Rams Agree to terms with Diggs

[RamsSB99]

Per Jim Thomas Twitter:

Finally. Rams agree to terms with lb na*il diggs. Expected to sign contract weds.

[SLSG]

It's about time. This should turn out to be a solid signing.

[RamsSB99]

Rams agree to contract with free agent linebacker Na'il Diggs

By Howard Balzer

Wednesday, April 7, 2010


It took longer than expected, but linebacker Na’il Diggs finally agreed to terms with the Rams late Tuesday on what is believed to be either a two- or three-year contract. Diggs visited the Rams in the week after being released by the Carolina Panthers on March 5.

The question now is whether Diggs will play on the strong or weak side. He has played both during his 10-year career, but since signing with the Panthers as a free agent in 2006, he has played mostly on the strong side.

Diggs played 31 games and started 27 in Carolina over the last two seasons. In his career, which started as a fourth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2000, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Diggs started 127 of the 146 regular-season games he played.

Last season, David Vobora was the primary starter for the Rams on the strong side, although he missed five starts, four while on suspension. Paris Lenon, who left this offseason as an unrestricted free agent and signed with Arizona, started one game on the strong side and the final nine games on the weak side. Before being traded to Philadelphia, Will Witherspoon was the weak-side starter for six games.

In five games, the Rams started just two linebackers, employing five defensive backs in four games and six in the game against Indianapolis.

Diggs becomes the third Ohio State linebacker on the Rams’ roster, joining middle linebacker James Laurinaitis and Larry Grant. Rams defensive coordinator Ken Flajole coached Diggs in Carolina.

Diggs is the fourth free agent signed by the Rams this offseason that will be least 32 years old when the season starts. Diggs turns 32 in July, defensive tackle Fred Robbins turned 33 in March, while quarterback A.J. Feeley and center/guard Hank Fraley will be 33 in May and September, respectively.

[TheBritishRam]

Diggs is good depth for LB corp but nothing more. Vobora is better at strong-side linebacker and I'd hate to see him moved. I'm hoping the Rams pick up a WLB in the first 4 rounds, Diggs then start the first few games of the season while the rookie is eased in.

[The Optimistic Lamb]

Problem with getting a WLB: Voborra is not a natural SLB, although he's being a trooper about it.

Voborra is playing over his natural weight class. I'm in favor of letting him slim down and move over to WLB. Then we pick up someone like AJ Edds who is said to be the most natural 4-3 SLB in this draft, and let Edds rotate with Diggs until he develops. Edds is a big mid west corn fed LB at 246 lbs, 6'4, and specializes in coverage. Fits perfectly with what Spags likes and should be able to step right in.

[RealRam]

Good! Nice addition -- glad to hear that.

[cfh128]

I think Vobora playing SLB last year was a result of Witherspoon playing on the weak side and not having any true SLB's on the roster. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see Diggs play on the strong side and slide Vobora over to the weak side where he may be more naturally suited.