Sean McVay breaks down what makes Micah Kiser ...

[hotanez]

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.

Boni, are you saying this because of the article? I know it says that he's taking over for Barron but this writer might have assumed he's starting in Barron's spot.

 

[RamFan503]

Let me see. You have two experienced LBs as back ups - one of which had started several NFL games - the other going on his fourth season with the team, and a fourth round rookie didn't get playing time over those two? How would that say anything about if Kiser will start THIS season? No team has first rounders at every position. Most Fourth rounders don't start or get much playing time as rookies. Many fourth rounders become starters at some point.

If the Rams are putting him with the ones, that pretty much tells us their expectations are for him to be a starter or at least be a significant part of the defense. I'm not sure what putting him in for a few snaps here and there would prove if that wasn't part of their plans. If putting him in as a rookie wouldn't be a significant upgrade because he either wasn't up to speed on reading offenses, or was slightly behind 4th year pros (as it sounds), it seems completely normal and right on track.

 

[Akrasian]

I can hear Wade's thought process now - "Kiser is the starter next year, but I won't get him even a few plays of experience, because I have to play Ramik Wilson!"

 

[kurtfaulk]

This notion that because he wasn’t put in from day one he can’t play is just silly.

The Chris Carter player evaluation technique.

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[LA_Rams_#29]

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

they weren't going to slide Littleton over to Barron's spot with Littleton playing his first year as the ILB and signal caller... it was a completely new position for him and would have been unfair for them to move him around just to give Kiser some time... IF Littleton had gotten hurt....I'm certain the Rams would have moved Kiser ahead of Hager into the starting spot... but that didn't happen..

This coaching staff has earned our trust with these type of decisions...they gave Littleton a shot to start without him having any experience as a starter ..and very little non-special teams experience.... We cut our starting safety, and gave John Johnson the job as an unproven rookie....

both those turned out to be great decisions... again based mostly on their showing in practice and OTAs..

Kiser's getting the opportunity to do the same thing, and if he earns the spot...it will be an upgrade at the position..

it moves Littleton over to a more natural position for himself, and gives us a real stout run stopping inside linebacker in Kiser...

 

[Akrasian]

Kiser's getting the opportunity to do the same thing, and if he earns the spot...it will be an upgrade at the position..

If he earns the spot - and I hope he does - that's fine. People are posting like he has earned the spot, even though he played literally zero snaps on the defense last season.

Wade did not act like he thought Kiser was ready last season, or he would have at least subbed him in a few times, to test him out. It is ridiculous to think that the depth chart in front of him, with players who are back of the roster guys, were keeping a sure starter the following season from playing at all.

But now posters are acting like Kiser is the starter, and there is zero competition, like this is the first training camp they have ever followed.

 

[kurtfaulk]

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i lost count of the number of people last off season that were so worried about littleton becoming a full time starter.

let the coaches worry.

i'll be looking forward to seeing what kiser can do in the middle.

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[Akrasian]

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i lost count of the number of people last off season that were so worried about littleton becoming a full time starter.

let the coaches worry.

i'll be looking forward to seeing what kiser can do in the middle.

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Littleton had played at least. Kiser hasn't. Do you think that who played in 2018 was arbitrary, or did Wade have a reason? Maybe there is a realistic chance that either somebody else wins the spot, or it turns out that Kiser is not the one. Heck, there are a lot of posters thinking that Brian Allen is not the guy, even though he was a higher pick than Kiser, and has actually played, AND has gotten decent reviews in a very small sample size. But questioning Kiser is apparently a crime in this group.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Littleton had played at least. Kiser hasn't. Do you think that who played in 2018 was arbitrary, or did Wade have a reason? Maybe there is a realistic chance that either somebody else wins the spot, or it turns out that Kiser is not the one. Heck, there are a lot of posters thinking that Brian Allen is not the guy, even though he was a higher pick than Kiser, and has actually played, AND has gotten decent reviews in a very small sample size. But questioning Kiser is apparently a crime in this group.

None of us know what the coaches are thinking. But kiser is running with the 1s so at this stage he's the one. Plus he's getting media time which I guess confirms he's leading the battle for that spot.

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[Merlin]

If he earns the spot - and I hope he does - that's fine. People are posting like he has earned the spot, even though he played literally zero snaps on the defense last season.

Wade did not act like he thought Kiser was ready last season, or he would have at least subbed him in a few times, to test him out. It is ridiculous to think that the depth chart in front of him, with players who are back of the roster guys, were keeping a sure starter the following season from playing at all.

But now posters are acting like Kiser is the starter, and there is zero competition, like this is the first training camp they have ever followed.

I do think it's important not to overreact due to OTAs. The team might want to get a look at him or maybe they think he's the answer.

My suspicion is they want to work him on drops vs the passing game and see how much he's improved. That's his weakness tbh, the guy is definitely good enough to start on run downs but in today's NFL there's a lot more to it than that.

 

[RamFan503]

But questioning Kiser is apparently a crime in this group.

Let's not play victim here - eh?

No one is saying that the Rams are going to just GIVE any player ANY position. But the chatter and the fact that Kiser is playing with the ones, are pretty good indicators of their plans for him.

Personally, and I think I can speak for most here, if he doesn't EARN the spot NONE of us want to see him as our starter next to Littleton.

But if he has studied and learned the position and is that fast, sure tackler that the coaches say he is, I think we'd all like to see that.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Anybody catch Kiser saying we're going to be playing more zone this year?

 

[1maGoh]

Littleton had played at least. Kiser hasn't. Do you think that who played in 2018 was arbitrary, or did Wade have a reason? Maybe there is a realistic chance that either somebody else wins the spot, or it turns out that Kiser is not the one. Heck, there are a lot of posters thinking that Brian Allen is not the guy, even though he was a higher pick than Kiser, and has actually played, AND has gotten decent reviews in a very small sample size. But questioning Kiser is apparently a crime in this group.

What are the alternatives at this moment? I think we grabbed a guy late in the draft that plays the position, we have some brand new UDFAs, or during Ebukam over into a brand new position.

Kiser is probably out best option at this point, even if he's bad. The odds that one of those guys is going to be better are low.

The Rams could have taken steps to get better alternatives, but didn't. So it stands to reason that they believe on Kiser's ability.

If I had to guess, it's say that's where people are coming from. The fact that he didn't play any defensive snaps last year has no bearing on any of the things I've said above. It's a valid point to an extent, but it really doesn't affect the situation as it stands today.

 

[Corbin]

This Fucker won’t play again this year and people will still be all “ Micah Kiser will start and be a cog of the Rams D for a decade or more...” still waiting.. :banghead:

Now where did that fork go...?

View attachment 29197

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

If he earns the spot - and I hope he does - that's fine. People are posting like he has earned the spot, even though he played literally zero snaps on the defense last season.

Wade did not act like he thought Kiser was ready last season, or he would have at least subbed him in a few times, to test him out. It is ridiculous to think that the depth chart in front of him, with players who are back of the roster guys, were keeping a sure starter the following season from playing at all.

But now posters are acting like Kiser is the starter, and there is zero competition, like this is the first training camp they have ever followed.

A couple of things..

Who would Wade have subbed Kiser in for....and why? Did Littleton do anything to deserve getting benched? I'm not a fan of Barron ..and wanted us to move on from him literally years before we did..... but Kiser was not an option for Barron's spot as that is not his natural position on the inside...Ramik played Barron's spot..had experience..and was the natural replacement for Barron...


Myself...I am willing to keep trusting our coaching staff in decisions like this until they get one wrong. We traded Ogletree....we could have went out and signed a replacement for him.... but we gave Littleton the first shot at it in OTAs....and he never did anything to lose the spot from that point forward..he'd never played that position in the NFL...he didn't play the position in college...and we went to the Super Bowl with him playing there..

Now we are giving Kiser a very similar opportunity...our coaching staff believes in him.... we didn't draft or acquire another a player of his particular skillset per se to compete with him (Clay will line up as a situational guy inside....) and Dakota Allen, Travin Howard and Bryce Hager are sure to compete..but are more special teams and back up guys...

if the Rams didn't believe in Kiser, they would have acquired someone to more directly compete with him....and just like Littleton, I'm going to use the fact that they didn't make that type of acquisition as a sign of their believe in Kiser....

and until they miss on one these.... I'm going to trust them.... We're 2 for 2 in my book with Littleton and John Johnson...

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

I like this analytical breakdown of Micah Kiser from before the draft... He played a lot of football at Virginia, and in terms of tools and skill set… it's an upgrade for us at the ILB spot..


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBpog82uE2g

 

[TheTackle]

I and others were very high on Kiser before the draft and excited when things fell into place and he landed with the Rams (Obo was another player many had tabbed). No one was talking about Leonard as a pro bowl player, but either way, he was out of our range once we traded our 2nd

Nothing has happened that makes me think we were wrong. We viewed him as a two down thumper, who would give way in Nickel packages and that still holds true. He can succeed as a drop LB in zone packages (but will not match up well one on one) and people should not underestimate his power, ability to stand up people on the line; blitzing ability and ability to stop players dead in contact. In short, he is not the liability in the passing game that many have him pegged as. V the run, he will I am certain, provide a big upgrade on an oft injured Barron

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

I and others were very high on Kiser before the draft and excited when things fell into place and he landed with the Rams (Obo was another player many had tabbed). No one was talking about Leonard as a pro bowl player, but either way, he was out of our range once we traded our 2nd

Nothing has happened that makes me think we were wrong. We viewed him as a two down thumper, who would give way in Nickel packages and that still holds true. He can succeed as a drop LB in zone packages (but will not match up well one on one) and people should not underestimate his power, ability to stand up people on the line; blitzing ability and ability to stop players dead in contact. In short, he is not the liability in the passing game that many have him pegged as. V the run, he will I am certain, provide a big upgrade on an oft injured Barron

what you mention here is what really jumped out on his VA highlight tape to me. He was more than just a run stuffer.. he was solid blitzing...either from the inside or standing up rushing as an OLB.... and made some big plays for them dropping back into coverage...

This is the first time literally in years that we are going into the season with a probably starter at ILB who is actually a real ILB...not a converted OLB..or a guy who started off as a safety... Micah Kiser is the first guy who is a real ILB ...meaning playing the position for years with the body and skill set to play....but he's the first guy who is a natural there for us at the position since Laurenitis…..