Which linebackers stood out on first day of testing at the Combine?

Rams eye defensive standouts at the NFL Combine, especially at linebacker

The first day of on-field testing at the NFL Combine was of particular interest for the Los Angeles Rams as the linebackers took the field along with edge rushers and defensive linemen. A position of need for the Rams this offseason will come at linebacker as they look for an upgrade over Christian Rozeboom. While it’s unlikely that the Rams invest in a linebacker early in the draft, it would not be surprising to see them take one on day two or day three. Here are some standouts from Thursday as well as some notable quotes from player interviews.

Linebacker and Defensive Line Standouts

LB Smael Mondon, Georgia

Smael Mondon dealt with a foot injury at Georgia, but when he was on the field he showed what he was capable of on the Bulldogs defense. I will likely dive into linebackers in a Snead’s Snacks piece for the draft. However, it’s very likely that Mondon makes that list. He did a 10’10 in the broad jump which meets the Rams explosiveness threshold. The 10’10 broad jump was the best among linebackers.

Mondon’s arms don’t quite reach 32-inches, but at 31.75-inches in length, it’s not something that will turn the Rams off. He also recorded a 1.52-second 10-yard split in the 40-yard dash. If Mondon checks out with the Rams medical team, he’ll be a player that they like a lot. The Georgia linebacker was one of the bigger winners of the night.

LB Teddye Buchanan, Cal

If you followed my Shrine Bowl coverage, you’ll know that Teddye Buchanan was one of my standouts from the week in Dallas. He is exactly what the Rams need next to Omar Speights as a linebacker that excels in coverage and can be used on simulated pressures. Buchanan did a 10’5 in the broad jump which ranked third among linebackers. He also did a 40-inch vertical which led linebackers.

Buchanan fits exactly what the Rams look for at the linebacker position. His broad jump is a testament to his explosiveness and he was highly productive in college with 114 tackles last year at Cal after moving up from FCS. Buchanan would have liked to have run a faster 40-time, but he dominated the explosive drills. While he only did a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, he did crack 21 miles per hour. Buchanan will be an option on day three if that’s where the Rams want to address the linebacker position.

DL Ty Robinson, Nebraska

While the Rams may not need to take a defensive lineman early in the draft, they could definitely take one later on, especially if Bobby Brown III does not return. If that’s the case, Ty Robinson is going to be a player that they really like at the position. He’s experienced with a hot motor and good get-off. He also has the versatility to play up and down the line which they like.

Robinson was one of the bigger winners on Thursday. The Nebraska defensive lineman had the fastest 40-time among defensive tackles with a 4.83. With defensive linemen, the 10-yard split is much more important. Robinson had a 1.71 to go with a 9’11 broad jump and 33.5-inch vertical. He was one of two defensive linemen to rank inside the top five in the 10-yard split, broad jump, and vertical. This is a very explosive player that also performed well in the position drills.

Other Notes and Quotes

Is Colston Loveland the tight end Rams need?

If Michigan tight end Colston Loveland is available in the 13-17 range, it would not be surprising if the Rams tried to trade up ahead of the Denver Broncos. It is worth noting that the Atlanta Falcons pick at 15. That could be a spot to trade up. Tight end may not seem like the biggest need, but Loveland has gone through the Rams’ draft process by taking their survey and he’s going to be a player that they like.

I asked Loveland whether he thought blocking as an underrated aspect of his game and he agreed. He also called himself one of the best route-runners in the draft. Said Loveland,

“It definitely is underrated. I’ve been doing it since my freshman year. Obviously going to Michigan they ask you to block and you got to be able to block. I think the past couple of years I just haven’t done it as much. Sometimes I think that can kind of shy people’s vision away from actually what I do in the run game…I would say I’m one of the best route runners in this draft. I truly believe that. I think I have great hands. Obviously I have a lot to work on through my whole game, but I feel like I’m pretty polished and just excited to keep getting better.”

With Cooper Kupp expected to get traded, it wouldn’t be surprising to see McVay go back to what he originally wanted to run in Los Angeles. The Rams had some success with 12 personnel last year. Loveland would be a good fit in the Kupp role, while also allowing the Rams to get bigger in the run game.

Jahdae Barron impresses in interviews

One of the more impressive quotes that I heard today came from Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron. Barron talked a lot about wanting to play everywhere in a defense. However, his most impressive quote came when talking about his mentality. “Can I be committed to the process without being emotionally attached to the result?” Continued Barron, “When things wouldn’t go my way, could I still be dialed in. Let’s say for instance, if I did get caught on, could I still lock back in and engage and see the bigger picture? That’s just me being committed.” Talking about his game, Barron said,

“I just think for myself, I’m more versatile than anybody in this draft class…Me just knowing and understanding all of the positions, it helps me…Something that coach Joseph taught me was red light and green light. Green light as a tempo thing. It was when a quarterback would get in his drop and if he didn’t move. If he stood right there when he caught the ball in shotgun, that was a red light. That was going to go for a run or rpo. Yellow light was a 4-5 yard drop. You kind of get a deeper glance — 8-yard hitches and things like that. Green light was the quarterback dropping 6-7. That’s when you would get your shots. You would get 15-yards and above. You would get big posts, big comebacks, things like that. Just me being able to see that, reading throught the cues was amazing for me. It allowed me to play fast and learn the route concepts. If you understand the route concepts from red to green to yellow, I could have gone out there without a defensive playcall and still play football.”

The Rams could use a safety like Barron in their secondary. He may be more of a fit as a nickel, but we saw what Cooper DeJean did for the Philadelphia Eagles defense this year. While Barron may fit best in the slot, he does have the ability to play on the boundary, and again, he can play anywhere in the secondary and have an impact.

Extra Notes

• It may not mean anything, but Rams Senior Personnel Executive Ted Monago made some rounds in the media area during the safeties period. He seemed to have particular interest in Georgia safety Malaki Starks in the first group who could be available at 26.
• Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas talked about his preparation and was an impressive interview. Said Thomas,

“It all boils down to film study and just knowing who you’re going against. Yes, I’m a great press corner, but it all comes down to film study. I’m not a psychic. I just go out there and execute. I trust my preparation and I feel like that’s what it all boils down to.”