Alec Ogletree entered the NFL with undeniable athleticism and playmaking ability that made him an intriguing addition to the St. Louis Rams' defense.
In his second season, the linebacker expects to make even more plays in new coordinator Gregg Williams' aggressive, attacking-style defense.
"This is something we're all looking forward to,'' he said earlier this week, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We've got a lot of athleticism and speed on our team and with (Williams) being so aggressive and with our depth allowing us to keep bringing fresh players into the game, I think we're going to be able to put a lot of pressure on the other team's quarterback.''
According to the team's count, Ogletree led the Rams with 155 tackles in 2013 (NFL.com stats had him down for 117 tackles). He also earned six forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed and an interception returned 98 yards for a touchdown.
The 22-year-old, however, got lost too many times in coverage and struggled at times shedding blocks.
Ogletree believes that with a year under his belt, those lapses are in the past and he will be even more disruptive under Williams.
"It's like night and day,'' he said. "When I first started last year, I was kind of nervous, trying to learn the position and to learn what I needed to do on the play. This year, I feel a lot more comfortable. I just feel like I'm able to go out there and just play and have fun.''
Williams stearing a dangerous defense headlined by a dominant line starring Robert Quinn, Chris Long and rookie Aaron Donald is a wild card in the stacked NFC West. If Ogletree makes the leap in Year 2, the unit could rival the other preeminent defenses in the division.
In the latest episode of the "Around The League Podcast," the heroes discuss the winners and losers of minicamp season.
