Rams ‘18 training camp preview: Inside Linebackers...

Rams 2018 training camp preview: Inside linebacker

Cameron DaSilva

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Entering this offseason, many believed Mark Barron could be a cap casualty or trade candidate. His contract situation and minor struggles last season made that abundantly clear, but the Los Angeles Rams went another direction by trading Alec Ogletree to the Giants.

That left a gaping hole at inside linebacker, one that the Rams didn’t exactly address aggressively in free agency or the draft. Wade Phillips has gotten away with lesser-known players at the position in the past, and that’s exactly what’s bound to happen in 2018, too.

Here’s a look at who the Rams have at inside linebacker ahead of training camp.

Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | Offensive tackle | Guard | Center | Defensive line | Outside linebacker

Starters: Mark Barron, Cory Littleton

One of these players is sure to be a starter while the other will have to earn his spot in training camp. It shouldn’t be difficult to guess which one falls under which description. Barron, although not an elite linebacker or perfect fit in a 3-4 defense, is a lock to be one of the starters inside – unless the Rams shock everyone with another out-of-the-blue trade.

He’s earned that job during his tenure with the Rams and was the more consistent linebacker last season – his first in a 3-4. He’ll likely be the weakside linebacker with Littleton taking over Alec Ogletree’s job as the Mike, calling out defensive signals and getting everyone aligned on that side of the ball.

In OTAs and minicamp, Littleton earned first-team reps at Mike linebacker, which is a huge vote of confidence from the coaching staff. He still has plenty to prove, of course, but in limited action a season ago, he made a handful of big plays.

He had one interception, four passes defensed, a forced fumble and a sack to go along with 31 total tackles. The combination of him and Barron should help the Rams’ run defense.

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Backups: Ramik Wilson, Micah Kiser


Wilson, a free agent signing of the Rams this offseason, has a chance to unseat Littleton as one of the starters. He was a terrible run defender for the Chiefs last season, which is an area in which the Rams must improve, so he’ll have to show he can hold his own in that department during training camp.

He was a key player for the Chiefs in 2016, starting 11 games and racking up 76 tackles with one interception. If he can replicate that quality of play in practice and the preseason, he’ll be a lock to make the 53-man roster. Right now, however, he has a handful of rookies to beat out.

Speaking of rookies, Kiser is one of the top names to watch in camp. A stout run defender with below-average athleticism, Kiser has a chance to carve out a role as a two-down linebacker. Not adept in pass coverage, the former Virginia Cavalier is at his best when the play is in front of him.

He makes plays by using his instincts and awareness, which should be enough to get him on the final roster before Week 1. After all, he was a fifth-round pick and was someone a lot of experts thought could’ve gone much sooner.

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Reserves: Bryce Hager, Tegray Scales, Travin Howard


Hager does most of his work on special teams, which gives him an edge when it comes to potentially making the team. However, with so many young linebackers on the team, a number of players could fill his role in that phase of the game. There’s no denying his athleticism, though, which often shines through when he’s on the field.

Scales and Howard, two rookies, will be fighting hard to make the team in 2018. Scales surprised a lot of people by going undrafted despite being a standout linebacker at Indiana. He was one of the best free agent signings following the draft, giving the Rams yet another competitor at the position.

Howard is a hybrid player with experience at both linebacker and safety. Being a tweener doesn’t always work in a player’s favor, but given his similarity to Barron, it’s possible he sticks as a weakside linebacker despite being somewhat undersized. With so much competition at linebacker, though, his best shot may be at safety behind Lamarcus Joyner and John Johnson.