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One of the St. Louis Rams’ strengths over past couple of seasons has been the play of their linebackers.
Although there hasn’t been much depth to the position beyond the starters in James Laurinaitis, Alec Ogletree, and Jo-Lonn Dunbar, the team, for the most part, has received consistent play from the group.
Laurinaitis has been the standard for the Rams during his first six years in the league as an outstanding leader and ironman with over 100 tackles in each season, and he has played every game over that span.
The same can be said about Ogletree through his first two seasons in the NFL. He has tallied at least 110 tackles in each campaign without missing a single game. Ogletree has also quickly become one of the top young outside linebackers in the league.
However, the concern for the Rams is right outside linebacker. Dunbar is coming off yet another disappointing season that saw his production drop for a second straight year due to an ever increasing fall in playing time among other factors.
Since his breakout 2012 season in his first year with the Rams, where he recorded a career-best 115 tackles and 4.5 sacks, Dunbar has seemingly fallen out of graces with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
His role with the team was significantly cut last season with Williams electing to use the seven-year veteran for just 40 percent of the snaps on the field. His reduced role was most apparent over the second half of the regular season, which he didn’t start in five out of the last six regular season games. The Rams also chose at times to use safety Mark Barron as a linebacker in several defensive packages.
Although Dunbar remains under contract with the team heading into this upcoming season, there is a clear indication that his starting job is in jeopardy. What also fuels this train of thought was the addition of free agent linebacker Akeem Ayers, who played under Williams during his time with the Tennessee Titans.
Ayers had his best seasons in the NFL playing a 4-3 defensive scheme, which is the same formation that St. Louis runs under Williams. The five-year veteran is also just two years removed from career-best 104 tackles and 6.0 sacks in 2012.
What also helps Ayers’ case is that Williams over his coaching career has excelled at extenuating the ability of pass-rushing outside linebackers.
This could also result in Ayers being utilized in a significant role in several different defensive packages in passing situations. In many ways, this has the calling card of the former UCLA Bruin taking over the reigns as the starting right outside linebacker.
In regards to the team’s other linebackers, Daren Bates figures to remain the backup to Laurinaitis next season. Korey Toomer will also likely be the primary backup to Ogletree at left outside linebacker, and may sparingly play at right outside linebacker.
There are several other linebackers that will compete for a spot on the 53-man roster in training camp such as Cameron Lynch, Keshaun Malone, Marshall McFadden, and Bryce Hager.
However, it may be a huge uphill battle for any of these undrafted rookies to make the team because the Rams may continue to carry just five linebackers on the roster like they did last season. That said, there is still the possibility that one of them could make a strong case in training camp and preseason to change that notion.
Source: NFL.com
Akeem Ayers, Alec Ogletree, Bryce Hager, Cameron Lynch, Daren Bates, Gregg Williams, Jo-Lon Dunbar, Keshaun Malone, Korey Toomer, Mark Barron, Marshall McFadden
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One of the St. Louis Rams’ strengths over past couple of seasons has been the play of their linebackers.
Although there hasn’t been much depth to the position beyond the starters in James Laurinaitis, Alec Ogletree, and Jo-Lonn Dunbar, the team, for the most part, has received consistent play from the group.
Laurinaitis has been the standard for the Rams during his first six years in the league as an outstanding leader and ironman with over 100 tackles in each season, and he has played every game over that span.
The same can be said about Ogletree through his first two seasons in the NFL. He has tallied at least 110 tackles in each campaign without missing a single game. Ogletree has also quickly become one of the top young outside linebackers in the league.
However, the concern for the Rams is right outside linebacker. Dunbar is coming off yet another disappointing season that saw his production drop for a second straight year due to an ever increasing fall in playing time among other factors.
Since his breakout 2012 season in his first year with the Rams, where he recorded a career-best 115 tackles and 4.5 sacks, Dunbar has seemingly fallen out of graces with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
His role with the team was significantly cut last season with Williams electing to use the seven-year veteran for just 40 percent of the snaps on the field. His reduced role was most apparent over the second half of the regular season, which he didn’t start in five out of the last six regular season games. The Rams also chose at times to use safety Mark Barron as a linebacker in several defensive packages.
Although Dunbar remains under contract with the team heading into this upcoming season, there is a clear indication that his starting job is in jeopardy. What also fuels this train of thought was the addition of free agent linebacker Akeem Ayers, who played under Williams during his time with the Tennessee Titans.
Ayers had his best seasons in the NFL playing a 4-3 defensive scheme, which is the same formation that St. Louis runs under Williams. The five-year veteran is also just two years removed from career-best 104 tackles and 6.0 sacks in 2012.
What also helps Ayers’ case is that Williams over his coaching career has excelled at extenuating the ability of pass-rushing outside linebackers.
This could also result in Ayers being utilized in a significant role in several different defensive packages in passing situations. In many ways, this has the calling card of the former UCLA Bruin taking over the reigns as the starting right outside linebacker.
In regards to the team’s other linebackers, Daren Bates figures to remain the backup to Laurinaitis next season. Korey Toomer will also likely be the primary backup to Ogletree at left outside linebacker, and may sparingly play at right outside linebacker.
There are several other linebackers that will compete for a spot on the 53-man roster in training camp such as Cameron Lynch, Keshaun Malone, Marshall McFadden, and Bryce Hager.
However, it may be a huge uphill battle for any of these undrafted rookies to make the team because the Rams may continue to carry just five linebackers on the roster like they did last season. That said, there is still the possibility that one of them could make a strong case in training camp and preseason to change that notion.
Source: NFL.com
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