- Joined
- Jan 28, 2014
- Messages
- 5
- Name
- The Dood
Don't get me wrong there are many positives when it comes to JL including his ability to stay healthy, wrap up, call adjustments at the line, & be a first class teammate/rep for the organization.
However when it comes down to being the best option at MLB in the NFC West JL is last on the list in The Rams division. While I completely understand that the NFC West boasts three of the top five Defenses in the NFL, I can't help but compare the Rams position by position to teams that we will inevitably need to beat in order to break this playoff drought.
In fact there are actually four MLB's that top Laurinaitis's play in what has to be the most physical division in the NFL.
Patrick Willis, MLB - SF
Navarro Bowman, MLB - SF
Bobby Wagner, MLB - SEA
Daryl Washington, MLB - ARI
Karlos Dansby, MLB - ARI (pointed out to me after my op)
Those are some of the most physically gifted LB's in the entire NFL. So why put JL at fault for not being one of the best LB's in the division, right? There are many fans that look at JL like he is Dick Butkus or something when I personally see him as Keith Brooking (who in my opinion was one of the more overrated LB's over the past 15 years) I feel as if I can count on one hand how many times JL made game changing plays over the past five years. Part of that may be because the Rams haven't played in many meaningful contests.
Many may argue that being the leading tackler for the Rams over the past 5 seasons is enough to discount this post in it's entirety. I say if you are on the field 16 games a year (which is impressive, maybe the most impressive aspect of JL's game) and your team runs a 4-3 scheme you dang well should be leading your team in tackles. Sure JL has picked off a few passes and recovered a few loose balls along the way (one forced fumble over 5 seasons). He is always around the ball. I guess I'm just looking for more of a physical presence from the middle of our defense in a division that has guys who can knock the socks off of even the most physical RB, WR, TE's.
If I was a RB and I had to choose a LB from the NFC West to meet in the hole one on one it dang sure would be JL55 every single time. I love the Rams and am a life long fan. I just think people are getting a little too comfortable with being "solid" and if you were to give me one word to describe JL's play it would be just that....solid.
However when it comes down to being the best option at MLB in the NFC West JL is last on the list in The Rams division. While I completely understand that the NFC West boasts three of the top five Defenses in the NFL, I can't help but compare the Rams position by position to teams that we will inevitably need to beat in order to break this playoff drought.
In fact there are actually four MLB's that top Laurinaitis's play in what has to be the most physical division in the NFL.
Patrick Willis, MLB - SF
Navarro Bowman, MLB - SF
Bobby Wagner, MLB - SEA
Daryl Washington, MLB - ARI
Karlos Dansby, MLB - ARI (pointed out to me after my op)
Those are some of the most physically gifted LB's in the entire NFL. So why put JL at fault for not being one of the best LB's in the division, right? There are many fans that look at JL like he is Dick Butkus or something when I personally see him as Keith Brooking (who in my opinion was one of the more overrated LB's over the past 15 years) I feel as if I can count on one hand how many times JL made game changing plays over the past five years. Part of that may be because the Rams haven't played in many meaningful contests.
Many may argue that being the leading tackler for the Rams over the past 5 seasons is enough to discount this post in it's entirety. I say if you are on the field 16 games a year (which is impressive, maybe the most impressive aspect of JL's game) and your team runs a 4-3 scheme you dang well should be leading your team in tackles. Sure JL has picked off a few passes and recovered a few loose balls along the way (one forced fumble over 5 seasons). He is always around the ball. I guess I'm just looking for more of a physical presence from the middle of our defense in a division that has guys who can knock the socks off of even the most physical RB, WR, TE's.
If I was a RB and I had to choose a LB from the NFC West to meet in the hole one on one it dang sure would be JL55 every single time. I love the Rams and am a life long fan. I just think people are getting a little too comfortable with being "solid" and if you were to give me one word to describe JL's play it would be just that....solid.