Bobby Wagner’s Rams signing paid off in first year
The 2022 Los Angeles Rams season featured many changing parts. Franchise cornerstone Andrew Whitworth retired after the Super Bowl. 2021 midseason trade acquisition Von Miller went east and joined the Buffalo Bills. Robert Woods was traded to the Tennessee Titans. And Odell Beckham Jr didn’t sign while he was recovering from a torn ACL. Starting in Week 1, the Rams began losing starters to injuries. This forced new names to play more prominent roles.
To continue the Los Angeles Rams Top 15 Individual Players Countdown List of 2022, let’s first take a quick look at the current roster.
#15 – Van Jefferson, WR
#14 – Tutu Atwell, WR
#13 – Matthew Stafford, quarterback
#12 – Ernest Jones, ILB
#11 – Michael Hoecht, EDGE
#10 – Tyler Higbee, TE
#9 – Decobie Durant, CB
#8 – Rob Havenstein, RT
#7 – Aaron Donald, Law Degree
#6 – Leonard Floyd, EDGE
#5 – Cam Akers, RB
#4 – Matt Gay, K.
#3 – Cooper Kupp, WR
#2 – Jalen Ramsey, CB
The overall No. 1 spot for the top 15 players of Rams 2022 goes to defense captain and caller…
#1 – Bobby Wagner, ILB
No one was more consistent and better in a Rams uniform in 2022 than Bobby Wagner.
With Wagner taking over the green spot duties on defense, Los Angeles was able to prevent opposing running backs from having a 100-yard rusher in the first 15 meeting.
For the first time in the Sean McVay era, the Rams had an inside linebacker capable of diagnosing plays. For reference, the Rams have used Troy Reeder, Kenny Young, Micah Kiser and Cory Littleton. But none of them have had the ability to shut down attacking attacks from opposing offenses.
Despite being 32 years old, Bobby Wagner still managed to tally 140 tackles (81 solo), 10 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, two interceptions and a career-high six sacks. Those numbers helped the veteran land on the all-pro list for the ninth straight season.
If there was a knock on Bobby Wagner, it was that he was supposed to be the signing that would close out the running game for the San Francisco 49ers. Unfortunately, San Francisco swept the Rams for the fourth straight year. Additionally, Wagner was at times a slow pace (due to age) in his zone assignments.
But I think even Les Snead and Sean McVay were surprised by the production they got from Wags. After three straight years of missing at least 10+ tackles, Wagner missed just two all season in 2022. Wagner was one of the few Rams defensemen who consistently delivered splash plays. None were more impressive than this one against his former team in Week 13.
Wagner finished the season as the Rams’ highest rated PFF player with a 90.7 rating.
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