Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley has a busy offseason ahead of him if he hopes to help this group kick things up a notch in the 2020 NFL season.
Staley may have to deal with some significant turnover to his linebacker corps since both Cory Littleton and Dante Fowler Jr. are set to test the market as free agents this offseason. Although nothing is set in stone, the Rams could opt to prioritize shoring up some quality depth for this group.
Staley has made it clear that the changes in the 3-4 scheme will not be too significant from what Los Angeles was running under former defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. It seems he has a clear idea of the type of players he wants to help this group improve.
While the Rams already have some promising pieces on the roster, Staley acknowledged their needs at the linebacker position, via Stu Jackson of the team’s official website:
“(Outside linebacker and inside linebacker) are two different positions, but we definitely have a lot of specifics that we’re looking for,” Staley said. “And a lot of them are currently in place, so it’s going to be exciting to work with the guys here.”
Staley added that Los Angeles will be looking for players that boast versatile skill sets:
“That’s something you’ll probably hear me talk about a lot, having the versatility to play any place in the front, any place in the back,” Staley said. “We’re fortunate that we have that here, guys that have played a lot of roles. Groups that are connected, (because) those groups depend on each other a lot.”
The fact that this has become a point of emphasis for Staley should come as no surprise considering he made his bones as the outside linebackers coach under Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio. It is safe to say that he has had plenty of time to break down which players best succeed in this role.
Staley’s comments provide a strong indication of the type of players the Rams will be targeting in free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft. Of course, the potential departures of both Littleton and Fowler will have a major impact on how they approach filling this need.
Interestingly enough, they each have shown the kind of versatility the Rams are looking for when it comes to both defending the run and the pass. Regardless, it appears Staley will err on the side of caution by targeting other players that fit this mold just in case.
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