Man in the middle: Is Laurinaitis a keeper?
THE WATERCOOLER
QUESTION: There wasn’t a whole lot to like about Sunday’s game in Seattle. One bright spot, however, was the play of rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis, who was credited with 14 tackles. What’s your long- term prognosis on Laurinaitis? Have the Rams found the player to man the middle of the defense for years to come?
JIM THOMAS
Laurinaitis certainly looks like a keeper, but one game doesn’t make a career. And for all the good things he did in run defense against Seattle, he made a couple of costly mistakes in pass coverage. If he wants to be an effective every down player in the NFL, Laurinaitis must learn to play the pass as well as the run.
BERNIE MIKLASZ
There’s been a tendency among some STL media members to all but nominate Laurinaitis for enshrinement to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but obviously he has the potential to be a very good MLB in the NFL. He has the athleticism. He’s instinctive. He’s tough. He works hard to be a student of the game. That said, he doesn’t have top-end speed, and his methodical change-of-direction will get him left behind on some plays. Obviously, his pass coverage skills need work; that’s a rookie thing. He will come along. He’s a nice fit for what Steve Spagnuolo is trying to do with his defense. He should be a fixture. In a few years we’ll know whether the Rams made the right call in taking Laurinaitis over USC’s Rey Maualuga.
JEFF GORDON
At the least, he will be a very solid middle linebacker for years to come. He just has a knack for being around the ball in run support.
His days in the Big Ten didn’t prepare him for pass coverage, but that should come. But . . . will he ever but a real game changer, ala Aaron Curry? That remains to be seen.
BILL COATS
Laurinaitis certainly looks like the real deal. He’s a true middle linebacker, something the Rams have lacked for quite a while. He has a nose for the ball, and perhaps just as important, he’s a smart, confident guy who’s not at all intimidated by the responsibility of making the defensive calls.
KATHLEEN NELSON
He’s off to a good start statistically, with 14 tackles and a fumble recovery. But, really, will anyone care if the unit continues to get steamrolled? Even on a 20-yard run, someone eventually makes the tackle, unless the play ends up in the endzone. So, the stats are moot if the defense as a whole doesn’t play better.
james laurinaitis is a stud..he was basically a 2nd first round pick hes got a swagger about him that isnt cocky are arrogant, but it more of humbly confident. i hope he has an amazing career