Oct 12, 2008; Landover, MD, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (39) is tackled by Washington Redskins linebacker Rocky McIntosh (52) and safety Chris Horton (48) at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-US PRESSWIRE

I think we all knew this was coming, but the Rams announced that they have agreed to a deal with LB Rocky McIntosh for the upcoming season. The sides agreed to terms on Thursday after the minicamp session, but terms of the deal were not disclosed. McIntosh is expected to battle for a starting spot out outside linebacker during training camp.

We talked a little about this already, but now that it’s official I think this was the right move for this team. McIntosh is a productive 4-3 player who fits the scheme and knows what he’s doing, and considering the lack of depth we currently have, it was a no-brainer. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if McIntosh becomes a starter fairly quickly during camp, and if I had to guess I would say that the team signed him with the expectation that he starts this season.

McIntosh joins Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Mario Haggan as free agent additions to this team at LB, and while none of these guys are going to carry your defense, it’s a group of veterans who know who they are and know how to play the game. The team also has some undrafted rookies who could factor in to the battle if they impress early in camp, but the combo of veterans and rookies looks pretty solid. I don’t think there’s any doubt that OLB is a position that’s going to need to be addressed long-term down the road, but McIntosh is a nice stopgap for now.

October 10, 2010; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins linebacker Rocky McIntosh (52) and Green Bay Packers fullback John Kuhn (30) collide in the air on the goal line during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-US PRESSWIRE

It’s well known that the Rams still have some holes on this current roster, and the biggest is undoubtedly at outside linebacker. In a move to possibly add depth to the position, the team brought former Washington Redskin Rocky McIntosh for a workout on Wednesday. No deal has been signed, but Rams coach Jeff Fisher reportedly liked what he saw and would like to get something done.

McIntosh was a nice player in Washington before losing his starting spot last season. He had 110 tackles in 2010, but that number dropped to 65 last season. He’s a veteran who has played outside in a 4-3 defense in the past, and he has a track record.

We are short in depth at the position, so McIntosh is an interesting option. It’s certainly concerning that he lost his starting spot last year, but if he did impress in his workout then I think he’s worth a look. I’m not saying he’s the answer, but he knows how to play the position and he can help on special teams as well.

Player I Was Most Impressed With: Dontay Moch (Nevada)

I knew this guy was going to post some impressive numbers, but actually seeing him really blew me away. He set the 40 record for D-lineman at 4.48, and he was just an overall machine. My guess is that he plays outside linebacker in a 3-4 system, and he is certainly athletic enough to do so. I don’t know how good he is going to be in the NFL, but the man is an absolute freak athlete.

Honorable Mention: Christian Ballard, Cameron Jordan, Brooks Reed, Stephen Paea, Ryan Kerrigan, Aldon Smith, JJ Watt, Nick Fairley, Marcel Dareus, Phil Taylor.

I think I probably missed some guys in this list, but these players were all very impressive. Ballard (Iowa) has been shooting up draft boards, and he showed why with an impressive workout in most areas. Jordan (Cal) is probably going to go in the first half of the first round, and Reed (Ariz) opened eyes at the Senior Bowl, and he kept the momentum going. Paea (Ore St.) set the bench press record with 49 reps, and Kerrigan (Wisc) is a major prospect who wowed with his numbers in the 40. Smith (Mizzou) proved that he is an elite pass-rusher, and he could very well be on the Rams’ radar if Julio Jones is gone. Fairley (Aub) will be a top-3 pick, and Dareus (Bama) proved he is an elite DT prospect as well. Taylor (Baylor) is a DT who is a bit under the radar, but he looked very athletic during workouts and he likely helped his draft stock.

Player I Was Most Disappointed In: Jeremy Beal (Oklahoma)

Beal is a guy who was good in college, but he didn’t bring it to the Combine. His 5.16 40 was just awful, and he didn’t look fluid at all during the drills. He is one of those guys who plays better than he works out, which is good because he didn’t work out well at all.

Dishonorable Mention: Ryan Winterswyk

I didn’t expect Winterswyk (Boise St) to be a standout, especially since the rest of his group was so talented, but I expected him to put on a better show than he did. He was a high-motor guy in college, and I still think he can contribute at the NFL level, although he won’t ever be a star.

As you can probably tell, I’m in love with this group, which is great news because the Rams have a need at DE and DT. I would expect plenty of these guys to be high on the team’s board, and I wouldn’t be at all surprise if more than one of these players ended up with the Rams next season.