ESPN recommends the Rams add a linebacker prior to the commencement of training camp.
According to ESPN, Kwon Alexander should be signed by the Rams before training camp.
Through Blaine Grisak at bgrisakTST 22 June 2024 at 12:13 PM CDT 41 New / 41 Comments
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The Los Angeles Rams still have a significant deficiency at linebacker going into the summer. Ernest Jones, who has developed into one of the NFL’s top blitzing linebackers, is primed for another successful season. Nevertheless, there is still a sizable gap behind him, with Jake Hummel and Christian Rozeboom filling it in.
When it comes to their defense, it’s becoming quite obvious that the Rams don’t think highly of linebackers. The Bobby Wagner deal appeared to be less about a philosophical change and more about seizing the moment. This summer, the Rams demonstrated their inability to pick a linebacker with their ten selections, even though it was evident that they needed one.
Having said that, supporters and observers are still attempting to bring about a change at that position, and they never will. The most recent example comes from ESPN’s Aaron Schatz, who recommended one last offseason change for every NFL team. Schatz recommended free agent linebacker Kwon Alexander to the Rams. Schatz stated,
The Rams could use an experienced boost over Christian Rozeboom, even though they don’t often employ their second off-ball linebacker. The 30-year-old Alexander performed ok for the Steelers the previous season, especially in pass coverage. If the Rams are looking for a low-risk, high-reward gamble, they could also try their hand at seeing Shaquille Leonard return to his previous level of play.
The Rams can clearly improve at Rozeboom on the defensive end of the ball, even though he hasn’t exactly been a poor player. As the backup linebacker to Jones, Rozeboom is good in short doses and on special teams, but he shouldn’t be counted on. For instance, throughout the first nine weeks of the previous season, Rozeboom averaged 30 or more snaps every game. During the final eight games of the season, which included the de facto preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers, that number plummeted to three occasions.
While Pro Football Focus isn’t infallible, it can help illustrate this distinction. Rozeboom finished last among the 58 linebackers who played at least 300 snaps in Weeks 1–9. With an 80.4 coverage grade in Weeks 11–17, he ranked 18th out of linebackers who played at least 150 snaps, even after taking out the Week 18 matchup against the 49ers.
Although he can be a rotational player, Rozeboom isn’t a good choice for a defense’s number-two linebacker. Despite Kwon Alexander’s age of thirty when the season begins, he excelled in coverage in 2023. He was 17th among linebackers who played at least 175 coverage snaps in the previous season, and he had the second-best reception % allowed, at 63.3 percent.
Although Alexander or even a player like Justin Simmons would be a good addition, the Rams are not likely to make such a trade. The Rams were active during this time last season, adding Demarcus Robinson and Ahkello Witherspoon. Nevertheless, McVay stated last week,
“Probably a little different than the strategy used last year. We’re going to take a look at where we are at the moment. While acknowledging that the evaluation method still has certain limits, what options do we have at our disposal to ensure that our squad enters camp as the most competitive one? Therefore, it would be unrealistic to assume that nothing would come up—at least not to that degree. I would never suggest that because we want to be able to adopt a disciplined approach if that’s what we feel like taking. We’ll do anything if it helps the football team get better.
It appears that the Rams are happy with their roster as it stands. Though it’s impossible to predict the future, it doesn’t appear that an addition is in the cards right now. Things might alter if the ideal circumstance or player were to arise. That doesn’t appear to be the situation right now, though.
If the Rams decide not to make a trade at linebacker, they will be counting on Rozeboom to improve in a supporting role on what was an excellent second half of the season.
