Our often discussed LG Jacob Bell has decided to retire at age 31. Bell, who was not brought back to StL by his former coach, had just signed a 1 year deal with the Bengals. This offseason, he had been contemplating the risk to reward ratio should he continue to play football. With 100 starts in 109 games, Bell has put some miles on his body and although he said that he felt good, he made the decision to side with quality of life rather than to continue to play the sport of football.

It comes as no surprise that after all the recent discussions and attention put on concussions and the affect it has on individuals post football career, that Bell has made this decision. When asked if the death of Junior Seau had anything to do with his decision, he said "I'm not sure...it is something that I have been thinking about for a while. It might have been the cherry on top."

With the career that Bell has had, 31 seems a bit young to retire. He seemed to be in good shape and ready for another season, until his decision was announced. He stated that he would rather spend time with his family and enjoy his life rather than play a few more years of football and risk his long term health.

Its hard to fault someone that sites health and family as a reason to retire. In fact, I respect the guy from walking away from a game that offers him millions of dollars annually. Especially since the window to make your money is a small one in the NFL. I respect someone that can take a step back and self-reflect prior to making a major decision like this. As human beings, we tend to be resistant to major change. Walking away from the NFL and millions of dollars will require a major change in ones lifestyle. Regardless of what your opinion of Jacob Bell the OG was, you should respect the man for making such a difficult decision.

The major question is "Will Jacob Bell stay retired?"

Before I start I have to vent that I was hoping that the FO would trade back into the first round to target OG DeCastro. I was thinking that a 2nd paired with either a 3rd or a 4th. Targeting the Patriots at 21 as a potential trade partner would have probably been the best opportunity. Oh well, It is what it is...

On to the options at 33 and 39 that can plug some holes:

I think that when you have a young QB, in which you have $50 million invested into, you should do anything to protect him. Especially with this extremely QB-friendly environment of the NFL, having your QB in action makes a huge difference.

OG/OT Cordy Glenn

Glenn is a massive individual standing just over 6'4" and weighing in at 345 lbs. He has a great wingspan, and uses his strength very well in the run game. He exhibits a solid punch with his hands. He moves defenders consistently opening lanes for his backs. He is incredibly reliable playing in each of his 53 college games (starting in 50 of them). He has experience at 4 of the O-line spots. He is probably best suited to play one of the interior line spots. Can play both OG spots and potentially at RT at the next level. He gives us versatility, reliability, and positivity...eat it Don King.

OT Jonathon Martin

Martin has prototypical size for OT, standing in at 6'5" and 312 lbs. He is a very good athlete and exhibits nice quickness. He definitely can use some coaching up but has some great intangibles to accompany that athleticism. He does very well in pass protection with his ability to reset quickly. He does well getting to the next level, but can work on his run blocking. He started 26 games in his final two years at Stanford. Could offer a nice option at the OT positions.

C/G Peter Konz

Konz Is a good sized, versatile lineman. Standing in at 6'5" and 314 lbs this interior lineman is great in the run game. He is tactical with his approach in the run game, although will get caught playing too tall at times. He offers versatility at both C and OG, though most of his time was at C. Played 30 games over the last 3 years, though he has had his fair share of injuries and stuff.

Other possibles:

OT Bobbie Massie- Massie is a massive individual that projects to be a very good RT at the next level.

OT Mitchell Schwartz. The OT from Cal comes with question marks about his back, but could turn out to be a solid OT.

There are other impact players to keep our eye on.

WR Ruben Randle

WR Alshon Jeffery

DE Courtney Upshaw

CB Janoris Jenkins

CB Trumaine Johnson

For those of you that are college sports fans, you'll know that is Stillwater, Oklahoma. For the rest of you... that is the home of Oklahoma State.

Listening to ESPN radio this afternoon, Doug Gottlieb stated that he was in Stillwater this past weekend when he noticed a nice shiny jet arrive. He said that the Rams coaches, along with Sam Bradford were there to work out WR Justin Blackmon.

I know there is a large contingency on the site that would love to have Blackmon, so that should be good news to you'all! We can speculate quite a few things from this, but I consider this nothing more than the Rams doing their due diligence. I wouldn't expect anything less for a 5 year, multi-million dollar investment.

It should be mentioned that this could also help calm the waters with their star RB. If any of you listened to ESPN radio or watched Sports Center last Friday, you would have caught Steven Jackson doing his rounds to promote his charity to help under-served kids fight illiteracy. On one of the several shows, the host was asking Jackson about the draft. I think we all heard the ultimate professional response regarding the Rams drafting Trent Richardson. More interesting was his response to "what would you like the Rams to do in the 1st round?" His response was simple...Justin Blackmon! "We need to get Sam weapons!"

I wouldn't expect him to say that he would want another RB to be the 1st round pick, but he could have easily said "O-line!" Instead, he recognizes that his young QB needs more help than he can provide. He did say that improving the passing game will benefit him, so not entirely self-less. His answers were well thought out, and straight forward. Now reading that our best offensive weapon is unhappy with the team, has me hoping they can figure out a way to keep Predator smiling. Maybe, Stan can invest in a "school for kids that can't read good."

Disclaimer: This post does not mean I want the Rams to draft Blackmon at number 6...I do have hopes for a few others at that spot.

Adam Schefter reported just now that the Saints are going to be penalized big time. The loss of two 2nd round picks and a 500k fine to the franchise. The GM gets an 8 game ban. Head coach Sean Peyton suspended for an entire year.
Here's the big one...Gregg Williams suspended indefinitely...that is not good news for the Rams. Our Def Coordinator will not be around this season and possibly will never coach in the NFL. WTF.

I hope our Plan B is ready to go, because a bomb has just been dropped on the Saints and the aftershock has hit the Rams.

PS Tebow to the Jets for a 4th rounder.

When talking to Rams fans about team needs, many will have different responses to what they perceive to be the greatest need. However, a common trend in all responses will include Wide Receiver. It's no mystery that a franchise QB needs weapons to throw to if he is going to have any success. Something the Rams have clearly lacked.

With Brandon Lloyd signing with the Patriots, we lose our most reliable target from last year...for what that is worth. A week into Free Agency the "top tier" wideouts have all pretty much found new destinations, not called St. Louis, for the 2012 season. Unfortunately, that need the Rams have, is still glaring all of us in the face. The same question rounds back to "What should the Rams do to fill this vacancy at WR?" Do we look for a trade, as Fisher has alluded to earlier in the week as a possible solution? Do we wait till the draft to find the target Bradford needs? Or do we look to the "second tier" of available WR's to fill the need as a stop gap. I have to go with the latter.

We don't know how the first 5 picks will end up...well at least 3-5. I am thinking that Holmgren will flip us the proverbial bird, and draft Blackmon. They need offensive weapons in the worst way and to have the best WR on the board will help in solving that. Not to mention, it would feel nice to get a jab in with the team that might have slighted you during the Robert Griffin III sweepstakes. With that said, there are still plenty of options throughout the draft and we may/should find a few. I am just not ready to throw my hat on that as our only plan of action.

When looking for a stop gap WR, I would want a few items to be in place to better the chances of success. 1) The receiver to have a familiarity with the offensive coordinator. And the offensive coordinator have a familiarity with his new WR (know how to use the new piece). 2) Have a familiarity with the playbook and the verbiage used in the system. 3) Offer a specialty that we have been missing.

You may have seen these names run through the site occasionally, so here are the options that fit the criteria above:

1) Braylon Edwards

At 6'3", he presents all the physical tools one would look for in a WR. He is big, strong, and fast. He uses his body well when going against smaller DB's. His hands have been questioned at times (Just ask Derek Anderson about that)...dropsies. Offers a nice target in the red zone. However, his mental makeup may leave some people scratching their head and saying "what the hell was he thinking?" Nonetheless, he is a pro-bowl WR still available in FA. He also has a familiarity with Schotty's offensive system. Just two years ago, he had 53 receptions, 904 yards and 7 TD's in that system. Not bad for a run-first offensive scheme. He will be 29 this year, and with not a whole lot action in 2011, he presents a solid option, assuming that he is healthy.

Plaxico Burress

Plaxico will draw all kinds of question and opinions when asked about...like "Who goes to jail for shooting themselves in the leg?" The fact is, the guy can still play, as was proven last year with the Jets. Even after two years in jail he returns to make one hell of a comeback, catching 45 balls for 612 yards and 8 TD's. He has the familiarity in Schotty's offensive scheme. He is an incredibly effective target in the red zone. At 6'5" he is a constant mismatch for DB's. He is also great at moving the chains on third down. He has reliable hands (something that seemed to be missing in Rams park the last few years). However, his age, past, and the public perception may be held against him.

Jerricho Cotchery

Another ex-Jet with familiarity to Schotty's offensive system. Cotchery may be the less popular name of the three options presented, but I really like this guy. Between 2006-2009 he average 942 yards a season...not a bad 4 year stretch. He has some experience on special teams as a return man. At 6'1" he is a solid option running all types of routes. He is not afraid to run routes down the middle of the field or catch in traffic. He is a "Steady Eddy" of sorts, not missing very much time throughout his career.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Jets, but all three of these ex-Jets offer us something that will be important this offseason- a shorter learning curve. With a new coaching staff, it would be nice to bring in a player that has familiarity to the offense to help his peers better adapt to the new system. We really need help in the red zone, and two of the three options can offer us that. Not the most ideal solutions, but an adequate 1-2 year answer with limited commitment. That's my two cents...

Poll

Which WR would you go with as a short term solution?

32%

Braylon Edwards

176 votes

24%

Plaxico Burress

136 votes

19%

Jerricho Cotchery

107 votes

23%

None of the Above

126 votes

545 votes | Poll has closed

On my ride to work this morning.  ESPN radio reported something that had me yeall out "What the F%@#"

The Seattle Seahags traded recent 1st round pick OLB Aaron Curry to the Oakland Raiders for a 7th round pick in 2012 and a future conditional pick in 2013.  That's right, the brilliant Carroll has sent a young OLB on his way for hardly nothing in return.  The "getting bang for your buck" theory seems to be non-existent in the greater northwest.  Charlie Whitehurst for a 3rd round pick???  On the flip side, I have found myself saying "The Raiders made a good move" more often in the last two years than I think I ever said the previous 7 years. 

With that said, what other possible deals are floating around in the NFL?  Santonio Holmes, a recent Superbowl MVP, was had for a 5th round pick last year.  Put your GM hats on and let us know what you think the Rams can REALISTICALLY target to make a trade before the deadline. 

And "NO", Lebron James is not available as a FA.      

Bumped by Van. 

I think many of us can agree that this last draft was unlike what we expected.  Few could have guessed McDaniles would have as much of an influence as he did, grabbing three weapons for the offense in rounds 2-4.  Well we went into the draft with quite a few needs and walked out with quite a few needs not filled.  Since we are not sure what will come of the lockout or the FA rules, I have looked at the UDFA's as a possible solution.  Lets take a look at some UDFA's that could help fill holes or add depth:

Poll

What position would you like to see addressed as a priority this offseason?

32%

RB

115 votes

5%

Safety

20 votes

32%

OLB

116 votes

10%

DT

38 votes

18%

OG

65 votes

354 votes | Poll has closed

Continue reading this post »

The rams season just ended and already there is an influx of draft talk.  I have been officially sucked in, no matter how much I tried to resist it.  So I ask you, how about a different approach? 

Many people keep talking about going the route of the WR, and that is debateable as to who we should take.  To be honest, I think WR will be targeted in FA, rather than taking a chance on a college player.  Look at this regime's past history-Brooks Foster (5th round out of UNC) never made any sense to me, but he is gone after only two years.  Mardy Gilyard (4th round out of Cinn) has yet to adapt fully to the next level, and honestly I don't know how long he can hide in the shadows.  I called it a while back that I think the FO is going to make another strong run at Vincent Jackson.  They already made headway on bringing him to St. Louis, so we know that he wouldn't mind landing on a team with a Bradford at the helm.  Not to mention, they already had prelim talks with a tentative agreement.  We will see...

So the guy that I was looking at for #14 is an interior lineman out of Florida.  Mike Pouncey, has played primarily C this year, but has the ability to play both OG and C.  In 2008 and 2009, he started every game at RG (That's after playing DT his Freshman year).  The versatility with the durability will help out a young O-line that will see plenty of injuries in the future...it's inevitable.  Add that to his character which coaches rant about.  They talk about what a leader he is and how he is the same level-headed person with the team and off the field (4-pillars anyone?).  

Performance-wise he has been very impressive.  For a guy his size he moves very well.  He has a good first step/reaction.  He pulls well down the line on running plays.  He has the ability to make it to the 2nd level and eat up a LB with relative ease.  The guy is a stud in the interior line of Florida.  Did I say he has started every game for the last 3 years on the O-line.

It should help that his Twin brother Maurkice Pouncey has had success at both OG and C with the Steelers.  Outside of Bradford and maybe Mike Williams of Tampa, Pouncey was next in line for the Off rookie of the year award.  In comparing Mike Pouncey to Mike Iupati from last years draft, I would take Pouncey all day.  Iupati was a man amongst boys when he was at Idaho.  He played too tall for an OG, he holds way too much and his false starts this last year were a bit discouraging.  Pouncey has a better set of Mechanics and his play against D-linemen coming out of the SEC would better translate to the next level. 

I know this is not the sexy pick people would like, but it would make sense in watching Billy D. through two drafts as the shot caller.  He has invested picks in two OT's and a FA pickup in Brown at C.  It is apparent that protecting our $50 million investment is a priority and between Jacob Bell and Goldberg the job is not getting done.  Not to mention our redzone offense really needs the help at the interior O-line...just ask Steven Jackson. 

In the 2nd round I think we will really need to look at the Def. regardless (as much as it pains me to say to not pick up Baldwin).  A guy like OLB Bruce Carter is expected to fall due to the ACL tear or maybe a DT Marvin Austin, who didn't get to play this year, but is an absolute beast. 

What says you TST? 

Poll

Would you take Mike Pouncey OG with the #14 pick?

66%

Yes. The O-line is almost there and this would be huge.

132 votes

34%

Nope. We need help elsewhere.

68 votes

200 votes | Poll has closed

I have been trying to keep up with the frenzy of activity that has arose on our site as of late.  From FanPost about Shurmur to the recent possibilty of acquiring Randy Moss that has taken off like wildfire.  I wanted to throw out a few thoughts and see if we can't take a step back and look at this current situation. 

Current State of the Team:

-The team with a year and a half under their belts in these current systems are finally looking more confident on the field.  The defense especially. 

-The ability to be in every game (Detroit excluded...got away in the 2nd Half) has shown a definite improvement in the overall growth of the team.  Especially since we have surpassed the win totals of the last 2 years combined. 

-Going into a Bye week sucks because that means No Rams Football this weekend.  However, it is very much needed.  when your team lacks depth... you need those guys that sit at the top of the depth charts to be healthy.  The problem with most injuries is that they need TIME.  Something of which is a luxury no often given in the NFL.  This Bye week will be key in allowing the WR core rest up.  Allowing for Butler, Smith, Jackson, and a slew of others to rest their battered bodies.

-Veterans playing their parts in the growth of our team.  Like my SF Giants, the Rams brought a few disregarded/forgotten players this year and they have had a big part in the success of the team.  Robbins and Diggs to name a few have had a strong hand in this (As did Clayton before he was injured).

-Pat Shurmur has been ripped by many on this site...not to say that it is without good reason, as I think everyone questions the play calling from time to time.  Most O-coordinators attempt to stretch the field to give their players the coveted 2 keys "Time and Space".  Yet, it seems that week after week, Shurmur allows the field to stay compact (favoring the defense) making life difficult on his players.  With that said, he has developed his go to move in the Red Zone...The "No step drop, quick dump to the right"  He has hit Amendola 3 times with this play (2 for TDs) and a TE once (I wanna say Fells, or Hoom).  He needs to get more creative as Defenses will adapt to his tendencies.  His trickery has grown and his creativity has had some success.  Yet, he constantly hits the stagnant 3rd quarter and leans on Jackson to go up against an expecting defense.  The way I see it, is that he is growing into his role as a play caller...slowly evolving.  I do believe he will get better with time.  

The thing that I want to point out for people is that Shurmer made his mark as a QB Coach, something that people often overlook.  He spent 7 seasons coaching and developing Donovan McNabb and then Kevin Kolb before joining the Rams in 2009.  Coaches often times revert to what they are used to.  If you haven't recognized by now the growth of a young 1st overall drafted QB by the name of Sam Bradford, then either you live in a bubble or you refuse to give credit to where credit is due.  Shurmur has been key in the development of Bradford coming off of his year long break from competitive football.  He has made the transition to the NFL a bit easier for out talented QB.  To say that it was all Bradford is a bit negligent.  I first took note of this during one of Spags post-practice interviews, where he stated that "Pat is going to do what he does best...that's teach.  He has always been a Teacher to QB's and he is going to continue to do so".  He later defended some of the play calling, but it is apparent that Spags values his mentoring of the young QB more than other things.  I want to make sure before we go to lynch the man, that we give him props for something that has done so well.  With that in mind, I will be keeping an eye on the play calling very closely.  Continue to show me growth and I will be ok with it. 

-WR position has not been kind to us this season and now that Randy Moss, the biggest name to hit the waiver wire in a long time, buzz has started as it often does with the possibility of the Rams finally bringing in a big name.  Sure Randy has talent, draws attention on and off the field.  Sure we need another target for Sam.  Could he be bad for the locker room and the young guys on the team?...maybe.  Could he come in and play incredibly to get that contract extension he has been looking for?...also a maybe.  Personally, I would love to have Moss on paper, however it doesn't match to what we have done over the last two years.  The Rams have been able to grow as a TEAM by staying out of the media spotlight and developing a foundation of core values and expectations for a redesigned team.  They have stayed away from pulling the trigger on polarizing, attention driving individuals (TO).  So to think the team will bring all the craziness that surrounds Randy Moss right now doesn't seem likely.  Enticing? Yes. 

Likely? Not really. 
 

I was discussing in an earlier post that Chauncey Washington was able to draw some attention during his time with the Jets this pre-season on Hard Knocks.  In their preseason game against Carolina, Washington was trying to earn his way to the roster on special teams.  He was sitting 5th on the depth chart, so ST was his shot.  On a punt return a Carolina Panther made a mistake of cutting back into Washington, who lit the guy up and caused a fumble.  He lowered his body and exploded through the guy knocking the ball loose.  With this play he not only made Rex extremely happy....."Holy Shit! Holy Shit! What a hit.  Holy Shit!"  came out of Rex's mouth, he also earned some time on the field.  "That kid wants to Play!"  They let Washington run the next few series and he ran relatively well.  He hit his holes hard and lowered his shoulder right into the defenders, all the while keeping his legs moving.  He showed patience behind his blockers and made sure that the defense dedicated multiple guys to bring him down.  He was given the gameball after the game.

I like the versatility out of the young 5'11, 222 lb RB.  Here is a bit of background for our new RB:

He committed to USC in the same class with a few names that you guys should know...Reggie Bush and LenDale White. His early years were plagued with injuries his freshman year and it only got worse from then on for him.  

Washington was ruled academically ineligible for the 2004 season and was redshirted. Washington was again academically ineligible for the 2005 season and lost his athletic scholarship. After considering entering the NFL Draft, leaving USC or transferring to a different school (with easier academic requirements), Washington was encouraged by his parents, teammates and university staff to stay in school and focus on academics while paying his own way through school. After much focus and hard work, Washington finally regained academic eligibility in the spring of 2006, and regained his scholarship that August.

Initially planned as the starting running back for the 2006 USC Trojans, the redshirt junior suffered a hamstring injury in pre-season practice, but had re-gained the starting position by midseason. He told the Los Angeles Times' Gary Klein that he had decided to forego the 2007 NFL Draft and return for his redshirt senior season.

Continue reading this post »

That's right, you read that we just lost another LB to an injury.  An already depleted group just lost first year LB Josh Hull to a torn ACL in practice today.  Our blue collared, young 7th round pick was looking to see some time on Special Teams this year.  The kid from Penn State earned himself a spot in the draft by his great positioning on the field, his ability to read plays, and constantly make tackles.  He lead the Nittany Lions in tackles in 2009 as the MLB.  In 2008 he was given his first chance to start, due to an injury to Sean Lee, and he made the most of it becoming the second leading tackler on the team.  The sad thing is, due to the ACL tear, we won't get to see him in blue and gold...at least not this year.  Get well soon JH!

PS has anyone seen this guys neck....or the tree stump he calls his neck?

I still haven't gotten over todays lose.....picturing a fat man running towards the endzone only to have Breaston knock the ball out of his hands.  DAAAAAMMN!

At least I know that after tonights game with the Redskins/Cowboys, I'm reminded that things could still be worse.   That's right...we could still have Barron on the team.  The guy managed to show his team tonight what he could do when given a chance only to disappoint them.....seriously!  With three seconds left and Tony Romo scrambling to make one last effort in the endzone, and suddenly he tosses a ball to a wide open Roy Williams.  It's a TD....Cowboys win....wait there is a flag on the field (stop me if you have seen this before)....Alex Barron clearly held Brian Orakpo.  The penalty not only means that the TD doesn't count, but also ensures a 10 second run off and the game is over.

Thank you Alex Barron for making my night that much less crappy!

After one pre-season game the constant chatter about our O-line has forced me to revisit a thought I tried to put out of my mind a while ago:  How about trading for some help to the O-line?  Rarely do teams consider trading Pro-bowl offensive talent....that is until they cannot see eye to eye on a contract dispute.

So I present to you a stiuation where we target a 28 year old pro-bowler, Logan Mankins of the New England Patriots.  The situation is perfect.  The player and his agent are standing firm that they want a contract that they were promised for the hard work and blue-collar like work ethic Mankins provides.  The 6-4, 310lb OG has been playing at a high level and has earned 2 pro bowl invitations as a result.  

The New England Patroits don't want to bend on this with the uncertainty of the future CBA, and with them about to open their wallets to make Tom Brady the highest paid QB in the league (at east until Manning gets his deal).  Consequently, it does not look like anything is going to get done until the player backs down.  If you look historically, New England does not bend to player demands and they rarely overpay players.   They often hold firm and will move forward with or without the guy.  Not to mention they love acquiring draft picks, especially those 2nd and 3rd rounders.  

What I propose is that we offer NE our 3rd round pick next year along with John Greco (so that they get another young O-lineman in return).  I really don't want to give up a 2nd rounder so I hope that this would be enticing enough.

Here is my reasoning....We have committed to trying to piece players in front of our Franchise QB with early draft picks and FA signings.  However, we decided young, inexperienced bookends was a gamble we wanted to take.  If that is the case then it is imperative that we have experienced, quality players on their inside to make their lives easier.  Not to mention it always helps when you have guys that can guide those young players as they grow as a unit.  Mankins rarely misses games and was a constant of that NE O-line since 2005.  Something an often injured O-line would welcome.

With a group of Saffold at LT, Bell at LG, Brown at C, Mankins at RG, and Smith at RT, I believe our line immediately improves.  Strengthens the middle to make life for Jackson and Bradford easier, as well as gives our young Tackles comfort on their inside shoulders.  

Here is an update on the Logan Mankins situation:

Logan Mankins update. Belichick helped clear up a housekeeping-type issue with regard to offensive lineman Logan Mankins. Sunday is reportedly the deadline for teams to send a holdout player a letter informing him of their right to place him on the roster-exempt list, and Mankins’ agent Frank Bauer told the Boston Globe over the weekend: "We haven’t got it yet, but it’ll come. … I would expect them to do everything nasty they can." Yet since Mankins is not under contract, the Patriots have no cause to send the letter and this reported deadline is apparently not a factor when it comes to the team’s dealings with Mankins, according to Belichick.

One can only hope that Billy D. and I share the same wave length on this one.  

However, with the ownership situation yet to be finalized, the team may be more than hesitant to open up the check book for an already expensive O-line.  

Poll

What do you think? Should the rams look to improve an O-line that is struggling?

81%

YES. Do whatever it takes to protect our franchise pieces in Bradford and SJax.

40 votes

18%

NO. The line will be fine in time.

9 votes

49 votes | Poll has closed

I keep reading and hearing about the first overall draft pick Sam Bradford and his contract negotiations or lack there of.  It is often reported by the media giant that is ESPN that Bradford will be the highest paid player, with an expected amount of $46-50 million.  Now, I gotta admit that it is nice to hear ESPN report or comment on the Rams without the reminder of our past record or their perception of where the Rams roster ranks.  As if any Rams fan had no idea what the teams record has been for the last few years.  Anyhow, it got me thinking about who has the leverage in this negotiation between player/agent and team.

The Rams are in desperate need of help all over the field, Offense particularly.  For a team that has only won 6 games in three years and with incredible struggles when it comes to putting the ball in the endzone, you can understand why they choose to go with a new QB at the helm.  Then add that to the commitment of building the O-line, to protect a future investment, with the signing of a big dollar FA in Brown, and the drafting of 2nd overall pick Smith at LT and 2nd round pick Saffold at RT, and you can see that it only makes sense. 

If you look at teams with quality QB's such as Manning, Brady, and Brees, you come to realize how important the captain of the ship is.  Even with injuries amassing at the WR position, you see these guys pulling out wins with surrounding talent like Garcon, Collie, Julian Adelman, and anyone in a New Orleans shirt.  This is definitely a position of immense importance.  Does that mean that the Rams are in a position where they have to bend to every demand?  I'm not sure about that.

Let's look at the flip sode of the coin here and see what the other side has to concern themselves with...

If Bradford and Condon try to play hardball, there will be some things for them to consider closely.  Bradford hasn't not played in a game in over a year.  If they are not able to get a deal done and Sammy has to re-enter the draft next year that would mean that it has now been over 2 years since a game has been played by this QB.  If you consider the serious posibility that there may be a work stoppage for next year, that could equate to 3 years of no field time at a high level.  Not too attractive. How about the money?  If they are not able to agree to terms, that means Bradford would have to re-enter the draft more than likely facing a future Rookie Salary Cap...thus loosing out on MILLIONS.  Then add that to the fact that should he re-enter the draft next year there is no sure thing as to where he would go, thus costing him even more money.

I am not saying pay the kid less than what Matt Stafford received last year, but lets not inflate this more than it needs to be.  $46 mil represents a 10% increase from last years 1st overall pick Stafford, and $50 mil represents an astonishing 19% increase.  I hope the front office can see that the ball is still in their court and should not bend too much.  I feel that a $44-46 million range is more than fair and we will not be insulting our Franchis cornerstone for the future.  So with that said what do you think?

Poll

Who holds the leverage in this negotiation?

50%

Bradford and his agent hold the leverage and will get what they want.

149 votes

49%

Demoff realizes that the leverage is in his favor and will get something favorable for the organization.

146 votes

295 votes | Poll has closed

While looking at the Rams roster Lord Helmet:

AKA Mel Kiper, has evaluated the NFC West rosters and identified the holes and where teams will need adressing later on.  

"So with the draft clearly in mind, let's do a quick summer audit on the situations of the teams in the NFC West. I kicked this off last week with the AFC West. What I'll hit do is hit three things:

 

 

 

1. A crucial influx, such as an impact player or position group.
2. A question mark that still lingers. 
3. If the team had a chance to draft anyone from the upcoming draft class right now to address a hole, who it would be. (If your team does or doesn't have an early pick in next year's draft isn't the issue -- it's just a hypothetical involving top college talent and current needs.)

 

 

So call it a check-up and a look-ahead wrapped together -- part deep projection, part current need.

 

 

St. Louis Rams

 

 

Crucial influx: We all know about Sam Bradford, but whether they choose to start him or not from the start of the season is still a big question. What isn't is I think second-round pick Rodger Saffold is a guy who can help immediately at guard, and further strengthen an offensive line they've been trying to build for a few years. The other pick I see as an immediate starter isJerome Murphy, the corner out of South Florida. The 25th-ranked pass defense could use all the help it can get.

 

 

The question mark: Whether it's Bradford or A.J. Feeley, there's no reason to believe the Rams will be scaring people with their passing game. What I'm concerned about is that the depth at running back isn't adequate. We consider Steven Jackson a workhorse back, and he is, but in both 2007 and 2008, he didn't make it through the season unscathed, missing four games in each. Kenneth Darby is a decent football player, but he doesn't scare anybody as the No. 2 option in that running game. If teams are more confident than ever in stacking the box to take away Jackson, a little added mix at that position would be good, but I don't see it available.

 

 

Next April's pick, now: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
There is no better way to help out a young quarterback than to give him a player like Green, who can make any QB look good if you put the ball in his area."

Well I think he hit the obvious, however where is his assesment of the missing help at DE and maybe even at OLB?

I think he is right about addressing WR in the 1st round next year, however I think Baldwin is the route to go.  Just my two cents.

Hail Lord Helmet!

Rodger Saffold finds out what it means to be part of the Rams o-line.  Hope you like adversity Rodger.  Come back soon....real soon.  Please see from ESPN the report on Saffold:

 

Rams O-line takes a hit

3:47PM ET St. Louis Rams Top Email

Just as he was getting rolling in his new digs for the St. Louis Rams, OL Rodger Saffold has reportedly sprained his right knee, and according to Brian Stull of 101 ESPN in St. Louis, the rookie will be out for two to three weeks.

Although it's not a major injury, an offensive line gains efficacy by putting in reps together. Moreover, for a rookie like Saffold, every offseason rep is vital to how well he'll be able to adjust to the increased competition level this fall.

Adam Schefter reported on NFL Live today that the landscape has slightly changed on our beloved FS.  Let's look at the teams and their interest:

Dallas Cowboys: None to little interest

Phillie: None to little interest

San Francisco Fortywhiners: None to little interest

Miami Dolphins:  Minor Interest

That leaves the two teams that are very interested:

St. Louis Rams- We all know that they are still working to try and lock up Atogs.

The Dark Horse (Minnesota Vikings) - The Vikes are seriously considering upgrading the position.  With that pass rush, this could be an extremely attractive landing spot for a ball-hawking FS.  Add that to the fact that the team is set in place for post-season ball, and this could be dangerous.  

All that said, I am still looking at this situation as teams waiting to capitalize on the bargain bin.  Someone will step up and walk away with a great player/person at a decent price.  I just hope that team wears blue and gold and happens to have horns on their helmets.

We'll see if the human twitter "Mr. Schefter" is on key here.

At a point in the year where people are questioning the Front Office, questioning their loyalty, denouncing their fanhood for the St. Louis Rams, I have chosen a path less taken.  My fanhood has strengthened.  I can't say I was the happiest with this last draft, let alone the FA activity, however I took a step back to put things in perspective.  I came to realize that we are slowly adding key pieces that will be around for awhile.  One of those pieces is a guy that we were all happy with this last year....his rookie season.  A guy that I have been keeping a close eye on since his Sophmore year in college and I was really happy that he landed with the Rams in the 2nd round.  A guy that I expect to be leading our Defense for years to come.  Thats right James Laurinaitis! So the other day I find myself on ebay scouring the Rams items to see what the hell I would want to pick up.  

Rams Cuffs...No

Rams necklace...No 

Jerome Bettis Jersey...well...No

Then I track down a James Laurinaitis autographed jersey from Ohio State, with a day left.  At $19.99 and still no action, I was like "ok I'll keep an eye on."  Next day rolls around, and I rush home to see where the auction is at.  $25.00  with an hour left.  I am thinking there has to be something wrong with this jersey.  I check the sellers rating and they have a perfect 100% satisfaction rating.  I go to their website, and everything seems legit- They mainly specialize with sports teams in Ohio (Ohio State, Clevland Browns, Cavs, etc.), they get their stuff at signings and sporting events.  Then I look and see that they have a certificate of authenticity.  I then compare the signature to other JL signatures and it checks out.  At this point I am pumped.  As the clock is clicking down to 3 minutes there is all of a sudden a flurry of activity, and I watch the price shoot from $25 to $51 (still really cheap).  As the clock clicks down to 12 seconds the Taradactel swoops in and steals the show.  I walk away with an autographed James Laurinaitis Jersey for $62.  Not sure what made me even want an autographed jersey, but I figure at the very least when my girl and I get our house I can pin the jersey up in the MAN CAVE and showoff the fanhood!   

 

It reads 4-0 VS Michigan....(kinda a big rivalry) and 3x All-American (not a bad accomplishment)

The way I see it, I fill multiple needs here:

 

1. Fill Football fix during a slow point in the year.

2. Fill a Rams fix during the off season.

3. Pick up a piece of Animal Jr. History

4. Plus I'm tired of looking at houses I don't want.
Cheers Rams fans!

-The EBAY bandito

 

St. Louis Rams

 

 

Marcell Dareus*, DT, Alabama

After taking QB Sam Bradford with the top overall pick in 2010, the Rams go back to the well with another first-round defensive lineman in Dareus, who is a remarkable athlete for his size (6-4, 296 pounds).

According to Todd McShay in his unbelievably early 2011 mock draft, he has us taking Dareus, the monster DE/DT from Alabama.  Honestly, I like that more than the AJ Green pick from Mocking the Draft, however it is way to early to even have this dangling in front of us.  I think I have made it clear where I stand on next years draft...Jonathon Baldwin...poss. Anyways, something to chew on until we get a snippet from Van about the Rookie mini-camp.   Happy f---ing Friday y'all

I have had a few days to digest the draft and even though I am still a bit angry that OLB was not addressed, and DE was addressed so late, I am starting to warm up to the draft overall.  I was able to read an article about the draft, that had some interesting quotes by Billy D.  They lead me to think things didn't go as he had hoped but overall he is satisfied:

"Obviously, we're not any different than the 31 other teams going into the draft. Do you fill every need going in? Of course not. You miss on some guys. Every team will tell you the same thing if you ask. There are guys that went right before (you) in the round, so you don't fill everything."

and 

"But right now, I feel like with the pass rushers and corners, and skill people we got, I feel good about the way the whole thing went. Was it perfect? Of course not. No draft is ever perfect, but I feel great about the way the three days went."

Take those comments for what there worth.  There was one coment that bothered me...a lot:

"It's a project in the truest sense," Devaney said of Onobun. "But he's big, he caught the ball great. ... So at this point (in the draft), why not?"

Maybe because you still have not sufficiently addressed some other needs like OLB, DE or back up RB.  So when I see guys like Anthony Dixon, Greg Hardy, and Jonathon Dwyer sitting there, I do not think a project at a position that you just addressed the round before is the best route.   

Anyhow, typically when a team can walk away from a draft with 2-3 quality starters, it is considered a success.  Unfortunately, we are in a different position than most.  We not only need quality starters, but also quality depth at many positions.  If we come out of this draft with 3 quality starters and more importantly if Sam Bradford works out well, I will be happy.  I think many of these picks will prove to be a waste, but thats the way the cookie crumbles.  

Last part is -I wanted to list guys that we passed on for our picks.  I know that time will only tell, so here are some names to keep an eye out for during the next few seasons:

1st round  (not too much here considering we went after the franchise QB):

Suh

2nd round:

Sergio Kindle

Lamar Houston

Daryl Washington

Taylor Mays

Jimmy Clausen

Carlos Dunlap

Brandon Spikes 

Charles Brown

3rd Round

Amari Spievey

Myron Lewis

Ed Dickson

Colt McCoy

Navarro Bowman

4th round 

Everson Griffen

Corey Wooten

Joe McKnight

Aaron Hernandez

Dennis Pita

Roddrick Muckelroy

5th round

Perrish Cox

Cam Thomas

Arthur Jones

6th round

Anthony Dixon

Greg Hardy

Jonathon Dwyer

Dezmon Briscoe

Myron Rolle

7th round

Kyle Calloway

Dekoda Watson

Dorin Dickerson

CJ Wilson

Disclaimer: (I am not saying we should have drafted everyone of these guys, but the guys I liked and hoped for are in there)

Now, I'm not going to go through and list my ideal draft because hindsight is 20/20 and that just wouldn't be fair.  However, there was talent available in every round of this rich draft.  This was a unique draft and I'm glad we had so many picks.  

There are still a few guys that have not found homes that I will be keeping an eye on to see where they end up:

QB Jevan Sneed

RB Chris Brown

WR Danario Alexander

WR Freddie Barnes

OT Ciron Black (I think he will make a good OG at the next level)

DE Antonio Coleman

DE Brandon Sharpe

CB Donovan Warren

SS Will Harris

LB Kion Wilson

I love and hate this time of the year.  i check this damn site too many times a day and I am constantly looking to see what players are released and if they could benefit the Rams.  Good times y'all.  

The New England patriots have released LB Adelius Thomas.  The 33 year old, 270 lb LB is actually very versatile and could play on the OLB.  He was considered a solid locker room guy until the questioning of the almighty Beilichek.  A solid veteran who was a probowler just a few years back.  This might be a nice bandaid to help out the lack of Draft activity to a postion of serious need.   

Another notable name was released today.  Big DT John Henderson.  Another player on the wrong end of his career, but he has been effective and continues to do so even though he is getting older.  The 31 year old ex pro-bowler might be a nice replacement for the departure of Carriker.   

Just something to think about on your Monday.  Maybe a short term solution until the next draft.

It seems that fans are split on where they stand on the Rams draft.  I wanted to go ahead and look at our entire division and give a grade based on the picks throughout the draft.  Let's start the grading (please keep in mind that this is my personal opinion and I am basing my grades on perceived value):  

San Francisco 49ers: A-

The forty -whiners came away with a solid weekend.  They solidified key spots on the O-line with Davis and Iupati.  They already had Staley signed for the long term and the talent they added in the 1st round should help make that a formidable front line for years.  In the 2nd round they landed a freak in Taylor Mays, who with the help of Ronnie Lott (He was ok back in the day.....riiiiiiiight), I have a feeling he will be looking to make coach Carroll regret passing on him.  They added to the young LB core with Navarro Bowman...a player I would have liked in blue and gold at the WILL.  In the 6th round, even though they already have Frank Gore and Glen Coffee, they knew that RB by numbers is the way this league has gone, so they added Anthony Dixon, another player that I wanted for the Rams, mainly to reunite him with coach Croom, who already knows the kid and would have an advantage in helping him to develop.  The fact that he runs people over also helps.  Then they grabbed a TE in Nate Byham once they filled their key holes with quality talent.  Byham was a solid blocking TE at Pitt and I think he will be a nice piece for Gore to do his job a bit better.  They didn't stop there.  Once the draft was over they grabbed Jarrett Brown.  I think he could be a solid #3 at QB if he can make the roster.  

Seattle Seahawks: A

The SeaGals came away with a solid draft for a coach that just transitioned from college to the Pro's for a second go around.  They came away from the 1st round lucky as hell (Maybe Coach Carroll fucked a Leprechaun before the draft).  Russel Okung was a perfect gift and replacement for Mr. Jones.  They followed it up with Earl Thomas who is a gifted DB (I think he is abetter fit at FS). He plays the safety spot as a ball hawk and has the ability to come down and play man-man coverage when needed.  Then grabbing of Golden Tate in the 2nd was smart.  He reminds me of someone we know well...Torry Holt.  Walter Thurmond is a good pick and should add some needed depth to the secondary.  They had a hole to fill by the departure of Kerney and they grabbed two talented pass rushers in EJ Wilson and Dexter Davis.   In the 6th, they grab a nice project with some serious upside for a TE in McCoy (Nice value for the position and he has more than 2 catches and 1 year of college experience).  The reason I gave them a A rather than a B+ was for the move to acquire Leon Washington for their 5th round pick.  What a steal.  That little shifty back will be a nice addition with Lendale White and Justin Forsett.  Damn you Carroll.  I hope Taylor Mays eliminates each of your WRs each time you play SF.

Arizona Cardinals: B

Arizona started day 1 with a bang, being so lucky to land Dan Williams.  He is your perfect fit for the NT in a 3-4 scheme.  He should do well lined up next to C. Campbell and D. Dockett.  Daryl Washington was such a productive LB at TCU and offers versatility at their LB core, very good pick as their #2.  Andre Roberts was special when he was at Citadel, but I don't know he will have more of an impact than maybe returning the ball. O'brien Schofield is a nice pick in the late 4th round as a DE.  His named was called quite a bit at Wisconsin.  I like the young QB Skelton they grabbed as a depth piece, who I think could challenge Anderson and Leinart in the near future. I think they could have used some help on the O-line, but I'm glad they didn't get it.

St. Louis Rams: C (And I am being generous)

Although I have always wanted Suh and I really wish we could have known that McCoy would have been around in the 3rd, but I don't have much to complain about the pick in Bradford.  The pick makes sense.  Our QB play has killed us or rather the O-line play has killed our QBs...take it how you want.  That's about where things just go ...in all directions.  The problem I had with our picks is that we were sitting in a golden position at the beginning of each round being able to grab any player we wanted, however I felt that we settled.  It is all about the value of each pick.  The Roger Saffold pick makes sense the more you think about it, however I think we could have gotten more value with Sergio Kindle (and don't tell me that he was injured and that he will miss his rookie year.  He has had 4 knee injuries going back to high school, and it is thought that he COULD need Micro-fracture surgery in the future, similar to Jonathon Vilma.) or trade that chunk of gold pick to Baltimore for Gaithers, the 24 year old OT that has played well early in his career.  They were very close to trading Gaithers to Dallas for their 2nd rounder earlier this off-season.  Saffold would not have been my first pick in the 2nd round, but it can be justified.  The 3rd round was equally as shocking with the pick of Murphy, a good sized DB.  I didn't see how DB was more of a pressing need than OLB or DE, but when you know that none of our CBs had a INT, this is another pick that you can justify...kinda.  

The 4th round is where I started dropping F-bombs and the 3 letter acronym (WTF) kept going across my keyboard.  Gilyard was a picked liked by some, but knowing that our front 7 hadn't been addressed to this point in the draft and Everson Griffen, who is a 1st round talent available in the 4th....I just don't know what to say.  Before, anyone says anything about Griffen being lazy, understand that I have watched this guy since he was a true freshman and I am very aware of what he brings to the table, probably much more than the majority of people on this site, except for maybe TrojanRam, and I can easily say that he is well worth a 4th round pick.  Especially since Hall won't be around much longer and Little is a ?, and our pass rush needs to improve.  Gilyard is not a bad WR, but where does he fit on our depth chart?  I can't see his taking a roster spot over Avery, Robinson, and Gibson.  Hell, I think he would have a hard time taking a spot from Burton.  So to take a #4 or #5 WR over a DE or even OLB, or b-u RB, just doesn't make sense to me.  This basically tells me that Brooks Foster's time with the Rams may be over before it began and that we wasted our 5th pick last year.  I am a Marty Gilyard fan, even though he ripped his coach for taking a better job, and I like how he was always productive no matter the opponent.  Still I would have liked the attention elsewhere.  Nothing is as bad as the 5th and 6th round.  These later rounds are where you are supposed make your draft, with Special Teamers and depth at different positions.  However, we wasted our picks on a blocking specialist TE...We already have Bajema, why the hell do we need this guy when we still haven't addressed the front f----ing 7.  Then finally we draft Hall Davis, an ex basketball player who could be a solid potential guy, maybe.  I would have rathered seen us look at DT's like Arthur Jones and Cam Thomas or a DE like Austen Lane.  The 6th round got even worse.  We take another TE- Fendi Onobun, another ex basketball player who used his 5th year of eligibility to play TE.  He is a pure project player, however a freak athlete.  I can't imagine why we needed a 4th TE when our FRONT 7 still needs to be addressed.  Then another head scratcher is drafted with DE Eugene Sims.  I seriously think that both of these guys would have gone undrafted.  There was so many decent players available in this round, I can't figure out what was going on with the decision makers.  We passed on Anthony Dixon, Greg Hardy, Jonathon Dwyer, among others.  The 7th round was why this draft was a C and not a D+.  George Selvie is a great character kid with a military back ground, which attributes to his dedication and work ethic.  Josh Hull is another blue collar kid, that was extremely productive at State Penn....Penn State.  Although, he didn't solve the need at OLB, I like the pick.  

So there you have it, while our division improved their rosters, I am skeptical about our draft.  Where, I am normally the ultimate optimist, I feel we left too much on the table round after round.  I really hope I am wrong and that we can find some impact players out of this draft.    

With the first round in the books, the Rams have their recently acquired QB Sam Bradford filling a major need.  Even though I was hoping somehow that The House of Spears (Suh) would be our pick, the best QB in the draft is hard to argue with.  

Let's take a look at the options the Rams have in the Second Round.  Keep in mind that there are several glaring needs that will need to be addressed-DE, OLB, back-up RB, DB, and RT (Sorry Barron your future is not with Rams horns much longer).  Anyhow lets look at what have to look forward to at #33, assuming that Billy D can not wheel and deal:

Sergio Kindle, OLB Texas

Hands down the best OLB left in the draft.  He is a big, strong, disruptive force, who applies exceptional pressure to opposing QB's.  Some may have thought his effectiveness was largely in part to Orakpo drawing so much attention last year, but he proved that to be false this year causing havoc all over the place.  Now, before someone chimes in and says that he is only a OLB in a 3-4 system, let me remind the group that he had 2 seasons at Texas where he played OLB in a 4-3.  He is not only comfortable with it, but says he enjoys dropping in coverage because he never has to leave the field.  Pairing him with JL would be a good thing for our future Defense.

 

Everson Griffen, DE USC

A physical beast at DE, who has the ability to play all three downs.  Griffen finished the 2009 season with 45 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for losses and 8.0 sacks. In his career at USC, Griffen finished with 18 sacks.  There are questions about his work ethic and for those who watched USC the last two seasons, it would be hard to argue against that.  However, the last 8 games this last season we saw a more consistent effort and the potential that has been raved about since he came in as a freshman and earned a starting spot as a true Freshman (not an easy feat at USC). Now if there is any coach that can get the most out of his DEs, its coach Spags.  This guy kind of reminds me of a Justin Tuck make-up.  Long needs help on the other side of the line.  

Charles Brown, OT USC

A very athletic OT, that like Jason Smith, transitioned from TE and became a successful OT.  He does well with long arms and a solid slide step.  His strength would have to be his pass blocking ability.  At the next level he may have trouble being a dominant run blocker, meaning he is not going to be opening up huge running lanes for SJ.  I don't know if he is the best match for us at RT, considering our pound the ball mentality, but there is no doubt he is a solid young talent.  

Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida

An absolute freak at DE with a great combination of size and speed (6'6, 277lbs).  He uses his hands well and causes problems for both Interior linemen and OTs.  He does a good job pressuring the QB, collapsing the pocket, and chalking up TFLs and sacks.  He does a good job of defending the run, although his pass rush is his strength.   He dose have some questions regarding his work ethic and character.  He passed out in his vehicle in the early hours of the morning while at a stop light....how much beer do you think it would take a 277 lb man to pass out?  A pony keg...I kid.  There is no doubting his ability.  He is a rare talent and if our brass feel that they can keep him on a straight and narrow, we would be coming up on one hell of a talent.  Plus he fits Spags desire for versatility along the D-line, offering max pass rushing ability.   When he gets his arms up, good luck getting the ball by that tower of power.  Plus, he is a special teams stud...4 blocked kicks says so.

Brian Price, DT UCLA- I don't think DT is a huge need for us right now, especially if his name does not translate to "House of Spears" (I think that is so cool...damn you Detroit)

Taylor Mays, S USC- We don't need a Safety that badly, assuming Togs signs something soon.  

Daryl Washington, OLB TCU- A bit undersized but a very productive OLB, with great athleticism.

Brandon Spikes, LB Florida- I personally love him for a SLB even though he mainly played MLB in college.  However coach Strong showed us for two years straight that Spikes can play anywhere in the front 7.  He is as good against the run as any LB in the draft.  I think he would be a great pick if we are able to move down in the 2nd.

 

sorry had to do it... kudos to StopSpe for the pic.

Jimmy Clausen, QB ND-HAHA, I had to put this up.  I know he is a good player and an even better value for the 2nd round, but I also knew he was overrated as a predicted top 10 pick; and having seen this guy live 4 times and watched damn near every one of his games (GF and her family are ND fans) nothing changed that.  Sorry Midasknight, I just am not that high on the guy, but I hope he does well wherever he goes (unless he goes to someone in the NFC West).  

I look forward to tomorrow, even if I do have to go to the dentist before the draft.

With all the momentum behind the Bradford/Clausen at number one, I still think the pick should be the best player in the draft.  I had a chance to watch Ndamukong Suh on Sports Science the other day while I was watching ESPN.  Its a pretty neat thing they are doing to show you the measurables of different players.  

 

For those of you who couldn't watch it let me give you a summary:

When they wanted to see his explosion off the line of scrimmage.  He reacts to the trigger in .26 seconds.  That was faster than any backs or WRs tested.  He then hits a top speed of 13.5 mph in only 1.3 seconds (the 6 yard mark by the way, now that is covering ground quickly).  To give you an idea of this at the next level, that is faster than Tony Romo.  They then ran him through a heavy bag drill to see how hard he tackles.  He obliverated a crash dummy with 3200 lbs of force (that is harder than Ray Lewis and Kris Jenkins just to put it in perspective).  The combination of Speed and Power will make the guy a force to be reckoned with.

A few things that I took away from this- is i know he is not gonna be able to man handle O-linemen at the next level, but this quick burst combined with the quick hands and feet will put him in a position to win the battle at the line of srimmage and penetrate.  Oh yeah, in case you didn't know he hits hard too!  

I know that it may be wishful thinking, but I am still hoping for Suh come draft day.  Not to say that I don't think Bradford is good,or that I don't think we need a QB, but $50 mill guaranteed...ouch.  

If those don't help your decision, how about the fact that he has already committed to donating $2.6 million to Nebraska.  $2 million to upgrading the weight and strength room, plus another $600 K in scholarships to the Engineering program.  That is the definition of a student-athlete giving back. 

Poll

If we can't sign Sam Bradford before the draft, do you still think we should draft him?

35%

Yes, draft him anyway. We need a QB that bad.

46 votes

64%

No, I don't want to take the risk of a holdout from our QB of the future. Give me Suh.

82 votes

128 votes | Poll has closed

The Detroit Lions trade Ernie Sims to Phillie, in return Detroit gets TE Tony Scheffler (sorry guys, I know he was a popular name for TE).  Denver will receive an undisclosed draft pick from Phillie, and the y have plenty to give.  The pick is thought to be a 3rd or 4th rounder.

I can't believe Detroit was willing to part with Ernie Sims when they just dedicated a 1st round pick last year on a TE.  Good job to Phillie.

For all of you have been hoping to trade for the controversial WR Brandon Marshall, you can rest at ease or concentrate on something else. Marshall has been traded to the Miami Dolphins. He has already signed a 4 year $47.5 million plus the $2.5 million- 1 year tender. It only took 2 2nd rounders- this years and next. Let's see if any tantrums flair up or any footballs are kicked. That division is going to be tough.

If that Superbowl MVP was a WR, a proven # 1 WR, and a productive one at that.  Santonio Holmes.

Now, there is the flip side of the coin, where that stud has just thrown a glass of drunk at a female while at the club and gotten in trouble for it.  This leads me to ask what more did Holmes get into to make this the breaking point for the Steelers?  How much more crap did the franchise put up with before dropping the axe?

Anyhow, moving on...why wouldn't the Rams trade their 5th for him??? Think about it.  Simmer in it.  

I was thinking that I would have made that trade until I saw a certain picture ....beware, this is not what you expect:

You've been warned!

If you have changed your mind, I don't blame you.  

The Jets are eating up the un-wanteds.  The catch is that he only has one year left on his agreement.  I suddenly hope that the entire Jets team gets the Ebola virus....sorry that was jealousy speaking.

So we hit a homerun last year with JL, but we still have some holes to fill looking into the future.  A solid pairing with Animal Jr. would pay dividends under the instruction of Spags and Flajole.  Flajole has had some success bringing in young LB's and having them become contributors early.  I was really impressed when Carolina loss Witherspoon (to the Rams at that) and they didn't even miss him.  Then came Jon Beason and the kid was great.  The 25th overall pick was shadowed a bit by another LB you've heard of...Patrick Willis.  However the guy recorded 140 and 138 tackles each year under Flajole.  At the same time he became a Pro-Bowler and All-Pro in just his second season.  Coach Flajole set the kid up for success.  He did the same with James Laurinaitis, allowing the rookie to play 16 games at MLB accumulating 120 tackles 2 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 FF, 1 FR.   There is no argument that JL was a success at the position, but he needs help...bad.  Vorbora is a solid contributor on Special Teams and even with a good amount of playing time at SLB this last year, however I still see him as a rotational LB that can play all 3 positions well, not great.  Our recent addition of Diggs, was one that I love.  He is a smart veteran LB, who will provide a solid presence in the run defense.  With that being said, it has been one of my assessments that OLB is a major need to address.  I also feel that pairing JL with another young LB or two, will pay dividends as they age together.  Before I go through my list, I thought it should be mentioned that there are 2 positions that I think are easiest to transition into the next level and be successful early on...Running Back and Linebacker.  I feel the investment of one of our first 4 picks on a LB could go a long way.  

Ok so let's look at some guys that the Rams should be eyeing in the coming draft, (keep in mind that our 1st pick will probably address another need other than LB, so if I leave off some guys its because I don't see them falling out of the 1st round or they will prob be a OLB in a 3-4):

Sean Wetherspoon, Mizzou, 6'1 239

Ok those of you from the Lou, are probably salivating of keeping this guy close to the Arch.  He is a truly gifted player with the size and speed to succeed at the next level.  He is very vocal player who can play either inside or outside.  He has been a production machine the last couple years (155 tackles, really?) who decided to stay in school and finish off his senior year and raise his draft stock, which I think he succeeded.  I had a chance to listen to a interview on Moving the Chains about 3-4 weeks ago and the guys were really grilling him.  They started breaking down reads and situational responsibilities.  I was really impressed with his understanding of his role in coverages.  It should be noted that he said that there is no RB in the NFL that would be able to beat him on a screen pass....with the exception of Chris Johnson...then he would hope for a sack.  I would go more into this guys ability, but I think it is very well known amongst this community and I just don't see him making it out of the 1st.  I have a feeling Atlanta will make the addition.

Brandon Spikes, Florida, 6'3, 249 lbs.

I know that people are going to tell me that he played MLB in college, but coach Charlie Strong used Spikes all over the field, showing his versatility.  He showed that he would be able to play the SAM multiple times.  I really enjoyed watching Strong line him up and blitz the C, D gaps- giving OT's headaches.   Spikes was a true leader of his defense.  He was able to read and recognize formation changes and was able to move guys around to adapt to what opponents were showing.  One of the most instinctive defenders in college football today. Recognition skills continue to improve. Finds the ball quickly and has playmaking flair. Shows great awareness and is usually the first on the Gator defense to diagnose a given play.  Top-end speed is not great but it is adequate for his position. He's quicker than fast and generally covers more ground than his 40-time indicates. Gets a quick jump on the ball and shows impressive lateral quickness for his size. Is adept at slipping blocks and pursing ball carriers on the outside. Shows very good instincts when sifting through traffic but he does not display ideal change-of-direction skills, which leads to some problems versus misdirection.  Not a great athlete and will have some limitations in man-to-man coverage. However, he's a natural playmaker in zone coverage. He gets a solid drop and shows great recognition skills in zone coverage. Ball skills are excellent for a 250-pound linebacker. Notched four interceptions in 2008.

He hasn't had any off the field issues that I know of, but he did have the famous eye gouge incident against Miss St.  The thing that I liked was when coach Meyer suspended him for 1/2 a game he decided to extend coaches suspension to a full game to ensure that there was no more distraction for the team going into the game.  

The guy is a beast that plays the run exceptionally well.  When given the free rein to blitz off the edge he does well causing pressure.  People have concerns with his 40 time, yet after watching him for the last two years, I think that his 40 time doesn't tell the true story.  The guy is deceptively quick and covers a lot of ground always finding himself around the ball.  I would love to pair him with JL for years to come as the SAM.

Sean Lee, Penn State, 6'2 238 

Another guy that people will say, but didn't he play ILB last year?? Yes, but he also played 2 years as OLB, while Dan Conor was manning the middle.  He is a very smart, productive LB the diagnoses the play exceptionally well and is able to drop into coverage better than he is often given credit for, just watch last years game again LSU in that crappy weather.  The second half showed how well he played the pass, making near interceptions on three plays.  Excellent football intelligence. Quickly diagnoses plays and gets into position. Disciplined and can be counted on to carry out assignment. Sniffs out screens and draws.   Uses hands to control and shed blockers in phone booth situations.  Instincts allow him a quick jump on the ball. Takes precise angles to the point.  Closing burst is adequate at best and doesn't have sideline-to-sideline range, yet does find the ball way too often.  A strong and consistent wrap up tackler. Displays excellent technique and breaks down in the open field.

I think he would be an ideal fit at the WLB spot next to JL.  We would have two smart young LBs that do everything well, but will not make you go "ooo and ahhh."  The guy has 1st round talent yet a knee injury back in 2008 will have people cautious, but I think he could be a 3rd round steal.  

Navaroo Bowman, Penn State, 6'1 242 lbs

Sean Lee's partner on the outside.  He may be considered a bit undersized, but is extremely lean and cut and has good speed.  Strong overall diagnostic skills. Finds and reacts to the ball and quickly fills downhill. Puts himself in good position to make plays and rarely takes false steps. Shows a good feel for sniffing out screens and draws. Can be overaggressive with his run fits and as a result is suscpetible to play-action at times.  Appears to have good upper-body strength but his narrow frame brings up concerns about his point-of-attack skills. Can be engulfed by bigger offensive lineman when caught in phone booth situations. Does not shy away from contact, though, and has a high motor and consistently finishes plays to the whistle.  Possesses sideline-to-sideline range. Displays strong change-of-direction skills. Closing burst is exceptional and he rarely allows running backs to turn the corner to his side of defense. Also takes good angles to the ball and wades through trash well in pursuit.  Shows good awareness in zone and does a nice job of locating and getting into underneath throwing lanes. Shows the ability to match up and run with tight ends and backs in man coverage. Ball skills are above-average. Not much of a pass rusher at this point

The guy has talent and athleticism to play the WLB, but he has some concerns off the field.  Pleaded guilty after being involved in an off-campus fight during the fall of 2007. Suspended from the team for the ensuing spring and placed on probation. Violated probation this past April and was sentenced to an additional 12 months on probation and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. Has suffered hardships off the field, including the passing of his father and high school coach in a six-month span.

Rodrrick Muckelroy, Texas, 6'1 246 lbs

Prototypical height and weight for a weakside linebacker prospect.  Straight-line speed is adequate but not great. A natural leader. Shows a lot of maturity and is a hard worker on and off the field. An individual with high character.  Something that will appeal to coach Spags and co.  Displays the rare combination of excellent discipline and instincts in a college linebacker. He reads his keys and diagnoses plays faster than most LBs in the nation. Rarely takes false steps and is almost always the first to sniff out a screen, reverse, etc.  He flies around the field and is not afraid to mix it up physically. However, he needs to continue to improve his core strength. He shows some initial power but he does not play with a wide base versus the run. He struggles to get off of some blocks and some bigger linemen can erase him too easily in the phone booth. Better lower-body strength and hand usage could take his game to the next level.  He's quicker than fast and he closes quickly in the short area. Plus, his instincts allow him to consistently play faster than his timed speed.  Does a great job of keeping with the route-runner while also monitoring the QB's sight line. He shows adequate fluidity in his hips for a LB, but he's not an elite athlete for the position. He should be able to match up with a majority of NFL RB's one-on-one. Is quick to close on the receiver after the catch. Not used nearly as much as a pass rusher. Gives a good effort and shows same natural instincts when timing the blitz. But he lacks elite burst through the line of scrimmage and he has some trouble getting off of blocks once reached.  Muckelroy has been a very effective and productive LB, helping to make Texas such a successful team defensively.  

 

Rennie Curran, Georgia, 5'11 235

The first time I watched this torpedo play, I swear he was just trying to see how many times he could get his name on TV, because he was around every defensive play for a 2 drive streak.  I have been impressed with Curran's play ever since.  2008: (13/13) 115 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 PBU, 2 FF; First-team All-SEC. 2009: (13/12) 130 tackles, 5 TFL, .5 sack, 3 PBU, 1 FR; First-team All-SEC.  Named defensive co-captain and earns team's Vince Dooley Most Valuable Player of the Year award. 2008: Receives the Coffee County Hustle Award at the end of spring practice. Earns the team's Most Valuable Defensive Player Award.  Although a bit undersized by some standards, he is solid and with above average athleticism.  Reads keys and locates the ball quickly for the most part. Will take the occasional false step and struggles to recover when he does. (see 1st QTR Georgia Tech game). Can sniff out draws. Reads quarterback's eyes and rarely gets caught out of position when asked to drop into zone covers. Times blitzes fairly well.  Strong upper body. Delivers a strong punch and can shed blocks quickly. Good balance and stouter than size adjusts but still gets engulfed by offensive linemen and fullbacks on occasion.  Does a nice job of limiting receivers' production after the catch. Tries to rip the ball out when is the second man to the ball carrier but not a big hitter that can jar the ball loose or consistently stop backs in their tracks.  He is a very productive LB but will need some refinement at the next level.

Some additional guys that will be bargains:

Dekoda Watson, Fla St., 6'1 240 lbs

Antonio Coleman, Auburn, 6'1 255 lbs

Micah Johnson, Kentucky, 6'1 258lbs (although he played MLB in college, I would like him as a reserve/ special teamer)

I would have placed more names, but my car was broken into and I have to do some research on aftermarket radios in order to make sure I don't get jipped by the insurance company.  However, this does cover options in our first 5-6 rounds.