LOS ANGELES -- Shortly after assembling the coaching staff for his ninth different stint as an NFL defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips recruited a couple of his favorite former players to the Los Angeles Rams.

Enter Connor Barwin, the former Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles defensive end/linebacker who has started 96 consecutive games and counting.

Enter Kayvon Webster, the fifth-year cornerback who excelled on special teams but found himself stuck behind a loaded Denver Broncos secondary.

Both head into the 2017 season with a lot to prove, and both bring some much-needed experience in a 3-4 scheme. Both came here largely because of Phillips, who expressed his excitement through a surprisingly active Twitter account.

You can always count on people with talent And character -Connor and Kayvon pic.twitter.com/eObGsu3e1q — Wade Phillips (@sonofbum) March 17, 2017

Barwin compiled 76 disrupted dropbacks from 2011 to 2015, third-most in the NFL during that time. They led to 41 sacks, a total surpassed by only 17 players over the course of that five-year stretch. But the Eagles transitioned to a 4-3 under Jim Schwartz last season, prompting Barwin to move from outside linebacker to defensive end, and the 30-year-old had one of his least-productive seasons.

Pro Football Focus graded him 100th out of 109 qualified edge defenders.

Barwin believes he is capable of playing in both a 3-4 and a 4-3. He brought up the fact that he played in a 4-3 during his first two NFL seasons, though he did not start. His biggest issue last year, Barwin said, "was moving to the right side. I've normally played in the left side. So, back in Wade's defense, in L.A., I'll be back as an outside linebacker. But then on nickel downs, which usually happen about 60 percent of the time in the NFL now, I'll be playing left defensive end, as Robert Quinn likes to play right defensive end."

Barwin raised the possibility of restructuring his contract to return to the Eagles because he believed he could ultimately thrive under Schwartz. But the Eagles instead chose to allocate their cap space towards receivers for Carson Wentz, which Barwin understood. Once he moved on, the choice came down to the Bengals and Rams.

"And ultimately," Barwin said, "I thought it was the better opportunity for me to be in LA, be in a defense that I had success with. I know Wade had a ton of success in this league in that defense."

Barwin amassed 11 1/2 sacks in his first of two seasons under Phillips in 2011, when he improved the Texans from 31st to sixth in defensive DVOA. Barwin, who signed a one-year deal that maxes out at $6.5 million, will be part of a Rams front seven that includes Quinn, linebackers Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron, and defensive tackles Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers. Barwin believes he'll bring "versatility" to his do-all role as their new Sam linebacker, a role he's accustomed to.

"That's kind of the position that's asked to do a number of different things -- set the edge, pass rush, drop into coverage, zone coverage, man coverage, move around a little bit," Barwin said. "I'll bring a lot of versatility."

Webster will bring bottled-up enthusiasm.

The 26-year-old -- a captain on special teams heading into 2016 -- has been limited to a mere 247 defensive snaps over the last three years, stuck behind the likes of Aqib Talib, Chris Harris and Bradley Roby. On the Rams, though, Webster will compete with E.J. Gaines, perhaps others, for the No. 2 spot opposite Trumaine Johnson on the outside.

"Of course, you have to go to camp and compete," Webster said. "I'm just ready to help the Rams get to the next level."

Webster signed a two-year, $8 million contract that can get up to $12 million in incentives. The Rams don't have much game film on Webster, but they have Phillips, who coached Webster while serving as coordinator for a Broncos defense that led the NFL in DVOA each of the past two seasons. The Rams, desperate for quality depth in their secondary, believe he will bring speed, toughness, aggressiveness in press-man and versatility, as someone who can play on the outside and in the slot.

"I've played a lot of games of football," Webster said when asked if he's ready to take the next step and emerge as a starter. "I went to Super Bowls. As a rookie I played a lot on defense; I played a lot my first two years on defense. I just had to take that year and learn. Play there. I had to make sure that I'm on top of my game. It's kind of hard when you're in that role, because you have to know all these spots. I think I'm prepared for that role."