Seattle got it right on D - Rams for next year?

[ramhard]

Watching Seattle last night reminded me that it can be done, and also made me mad that the Rams didn't get it done. Seattle had 9 new starters on Defense! A couple were from injury so say 6-7 planned. Not the incremental 'adjustments' we'll get it fixed of the Rams. Also they drafted/signed for playmakers and instincts. For example, they got blasted on draft day for taking LB Tatupu so high, but he's a guy who was a playmaker in college for USC and has continued to do so in the pros - despite less than great measurables of size and speed. The Rams need something similar for next year: complete overhaul, greater than 50% change in defensive personnel, and draft/sign tough guys with football IQ's not those that look pretty in their uniforms! Not guys that underperformed with other teams but just need 'new scenery'

[AvengerRam]

Seattle's defense has improved, but don't go too far overboard. One week prior to last night's shutout of the depleted Eagles, they gave up 490 yards to the Giants.

Tatupu was a real find, though.

[txramsfan]

Seattle this year reminds of the 2001 Rams. They blew up last years defense and restocked it and guess what? They are leading not just the NFC West but the whole NFC. An Indy/Seattle Super Bowl would be an entertaining one.

[general counsel]

Hindsight being 20-20, think about the difference between taptiuipiu and robert thomas. ramming speed to all. one turned out to be a stud, one a bust, both were need picks.

general counsel

[RAMMAN68]

Seattle's defense has improved, but don't go too far overboard. One week prior to last night's shutout of the depleted Eagles, they gave up 490 yards to the Giants.

I agree, their D isn't as good as last nights performance would lead you to believe.

However, they do have a couple of ends that should still be wearing horns. :clanram:

[ramhard]

I thought about Thomas as well before I made the post and looked up the scouting reports on both. Very big difference. Thomas's talks about lack of dedication, and taking short-cuts on the field (running around blockers), while Tatupu talks about dedication, heart, ability to attack as a tackler. Very different in terms of the dimensions I think the Rams should focus on. I agree both need picks, but one placed heart and physical intensity as the premium and the other didn't. Here are the reports:

Robert Thomas
Position: Inside Linebacker
College: UCLA
Height: 6-0
Weight: 239
Hometown: Imperial, Calif.
Career Notes | Agility | High School | Personal | Stats
ANALYSIS
Positives: Shows proper use of hands to separate and shed low blocks … Chases hard to track down the outside run … Intense hitter who comes down the line hard in backside pursuit … Keeps his balance while showing the ability to drop and play in space … Strong inside blitzer who gets good separation when engaging the blocker … Recognizes the plays quickly and has the leg drive to close on the ball … Works well in the open, needing room to roam in order to make the tackles.
Negatives: Needs better weight-room dedication, as his body appears soft and lacking lean muscle development … Goes low in his stance too much, which prevents him from keeping balance vs. the inside run … Will take strong arm swipes, but generally will not use his hands much to jam the tight ends … A bit stiff in his pass drops, appearing too narrow in the legs to get fluidness in transition … While strong, he does not always show physical power behind his tackles, as he will take on the wrong shoulder when engaging the lead blocker … More of a wait-and-catch type of tackler than one who initiates contact … Lacks the hip flexibility and quickness to be effective in man coverage … Shows a marginal break on the ball and is slow to react to the receiver in the zone … Adequate blitzer who needs to show more explosion penetrating the backfield … Tends to run around blockers rather than engaging them head-on … Does not have ideal size for this position to effectively play over the tight end … His minimal burst and smallish size limits him to a one-gap system.


Lofa Tatupu
Position: Middle Linebacker/Strong Safety

College: Southern California
Height: 5-11
Weight: 226
Hometown: Wretham, Mass.
Analysis | Injury Report | Agility | High School | Personal

ANALYSIS
Positives: If they could measure heart, desire and determination, Tatupu would stand tall among the linebackers in this year's draft … He is an athlete that plays bigger than his size. Tatupu has a great combination of speed, quickness and strength. He is a well-proportioned athlete with above-average sideline-to-sideline agility and range. His quickness and instincts are his best assets … While undersized, he plays big. Tatupu shows a nose for the ball and attacks the offense with good determination. He is a solid run defender who, despite a lack of size, plays strong with good hand usage. But he is even more effective when avoiding and slipping blocks to make plays … You will not see him blocked for long, as he is quick to redirect and is the type that will play until the whistle … Tatupu plays with a low pad level and generates the speed and strength to gain leverage on blockers and the ball. He is a fast, athletic mover who is able to sift through traffic, showing good range in pursuit and an explosive burst to close. He is an effective blitzer who takes proper angles to apply pressure … He has good pass-coverage skills, dropping back smoothly and quickly. Tatupu has quick feet and flexible hips to break coming out of his backpedal and plays either the man or zone coverage with equal effectiveness. He sticks tight to the tight ends and backs, using his hands effectively to jam and reroute. Tatupu eyes the receivers through their routes and shows good discipline, as he is not the type that will bite on fakes or play action … Tatupu has natural hands for the interception and utilizes his good leaping ability to time his jumps to get to the ball at its high point. He catches with hands extended from the frame and keeps his head on a swivel, quickly reacting to the thrown ball. He is also a secure tackler who strikes, faces up, snaps his hips and wraps securely to drive the ball carrier back … Because of his pass-coverage skills, he can make a successful switch to strong safety in the pros, much like former Pac-10 stars Darren Woodson (Arizona State), Coy Wire (Stanford) and Adam Archuleta (Arizona State) have done. If left at middle linebacker, size will always be an issue, but his ability to face up or slip blocks makes him effective in a Cover 2 system … Big things come in small packages. Just ask Dallas' Dexter Coakley and Dat Nguyen. He will probably not be drafted where his grade indicates, but in a few years, someone will have unearthed a talent, whether at linebacker, safety or on special teams.
Negatives: Height and size will become an issue on draft day. Slower offensive linemen seldom get a good shot at him, but when they do, he will get washed out of the play because of his safety-like frame.

[RAMMAN68]

Thomas is NOT an NFL MLB, he's too small. He should be used in passing situations and in blitz packages.

[Haterade]

Seattle's defense has improved, but don't go too far overboard. One week prior to last night's shutout of the depleted Eagles, they gave up 490 yards to the Giants.

Tatupu was a real find, though.

In that Giants game, how did those 490 yards help them win? Oh wait, their kicker couldn't make any of those FG's so that yardage doesn't seem that important...

[AvengerRam]

In that Giants game, how did those 490 yards help them win? Oh wait, their kicker couldn't make any of those FG's so that yardage doesn't seem that important...

What does that have to do with my point?

[Hawkfandyno]

What does that have to do with my point?

Think he means that, historically this season, we've given up alot of yards on defense. right now we are #20ish in yards per game. but, if you look at points per game that our D gives up, we are ranked #7. its the bend dont break theory.

[Tony Soprano]

We were supposed to get right after last year.. We just went backwards.

.

[ramsbruce]

An Indy/Seattle Super Bowl would be an entertaining one.

From everything I've seen from Indy the only team that has a chance to stop them is the Chicago Bears, it's too bad they have no offense to make the game entertaining.

I just see Indy crushing Seattle which in some ways would be entertaining :tongue: (sorry can't root for the Hawks) but as a game it wouldn't be entertaining.

[RamsFan16]

Watching Seattle last night reminded me that it can be done, and also made me mad that the Rams didn't get it done. Seattle had 9 new starters on Defense! A couple were from injury so say 6-7 planned. Not the incremental 'adjustments' we'll get it fixed of the Rams. Also they drafted/signed for playmakers and instincts. For example, they got blasted on draft day for taking LB Tatupu so high, but he's a guy who was a playmaker in college for USC and has continued to do so in the pros - despite less than great measurables of size and speed. The Rams need something similar for next year: complete overhaul, greater than 50% change in defensive personnel, and draft/sign tough guys with football IQ's not those that look pretty in their uniforms! Not guys that underperformed with other teams but just need 'new scenery'

There D wasn't bad last year until we mad that miraculous come back then it fell apart. They had the D already our D won't be like we have no Dline that can blitz, we have no Safeties can can cover, not CBs that can intercept, tackle and no linebackers that can make plays. Were SOL!

[Haterade]

Think he means that, historically this season, we've given up alot of yards on defense. right now we are #20ish in yards per game. but, if you look at points per game that our D gives up, we are ranked #7. its the bend dont break theory.

Thanks for the help.

Putting up yardage is pointless if it doesn't result in points on the scoreboard. The Seahawks only had 200 yards of offense in the game against the Eagles but the offense put up 21 points. The rest was taken care of by the defense.

[CanadianRam!]

this draft is a crucial one for rams and its D!!
and for the fans too