It looks like the Cards have been busy since the draft ended. They have signed 16 UnDrafted Free Agents; remember we can have 90 players on the team, until we have to start making cuts. These guys have a long shot to make the team, but the Cards thought enough of them they picked them up after the draft for bargain basement prices. Let's see who we have here...

Continue reading this post »

Let's hope Diggs has some left in the tank.  via www3.jsonline.com

 Looks like we have a starting WLB, until the rookie takes over; whoever that may be.   Knowing the system helped with the signing, as he's going to be our starter & help bring the rookie along.  Not the big name we'd like, but a solid pick-up none the less.  Good for us.

http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NFL&line=171024&id=1772

Admit it, someone on our team needs some help. via www.lonelykicker.com

Basically it comes down to the FO's breakdown of the talent and they will grab who they think will do best for us with the first overall selection.  The question we have to ask is, 'what picks make the most sense to help us recover?'  Remember, our D-line and O-ine received lots of injuries, WR was a revolving injury door, it was quite a bug.  Hard to evaluate the development of talent when they are on IR isn't it?   If we had a better LB corp it would help stop the run.  Injuries and lack of talent in key spots was really exposed last year.  Spags & Co have worked to bring in vet talent in key spots that will [hopefully] prevent a repeat of last year. 

With that said, what areas do we still need to improve on?  TE, RT, QB, OLB, WR, DE, CB.   OK, for the most part, I view those are the teams 'Area of Needs'.  Even tho we have many other positions we can use an upgrade on, it's not wise to draft w/BPA as our only tool.  Just because an awesome C drops to us at #33, we have to be intelligent and not grab him because he is the BPA.  We obviously know C is more an area of strength on our team, so is it really wise to select him?  I would think not.  Some ppl may think a DT is an area of need, but we have enough of a rotation.  If you follow my rationale, it is applicable here.  We don't draft out of need.  We also have to look at available talent and what positions are low in impactful players vs our area of needs.  I came up w/some surprising results.  I am a big D fan; champions are won or lost by D.  I didn't let me personal desire get in the way of team need.  Here's what I came up w/:   

Rnd 2, TE.  Here is the logic: very few TE's that will come in and contribute at some point in the year.  Either Hernandez or, who I prefer, is Graham out of Miami [he has a huge upside, but is a gamble I admit].  Obviously if neither is there, we then  move to our BPA at our positions of need we haven't filled yet. 

Rnd 3, WR.  There are only 5 WR's worth it: Williams out of USC, LeFell, Benn, Bryant, & GoldenBoyTate.  They all could easily make the team and improve an area of need for us.  Yeah sure we have quite a few WR's on the team, but scoring points is important for a team to win.  Only ones we might get available here are Benn & Williams.  Either has the skill set we need.  We could also use a back-up RB as well.  But who do we want here, Best or McCluster if available.  IMO neither.  I'd look at my trusty BPA for area of need.

Rnd 4, OLB.  We have a distinct need for WLB specifically.  I'm more than willing to take Muckelroy, Watson, Perry or Riley here.  The production drop between Washinton [#2 rated LB] and these guys aren't as big as between Weatherspoon & these guys.  But Weatherspoon should go top 20-25.  If we're lucky enough Dekoda Watson is available, but we have a great chance of improving over Paris Lenon in rnd 4.

From here, for me, it gets a little hazy to guess who we get.  I would rely on one tool, that's right BPA for position of need.  Fill the rest of our picks that way.  IMO, the evaluation of the talent is very important in getting the correct player for our team.  It goes beyond the physical tools and is told in the interview process.  Even w/all the physical tools, it has been proven, some players just don't have the football smarts to play. 

I'm sure many ppl think I'm crazy, but it's not that far fetched if you digest it a bit.

Who say's short peopple can't jump?  via www.nypost.com

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/clubhouse_relatednews.aspx?sport=NFL&majteam=STL

Hhmm an ex-Giant, go figure.  He's small IMO, 5'8" 188lbs, but Spags feels comfy enough w/him as a nickleback to talk to him.  We'll see what happens.  I'm sure he can still contribute if he can stay healthy, plus he's familiar w/the system Spags employees.  IMO, he's an upgrade to the last two we had; Wade & Craft.  This could be a good thing for us.

 

I've been reading posts and at least once, mostly more than once, someone chimes in w/a trade scenerio.  I thought, "RM1979, who could trade with us?".  First, let me tell you my methodology [so to speak].  Let's face it, at this point there will not be a new CBA in place for this season.  This does two things: less vet players available than normal and the ones that are available will be offered more money than would be normally offered.  Teams in bigger markets will see the need to pay these players, but will the Rams?  I doubt it.  There are lots of older vet available, but this does us no good.  That leaves trades and DP's to grow teams.  Only a handful of teams have so few needs they can afford to make a deal that includes their normal DP's.  This is their main means to upgrade positions on their team this year.  Let's take a look at some of the possible scenerios:

DET:  who thinks DET wants to trade up for the #1?  They don't have extra draft picks to make a deal with us and continue to grow as a team.  IMO they need more than one player to help change their program around.  I see this as a no trade team.

TB:  they have as many holes to fill as us and they have the luxury of two 2nd rounders.  Still, too many holes and not enough DP's.  They could give us a player and DP's, but who do we want vs who do they want to give us?  Not the best roster IMO.  Plus they are shopping their pick around.

WAS: sure they want a QB and are currently shopping Campbell around, but they also need a RB & S help.  They can stay where they are and get one of their needs filled.  I don't see this team moving from their spot unless it's to trade back for more picks.

OK, after the top three we have picks 4-15 that really anything is possible, but this year makes less possible.

KC, SET, CLE, OAK, JAC, DEN, & MIA all have a multitude of needs.  The question is, who in this draft is worth multiple picks and which team needs him?  KC, DEN, & MIA don't need QB's [tho DEN does have Orton, enough said] and have lots of holes to fill.  Do they trade up?  NIMO.  None of them can afford to give up what they don't have so they stay put.  SET, CLE, OAK, & JAC have many needs, just not as much as the top 3 do.  SET & CLE [new coach could mean Quinn or Anderson leave or both leave] have QB needs, but SET has multiple draft picks.  Does SET trade up with us or someone like TB to get their guy?  They can fill any need with the pick behind us and at the same time not give in to our needs [extra picks] which will allow us to get better.  Who wants to face a good Rams team twice a year?  OK, back to CLE.  This looks to be an interesting scenerio.  The team has needs at WR, TE, OL, DL [3-4] and possible QB and they have extra picks.  I think they'll keep Quinn and try and get talent around him.   Translation, no need to move up when we will have talent where we are at.  Do we think Anderson would be good for a year or two?  This would be a bargaining chip for CLE, but w/so many other needs they'll stay put.  OAK & JAC...what do they have to offer?  Players only as they don't have extra picks that are worthy of a trade, but who knows what that crazy a$$ Al Davis will do.     

A question, anything beyond pick 15 should we entertain offers?  I truly believe we will find impactful players lower in the first and enough in the 2nd and 3rd we'd come away an even younger team of starters.  One team that has draft picks up the a$$ is NE.  The thing is, they have the draft picks to stay put and fill all their needs.  They can even gamble on a pick or two.  One thing Belichick & his staff does well is evaluate talent.  I just don't see them moving up unless they fell in love w/the top pick.  Anyone else?  ARI needs a QB bad, but unless they trade DP's and Boldin it'd be nuts to move that far back.  What way do others see this?