John Johnson III or Troy Reader?

[LARAMSinFeb.]

JJ3 is better depth at LB than Reeder.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

JJ easy decision.

 

[Tumak61]

Well I don't think we need either in the starting lineup, so the question then becomes who helps more on special teams. I don't think Reeder or Johnson really helps very much overall.

 

[shovelpass]

Chicken or egg?

Are they playing the safeties more because Reeder is out? The increase in safety snaps did dramatically increase around the time Reeder went down.

Possibly, but it could also be a young defense figuring out what works. They have but I wouldn't say dramatic. All season long they've used a 3rd safety a good amount. Week 1 Johnson played 62% as the 3rd safety. Week 3 a 4th safety starts getting some playing time.

The backend of the defense has done a lot of shuffling throughout the season to figure out the best lineup(s). Add in the emergence of McCollough, and Kinchens after some early struggles. Even when Reeder was playing they started pulling him off of the field more and more on passing downs.

And if they are playing this way because of Reeder's absence, are they going to change back if he's activated?

 

[shovelpass]

This could just come down to who is healthy? Both are "week to week". Johnson has been out since week 3.

 

[RamWoodie]

This is a no brainer as I see it. The LB play has gotten notably better with Reeder out. The secondary needs the help, so you bring up JJ .

THIS AIN'T HARD FOLKS!!!

 

[thirteen28]

I would go with JJ, he adds more.

And the ILBs have actually played *better* since Reeder went down. Speights is starting to get a handle and Rozeboom seems to do better without Reeder in their.

I get the concern about depth, but there are two designations if we can make the playoffs, and Reeder is less likely than JJ to be a difference maker that gets us there.

 

[DzRams]

Possibly, but it could also be a young defense figuring out what works. They have but I wouldn't say dramatic. All season long they've used a 3rd safety a good amount. Week 1 Johnson played 62% as the 3rd safety. Week 3 a 4th safety starts getting some playing time.

The backend of the defense has done a lot of shuffling throughout the season to figure out the best lineup(s). Add in the emergence of McCollough, and Kinchens after some early struggles. Even when Reeder was playing they started pulling him off of the field more and more on passing downs.

And if they are playing this way because of Reeder's absence, are they going to change back if he's activated?

Yeah, Reeder's snaps had decreased from 100% in early weeks to 90% his last game in week 7.

What was consistent in all of the first 7 weeks is that Shula was playing two ILB sets most of the time. I've mentioned before in another thread but that was my huge issue with Shula. The ILBs are not our best talent. I kinda feel he was forced to adapt to losing a guy who was playing 90% of the snaps. And we're better for it!

But just like they reverted to the original plan in playing Jonah Jackson over Limmer, I fear they may go back to a lot of two ILB sets and Reeder snaps if he's activated. I'm seriously hoping not.

 

[PARAM]

Rozeboom played 64% of the snaps vs New England, Speights played 55%, Hummel played 4%. So they played together some in that game.

 

[Tano]

Is this even a question?

JJ without a doubt.

I don't want to see Reeder with a Ram jersey on the sideline again.

 

[Allen2McVay]

McVay pretty much answered this question in his press conference on Monday.

And the answer is ... It Depends, and We'll See.

Since the Rams would have to choose between activating either John Johnson or Troy Reeder (both may be close), McVay commented about need at either Safety or Inside Linebacker should the Rams lose a player at one of those positions. It suggested that the Rams may wait a week or two after the players are ready, to see if there is more of a need because of performance or injury.

That makes sense if the Rams are satisfied with what they are currently getting at Safety and ILB.

He also acknowledged that the limitation of activating just one (without exposing the other to waivers) was on the organization for making too many Return From IR Designations early in the Season. I love the guy for acknowledging that.

 

[JonRam99]

McVay pretty much answered this question in his press conference on Monday.

And the answer is ... It Depends, and We'll See.

Since the Rams would have to choose between activating either John Johnson or Troy Reeder (both may be close), McVay commented about need at either Safety or Inside Linebacker should the Rams lose a player at one of those positions. It suggested that the Rams may wait a week or two after the players are ready, to see if there is more of a need because of performance or injury.

That makes sense if the Rams are satisfied with what they are currently getting at Safety and ILB.

He also acknowledged that the limitation of activating just one (without exposing the other to waivers) was on the organization for making too many Return From IR Designations early in the Season. I love the guy for acknowledging that.

If we're gonna lose someone to waivers, it's gonna be JJIII.
Activate JJIII!!!

 

[Allen2McVay]

If we're gonna lose someone to waivers, it's gonna be JJIII.
Activate JJIII!!!

I will pass your instructions on to coach McVay. I will convey how emphatic you are.

 

[Corbin]

I can't believe I'm saying this but Troy Reeder. He's really clicked the last 2-3 weeks.

 

[Merlin]

McVay pretty much answered this question in his press conference on Monday.

And the answer is ... It Depends, and We'll See.

That isn't an answer. That is typical McVay coach speak where he dodges the question.

An answer would be him saying Johnson. Barring our ILBs getting hurt that would also be an accurate answer.

 

[Jacobarch]

That isn't an answer. That is typical McVay coach speak where he dodges the question.

An answer would be him saying Johnson. Barring our ILBs getting hurt that would also be an accurate answer.

I actually think he doesn't know the answer at the moment. With only one spot left to activate it really does depend on health and performance. I like McVays approach on this, because the ILB room is very thin even tho they are playing better, and the Safety room is very deep, and performing somewhat ok. If JJIII was a CB then yes I'd say they would probably would cut loose Reeder and see where the chips fall. It's a tough spot because the Rams have some serious deficiencies in the backfield while JJIII might provide some much needed leadership and communication, the Rams are incredibly thin at off ball LB's. If Speights or Rose were to go down and Reeder not be there as a backup role the Rams would be in serious trouble.

 

[Merlin]

I actually think he doesn't know the answer at the moment.

The answer is "Johnson, unless our ILBs suffer a rash of injury." That is also what McVay will do. It is what he would say if you removed coach speak.

 

[dang]

I’m going to preface my answer with the NFL is a tough gig and as often described Not For Long. Add to that Reeder appears to give 100% and by all accounts is a good teammate.

With that said, IMO I don’t see Reeder starting if he were to come back and the Rams could find someone better than Reeder off the street if they needed to add a ILB due to Rose/Speights injury. I don’t feel the same about JJIII.