Anyone that’s ever had an ankle injury, especially those earned in a sporting event, knows they are not fun to recover from. Once you recover and get back in the game, every step, turn and foot plant is an experience and adventure until your mind accepts the health of the ankle.
The Los Angeles Rams formally announced the signing of Michael Brockers Friday, and with it, points and counter-points are surely going to be made. Here at Rams Talk we will take a look at three pros and cons to bringing Brockers back to L.A.
PRO 1: Continuity
As the season ended, DT/DE Aaron Donald made it clear Brockers was a must-sign for the Rams during the free agency period. His defensive end pal was the Yin to his Yang. Brockers was the perfect run stopper to Donald’s pass rushing scheme. Hands down, Brockers was the best run stopper on the Rams. Since Brockers joined the team, and after Donald’s arrival, the two had continuity and a fluid defensive plan.
The Baltimore Ravens were the first team to announce a signing of a player in free agency and Brockers was gone. Or so everyone thought.
CON 1: Injury waiting to happen?
Injured ankle? Brockers suffered a high ankle sprain late in the 2019 season, ending a promising “show me” season. The Ravens’ doctors and a third-party specialist decided it was too much of a risk to keep the talented defender after seeing MRI results from Brockers’s physician in Houston.
As Brockers described, it was like the Ravens thought he might need surgery or something. If we are to believe Brockers and his gut feeling that his ankle is fine, why shouldn’t we also believe in doctors and ankle specialists as well? This is something to watch out for.
PRO 2: Hero returns home
Home is where the heart is. The chance to be recognized as one of the best at your position, to play for new fans, a new city, and finally much more money is a big draw for any professional athlete. But Brockers really did want to stay a Ram.
In a recent podcast on Rams Wire, Brockers said, “I definitely wanted to be at home, but if I had the chance to make some more money and possibly get back to the Super Bowl at the same time, I was going to run with that.” Brockers also mentioned that he has been working out and his situation worked out the way it was supposed to.
The fact that Brockers was the first player to be announced as a free agent signing, and the urgency the Ravens placed in signing him, proves others around the league loved his ability to play anywhere on the line. A jack-of-all-trades, and a master of none.
CON 2: Aging veteran on the decline
Brockers is 29-years old. He has played eight years in the NFL, and all 123 games with the Rams. Injuries, like we have already discussed, skill and personal reasons may sideline a football player much quicker than one would think. Age is no different.
Already Brockers has defied the NFL average of a four-year career, and the average age of 26 in the NFL. How much more can his body take? Especially since he is banging up against blockers his size and bigger on every play. To his credit, his assists on tackles have gone up each of his last three seasons.
PRO 3: An assist for the rush defense
The team would have been worse against the run. No one sees that better than Donald. Donald considers Brockers one of the best run stoppers in the NFL. He’s also mentioned that he’s one of the main reasons the defense against the run has excelled.
When you consider this compliment, and watch how the Rams attack at the line, Brockers is more valuable than most give him credit for. He forces the running game inside, and allowed the likes of ex-Ram Cory Littleton to clean up the tackle. You simply can’t argue with Donald’s views.
You can’t just lose one of the best and add another defensive end with no familiarity to the rest of the line, and to a new defensive scheme with a new defensive coordinator. It just simply isn’t going to work.
CON 3: Not a threat to QBs
Brockers has lost his game-time luster. Maybe it’s age, maybe it has something to do with the youth he is playing against. Brockers just doesn’t produce well against the passing game, and he doesn’t appear to be a force quarterbacks in the league fear any longer. His pass rushing ability has dwindled over the years, ending with only three sacks last season.
Brockers is the most tenured Rams player on the roster. The former first-round selection arrived in St. Louis in 2012 and became a steady force after the arrival of Donald in 2014. Though he has taken a backseat to his All-Pro teammate, there is no doubt his reversal of fortunes in Baltimore will be the Rams’ blessing in disguise.
Sources: Pro-football-reference.com, theramswire.com
You can follow Bob Smith on Twitter @amoresports. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
