The Tree experiment at MLB might end up being genius?

  • To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.

LACHAMP46

A snazzy title
Joined
Jul 21, 2013
Messages
11,735
Not surprised in the least....Did you happen to see Tree at U of Georgia? He was a beast at MLB too..
I honestly dont get the hate on JL.
Not hate, just an honest look at JL55's performances the last 3 years...Look at him at NO...same guy....first step back...plays more like a DB than a LB....always downfield making tackles...
 

Dxmissile

Rams On Demand Sponsor
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Jul 25, 2014
Messages
4,526
Not surprised in the least....Did you happen to see Tree at U of Georgia? He was a beast at MLB too..
Not hate, just an honest look at JL55's performances the last 3 years...Look at him at NO...same guy....first step back...plays more like a DB than a LB....always downfield making tackles...

And recovering fumbles. Im not saying Ogletree isnt a better fit for the defense but calling him better is kinda premature like calling Gaines the savior of the db's
 

yrba1

Mild-mannered Rams fan
Joined
Jul 8, 2014
Messages
5,112
Pretty typical for teams to do that. Clay Matthews played ILB last year and went back to OLB this year. Would prefer Tree at MLB since he has a better field to attack as opposed to one side of the field.

Tree is a pro-bowler. That dude was in on like every damn play.

Wouldn't be surprised now that we play in LA.
 

drasconis

Starter
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Messages
810
Name
JA
I cant remember a time the Rams gave up 3 points or held an opponent to under 3 yards per carry.

The 2 shutouts in 2014 (OAK & Skins)....assuming you mean generically and not specifically against the hawks...and 3 points or less...


Really surprised the yellow laundry didn't fly for a late hit on that play

Assuming you mean the first video above it does...watch the ref he is pulls it and tosses.
 

Rams43

Hall of Fame
Joined
Jun 20, 2014
Messages
4,195
Here are J Lau's season totals thus far.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/12454/james-laurinaitis

Four unassisted tackles plus 6 more assisted tackles.

Here are Ogletree's season totals so far.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/15806/alec-ogletree

Nineteen unassisted plus two assisted tackles.

Any questions?

Now, to be fair, we are comparing a somewhat aged J Lau to a Tree not yet even in his prime. But still...

The Rams clearly upgraded their MLB position.

Just for fun, here are Bobby Wagner's season totals.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/14979/bobby-wagner

Eleven unassisted plus three assisted tackles. And Wagner is a perennial Pro Bowler. Just sayin'...
 

RhodyRams

Insert something clever here
Rams On Demand Sponsor
SportsBook Bookie
Moderator
Joined
Dec 10, 2012
Messages
12,247
The 2 shutouts in 2014 (OAK & Skins)....assuming you mean generically and not specifically against the hawks...and 3 points or less...




Assuming you mean the first video above it does...watch the ref he is pulls it and tosses.

Ya know, I rewatched the video and what you said. I also realized that play wasn't from the game yesterday. But Tree had a play just like it vs Seattle
 

tavian

Not me.I am waaaay uglier
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
1,125
Here are J Lau's season totals thus far.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/12454/james-laurinaitis

Four unassisted tackles plus 6 more assisted tackles.

Here are Ogletree's season totals so far.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/15806/alec-ogletree

Nineteen unassisted plus two assisted tackles.

Any questions?

Now, to be fair, we are comparing a somewhat aged J Lau to a Tree not yet even in his prime. But still...

The Rams clearly upgraded their MLB position.

Just for fun, here are Bobby Wagner's season totals.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/14979/bobby-wagner

Eleven unassisted plus three assisted tackles. And Wagner is a perennial Pro Bowler. Just sayin'...
Even in his prime J Lau at best was slightly above average.
Tree has the ability to be so much more than that.
At any stage Tree is just far more dynamic a player
 

Dxmissile

Rams On Demand Sponsor
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Jul 25, 2014
Messages
4,526
Even in his prime J Lau at best was slightly above average.
Tree has the ability to be so much more than that.
At any stage Tree is just far more dynamic a player

Slightly above average on a terrible team, he had nowhere near the talent surrounding him like Tree has.
 

TexasRam

Legend
Joined
Jan 13, 2013
Messages
7,850
Tree is so athletic that no matter where you put him he will make plays all over
The field.

Love his intensity and fire.

Against good run teams with OL that can get out to the LB, Tree will get swallowed up. I am all for Tree, but he has a lonnnnnnnnmg way to go to be a run stopping MLB. Not sure he ever
Will be.
 

Elmgrovegnome

Legend
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
22,776
Moving Alec to middle made sense on different levels.

1. JL didn't have the range of athleticism to start at MLB in this Defense. He was overpaid too.
2. The play of Barron at OLB allowed the Rams to make a move with Alex
3. Alec is a superior athlete with sideline to sideline speed
4. It was a great move that allowed them to save a draft choice for MLB

Hiring Samurai was a genius move that goes hand in hand with moving Alec to the middle
 

tavian

Not me.I am waaaay uglier
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
1,125
Slightly above average on a terrible team, he had nowhere near the talent surrounding him like Tree has.
Had nothing to do with the team.He was too slow too pursue,not strong enough at the point of attack.and
and had bad coverage skills.Had trouble shedding blocks,made too many tackles five yards down the field and not enough made in the hole or behind the line of scrimmage. He had great heart and was a smart player.but all in all he was average.
 

LARams_1963

Rams On Demand Sponsor
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Jun 29, 2016
Messages
3,014
Name
greg
To me he is still way to undisciplined to play the position. He still reacts like an outside linebacker or a 3-4 linebacker. He almost hit Wilson 2 more times when he was slidding and his run support is terrible. I do expect him to get better, he makes those flash plays thays always good too see but how many times did we get ate up over the middle.

I don't know, seems like we were watching different games. Let me ask you this... Can you remember Lauranitus having as impactful a game as Tree did yesterday? I sure can't. THAT's the bottom line. The fact that he's new at the position and doing this well should be very encouraging to us fans.
 

jrry32

Rams On Demand Sponsor
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
29,938
So I will back off some because no other DB can do what short LJ can do right now he like a mixture of a corner, safety & LB'er wrapped up in a dinky short package.

I love watching Joyner tackle. It's so much fun seeing a 5'8" 185 pound CB stop HBs like Rawls, Michael, and Hyde in their tracks. He stands those guys up and often drives them backwards.
 

Ramhusker

Rams On Demand Sponsor
Rams On Demand Sponsor
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Messages
14,462
Name
Bo Bowen
I'm damn excited at the move of Tree to the middle. I expected growing pains to show periodically until at least the bye but he's honing it quickly. Once we figure out how to keep Sensabaugh off the field, this D is going to go to the next level and this weeks performance is going to be the norm. JL had heart and smarts, played hurt often and never quit on us but father time is a bitch and he lost a step along the way. He's still doing pretty good for the Saints though but he is near his productive years. Tree is on the way up. When he gets there, we will be thinking perennial pro bowler.
 

ReddingRam

Hall of Fame
Joined
Sep 7, 2011
Messages
2,459
I thought the rookie, Josh Forrest looked ok out there for his first action. He seemed to be in position better than I thought. Saw him sniff out a good outside run play early on
 

RamzFanz

Damnit
Joined
Jun 4, 2013
Messages
9,029
When Tree went down last season he led the NFL in tackles. A week later, he STILL led the NFL in tackles.

Dude is badass.

He needs to dial it down on the OOBs tackles and late hits though.