Those Legion of Boom defenses for the Seattle Seahawks were special, weren’t they? Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, and Brandon Browner were the anchors of those elite defenses for years. They were the motivation behind teams building their defenses from the back end in the secondary to the front of the defensive line. In the middle of everything was a linebacker named Bobby Wagner. The Seahawks drafted him in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Utah State. Middle linebackers are so important to the defense. A few weeks back, the Seahawks announced they were releasing the All-Pro linebacker. This upcoming season, he will still be playing in the NFC West. This time, as a member of the Los Angeles Rams.
Bobby is one of the three best linebackers in our game right now. You can give me an order of Fred Warner, Darius Leonard, and Bobby Wagner and I could make a case for either of them being at the top of the list. Bobby is as complete of a football player as they come. As a linebacker, you’re asked to do many things. Playing back in pass coverage is one. Bobby checks off that box. Playing the run is another and he’s always moving downhill to make tackles in the open field. He’s a stockier linebacker but is very fluid in his movements. Bobby can get anywhere he wants on the field. His acceleration for a middle linebacker is almost rare. He has that combination of quickness along with that fast first step which helps him get home to rush the passer. Bobby plays sideline to sideline every single play with that nose for the ball. You see the ball carrier, he’s in on the play or near the ball. It’s the instincts that also make him stand out. He knows what play is potentially being run before it happens. If you don’t know where he is on the field, you will pay for it! He is an absolute menace and those are the toughest football players to prepare for in-game planning.
The Rams have lost a few pieces from last year’s title team, but they also add on. They signed Allen Robinson to give Stafford another weapon on offense and speaking of the quarterback, the team extended Matthew for the next four years. After losing Von Miller, this move could make up for that. Bobby gives the Rams a true quarterback of the defense. He will solidify the middle of the unit. Also, with Aaron Donald commanding so much attention, Bobby will roam around freely and make even more tackles and plays on the football.