Rebuilding the Rams' D: Easier Said Than Done

[AvengerRam]

The Rams' defense is clearly in need of an overhaul. This won't be an easy task, given the number of positions to fill and the constraints of the salary cap. Here is a projection of a possible Rams D for 2006.

KEY:
Returning Player
Free Agent Signing
Draft Choice
* Projected Starter

Defensive End
DE: Leonard Little*
DE: Darren Howard*
DE: Anthony Hargrove
DE: Darryl Tapp (Rd3)

Little will need to be a cornerstone of the defense. Howard would be a very good acquisition given his well rounded skills. Hargrove could be a very good backup/situational pass rusher. Tapp is a good prospect.

Defensive Tackle
DT: Ryan Pickett*
DT: Jimmy Kennedy*
DT: Johnny Jolly (Rd4)
DT: Toyoka Jackson

Resigning Pickett remains one of my offseason keys. Kennedy still worth keeping. Jolly could be a nice addition to the rotation. Jackson a good leader.

Outside Linebacker
OLB: Pisa Tinoisamoa*
OLB: Akin Ayodele*
OLB: Dexter Coakley
OLB: Sedrick Hodge

While the strategy of signing "second tier" FAs didn't work last year, it might be the way to go again. Ayodele and Hodge could add toughness and athleticism to the defense. Tinoisamoa needs to be a playmaker. Coakley will return if healthy.

Middle/Inside Linebacker
MLB: Kai Parham (Rd2)
MLB: Brandon Chillar
MLB: Kevin Faulk

Parham could step in as a starter and, hopefully, be this year's Lofa Tatupu. Depth won't be great at the position, though Chillar has demonstrated some potential. Faulk is a Special Teams Guru.

Cornerback
CB: Jeremetrius Butler*
CB: Ronald Bartell*
CB: Travis Fisher
CB: Corey Ivy

It will be hard for the Rams to find value at CB in FA or the draft, so they will likely have to go with the existing group. If Butler comes back healthy and Bartell progresses, they should be decent. Fisher and Ivy should be fine as nickel and dime backs.

Strong Safety
SS: Michael Huff (Rd1)*
SS: Jerome Carter

Despite favorable comments by Jim Haslett, my gut tells me that Adam Archuleta will get a sweetheart deal elsewhere. Huff will be an upgrade, and will be better in coverage. Carter a decent backup.

Free Safety
FS: O.J. Atogwe*
FS: Mike Furrey

Again, cap constraints and limited draft choices will require that the Rams go with what they have at certain positions. Atogwe needs to step up.

In all, this would be an improved defense. Not perfect, but improved. With the right system, and a potent offense, I think this defense could be good enough to get the Rams back into the playoffs.

[majorram]

I love the Howard selection, just hope that we go after this guy...I hope Brandon Green is till around, loved his motor

I think that the Rams will take a wait and see approach to Pickett and see what his value is on the open market...

agree with the Huff selection, to me Arch is gone... some team like AV said will pay this guy big bucks...

On the MLB I just have a feeling that we will go after Derek Smith..

Love to see Ivy signed, always around the ball


steve:clanram:

[psycho9985]

Arch will be there.Hasslet has already stated that he wants to keep him.

Its getting close to FA time,and I think we might fair well.Howard would be a good addition,He could beat out Hargrove in camp, early.

[AvengerRam]

Like I said, Haslett may want Arch, but I think somebody will bid more than he is worth.

[Rip32]

I like it alot the only thing i would like to change is Hodge in the second round instead of Parham otherwise it looks good

:clanram:

[tomahawk247]

It looks good, although im not sure about spending the third rounder on a backup DE when there would still be a number of decent pass catching TEs available.

And im not too sure about having two relative rookies at safety, or signing Hodge to be a backup. I do like the idea of picking up Ayodele

My preferred defense:
DE:
Leonard Little
Darren Howard (FA)
Anthony Hargrove

DT
Ryan Pickett
Ma'ake Kemoeatu
Jimmy Kennedy

OLB
Pisa Tinoisamoa
Akin Ayodele
Dexter Coakley
Brandon Chillar

MLB
Abdul Hodge (Rnd 2)
Trev Faulk

CB
Jeremetrius Butler
Travis Fisher
Dejuan Groce
Ron Bartell

SS
Adam Archuleta
Jeroma Carter

FS
Micheal Huff (Rnd 1)
OJ Atogwe

Front 7 in the 4-3

DE: Howard
DT: Pickett
DT: Kemoeatu
DE: Little
OLB: Tinoisamoa
MLB: Hodge
OLB: Ayodele

in the 3-4

DE: Howard
NT: Kemoeatu
DE: Pickett
OLB: Tinoisamoa
ILB: Hodge
ILB: Ayodele
OLB: Little

[Rambos]

If Huff is not on the board at 11, what then?

[AvengerRam]

If Huff is not on the board at 11, what then?

I'd say that the Rams would need to either go with Jimmy Williams, or take a LB (Chad Greenway if available) and then a DB in Round 2.

[Rambos]

I would take Greenway 1st Abdul Hodge in the 2nd and try and get Cato June or a Julian Peterson in FA. Lets go 3-4 and our DB will be fine. We need to sign Pickett!

[AvengerRam]

June's a guy I'd like to have too, but he's an RFA. That said, with the Colts giving big $ to Reggie Wayne, perhaps he could be had.

Peterson I'd pass on. He's had a lot of injury problems of late, and, more importantly, he's a Poston client.

[tomahawk247]

Also, Pisa is a pretty small linebacker, as is June. We can't have them both in the 3-4

[RAMMAN68]

While I'm all for drafting the best available LB in the first round, there is no guarantee that he will make an immediate impact.

Here's my shopping list of FA LB's that I think will have an impact.

MLB
Derek Smith
Matt Wilhelm

OLB
Will Witherspoon
Cato June
Akin Ayodele
Keith Newman

Tommy Polley?

[Scidog68]

Tommy Polley?

You mean "Powder Puff"?

[OldRamsfan]

well stated I have to agree ya "AR" Maybe with the new system in place we might see some improvement in some our existing players , We shall see...

[AvengerRam]

Well, I'm officially off the Kai Parham bandwagon (at least as a second round selection). He was unable to break 5 seconds on the 40 today at the combine.

I'm subbing Abdul Hodge for him.