New Rams defensive tackle Nick Fairley says he’s a perfect fit in the kind of defense they play in St. Louis.

“Looking very, very forward to it because, like I said, it’s going to be great things,” Fairley told AL.com. “Because of the type of system that they have and the type of player I am, it’s going to be great.”

A first-round pick of the Lions in 2011, Fairley has played his entire NFL career in Detroit and has been up and down, making great plays at times but failing to perform consistently. Weight was often a concern for Fairley in Detroit, but in St. Louis he’s been dieting so hard that the Rams are concerned he’s getting too thin. Fairley said that shouldn’t be a concern, as losing weight has made him faster than ever.

“Really, it takes hard work and dedication,” he said, “and if you put your mind to it, you can do whatever you want to.”

If Fairley plays up to his talent on a defensive line that also features Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, the Rams’ defense really can do great things.