Stern voices and furrowed brows have been unleashed.  The 4 yo and 3 yo are at peace again.  If only NATO could see me now.  That's how you DO IT!  Libya, if you don't stop you will NOT go to Monkey Joe's tomorrow!  

Anyway...on to the D!

DE (6)  

Chris Long ---- When some one has "turned the corner"  where exactly are they after turning that corner proverbially?  I couldn't find an answer so I am going to make it up.  C. Long is now "in the alley".  Try this... Chris Long "turned the corner" in 2010 and now he is "in the alley" waiting to beat the shit out of some people.  

James Hall --- He is that guy "in the alley" with C. Long that says something horrifyingly ominous like "Looks like you picked the worst time and the worst place possible to take a walk tonite, baby."  Trust me.  Kolb, Smith, and Jackson will not be able to get those words out of their heads all year long.

Mighty Quinn ---- Should be named Grimlock Jr. because he is strong and agile as shit but has no idea what he is doing yet.  (That's 1984 Transformers for all you agists out there.)

C.J. Ah You Always Just Good Enough To Make The Team

George Selvie ------ Can't put my finger on it but I just really like him.  Plus switching to 67 was kinda bad ass.  Makes him look bigger.

Ernie Sims ----- Sleeper impact player written all over him.  Wouldn't be surprised one bit if he got 6 sacks this year.

DT (4)

Fred, Bannan, Muir, and ...... Dar-......Gar-.....Da-....Ga-...... ITS SO CLOSE!  I DONT KNOW! SCOTT, OK!  SCOTT!

LB (7)

Animal Jr. ---- Nuff said

Leber ------ Nice upgrade at OLB

Poppinga ----- Better fill those gaps, Pop!  That 27 yarder was on YOUR ass.

Chamberlain ------ Special Teams Guru

Jabara Williams ----- Seems like a London Fletcher story waiting to happen

Josh Hull ------ You have a nice team when its guys like this that are around your 53rd man

Zac Diles  ------- Kehl is more athletic but he over commits his ass off.  Diles can tackle, tackle, tackle.

CB (5)

Fletcher and Bartell ------- The coolest name for a cognac in the entire world

Al Harris ----- He's got some good games left in him.  Glad he is here.

Justin King ------ Can be frustrating but he has shown a lot of promise.  Very good tackler. Finally healthy.

Jonathan Nelson ------  Has some potential and plays a nasty special teams.  Good fit.

S (4)

Q ----- Love this dude.  Will be fun to watch.  Total package for a safety.

Darian Stewart ---- Perhaps might be one of this FO and staff's greatest street FA find.  Really gonna open eyes.

Craig Dahl  ------ Can lay some booms but I am still pissed about RuVell Martin (of all fucking people) burning his ass

J.  Hines  ----- That hit was NOT illegal,  it was AWE-SOME.  This dude can be a thumper.  And I got a soft spot for thumpers.

So there ya have it.

Watch it get blown to dust tomorrow but, hey, this is fun. The Cardinals are not fun.

GO RAMS!

As I am watching the Cards implode against the Reds and getting severely pissed off, I thought to myself, "Isn't there something better to do?"  Well, yes.  Yes there is!  Try to do the impossible and guess the 53 man roster!  Here's to an exercise in futility and fun:

QB (2)

Sam  ---- Duh.

Super Thad ----- Look at it this way.  If Sam goes down we are screwed every which way.  Why not get screwed with a very talented player on the rise.  Don't give me that Feely is a good teacher crap either.  Sam is smart enough to hold his colored pencils on his own.  BTW: did anyone actually see Feely in the pocket.  It was turrble.  Plus, frees up a lil scrilla' for a WR killa (cornerback).

RB (3)

SJax  + Caddy + Norwood = Awesome backfield

WR (7)

Alexander ----- Just can't let him go.  Too tough, too tall, too good to cut.  I can't do it.  He stays, dammit.

Amendola ----- Go, Baby Danny, go!  Get that slant, boy!

Avery -----  Can't let go of the YAC attack.  Dude can fly.  Turned a 4 yard gain into about 25 in 3 seconds flat.

Gibson  ------  Hope he lives up to the preseason raves.  The absolute brain dump on the opening drive last night gave me visions of 2010.  Get those ojos in that libro juego, mofo.

Pettis ---- Too much promise to just dump after being taken in the top 100.  Stick with this kid.  Gotta feelinboutim.

Salas --- For some reason this kid reminds me of a WR that P. Manning would throw to bout 20 times a game.

Sims Walker  ------ You are doing something right if you can catch 14 TDs in just 2 years in Jacksonville.

Bye Mardy Gilyard.  The some of all these different parts can completely cover up anything you can do.

TE (4)

Big Lance ----  Ladies and Gentlemen, WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?!

Fendi ----- One overlooked part of this pre season:  Fendi's blocking.  It's been very, very good.  Check the tape.

Uh-Oh ---- Love this guy when healthy but he better be doin' mitzvahs for fucking something or other.

Billy Baj ----- Have to have a clunky white guy TE on your active roster or the Football Gods will disown you.

O Line (8)

The Regs plus three:  Goldberg (small sigh), Fraley (more audible groan), and Ojinnakakska (huge disapproving fart sound).   Biggest must of the season:  5 healthy O-Linemen

Special Teams (3)

K - Brown P- Jones  LS* - Rookie money saving dude

*(Let's hope this don't bite us in blue and gold ass).

Was going to be all in one part but my daughter is throwing an absolute shit fit over her brother's toy.  Will return later.

27 down.  26 more to go.

Can everybody start to feel this?  Do you know what this is?  It's the beginning. It's the beginning of being good.  Will the Rams win the division?  Don't know.  Will the Rams win a playoff game?  Don't know.  Will the Rams win the Super Bowl?  Couldn't tell you.  What I CAN tell you is that the Rams will be an ascending team for the first time in TEN YEARS.  You can make a case for the 2003 season, but, in all honesty, that team was descending away from the Greatest Show.  We just didn't know that help wasn't on the way for a very long time.   After last night's technically (thanks Arrowhead!) butchered telecast, I started giggling to myself the way the team came out.  Everyone is holding them accountable to being a good team and they reacted accordingly...in the preseason.  After the Titans game, the ownership, team, coaches, players, broadcasters, and fans were pissed!  Dissatisfied.  Tired.  Frustrated.  Everyone is fed up with sloppy, shitty ass football.  Remember.. this was game 2 of the preseason.  Ten years of football purgatory ends this year.  Yeah, the schedule is tough, you never know what's going to happen, but , by golly, we will lose (if we lose) some games playing fun, engaged, technically sound, tough football.  No more of this smoke and mirrors (and quick outs) bullshit.  We have a TEAM, ladies and gentlemen.  An actual NFL looking and playing team: Goodbye Keith Null!  Goodbye Kenneth Darby!  Goodbye Jonathan Wade!  Goodbye Drew Bennett!  Goodbye Kevin Dockery!  Goodbye Brett Romberg!  Goodbye Brian Leonard!  Goodbye Nick Leckey! Goodbye Randy McMichael!  Goodbye Brandon Gorin!  Goodbye Fahkir Brown!  Goodbye Tye Hill!  Goodbye Joe Klopfenstein!  Goodbye Victor Adeyanju!  Goodbye Alex Ba...fuck, I can't even write your name.  Goodbye Dane Looker!  Go get bent, Claudes and D. Byrd!  Goodbye Derek Stanley!  Goodbye Jon Alston!  Goodbye Kay-Jay Harris!  Goodbye Reggie Hodges!   Goodbye Blaine Saipaia!  Good luck with you 6th new team in 6 years Jimmy Kennedy!  Goodbye DeJuan Groce!  Goodbye Arlen Harris!  Goodbye Jacoby Shepard!  Goodbye Robert Thomas!  Goodbye Larry Turner!  Goodbye Tony Hargrove!  And most of all, Goodbye Jay Zygmunt!   

Goodbye to the commitment of lukewarm to poor.  Goodbye to apathy and lack of direction.  Goodbye to nothing but sound and furry signifying nothing.  Goodbye to the last 10 years of descent.  

ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR 2011 ST. LOUIS RAMS!

Hot damn, Sam!  LET'S GO!

     The Christmas of Sports has come and gone in 2011 this weekend and, if for a moment, football was back in action for three crazy nights.  Billy D, Spagso, and JMac took their shots and never looked back....running back.  But  is that such a bad thing?  I don't know.  Did I want Mikel Leshoure at 47?  Yes... 

      At the same time, after Lance Kendricks was picked, I couldn't help remembering how Scott Linehan(??!!!! of all people) dealt the Rammers their harshest ass-thrashing last year in Detriot by working the 2 TE set to perfection.  I remember Megatron going vert in the corners of the endzone and thinking, "My Lanta!  If the Lions could consistently perform this style of offense week in and week out, it could be unstoppable!  I wonder why other teams aren't doing this?"  Then, my coach buddy called me and said, "Someone else is.  The Pats.  Watch them."  No.  I thought.  I fucking hate the Pats.  I don't care how awesome they are.   And I didn't.  After these last few days I wish I and a lot of other Rams fans did.  Maybe we wouldn't be so upset initially if we actually knew  what exactly JMac was going to do.

      To save a very boring read, I will keep it simple.  The players chosen for this particular style JMac wants to employ are perfect because instead of going for homeruns and succeeding SOME times, the Rams are going to hit doubles, take extra bases and score MOST times.  I think our drive charts (yardage wise) are going to look a lot like this during next year :  12, 8, 4, 14, 6, 2, 7, 8, 9 TD.

We can talk all we want about individuals and reaches and values and nad-length and positions and schools, but, I have an overwhelmingly positive feeling about our outlook and direction as a growing offense.

We got solid guys who were winners and productive players from solid schools.  AND THEY CAN CATCH THE DAMN BALL!

Spags is a great defensive coach who was finally given a gem and will polish all the other pieces of coal into diamonds like he always does.

We haven't even touched free agency and we are already a better team than last year.  Be patient.   Keep the faith and, at the very least, give this regime the benefit of the doubt until the whole offseason plays out.

I loved this draft.

GRADE:  PUMPED

    Although I think the story has come and gone, I never really shared my opinion on why the former equipment manager (Hewitt?)  was fired. I was going to let it rest until I read Van mention an insightful tidbit about Chris Long working witha new strength coach.

    Inside the NFL on Showtime had King Sam mic'ed up sometime in the 3rd to 5th week. Pardon me because I can't remember the specific game. It was one that we won, though, because I thought King Sam did an amazing job of staying positive and being a supportive teammate.

    That being said, before the game, they had King Sam on his mic mentioning over and over again that his speaker in his helmet wasn't working.  ITNFL even made a joke about it because they had King Sam saying it over and over again.

    After watching that particular episode, I remember keeping a close eye on King Sam and how he handled, audibles, short play clocks, and many other unforeseen gaffes that QBs have had to deal with.  Of course, King Sam did surprisingly well during his rookie season and we, as fans, couldn't be happier with his progress. I did, however, notice King Sam CONSTANTLY having problems with his head set especially during those small breaks on network TV where they briefly show a QB going back to the sidelines after the team has to call a timeout.

   Remember, this is just a guess, but, what if the helmet was constantly fucking up all the time during the season?  What if it cost us, let's say to be fair, 10 plays that could have been crucial to the outcome of games?  How many games did we lose this year by an ass hair?

    The point I am making is this:  Clifton Ryan fumbled the TD in Week 1. Understood. The Seattle game in Week 17 was a coaching nightmare.  Understood. Those were what they were.  But if King Sam constantly had trouble with his QB Helmet and Headset, who does that fall on?  How many times behind the scenes did Spags tell Hewitt? to fix it?  I don't know the answers.  I just know that the headset could have been a real issue that kept coming up and coming up and eventually broke Spag's nerves.  Just a thought.  Perhaps I write this because it might seem the only thing that would make sense to me.  I will let this go now.  Good day.

Let's get this out of the way:  The Rams, comparitively, had a great year to 2009.

Let's this out of the way, as well:  The Rams underachieved in all aspects of 2010.

Instead of GBs and LBs, let's take a look at our future by analyzing the starters.

COACHING

You got %1000 out of the team's heart and effort.  And even substantially lacking in many areas, you got %75 out of their actual talents.  Tight-ass-ness will not be tolerated next year.  Change it up or you will all be fired.

OFFENSE

King Sam QB:  You will be the future King of StL.  I don't care what anybody says but you hit the Rookie Wall so hard you left cracks in the foundation.  It's okay.  We are all excited for the years ahead.

Steven Jackson RB:  You need help by having a change of pace back and a system that doesn't wreak of scared vag.

Jason Brown C:  You performed under your own reputation this year.  Get it back next year because it was kind of disappointing, really.

Jacob Bell LG:   I don't care if you are 216, 257, or 310 pounds. You can't block anybody at all.  You need to be traded.  Big whiff on your signing.

Adam Goldberg RG:   Would love to have you back as a back up for a game or two.  You were severely outmatched as a starter.  You sucked the life out of the interior run game.

Jason Smith RT:  At your draft interview, you were famously quoted as saying, "I'm a MAN."  Well, you kind of been playing like a talented kid.  Even a scared kid from time to time.  Walk the walk next year.

Roger Saffold LT:  Besides having WAY to many offsides, you were THE most pleasant suprise of the year and the future OL.

Laurent Robinson WR :  Get the fuck out of here.  Now. 

Brondon Gibson WR:  You are going to have a tough road ahead to stick next year.  Very tough.

Danny Amendola WR:  Never thought you'd be double teamed, huh?  Next year you better damn well not be or jobs will be lost.

Mike Karney FB:  Is there a definition for "less than worthless" in the dictionary?  There isn't?  Well now there is: Mike Karney.  You and Steven can still be best friends.  Not teammates.

Uh-Oh TE:  I hope Uh-Oh doesn't end up standing for "Uh-Oh!  I hurteed somehin' again!"  Still a good find and possible TE for years ahead.

DEFENSE

Chris Long DE:  You were absolutely worth the #2 overall.  Glad to have you.  Keep improving.

James Hall DE:  Absolutely awesome year. Pro Bowl Caliber.  Can't wait to see you again in 2011.

Fred Robbins DT:  Ditto.

Gary Gibson DT:  Solid roation guy for future.  Nothing more.

David Vobora:  Mr. Irrelevant likes his name so much that that is who he becomes when he plays OLB.  Goodbye.

Nai'il Diggs:  Hurt and old...and gone.

Animal Jr. ILB:  The Young General. 

Bradley Fletcher CB:  Going to be a good one.  Needs some work but a starter already.

Ron Bartell CB:  Wouldn't it be neat to transition him to safety and get a true #1?

Craig Dahl SS:  Great backup but not a starter.  Needs lots of help with coverage and hands.

OJ Togs FS:  Can be a force or disappear for long stretches.  Bettter than everyone esle on the roster, but still..

Reserve Prognosis coming soon.......

[promoted from the Fanposts, VanRam]

Well, HO HO HO!  What a nice gift for the day after Xmas.  For a half there, I thought I was going to have to buy a new TV because I was going to kick it in with my Santa boot.  And then... I realized that I still had to go over to another family's party during halftime and I thought to myself, " Amp, it's just a football game.  Enjoy your family.  If it's meant to be, then it's meant to be."  Sure enough, IT WAS!  I showed up at my uncle's house and the Rams had a 1 point lead with the ball in the middle of the 3rd.  I just relaxed and watched the Rams play decent football for the first time in about 10 to 12 quarters. 

Continue reading this post »

Besides Josh Brown kicking a 52 yd field goal, does anyone get a Gameball?  Anyone?  Ok, maybe Baby Danny, but that is it.

What a freakin disaster.  A real shame, indeed.  The Rams looked lost out there.  To make that many huge mistakes with self inflicted penalties and lack of execution, this team looks like it might not win another game.

Billy Bajema needs to be replaced.  Jason SMith had the worst game of his career.  King SAm looked overwhelmed.  No one could block, tackle, catch. cover, you name it.  I hope for better games ahead but this team looked simply awful yesterday.

To fall that flat in such an important game for the franchise against a hurting QB was a big punch in the gut to its fans.  LAMEBALLS EVERYWHERE including shitty ass officiating.

Promoted from the Fanposts. 

Before I hand out the GB's and LB's, yesterday was actually a great sign for the Rams.  They have come so far in such a short period of time that I think that I completely orerreact as the plays unfold during these tough games. I lose sight at where the Rams sit as a team right noiw.

The Rams aren't good enough to be a Super Bowl winner right now.  They might squeeze out one miracle playoff win if they play a perfect game.  They might just get the playoffs and we would all be happy they got there.  They might not even make the playoffs falling short by probably a game.  All these scenarios are a fact.  No wiggle room.

Here is where I am very proud of these guys as a fan:  They don't quit.  They ALWAYS play hard.  They ALWAYS want to improve and win.  These are the ultimate ingredients for winners and the Rams have them hands down.

What doesn't bother me, at least this season, is a mix of things they can and can't control:  Execution and a deep talent pool.  Both things, however, WILL come very soon.  There wasn't as big of a difference between the Rams and the Saints yesterday as we might think.  I know that sounds crazy and some won't agree with me but I firmly believe we are very close to being a very competitive team as early as next year with this year as a perfect opportunity to learn from games like ATL and NO.  The answers are right in front of their faces and they have the will and desire to learn from those answers.  It is much different than lst year where we all didn't have the faintest clue on where and how to improve.

Continue reading this post »

Hey, TST'ers!

It's your resident flake, AmpLee!  I missed doing a Gameballs and Lameballs about a month ago and then ran and hid for the next 3 to 4 weeks because I was embarrassed of breaking my streak.   I know there were a lot of people out there who were absolutely crushed by this, so I apologize.  When a fair weather FanPoster bows out, it really puts a damper on things because my personal opinions hold a ton of weight around here.  SO PLEASE FORGIVE ME. 

Now that I am done with that dream world,  let's go into another dream world!

I get a kick out of drafttek.com because it crunches out 845,673 scenarios for a fan to ponder ina half of a year's time.  Well, today I looked at the Tek and it had us picking at #12 (which won't happen).   THEN, it gives us WR A.J. Green (Georgia) in the 1st,  RB Mikel LeShoure (Illinios) in the 2nd, and OLB Mason Foster (Washington) in the 3rd.  Now, know this:  THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN REALITY.  But... it's dream world, remember?  So as a fun thing to just chew on while waiting for King Sam and The Rams shock the world on Sunday, ask yourself this:  Would you rather have the Rams lose out and get all 3 of these players for next year, OR, see the Rams go to the playoffs this year.

It's an EITHER/OR question.  Remember, THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN REALITY, but... just for fun, which would you choose?  Please explain your answers below. 

Before we begin this week's GBs and LBs let's take a minute to salute The Reverend.  Isaac Bruce will always be my favorite St Louis Ram.  From his first game as a StL Ram in Green Bay when he blocked a punt and then caught a TD pass on the very next play, #80 had me at hello.  He was one of those unique athletes that was, for lack of any more vivid description than a state college education can offer, ALWAYS cool-looking in everything he did while being an amazing football player at the same time.  Rare combo.  Oh, he was a really good person as well.  And a champion.  And a future Hall of Famer.  No need to waste anymore words.  No one else will ever wear #80 for the St Louis Rams again.  Ever.  Fitting.

GAMEBALLS

King Sam:  As we continue together as fans and passengers on Sam Bradford's "Grows-Up" Year Tour, this will be remembered by the die hard fans as Sammy's finest hour.  Marc Bulger would not have won this game.  Hell, I don't know how many decent starting QBs in the NFL RIGHT NOW would have won this game with what they had to work with.  7?  Maybe 8?  Just imagine the days when King Sam gets some over average talent at WR.  He and Coach Pat did a hell of a job McGuyver-ing some O with a very banged up and under average skill set.  

The L and L Freightliners:  Animal Jr. and Chris Long were simply awesome.  Marshall Faulk used to say, "Big players make big plays on big days."  Read the stat line for the both of these guys. It still doesn't do them justice.  Very proud of the leaders they have become for the D. 

Togs:  Speaking of D, can't forget the captain of the secondary.  Togs had a monster game as well.  He also gets an emotional game ball for paying tribute to #80 with the Bob and Weave in the endzone.  Throw as many weak ass flags as you want, Zebra. You obviously had no idea of the magnitude of the moment.  Doesn't matter.  I got chills watching that celebration.  I am sure a lot of others did too.

Craig Dahl:  Was it me or did this dude make like 65% of the tackles in every phase of the game.  And the ones he didn't make he had the runner by a shoelace or jersey but couldn't quite hold on.  I like this fella.  He likes the contact.

LAMEBALLS

Besides some technical difficulties like stupid penalties here and there, lack of a 2 minute defense, and razor thin depth at skilled positions, it's hard to give any one person a LAMEBALL today.  This team showed real grit out there today and I couldn't have been more proud of them.  Sure the game was a little ugly from an objective point of view but this was a very special game.  All 53 of our Rams went out there and fought for each other.  You can tell that they enjoy playing with each other and try to pick each other up.  I am very proud of our guys today.  They not be the most talented bunch but they sure do give a damn.  As a fan, that's all I can ask.  Go Rams!  Enjoy the bye week.  I think I speak for most of us here to say that you are worth it, fellas.  We couldn't be happier with where you are heading.

I wanted to start off this week by ranting and raving but it won't do anybody any good and it will just put me back into the horrendously pissed of mood I have been in all day.  Hopefully, this will stir up the guys in the locker room a little.  Hopefully, this will be a game that we can trade for an unexpected win in the future against another team that we expect to beat the Rams.   Hopefully...aw forget it.

GAMEBALLS

Steven Jackson:  The Best.  The Beast.  The Best Horned Beast to run the ball for our Rams.  Congratulations, Steven.  We love ya.

Danny Amendola:  The Human Gameball gets a gameball for his overall game returning, rushing, and catching a TD.  Wish some other guys in the WR corp had the same heart and determination as you.  

Chris Long:  Ran out of gas a little in the second half but who could blame him.  He was a monster in the first half and gave it everything he had all game long.   

LAMEBALLS

Coaching:  Did everything perfectly to fuck up a game they had practically handed to them.

O Line and Bajema:  Completely destroyed all good feelings of decent run blocking by killing at least 5 different drives with dumbshit penalties before the snap.  Bajema for the false start and the terrible penalty on an Amendola return that took away superior field position.

Dropping Interceptions:  How many were there?  3? 4? 5?  All those amazing feelings gaining momentum in my mind about how this year could be ran flat into a wall when Togs and Dehl dropped that damn ball.  That horrible nightmare feeling crept into my stomach when that happened.  I thought to myself, "No way.  That will NOT be a deciding factor in this game, right? .......Right?"  But deep down, I knew.  The Football Gods hate that crap.  Hate it.

I am sure many others have feelings on this.  Feel free to share them.  I almost didn't write this week because I am so angry but if you are going to be here in the good times, you damn well be here in the bad times.  Not all is lost.  Hopefully....

Mamasaymamasacoomacoosa!  We are dancin', baby!  Dancin!  Hoo Hoo!  I don't know what the hell is goin' on this year but I am TUNED IN!  For the first ime in four years I am feelin' hopeful and excited.  Honestly, who gives a damn if these Rams don't make the playoffs this year.  It's the fact that we can even TALK about being in the playoffs, or going .500, or just beating teams that are better than them on paper is what has made this year so much fun!  Shamone!  Hoo!  I hate to even give some LAMEBALLS on this day but a couple need to be given out.  Always room for improvement...and jello.

GAMEBALLS:

El Superbeasto #39:  It wasn't just the TD.  It wasn't just the 8 yd romps.  It wasn't just the awesomeness that SJAX is.  It was those last two minutes.  Those "no way in f%^&*g hell we are going to give the ball back to Superdouche Rivers to kill this amazing game" runs to seal the deal.  Can we even call them runs?  They were more like explosions with grunts being heard up in the rafters from the sorry asses tryng to tackle him.  That can't be taught, people.  You have IT or you don't.  My Lanta, I heart SJAX.

The DX84 Streamline Jet:  If you didn't get a little choked up  (just a little ) when The DX84 Streamlne Jet caught his first NFL touchdown, then I suggest you go to the cardiologist tomorrow and have him check to see if you have a heart.  I couldn't imagine a better first game for his career with all the things that Danario has fought through to get here.  As we speak I am trying to find a secret titanium alloy mixed with angel hugs to inject into his knee.  Let me know if you run across anything. 

Chris Long:  Maybe this is the first game in which people will start calling Howie "Chris Long's father".  Just maybe.  I am so happy for Chris.  He has played his tail off this year and this was one of the first games where HE got to see the results.  we knew it was there.  It was nice for Chris to see it himself.  Keep it up, baby.  Sweet freakin game.

James Hall:  Dear James Hall,  Thank you for coming back for another year with us when you had ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to.  You are a very good football player and I am glad you play for the Rams.  Sincerely, AmpLee.

Larry Grant:   Larry Grant, come on down!  You are the next contestant on Hey! How The Hell Does Coach Spags Get So Much Out Of Seventh Rounders And Street Free Agents!?  You've won a chance to keep playing hard and earning a decent living by being a starter in the NFL with your two River Dumps!

LAMEBALLS:

Jason Brown:  You are a hell of a center and there are very few centers I would want more than you out there but I hope to Hades that this was an apparition.  Those snaps.  That hold.  You were just jokin', right?......Right?

Play Calling Inside the Opponents 5 Yard Line With 3 Usable Downs:  Pat, you called a pretty decent game.  You've had a bit of a problem this year inside the five.  Let me help you.  Now, I know this will be a little too simple for you to process because you run the West Coast O and all but just hear me out.  On first down:  hand the ball to Steven Jackson.  On second down:  hand the ball to Steven Jackson.  On third down:  HAND THE FUCKING BALL TO STEVEN JACKSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Thanks for your time, Pat.  See you next week.

The Ghost of Alex Barron:  Saffold, Smith, Kearney quit it.  Please quit it.  No one can take this anymore.  You know the count in the huddle.  Sam tells you.  You know it.  Just stop it.  Please stop.  It's worse than a walk in baseball or a penalty in hockey or missing 3 free throws in a row in basketball.  It's the worst self imposed mistake in all four sports because it's COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE!  Stop it now, dammit!  it just swallows momentum like Lohan on a rack of jello shots.

And now we have come full circle.  What a game.  What a team to cheer for.  What a time to be a Ram fan.

GO RAMS! GO RAMS! GO RAMS!

Guys, I am sorry but there are no Gameballs for the Rams today. 

The Lameballs go everywhere.

In the spirit of what I hope coach Spags does this week is throw away the game tapes and act like 10/10/10 never happened.

Detriot is a way better football team than 0-4 would have showed and we were the perfect set up for them.  I honestly believe the Lions would have beaten just about any team yesterday.  They were due,   They just happen to feed us our own ass.  Bummer.  Move on, Rams.  There is nothing to see here.

Oh my!

What do we have here?  Are you kidding me?  How fun is this, people?!

GAMEBALLS

SJ39:  Second all time soon to be first leading running back for the Chize.  These have been hard yards.  Very hard yards through hard years.  I hope to goodness one day soon he will be able to destroy in big games for the world to see.  Steven, we love you, baby.  Hey!?.... Didn't you have a freakin GROIN PULL?  Simply monstrous.

Billy Devaney (with a little coaxing from Spags here and there):  Some people don't realize the set of cohones you have to possess to make the QB who sat out an ENTIRE YEAR WITH A TORN SHOULDER the #1 overall.  Well, put em on the table , big boy, and have the world take a look.  Anybody think the Fred Robbins deal was an under the radar, patch-up move anymore?  Anybody?  Moving on...  how bout that Mark Clayton deal?  What did we give up, an ipod?  We all scratched our heads at Bradley Fletcher Bradley the third round pick out of Iowa.  What's he been doing?  Think they did their homework on what James Hall had left in the tank?  Boy I guess "Giants retread's" are code for guys flying around out there making plays and working their asses off.  Were those a couple of 7th rounders out there feeding Bald Hassy some spinach?  i don't know these answers.  Just askin'.  That's all.

Fred Robbins:  If you don't know who #98 is out there by now..... I don't even have something cute to say.  Dude's been a flat out PLAYA. 

Brandon Gibson:  Had to come at you last week, my man.  Had to.  Hell, you even dropped another today, but.....just when I thought you couldn't do anything stupider you go and COMPLETELY REDEEM YOURSELF!  Nice game, BG.  Build on this.  There's a corner we all can see for you that if you turn it........who knows.

LAMEBALLS

!st Half gap assisnments:  Come on, D.  I know I'm nitpicking, but, my lands is it fun to nitpick again.  Fill those gaps.  They are a cause for concern. 

1st Half stupid penalties:  Drive killers for a team driving down the field to be Killers.  Wha will this team look like when they eliminate some of these bonehead mistakes?  Pretty cool to think about.

Dropsies:  I am not going to point fingers.  The WR corps has been beter than advertised.  Now if you can eliminate the dropsies then you will shut everyone's mouth.  Sam will put it there.  Catch it.  I know it's super Sam fast, but catch it.

The officiating crew:  You all should be fined for throwing laundry at Baby Danny's ball spin.  $5000 each.  That was abso-super-freakin-bull-shite.  Where was that stooge that comes on and backs up horrible lame ass calls when we need him?  How was Big Booth Fer- whateverthehell  gonna say about that dung?  Nothing.  That's why they were too chicken shit to go back to him after he already lied about the Hassle-sack earlier.  What a joke.

GO RAMS!  GO RAMS!  GO RAMS!

GAME BALLS

King Sam:  What can you say?  The dude is a natural talent, leader, and player.  That fake tuck and run, then dink to Fells was so sweet and quick the announcers missed the beautiful nuances of it.  The team believes in him.  The fans believe in him.  The NFL coaching fraternity of analysts already believe in him.  Besides a couple grounders to get the yips out, Sam was putting the rock everywhere the DBs weren't.  That quick strike to Baby Danny looked like some shit out of arena football where the WR has a running lead.  How freaking exciting is it to have King Sam the Ram?!

Animal Jr:  Quintessential "I'm here muthaf*&^%#s!" game. I can remember only a handful of plays where he wasn't the last dude getting up off of a tackled player.  A beast.  A beautiful, violent beast.  The Young General on D.

The DB's :  They made some nice plays for takeaways and the coverage was pretty damn good.  A very young group that's only going to get better.  Mr. Bartell, you are playing your ass off this year.  Just make that ball stick to those gloves, playa.  Your man to man coverage has been sick.  Please stay healthy.  You are very good healthy.

The Coaching Staff:  Ladies and Gentlemen, adjustments, an attacking attitude, and very little boneheaded bullcrap!  The guys on the field really do listen to you!

LAME BALLS

Special teams:  Figure it out now.  No more excuses.  Cut the bullshit.  We'd be 3-0 if you guys were simply average.

Brandon Gibson:  Nice showing after the PD article of you and Mardy wanting more playing time.  Well, I guess the coaches were seeing the first few weeks in practice what we saw today.  Drops.  Lots of them.  You better thank God King Sam is your QB.  After your first 4 drops, any veteran QB would have had your ass crying in the huddle.  Saw the tweet, make it right next week.

Jason Smith: The number 2 overall doesn't need to be going number two over all of our drives.  C'mon,  Jason... it's big boy time now.  You look a little timid out there sometimes.  I don't get it.  We believe in you.  Believe in yourself now and go apeshit on those DLs.

The Officiating Crew:  That wasn't a hold on Fendi?  Really?  How come my wife who hates football and knows nothing about it walked by on that play and asked me, without any care or prompting, "Do the guys that tackle get to hold onto the guys that catch so they can't catch the ball before its thrown to tackle them ?"  That about says it all.  And, oh, by the way,  Cooley fumbled the damn ball.  

Give me your Game Balls and Lame Balls  and let's just swim around in this like pigs in slop for the next 6 days.

GO RAMS!

It wouldn't be an Amp Lee post if it wasn't nuckin' futs, but I don't care and it, actually, makes sense for both sides.  Here goes:

Rams trade:  1st overall pick,  Adam Carriker,  pick  #163, and cash (off set some bonus money)

Redskins trade:  4th pick,  Albert Haynesworth, Jason Cambell, and Andre Carter

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The Skins have a wide variety of options with the #1.  From most realistic to least, they could take Russell Okung and have a franchise OT to protect McNabb and others for the next decade.  OR they could replace Albert Haynesworth and his shitty attitude about playing the nose in a 3-4 with Ndmakong Suh.  OR  they could take Sam Bradford and have McNabb groom him for a year or two before he dominates the world.   Choices abound and Lil Fat Danny Snyder loves new shiny and expensive toys.  He'd be happy as a lil piggy in slop with all these options.  And, please, money hasn't and won't be a problem for him with having the burden of the #1 overall.

Although he's been nursing his hoo-haa the last few years, a healthy Adam Carriker gets to play in a scheme he was designed for:  a 3-4 DE.  Good times for the Skins, good riddance from the Rams.

The Skins wash their hands of potential weirdness with Jason Cambell and wish him a fine fairwell.  Ditto,  Andre Carter.

Lacking draft picks, the Skins are able to pick up a late fifth rounder and do what they wish for what they need.

A little cash gets sent their way to chip in for the $21 million roster bonus they just threw at AH.

Conclusion:  The Skins now have the best position in the draft to fill much needed holes with the best player available, and, at the same time, rid their roster of players who don't fit into their schemes and chemistry.  They also add a draft pick and pick up a little cash to make it worth their while.  Skins happy!

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The Rams improve their DLine by eleventy billion percent.  Albert Haynesworth and Andre Carter go back to their 4-3 scheme and allow Chris Long to become the new and improved Kyle Vanden Bosh.  Leonard Little reads that these guys have been added and possibly thinks to himself, "Know what?  I'll do another year if THIS is what we got!"  Spags finally has solid to great players for starters AND depth at all 4 positions and then sits down quietly at his desk and sobs like Rudy reading the letter that tells him he's getting into Notre Dame.

Speaking of Notre Dame.......... with the #4 overall selection the St. Louis Rams draft Jimmy Clausen!   Or will we?  WAS, DET, and TB don't need QBs.  I don't think it would be too far fetched to find Handsome Sammy Bradford still sitting there after 3 picks.  "But teams can trade up, dude!" one yells at me.  Well, that's true.  So if the earth shifted off its axis and both QBs would be gone we would still have Jason Cambell.  Teams can do a lot worse than Cambell and Feely.  Like, say... Bulger and Boller.  Ouch!  But for giggles, let's say they take Bradford or Clausen.  Being tutored by both Feely and Cambell is a sweet position to be in for a rookie.  Hell, they could afford to watch from the bench for a year or two and be even more prepared when their name is called.  So in one year we could go from Bulger-Boller-Null to Cambell-Feely-Bradford/Clasuen.  Wow.

Let's say we don't take a QB #4,  Let's say we are happy enough to stick with Cambell and Feely.  We can take a flyer on a QB in the 4th or 5th rounds to develop like  Dan LeFevour or Jarret Brown.  Now we can get an ultimate weapon on either defense:  S/KR/PR Eric Berry,  or offense:  WR Dez Bryant or RB/KR/PR C.J. Spiller.  All of a sudden, we look like a team that could do some damage on any given week.  Now we can sit back with our 33rd pick and either trade it for TE Greg Olsen or grab the best OT available for depth and insurance.  In fact, our first 3 rounds can be used solely on improving our offense.   Rams elated!

Coming in 3rd with 16 out of a possible 74 votes is ..... Seattle!  Many are mixed with trading in the division and I see both sides.  Some say Suh will haunt us twice a year for a decade.  Probably so.  On the other side, I'd like to think we'll have 3 extra players on our side that will haunt the 'Hawks.  We know the drill:

#6 (1) - - -   C. J. Spiller, RB/KR,  Clemson     Congrats, St. Louis!  We just added an extra 300 ground/air/return yards a game!

#14 (1) - - - Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech     Perfect pass rushing 4-3 DE.  He might fall here because of all the 3-4s out there.

#33 (2) - - - Damian Williams, WR, USC    If he's here, he's ours.  Best route runner in the draft with great hands. (Sound like someone else the Rams drafted 16 years ago in the 2nd Round?)

#40 (2) - - - Terrence Cody, DT, Bama   He's a pig.  But he's a BIG, BIG, PIG!  He and Cliff Ryan would eat the middle 3.

#65 (3) - - - Colt McCoy, QB, Texas       The gamble to wait for him here is worth it if we can get the 4 ahead of him.

#96 (4) - - - Sean Lee. LB. Penn State    A lotta'folks think he'll still be here.  I'd like to believe lotta'folks.

#128 (5) - - - Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU                               Older (23) but ready to step in now.

#151 (5) - - - Zane Beadles, OT, Utah         Great player for a great team.  Gotta take a look here.

#160 (6) - - - Rico McCoy, OLB, Tennessee   Nice place to take a flyer on him.  Lots of tackles.

#192 (7) - - - Eddie Calvin, CB, SEMO     Decent height (6'0") and speed (4.44).  Could be a sleeper.

#210 (7) - - - Kurtis Gregory, OG, Mizzou               Decent player to compete for depth.

Stay tuned for Mock Draft 4....

***Heading out of town Friday morning.  Won't be able to do the last three for a couple weeks.  Probably not a bad thing.  Take care and still feel free to comment.   I won't be able to respond.  Probably not a bad thing, as well.  Take care.

My intention isn't to flood the fanposts, but I have the rare fortune of a little time this week and since I have 6 mock drafts, I am going to hit it while I can.  Please keep commenting on the previous mocks if you so desire.  I really appreciate the interest and conversation.  Without this site, I wouldn't have even thought of a quarter of these ideas or known half of these players without all the excellent feedback.  And remember, front offices DO read these sites to, at least, get the pulse of their fans.  Of course they are going to do their own thing, but it doesn't hurt to make your opinions and ideas known. You just never know who's watching.  Once again, I am using a combination of Top 200 lists and respected mock drafts to come up with possible positionings of players chosen.  Tampa Bay has put us on the clock.  Here we go:

#3 (1) - - - - Russel Okung, OT, Oklahoma State      I can think of worse things than a pair of monster OT bookends.

#33 (2) - - - Colt McCoy, QB, Texas      This pick in this place probably won't change unless we are SURE he will fall.

#35 (2) - - - Everson Griffen, DE, USC         If Detroit nabs him at #34 then go Jahvid Best RB of Cal

#42 (2) - - - Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan                Holy Moly this would be intriguing.

#65 (3) - - - Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse             Very underrated player who will provide a nice addition to DLine.

#96 (4) - - - Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford           Wouldn't it be awesome to have a Change of Punishment back?

#128 (5) - - Riley Cooper, WR, Florida      Great height 6'3", good speed 4.4, and finished strong.  On the rise.

#151 (5) - - Thomas Austin, OG, Clemson   Versatile, can play OG and C, and serves as insurance on Setterstrom.

#160 (6) - - Jamar Wall, CB, Texas Tech    Made Big 12 Second Team in a difficult conference for DBs. Tackles well.

#192 (7) - - Keenan Clayton, OLB, Oklahoma    Former S needs some of that Spag's Magic. Good size+speed. Raw.

#210 (7) - - Tim Hiller, QB, Western Michigan    High upside.  Great size.  Raw tools.  Please, no more Keith Null.

With this mock draft, my obvious hope is that we can get the TE Tony S. from Denver.  Who knows.  Coming in at #3 was Seattle.  God, I hate the Seahawks.  Why can't we beat them?  Oh, well.  Stay tuned for Mock Draft #3.

Well, here we are with a nose hair victory going to the Detroit Lions with 19 of the possible 74 votes.  Thank you to all who voted and commented.  Thank you to those of you who just read and moved on with their day, as well.

Blogger RamsFan1979 was very adamant in the comment section that these trade scenarios are pipe dreams.  He makes very valid points that these trades don't happen anymore, i.e. Hershel Walker, Mike Ditka, etc.  You know what?  He is 99% correct, which is, basically, perfect.  BUT...... the Hershel Walker and Mike DItka trades DID happen.  And I can't help but think it could happen again this year because of the SUH-per Beast.  

I know I'm asking for a lot.  Make no bones about it, I want N. Suh.  But every man has his price.  If N. Suh goes absolutely apeshit at the combine, SOMEBODY in upper management just might develop enough of an unhealthy obsession to do something a little crazy.  RF1979, you're right.  It's not gonna happen.  But....... it's not impossible. 

So without further ado, here's our fantastic trade with Dee-troit and the subsequent mock draft*:

*Note:  These picks are based on the average positioning of multiple respected mock drafts.

#2 (1) - - - - -Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma    Yep. The best consolation prize in the last 25 years.     

#33 (2) - - - - Mike Iupati, G, Idaho          This pick sucks for people who hate 2000 yds a season rushers. 

#34 (2) - - - - Colt McCoy, QB, Texas   Some folks might think this is a reach.  I just think the kid's a freakin' winner.

#65 (3) - - - - Corey Wooten, DE, Northwestern  A solid DE always falls to the top of the 3rd.  Corey's no exception.

#66 (3) - - - - Navorro Bownam, OLB, Penn State  MIght not be a moral pillar.  Will be a defensive pillar, though.

#96 (4) - - - - Dexter McCluster, RB/WR/KR, Ole MIss            Do your thang, Lil Dex!  (Sproles 2.0)

#128 (5) - - - Naaman Roosevelt, WR, Buffalo            Don't sleep on this kid.  He'll f--- you up! 

#151 (5) - - - Ryan Perrilloux, QB, Jacksonville State    Worth the gamble here.  His skills are nuts, but, he's nuts.

#160 (6) - - - Chris Marinelli, OT, Stanford     Shoulder issues have been prevalent, but, when healthy, a possible steal.

#165 (6) - - - Sam Young, OT, Notre Dame   Somehow he went from penthouse to outhouse in 3 years.  Still....

#192 (7) - - -Scott Sicko, TE, New Hampshire   MIght go higher. MIght not.  Everyone needs a Sicko on their team.

#210 (7) - -  Auston English, DE. Oklahoma       Remember when this guy was The Bomb. Injuries are a bitch.

So there we are.  Yeesh.  This draft would be Nuckin' Futs!   But, hey, stranger things (1999 Rams) have happened.  Stay tuned for the Mock Draft Scenario #2 with Tampa Bay (Home of the Disenfranchised Stripper)!

Barring some cataclysmic shift at the combine, N. Suh is the best player in the draft hands down.  When re-building, the number one rule is taking the best player regardless of position.  I think the Rams apply here.  So 1+1 equals Suh...er...I mean...two.  The Rams have 9 picks as of today, not counting possible conditional picks, but I am not holding my breath.  So let's llok at what we have in terms of actual pick numbers and their rounds in parenthesis:  #1 (1), #33 (2), #65 (3), #96 (4),  #128 (5),  #151 (5),  #160 (6), #192 (7), and #210 (7).    To me, it's a fair amount of picks with great positioning in each round.  I am all for going with what we have and taking N. Suh and the Rest of the Crew.

I would not be adverse to a trade of our beloved Suh.  However, unlike many weak propositions I have seen, you will have to pay.  And I mean pay.  That would be the only way I would trade out.

I've done my research and I would trade with a possible 6 teams:  Det., TB, KC, Sea, SF, and NE.

I will offer six pick trade scenarios and I will ask you to vote at the end.  I will then perform a mock draft of each scenario in the up coming month starting with the most popular choice to least.

Let's begin:

TRADE 1:         #1 to Det. for #2, #34, #66, and #165 

TRADE 2:         #1 to TB for #3, #35, #42

TRADE 3:         #1 to KC for #4, #36,  #50, and #132

TRADE 4:         #1 to Sea for #6, #14, and #40

TRADE 5:         #1 to SF for  #13, #16, #49, and #110

TRADE 6:         #1 to NE for #22, #42, #47, and #53

I am not crazy.  This would be my non-budging asking price for Suh.  If a GM doesn't like it, fine.  The Rams win anyway.  I will let you guys vote until Sunday night and then I will start mock draft 1 with the most popular trade scenario.

I had a an idea of where I wanted Part 2 to go when I was writing Part 1, but after all the excellent feedback and ensuing articles, I have to say  I am a little torn.  Actually, very torn.  I look at all of the updated mock drafts like a p-whupped teenage boy looks at his cell phone to see if his girlfriend called while he went to take out the trash.  This time of year becomes all consuming in a fairly unhealthy way.  

Nevertheless, I have to go forward with what I've been thinking from the beginning and let you guys and God sort out all the dead thoughts and ideas.

In Part 1, I discussed WR, TE, S, and CB.  I think we all can agree that our special teams are on the up and up with our K, P, and long snapper.  It wouldn't be too bad if Danny Amendola sticks at KR/PR (but I think we can do better).

I  ended with some brief talk of the front 7 on D, so let's just go there.  If no one wants to trade a bounty of picks to us then I just have to go Suh at this moment overall.  He's just too damn good.  Unless, God forbid, he hurts himself or someone else, he really is the top player in this draft.  He fills one hell of a need, as well.  I keep having these pipe dreams of the Rams going all-in on Julius Peppers and then drafting Suh.  MY GOD CAN YOU IMAGINE!  And why not?  Is it that impossible?  What if, during a visit, the Rams tell Peppers, "Hey, bud...um, here's like the biggest contract ever for your position and, um, yeah, we're going to draft Suh to play next you.  You in?".  Wouldn't he have to think very hard?  He'd have to.  And don't tell me he's on the decline.  JP straight up freaking demolishes QBs.  He's 29 and I still think he has his mojo for another 4 or 5 years.  I do.  Yet, I digress.  The situation is quite amazing to pine for, but highly unlikely.

So, we draft Suh to pair with Clifton Ryan.  Not bad at all.  Backups would consist of D. Scott, Carriker, Douzable, Ramsey, and Gary Gibson.  I think we would need to bring in one more DT to up the ante on the rest of these guys either in the draft or FA.  Without goin' ape, Fred Robbins is a legit target that would really provide a solid run-stuffing presence, veteran leadership, and an extension of Spags coaching on the field.   He could be invaluable for Suh, D. Scott and all the other young fellas while shoring up the DT and stuffing a little ground game at the same time.

My vote for DT additions:  Suh (draft) and Fred Robbins (FA)

DE?  Man.... We really need some DE action, don't we?  All we have is Chris Long, maayyyyybbee Ah You and the rest are either question marks or FAs.  Personally, I would love to see Hall and Little back as complimentary players with pay cuts, but, we all know how that goes.  We need a starter.  Luckily, this draft is swollen with DE prospects.  Unluckily DE prospects are about as hit and miss as Anna Panquin's facial expressions.  Let's talk FA first excluding the Peppers sheet staining. ....... Actually, let's not.  This list of FA DEs sucks.  Either everyone who is worth something will stay with their teams (Dumerville, Ray Edwards, Marcus Spears) or they are getting old and kind of suck now (Kyle "are your fucking eyes really red??!!!" Vanden Bosch).  The only thing I can maybe see is Mark Anderson of the Bears, but is he any good?  I don't know.  Does anyone know?  I think I've seen him make some plays but he has a real common name and for some reason Bears defensive players all run together in my head and Lovie Smith's boring ass team and so on.   So let's go draft!  Here's where it gets a little tricky for me because i want McCoy or Jahvid Best in Round 2 for various reasons we can talk about later but hey.  So let's think Round 3.  George Selvie?  The human draft yo-yo Jason Pierre-Paul?  (Side Note:  Between Danario Alexander and Jason Pierre-Paul, who has the worst time going to sleep for the next 3 months wondering if they are going to be an instant millionaire or some average joe trying to make the team on a 35 grand camp check?  I say it's a wash.)  

Selvie probably won't be there.  JPP?  Maybe.  I don't know.  We are really screwed at this position.  The only thing we can do is hope that we have a decent guy drop to the 3rd and sign a younger FA with hopes of improving.

My vote for DE additions:  Jason Pierre-Paul (draft) and Mark Anderson (FA) and resign either Little or Hall or both.  I know it sucks but just maybe we all can realize how much we really need Suh because i would much rather take a shot on him and his credentials at improving the DL as a unit then anything else I see out there as feasible DE options.

Please respond if you have some ideas.  You know I love that shit.

     As the Rams have been sucking for the last 5 to 4 1/2 years or so, I feel like a vampire fan.  What's a vampire fan, you ask?  A vampire fan is one who gets more interested and excited about your home team in the OFF-season.  Hence the day-night/ in-season. off-season analogy.  I know...this last line seems way too Burwell-ian, but bear with me.

      I used to post quite a bit about 3 years ago starting with that fucking miserable 2006 draft and it damn near killed me.  I had to go away and hide under a porch like a dying animal.  But now, of all times to be back, I am.  I happen to be in the camp that the Rams could only be 2 seasons away from playoff potential.  Seasons like these are essential for front offices (who know what they are doing) to build very solid teams.  Let's face it.  The main goal is winning the Super Bowl.  No matter what, that wasn't going to happen this year.  That's why i feel that, for a rebuilding franchise and new head coach,  going 1-15 is sooooooo much more beneficial than going 7-9 or 8-8 and missing the playoffs.  With a 1-15 team, the answers are RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE.  8-8?  Not so much.  Just ask that Scott Lameasshan.

       Every fan who gritted through this season can tell you immediately which pieces will work going forward and which ones won't.  Example:  Craig Dahl or Danny Gorrer?   Guys like Dahl, Chaimberlan, Fells, Amendola, D. Scott,  B. Fletcher,  Q. Butler, Justin King, and Brandon Gibson, to name a few, are FREAKIN' SWEET third and fourth string/ special teams guys for contending teams.  Those guys are usually the hardest to assess and find when you are in the middle of the road.  When you are 1-15, you build on top of them and you start making things happen.   These guys hustled their asses off in the middle of hell and made a few nice plays along the way.  It only goes up from here with them.  These are the guys in a 1-15 season that make it easier for coaches and GMs alike to start taking solid strokes in free agency and the draft.

      For instance, who thought we needed about 3 or 4 WRs when the season began?  (I am raising my hand, as well.)  Do you know how many we need now?  One.  Albeit a #1 WR which aren't always easy to acquire, but still, we need only ONE.  That's it.   #1 WR (future guy), #2 WR (Gibson, L. Robinson), #3 Slot (Avery), and #4 possession/extra (Burton, Amendola).  Tight ends?  One.  Albeit a #1 TE but we have a solid core of Fells and Bajema.  Still.  One.  DBs?  I don't know.  If we could shore up the D-line and LBs, I wouldn't cry all that much with the secondary we already have.  Think about it.  Those guys back there had the worst jobs in the NFL and they still did, at least, average.  I'd like to think that ANY help from the pass rush next year would make their jobs a lot easier.

      Well, Amp, therein lies the problem, you say.  LBs and DLs.  Here is where Spags is going to make his money.  Year 2 will be a big test for Steve to re-stock his front seven with three or four starter-caliber players.  I do, however, trust that he can given that the front 7 is Spag's area of expertise.   i have formulas abound for other positions and the draft and I will get to them in future posts.  Here's a little something to chew on for the near term.  Please respond because i am very interested to see your opinions.

First, in my everlasting and fruitless desire to want to be loved and respected, I want to go on the record by saying I really get a kick out of Kenny Mayne the person and ESPN anchor.  That being said, I think Kenny needs to work a little on the whole "author" thing.  An Incomplete and Inaccurate History of Sport  is Kenny Mayne's first stab at writing a book.  The title says it all and it's not necessarily a good thing.  Mayne's straight faced deliveries, dry wit, and stream-of-consciousness diatribes are what made him the sports/entertainment personality he is today, and for the most part, it has rewarded him with a very nice career.  The problem is that his style holds up and translates smoother in 30 second increments with various interruptions from other anchors and commercials.  When reading his book, that same style can seem to drone on endlessly and become quite tiring.  Mayne, himself, refers to his publishing as "not quite a book" as much as it is a "coaster" for a coffee table.  He constantly downplays his own efforts in creating the book and chides the reader for even trying to follow along.  Sadly, the reader (me) ends up agreeing with him and finds it difficult picking it up at times just to get through it.  The book isn't all bad, though.  When Mayne drops the "schtick" and starts writing from the heart about various topics close to him like his children, family, and exploits as an athlete and reporter, the reader becomes engulfed in some pretty amazing stories.  If I was Mayne's editor, I would have had him write nothing but his life and various athletes and personalities he has come across.  Mayne adds a nice touch in the book by offering "illustrations" by his two young daughters.  They are both touching and comical.  As a whole, the book falls way short of it's $24.95 asking price.  In the spirit of Kenny Mayne, I would toss him a ten($) and tell him to start again.

As all of you know, Jake Long swims with the Phishes.  And that's a good thing.  Now we are left with the proverbial #1 spot.  Besides drafting C. Long, Dorsey, or Gholson. I think all 3 would be more than satisfactory if we stayed put and just fired away.  However... we have a chance to possibly get any one of these three and STILL accumulate great quantity and value on the ole draft board.  
                                                      It's time to look at trade partners. (Let's keep in mind that we are using the standard "draft value guide" that almost every organization incorporates when it comes to evaluating a possible transaction.)

As I look at trades that involve nothing but picks, only two teams stand out:  Atl. and K.C.

In terms of pure numbers matching up, Atl. would have to trade #3 and #48 to get our pick.

K.C. would have to trade #5, #35, and #66 to get there.

Oak., NYJets, and N.O. could trade their entire drafts and still not match up.  This leads me to think of some roster players that would make it work.

Oak:  #4, #104, and Fabian Washington CB (or) #4 and Derrick Burgess DE

NYJets: #6, #36, and Shaun Ellis DE    or
        #6, and Kerry Rhodes S         or
        #6, #67 and Justin Miller CB or DeWayne Robertson DT

N.O.    #10 and Will Smith DE
        #10 and Charles Grant DE
        #10, #40, and Robert Meacham WR

Logic abided, these seem to the choices we face.  If I had my pick.  I would do business with ATL. and get #3 and #48 or I would do business with N.O. and get #10 and Will Smith DE.  What do you think?

According to the St.L Post Dispatch, Fakhir Brown will be allowed to play for the Rams in '08.  Holy (Non)Smokes! Let the parade begin.  Fakhir is here.  Now we don't have to blow a high pick on corner because Brown stayed off the trees.  Between the uni block and schedule from hell, this is the first bit of good news from Ram's camp in a while.

[editor's note, by VanRam]Say what you will about us here at TST, but, dammnit, we think big AND outside of the box, outside the big box even. I love this draft scenario from AmpLee. It probably isn't the most likely scenario, but truthfully it's not at all the most far fetched - remember the Steven Jackson to Dallas trade rumors? Feel free to post draft scenarios in the diaries; we'll make sure the best ones get seen. (I'm going to go ahead and call them fanposts like at the new SBN sites. NFL fans just don't have diaries, do they?) Enjoy. More draft talk to come soon.

As the schedule's come out and the draft nears, we, Fans of the Ram, might have our most enjoyable time on April 26-27 during the entire 08 season.  This team is SCA-RUUUUUDE for next year when Roger G. and the rest of the NFL brass decided to piss on poor Georgia's grave and hand us an opening two months that would have made the 07 Patriots go 5-3.  So if you're in control at Ram's Park and you are well aware of the circumstances, why not trade your ass off for the future and to give the Fans of the Ram a little hope down the line.

Of course we don't have any idea if these teams will take us up on it, but, in my bloggadiary, THEY WILL!

Let's get down to business.  After Jake Long signs a huge deal with the Dolphins at #1 and every other colluted owner in the league snickers to themselves because Parcells fat-ass has to pay the piper, Jerry Jones can't take it anymore and comes bursting into the Rams War Room screaming, "I can't take it anymore! Just give me the fucking second pick!!!" The Ram's oblige by trading #2 for #22, #28, #61, #92. (Remember, JJ and the Boys aren't that far away from a title.  It may seem steep, but if JJ thinks they're just a superstar away, JJ will pay.  This possible Adam Jones is a good sign of things to come.)

Cool.  "Well, let's get goin'!" you say.  Ah, ah, AH!  Not yet.  After the Falcon's pick Glenn Dorsey, they will be very chipper.  Arthur Blank will feel a little left out because he wants a QB.  Don't worry, Arthur!  The Rams will let you draft Brohm, or Flacco, or Henne, or whoever the hell you want at #22!  Just give us #34, #48, and #103 and you got it, Pappa!  Arthur can't believe his good fortune of being able to pick up a franchise DT AND QB and bites hard.

"Dude!", you say, "We're trading all of our good picks away!"  Not so fast.  This draft is a very deep draft for starter caliber defensive players and offensive tackles.  Quote-unquote GOOD PICKS are all over this be-yatch throughout the first four rounds.  And by the way, we just parlayed the #2 over all pick into #28, #34, #48, #61, #92, and #103.  That doesn't even count the ones we already have at #33, #65, and #101.  So let's lump them all together and have some fun.

#28  Gosder Cherilus (OT)
#33  Quentin Groves  (DE/OLB)
#34  Dan Connor    (MLB)
#48  Brandon Flowers (CB)
#61  Earl Bennet     (WR)
#65  Cliff Avril     (DE/OLB)
#92  Red Bryant     (DT)
#101 Kevin Smith     (RB)
#103 Wesley Woodyard (SS/OLB)

That's just the first four rounds.  Once again, this is entirely possible.  The Rams just need to keep a stiff upper lip, slow play, and then pounce.  Remember, next year will be painful.  This is for the real future.
 

This comes as a strange diary entry but I feel we need a little good karma after seeing the way this free agency period has gone so far and focus on what's really important.  He has appeared on a couple of news blurps once in awhile and he gets a mention here and there but I don't think people know how good of a guy Chris Draft (OLB) is.  You can't begin to imagine the amount of charities and community service this fella' does for St. Louis.  Ever since he signed a contract with the Rams he has been EVERYWHERE helping out folks from young to old in an astonishing short period of time.  Maybe becasue he isn't a starter or whatever the reason I don't think he gets mentioned enough.  Professional sports has been taking one hell of a justifiable beating lately through HGH, steriods, gambling, spying, and lockouts.  All we hear about are egocentric fuckwads like Bonds and Clemens.  I am so sick of it and I just want it to go away.  I'm soapboxing and I'm pretty pissed at myself right now for doing so.  I don't expect everyone to agree with me and they have that right.  All I'm trying to say is that when I look all over the net for even the tiniest sliver of new Rams info, all I see is this guy Chris Draft taking most all of his personal time inhis own life to make soooo many different other lives better.  He's a great guy who uses his status to help and encourage others and that makes me admire the man so very much.  I needed to get that off my chest.  Thanks for reading.

I am honored to have VanRam post my diary as the main blog for the topic of conversation.  Class move.  I hope I am not stepping on any toes by posting any more but I am in full throttle for a deep draft that could change the Rams outlook for YEARS. The last 4-5 years have been so dismal as a fan that the offseason has become my favorite time.

The defensive line has probably been the most underacheiving area on the St. Louis Rams since they moved here.  We had some good years during the Greatest Show Era but it is a lot easier to rush the passer when you know they have to play catch up the entire game.  

Besides 99-01, maybe a little in 03, can you think of any Ram team that got persistent pressure during a season?  We're talking New York Giants 07 type pressure.  I can't and it infuriates me everytime I watch this team play.  To be honest, we could pretty much run the same players outside of a better D-Line and be amazingly better.

I know that we have some Chavous haters (I have been a member) and our linebackers play a little small, but, if you really think about it, this team is geared to swarm and attack pending a killer D-Line.

Thanks to great draft position, we can really do some things to shore up the D-Line starting with overall pick number 2.

The only way I would trade this pick is if we could stay in the top 5 or 6 and get an additional second rounder or multiple third anf fourth rounders. Al Davis has been dead for years so maybe I would call the Raiders first and try to challenge their manhood into making a stupid mistake.

If we stay at #2 then we are sitting in a sweet spot.  We will have a choice of these three in my preferential order:  Dorsey, Long, Ellis

Dorsey and Long are both winners with special skills, high motors and higher character.  No brainers.

Ellis apparently took on the entire 11 on the other side of the ball and won during Senior Bowl week. Coaches and prognosticators are going flat out batshit for this guy right now.  My biggest problem with Ellis is that he plays Clifton Ryan's postion at true NT.  Ryan was the steal of our draft last year and he is only going to get better  with his rookie season out the way.  Plus, I have problems with guys who turn it on late for the cameras and scouts.  

Dorsey turned it on all year and then played his BEST game on the biggest stage.  He's a winner and we need winners.  The same goes for Howie's boy.  You know he will give it his all every play.  It makes it sooo much easier on coaches to not have to babysit (I'm talking to you Wroten!).

So let's look at what we have on our roster:

LDE Little: Getting older but a better supporting cast could make a world of difference. We might even cut him.  Until the front office has a plan, I don't know, guys.  He's a proven player.

LDE: Adeyanju: Decent motor and solid against the run.  A good role player.

LDE: T. Johnson: Meh, shouldn't be here.

NT: Carriker:  A very solid player for years to come. A core piece.

NT: Ryan: Ditto.  A great find.

UT: Glover:  His last year.  With plenty of rest and fewer reps he proved that he's still got some.

UT: Wroten: Goodbye, motherfucker.  You and Claude Terrel and Dominique Byrd are just coach killers.  I would be shocked and pissed if you or Byrdcrap stuck.

RDE: James Hall: What a bad year.  His bumbling against Romo summed up his play this year. I don't know his cap hit is, but, if he stays, he should be backing up whoever else comes in.

RDE: E. Moore: See (above) Trevor Johnson.

As I see it there are 5 keepers:  Little, Glover, Carriker, Ryan, and Adeyanju.  Hall is on the bubble.

Carriker's versatilty helps a great deal being a NT and a DE.

Possible Free Agents (realistic shots): Jared Allen, Justin Smith, Terrel Suggs, Corey Williams

Although Jared Allen would make me throw a kegger,  it won't happen.  Let's say Justin Smith for the purpose of keepin' it real, yo.

That leaves us with a spot or 2 to shore up in the draft.

Let's say we get Dorsey.  It is a very real possibilty.  He plays Glover's position and he would make an immediate impact.

Projected starters:

LDE Little          Res. Adeyanju
UT  Dorsey          Res. Glover
NT  Carriker        Res. Ryan
RDE Smith           Res. Hall

I HAVE to think these guys could do exponentially better than any line we've had before and it is quite a possibility.

Your thoughts?

[editor's note, by VanRam]I've bumped this diary to get our morning started off with a little discussion of the O-line outlook for next season...and beyond. This afternoon position reviews/looks ahead kick off with running backs. It's not as simple of a picture as you might imagine for the Rams. Also, some Rams-related Super Bowl trivia coming as well. --VanRam

After the disastrous 07 season, the Rams have got to take some serious inventory when dealing with the depth and future stocking of the O-Line. In my opinion, the Rams should really stock up on both lines for this draft.  Even if we did nothing at all to retool our offensive skill positions I think we'd be very good with a solid O-Line.  Let's look at what we have:

Orlando Pace LT : Let's hope Orlando can stay healthy (a big hope) and we'd be fine at LT for 08

Todd Stussie LT/RT : Good bye.  Too old.

Mark Setterstrom LG:  I think he's a danm good player.  Keep him healthy and he'll be there for a long time.

Andy McCollum C:  Happy Retirement, Doughnut Bro.  We'll miss you.

Brett Romberg C: He'd be okay as a backup.  Nothing more.

Richie Incognito RG: After much deliberation, this year will be it for this dude.  He's got to A) Stay healthy the entire season and B) Stay away from stupid ass penalties.  If he can't do both, then farewell.  He just fits into the category of countless athletes who have all the talent in the world but they are too damn stupid to have an amazing career.  Last strike year, Richie.

Alex Barron RT: Mister Snooze.  Wake up or walk, pal.  Another player with a last strike year.

Milford Brown RG/RT/LT/RG/C: In an ideal season, Milford word be great to have as insurance for a series or game or two.  As a starter.....I don't know.  Great backup, but.....

Brandon Gorin RT: Apparently he started in a Super Bowl for New England.  What happened?  I guess he'd be okay for a backup, but, seriously, what happened between then and now?

Nick Leckey, Mark LeVoir, Rob Petitti: Thanks for trying to help out. You guys can go back to AutoZone or bouncing at nightclubs or wherever the hell you guys came from. Yes, you can keep all the jerseys and towels you want.

Bewtween injury concerns and character issues we DO NOT HAVE ONE reliable O-lineman for next year.  After reading this list I am shocked we won 3 games.  

Can this be fixed in an offseason?  Man, I don't know....  Let's look at who we'll keep (or should keep)to start:

Pace, Setterstrom, Incognito, Barron

Backups:

Brown, Romberg (?), and...wow...

So we have to fill AT LEAST one starter and 3 to 4 backup positions.  

On the free agent market Faneca is the wet dream, Lilja is the night boner, and Ruben Brown is the boob flash of interior lineman.  Anyone of these guys would be an upgrade over what we have.

So that leaves us with Tackle and Center.  Thankfully, this draft has some doozies for tackles.  I am not big on Jake Long.  I think we should go defense on our first pick. I think there will be amazing quality on our second pick for tackle.

As far as center goes, we have 4 options: A) Go with Romberg and pray. B) Slide Incognito in, pray harder and sign one of the aforementioned guards. C) Draft a the best center possible with our third pick. D) Hope Dustin Fry spent his offseason in Siberia training like Rocky.

To be honest, I don't know what the hell this organizaiton would do.  Who does?

Here's my starters and reserves to make us compete in 08:

LT Pace                 Res. LT Carl Nicks (Neb.)
LG Faneca               Res. LG Incognito
C  Steve Justice (Wake) Res. C Romberg or Fry
RG Setterstrom          Res. Brown
RT Barron               Res. Nicks or Brown

Your thoughts?