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Brian Cushing was named defensive ROY today. I have no problem with that, he had a great year. I also don't have a problem with Jarius Byrd being second (he also had a great year). What is surprising is that JL got no votes despite similar and only slightly lower stats than Cushing (JL has fewer overall tackles, but more individual tackles, about half Cushing's pass defended and interceptions, and only 2 sacks to Cushing's 5). Seems that a lot of emphasis is put on sacks as Matthews and Orakpo had less than half JL's tackles but had 11 and 10 sacks.
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Re: Brian Cushing named Def. ROY - JL no votes
I guess, in a way we are lucky to have JL and to pay him not as much.
He would have been a top 5 pick if he came out the year before.
Not too bad if you think about
J.Smith
JL
Suh
as our foundation -
Laurinaitis didn't even get a vote for defensive rookie of the year.
Brian Cushing of the Texas won with Clay Matthews and Brian Orakpo getting votes.
James Laurinaitis is fifth in the NFL in solo tackles along with 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 5 passes defended. I'm not sure he deserves to be higher than Cushing, but he is definitely deserving to be in second place getting some votes. He isn't exactly that type of defensive playmaker that the others are, but he is an absolute force on defense and nothing is getting past him. He is a complete constant and doesn't miss tackles or blow coverages. He is the most fundamentally sound rookie this year.Comment
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Re: Laurinaitis didn't even get a vote for defensive rookie of the year.
one of those unfortunate things that go with being the worse team in the NFL ... good players tend to get missed ....
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Keeping the Rams Nation TalkingComment
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Re: Laurinaitis didn't even get a vote for defensive rookie of the year.
Henceforth known as Donnie Jones Syndrome.Originally posted by RamDez View Postone of those unfortunate things that go with being the worse team in the NFL ... good players tend to get missed ....
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Re: Laurinaitis didn't even get a vote for defensive rookie of the year.
It happens when you play on the worst team in the league. =/
We know he deserved it though! Good job James!Comment
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Re: Laurinaitis didn't even get a vote for defensive rookie of the year.
Brian Cushing got 39 votes
Jairus Byrd got 6
Clay Matthews got 3
Brian Orakpo got 2
yes Laurinaitis had some good tackle stats, but didnt have much in the way of sacks, passes defended or interceptions.
Laurinaitis had 2 sacks and 2 ints
Cushing had 5 sacks and 4 ints
Orakpo had 11 sacks
Matthews had 10 sacks
Jairus Byrd had 9 interceptions (joint led the league) starting only 11 games and missing two through injury
Looking at these stats, im not surprised that he didnt get any votes@EssexRam_Comment
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Re: Laurinaitis didn't even get a vote for defensive rookie of the year.
Me either Tomahawk...he played good defensively on a very bad defensive team. Those others contributed just as much or more on a better defensive unit.
Not to say I am disappointed in JLau's play, just that those guys had a better year. So what? Put Suh on the Dline and watch both Laurinaitis and Long have better years with Suh getting the double team.Comment
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Re: Laurinaitis didn't even get a vote for defensive rookie of the year.
Laurinaitis played great, but he didn't deserve defensive ROY. But that shouldn't detract from how well he played for us this year.Comment
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Re: Laurinaitis didn't even get a vote for defensive rookie of the year.
In addition to won/loss record, the voters clearly overvalue sacks.
For example, Matthews had 10 sacks, but he also had only 51 tackles (compared to JL's 120), and had 9 games with 2 or fewer tackles.
I expect that JL will make several All-Rookie teams, as he was the top MLB of this draft class.
Oh, and by the way... to end an old debate, he had a much better year than Rey Maualuga.Comment
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Re: Laurinaitis didn't even get a vote for defensive rookie of the year.
JL - 120 tackles, 107 solo, 2.0 sacks, 7 PDs, 2 ints., 1 FF, 1 FROriginally posted by AvengerRam View Post
R Mau - 63 tackles, 39 solo, 1.0 sack, 3 FF
Curry - 61 tackels, 54 solo, 2.0 sacks, 2 FF
The race isn't even close.The more things change, the more they stay the same.Comment
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Re: Laurinaitis didn't even get a vote for defensive rookie of the year.
I don't like those voting polls in the NFL site because the team with most bandwagon fans are bound to have their player win the award (just like the Pro-Bowl seeing Peterson > Jackson)
It's basically a popularity contest.
♪ R.I.P. Nujabes ♫
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Re: Laurinaitis didn't even get a vote for defensive rookie of the year.
The double spaced sentences really drives your points home. ;-)Originally posted by AvengerRam View PostsigpicComment
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Re: Brian Cushing named Def. ROY - JL no votes
Also, because of the lack of talent on the Rams DL, if they werent double teaming Long the opposition OL would send a Guard or the Center to go at Laurinaitis@EssexRam_Comment
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Re: Brian Cushing named Def. ROY - JL no votes
JL had a great year but went unnoticed by alot of people. Cushing was a pro bowler. He deserved it unanimously.Comment
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Do you guys think he has a chance of winning it? I really hope he does, he has been a tackling machine and I htink he deserves to be a candidate.
Another candidate would be that stud from Buffalo who has like 7 interceptions.-11-08-2009, 07:18 PM -
While many others have noted this, it bears repeating that the play of James Laurinaitis continues to be one of the bigger bright spots of this otherwise dismal season.
Here's how he matches up with some of the "big name" LBs from this year's draft (all but Rey Maualuga were drafted before JL).
James Laurinaitis
40 tackles
31 solo tackles
2 passes defended
1 interception
1 fumble recovery
Brian Cushing
39 tackles
22 solo tackles
.5 sacks
1 safety
Aaron Curry
32 tackles
29 solo tackles
2 sacks
2 forced fumbles
Rey Maualuga
22 tackles
15 solo tackles
2 sacks
2 forced fumbles
Brian Orakpo
15 tackles
11 solo tackles
2.5 sacks
Clay Matthews
7 tackles
4 solo tackles
1 sack
1 forced fumble
1 fumble recovery
1 TD-10-12-2009, 08:13 AM -
I know JL and MLB is not our biggest need or issue right now. Meanwhile every time I watch the Rams play JL is not impressing me... I think he is soft at the point of attack and is often blocked too easily, yesterday he was controlled by Vikings fullback about all the time.
JL get a big contract and I was expecting a lot more from him this year, his stats are good but I did not see enough impact plays. He looks better in coverage than defending the run.
What do you think about that ?
Is it because of new scheme in defense ?
Does he have a "down" year after signing his new contract ?
Is he lacking strength to shed blocks ?
Can a new SLB could help him ?-12-17-2012, 05:22 AM -
Adam Schefter recently tweeted that J Lau was his front runner for defensive rookie of the year at this point in the season followed by Ray Maualuga. So there is at least a positive there.-09-28-2009, 03:04 PM
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James Laurinaitis could have Pro Bowl in his future
By Brian McIntyre
Around the League writer
NFL.com
Published: July 8, 2012
The Rams might not be playoff-bound, but James Laurinaitis could be playing football in January.
St. Louis Rams middle linebacker James Laurinaitis has amassed 376 tackles (leading the team in tackles in each season) with eight sacks and five interceptions over his first three seasons in the NFL. That's impressive production from a "Mike" linebacker playing with a revolving cast of characters at the other two 'backer spots, a group that has included Brady Poppinga, Chris Chamberlain, Ben Leber, David Vobora, Larry Grant, Na'il Diggs and Terry Tate. (Okay, that last one I made up.)
Laurinaitis, whose official playing-time documents show has missed just three Rams' defensive snaps in his career (and none last season), will have new faces playing alongside of and in front of him this season.
The Rams brought in Jo-Lonn Dunbar from the New Orleans Saints and added Rocky McIntosh to play on the weak side. Free-agent investments in defensive tackles Kendall Langford (four years, $22 million) and Trevor Laws (veteran minimum) were augmented by the selection of 6-foot-5, 322-pound LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers with the No.14 overall pick in the 2012 draft.
The biggest aide to Laurinaitis' jump from above-average middle linebacker to Pro Bowl middle linebacker is new head coach Jeff Fisher's defensive system, which the 2009 second-round pick is deemed to be an ideal fit.
"He's perfect. He's the perfect middle linebacker for this defense," assistant head coach Dave McGinnis said of Laurinaitis last month, according to ESPN's Mike Sando. "The ultimate linebacker for this defense when it started evolving was Mike Singletary. ... We could not have asked for a more perfect middle linebacker to install this system than James Laurinaitis. I remember watching him come out. I interviewed him at the combine when he came out and I loved him then and I love him even more now because he's exactly what you need."
Singletary went to the Pro Bowl every season he was coached by McGinnis. Laurinaitis could start a similar streak in 2012.-07-08-2012, 06:15 PM
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