Rams claim LB Justin Hollins off waivers from Broncos

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From what I have read on Broncos message boards, Hollins is an OLB first but can play inside off the ball. He will likely just be depth and special teams for now, could be part of a rotation as an outside rusher in the future.
 
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Kevin said:
From what I have read on Broncos message boards, Hollins is an OLB first but can play inside off the ball. He will likely just be depth and special teams for now, could be part of a rotation as an outside rusher in the future.
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I may be reading too much into it, I do this a lot, but Staley seems to really really like this guy. Not sure what his plans are but he seems to be one of those versatile guys that he said early on with the Rams were going to be a staple of his defense.
 
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This signing fits with what I posted in another thread. The issue is at OLB with the potential loss of Lewis who I think will go on IR with the option to return. Hollins fits the mold of what they are looking for at OLB. He has excellent length, with elite speed which contrasts with Okoronkwo who has poor speed off the edge and lacks the physical metrics for the position. That said he's a long way from being a starter. IMO they could be looking at a possible replacement for Ebukam if they are unable to sign him at the end of the year. Clarity will come if they begin rotating Ebukam with Brockers at DE and play Hollis at SAM. This signing also frees up Brockers if they decide to move him inside instead of playing SJD.

Hollis is more polished and faster than Williams who was cut. That said Hollis needs to improve his technique and as I mentioned he's got a ways to go to be a finished product. The one glaring weakness is he is under-strength to play in the NFL. So give him a year to train and body build and he could be a very good OLB next year. I see him getting a lot of snaps rotating between edge and SAM. The SAM position is one of the more challenging positions in the front 7 and it's why it's crucial for the Rams to have someone like Hollis to backstop Samson should they not be able to re-sign him next year.

I find it strange that a prospect like Hollis who was a 5th round pick was cut by the Broncos. The Broncos who run basically a similar 3-4 hybrid scheme viewed Hollis as a "tweener". Which makes no sense. They even tried to fit him into an ILB role. If he can simply strengthen without losing his speed he would be a classic SAM or JACK LB. It would seem the Broncos were looking for an immediate starter that you are not likely to find in the 5th round. Those players have starting potential but are far from a finished product. Ebukam was drafted in the 4th round and earned his chops in rotation, to become IMO one of the best SAM LBs in the NFL. The Rams scheme is a perfect fit for him and I hope they can keep him as he is clearly an impact player.
 
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oldnotdead said:
This signing fits with what I posted in another thread. The issue is at OLB with the potential loss of Lewis who I think will go on IR with the option to return. Hollins fits the mold of what they are looking for at OLB. He has excellent length, with elite speed which contrasts with Okoronkwo who has poor speed off the edge and lacks the physical metrics for the position. That said he's a long way from being a starter. IMO they could be looking at a possible replacement for Ebukam if they are unable to sign him at the end of the year. Clarity will come if they begin rotating Ebukam with Brockers at DE and play Hollis at SAM. This signing also frees up Brockers if they decide to move him inside instead of playing SJD.

Hollis is more polished and faster than Williams who was cut. That said Hollis needs to improve his technique and as I mentioned he's got a ways to go to be a finished product. The one glaring weakness is he is under-strength to play in the NFL. So give him a year to train and body build and he could be a very good OLB next year. I see him getting a lot of snaps rotating between edge and SAM. The SAM position is one of the more challenging positions in the front 7 and it's why it's crucial for the Rams to have someone like Hollis to backstop Samson should they not be able to re-sign him next year.

I find it strange that a prospect like Hollis who was a 5th round pick was cut by the Broncos. The Broncos who run basically a similar 3-4 hybrid scheme viewed Hollis as a "tweener". Which makes no sense. They even tried to fit him into an ILB role. If he can simply strengthen without losing his speed he would be a classic SAM or JACK LB. It would seem the Broncos were looking for an immediate starter that you are not likely to find in the 5th round. Those players have starting potential but are far from a finished product. Ebukam was drafted in the 4th round and earned his chops in rotation, to become IMO one of the best SAM LBs in the NFL. The Rams scheme is a perfect fit for him and I hope they can keep him as he is clearly an impact player.
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Yep, its a good long-term signing. For a team lacking picks next yr, this guy could be playing OLB in 21' since they will certainly lose Ebukam & Floyd.

Freeing up a draft pick for another position.

Would be nice to find a young C with upside to stash.
 
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PhillyRam said:
Yep, its a good long-term signing. For a team lacking picks next yr, this guy could be playing OLB in 21' since they will certainly lose Ebukam & Floyd.

Freeing up a draft pick for another position.

Would be nice to find a young C with upside to stash.
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Young center Cohl Cabral was stashed on our Practice Squad......might have some future upside yet.
 
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I presume Staley knew this kid would be cut and the Rams anticipated signing him when they made that spot available. He's a big fuckin boy for an ILB btw.

Feel like Staley also wants to get this front seven bigger. I like that very much. :cool:(y)
 
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It's been a while since our LBs looked good getting off the bus. Looks like a real nice developmental pick.
 
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Floyd will be a priority extension just like Ramsey and Kupp, but that won't leave much for Samson unless they get very creative with the guaranteed money. The Rams will have a boatload of FA next year but only 4 are IMO priority extensions. Ramsey, Kupp, Floyd, and Ebukam. If the cap is about $185M like I would expect next year then that probably would give them about $18M in cap space. But by releasing Whitworth, Brown, and Havenstein that could clear about $19M more in cap. That would give them about $37M which should be enough to extend all 4 by kicking the can down the road a year and giving them more guaranteed money. This basic deferment should work because the cap should return to near normal in 2022 and the post-June deferments would be over in 2023. Obviously Ebukam is the lowest priority of the 4 and so Hollis makes sense as a potential replacement.
 
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I think he's too tall to play inside. I see him strictly as an OLB lining up as the WIL edge or in rotation with Samson at SAM. WIL and SAM OLBs are key in this day of running QBs to keeping contain and setting a hard edge on outside runs. People don't give them enough credit when their play forces the QB or RB back into the rush. A beautiful example of this was Ebukam's play against KC in that classic game. He was on a national stage and he showed what an impact player can do at that position.

Hollis played well for a rookie and I simply don't get why he got released. Their loss is a huge gain for the Rams and now they have a legit WIL opposite Floyd and a backstop for Ebukam at SAM. I think if Lewis can return to form late this year and next year, we will see Hollis rotating with Ebukam. Not all OLBs can play both positions well.
 
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