As usual, there are a lot of 'tweeners in this year's NFL draft pool — college defensive ends trying to convert to 3-4 linebackers in the pros. And there are lots of edge rushers such as Butkus Award winner Von Miller of Texas A&M, Dontay Moch of Nevada and Chris Carter of Fresno State.
But when you're talking about outside linebackers — specifically weakside linebackers — in a 4-3 scheme, it's a pretty short list for consideration in the early rounds of the NFL draft. Namely, Akeem Ayers of UCLA, Bruce Carter of North Carolina and Mason Foster of Washington.
Ayers originally was projected as a middle first-round pick, or right in the Rams' wheelhouse. But he failed to crack 4.8 seconds in the 40 at the NFL scouting combine and isn't physical enough to suit some teams' tastes. There's a chance Ayers could fall out of the first round entirely, and he doesn't seem to be on the Rams' radar.
Carter, of the Tar Heels, is an interesting prospect. He has first-round ability, a relentless attitude on the field and a strong work ethic. But a left knee injury suffered in the second-to-last game of the 2010 regular season required reconstructive surgery. Four months removed from surgery, Carter already is running, but it may be pushing it to think he will be ready for the start of the NFL regular season.
And then there's Foster, who at 6-1, 245 pounds, has been something of a well-kept secret in the Pacific Northwest. He was among a group of defensive players who arrived at Rams Park on Tuesday for pre-draft visits that will conclude today. (Offensive players are scheduled to arrive today and conclude their visits Thursday.)
For a Rams team with a glaring need at weakside linebacker, Foster could be an option in the second or third rounds of the draft.
"I know they're an up-and-coming team, led by a great linebacker in the middle with (James) Laurinaitis," Foster told the Post-Dispatch before his arrival in St. Louis. "So I'm excited to meet the Rams, and I think it'll be a good fit for me. And I definitely know they need the help at the linebacker position, so it's just a great opportunity for me."
Foster led the Pacific 10 Conference in tackles in both his sophomore (2008) and senior (2010) seasons. Tackle totals can be an overrated stat; then again, production is production. You're either around the ball, or you're not.
Foster's tackle total last season (163) was the most for a Pac-10 player since 1989. Over the past five drafts, it's more tackles than any first-round linebacker had in his final college season — a group that includes Patrick Willis, A.J. Hawk and Rolando McClain.
As a junior, Foster played strongside linebacker for the Huskies and as a freshman moved back and forth between the middle and the weak side. So he has some versatility. But he also has a favorite position.
"I love playing WIL (weak side)," Foster said. "I feel like it's a great fit for me with my instincts and my ability to run sideline to sideline. I feel like it puts me in the best position to make plays to help my team win."
Foster, who had 6½ sacks last season, had a strong close to the college season, followed that up with a good week at the Senior Bowl and then ran pretty well at the NFL scouting combine. (He has been consistently clocked in the 4.65-4.75 range in the 40.)
Foster has talked with the Rams throughout the pre-draft process, but it's always difficult to truly gauge how a team feels about a prospect.
Laurinaitis, for example, didn't make a pre-draft visit to St. Louis, didn't have a formal interview with the Rams at the combine and doesn't remember if he even met coach Steve Spagnuolo before the draft. Yet he was taken in the second round in 2009.
Foster said he already has visited Miami, Tennessee and Denver. Besides St. Louis, he has a visit scheduled with New Orleans.
"I definitely feel like I've been building momentum from the end of the season, throughout this whole process," Foster said. "And hopefully, I'll carry that through draft day."
Add another running back to the Rams' guest list this week for pre-draft visits. Mark Ingram, the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner from the University of Alabama, is visiting Rams Park, according to league sources. Because of prior commitments, Ingram isn't scheduled to arrive until Thursday, a day when the other offensive prospects making visits are scheduled to leave.
That makes at least five running backs scheduled to visit Rams Park this week: Ingram, Hawaii's Alex Green, Illinois' Mikel Leshoure, LSU's Stevan Ridley and Kansas State's Daniel Thomas.
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