What will the Los Angeles Rams do at inside linebacker?

[tklongball]

https://www.therams.com/news/rams-r...BwTeTZHvkeWx7gSweiyCUY2E7on6cHUtIwOGaa4aK5Bsw

 

[tklongball]

Signed a 1 year deal.

 

[jrry32]

Good. He's a valuable special teamer.

 

[BonifayRam]

https://www.therams.com/news/rams-re-sign-lb-bryce-hager


Rams re-sign LB Bryce Hager

Myles Simmons

The Rams have brought back one of their own, re-signing linebacker Bryce Hager to a one-year deal on Monday morning.

Hager was a Rams seventh-round pick back in 2015 and has been a part of the team ever since. He’s excelled on special teams, where he led the club by playing 80 percent of snaps in Los Angeles’ 2018 NFC Championship season.

As the team’s backup middle linebacker, Hager has also started one game — Week 17 of the 2017 season when head coach Sean McVay elected to rest the team's starters in preparation for the playoffs.

The Rams are currently in Phase II of the offseason program. Rookies are set to arrive next Monday, and Phase III of the club's offseason program with OTAs will commence on May 20.

 

[ReekofRams]

Yes! This was one of those moves that I had no doubt that would happen. I even called this before free agency hit, because I know how important he is to special teams and to our our ILB depth. This just made too much sense to pass up. His kind of willingness and unselfish play is welcomed here.

 

[So Ram]

For some reason I am not sold on Kiser as The Rams MLB. He is a thumper & makes a lot of tackles. The thing is about him is what did he do in the off season. He was a late pick because of his speed & if he is not in shape ?? Look out !!! Ogletree got fat after his first offseason & he paid for it. Ever since then he always worked his butt of !!

We can look at things how we want. I try to get a vibe on how the staff is thinking & what connections the players have with each other.

Hager & Littleton both have been core special team guys together. Littleton even being the MLB play caller was a All Pro special teams guy last season. If The Rams don’t go to the SuperBowl Littleton is in Hawaii with Donald & friends.

Hager & Littleton also run a lot of drills against each other pushing one another to get better.
Even the Jake Mcquaide gets into some of the LB drills.The bearded ones.

Happy for Bryce Hagar getting resigned.

 

[So Ram]

Yes! This was one of those moves that I had no doubt that would happen. I even called this before free agency hit, because I know how important he is to special teams and to our our ILB depth. This just made too much sense to pass up. His kind of willingness and unselfish play is welcomed here.

Agreed , but what took so long ?? Good call, but whose head gets slashed ?? My thinking is Kiser might be on the short end of the stick by not being a BONES guy !! Travis Rapp being drafted just might have changed how The Rams defense is going to look in different sets.

Wade Phillips says he plays to his players strengths.

 

[Jacobarch]

The guy is actually a pretty good football player. Don't know why he doesn't get a chance to start ILB

 

[ReekofRams]

Agreed , but what took so long ?? Good call, but whose head gets slashed ?? My thinking is Kiser might be on the short end of the stick by not being a BONES guy !! Travis Rapp being drafted just might have changed how The Rams defense is going to look in different sets.

Wade Phillips says he plays to his players strengths.

Hagar was there last year, didn’t affect the starting linebacker unit. It Wes Ramik and Cory, then Mark and Cory. Both Ramik and Mark are gone now Kiser steps in. Wade and a McVay have said they want a more stout ILB next to Littleton so that rules out Rapp. Besides McVay has already come out and said that Rapp will be learning from both J.J. and Weddle. Hagar has only started when injuries occurred, and though he tried, he showed why he’s a backup.

Kiser was never going to start last year, that was apparent when the Rams brought Ramik in until Barron could play. Just like Allen, Noteboom, they were being groomed. Neither you you or I truly have any idea how ones like Kiser and others will turn out, but the Rams seem to have a lot of confidence in them, so maybe, we should too, but with many worries.

 

[tklongball]

I will be interested to see how Kiser does if he plays on a lot of the early downs.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Agreed , but what took so long ?? Good call, but whose head gets slashed ?? My thinking is Kiser might be on the short end of the stick by not being a BONES guy !! Travis Rapp being drafted just might have changed how The Rams defense is going to look in different sets.

Wade Phillips says he plays to his players strengths.

i get it that Kiser isn't a sideline to sideline guy but his forte is playing the run. Maybe we see him when the game is close and teams aren't passing a lot. Maybe we see more of Rapp when teams are throwing. But as for a cut, Kiser is On a cheap rookie deal. Why cut him right now?

 

[Akrasian]

i get it that Kiser isn't a sideline to sideline guy but his forte is playing the run. Maybe we see him when the game is close and teams aren't passing a lot. Maybe we see more of Rapp when teams are throwing. But as for a cut, Kiser is On a cheap rookie deal. Why cut him right now?

Short of being arrested, I can't see Kiser being cut. He's good on special teams, even if he couldn't get on the field for regular teams last season. He should be better this season, although I'd prefer he work his way onto the field gradually, and not just be thrust into over half the snaps after getting zero last season. And yes, on blatant rushing situations, I'd hope he was in there. If not, then he is just a special teams player, taken too early for that role.

 

[den-the-coach]

Pretty solid player, that answers the bell when called upon!...Remember his Daddy playing for the Rams back in 1997, when I was in St. Louis and standing at the fence around the dome when the players came in, struck up a conversation with him, nice guy and his son has been a valuable asset for the Rams.

 

[Ram65]

Being short on ILbers helps him a lot. I guess he is not guaranteed a job. Knowing the system has to be a big asset too. It's nice to have a guy like Hager but, the Rams need to do better soon at ILBer.

 

[BonifayRam]

Rams ILB'ers
Clay Matthews
Micah Kiser
Cory Littleton
Bryce Hager
Travin Howard
Dakota Allen
Martez Patrick
Troy Reeder

Rams OLB'ers
Dante Fowler
Samson Ebukam
Og Okoronkwo
Justin lawler
Landis Durham
Trevon Young
Josh Carraway
Clay Matthews

 

[So Ram]

Hagar was there last year, didn’t affect the starting linebacker unit. It Wes Ramik and Cory, then Mark and Cory. Both Ramik and Mark are gone now Kiser steps in. Wade and a McVay have said they want a more stout ILB next to Littleton so that rules out Rapp. Besides McVay has already come out and said that Rapp will be learning from both J.J. and Weddle. Hagar has only started when injuries occurred, and though he tried, he showed why he’s a backup.

Kiser was never going to start last year, that was apparent when the Rams brought Ramik in until Barron could play. Just like Allen, Noteboom, they were being groomed. Neither you you or I truly have any idea how ones like Kiser and others will turn out, but the Rams seem to have a lot of confidence in them, so maybe, we should too, but with many worries.

I may have over stated my point ?

who gets cut now though !! Kiser does not start over Littleton or Clay.

 

[So Ram]

i get it that Kiser isn't a sideline to sideline guy but his forte is playing the run. Maybe we see him when the game is close and teams aren't passing a lot. Maybe we see more of Rapp when teams are throwing. But as for a cut, Kiser is On a cheap rookie deal. Why cut him right now?

Good point. Thanks for talking me off the ledge.

 

[So Ram]

Pretty solid player, that answers the bell when called upon!...Remember his Daddy playing for the Rams back in 1997, when I was in St. Louis and standing at the fence around the dome when the players came in, struck up a conversation with him, nice guy and his son has been a valuable asset for the Rams.

Cool story !!
Glad Hager is back.
Looking at the roster it does seem like The Rams are light up the middle with LBers.

 

[Memento]

A good re-signing. Hager is great on special teams, and I don't think we'd ask for more from him with Kiser set to start. Meanwhile, we still have Howard and Allen competing for roles, which is good.

 

[dang]

Hager is a high motor guy and good special teams player. I believe he has a great team mentality as well. I have seen him be effective plugging a hole up the middle but his lack of speed or quickness keeps him from effective pursuit or coverage. I like him in camp battling for a spot on the roster. I will keep banging the drum for another vet ILB though - not sure of his mental approach but Jamie Collins is still available and "could" help the Rams out a lot if he stays focused.