Littlleton doesn't blow you up in the run game like some NFL ILBs. But, I'm not sure I've seen a true ILB that can cover TEs and RBs one on one any better than he can. He is a bit of a liability in the run game. So we need a thumper to play alongside of him and use him when a team devotes themselves to running the ball.
That said, Fowler is no slouch. It's just that I think we can pick up a vet OLB every couple of years to give us pretty good pass rush in the 10 sack per year range. I'd rather see an OLB that is a B+ against the run and a C+/B- as a pass rusher because there's a few ways to generate pass rush with scheme.
In the end it may be simply which of the two the Rams are able to sign. And, who knows, let's say that both are willing to sign but that an OLB demands a couple mil more than an ILB on the market. Maybe that makes the decision for the Rams.
Something tells me that they've already set their priorities and it may be that due to cost neither will be on the team next year.
