By Patrick MacCoon Missourian Sports Writer Being in the right spot at the right time may have helped Rams rookie linebacker Bryce Hager make the 53-man roster. The former All-American standout from …
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Strong preseason helps Hager earn spot
Posted
By Patrick MacCoonMissourian Sports WriterBeing in the right spot at the right time may have helped Rams rookie linebacker Bryce Hager make the 53-man roster.The former All-American standout from Baylor University made the final cut on Saturday afternoon, just two days after recording seven tackles and his second preseason fumble recovery in a 24-17 home loss to Kansas City in the Governor’s Cup.The seventh-round draft pick (224th overall) will help provide depth at middle linebacker behind veteran James Laurinaitis and make an immediate impact on special teams.“Coming in to this team, I knew James was a really great player,” said Hager, who shares a locker next to Laurinaitis. “Throughout the preseason I tried to learn as much as I could from him and help the team out in anyway. He’s helped me out tremendously in the process of adjusting to the NFL.”Hager led the Rams in preseason tackles with 22, which was five more than the next best in another rookie linebacker Cameron Lynch, who was amongst the roster cuts.While he displayed strong instincts to get to ballcarriers and in making the sure tackle, both reasons why St. Louis used one of its nine draft picks on him, he also has been referred to as a good luck charm by teammates.In the third quarter of the preseason finale Thursday night, Hager was ready to help bring down Chiefs tailback Spencer Ware, insteadhe came away with a turnover.The ball shot out of Ware’s hands straight into the 6-1 234-pound linebacker’s arms after rookie defensive back Montell Garner jarred the ball loose with a perfectly timed hit.Hager recovered a fumble by Colts running back Josh Robinson as well in Week 3 of the preseason.“James and the guys kind of just joke with me and say I’m a horseshoe,” Hager said. “In two straight games I had a fumble recovery and this game the ball just popped right out of the guy’s hands to me. They all say I must be living right because the ball has been coming right to me.”To Laurinaitis, his understudy reminds himself of when he was a soft spoken rookie coming in to the league.Hager’s quiet personality is one that bodes well for those trying to earn respect as rookies in NFL locker rooms, according to the seventh-year pro.“The only way you earn respect in this league is just by playing and proving that you are reliable and humble,” Laurinaitis said. “You have to prove to the other guys you know what you are doing. Once you do that and make the plays, you gain the respect. Then you morph into whatever you want to be. I’ve seen a lot of good things from Bryce.”While playing in all four preseason losses, the 23-year-old rookie had to adjust to a much different atmosphere than he was a part of when he recorded 322 career tackles for the Bears in Waco, Texas.“At first, the thing I had to get adjusted to the most was just the defense huddling before plays,” Hager said. “When I played in the Big 12, we don’t huddle and everything is all fast tempo.”The use of new technology and playing the Mike (middle) and Will (weakside) linebacker positions this preseason, were also new to Hager.“Having a speaker in the helmets and having the coach speak to you through that is different and it took me some time to get used to it,” he said. “The game speed is much faster, but I feel like for the most part it’s been a smooth progression.”Now, with weight off his shoulders to prove himself worthy of a spot on the Rams roster that includes five linebackers, Hager is excited about the chance to make a difference in any way he can.“There’s good things to take away from this preseason, you don’t really look at wins and losses at all,” he said. “We feel good about where we are going into the season and we will see what happens. I want to make an impact whether it’s on special teams or defense.”Laurinaitis will continue to provide mentorship for a player he feels has more than just good fortune on his side.“Bryce has some room to grow, but he’s done a great job coming in as a rookie,” Laurinaitis said. “He’s picked up our defense well and I feel like he will help us this season.”St. Louis hosts the Seattle Seahawks Sunday at noon to open the NFL regular season.
St. Louis Rams rookie linebacker Bryce Hager made the final 53-man roster this past weekend. The seventh- round draft pick led all Rams players in tackles with 22 this preseason. St. Louis hosts Seattle on Sunday. Bill Battle photo.
