Great article just great stuff to read!
It was nice to see them also give Kendall Langford some Kudos with an honorable mention. Langford has also had to suck it up after losing his starting post & afterwards then take up relieving Brockers @ NT. Langford started all 16 games last season & had 50 tacks & 5 sacks & 4 PDEF's. This season he only has 21 tacks with only one sack, zero PDEF's.
Just a few yrs back Kendall Langford spent FOUR seasons as Miami's starting DLE. One of Fishers/Snead's first moves in early 2012 was to bring in Kendall Langford to play DT with Brockers. Langford signed a 4 year / $22 million contract, an annual average salary of $5,500,000. Langford will be in his last year under contract next season where he will get paid 7 million whereas Brockers will play for 3 mil in 2015.
Not so sure that the Rams will pay 7 million for versatile reserve back up DT next season. They could restructure Langford or release him & use that 7 mil to resign & lock up Brockers early & prevent Brockers for entering UFA in 2016. However the other two Rams DT's (Alex Carrington & Ethan Westbrooks) can not play NT.
Alex Carrington signed here for One & 1/2 million this season. However the light 300 pound Alex DT & ex Bills OSLB'er has not done much. Alex has 10 tacks in only 8 games. Alex has battled injuries this season just like last yr. Ethan Westbrooks is also light somewhere around 270 but has the look of being Aaron Donald's back up. Westbrooks could also be groomed to replace one or both Hayes & Sims in 2016 as the 3rd or 4th reserve DE. Fisher also has another DL'er signed for 2015 season. He has been a Ram since early 2012 named DE/DT/TE Mason Brodine. Mason had a decent TC & pre season with playing a lot of snaps @ DT. Mason is over 6-7 & working on his extra long frame to over 285 pounds. If they do release Langford we could see much more of Brodine.
Good that Gregg figured out the right spot for Donald. So when we look @ Aaron's 2014 seasons we should member it took some assistance from Brockers & Langford!