Rush OLB is now our top need

[Merlin]

Yep. Okoronkwo and Landry are the two edge guys whom I really like. Mata'afa is a tougher call, especially after a pedestrian Combine.

Key with Landry will be the interview I think. They know he's talented and an impact rush type player, but what's between his ears is gonna drive his draft spot IMO.

 

[jrry32]

Hall is a guy I've mocked to us a couple times and probably will in my next one.

Check out Derrick Nnadi. He's a really good player.

 

[nighttrain]

errick Nnadi

Check out Derrick Nnadi. He's a really good player.

you think he could fit as a nose tackle?
train

 

[jrry32]

you think he could fit as a nose tackle?
train

Yes. After the top guys (Payne, Vea, and Settle), I think he's our best fit at Nose Tackle.

 

[nighttrain]

Yes. After the top guys (Payne, Vea, and Settle), I think he's our best fit at Nose Tackle.

what round is Settle projected to go?
train

 

[Merlin]

Check out Derrick Nnadi. He's a really good player.

Here's a couple cutups of him from this year:


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



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BjjEEGcYb0

 

[jrry32]

what round is Settle projected to go?
train

I'd guess second round.

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

It is a priority for us... and there are some good ones out there... some depth at the position ... I could see a scenario where we draft an Inside LB in the 1st round though because there are some real potential game changers there... probably wishful thinking after this weekend that Tremaine Edmunds would be available for us at #23..but if he was...I'd take him and go after an 3-4 Outside LB in the 3rd round.... I'm biased, but Uchenna Nwosu from USC has put some size on...and he was a dominant player in college.... he'd probably be there in the 3rd...

I'm excited about this draft because we don't draft linebackers too often...now we have likely 2 spots open in a 3-4 coached by Wade Phillips.... we've done OK with our LB depth being UDFAs, but we need some real LBs now.

 

[jrry32]

It is a priority for us... and there are some good ones out there... some depth at the position ... I could see a scenario where we draft an Inside LB in the 1st round though because there are some real potential game changers there... probably wishful thinking after this weekend that Tremaine Edmunds would be available for us at #23..but if he was...I'd take him and go after an 3-4 Outside LB in the 3rd round.... I'm biased, but Uchenna Nwosu from USC has put some size on...and he was a dominant player in college.... he'd probably be there in the 3rd...

I'm excited about this draft because we don't draft linebackers too often...now we have likely 2 spots open in a 3-4 coached by Wade Phillips.... we've done OK with our LB depth being UDFAs, but we need some real LBs now.

Edmunds was long gone before the weekend. He's widely considered a top 10 pick. But LVE should be there. I really like him. And I could also see us going for an ILB in the 1st.

 

[Mackeyser]

OVERVIEW

Listed at 6-foot-1, 312 pounds, Nnadi is not the largest nose tackle in front of scouts during the 2017 season. Few will outwork him, however, as he was named a third-team All-ACC selection, compiling 56 tackles, 10 for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 13 starts. ACC coaches named him first-team all-conference in 2016 after earning the team's Defensive Most Improved Player award in the spring. Nnadi started 11 of 13 games played, fighting through an early-season ankle injury to be credited with 49 tackles from the middle, 10.5 for loss, and six sacks. He collected third-team all-conference accolades from league media as a sophomore, starting every game (45 tackles, two sacks), following a true freshman campaign that saw him on the field for nine games (18 tackles, six against Georgia Tech's triple-option rushing attack in the ACC Championship Game). Despite his lack of height, Nnadi was considered a top 10 defensive tackle prospect nationally after amassing 33 sacks in his final two years of high school ball.

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Robust build with burly booty. Low center of gravity increases leverage along interior. Possesses outstanding play strength and can chunk plates around in the weight room like it's nothing. Has good snap quickness. Able to attack gaps or read and react as 2-gapper. Keeps eyes peeled on ball-carriers. Can stick and shed blockers to catch runners darting through his gaps. Lateral agility and low pad level make him hard to secure and pin on move blocks. Productive tackler with good range. Leverages gap and works to maintain run fits. Shows ability to recover when attacked and dislodged from angle block. As a pass rusher, can counter from gap to gap when facing single block. Utilizes a swim and a quality slap and rip to attack the edge. Has lower body drive to generate some pocket push.
WEAKNESSES
Despite his compact build and quality mass, is still undersized by NFL standards as interior player. Will get big-boyed at times when he's facing a wide-body with power. Needs to win early with his hands to stay ahead in the rep. Can still improve quickness to diagnose run direction. Base is a little inconsistent through contact and he will lose some ground against quality double teams. Pass rush loses steam when guards land a stiff, initial jab to start the rep.
DRAFT PROJECTION
Round 4
SOURCES TELL US
"He's a good football player but I don't know what kind of impact he has in the NFL. He's not going to be in on rush downs and I don't know that he's a true disruptor. It's not that I don't like him but those kids of nose tackles have limited draft value." -- NFC General Manager
NFL COMPARISON
Javon Hargrave
BOTTOM LINE
It's hard to find "bad tape" for Nnadi. While NFL teams may see an undersized 4-3 nose tackle with limited pass rush value, I see a player with good power at the point of attack who can dislodge from single blocks and make plays. Nnadi has a good motor, active hands and enough pass rush ability to cause problems for blockers up front. Nnadi has the physical tools to play in one or two-gap schemes and has NFL starting ability.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/derrick-nnadi?id=2559812

OVERVIEW

Despite weighing about 300 pounds and being generously listed at 6-foot-1, Patrick Hall, Jr. (goes by P.J.) played as an outside rusher (standing up and hand-down) early in his career because of his quickness. The two-time first-team Associated Press FCS All-American played defensive tackle as a senior, however, garnering first-team All-Southland Conference honors by racking up 60 tackles, 19 for loss, six sacks, six pass breakups, and tying for the FCS lead with four blocked kicks. Hall was the 2016 Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defender in the old Division 1AA after racking up 24.5 tackles for loss and 13 sacks among his 56 total stops (along with three forced fumbles) in 13 starts. Hall was a third-team AP All-American pick and first-team All-Southland selection as a sophomore, leading the Kats with 75 tackles, 22 for loss and 11 sacks. He also blocked five kicks on the year, the second straight season he accomplished that feat. In his redshirt freshman season, Hall started his assault on the record books with a third-team AP All-American and first-team all-conference season. He finished third in Jerry Rice Award voting (top freshman in the FCS) after recording 30 tackles for loss and 12 sacks among his 93 stops, as well as forcing four fumbles.

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Staggering production. Dominated his level of competition for four years. Finished with 86.5 tackles for loss and 42 sacks for his career. Compact with explosive power. Has a 700-pound squat to his name. Quick off the snap with early hands. Sharp upward thrust into blocker establishes leverage. Owned point of attack against his competition. Able to brace up against double teams. Equally powerful with upper and lower body. Athletic and rangy as tackler. Drives under and through the guard's edge. Corners tightly to cornerback once he's in the pocket. Able to push pocket as bull rusher. Eyeballs quarterback and mirrors his scramble for secondary sacks. His 14 career blocked kicks is unheard of.
WEAKNESSES
Tried to carry additional weight which may have slowed him this year. Squatty and lacking NFL length. Motor ran hot and cold at times. Additional weight appeared to impact conditioning and fatigue levels. Faced very few opponents who could match his strength on FCS level. Fails to feel and brace for down blocks and can be big-boyed out of the gap by size.
DRAFT PROJECTION
Rounds 6-7
NFL COMPARISON
Rakeem Nunez-Roches
BOTTOM LINE
What Hall lacks in height, weight and length, he makes up for with power and quickness. Hall has the quickness and strength to be disruptive against the run and pass as a shade nose or reduced front three-technique. His level of production in every category imaginable could foreshadow his ability to translate into the NFL, but he will have to prove he can maintain his weight and stand up to the rigors of the interior with bigger men across from him.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/p.j.-hall?id=2560080

This is what makes me crazy.

310 isn't undersized for an NT that's 6'1". And I honestly think we're going to see a move to shorter DL because of the leverage they can get.

and with PJ... good gawd... a 700lb squat and they want to say that he doesn't have NFL strength??? WTF???

I could see both of them being eyed by Wade and if we get either of them in the 4th or 5th, they're a damned steal.

As we found out last year, it's a bad idea to undervalue the NT position...

 

[Mackeyser]

Okay... watched some more Payne and yeah... I can totally see him as a NT in the 4-3.

I am more on the Payne train now than I was last week, but I still like Settle more as what we need at the NT than Payne.

Vea would be ideal and worth a trade. I think he's that good. Beyond that, I dunno that I'd trade up for anyone else (maybe Minkah Fitzpatrick)

 

[PhillyRam]

I am hoping they can drop 4 or 5 spots and get an additional 3rd rounder. That would be huge in adding a quality OL for the future and still be able to add a CB, LB, and NT that can make an impact.

Those can be the positions for the 1st 4 picks. Still can get more depth in front 7 & OL, with picks in rounds 5 & 6... plus maybe a speedy RB in there as well.

 

[wolfdogg]

I wonder how far vea would have to drop before they would make a move. 15-17?
Barring anything crazy like a move up for him or Edmunds, I'd love a trade down just 4 or 5 spots and still nabbing LVE. Were gonna own the 6th round. I've never been this excited about the 3rd day of the draft.

 

[jrry32]

Okay... watched some more Payne and yeah... I can totally see him as a NT in the 4-3.

I am more on the Payne train now than I was last week, but I still like Settle more as what we need at the NT than Payne.

Vea would be ideal and worth a trade. I think he's that good. Beyond that, I dunno that I'd trade up for anyone else (maybe Minkah Fitzpatrick)

Watch Derrick Nnadi. Trust me. He stacks up double teams, can shed single blocks, and bulls interior OLs into the QB's face. Doesn't have a ton of speed and explosiveness, but he's strong as an ox with heavy hands and a low center of gravity.

 

[nighttrain]

Watch Derrick Nnadi. Trust me. He stacks up double teams, can shed single blocks, and bulls interior OLs into the QB's face. Doesn't have a ton of speed and explosiveness, but he's strong as an ox with heavy hands and a low center of gravity.

and will be available in round ?

 

[jrry32]

and will be available in round ?

3 or 4

 

[Riverumbbq]

and will be available in round ?

Mid-Late 2'nd round ?

 

[BonifayRam]

Agreed, unless Joyner is somehow allowed to leave.

Very doubtful but IF that were to happen Rams do have a strong safety type veteran who may be phased out of his weak side interior LB post. JJ III would shift to the deep/free safety/Nickle post (LJ's position) to fight it out with Blake Countess.

Again If that were to occur that new vacant Strong Safety post would have Marqui Christian, Isaiah Johnson & just maybe that displaced LB'er Mark Barron (who by the way started @ safety every game he played in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons for Bama. A two-time first-team All-American...three-time All-SEC Selection playing safety. Started 42 NFL games @ safety until game 4 2015 when he started @ WSLB'er in the 43 D.

Rams had a problem with Barron as we know with injuries playing up so close to that traffic & fighting off those big offensive linemen. Knee/Shoulder/Thumb & Achilles were all very big issues. There is some 3 million in dead money involved in the cut of Barron in the future. Barron is over 6-2 & goes between 220-225 looks like the average NFL SS to me.

If they do not release Mark Barron & they do not resign Joyner don't be surprise that they go to Barron @ SS to help beef up that weak run defense.

 

[BonifayRam]

This is where I wonder what they do if Key is sitting there at 23. Oh boy. Careful what you wish for eh?

Landry probably is a short list topper right now for them, with this move as good as made. If they move down, then my guy Lorenzo Carter comes into play I think.

Carter ran a 4.46 in the 40 yd dash
Shaquem Griffin ran a 4.38 in the 40 yd dash!

 

[Merlin]

Carter ran a 4.46 in the 40 yd dash
Shaquem Griffin ran a 4.38 in the 40 yd dash!

I saw it Boni..!!!