.

Have you watched Davion Taylor? He's a track guy who wasn't allowed to play in football games during high school because of his family's religious beliefs. He's super raw, but his traits are unreal. He's every bit the athlete that Patrick Queen is. He played for Mel Tucker at Colorado (former NFL DC). Tucker said he's extremely coachable.

His film is alluring, but he has a lot of developing to do. He plays too rigid right now. He knows his assignments and plays to execute them instead of seeing the bigger picture (unsurprising for a very coachable kid with too little experience). But if that kid starts to get the bigger picture with experience, he could grow into one of the best LBs in the NFL. He has it all physically, doesn't play afraid of contact like some of the smaller, fast LBs do, and has good ball-skills. If we're looking for an ILB to start in 2020, he's not the guy. If we want a high-upside developmental option, he'd be a hell of a pick in the late 3rd or 4th round.

 

[jrry32]

Nice post. Always need the good Edge rushers.
Seems like it is hard to get an ILBer that can stop the run and cover unless it's very early in the draft.

Frankly, it's hard to find them period. There's not many guys in the NFL today who do both well. But this draft has some guys on Day 3 that are good at one and competent at the other (Joe Bachie, David Woodward, and possibly Logan Wilson [Wilson might go on Day 2]). I've also seen some hype around Mykal Walker of Fresno State. I need to watch him.

 

[Merlin]

I love Uche as an OLB. I don't think he has the instincts to be an ILB. He certainly has the athleticism to do it. Baun is my draft crush at LB. I think he'd be an insanely good ILB. He's the full package. Instinctive, physical, good athlete, phenomenal blitzer, and a quality cover guy. Somebody is likely to take him before us because he has major potential as an EDGE too. But damn, I'd love to have that guy as an ILB. He has Clay Matthews sort of upside. And I'm not talking old man Clay. I'm talking prime, DPOY caliber Clay.

It's interesting you're so high on Baun. I know he's a good athlete but on film he doesn't show me special change of direction ability or closing speed. Think I watched about 5 of his games. God knows I have time to look at him again though and I will since I trust your take.

Matthews was really fun to watch. He had that rare lateral movement and change of direction on top of physicality, which is something I covet in edge types.

Of course Baun will probably go late round one so not sure it's gonna matter lol.

Either way here's Uche vs Illinois and he moves around quite a bit to include off ball:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVa76cAL6HI

 

[jrry32]

It's interesting you're so high on Baun. I know he's a good athlete but on film he doesn't show me special change of direction ability or closing speed. Think I watched about 5 of his games. God knows I have time to look at him again though and I will since I trust your take.

Matthews was really fun to watch. He had that rare lateral movement and change of direction on top of physicality, which is something I covet in edge types.

Of course Baun will probably go late round one so not sure it's gonna matter lol.

Either way here's Uche vs Illinois and he moves around quite a bit to include off ball:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVa76cAL6HI

It's there. It can sometimes be hard to judge with EDGE guys, but seeing him close on guys like Reggie Corbin and Trace McSorley showed me he has the speed. And his lateral agility shows up in some of the pass rushing moves. His ability to hop inside after initially attacking the corner is absolutely insane at times. I've also seen him drop into coverage and handle TEs and HBs effectively. Think he could be a special kid at ILB. Hopefully, his small stature causes him to fall on draft day.

I've seen a lot of Uche. Love the kid. Love the versatility. Don't think he has the instincts I'd want from an ILB. Would love to have him as an EDGE.

 

[Corbin]

It's interesting you're so high on Baun. I know he's a good athlete but on film he doesn't show me special change of direction ability or closing speed. Think I watched about 5 of his games. God knows I have time to look at him again though and I will since I trust your take.

Matthews was really fun to watch. He had that rare lateral movement and change of direction on top of physicality, which is something I covet in edge types.

Of course Baun will probably go late round one so not sure it's gonna matter lol.

Either way here's Uche vs Illinois and he moves around quite a bit to include off ball:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVa76cAL6HI

Hey Merlin,

Interesting read on Uche being a Wolverine fan and I follow them just about as closely as I do our team. I do watch every Wolverine game and heartbreak. -_-

As Jry stated no way Utche has the instincts for ILB and honestly I wouldn't feel comfortable drafting him as a OLB until rd 3 at the earliest. He barely earned his right to start this year and he mostly ate up on bad teams but disappears a lot against average to above average and especially vastly talented players. I really don't see him as a prospect for who will be on the board when we pick tbh and how he's valued/rated. On coverage there are times I'm alm: with Uche.

I love me some Baun and if you watch games with him he can take over games with disruption. There is a decent chance he's there at 52.

 

[Merlin]

Hey Merlin,

Interesting read on Uche being a Wolverine fan and I follow them just about as closely as I do our team. I do watch every Wolverine game and heartbreak. -_-

As Jry stated no way Utche has the instincts for ILB and honestly I wouldn't feel comfortable drafting him as a OLB until rd 3 at the earliest. He barely earned his right to start this year and he mostly ate up on bad teams but disappears a lot against average to above average and especially vastly talented players. I really don't see him as a prospect for who will be on the board when we pick tbh and how he's valued/rated.

I love me some Baun and if you watch games with him he can take over games with disruption. There is a decent chance he's there at 52 which I would not cry about one bit.

No worries Corbin. I don't mind hearing different takes it's actually why I read these boards.

To my eye he moves and closes very well in space and makes quick decisions off ball. IMO he could be moved all over at the NFL level just like Michigan did. In that vid of him above he's moved off ball a bit and also is comfortable rushing from the interior so I have no worries whatsoever with him in that role. Which is important because that is part of the value I see in him. If I wanted just a rusher I think Okwara would be far better.

We'll see where he goes.

 

[Corbin]

No worries Corbin. I don't mind hearing different takes it's actually why I read these boards.

To my eye he moves and closes very well in space and makes quick decisions off ball. IMO he could be moved all over at the NFL level just like Michigan did. In that vid of him above he's moved off ball a bit and also is comfortable rushing from the interior so I have no worries whatsoever with him in that role. Which is important because that is part of the value I see in him. If I wanted just a rusher I think Okwara would be far better.

We'll see where he goes.

Yeah I hear yeah man, I like to read other ideas (not just with players or NFL) to challenge my on thoughts and beliefs and to see if they stand up still.

Since following personal moves and structure closely for about 15-16 years now it has really opened my eyes to evaluation and the business side of things which has always fascinated me.

Unlike most other players you just watch YouTube or whatever video and form an opinion like that ones I drafted in our draft but who knowsin reality? lol

Watching Uche literally play every snap of his collegiate career to following him since being recruited to Michigan I can say I'm pretty familiarized with him. Which in other words doesn't really mean shit since a player can have a career beyond expectations (Kurt Warner) or below (the tractor and 146 lbs of grass Greg Robinson). lol

But just letting you know what I've seen in him.

That being said I mostly lived in New Mexico my whole life and never really talked to other Ram fans so to being here and chatting with others is viewed as a bar stool conversation to me.