LA Rams boast 5 players ripe for Pro Bowl seasons

ILB Kiser

The plan for the linebacker position appears at first glance to be no plan at all, doesn’t it? The Rams had a number of players cycle through the role in 2019, in terms of injuries, rotations, and production. While the clear best linebacker of the bunch, Cory Littleton, has signed on to play for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, his teammate Micah Kiser was set to play next to him as a starter in 2019. Can he start without Littleton?  We’ll likely find out soon.

On a linebacking squad with no clear favorite, Kiser is about as much of a sure thing on the team as possible. He was ready to start in 2019 before a pectoral injury ended his season. Now he’ll be counted on to start for the Rams at a position where veteran leadership is at an all-time low.  While the competition may not be at a high level, the perception about where Kiser, and the roster, stand at linebacker is not a very high bar either.

Pro-bowl status wide open

The NFC pro bowl designation is wide open for 2020. Former perennial pro-bowler Luke Kuechly retired during the off-season, and his partner Bobby Wagner is entering his ninth season. Rams LB Cory Littleton signed in the AFC. So what will it take for Kiser to put up Pro Bowl numbers? Well, the number of tackles for interior linebackers runs high, so expect a minimum of 120 tackles. On a per-game basis, that averages out to 7.5 tackles per game. Sacks are not critical, but showing up in the quarterback’s face would be a plus, so recording two sacks would be good. Finally, defending passes is a must, so a minimum of eight passes defended, converting two into interceptions, would be the icing on the cake.

Littleton played in that range. His two seasons starting on the inside found his average of 130 tackles, four sacks, 11 passes defended, and 2.5 interceptions.  If Kiser can land in that range, he would be a strong candidate for a Pro Bowl nomination. So it’s simply a question of whether Kiser can step up for the Rams this year.  I believe he can, and will.  He is a bona fide thumper, a big-hitting linebacker who savors the chance to make a big stop on defense.