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LB Larry Grant (Official Thread)

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Laurinaitis, Grant reunite in St. Louis
June 11

Larry_Grant.jpg

Larry Grant, part of the new face
Of St. Louis Football

How do you improve your defense in the NFL? One way would be to rebuild one of college football?s best defenses. Over the past several years, Ohio State?s defense has been ranked among the college elite. That record has spanned two classes known as the AJ Hawk class and the James Laurinaitis class. Serving at times on both was another linebacker Larry Grant. Our St. Louis Rams Examiner has been ahead of the curve noting the potential of this new arrival in the Gateway City.

Grant played twenty-five games for Ohio State starting in fourteen of them. In 2007 he was drafted in the 7th round by the San Fransisco 49ers, returning him to his home town to play professional football. Grant spent his rookie year on the practice squad and was signed by the rams at the end of last season. During the 2009 draft he learned he will be reunited with fellow Buckeye alum James Laurinaitis.

The two played together on two national championship teams and will now likely be reunited.

The Rams recently released Pisa Tinoisamoa but may be heading toward more of a linebacker-by-committee system with Grant and Laurinaitis mixing into the rotation as the season progresses.

If you are looking for an NFL team to root for, and you currently do not have loyalty to one, the Rams may be on your short list.
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Laurinaitis, Grant reunite in St. Louis

#5 Is The Linebacker Lineup Set?

It is assumed that the opening day linebackers will have Chris Draft, James Laurinaitis and Will Witherspoon as the starting three but is it really set in stone? I have a feeling that all three positions could have some changes before we get to the first game in Seattle. You know Steve Spagnuolo is going to make Laurinaitis earn that starting spot before opening day. If there are any missteps in camp count on someone else starting at MLB on opening day. My other belief is that Chris Draft's spot could be pushed by Quinton Culberson in camp. I stated in an article earlier in mini-camp that people should keep an eye on Larry Grant. I think Grant is going to make some noise in the preseason. I do believe that Draft will ultimately be the starter but I don't think that it is as locked up as everyone believes.
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Top 5 position battles for Rams in training camp
 
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Rams rookie MLB James Laurinaitis on former Ohio State teammate Larry Grant, who we hear remains in the running for the Rams' starting strong-side LB job: "He's extremely talented. He's a guy that's hardworking and knows a lot about football. He's a leader. He's been a leader when he was at Ohio State. To see him here with me is awesome because he's helping me out with some things in the defense. I think, with Larry, you get a guy who's extremely good with his hands, and he makes some plays. I think if he gets the chance to play football, he's going to show some people that he's going to be a pretty good linebacker."
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ProFootballWeekly.com - Giants' Umenyiora appears ready to dominate
 
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Keep an eye on linebacker Larry Grant during the Rams' training camp.

While plenty of fans will be focusing on rookie middle linebacker James Laurinaitis when the Rams open their camp, second-year linebacker Larry Grant will be locked in a battle for the right to line up next to him at the strongside position.

During OTAs, Grant saw some work with the first unit, so the former Ohio State teammates are excited about the possibility of working together again.

Rams linebacker Larry Grant starred at Ohio State.

"To see him here with me is awesome because he's helping me out with some things in the defense," Laurinaitis said during a press conference.

"We're doing things here that we'd been used to doing at Ohio State ? staying after, watching film on our own, trying to get things down.

"I think with Larry you get a guy who's extremely good with his hands, and he makes some plays. I think if he gets the chance to play football, he's going to show some people that he's going to be a pretty good linebacker."

And Grant's admiration for Laurinaitis was readily apparent when I talked with him this week.

"I've got a lot of faith in James. I know he's a great leader, and he's a perfect fit for this team," he said. "He's going to help this team a lot. And I hope this is going to give us the opportunity to play together for years."

Grant reassured me that things are turning around in St. Louis under new head coach Steve Spagnuolo and that the mood of the team is very upbeat. And he likes how his role is shaping up under the direction of the new coaching staff and the defensive scheme.

"It seems like in this defense, they're giving us a little more freedom to play off the ball and do things that exploit my talents and the talents of the others," he said. "They're still trying to figure out who will play which position the best right now, but the competition is going to be high. We've got a bunch of high-quality players, and I'm really excited about my opportunity."
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NFL - - FOX Sports on MSN
 
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Grant looks to job with St. Louis Rams
By BILL COATS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/02/2009

Although he's competing for the Rams' starting job on the strong side, Larry Grant played all three linebacker spots at Ohio State. Each has its own appeal, he said.

"I don't necessarily have a favorite," Grant said. "I just like to line up and hit somebody."

Thus, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Grant was pleased as punch ?pun intended ? that coach Steve Spagnuolo ordered his squad into full pads and put it through a hard-hitting, two-hour practice Saturday at Rams Park.

Live tackling so early in training camp is a rarity, but Grant said he welcomed the physical workout.
"He's a big, physical guy," Spagnuolo said. "He's done a pretty good job."

The players were outfitted in shorts and shells (light shoulder pads) throughout the spring minicamps and organized team activities, as well the first full-squad camp practice Friday.

"So we've been waiting for this for a long time," Grant said. "People get a little bit thirsty to hit. We finally get a chance to see what everybody can do."

For now, Grant and David Vobora are the primary competitors for the job at strongside linebacker.

Grant was with the first unit Friday and Vobora on Saturday. But once second-round draft pick James Laurinaitis moves up to the first team at middle linebacker, veteran Chris Draft is expected to make it a three-man race.

"If we switch off every day, we're not worried about that. We're just going to compete," Grant said. "The coaches are definitely going to look at every situation and see how everything goes."

Grant was a seventh-round draft pick by San Francisco last year. The Rams signed him off the 49ers' practice squad Nov. 26, and he got into two games, recording six tackles on special teams.

Laurinaitis and Grant played alongside each other during the 2006 season, when the Buckeyes lost to Florida in the BCS title game.

Reuniting on the Rams' first-team defense would have special meaning, Grant said.

"We've known each other for a while, so we know how to play together," Grant said. "Playing with James by my side is always a good thing."
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Grant looks to job with St. Louis Rams - STLtoday.com
 
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Larry Grant: While Chris Draft was off the field this morning (don't worry, he is fine), Grant played with the 1st team defense. In that time, he picked off Bulger and punished Darby during a running play. Even though Draft has impressed coaches with his play and seems to be playing quite a bit more with the first team defense as of late, Grant could make a huge statement by playing well against the Jets. With both Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens appearing only marginal at best, he has a legitimate shot to make some noise on Friday and could really open up this positional "battle."
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Proving Grounds: A Look at the Rams Preseason?Opener - Turf Show Times
 
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Larry Grant: I continue to be a big fan of Larry Grant and I think the Rams coaching staff is too. Grant continues to go out and make plays at linebacker. I like Chris Draft as well but I like Draft as being the fourth linebacker who can play all the positions. Grant is a true strong side linebacker and it seems that he and Laurinaitis have a special bond that makes both of them better. As I said back in May I believe Grant could become the starter and it would not shock me if he becomes the starter in Seattle.
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Rams take step forward beat Jets 23-20
 
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Rams lose LB Larry Grant for two weeks
by VanRam on Sep 1, 2009
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The Rams lost LB Larry Grant today to a sprained knee, and he'll be out for two weeks.

I'm glad it's not serious because Grant has quickly become one of my favorite scrappers on this team. The 49ers cast off has played well in the preseason, even getting a sack with the first team. Two weeks means he probably misses the opener against Seattle.
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Rams lose LB Larry Grant for two?weeks - Turf Show Times
 
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less competition for Larry...

09.10.2009
Updated: Rams release LB Chris Draft; re-sign Culberson
By Jim Thomas
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The youth movement continues at Rams Park. The club has released veteran linebacker Chris Draft, who was scheduled to be the team?s starting strongside linebacker.

Draft was asked to take a pay cut of $380,000, according to new information, at the start of this week and declined. Draft, 33, was the third-oldest player on the team. David Vobora is expected to start in Draft?s place Sunday in Seattle. Vobora, in fact, had been taking snaps with the starting defense on Monday and Wednesday.

Draft already had earned a $100,000 offseason workout bonus, and had been scheduled to earn a base salary of $1,225,000 this season. Draft told the Post-Dispatch on Thursday that he was asked to take a paycut down to the veterans? minimum. For a player with Draft?s NFL experience, the vets? minimum is $845,000.

This was the last year of Draft?s original three-year deal with the club.

Draft?s spot on the roster goes to linebacker Quinton Culberson, who was re-signed Thursday and on the practice field. Culberson was among the players cut Saturday when the Rams had to reach the 53-man roster limit.

Even with the addition of Culberson, the Rams may have just five healthy linebackers on the roster for Sunday?s Seattle opener. Coach Steve Spagnuolo ruled out Larry Grant on Monday because of a knee injury. But Grant was on the practice field Thursday and participating in drills.
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Updated: Rams release LB Chris Draft; re-sign Culberson | Rams Report | STLtoday
 
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The Rams filled Draft's spot on their 53-man roster by re-signing linebacker Quinton Culberson, who was released during roster cutdowns last weekend.

Grant, who has been bothered by a sprained knee, was able to practice Thursday.

Grant said he likely won't be available against the Seahawks.

"Probably not this week,'' Grant said. "I'm running with the scout team right now trying to give the offense the best look possible, and looking forward to next week.''

The leaves Chris Chamberlain and Culberson as the Rams' only backup linebackers against the Seahawks.
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Rams decide to part ways with Draft - St. Louis Rams - Belleville News-Democrat
 
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Rams LB Vobora gets four-game substance suspension
Sep. 29, 2009
By Cameron Hollway
Special to CBSSports.com

St. Louis Rams starting SLB David Vobora has been suspended for four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Vobora will be eligible to return on Oct. 26, following the Rams' Oct. 25 game against Indianapolis.

Vobora's suspension leaves the 0-3 Rams even thinner at the linebacker position. They released Chris Draft, their starter on the strongside, three days before the season began and inserted Vobora into the starting lineup.

Vobora, last year's "Mr. Irrelevant," is backed up by second-year player Larry Grant.
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Rams LB Vobora gets four-game substance suspension - NFL - CBSSports.com Football

The likely starter in Vobora's place is either Larry Grant or Paris Lenon. Grant was pushing for a starting spot in training camp until being sidelined by a knee injury during practice Aug. 31. He has appeared in all three regular season games, with one tackle on defense and one special teams stop.

Lenon, a three-year starter with Detroit from 2006-08, signed with the Rams on Sept. 16 and has appeared in two games on special teams.
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Victoria Advocate | Vobora gets four-game suspension; linebacker is blaming workout supplement agent says was tainted
 
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