Sean McVay breaks down what makes Micah Kiser ...

[Riverumbbq]

By: Cameron DaSilva | May 30, 2019 11:16 am ET


... a good linebacker.

Among the young players expected to step up in 2019 is Micah Kiser, a fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams last year. He didn’t play a single regular-season snap on defense, but he was a core special teams player and really showed up in the preseason with 26 tackles and two passes defensed.

He’s penciled in as Mark Barron’s replacement at inside linebacker, starting next to Cory Littleton. Kiser has been taking first-team reps on defense, which is a good sign for his chances of being a key player in 2019.

Kiser has always been a physical and smart player dating back to his days at Virginia, which stood out to the Rams before the draft. This week, Sean McVay talked about some of the traits that stood out to him about Kiser and what he likes about his game.

“One of the things that you loved about him was the instincts, the awareness, the ability to anticipate – especially when so much of defense is reactionary based on some of things you can gather before the snap and then once that thing happens post-snap, it’s how quickly can I adapt and adjust based on whatever that call is defensively and what the offensive set, whether running it or throwing it dictates,” McVay said.

Kiser may not be the best athlete at linebacker, but his instincts allow him to get in the right spot to make a play.

“He’s always had a good feel. I think he’s naturally a tough guy, he’s a great tackler,” McVay continued. “I think one of the things that showed up for him consistently was he found the role as the season progressed to be a core special teams player for ‘Bones’ and then he just got better and better on the defensive side of the ball.”

Playing in the preseason versus the regular season is a completely different story, given the plays used and the level of competition. However, Kiser was a standout player for the Rams last summer and the team hopes that can translate to next season.

McVay is excited to see what he can do when the regular season begins after seeing him improve already this spring.

“When he played in the preseason games last year, he was active. He’s one of those guys, you hear us talk about it all the time, you feel players on defense. He arrives, he’s violent, he gets guys down in a hurry,” McVay said. “I think Joe Barry does a great job getting all these inside linebackers up to speed and really having an ownership of the system and Micah’s definitely showing why he’s a pro and he’s gotten a lot better in Year 2 and we’re looking forward to seeing it translate when we actually play real football.”


https://theramswire.usatoday.com/20...m_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=pos2headline

 

[OldSchool]

This is strange! I could've sworn I read here he didn't start last year so he couldn't be a good player.

 

[Akrasian]

This is strange! I could've sworn I read here he didn't start last year so he couldn't be a good player.

They were so impressed with him that despite the defensive issues, especially against the run, that he got zero defensive snaps.

 

[BonifayRam]

We do know something here ......Cory did not get slid over into Barron's spot thus far & the 5-11 240-245 lbs MLB'er is slated for the weakside interior post...not what I would have thought.

 

[Ram65]

Can't hurt to build up Kiser's confidence. I wasn't sold on his cover skills so I have reservations about his ability to come in a give quality play. Instincts and play awareness can make up for his lack of speed. Got to see what he can do. He will be a two down player.

 

[Stl2La]

They were so impressed with him that despite the defensive issues, especially against the run, that he got zero defensive snaps.

Players can’t get better with a year of nfl coaching and training? Imagine with all those “defensive issues” the rams won 12 games and made it to the Super Bowl where they held New England to a single td.

 

[Akrasian]

Players can’t get better with a year of nfl coaching and training? Imagine with all those “defensive issues” the rams won 12 games and made it to the Super Bowl where they held New England to a single td.

And the Rams were dead last in the league in yards allowed per rush. So the Rams wouldn't even try him for a few plays on rushing downs?

I want him to get playing time this season, but by all appearances they had no confidence in him as anything but a special teamer last season. He was active, but if somebody was dinged up for a play or two, he still couldn't get in. Words are great, but at least last season the team apparently had little to no confidence in him as a regular player.

 

[Stl2La]

And the Rams were dead last in the league in yards allowed per rush. So the Rams wouldn't even try him for a few plays on rushing downs?

I want him to get playing time this season, but by all appearances they had no confidence in him as anything but a special teamer last season. He was active, but if somebody was dinged up for a play or two, he still couldn't get in. Words are great, but at least last season the team apparently had little to no confidence in him as a regular player.

How many games did we lose bc of that stat? I agree though rams can improve there and I hope they do. They were very solid in the playoffs when it mattered bc the dline played much more disciplined.

 

[Memento]

Hopefully Kiser or Dakota Allen can step into the inside linebacker role. I actually do like Allen, and I think he's a solid special teams player. Kiser's going to have to improve his pass coverage, though, so there's that.

 

[OldSchool]

They were so impressed with him that despite the defensive issues, especially against the run, that he got zero defensive snaps.

Or they liked what they saw from him but felt he needed some time before starting, like every draft pick last year btw, so they didn’t rush him. This notion that because he wasn’t put in from day one he can’t play is just silly. We’ve seen multiple times this year and last Wade and McVay talking the guy up. Sorry he didn’t adjust to the NFL fast enough for you. Our coaches sure seem to like him though. Will he be good? Don’t know, but writing him off because he didn’t start as a rookie makes no sense.

 

[OldSchool]

How many games did we lose bc of that stat? I agree though rams can improve there and I hope they do. They were very solid in the playoffs when it mattered bc the dline played much more disciplined.

And when it mattered our defense stole the show, almost like Wade planned it that way. Defense did just enough, and mostly stayed healthy, to get a first round bye. Then kicked ass in the post season.

 

[Akrasian]

Or they liked what they saw from him but felt he needed some time before starting, like every draft pick last year btw, so they didn’t rush him. This notion that because he wasn’t put in from day one he can’t play is just silly. We’ve seen multiple times this year and last Wade and McVay talking the guy up. Sorry he didn’t adjust to the NFL fast enough for you. Our coaches sure seem to like him though. Will he be good? Don’t know, but writing him off because he didn’t start as a rookie makes no sense.

In a situation where 1) he was active every week 2) the Rams were the worst team in the league in Yards per carry allowed 3) and the Rams ILBs especially the backups were not in demand after the season, they didn't even get Kiser into 1 regular play all season, it is silly to expect - as many do here - that he should be an impact starter from the get go in season 2. It could work out, but why wouldn't Wade even give him a few snaps? Other rookies drafted later than him got non special teams time.

Maybe he'll play and be effective. I don't understand why many fans want to anoint him as the starter, when he couldn't get on the field except special teams, and his supposed strength (playing the run) was the Rams' big weakness last season.

 

[RamDino]

I think Kiser can be a great middle linebacker. He's tough, he can tackle, he can blitz up the middle, but I think he had a lot to learn about pass coverage. Imagine him trying to cover Higbee or Everett at 5'11". Maybe the rams will scheme him so he doesn't have to. I'm sure he learned a lot last year, however, and his confidence will certainly grow this year. He may only be a two-down linebacker, but I think he will definitely improve the rams run defense. The fact that he didn't play last season means very little to me. He wasn't drafted to be a starter. But if the Rams didn't have confidence in him, they would have placed him on the practice squad last year. Just like Obo, we'll find out this year.

 

[OldSchool]

In a situation where 1) he was active every week 2) the Rams were the worst team in the league in Yards per carry allowed 3) and the Rams ILBs especially the backups were not in demand after the season, they didn't even get Kiser into 1 regular play all season, it is silly to expect - as many do here - that he should be an impact starter from the get go in season 2. It could work out, but why wouldn't Wade even give him a few snaps? Other rookies drafted later than him got non special teams time.

Maybe he'll play and be effective. I don't understand why many fans want to anoint him as the starter, when he couldn't get on the field except special teams, and his supposed strength (playing the run) was the Rams' big weakness last season.

You know I had a whole rant typed up and realized it's pointless. You know better than Wade and the rest of us should take our lead from you. I'll stop trusting our Hall of Fame DC and just go off your input. It seems like Wade has a plan and knew what he was doing but I must be mistaken. If a rookie doesn't start his rookie year he's clearly a bust and we should move on from him.

 

[nighttrain]

And the Rams were dead last in the league in yards allowed per rush. So the Rams wouldn't even try him for a few plays on rushing downs?

I want him to get playing time this season, but by all appearances they had no confidence in him as anything but a special teamer last season. He was active, but if somebody was dinged up for a play or two, he still couldn't get in. Words are great, but at least last season the team apparently had little to no confidence in him as a regular player.

i'm thinkin it was more the Rams didn't want to hurt Kaiser's confidence by playing him before he was ready to recognize when he needed to be in pass defense mode vs run defense, that's all
train

 

[dang]

I have high hopes for Kiser but does anyone have a theory on why Rams didn’t get a solid vet to strengthen the middle. Someone like Zach brown. And don’t say cap space because Brown was close to dirt cheap.

 

[OldSchool]

i'm thinkin it was more the Rams didn't want to hurt Kaiser's confidence by playing him before he was ready to recognize when he needed to be in pass defense mode vs run defense, that's all
train

BINGO! Plus if ILB was such a weakness and we needed help so badly there, for a position that at best will play 2 downs, that they didn't even draft a guy there until the 7th round. Two rounds after Kiser was drafted. It's almost like Wade has a plan, which I think he's got enough of a resume to give him a little bit of leeway.

 

[Lunchbox]

Have to agree with the last couple of posts. To me, more telling than him not getting any snaps was the Rams willingness to let Ramik Wilson walk and the other backups to test the market.

They've been building depth through the draft and UDFA for the last couple of seasons now (Lawler, Fox, Howard, Kiser, Okoronkwo, Allen, etc.). Although we don't know yet what we have in any of those players, they felt comfortable enough without signing a FA or spending a high pick on the position.

This is one of those times they get the benefit of the doubt from me.

 

[Akrasian]

You know I had a whole rant typed up and realized it's pointless. You know better than Wade and the rest of us should take our lead from you. I'll stop trusting our Hall of Fame DC and just go off your input. It seems like Wade has a plan and knew what he was doing but I must be mistaken. If a rookie doesn't start his rookie year he's clearly a bust and we should move on from him.

Did I say that? Ever? No, my point is that to count on a 2nd year player as a starter automatically, when he was kept off the field even as a backup by the likes of Hager and Wilson, is very optimistic. Given how bad the Rams' run defense was last year, to assume from the beginning of the offseason that Kiser will be starter quality when he flat out didn't play anything but special teams, is extremely optimistic. If he wins the competition because he is the best - great. If he wins the competition because there aren't good options available - well, in that case a mistake has been made in not bringing in more competition.

 

[den-the-coach]

Come October everybody will love The Kiser and all will be wondering what took them so long to start him....At the end year everyone will be discussing the amazing number of tackles The Kiser accumulated for only being on the field for two downs.