Laurinaitis confident chemistry will develop

ST. LOUIS Experience surrounds him, so James Laurinaitis is confident the chemistry between linebackers will come. Laurinaitis stood 10 feet away from fellow linebacker Brady Poppinga, a seven-year veteran, after practice Thursday at Rams Park. Each player spoke about how they can serve as the spirit of the St. Louis Rams' defense. Both share traits making that possible. They are vocal and aggressive. They search for chances to deliver pad-popping hits that will make their teammates want to do the same to someone else. They understand their role as the eyes that connect the secondary and defensive line. "You have to set the tempo for the defense," said Laurinaitis, who had 114 tackles and three sacks in his second season last year. "Speaking for the middle guys, the (linebackers) have to make the call as the quarterback of the defense. They organize the front. They organize any stunts. They organize any checks in and out of pressures." All that responsibility is why Laurinaitis is glad to have veterans by his side. The Rams added Poppinga, five-year player Zac Diles and 10-year player Ben Leber to their linebacker corps in the last three weeks. The free-agency additions have had a quick introduction to St. Louis' defense. They share Laurinaitis' confidence that they can become an effective group. The three are established players, but Diles and Poppinga have left their original teams for the first time. The Houston Texans chose Diles in the seventh round of the 2007 draft. He had 223 tackles and one sack in four seasons, his best year coming in 2010 when he had 59 solos and 23 assists. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers selected Poppinga in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. He had 244 tackles and five sacks in six seasons. He had seven tackles in six games last year, before sustaining a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee in October. "This is one of the most fun groups of guys I have been around my whole career," Poppinga said. "I love the guys, because they're hard workers. They take the scheme and the whole situation very seriously. I've been in situations where guys blow off this opportunity like it's nothing, like they're always going to have it. Here, it's not like that. These guys, they take their work seriously. And I love being with guys like that." Leber is one of the players Poppinga has enjoyed. Leber began his career with the San Diego Chargers in 2002, but he came to St. Louis after five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He has earned 46 tackles in each of the past two seasons, his production down from when he had 67 in 2007 and 64 in 2008. "It seems like it's the same sort of system," Leber said when comparing the Rams' and Vikings' schemes. "I think just being here in the Midwest, I'm kind of a Midwest guy. It's very appealing to me. It's the same sort of deal that I've been used to as far as defensive scheme goes. I like what they have going on here. So for me it was a great fit." The Rams haven't been short on linebackers since starting practice. The training camp roster includes veterans Brian Kehl, Jabara Williams, Na'il Diggs and Chris Chamberlain. Rookie free agent Pete Fleps also is part of the group. St. Louis hopes depth leads to improved numbers later this fall. Last season, the Rams gave up an average of 316 yards per game to rank 18th in the league in total defense. In addition, they gave up an average of 20.5 points per game to rank 12th in scoring defense. Laurinaitis and others are eager to see how chemistry develops in the Rams' linebacker corps. Three free-agency signings add to the interest. "I think we're better at a lot of positions, and linebacker is certainly one of them," defensive coordinator Ken Flajole said. "We've got more depth there, and the backups are pushing the starters. The starters are feeling it, and it's making the starters better. "When we've got that type of competition at all these positions on our side of the ball, it's going to raise our level of play. Whether it's through the draft or free agency, that gives us a chance to build some quality depth and become starters or if they're not, be great backups."