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LB Coach James Laurinaitis (2x B1G DPOY, 2006 Nagurski, 2007 Butkus, 2008 Lott, 3x All-American, OSU HOF)

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Newcomer to watch

Laurinaitis has moved into the starting lineup at middle linebacker and the Rams would like him to make the defensive calls as soon as possible. That's a lot to ask from a second-round draft choice, but the Rams need not look far for precedent. The Seahawks' Lofa Tatupu made the transition successfully as a second-rounder from USC in 2005.

"[Laurinaitis] has definitely shown how he understands the defense, and he has a pretty good nose for the ball," Witherspoon said. "And of course the willingness to show you he's got some leadership skills, too. That is a big part of it because if you are a 'Mike' who doesn't really show leadership, nobody is going to really want to follow."

The Rams made Laurinaitis the choice over USC's Rey Maualuga because they thought Laurinaitis would be an every-down player and a safer choice.

The fact that Laurinaitis could make the defensive calls separates him from free-agent strong safety James Butler as the most important newcomer to watch. Butler's overall ability and experience playing for Spagnuolo with the Giants should upgrade a position that suffered as Corey Chavous, since released, declined with age.
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Camp Confidential: Spagnuolo takes charge - NFC West - ESPN
 
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LAURINAITIS PRAISE

Rookie James Laurinaitis had a busier evening than most. He started at middle linebacker but also got into several series with the second-team defense. The Rams' second-round draft pick was credited with three tackles in the unofficial press-box statistics.

"James, for being tossed in there as a starter as a (middle) linebacker in the first preseason game of his rookie year, I thought he did a nice job," Spagnuolo said. "Now, both Will (Witherspoon) and Chris Draft, they helped him out pretty good; it's nice to have two vets there (at the other linebacker spots). But he did some good things."
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Little makes early key play for St. Louis Rams - STLtoday.com
 
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The Rams will start rookie second-round pick James Laurinaitis at middle linebacker. He has been impressive. He's smart, instinctive and knows how to find the football. He loves the game too. He took a big load of classes last summer to make sure he finished his degree in March. Why? So he could take part in all the offseason work. If he hadn't graduated, he would have missed a ton of time because players can't practice until their class gets out of school. Ohio State players usually can't take part until mid-June, but since he graduated he was there for all the work. That's dedication.
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Rams: Five things to know - NFL - CBSSports.com Football
 
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08.27.2009
Pick your linebacker: Laurinaitis or Maualuga
By Jim Thomas
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

CINCINNATI _ Preseason or not, tonight?s St. Louis Rams contest in Cincinnati provides an opportunity for Rams fans to compare and contrast at linebacker. The Rams chose James Laurinaitis of Ohio State early in the second round, passing on a chance to take Rey Maualuga of Southern California, who had been projected as a first-round pick. The Bengals took Maualuga just three picks after the Rams selected Laurinaitis.

Was it the right move? It usually takes a few years to sort those things out. Not surprisingly, Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo is glad to have Laurinaits over Maualuga or anybody else available at that point in the draft.

?We studied a lot of tape on a lot of guys, and there were a lot of guys on the board when it came to that pick,? Spagnuolo said earlier in the week. ?We?re glad we took the guy we did.?

While Laurinaitis is firmly entrenched as the Rams? starting middle linebacker; Maualuga has been running with the second team in Cincinnati _ at strongside linebacker. Maualuga missed the Bengals? preseason opener with a hamstring injury but was impressive last week against New England, with three tackles (one for loss) and a quarterback pressure.

Laurinaitis has five tackles so far this preseason, and intercepted a pass last week against Atlanta.
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Pick your linebacker: Laurinaitis or Maualuga | Rams Report | STLtoday
Laurinaitis impressive again

Electric Rams rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis led the team in tackles on Thursday night, bringing down four Bengals while also recovering a fumble.

Our View: Named the team's starting middle linebacker barely two weeks into training camp, the Rams second round pick has been a wrecking ball all preseason long, and could be a decent late-round sleeper pick in IDP drafts.
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RotoTimes.com - James Laurinaitis - Laurinaitis impressive again
 
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Laurinaitis looks like real deal for Rams.
Posted Sept. 03, 2009
By Dan Arkush

It took a while, but rookie MLB James Laurinaitis, the Rams? second-round pick in this year?s draft, has clearly grown on daily team observers. ?I have to say I?ve been pleasantly surprised,? one veteran team insider said of the three-time All-American out of Ohio State. ?I was more in the Rey Maualuga camp (drafted by the Bengals three spots behind Laurinaitis) because he was supposed to be more a thumper. But Laurinaitis turned out to be much stronger at the point of attack than I expected. He also has displayed very good range, going wide to bring guys down and dropping into coverage.? But what has impressed observers the most about Laurinaitis is his intelligence and work habits. ?He?s very heady and prepares for a game to the nth degree,? the insider said. ?He does everything he can to give himself a chance to succeed, and it?s starting to look like he could be the first real middle linebacker we?ve had around these parts since London Fletcher.?
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ProFootballWeekly.com - Laurinaitis looks like real deal for Rams
 
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Young LBs get an early test
BY BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/14/2009

SEATTLE ? Limping on a sore knee while searching for a bandage to cover a bloody scrape on his arm before pulling on his white dress shirt, Rams rookie middle linebacker James Laurinaitis dressed slowly Sunday.

Laurinaitis, the Rams' second-round draft choice, had a busy afternoon in his NFL debut. So did strongside linebacker David Vobora, a second-year pro making just his second start.

Together, the two combined for 22 tackles, according to the unofficial press-box statistics, in the Rams' 28-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Laurinaitis was credited with a game-high 14 and also recovered a fumble. Vobora was listed with eight tackles.

"I think they did well," said Will Witherspoon, an eight-year veteran who lines up at weakside linebacker. "There were a few bumps here and there, but that's the ebb and flow of the game. Every play, every snap means one more notch in their belts.

"They learned some things, they got to see some things, and that's what's great about it. You can't ask them to do any more than that."

Laurinaitis wasn't so sure about that.

"There were some ups and downs," he conceded. "They say the best improvement is from Week 1 to Week 2. It's important for us to keep our heads up, to learn from this, and keep that feeling of a loss right there and really work that much harder this week in practice."
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http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sp...7DAE5FFA156CD723862576310010B5F5?OpenDocument
 
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Buckskin86;1541167; said:
7DAE5FFA156CD723862576310010B5F5
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Link would be nice
 
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09.15.2009
Man in the middle: Is Laurinaitis a keeper?
By Roger Hensley
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.
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Man in the middle: Is Laurinaitis a keeper? | Round Two | STLtoday
 
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