FA linebacker preview

UFA DL as of 02/25/2009 (from kffl.com)
RamView's Top 5 ILBs: 1 - Ray Lewis 2 - Channing Crowder 3 - Jonathan Vilma 4 - Bart Scott 5 - Takeo Spikes
Top 5 OLBs: 1 - Jamie Winborn 2 - Keith Brooking 3 - Michael Boley 4 - Paris Lenon 5 - Ryan Nece

Sleepers: Keyaron Fox, Rocky Boiman

Gawd No: Larry Izzo, Mike Peterson

Rams FAs: The Rams don't appear to have a lot of free agent concerns of their own at linebacker. There's special team specialist Gary Stills, who at age 34 probably won't be back, not at a very high cost, at least.

Rams analysis: A big part of the Rams' defensive failure against the run is that they haven't been strong enough right up the middle. Will Witherspoon had a terrific 2007 at Mike linebacker but got dominated and injured week after week in 2008 as his lack of size left offenses unafraid to run at him. Pisa Tinoisamoa had one of his best seasons as a pro on the weak side, but while continuing to get out of position too often and give up big plays. Quinton Culberson could not parlay a solid preseason into regular season success. The youngster was confused on the field a lot and eventually supplanted by capable veteran Chris Draft. David "Mr. Irrelevant" Vobora got some time at Mike with Witherspoon out injured but failed to impress. Chris Chamberlain, Gary Stills and even late-season addition Larry Grant tore it up on special teams. Chamberlain in particular appears to have a lot of potential, but again, he's a smallish LB and the Rams are a team that needs to get bigger and tougher at this position, particularly in the middle.

Viewing the field: RamView's biggest regret looking over the free agent LB market is that the Rams aren't a 3-4 team. The 3-4 ILB position is easily the most scintillating one in the FA market, led by Hall-of-Fame lock Ray Lewis, who isn't slowing down at 33. He led this FA class in tackles and passes defended last year, and can still get to the QB. But St. Louis obviously isn't in his future. The Jets, with Lewis' old DC Rex Ryan at head coach, are said to have the most interest. Miami hasn't made Crowder an offer, and he's ticked off about it. Somebody's going to hit it big, signing a 25-year-old, 6'2", 250-lb MLB with a chip on his shoulder. He's started every year in Miami, including his rookie year and calls the defensive signals. What makes Crowder not quite ideal is repeated problems with his knees and that he might be better suited on the outside in a 4-3. Jonathan Vilma is a tackling machine whose deal allows him to become a free agent, but he will likely be scooped right back up by the Saints. Similar situation for Bart Scott, whom the Ravens are making a big push to re-sign, though his tackle totals have been dropping since 2006. Spikes had a fine year for the Whiners in 2008 but would almost have to be used as a 3-4 ILB. Pittsburgh's Fox is a special teams terror and a big hitter who made tons of plays for them last preseason. They're likely to keep him but he has good qualities and a chance to blossom at the age of 27. Another LB to eyeball is 30-year-old Andra
Davis of Cleveland, who's struggled in a passive scheme there after ringing up 149 (199, according to the team) tackles in an aggressive scheme in 2005. Izzo's had a great career as a special teamer but I can do without any guys linked to the Barry Bonds trial, can't you?

The OLB market's nowhere near as good, because unlike Nick Wagoner, I don't cop out and include players who have already been franchised. Should Karlos Dansby really be considered available when he would cost two first round picks? Of course not. SLB Winborn is infinitely more available, because Denver cut him in a salary dump, even though he had easy career highs last year of 99 tackles and 11 passes defended. He also led Denver in special teams tackles a couple of years ago. Brooking's a WLB on the down side of a fine career. Boley, a smallish SLB, could be a fine addition to an aggressive defense; he struggled and got benched last year because he doesn't read-and-react very well. But with Boley, you have to keep in mind a domestic dispute arrest from last year. Detroit actually had some good LBs last year. 6'2" 235 Lenon was an ILB there but is better suited to a 4-3 SLB. He's a good all-around athlete with a mean competitive streak and about 120 tackles each of the last two years and he's good at covering backs. Nece, who of course is the son of Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, had 68 tackles as Detroit's SLB last year and deserves points for being the kind of upstanding citizen you want to have in your locker room. Boiman had 73 tackles in K.C. last year just as a part-time starter. Sounds like he knows how to go find the ball. Peterson, who of course was drafted with the pick the Rams sent to the Colts for Marshall Faulk, got benched during Jacksonville's
defensive struggles last year and also got suspended for arguing with coach Jack del Rio. Don't think a rookie coach will want to have that kind of challenge on his roster.

RamView's moves: Fix this position. The Rams' free agent priorities need to be on the defensive front seven, especially when effective solutions are available. I'm moving Will to, um, Will, and going hard after Crowder for Mike. Pisa's trade bait because I'd rather take a run at Winborn for the strong side. Draft's my all-purpose backup, with Chamberlain and Culberson filling out the unit, depending on the draft.

What the Rams could do: If Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry doesn't go first in the draft, ahem, there's a heck of a good chance he's going second. Either way they're going to need a Sam, so Devaney could very easily fire up the Atlanta pipeline and bring Boley in under the assumption that last year was a fluke. Antonio Pierce's name comes up a lot since he was Spagnuolo's MLB the last couple of years.

Prediction: Devaney signs Boley as the new Sam. If they draft Curry, he's the Mike and Will's the Will. If they don't, Will stays at Mike, Pisa stays at Will, and Devaney regrets he didn't try harder for a free agent MLB.