EARTH CITY, Mo. -- For the Los Angeles Rams' Alec Ogletree, a forthcoming move to middle linebacker runs much deeper than simply lining up a few yards to the right of his former spot on the weak side.

"I appreciate Coach [Jeff] Fisher and everybody believing in me to step up to the role and fulfill that position," Ogletree said. "The toughest part of that challenge will probably be making sure everybody is in the right position. It's going to take a lot of hard work, coming in early mornings and staying late in the afternoon, to just get everything down. But I'm ready for that challenge, and it's exciting.”

Ogletree's move to the middle means the Rams will have someone other than James Laurinaitis occupying that spot for the first time since Laurinaitis entered the league in 2009. Since then, Laurinaitis played more snaps than any other linebacker in the league and held down the position as the quarterback of the defense.

But the Rams believed Laurinaitis' production dipped enough that it no longer matched his salary. In a pre-free-agency purge, the team released him, defensive end Chris Long and tight end Jared Cook. By the Rams' own admission, parting ways with Laurinaitis was the most difficult of the three decisions.

The Rams wouldn't have parted ways with veteran middle linebacker James Laurinaitis if they didn't believe Alec Ogletree is ready to fill a bigger role. AP Photo/Billy Hurst

It's a decision they wouldn't have made if they didn't believe Ogletree is ready to step into a bigger role in his fourth NFL season, even if it's a role he has never played in the NFL.

"I'm confident that Alec can do it," Fisher said. "Alec is going to get people lined up. He's going to call the plays. He's a really smart player."

From a mental standpoint, Ogletree is taking on a much larger load than his previous run-and-chase job as the weak-side linebacker. Laurinaitis was so well-versed in defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' defense that he knew every player's assignment and consistently put teammates in position to succeed. On multiple occasions in 2015, Laurinaitis checked out of a defensive call into one that resulted in a takeaway.

Those are things the Rams are unlikely to get out of Ogletree right away. He'll need time to adapt to his new gig. Laurinaitis was instrumental in bringing Ogletree along after he arrived in 2013. Now Ogletree will have to become the player younger guys come to for help.

“I have to basically grow as a player," Ogletree said. "Each year, you have to grow as a player and become better. So it's not so much changing the way I play, as far as running and making tackles. You still have to do that. It's still football, at the end of the day. But I do have to change my mindset of having to tell somebody what they need to know.

"Playing Mike, you have to know all other 10 positions, so it's going to be a challenge. But I definitely feel I'm ready for it. It's going to take a little more studying to make sure I have it all down. But for the most part, I don't feel like it changes anything.”

From a physical standpoint, Ogletree also has questions to answer. Although he almost certainly would have led the Rams in tackles in 2015, were it not for an injury, he has never been known for his ability to take on and get off blocks; instead, he relies on his athleticism to make plays. That athleticism will still come in handy. In pairing Ogletree with Mark Barron, the Rams should have a fast, hard-hitting duo, but there will be times when Ogletree has to stack and shed blockers to make plays.

Taking it a step further, Ogletree will be returning from the leg injury that cost him the final 12 games of the past season. He is expected to participate in all of the team's offseason program, so he should be healthy after a disappointing end to a promising season in which he had 42 tackles in the first four games.

“It was tough," Ogletree said. "Anytime you're not out there playing with your guys that you go through training camp with and the offseason, it's tough to be on the sideline. But I did my best to support the guys and just try to make it a good environment and help some of the younger guys coming up that was playing my position. So that's what James and others did for me when I came in -- they helped me grow as a player. And I felt it was my duty to help other players too."

With Ogletree's move to the middle, that's a duty that won't go away.