Cory Littleton named 'surprise offseason standout' for Rams

[Riverumbbq]

By: Cameron DaSilva |

There were a handful of players who stood out during the Los Angeles Rams’ offseason workout program, which included OTAs and mandatory minicamp. While Aaron Donald wasn’t in attendance and a few projected starters were held out due to injury, the Rams still put together a bunch of strong practices.

Among those who performed well were Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks, Justin Lawler and Samson Ebukam, but no one should be overlooking Cory Littleton at this point in the offseason. He took snaps at middle linebacker as the defensive signal caller, looking more and more like a starter heading into 2018.

ESPN’s NFL Nation writers selected surprise standouts from each team and it was Littleton getting the nod in Los Angeles.

A former undrafted free agent in 2016, Littleton took the place this offseason of former team captain Alec Ogletree at inside linebacker. Littleton demonstrated to the staff in limited playing time in 2017 that he had the ability to be a playmaker. Coach Sean McVay said Littleton “immediately stepped in” during the offseason program and that he has done a “great job communicating” in a position that requires a leader.

Littleton isn’t a lock to start in Alec Ogletree’s place next to Mark Barron, but as of now, he definitely looks like the front-runner. He’s an athletic linebacker with good instincts and awareness in coverage, but he could use some work as a run defender.

He’s not the thumper that many associate with inside linebackers in a 3-4 defense, but in today’s pass-happy NFL, coverage skills are almost more important. That being said, Littleton has to show he can hold up against the run if the Rams want to improve their 28th-ranked rush defense from a year ago.

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/20...ory-littleton-minicamp-otas-defense-standout/

 

[CGI_Ram]

I was trying to think of a topic this past weekend on this subject... what if Littleton and Everett emerge, etc.

Talk about adding some nice "surprises" to an already unbelievable roster (on paper). Whoa.

 

[Psycho_X]

I've just kind of assumed that Phillips will just package in and out the linebackers based on situation more than there be any kind of real "starters" with the exception of Barron. Obviously, starters will be relevant to who takes the first snap and I expect Littleton, Ebukam, and Longacre to be starting with Barron. But all three will be rotated out a lot. Be curious to see if one of the rookies can make a name for themselves in camp to be the designated "thumper" for run downs. If someone can step up in that role and Littleton, Ebukam excels in their general roles this defense is going to be scary... record setting... good.

 

[Force16X]

i liked Littleton after watching him cause a fumble vs the colts 46-9 destruction last year. here's a game completely out of hand, and yet this undrafted free agent is playing like the score is tied as he ripped the football out of the overmatched colts running backs arms. most players would have just tackled him and been happy with that, but Cory gave a 100% effort on the play. he's had some other big plays since then, but that one sticks out due to the circumstances at hand and how he handled them. plus to make the team undrafted is pretty badass as well. hopefully in a couple of seasons the Rams will have the problem of trying to decide how much to pay him to keep him as a Ram

 

[Prime Time]

i liked Littleton after watching him cause a fumble vs the colts 46-9 destruction last year. here's a game completely out of hand, and yet this undrafted free agent is playing like the score is tied as he ripped the football out of the overmatched colts running backs arms. most players would have just tackled him and been happy with that, but Cory gave a 100% effort on the play.

It's at 11:52 of the video.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgBE377S3f8

 

[A.J. Hicks]

I've just kind of assumed that Phillips will just package in and out the linebackers based on situation more than there be any kind of real "starters" with the exception of Barron. Obviously, starters will be relevant to who takes the first snap and I expect Littleton, Ebukam, and Longacre to be starting with Barron. But all three will be rotated out a lot. Be curious to see if one of the rookies can make a name for themselves in camp to be the designated "thumper" for run downs. If someone can step up in that role and Littleton, Ebukam excels in their general roles this defense is going to be scary... record setting... good.

I kind of wonder if it will follow these lines but Barron will be the guy taking rest more often. Littleton can be on the field for run downs and passing downs making the calls while Barron will rotate with some of our other guys.

I know Barron is an extremely productive linebacker I just wonder if giving him those rotational reps to rest - especially in heavy sub packages will help keep his back healthy and help him stay healthy for the whole year.

 

[Psycho_X]

I kind of wonder if it will follow these lines but Barron will be the guy taking rest more often. Littleton can be on the field for run downs and passing downs making the calls while Barron will rotate with some of our other guys.

I know Barron is an extremely productive linebacker I just wonder if giving him those rotational reps to rest - especially in heavy sub packages will help keep his back healthy and help him stay healthy for the whole year.

Yeah, i'd be good with that too if Littleton can take on that responsibility. Preserving Barron would be good.

 

[Merlin]

I of course like to hear that Littleton is coming around. But honestly any article that is making something significant out of OTA performances is nonsense.

Let's wait and see how he and the rest of these guys vying for starting jobs do once the pads come on.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Late in the game, Barron seemed to be a real liability in the run game and even somewhat of a liability in the pass game.

I still think the possibility exists that he could be that surprise cut come final cut down.

Some of the reasons include;

He is extremely expensive.
He is a tweener.
His stats went down last year in the 3-4.
He is a liability in defending the run.
He is not a McVay or Phillips pick.
They seem to have other linebackers calling the defense as well.
We have a lot of great candidates for Barron's spot, so that increases the likelihood that someone will emerge that is an all-around run-stopper and pass coverage guy.

JMO.

 

[Prime Time]

Late in the game, Barron seemed to be a real liability in the run game and even somewhat of a liability in the pass game.

I still think the possibility exists that he could be that surprise cut come final cut down.

Some of the reasons include;

He is extremely expensive.
He is a tweener.
His stats went down last year in the 3-4.
He is a liability in defending the run.
He is not a McVay or Phillips pick.
They seem to have other linebackers calling the defense as well.
We have a lot of great candidates for Barron's spot, so that increases the likelihood that someone will emerge that is an all-around run-stopper and pass coverage guy.

JMO.

Good post but I would be shocked if Barron gets cut. :seizure:

 

[Rams43]

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m pleased to hear the glowing comments about Littleton, Ebu, and Lawler.

Yeah, the pads aren’t on yet, but Wade knows what he wants and what he’s seeing. That’s good enough for me.

 

[Merlin]

Late in the game, Barron seemed to be a real liability in the run game and even somewhat of a liability in the pass game.

I still think the possibility exists that he could be that surprise cut come final cut down.

If the Rams had more quality options in terms of talent, I would agree. But looking at the other ILB options there isn't anyone who is as good as him in coverage. Which isn't saying much, since I don't think Barron's elite in that respect by any means.

I do think it's possible. But due to depth concerns and overall talent level at the position it's an extreme longshot for him to be a surprise cut.

 

[Loyal]

"He’s not the thumper that many associate with inside linebackers in a 3-4 defense, but in today’s pass-happy NFL, coverage skills are almost more important. That being said, Littleton has to show he can hold up against the run if the Rams want to improve their 28th-ranked rush defense from a year ago."

Hello? HELLO?!?! You stupid bastids act like I'm not in the middle! ~Ndamukong Suh

 

[Jacobarch]

We'll see, we have a lot of unknowns on defense this year. I don't expect littleton to outplay Tree but we'll see.

 

[Karate61]

I like Littleton. He's a gamer. He comes up big a lot. Call him Biggleton!

 

[Soul Surfer]

"

Hello? HELLO?!?! You stupid bastids act like I'm not in the middle! ~Ndamukong Suh

Suh definitely should be the biggest difference maker in our run defense.

There will still be times when we have to stop them at the second level though.
However they shouldn't be getting to the second level as often as they were last year.

I still have a huge burr in my ass about that Atlanta game that ended our season.
We were painfully dominated in that fourth quarter by their trio of running backs.

 

[Loyal]

Suh definitely should be the biggest difference maker in our run defense.

There will still be times when we have to stop them at the second leve though.
However they shouldn't be getting to the second level as often as they were last year.

I still have a huge burr in my ass about that Atlanta game that ended our season.
We were painfully dominated in that fourth quarter by their trio of running backs.

Suh should make any ILB look much better, imo.

 

[Karate61]

Suh should make any ILB look much better, imo.

Maybe even more so. It's not like it's just Suh and then a couple other dudes, where the offense can focus on Suh. Its Suh + Donald + Brockers. The run defense should improve exponentially with those three manning the d-line. Pick your poison, but you can't because there's to much poision!

 

[Soul Surfer]

Suh should make any ILB look much better, imo.

Exactly.
But he won't make Barron look any cheaper.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Suh should make any ILB look much better, imo.

There should be less blockers that the LBs have to worry about shedding to begin with when Suh, Brockers and Donald are taking up 2 blockers each.

Those 3 should be total offensive disruptors for the pass and the run.

This should be a very interesting.