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Deadpool
Snead? Its not the Gms job to decide what is and what is not important. Its his job to find out what the coaching staff needs, wants and is looking for and to go out and do the best job of getting it. I doubt he said ILBers aren't important.
McVay? The OC turned HC? I seriously doubt he said ILBers are just not that important.
Wade? I'd guess it started with him, since as I recall, he never drafted a top ILBer in any of his time as a DC or HC.
I think is some merit to the idea that the thinking ILBs are not important came from Wade. But I also think some of it has come from looking at the Rams drafts under Snead.
Bryce Hager - 2015 7th round
Josh Forrest - 2016 6th round
Kiser - 2018 5th round
That's it. Those are the only ILBs Snead has drafted. Is there any other position with fewer draftees? Any other positions that haven't had more than a 5th round pick expended on it? There have been 9 drafts under Snead which is a long time. That's enough time for it to be a significant statement.
And I'm not sure about what you wrote above about the GM's job. Maybe there are some GMs that only build the team to the specifications of the coach. But is that the case here? Well, consider this.
When McVay was hired, both Snead and McVay said they talked extensively about team-building philosophy and that they were in lock-step on everything. The fact that Snead and McVay had extensive talks on that subject and the fact that them being in agreement on team-building philosophy was stated as part of the reason McVay got the job, I don't think we can say here that the GM is not involved in deciding what is and what is not important. Snead is not an overlord GM but he's certainly not a 'just works for McVay' GM either.
The Rams brain trust in general clearly has a philosophy on the proper way to build a team. And it clearly does not prioritize ILB. Not one premium pick or premium free agent has been expended on that position. Contrast that to DBs, DL, OL (LT), QB, WR, and RB. Can one really say that after 9 years - 4 years under the current coach - that that pattern really means nothing?
(Now watch them turn everything on its head and draft one at 57. If that happens I will say I was wrong.)
