Omar Speights might be the steal of 24

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I cannot believe Speights didn't get drafted. Maybe he didn't play well at Louisiana State, but at Oregon State, he was an elite linebacker (still is ninth in total tackles at that school for a career).

He resurrected Rozeboom's career, allowed him to play more freely. He has outstanding instincts and closing speed, and while he needs work in coverage, I think that he could be an elite part of our defense for a long time.
 
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His stopping power for his size is impressive. That's one thing that I think stands out for him. Still a ways to go but it's nice to have an ILB who is young with some room to grow. :thumbsup1:
 
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Memento said:
I cannot believe Speights didn't get drafted. Maybe he didn't play well at Louisiana State, but at Oregon State, he was an elite linebacker (still is ninth in total tackles at that school for a career).

He resurrected Rozeboom's career, allowed him to play more freely. He has outstanding instincts and closing speed, and while he needs work in coverage, I think that he could be an elite part of our defense for a long time.
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Maybe he tested poorly or had an injury?

Didn’t Aleric Jackson have an injury in college. He’s damn good value as a UDFA.
 
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The defense really improved once Speights was inserted into the starting lineup. Reeder is a decent reserve at best but like the film breakdown showed, Speights doesn't overcommit and get burned, which was what Reeder did. He made some good plays, but he also whiffed a lot, which resulted in big plays.

Rozeboom's play also improved when Speights started playing in the starting lineup, or it seemed like it to me.
 
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RamWoodie said:
One things for sure...the way Speights and Rozeboom have come on, Reeder is really now on the outside looking in. The fact is when Reeder got injured, that's when Rozeboom began to play better. Also, Speights is faster than Reeder and definitely reads and reacts better. I'd like him to gain maybe 10 lbs
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The worry with any athlete is that gaining ten pounds might end up making them even a hair slower - meaning that even if he reacts better he won't get to the play in time. My guess is that's why he fell to being undrafted ... people thought he was too small to be useful even with his speed, and thought that bulking him up would lose that speed.

I'm super glad we have him, but suspect he might be someone who has to play that tweener edge ... try to stay slim enough to still be quick, while trying to gain enough weight that he doesn't get run over by big backs.

Really glad we picked him up, and think he may be special (especially from the neck up), but I understand why he fell.
 
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He is a bit undersized, and not that fast, so he does have some physical limitations.
But he plays very smart and can lay the wood.

His pass defense is probably lacking, but as a rookie, he can only get better.

As far as a run defender, in short yardage, he's incredible though.
So he will always have a role no matter what happens in the future.
 
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André said:
The worry with any athlete is that gaining ten pounds might end up making them even a hair slower - meaning that even if he reacts better he won't get to the play in time. My guess is that's why he fell to being undrafted ... people thought he was too small to be useful even with his speed, and thought that bulking him up would lose that speed.

I'm super glad we have him, but suspect he might be someone who has to play that tweener edge ... try to stay slim enough to still be quick, while trying to gain enough weight that he doesn't get run over by big backs.

Really glad we picked him up, and think he may be special (especially from the neck up), but I understand why he fe
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Well...at 23 who says he's done growing? He could very well maintain speed with the additional weight..naturally.
 
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RamWoodie said:
Well...at 23 who says he's done growing? He could very well maintain speed with the additional weight..naturally.
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I certainly hope you are right and will be pulling for him. I'm onside for whatever is best for the Rams, and I certainly like him infinitely more than Reeder.
 
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He's been in on more then a few 4th down stops now.

Overall our run defense has been really solid down the stretch and he's a big part.

It's like we found our London Fletcher. An undrafted guy that just shows up again and again in the run defense game.
 
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Memento said:
I cannot believe Speights didn't get drafted. Maybe he didn't play well at Louisiana State, but at Oregon State, he was an elite linebacker (still is ninth in total tackles at that school for a career).

He resurrected Rozeboom's career, allowed him to play more freely. He has outstanding instincts and closing speed, and while he needs work in coverage, I think that he could be an elite part of our defense for a long time.
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Longtime lurker here and rarely post, but I'm 55 and before I die, I want to meet you in person. Dinner/drinks on me. I am SO impressed with with your knowledge, contributions, and humility on this board on the daily.
Thank you.
Wisconsinram
 
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Soul Surfer said:
Yeah so far I'm going with Alaric jackson as our best udfa currently.
And not taking anything away from Omar.
I can't think of a team that rounds itself out better with udfas than the Los Angeles Rams
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Started with Snead and our HOF punter, Johnny Hekker in 2012 (and we also got Rodney McLeod in that same UDFA class, who has played more than a decade in the NFL with various teams. For an undrafted safety, that's absolutely insane). Cory Harkey (solid blocking tight end), Cody Davis (ace special teams player), Daren Bates (one of the best special teams players we've had), Benny Cunningham (solid backup running back), Ethan Westbrooks (a solid depth defensive lineman), Malcolm Brown (another solid backup running back), Morgan Fox (very good pass-rushing edge), Cory Littleton (dominant inside linebacker with us), Johnny Mundt (backup tight end still in the league), KhaDerel Hodge (slot receiver who's carved out a nice career for himself), Kendall Blanton (backup tight end who made several plays in the NFC Championship), Troy Reeder (who has carved out a nice career for himself at inside linebacker), Michael Hoecht, Christian Rozeboom, Jonah Williams (all in 2020), Alaric Jackson (2021), Cameron Dicker (even though he's with the Chargers, he signed with us first), Jake Hummel (2022), Alex Ward (our starting long-snapper, 2023), and now all of these recent UDFAs this year in Speights, Justin Dedich, Jaylen McCollough, Josh Wallace, Steven Woods, Elias Neal, and Cam Lampkin.

Apologies for the long, run-on post, but there's no current GM with a track record better than Les Snead when it comes to finding impact UDFAs that last in the league for a very long time.

So, in a sense, I'm agreeing with you, Soul.
 
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He’s been a great addition. Starting him slowly may also help with him not hitting a wall this late in the year. After a full offseason, he will undoubtedly add some muscle mass and I’m confident the Rams will helpnhim reach that perfect blend.

With him in the middle, I don’t see a reolay of the end of the Detroit game in our immediate future.
 
Wisconsinram said:
Longtime lurker here and rarely post, but I'm 55 and before I die, I want to meet you in person. Dinner/drinks on me. I am SO impressed with with your knowledge, contributions, and humility on this board on the daily.
Thank you.
Wisconsinram
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Mike, you're going to make me blush, for serious.
 
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