St. Louis Rams Add Likely Starter in OLB McIntosh

The St. Louis Rams signed former Washington Redskin linebacker Rocky McIntosh on Thursday, June 14, bringing the total number of veteran free agent OLB additions to three ( the others being Mario Haggans and Jo-Lonn Dunbar). The team also added outside linebacker Alex Brown in the seventh round of the draft along with a couple undrafted rookies, most notably Houston's Sammy Brown and Washington State's Alex Hoffman-Ellis.

Out of all of these additions, McIntosh brings forth the most intrigue at the moment (the rookies add future appeal).

Drafted out of Miami in the second round of the 2006 draft by the Redskins, McIntosh spent his first two years playing under the Rams' current defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. While his first year was spent as a reserve, Rocky emerged as a starter in 2007 and racked up 87 tackles.

While Williams is now suspended, the defense is technically still the same, which should be an advantage for McIntosh. And with his frame – 6'2, 242 pounds – McIntosh is equipped to play both outside positions. Nick Wagoner over at Rams official site has him battling for the strongside opening. The Post-Dispatch says he is in the hunt for the weakside.

Whichever spot McIntosh ends up working on, he will most likely be one of the starters alongside James Laurinaitis. The other outside linebacker spot is most likely Dunbar's (he too spent time with Williams down in New Orleans).

The only main issue with McIntosh have been injuries. He has had some knee problems in the past.

With Rocky McIntosh, Mario Haggans and Jo-Lonn Dunbar all vying for starting jobs on the outside, which two do you think will end up lining up next to Laurinaitis come week one? Hit up the poll or add on a different option in the comment section below.