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LB Na'il Diggs (Official Thread)

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Na?il Diggs, who was a teammate of Fickell?s at OSU, was signed by the Rams this offseason to bring a veteran presence to the young defense.

Entering his 11th season in the NFL, Diggs is an experienced run-stopper who was brought in from the Carolina Panthers to aid a defense that ranked 27th in the league against the rush.

?Coming from Carolina, he?s trying to prove that he has more in the tank,? Laurinaitis said of Diggs, who was released from the Panthers in part because of his age.

The entire Rams team has gone through heavy roster changes in order to prevent another disastrous season. As a result of those changes, it?s possible that all three starting linebackers on the team will be Buckeyes, an anomaly in the NFL world.
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The Lantern - Silver bullet reunion: Rams feature quartet of former Buckeye linebackers
 
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New linebacker Na'il Diggs plans to be Rams heavy hitter
By Rene Knott, NewsChannel 5 Sports Director

genthumb.ashx


KSDK -- In football there are players who are block, players who pass; those who catch and those who hit.

And at 6-foot-4 240 pounds, Rams outside linebacker Na'il Diggs should be able to bring it.

"The first thing that sticks out is his size. I can't wait to see him play real football," says Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo.

The 10-year veteran has 598 career tackles.

"There is no better feeling than that good square hit," Diggs says.

And his game starts with his attitude. He doesn't speak softly on the football field.

"On the field I guess that's when the animal comes out". "You've gotta be competitive to win the football game," Diggs says.

Though 31-years-old, it's obvious the fire still burns in Diggs. And he believes his experience, mixed with the youth on the Rams defense, will be a good combination.

"It makes me feel younger. These guys really want it," says Diggs.

And Diggs believes in coach Spagnuolo. It is why he decided to bring his attitude to St Louis.
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ksdk.com | St. Louis, MO | New linebacker Na'il Diggs plans to be Rams heavy hitter
 
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The Rams added two more Ohio State linebackers in the offseason, with Na?il Diggs and Bobby Carpenter joining Laurinaitis and Larry Grant. Spagnuolo said he was impressed with the size of the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Diggs and how easily Carpenter transitioned from the 3-4 system in Dallas to Spagnuolo?s 4-3.

Diggs is one of only six players over the age of 30 on the Rams? current 91-man roster. Spagnuolo said the "more experienced players" like Diggs and free agent acquisitions Hank Fraley and Fred Robbins can teach the younger players "how to be a pro."
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NFL: Spagnuolo pleased with progress of defense | spagnuolo, defense, louis - Sports - The Telegraph
 
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From left, St. Louis Rams linebackers James Laurinaitis, Na'il Diggs, Larry Grant and Bobby Carpenter at the Rams training facility. They all played college football at Ohio State University.
The Telegraph/JIM BOWLING

This spring the Rams signed Diggs, who had spent the previous 10 years in Carolina and Green Bay.

?I looked at it as a coincidence,? Diggs said. But then they traded for Carpenter to make it an Ohio State quartet.

?You want to say coincidence again, but that?s a lot of linebackers from one school,? Diggs said with a laugh. ?It?s fun. I love it.?
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While he may have lost a step since his rookie season of 1999 in Green Bay, Diggs said he?s a better player now because his ?football smarts? allow him to recognize formations and anticipate plays. It?s something not unnoticed by the younger players.

?Diggs sees a lot of the things that maybe the coaches don?t see,? Grant said. ?Things that he saw in a game. There were some things that he?s changed, and things that he had to learn from some vets. He?s bringing that to the younger guys.?

Carpenter, Diggs and Laurinaitis all had Luke Fickell as their linebackers coach at OSU. The three remind Diggs that Fickell was a teammate of his.

?James just laughs and says, ?Man I can?t believe my linebackers coach played with you. You?re old,?? said Diggs, who will turn 32 on Thursday. ?I really don?t realize how long I?ve lasted in the league. And you really don?t realize how much changes with the people that you played with, how they?ve transitioned in their lives in the years you?ve been playing ball. It?s pretty crazy, it?s eye-opening.?
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NFL: The Buckeye Brigade | brigade, buckeye, louis - Sports - The Telegraph
 
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OLB Na'il Diggs
He has been on winning teams in Green Bay and Carolina, where he played under Rams defensive coordinator Ken Flajole. The coaches like his competitive attitude and work ethic.

Scout says: "At this point in his career, what he's going to give you is a little bit of stability. He'll be sound, and he'll be solid but not overly productive. He's a slight upgrade, but only because they were lacking at that position."
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Read more: Rams go old school to teach youngsters to be pros - Dennis Dillon - NFL - Sporting News
 
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Just because they're not allowed to use the facilities at Rams Park, that doesn't mean the players aren't preparing for what they hope will be a full 2011 season.

"It's the same amount of work," veteran linebacker Na'il Diggs told The Telegraph. "I'm doing the same thing I would be doing at Rams Park and getting the same thing accomplished. It's just not under the supervision of the coaches and trainers."
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Diggs, who signed a two-year contract with the Rams last year, said his rehab has been going well and that he's fully healed and ready to begin his 12th season. He said while working out as a unit is great for camaraderie, even the defensive players who have been in the same system for three years under Spagnuolo and defensive coordinator Ken Flajole can't work on schemes because "new things get put in every year."
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http://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/rams-52925-goldberg-working.html
 
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Rams really dig their starting strong-side linebacker
Posted April 22, 2011
By Dan Arkush

While we have been told the Rams could flip a coin between four prospective starters at weak-side linebacker entering the draft (Larry Grant, David Vobora, Chris Chamberlain and Bryan Kehl), it?s a much different story on the strong side. The team apparently is quite confident Na?il Diggs will pick up right where he left off last season before suffering a season-ending torn pectoral muscle in Week 13. The Rams? defense made major strides in 2010 with basically the same personnel from the previous season, except for Diggs and fellow veteran free-agent additon Fred Robbins at left tackle. ?[Diggs is] getting a bit up there in age (he turns 33 in July), but the feeling is he?s a good, solid starter who provides a veteran presence and good size at a position that does not need a superstar in this defense,? one team insider said. ?He was playing a lot better the second half of the season before the injury.?
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http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/04/22/rams-really-dig-their-starting-strong-side-linebac
 
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Coaching links gave Rams edge on Leber
August, 9, 2011
By Mike Sando
NFL teams routinely target players they know well during free agency.

The St. Louis Rams had an "in" with veteran linebacker Ben Leber, who reached agreement with the team Tuesday. Their linebackers coach, Paul Ferraro, was with the Vikings from 2006-08. Their defensive line coach, Brendan Daly, was also with Minnesota during those years.

Leber's addition calls into question veteran Na'il Diggs' status with the team. Diggs finished last season on injured reserve with a torn pectoral.
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http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/42530/coaching-links-gave-rams-edge-on-leber
 
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Rams release LB Diggs
BY JIM THOMAS | Posted: Monday, August 29, 2011

The thinning of the St. Louis linebacker corps continued Tuesday, with the Rams releasing veteran linebacker Na'il Diggs.

Diggs started 12 games last year at strongside linebacker before suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Game 12 against Arizona.

Diggs, who had signed with the Rams as a free agent that offseason from Carolina, finished with 37 tackles, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery.

He started the first two preseason games this year, but was replaced by Brady Poppinga in the Kansas City game Friday. Poppinga, signed at the start of camp from Green Bay now becomes the starter.

This was a tough decision for coach Steve Spagnuolo, who has a lot of respect for Diggs, 33.

Three linebackers who started at least one game for the Rams last season have now been released this camp: Diggs, Larry Grant, and David Vobora.
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Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...25f-11e0-bc9e-001a4bcf6878.html#ixzz1WRZfaqVt
 
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CHARGERS NOTES: Diggs hopes move inside is seamless
By SCOTT BAIR [email protected] | Posted: Monday, September 5, 2011

SAN DIEGO ? The Kevin Bentley experiment didn't help the Chargers' lack of experienced depth at inside linebacker. The team has Stephen Cooper there, but there's no telling how long he'll be effective with a torn biceps tendon.

That's why the team signed Na'il Diggs on Saturday, to add a healthy veteran to the mix at inside linebacker. Diggs is used to lining up on the left side of a 4-3 defense, but he'll move inside for the Chargers' 3-4 scheme.

It's never ideal to switch schemes just days before the regular-season opener, but Diggs is confident that he can contribute quickly.

"I've always considered myself a quick learner," Diggs said after Monday's practice. "I'm not a doctor or a PhD, but picking up football schemes has always come easy to me. I guess that's my talent. I've always been able to pick things up quickly and execute at a high level. I've done it before, and I'll do it again here."
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http://www.nctimes.com/sports/article_be0aaa0c-e873-5508-9f78-b67b3c504743.html

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[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDbjk6vjIJQ"]Monday Quick Hits - YouTube[/ame]
 
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