James Laurinaitis has increased time with the St. Louis Rams’ first-team defense, but he and coach Steve Spagnuolo say the added work with the first team is a reflection of his increased comfort with the system and not a move up the depth chart.
“I’m happy that (Spagnuolo) had the confidence to put me with the first group, but nothing’s changed from my mindset,” Laurinaitis said. “I’m still going out there trying to learn, still asking a lot of questions and trying to get better every day.”
Laurinaitis, a rookie middle linebacker out of Ohio State, the 35th-overall overall draft pick this spring, was three-time All-American and won the Nagurski Award, as the nation’s best defensive player, as a sophomore, and the Butkus Award, as the nation’s top linebacker, as a junior.
His stellar collegiate career does not keep him from growing pains all rookies have to deal with. But fortunately, Laurinaitis has veteran Chris Draft and fellow linebacker Will Witherspoon help him learn the system and take increased responsibility for making defensive calls.
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