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ILB Will Witherspoon, St. Louis Rams

HT: 6-1, WT: 231, Born: 8-19-1980, College: Georgia, Drafted: Round 3

2008 Projections

Best Case

Witherspoon puts up similar to better numbers than his first two years as a Ram... 90-100+ solo tackles, and a career best 7 sacks in 2008 (leading all MLB/ILBs). A return to health of Pro Bowl DE Leonard Little, the addition of prized rookie DE Chris Long and better DT play with developing 2007 1st rounder Adam Carriker (and promising fellow soph interior DL Clifton Ryan) frees him up to unleash his elite athleticism further, and become even more of a sideline-to-sideline playmaker. Opposing OLs could be heavily distracted by an improved DL, which could pave the way for gambling DC Jim Haslett to turn him loose and deploy him in an expanded blitz role. Increased pressure on the QB could translate to more big plays in the form of INT opportunities for Witherspoon, who had 6 combined pass thefts his last two seasons in Carolina (2004-2005). If everything breaks right, he could have top 3-5 LB upside.

Worst Case

If as many think STL will field a stronger offense with the return to health of most of the OL and the addition of new OC Al Saunders, the defense could be on the field less, and see less opportunities in run support late in the game (if opposing offenses play from behind and are forced into more passing situations), which could have a negative impact on Witherspoon's IDP scoring. He is flanked by the injury prone WLB Pisa Tinoisamoa and journeyman Chris Draft at SLB (or unproven Quentin Culberson), and if the Rams continue to get erratic play from their OLBs, it will enable opponents to run away from the middle. If the OLBs don't step up their play (and depth at the position is ominously and perilously thin), they may have trouble containing run plays and funnelling the action into the middle and the waiting arms of Witherspoon. Still, unless he is injured (and he has only missed two games in a six year career), it is hard to see him dropping much further than LB2 territory.

Outlook

With so much uncertainty associated with potential improvements on both sides of the ball for the Rams, Witherspoon's numbers could fluctuate, and his 2008 projection needs to account for that. He does have the kind of athleticism and talent to transcend in-season ups and downs, and as noted above, it would be a surprise if he were any worse than a LB2. If things break right in STL for 'Spoon, he should be a mortal lock to be a LB1 (falling in the LB8-12 range), and could have upside to finish among the elite scorers at his position, and across the IDP landscape.

Writeups last modified: 2008-06-20 10:21:13