Player Spotlight: Akeem Ayers

Highly touted coming out of the University of California Los-Angeles, Akeem Ayers was arguably the best linebacker in the entire 2011 Draft Class. Ayers has been a productive pro so far through 5 seasons, with his last two seasons being plagued by injuries. This could be a diamond in the rough signing for the St. Louis Rams and it fills an immediate need and he fits perfectly into Gregg Williams’s defense.

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So what do the Rams have in Ayers? Well, first off the Rams have a very good athlete. That’s never bad to be athletic, especially at OLB. Ayers is a guy you can split out wide to cover a WR or someone you can ask to put his hand in the ground and rush the passer. Ayers is definitely someone who you can ask on third down to go up to the line of scrimmage and get after the quarterback, which adds even more value to him.

Ayers’s athleticism is a great tool for him in pass coverage too. What he may lack in coverage ability, he can make up with his speed and great ball skills. Being able to make on plays on the ball is always key when you play defense, especially the way the Rams defense is built around turning the ball over.  Ayers has great size for his position as well. He comes in at 6’3″, 255 lbs. With this great size it allows Ayers to make plays on the ball or the ball carrier even when he is out of position. Don’t be surprised if you ever see Ayers out of the play and he comes in and makes a play on the ball. That is probably his best tool for this team, who lacked in stopping the ball carrier last season.

Expect Ayers to be an immediate impact and see him starting every down for the Rams. He has everything you could possibly want in an OLB in Gregg Williams’s defense. Be ready for Ayers to make a lot of plays on the quarterback, and on the ball during the 2015 season. There is a lot to like about this Rams defense, and Ayers is just another reason why this team might flourish on that side of the ball this upcoming year.

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