LB David Vobora re-signed to one year deal

Rotoworld report:
Rams re-signed exclusive rights free agent SLB David Vobora to a one-year contract.
According to Pro Football Focus, Vobora missed just one tackle all last year on 401 snaps, was effective in coverage, and was quietly the Rams' best run defender from the linebacker position. St. Louis may bring in competition -- Na'il Diggs is on the radar -- but 2008 Mr. Irrelevant appears to be a keeper.

Nice little report there. I feel Vobora could stick as the starting SLB, especially with the holes the team has elsewhere. Improve the DL in front of him and i think he can do a solid job for us.

Very impressed about the stat that he missed only one tackle ! He is not a playmaker but a solid player, with good player around him we can keep him for bargain price.

He may not have missed tackles but he wasn't always in position to make the tackles. Seemed to over run the plays. If they bring in Diggs and he beats him out, I'll be thrilled.

Vobora is at the very least a very good backup. If he improves then he can be a decent starter, nothing like a pro bowler but someone that can make a difference on the field.

you guys are too quick to write guys off. With enough hard work and film study the call could very well indeed be a pro bowler and I hope he has that mind set. I hope none of the Rams read this site or else they'll come away with the impression that they shouldnt win games next year and they just about all suck with no hopes of getting too much better..

Yeah, I am a fan of his. I would have liked to have seen him signed for longer, but this gives him something to strive for.

I REALLY like this. Not every person we sign can be a Big Name. Starters need quality backups, just like Broadway stars need an understudy. Quality backups can be just as valuable. Vobora was a quality fill-in last year. Maybe this year he'll be even better...

The Rams need to draft an OLB in either rd 2 or 3 desperately.

Vobora is definitely an underrated player :helmet:

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Originally Posted by bcopeland

Vobora is definitely an underrated player :helmet:

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That's undoubtedly true and it's almost certain that the under-appreciation of Vobora is due to the fact that he was the last man drafted; had he not been "Mr Irrelevant" I'm sure that more people would be saying that he's a solid starter.

We need to draft a weakside linebacker this year (Dekoda Watson in round three would be ideal); if we do so, we'd have the makings of an excellent young linebacking corps for the future.

So much for getting bigger at linebacker.

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Originally Posted by mikhal5569

So much for getting bigger at linebacker.

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Size isn't everything. :D

Just look at this year's Pro Bowl linebackers:

D. Ware 6'4" 247 lbs
L. Briggs 6'1" 238 lbs
P. Willis 6'1" 242 lbs
E. Dumervil 6'0" 255 lbs
J. Harrison 6'0 242 lbs
R. Lewis 6'1" 245 lbs

Our MLB is easily up to scratch size-wise: James Laurinaitis measures 6'2" and weighs 244 lbs. David Vobora is 6'1" and 236, which is fine. Of this year's top OLB prospects, Sean Weatherspoon (the consensus number one at the position) is 6'1" and 239. Daryl Washington weighs in at 6'2" but only 229. Navorro Bowman is 6' dead and 242 lbs. Dekoda Watson is 6'1" and the lightest of the lot at only 226 lbs but could easily bulk up in the gym.

I'm sure that our coaching staff are more worried about players' tackling technique and ability to read the game than a few pounds here and there; Watson possesses excellent game intelligence and solid technique, so he would make an excellent weakside linebacker for us.

I doubt Vobora will ever be a stud in this league, but he could be solid enough as a two-down strong side linebacker. If the Rams are in the market for an upgrade at OLB, they should probably start at the weak side.

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Originally Posted by Nick

I doubt Vobora will ever be a stud in this league, but he could be solid enough as a two-down strong side linebacker. If the Rams are in the market for an upgrade at OLB, they should probably start at the weak side.

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With Paris Lenon having joined the Cards, we must acquire a weakside linebacker this year. Given that it's a real position of need, I wouldn't be surprised if our third selection went on a WLB. We might even take Weatherspoon if he slips to 33, although that's highly unlikely.

Back to Vobora: he is never going to be an All Pro player but he's already established himself as a reliable starter and there's no immediate need to upgrade on the SLB position due to his solid start.

I'm glad. I think the guy needs to improve his game. The only way he can do that is by getting more snaps. He will come along. He just comes off as a smart guy who wants to improve (See Chris Long).

That said, I'm glad he got the one year deal. It gives him a shot to make the best of his opportunity and earn his neck paycheck.