By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer
There was, perhaps, no player on the Rams’ roster in 2007 who performed better than linebacker Will Witherspoon.
In his second season at middle linebacker, Witherspoon grew into a one man wrecking crew, making tackles all over the field and even developing into a dangerous pass rusher after defensive end Leonard Little was lost for the season to toe surgery.
Witherspoon earned the team’s Most Valuable Player award for his 132 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 10 passes defended. Finally, the screams for moving Witherspoon to the outside were silenced.
But entering the 2008 NFL Draft on April 26-27, the need for help at linebacker on the roster remains.
Pisa Tinoisamoa remains at weak side linebacker but he is coming off yet another injury plagued season and finished with just 79 tackles. The team lost Brandon Chillar to Green Bay in free agency after he had his best season on his way to 85 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Tinoisamoa is expected to return healthy and ready to reclaim his starting position, but with Chillar gone the question remains as to who will step in to the strong side position.
For now, the Rams are expecting an open competition between veteran Chris Draft and second-year Quinton Culberson, whom the team has high hopes for.
Beyond that group, the Rams still have Tim McGarigle, who is entering his third season and has been used almost exclusively on special teams.
With questions about Tinoisamoa’s ability to stay healthy and Culberson unproven, there’s a strong chance the Rams will look to address needs at linebacker at some point in the draft.
While it remains to be seen how soon the team will begin drafting those needs, it’s a strong possibility it will come at some point in the first four rounds.
One possible route that could land a linebacker in St. Louis is for the Rams to fill the need for pass rushing help by adding a linebacker who can play the strong side and fill the “Buck” end role that defensive coordinator Jim Haslett likes to use to create pressure on the quarterback.
In that vein, the Rams have some solid options that should be around in the middle rounds. Some possibilities include Purdue’s Cliff Avril, UCLA’s Bruce Davis and Mississippi State’s Titus Brown. All three players earned recognition from the team at the Senior Bowl and could likely be had anywhere from round two through round four.
The consensus top linebacker in the draft is USC’s Keith Rivers, who is expected to go in the first round. Tennessee's Jerod Mayo and Oklahoma's Curtis Lofton are among those visiting the Russell Training Center this week.
Outside Linebacker
Keith Rivers, USC
Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech
Erin Henderson, Maryland
Bruce Davis, UCLA
Ali Highsmith, LSU
Sleeper: Bryan Kehl, BYU
Inside Linebacker
Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma
Dan Connor, Penn State
Jerod Mayo, Tennessee
Beau Bell, UNLV
Vince Hall, Virginia Tech
Sleeper: J Leman, Illinois
Senior Writer
There was, perhaps, no player on the Rams’ roster in 2007 who performed better than linebacker Will Witherspoon.
In his second season at middle linebacker, Witherspoon grew into a one man wrecking crew, making tackles all over the field and even developing into a dangerous pass rusher after defensive end Leonard Little was lost for the season to toe surgery.
Witherspoon earned the team’s Most Valuable Player award for his 132 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 10 passes defended. Finally, the screams for moving Witherspoon to the outside were silenced.
But entering the 2008 NFL Draft on April 26-27, the need for help at linebacker on the roster remains.
Pisa Tinoisamoa remains at weak side linebacker but he is coming off yet another injury plagued season and finished with just 79 tackles. The team lost Brandon Chillar to Green Bay in free agency after he had his best season on his way to 85 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Tinoisamoa is expected to return healthy and ready to reclaim his starting position, but with Chillar gone the question remains as to who will step in to the strong side position.
For now, the Rams are expecting an open competition between veteran Chris Draft and second-year Quinton Culberson, whom the team has high hopes for.
Beyond that group, the Rams still have Tim McGarigle, who is entering his third season and has been used almost exclusively on special teams.
With questions about Tinoisamoa’s ability to stay healthy and Culberson unproven, there’s a strong chance the Rams will look to address needs at linebacker at some point in the draft.
While it remains to be seen how soon the team will begin drafting those needs, it’s a strong possibility it will come at some point in the first four rounds.
One possible route that could land a linebacker in St. Louis is for the Rams to fill the need for pass rushing help by adding a linebacker who can play the strong side and fill the “Buck” end role that defensive coordinator Jim Haslett likes to use to create pressure on the quarterback.
In that vein, the Rams have some solid options that should be around in the middle rounds. Some possibilities include Purdue’s Cliff Avril, UCLA’s Bruce Davis and Mississippi State’s Titus Brown. All three players earned recognition from the team at the Senior Bowl and could likely be had anywhere from round two through round four.
The consensus top linebacker in the draft is USC’s Keith Rivers, who is expected to go in the first round. Tennessee's Jerod Mayo and Oklahoma's Curtis Lofton are among those visiting the Russell Training Center this week.
Outside Linebacker
Keith Rivers, USC
Xavier Adibi, Virginia Tech
Erin Henderson, Maryland
Bruce Davis, UCLA
Ali Highsmith, LSU
Sleeper: Bryan Kehl, BYU
Inside Linebacker
Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma
Dan Connor, Penn State
Jerod Mayo, Tennessee
Beau Bell, UNLV
Vince Hall, Virginia Tech
Sleeper: J Leman, Illinois