SB Nation User Blog: Tackle Box

Project Prospect's Mock Draft

Tackle Box — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:38:22 -0000

Project Prospect's Mock Draft

They predict Grant Green and they explain why.

What's Your Opinion of Steven Jackson?

Tackle Box — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:52:56 -0000

I saw this poll over at the Post-Dispatch website and the results (at the time of my vote) caught me off guard so I'm wanting to see what this group feels about him. Mainly, I'm wanting to prove to myself that there is a difference in the people who frequent this site as opposed to the P-D Boards and I think just looking at a lot of the comments, it's easy to see. But, nonetheless, I'm still curiuos what the results will be. Here's the poll.

Poll

What is you're opinion of Steven Jackson?

I love him: Great player and team leader

261 votes

I can't stand him: He should be a better player and he oughta shut up

31 votes

I can't decide: I run hot and cold, depending on how he's playing or what he's saying

117 votes

409 votes | Poll has closed

Let's Take A Look At The Roster

Tackle Box — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:52:21 -0000

More photos » by Jay LaPrete - AP

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Well, the draft is over and while there has been some teeth gnashing over some of the picks, my personal opinion is that the team filled it's most pressing needs and built some good depth.

Then again, that's my gut reaction.

The team solidified it's Offensive Line (Jason Smith) and bulked up the Run Defense (James Laurinaitis, Dorell Scott). They then went out and added some depth with some players who have raw talent (Brooks Foster and Bradley Fletcher) and a quarterback who has a lot of us scratching our heads.

I have to say I'm not exactly sure about Chris Ogbonnaya, but he's bigger than I realized and apparently has pretty reliable hands. Honestly, he's a lot like Steven Jackson without the stunning track record.

Anyway, the question that needs to be addresseed is, "is the team better after this draft?" I can't see how anyone would say it isn't. We added the best Offensive Lineman and a Top Middle Linebacker to the fold and these were two spots of definite weakness. But what about the rest of the team? Sure we got better at two key spots, but that might not be enough, Let's take a look at our depth chart to see if it is.

Starting with the offense.

Quarterback:

Mark Bulger - 6'3" 212 - 32 years old - 5 years remaining on contract
Kyle Boller - 6'3" 220 - 27 years old - 1 year contract
Keith Null - 6'4" 222 - Rookie
Brock Berlin - 6'1" 215 - 27 years old - Will be a RFA

Here, I'm listing Null as the number 3 since I really think he'll displace Berlin. Berlin brings absolutely nothing to the table so why not go with Null, right? He's younger and could possibly become something...well, something better than Brock Berlin. Besides, it's not like you could make the argument that Berlin knows the system. No one really knows the system since it's a new system.

Running Back:

Steven Jackson - 6'2" 231 - 25 years old - 5 years left on contract
Kenneth Darby - 5'10" 211 - 26 years old - Will be a RFA
Chris Ogbonnaya - 6'1" 225 - 22 years old - Rookie
Antonio Pittman - 5'11" 195 - 23 years old - Will be a RFA
Brian Leonard - 6'1" 226 - 25 years old - 2 years left on contract

Well, there's some depth. Probably nothing that could take over if something happens to Jackson. (By the way, I'm slotting Ogbonnaya in the 3rd slot. No particular reason, but that's how I see it.) I'm still holding out hope the Rams get after Warrick Dunn. He'd be a difference maker.

(Note: Jeremiah Johnson did not get drafted)

Fullback:

Mike Karney - 5'11" 258 - 27 years old - Signed through 2011

That's it. Hope nothing happens to him, but what are you gonna do? Have two really good blocking Fullbacks on the roster at the same time? No. So, we should be fine here and since Karney is a great blocker, hopefully we'll keep Jackson healthier this year.

Wide Receiver:

Donnie Avery - 5'11" 190 - 24 years old - Signed through 2011
Laurent Robinson - 6'2" 195 - 23 years old - Signed through 2010
Keenan Burton - 6'1" 200 - 24 years old - Signed through 2010
Brooks Foster - 6'3" 205 - 23 years old - Rookie

After Foster, you'll see Derek Stanley, who's injured, followed by Travis Brown, Joel Filani, Chad Lucas, and Nate Jones. DON'T expect to see any of those guys on the roster this year. DO expect to see the Rams re-sign Dane Looker. You might also expect to see them add a veteran receiver who's either already available or becomes availalble during camp (but I wouldn't count on it). This is a very young receiving corps (average age 23.5 years), but I feel there is a ton of upside here. Not necessarily for this season (it'll be there in flashes), but it should start to develop and really start to blossom in 2010.

However, if our ground game takes off like a lot of us hope it will, then you'll see an immediate (positive) impact on our receiving corps. It all starts up front and we now have the horses to get it going.

Tight End:

Randy McMichael - 6'3" 255 - 29 years old - FA in 2010
Billy Bajema - 6'4" 255 - 26 years old - Under contract through 2011
Joe Klopfenstein - 6'5" 262 - 25 years old - FA in 2010
Daniel Fells - 6'4" 252 - 25 years old - FA in 2010
Eric Butler - 6'2" 255 - 24 years old - FA in 2010

Let's hope McMichael stays healthy. If he does, you can pretty much add him to the receiving corps making it much more potent. Then you add Steven Jackson and possibly Ogbonnaya and you've all of a sudden find a lot of options. Then if you can just add Warrick Dunn..............

Anyway, as far as Tight End, look for the Rams to draft one next season. Tight ends seem to be able to make the move to the NFL rather easily so it wasn't imperative to draft and groom McMichael's replacement this year.

Center:

Jason Brown - 6'3" 320 - 25 years old - Signed through 2013
Tim Mattran - 6'5" 298 - 24 years old - FA in 2010

I don't know who Tim Mattran is, and I don't care. Jason Brown is a difference maker and should improve things immensely.

Guard:

Richie Incognito - 6'3" 330 - 25 years old - FA in 2010
Jacob Bell - 6'4" 295 - 28 years old - Signed throught 2013
Jonn Greco - 6'5" 325 - 24 years old - RFA in 2011
Adam Goldberg - 6'7" 318 - 28 years old - Signed through 2010
Mark Setterstrom - 6'4" 314 - 25 years old - FA in 2010
Roy Schuening - 6'4" 308 - 25 years old - RFA in 2011

Lot's of depth here and with the addition of Brown as the Center, I expect Incognito and Bell to have great seasons.

Tackle:

Alex Barron - 6'7" 315 - 26 years old - FA in 2010
Jason Smith - 6'5" 298 - 22 years old - Rookie
Adam Goldberg - 6'7" 318 - 28 years old - Signed through 2010
Daren Heerspink - 6'6" 315 - 25 years old - FA in 2010

Jason Smith rounds out this line and should be able to step in on day one and have an impact. He's not Orlando Pace in his prime, but who is? What he is is a great athlete with a great work ethic who has been extremely good and has yet to reach his full potential. We should see great things from this line.

Average age of Line Starters: 25.2 years (Barron 26, Bell 28, Brown, 25, Incognito 25, Smith 22).

So, going into next year, we're going need a new Tight End and we'll have to probably draft a legit Quarterback plus possibly look for a big Receiver.

On to the Defense:

Defensive Tackle:

Adam Carriker - 6'6" 296 - 24 years old - Signed through 2011
Clifton Ryan - 6'3" 310 - 25 years old - RFA in 2010
Dorell Scott - 6'4" 320 - 23 years old - Rookie

After Scott, they'll have to find a possible fourth DT for the rotation from Willie Williams, Antwon Burton, and Michael Marquardt, or go out and sign someone who gets cut during camp. I really like those top three, but the depth is less than palatable.

Defensive End:

Chris Long - 6'4" 284 - 24 years old - Signed through 2012 (Voided 2013)
Leonard Little - 6'3" 263 - 34 years old - FA in 2010
James Hall - 6'2" 280 - 32 years old - FA in 2010
Victor Adeyanju - 6'4" 280 - 26 years old - FA in 2010
Eric Moore - 6'4" 268 - 28 years old - FA in 2010
C.J. Ah You - 6'4" 275 - 26 years old - FA in 2010

There's enough depth here for the season, but look for the team to move on without Little after this season. And despite what some may say, Chris Long had a good season last year and should improve under Coach Spagnoulo.

Middle Linebacker:

James Laurinaitis - 6'3" 240 - 22 years old - Rookie
David Vobora - 6'1" 236 - 23 years old - ERFA in 2010

Laurinaitis lends stability, leadership, and legitimacy to the middle of our defense. He'll be a difference maker.

Outside Linebacker:

Will Witherspoon - 6'1" 240 - 28 years old - FA in 2012
Pisa Tinoisamoa - 6'1" 235 - 27 years old - FA in 2012
Chris Draft - 5'11" 232 - 33 years old - FA in 2010
Chris Chamberlain - 6'2" 226 - 23 years old - RFA in 2011

We've got good depth here and with the addition of Laurinaitis at MLB, we can now move Witherspoon back outside where he is a legitimate playmaker. Pisa is a bit of a weak link, but should improve with the upgrades at MLB and SLB. Nevertheless, look for the Rams to find a new WLB next year but it's not going to be on the top of the list since Pisa is locked up until 2012.

Cornerback:

Ron Bartell - 6'1" 205 - 27 years old - Signed through 2012
Tye Hill - 5'10" 185 - 26 years old - FA in 2010
Bradley Fletcher - 6'2" 200 - 22 years old - Rookie
Justin King - 6'0" 186 - 21 years old - RFA in 2011
Jonathan Wade - 5'10" 195 - 25 years old - RFA in 2010

After Wade, you'll see Marcus Brown and Eric Butler. This isn't the fanciest of units, but the addition of Fletcher's size could help a ton when going up against the giant receivers in our division. Then again, if the defensive line can put adequate pressure on the quarterback, then you make the job of the DBs that much easier.

Strong Safety:

James Butler - 6'3" 215 - 26 years old - Signed through 2012
Todd Johnson - 6'1" 200 - 30 years old - FA in 2011
David Roach - 6'2" 215 - 23 years old - ERFA in 2010

The addition of Butler to the Defensive backfield should greatly help out the CBs. He was great under Spags last year and looks to continue that success.

Free Safety:

O.J. Atogwe - 5'11" 211 - 27 years old - FA in 2010
Eric Bassey - 6'1" 200 - 26 years old - RFA in 2010
Craig Dahl - 6'1" 207 - 23 years old - FA in 2010

We should be expecting a lot out of the duo of Atogwe and Butler this season. Those two make our Defensive backfield legit. Atogwe is franchised this season. Look for the Rams to lock him up next offseason (hopefully before the offseason).

So, there you have it. This is the roster as it stands today. I'd still like to see a D-Lineman who's been cut to fill out the rotation along, and you all know how I feel about Warrick Dunn.

Next season, look for the Rams to add a top tier Quarterback (Lefevour? Please?), a Tight End, a WLB (maybe), a DL, CB, and a big Receiver. They could possibly find the Linebacker, Receiver, and D-Lineman through free agency. They'll also have to address Atogwe at some point.

Bottom line is, this isn't done. This team has been improved, but we had a long ways to go. This is a great start and the team is extremely young and there is talent emerging in the right areas.

Best Player by which State they played High School Baseball

Tackle Box — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:53:33 -0000

Best Player by which State they played High School Baseball

Three Cardinals (4 if you count Delino)

Being Billy Devaney - RB

Tackle Box — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:44:40 -0000

Continuing our search for depth and possible future assets, BBD turns to the position of Running Back. You can't have enough good viable running backs and if Spags and company are truely committed to focusing on the run, then we're probably going to have to beef up that position a bit.

Unfortunately, Runnning Back is actually a position that has gotten it's fair share of attention for a long time. I say "unfortunately" because for all the draft picks spent on the position, there's not a whole lot to show for it because it's not like the team has totally neglected to draft or acquire running backs. Now, one could easily make an argument against a lot of the guys they've brought in (Trung Candidate, I'm kinda looking in your direction......oh, and could you please take a seat next to Brian Leonard? Thanks) but there have also been a couple of true stars. And by "a couple" I mean "exactly two".

We all remember the Marshall Faulk trade and how could anyone forget Steven Jackson. For some reason (and this completely baffles me), there are people who doubt that Steven Jackson is an elite running back in the NFL. Personally, I have no idea how you could miss it, but I digress.

Some may point to Jackson's injuries like that's a legitimate knock on the guy. If you haven't noticed, running backs get hurt all the time in today's game. I suppose it's because the defensive players are bigger, stronger, and faster than ever before. Whatever the reason, you can't go into a season any more with one viable running back. Your guy WILL get injured at some point and then you're in big trouble. Plus, having a viable backup allows you to have a change of pace and someone who can give opportunities of rest to Jackson that might actually help keep him healthy.

(btw, did anyone notice Jackson got hurt this past season during garbage time? The game was in hand for the Rams and he was out there getting handoffs. I blame that one on the coaching staff and the fact they didn't have another running back on the roster who was any good. However, even if they didn't have anyone viable, Jackson shouldn't have been out there.)

So, with that being said, we'll take a look at the running back position and some possible upgrades to that number 2 slot which is becoming more and more important.

Let's take a look at the roster.

Steven Jackson - 6'2" 231 - Signed through 2013 (if he averages 1,200 yards rushing and 400 yards receiving over the first 4 years of his contract he voids the final two years) - Jackson counts $7.4M against this year's cap. Oh, and he's a stud.
Kenneth Darby - 5'10" 211 - Signed through 2009 (RFA in 2010) - Darby emerged as the number 2 running back for the Rams last year, the question is...is he the guy to hold that spot going forward? Personally, I'm not sure. He's definitely a change of pace back for the Rams and he didn't seem to let the two fumbles in his first game affect his play the rest of the season, so maybe he's a diamond in the rough.
Antonio Pittman - 5'11" 195 - Signed through 2009 (RFA in 2010) - When the Rams claimed Pittman after the Saints let him walk last year, I thought they had really made a coup. Well, Pittman hasn't exactly shined in his backup role and now finds himself behind Darby on the depth chart while being pretty much the same exact type of runner. I wouldn't be surprised to see Pittman cut lose at some point this offseason especially if the team drafts a running back.
Brian Leonard - 6'1" 226 - Signed through 2010 - After a really good career at Rutgers, Leonard has failed to do anything in the NFL. He's got great size and has good speed and athleticism, but for whatever reason, he just hasn't (can't?) gotten it done as a pro. He's probably safe for this season, but he'll be gone before the 2010 season.

So, there's our running backs. I suppose your opinion of this unit falls squarely upon how you feel about Kenneth Darby and his ability to be a valuable part of the offense. If the Rams are going to focus on the run as much as they say they are this season, then Darby (or whoever becomes the number 2 RB) will have to be able to log valuable and productive minutes on the field. Can Darby do it? Honestly, I'm not convinced but I feel much better about him than I do about Pittman and Leonard.

But, let's say Darby isn't the answer we all seek. So what now? Do we target a Free Agent or do we look to the draft? Well, there are positives and negatives to each of those options. A draft pick would probably be cheaper since we'd be drafting this position later in the draft and that draft pick could possibly develop into a legit running back but then again with a free agent RB, you pretty much know what you're getting but with less upside. Many RBs fail making the transition to the NFL. Can the Rams afford to lose a draft pick on a guy who fails?

Of course I realize this could be said about any of our draft picks, but with so many needs is it smarter to see if there's a good backup on the market now who has a proven track record? I think it's worth a look.

Warrick Dunn - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 5'9" 180 - Could you imagine a backfield of Jackson and Dunn? Wow.......I just got a tingly feeling inside. As of right now, there is no news out there about Dunn. He had a great season last year and would be a great addition to a team as a third down/change of pace back.
Deuce McAllister - New Orleans Saints - 6'1" 232 - Here's a guy that can do the dirty work........if healthy. He's had both knees operated on but he's been working out at Duke University and says he feels "fine". He also claims he's spoken to "10-12 teams". About what, I'm not sure. But apparently there's some interest in him.
Ahman Green - Houston Texans - 6'0" 218 - At this point, he's probably too old (32) and too injured to be a legit option here. He had some really good years but has played more than 8 games in only one of his last four seasons.
Tatum Bell - Denver Broncos - 5'11" 213 - Bell is still a pretty good RB, but his off the field troubles kinda overshadow him and make him a risky signing.
Dominic Rhodes - Indianpolis Colts - 5'9" 203 - Rhodes probably isn't a great fit for the Rams future run-happy offense. If all the Rams needed was a guy who could get a couple of yards and catch some passes, that'd be fine, but that's not really what they need. They need someone durable who can do some dirty work (so Jackson doesn't have to do it all) and Rhodes probably isn't that guy.

After Rhodes, there really isn't anyone who instills any interest in me. So, what do you think? I really like Dunn and wonder what it would take to get him. Granted, I know I just said in the Dominic Rhodes piece that the Rams need someone who can do some dirty work, but Dunn is just a special talent. He gets things done. Period. And would be a deadly combination in the backfield with SJ.

But, I understand there are people out there who are committed to finding a backup in the draft. There's some guys available, but with this piece I'm not going to be looking at the first 4 rounds. I decided long ago the Rams need to focus on OT, MLB, CB, WR and DT and if they draft anything other than one of those 5 guys in the first four rounds, it'll feel to me as if they've missed out on something.

So, looking at rounds 5 through 7, let's take a look at the Running Backs.

(Remember, if the name is highlighted, click it to read Mocking Dan's scouting report)

Javon Ringer - Michigan State - 5'8" 205 - Ringer has improved his stock (possibly too much for the Rams to get in the front of the 5th round) since having his knee scoped in January by running a 4.42 40-yard at he combine and by posting a three-cone time that was 0.07 seconds faster than any other running back at the combine. Ringer also had an impressive Pro Day by running the short-shuttle drill in 3.89 seconds. By the way, the fastest running back at the combine (Branden Ore and Bernard Scott) was 4.08 seconds and the best time posted by any player at the combine (Kevin Barnes) was 3.96 seconds. Needless to say, Javon Ringer is healthy, and while his 40-times could improve, having straightaway speed for a running back is less important than the cone and shuttle drills.
James Davis - Clemson - 5'11" 210 - Davis is not a very good receiver and is just an average runner. He ran a 4.45 40-yard at his Pro Day but many are suspect of the time since it was run on a rubber track and at the Combine he ran a 4.60 40-yard. That's a pretty drastic improvement.
Mike Goodson - Texas A&M - 6'0" 212 - I like Goodson better than Davis but I'm not in love with him. He's bigger and probably faster than Davis (4.43 Pro Day and 4.54 Combine) but right now, Ringer looks like the pick of this bunch.
Kory Sheets - Purdue - 6'0" 206 - Had a very good year for Purdue and has possibly been a little over-looked. Probably has a future as a backup/3rd down back and return man in the NFL. Catches the ball well.
Antone Smith - Florida State - 5'9" 190 - Has vaulted himself on to many a team's radar by posting a 4.32 40-yard, 31 reps on the bench, a 32-inch vertical, and a 10-2 broad jump at his Pro Day (he wasn't invited to the Combine). Typically, I don't advocate drafting Running Backs of this size (Warrick Dunn is a freak of nature). They typically get hurt or are simply unable to make an impact no matter how fast or shifty they may be (Garrett Wolfe).
Glen Coffee - Alabama - 6'1" 198 - Needs to bulk up a little to make a successful transition to the NFL. Had really only one good year at Alabama and probably should have stayed there for his senior year. If he had, he might have been able to get into the 3rd or 2nd round, but at this point he's at best a 4th rounder and probably a little lower.
Tavarris Williams - Tennessee State - 5'11" 215 - He's short but powerful. He also shows good quickness and change of direction.
Ian Johnson - Boise State - 5'11" 212 - Somehow, Ian Johnson put on almost 20 pounds before the Combine and still wowed many scouts. He ran an "un-official" 40 time of 4.30 (his official was 4.46) and has convinced some scouts he's more than just a third-down back in the NFL. Has drawn comparisons to Steve Slaton.
Arian Foster - Tennessee - 6'1" 215 - I guess we now know where Ian Johnson found that extra weight since it's apparent the "former" power back at Tennessee lost about 20 pounds before the Combine. Ran a 4.73 and a 4.69 40-yard at his pro day. Probably needs to get the weight back to have value in the NFL.

(Check out Mocking Dan's Running Back Rankings)

After Foster, you're probably looking at guys like Jeremiah Johnson...here's his pic (Oregon), Devin Moore (Wyoming), Gartrell Johnson (Colorado State), and Josh Vaughn (Richmond) although any of these guys and a handful of others could be picked up as un-drafted free agents at a later date but they probably aren't what the Rams are looking for anyway.

Of this group, I probably only like Javon Ringer but there's a possibility he could be gone by the time the Rams get to their 5th pick and I don't think I'd like to pick him ahead of any of the other (more important positions) in the draft. Ian Johnson might be one to keep an eye on and you could probably get him in the 5th round (maybe high 6th which would be ideal).

So, at this point, I really want the Rams to take a strong and long look at Warrick Dunn. I think with him in the fold, the Rams offense becomes absoltuely powerful. Plus, adding him takes away from our lack of experience at the WR postion since you'd have the possibitliy of Steven Jackson, Warrick Dunn, and Randy McMichael running routes which would definitely keep defeneses honest and should free up Donnie Avery deep.

Being Billy Devaney - QB

Tackle Box — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:30:52 -0000

Well, here we are, trying to fill out the roster, create some depth, and maybe even try to build some potential for the future. If things go as planned, by the time the Rams draft in the 5th round, we'll have all (well, maybe most) of our most pressing needs filled and will be looking to make a great steal late on the 2nd day.

While the subject of Marc Bulger is controversial (to say the least) around here, can we all accept he's going to be our quarterback this season? You might not like it, but there's about a .00001% chance there will be someone other than Bulger lining up under center when the Rams take the field for their season opener.

I for one fall into the category of a Bulger supporter. I'm just putting that out there. However, I'm not blind to the fact that he'll be 32 when the season starts and isn't going to be any younger the following season. We've got a young offense (2nd youngest in the league at press time) so it makes sense that we're going to have to start developing a quarterback, right? Is this the year to start that? I'm not sure. A lot of it depends on what is available in the later rounds, and is what is available going to be a better bet than what will be available at the top of the draft next year? That's a good question, no?

So, let's start with looking at our roster after the jump.

Marc Bulger - 6'3" 212 - Signed through 2013 - Bulger still has a lot of guaranteed money left which will count against the cap this year and next ($22.5M in 2009 and $18M in 2010). I can now tell you how he's still a good quarterback, but ultimately that's my opinion. He's been battered for the past couple of seasons and that's definitely taken its toll on him. How he responds to much better protection and a run-centric offense is still a mystery, but at this time the team can't afford to not bet on him to succeed.
Brock Berlin - 6'1" 215 - Signed through 2009 - Berlin is a backup quarterback, plain and simple. Anyone who thinks or tells you he deserves a legit shot to win the starting job at any point in the next year is letting their disdain for Marc Bulger interfere with rational thinking. There's nothing special about Berlin other than maybe he's fun to be around. If the Rams have to turn to him at any point this season, then a top 5 draft pick is definitely in our future.

After Bulger and Berlin, the Rams are suspected to be interested in and on the verge of signing Gus Frerotte. Sexy? Not in the least bit. But he can pick up offenses quickly, is a professional about himself, and played in a similar offense last season to what the Rams are going to install this year. He's a one year filler. Nothing more, nothing less. He's not here to compete for the job but can do the job if he has to and at age 38, he's a much better option than turning the reigns over to Brock Berlin.

And that's our Quarterbacks. Not pretty, but with Bulger hopefully we have some upside to look forward to. If he fails this season (or falls short of expectations), it's not the end of the world. I expect a major improvement this season, but I'm realistic. That improvement should result in a better record (how could it not, right?), but we're going to have to watch the games to see the little things. Simply looking at the record and forming an opinion is being short-sighted.

So, with that being said, should the Rams draft a quarterback this year? Is it worth it? We've already got a full stable of QBs (assuming they sign Frerotte) so they wouldn't be filling out the roster. If they do draft a QB, you can kiss Mr. Berlin goodbye but I don't think there will be any demonstrations at the Dome or demands of season ticket money being returned as a result.

But, I ask again, is it worth it to draft a Quarterback this year when drafting for depth on either of the lines or at Cornerback or Tight End or Running Back or wherever might benefit the team much more? Well, one reason might be that you can start to teach the new QB the system and get him some time with the team. Is that a benefit? Eh. Matt Ryan doesn't seem to think so, but then again he was a 1st round draft pick. We won't have that luxury here of such a high profile addition, so maybe it is better. Who really knows, right? Either way, let's see what's going to be available in the later rounds of this year's draft (rounds 5 through 7).

Rhett Bomar - Sam Houston State - 6'2" 215 - Had a pretty good season for the Bearkats with 3,355 yards, 27 TDs, and 13 INTs. Was originally an Oklahoma Sooner (when he was the top quarterback recruit in the nation) but was kicked off the team after taking money from boosters. Resurfaced at Sam Houston and salvaged his career. He has the ability to play in the NFL, but comes with some character question marks, I suppose.
Nate Davis - Ball State - 6'2" 217 - Once considered to be a possible 2nd round lock in this year's draft, Davis has seen his stock slip over the last month or so. Many are questioning his decision to leave school early especially after his struggles in his last two games at Ball State. He has a big arm and is extremely athletic but apparently many teams doubt his ability to lead an NFL team. Only one team (Indianapolis Colts) sent a representative to Davis' Pro Day workout (Muncie is like an hours drive away from Indy). Scouts also have concerns about his height, but in my opinion 6'2" isn't all that short. Just ask Drew Brees.
Mike Reilly - Central Washington - 6'3" 214 - The 49ers seem pretty interested in Reilly saying he's "Not a high-round guy, but a middle-round guy that's got some upside" Had a great season for the Wildcats compiling 3,706 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 6 INTs. He's got a big arm and has plenty of confidence. Also has a lot of upside. If he's available in the 6th round (he probably won't be), it'd be hard for the Rams to pass him up if they're serious about developing someone with great talent and tons of upside.
Nathan Brown - Central Arkansas - 6'1" 217 - Put up great numbers through his career at Central Arkansas (10,558 yards, 100 TDs) and has been considered by some to be the best college quarterback to ever play in the state of Arkansas. That's one heck of a compliment for a guy virtually no one has ever seen play. Could be a great pick late in the draft.....could be nothing more than a backup. It's hard to tell.
Mike Teel - Rutgers - 6'4" 220 - Was red hot to end the season for the Scarlet Knights who has the size NFL teams covet at this position. He struggled for about the first half of last season, but the finish he put up might have convinced some teams he can play at the next level. Frankly, it's guys like this that concern me. I'd prefer a QB who very rarely struggled and didn't take half a season to get it figured out before I went and spent a draft pick (and every pick of ours this year are extremely valuable to the rebuilding process) on him.

After Teel, you'll be looking at guys like Graham Harrell (Texas Tech), David Johnson (Tulsa), Hunter Cartwell (Louisville), Cullen Harper (Clemson), and Tom Brandstater (Fresno State). Some of these guys might even go un-drafted, which means you could pick them up as a free agent. Personally, outside of maybe Nate Davis or Mike Reilly, I'd probably pass on this bunch. I just feel we'd be wasting a pick on a backup quarterback when someone who could play special teams might be more valuable.

Depending on how the season plays out, it's probably a better idea to wait until next season to draft a QB. I'm not overly excited about the 2010 class of QBs, but next year we should have a better handle on the roster and much less holes to fill making a reach or a high draft pick much easier to swallow. Plus, we will still probably have Bulger on the roster in 2010 so you probably wouldn't expect any of these guys to step in on day one.

Anyway, here's a look at what's probably going to be available next year.

Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Jevan Snead (Mississippi), Tim Tebow (Florida), Colt McCoy (Texas), Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame), Pat Devlin (Deleware), Tim Hiller (Western Michigan), Zac Robinson (Oklahoma State), Dan LeFevour (Central Michigan), Jake Locker (Washington), Juice Williams (Illinois), Jarrett Brown (West Virginia), and Daryll Clark (Penn State)

I have to admit right now of my man crush on Dan LeFevour. I've probably seen him play 3 or 4 times (once in person) and he has always impressed. He's got good size, a heck of an arm, and has great feet. He can beat you in so many ways.

So, what do you guys think? I know there are probably people who would love to see the Rams trade for Jay Cutler but a move like that would totally hamstring any chances the team has of having any roster flexibility for the next 3 years. So....do we draft this year and if Bulger falls on his face we can then replace him next sesaon, or do we put our faith in our curent QB and look at acquiring his replacement next year when we can pick a guy a little higher in the draft?

Being Billy Devaney - G

Tackle Box — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:52:53 -0000

First let me say, sorry for getting the BBD up so late. This has been a rough week and I've had absolutely zero time to myself. It's going to be border-line hectic for the next couple of weeks so I'm just going to have to ask you to hang in there with me. Deal? I hope so...

Now, at this time, I've come to the conclusion that we need to take the BBD series in a slightly different direction. As far as positions that are an immediate need for someone who can step in and provide an impact (or at least step in and be a starter), we've covered them. MLB, OT, WR, SS, CB, and DT are all major areas of need for the Rams and while it might not be realistic to think we can solve all of those positions in one off-season, I'd like to think the team is determined to either solve or patch those areas with a focus on the remainders next year. But that doesn't mean the job is done. There's still areas of depth and future that need a little tending to so that's what we're going to look at today when we dissect the Offensive Guard position.

So, now the change. Before, I was breaking down the roster, then a look at what was available in free agency, and finally what the top picks in the draft would look like in regards to that position. Now, since we're not necessarily looking for a star at these positions, it's probably safe to say they won't be looking to free agency to fill these needs, so I'm going to forego looking at free agency. Now there might be someone cut loose during training camp that would come in at a bargain price, but right now most of that is simply speculation. Plus, we are at the point where spending money on a free agent to fill one of these backup positions would have to wait on getting draft picks signed.

Also, I'd like to point out, I'll no longer be looking at what is available in the first 4 rounds of the draft. I think it's safe to say, the Rams won't be drafting a Guard in the 2nd round. The top 4 draft picks are probably spoken for and will shake down among the positions listed above, so it's pointless to even consider any of the top guys in the draft.

So, with that being said, let's take a look at the Offensive Guards.

So, as far as the Guard position is concerned, the Rams are fairly healthy. The guys on the roster may not exactly be the future, but they're definitely good enough to count on for a season or two. So, let's look at the roster.

Richie Incognito - 6'3" 330 - Signed through 2009 - Well, I guess he's not officially signed, but the team did make a tender to the restricted free agent and it would cost any team signing him a third round draft pick so it's safe to say he'll be with the Rams this season. Anyway, Richie is everyone's favorite football player around here, right? Umm... Well, he's got amazing talent, is ornery as all get out, but also often displays the maturity of a 4-year old. He has some versatility in that he can play either Guard position as well as Center. Hopefully the new coaching staff can harness this creature and he becomes a mainstay on the Line (he is only 25 years old and has a lot of service time ahead of him). If not, it's probably Siyanora before the 2010 season rolls around.
Jacob Bell - 6'4" 295 - Signed through 2013 - When the Rams made this signing last off-season, many of us loved it. Then Bell had a bit of a disappointing 2009 campaign which resulted in some talk of him being a bust. Put me in the camp of those who are still optimistic about Bell. He's only 28 and with the addition of Jason Brown as Center, I think we'll all see a much improved version of Jacob Bell next season......that is unless he's playing Right Tackle.
John Greco - 6'5" 318 - Signed through 2010 - Talk about a man of mystery. As a thrid round pick last year he rarely played last season, when he did it was near the end of the season when no one was watching, and Rotoworld.com doesn't even have a picture of him. Add this to his almost cult like following here (well, sortof) and I'm starting to think Mr. Greco is the Rams version of Brain Barton. All signs point to a guy who's young and who has talent. If Bell actually does play RT, then Greco's probably the man to start at Guard, but even if Bell doesn't make the switch, it's probably safe to say Greco might still be in the running to start if he impresses in the pre-season.
Adam Goldberg - 6'7" 318 - Signed through 2010 - Sure, Goldie's probably more of a Tackle, but he's kind of a utility man for the Rams line in that he can play (and pretty much has) every position on the line. He's not a Pro-Bowler by any stretch of the imagination, but he's an important piece to the depth and stability of the Offensive Line. He can start in a pinch and not be a disaster. Actually, that's probably a little harsh. Adam is more than competent at every position he's asked to play and it seems as if he's accepted his role in the NFL, which makes him even more valuable.
Roy Schuening - 6'4" 308 - Signed through 2010 - Schuening is a depth guy. He's probably not going to start, but he's young, got attitude, and does a decent job at Guard.
Mark Setterstrom - 6'4" 314 - Signed through 2009 - Setterstrom is a guy that lends depth and flexibility to the offensive line. He's cheap and young but he's had plenty of issues with injuries. Strictly a depth guy at this point.

So, there you have it. There's top talent and there's plenty of depth and versatility. Not too shabby especially after looking at positions like Cornerback and Wide Receiver the past couple of weeks.

As far as the draft, it wouldn't be the worst thing for the Rams to look to add someone in the later rounds who might have some upside. Is there anyone who fits that bill? Who really knows when you're looking toward the last few rounds of the draft and you don't know who's going to slip through the cracks and whatnot. But let's see what's projected to be there after the 4th round.

(Here's MockingDan's Offensive Guard rankings)

Louis Vasquez - Texas Tech - 6'6" 335 - Vasquez might not quite be there in the 5th, but there's always a possibility. If he is, the Rams would be hard pressed not to draft him (if they've satisfied their more pressing needs and really want a backup Guard with potential). He's big and really impressed in the combine putting up 39 reps (more than any other Offensive Lineman. Vasquez excelled as a pass protector but can also get after it when run blocking as well. Can be a bit of a mauler.
Anthony Parker - Tennessee - 6'3" 300 - Parker played 39 games for Tennessee. He might project out more as a Center due to his size,which is a position he's played in the past, but he's probably a better Guard. He's faster than the average lineman (5.08 40-yard). Was 2nd Team All-SEC in 2009.
Ray Feinga - BYU - 6'5" 331 - Is actually pretty quick on his feet with great lateral movement and has great size. He was named to the All-Mountain West First Team and was part of a very successful BYU offense where he was used primarily in 1 on 1 situations. Has shown the ability to succeed in both pass and run blocking.
Andy Kemp - Wisconsin - 6'6" 315 - Was named a All- Big Ten Honorable Mention and at one point started 20 consecutive games for the Badgers (broken hand). Some scouts prefer Kemp to teammate Kraig Urbik (projected as high as the 3rd round) since he is a "typical Wisconsin power football player. He won't start but he'll be a good backup."
Travis Bright - BYU - 6'5" 329 - Named to the All-Mountain West Second Team. Another part of the powerful BYU offense. Is older than the typical draftee (26) since he served on a Church Mission and while his potential is somewhat limited, he should be able to step in and play right away as a backup. Might be able to sign Bright as an un-drafted free agent.
Rich Ohrnberger - Penn State - 6'2" 291 - Was named as an All-Big Ten First Teamer and AP All-America Third Teamer. Had a good senior campaign at Penn State. Doesn't have great size but makes up for it with improved technique and great physical play. Extremely talented and considered to be a great teammate.
C.J. Davis - Pittsburgh - 6'3" 310 - All-Big East First Teamer. Started at Left Guard his entire career at Pittsburgh until a late injury caused a vacancy at Center where Davis finished out the season. Made 42 consecutive starts and is considered an accomplished run blocker.
Cedric Dockery - Texas - 6'4" 320 - All Big XII Honorable Mention two years after tearing his ACL. Played well after coming back from the injury.

And the list goes on and on. After Dockery, you start to see a common theme. Guys who can excel in at least one aspect of the position, great size, and usually played in systems where there was great success either running or throwing the ball. Some other names to consider are Jaimie Thomas (Maryland), George Bussey (Louisville), Roland Martin (Michigan State), Paul Fanaika (Arizona State), Greg Isdaner (West Virginia), Roger Allen (Missouri Western), and Seth Olsen (Iowa). All of these men would provide depth, but I'm not sold on their potential.

For the Rams to get potential along with one of these picks they're really going to have to do their homework, pick someone who matches up perfectly with their coaching staff, and simply get lucky to some extent. If I were trying to do this a safely as possible, I'd probably target Travis Bright of BYU. He's not going to be a starter for you 4 or 5 years down the road (probably), but he is mature and extremely reliable and could step in and spot start in a second.

However, if I were determined to add someone with real potential, I'd have to target Vasquez, Parker, and Feinga. All three of those guys would be good late picks and you could probably get Parker or Feinga a round or two later than you'd find Vasquez.

So, there's your late round look at the Guard position. Honestly, the Rams probably have enough depth at this position, but as we've seen before, you really can't have enough quality depth on your offensive line. There is great value in knowing your backups can step in and not miss a beat if and when they're called upon.

Not having quality depth at the Center position caused a lot of problems for this team last season (and probably in the season before) and I don't see this regime allowing that to happen again at Center or any of the other Offensive Line positions.

It's just too costly and can absolutely wreck your season.

Project Prospect Top 200 Prospect List

Tackle Box — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:14:24 -0000

Project Prospect Top 200 Prospect List

Here's the Cardinals (there's a little blurb and some more info for each player if you click the link).

4. Colby Rasmus
36. Brett Wallace
45. Daryl Jones
130. Lance Lynn
136. Chris Perez
150. Bryan Anderson
168. Jess Todd
181. Richard Castillo
185. Jason Motte

Being Billy Devaney - CB

Tackle Box — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:49:02 -0000

Well, thankfully the number of real areas of need on this team are starting to shrink. Granted, we still have a lot out there but I think we can all be happy with the additions at Center and Strong Safety.

Here at BBD, we've covered Offensive Tackle, Middle Linebacker, Strong Safety, Defensive Line, and Wide Receiver and for now I'm putting Center on the back burner since I don't feel it to be an area of need anymore. As it stands, we still have a few areas that haven't been covered that you can expect to see the team make an effort to improve either though the draft, through free agency, or by adding players that will be cut anytime between now and training camp.

Of those positions, I believe the area in need of most improvement is Cornerback. Now, the team did just ink Ron Bartell a little while back, unfortunately that's just not going to cut it. We all like Bartell (although he gives me headaches from time to time) and we all liked the signing but I think it's safe to say our Cornerback unit is no better (if not worse) now than our Wide Reciever unit . There's just no depth there whatsoever.

So, take a jump at the break and we'll discuss all things Rams Cornerbacks.

(Note: this post will not be showing up in the FanPost section. I have a feeling this position will create a lot of conversation so go ahead and "rec" it which I think will cause it to end up in the "Recommended Fanposts" section.)

Alright, we're going to have to add some depth here. Really, with the inexplicable handling of Fakhir Brown by the previous regime, we're left with one experienced and somewhat accomplished Cornerback in Bartell. We've got some other guys who have seen the field, but with mixed results so with that being said, let's take a look at the roster.

Ron Bartell - 6'1" 205 - Signed through 2012 - Bartell, as most of us should be aware, just recently re-upped with the Rams signing a 4 year contract worth $25M ($28 with incentives) and will be paid $4.1M in 2009 which is guranteed. Overall, the Rams paid more than they would have had to if someone had vision enough to lock Bartell up for a few years last off season, but that didn't happen. All things considered though, this is actually a fairly team friendly contract compared to what other Cornerbacks were getting and Bartell was possibly the best CB on the market at the time. Other than the contract stuff, Bartell is a fairly solid cornerback (he's the best on this team by miles) and lends stability and experience to a unit that desperately needs some help.
Jonathan Wade - 5'10" 195 - Signed through 2009 - Wade played in all 16 games last season (did you notice?) recording 23 tackles (3 solo) and one INT. (Note: Wade's played in every game for the Rams since being drafted - 32 of 32 games) Wade can play a little but should not be listed anywhere higher than number 3 on your depth chart. He'll make $460K this season. He's also young (24 years old) so maybe we can see some improvement out of him this year although I doubt his ceiling is all that high.
Tye Hill - 5'10" 185 - Signed through 2010 - Hill was considered something coming out of college but has done absolutely squat since turning pro. With his athletic ability he was looked at as a potential lock down corner but has shown no real ability to do that at all. Another bust of the former regime? Well, lets just say he has been so far. Maybe Spags and his merry men can find something in him and turn Hill into a decent Nickle back or something. If not, he's sure to be gone after this season.
Quincy Butler (6'1" 190), Justin King (6'" 186), David Roach (6'2" 215) - Out of these guys, you might want to keep an eye on King. He left college early last year and then got hurt in August which ended his season (torn ligament in big toe). In college he could burn and ran a 4.31 40-yard but he did struggle with covering Big Ten receivers (who aren't necessarily know to be the greatest WRs in college football). Hopefully, Spags can discover something in him since this team is desperate for another capable body back there.

And that's it. Pretty thin. Possibly the team will re-sign Jason Craft who was signed to the roster back in late September when Scott Linehan cut Fakhir Brown and Tye Hill was benched/injured (still banging my head against the desk). Craft isn't the best CB in the league, heck he wasn't the best CB on the Rams last year (and the competition wasn't stiff), but he was steady for the most part and provides a calming force out there and one I'd prefer to see as opposed to Wade, Hill, or King. Craft ended the season playing 13 games for the Rams (1 for the Saints) and recorded 63 tackles (Rams only) with 58 solo, 1 INT, forced 2 fumbles and recovered 3. All in all, Craft had a bit of a resurgence with the Rams.

Hopefully (I can't really believe I'm saying that) the Rams re-sign Jason Craft. Well, that's my opinion right now and I reserve the right to change my mind any time I feel fit. Maybe after I look at the rest of the free agent crop I'll feel compelled? Let's see what's out there.

Daven Holly - Cleveland Browns - 5'10" 185 - Yup. I'm starting this list with Daven Holly. Holly was injured the entire 2008 season after signing with the Browns. They've since let him try to find a new employer. Tampa Bay seems to be somewhat interested in him, and he is only 26 years old and put up decent numbers in his first couple of seasons (5 INTs in 2006, 0 in 2007). The problem is, he appears to be exactly what the Rams have a lot of (5'10", 185, fast, hurt, underachiever) so do we really want or need another? Probably not. Man, Jason Craft is looking real good right now, isn't he?
R.W. McQuarters - New York Giants - 5'10" 194 - Other than my obsession with wanting to go into business with R-dub and open a chain of sports bar restaurants (couldn't you hear yourself saying, "hey, let's all head down to R.W. McQuarters' for 25 cent wings and $3 pints"? C'mon.....you know you'd be there), I'm not sure what other need I'd have for him. Last season for the Giants, McQ played in 10 games recording 6 tackles (4 solo!) and returned a handful of kicks and punts. Sigh.....Jason Craft.....
Deltha O'Neal - New England Patriots - 5'11" 194 - O'Neal lost his job early in the season and never really did anything to keep it or get it back. He's also not young (31 years old) and has definitely seen his best days. Something about him reminds me of when the Rams signed Jason Sehorn. I'm not sure why, but i figure if they did sign him, it wouldn't end well at all. Now the Rams could definitely use someone with O'Neal's experience and knowledge, but they also nee someone they can put out there almost every play (basically a number 2 CB) and O'Neal is not that someone anymore.
David Barrett - New York Jets - 5'10" 195 - Barrett is serviceable at best but was getting paid way too much cash in New York ($3.71M) which is what got him cut. He's also 31 years old. Hold on.......I'm looking for Jason Craft's phone number.
Dre' Bly - Denver Broncos - 5'10" 185 - Bly's another guy who underperformed (although he's better than Barrett) and was getting paid a lot of money so he was shown the door by the Broncos. He's also 32 years old (kinda hard to believe) and will struggle finding a starting gig this year.
Terry Cousin - Cleveland Browns - 5'9" 185 - Was pretty much over-matched much of last season and has been shown the door. He's old (33) but so is Jason Craft.......but I'd rather have Jason Craft...
Pacman Jones - Dallas Cowboys - 5'10" 185 - I decided to put Pacman on this list for a laugh and then I ran across this gem. Click THIS link and watch it rain....it's totally worth it.
Ken Lucas - Carolina Panthers - 6'0" 205 - Lucas (30) probably has a market. Honestly, he's the best on the market since being released yesterday. There was talk of a trade for Lucas but he apparently nixed a trade to the Lions so the Panthers just released him (the move saved Carolina $2.4M). Needless to say, Lucas is a guy the Rams could definitely use but is probably going to sign a contract worth more than he's worth since there isn't much competition for him that is available. He might not make what he was making with the Panthers (and what he would have made with the Lions had he been traded) but he'll still probably get paid more than the Rams would prefer to spend on a guy who isn't part of their long-term plans.
Chris McAlister - Baltimore Ravens - 6'1" 206 - McAlister used to really be something playing in that Ravens defense but he had some sort of injury last year to his knee and it's been kept fairly hush hush about what exactly the surgery entailed. He says he'll be cleared medically in May (his surgery was in November) so that's like a 7 month recovery period leading some to believe he might have had some reconstruction going on and might have trouble passing a physical.

So. What does everyone think of Jason Craft?

Actually, Ken Lucas is probably a better option and someone might be able to make an argument for Dre' Bly, but Lucas is probably going to be priced out of where the Rams would like to be and if it came down between Bly and Craft, I'd rather have Craft. We're familiar with him and he seemed to enjoy playing for the Rams last year (well, his performance sort of indicates he did) so he might be interested in being part of the rebuilding even though he might not be around once the re-build is completed.

Okay, so even if we sign Craft the job still isn't complete. This team needs an influx of young corners it can develop over the next couple of years. The guys we've drafted the last couple of seasons have provided absolutely nothing but headaches (except for Bartell) so the cupboard is bare and needs a re-stocking. With that being said, let's take a look at the draft.

(Remember to click the player's name to read what Mocking Dan has to say)

Vontae Davis - Illinois - 6'0" 203 - Man would I like to have Vontae Davis on the Rams. He's big and a ball hawk. Some think he lacks the ability to work hard but he's got everything else. He's fast, big, and physical. Unfortunately he's not in the Rams plans. He's not the 2nd overall pick and he'll never last long enough to pick in the 2nd round.
Malcolm Jenkins - Ohio State - 6'1" 201 - Many think Jenkins is actually better than Davis, but a poor showing at the combine which exposed his poor hips causing Deion Sanders to say "He's killing himself", has caused him to slip behind Davis who wowed in the drills. Let's be honest here. So he's dropping 4 or 5 spots in the draft and that's gonna cost him a chunk of change, but it's hardly what Andre Smith did to himself.....that, I would call "killing himself". But both guys are going to get their paper so I'm not too worried about their financial futures. Anyway, he's still a damn good corner, just (again) not one that's going to fall into a spot where the Rams could realistically draft him.
Darius Butler - Connecticut - 5'10" 183 - Butler is probably the first Cornerback in the draft the Rams can think about picking, but there's a pretty good chance he could go as high as the middle of the first round. There's also speculation he won't make it past the 26th pick (Dolphins at 25 and Ravens at 26). Butler's a solid cornerback who has confidence and a little attitude. He's not going to be the fastest guy playing corner, but he'll make up for it with technique and pure desire.
D.J. Moore - Vanderbilt - 5'9" 182 - Moore had too setbacks at the combine which might set him back a little in the draft. First, he measured at 5'9" (barely) and then ran a 4.56 40-yard. He's still a great ballhawk who picked off 12 passes in his last two seasons as a Commodore even though no one hardly threw the ball in his direction.
Alphonso Smith - Wake Forest - 5'9" 193 - While once again not having the height of a number 1 cornerback, Smith makes up for it in swagger (I really hate that term, but I felt compelled to use it for some reason) and pure playmaking ability. He picked off 8 passes last season (21 in his career) for the Deacons and actually talks a better game than he plays. Smith also spent time as a returner so he has those skills which are something the Rams need to consider. Pure athlete who has great quickness, agility, and instincts.
Sean Smith - Utah - 6'4" 214 - Smith is huge. So, huge in fact that some feel he's better suited to play Safety in the NFL, but no one's really seen any evidence that says he can't play Corner. He's strong, fast, and physical and should be available when the Rams pick in the 2nd round. His biggest negative is that he is extremely raw as a defensive player having started his career as a Wide Receiver. Smith would be a great addition to a Rams secondary who's going to be facing Arizona and Seattle (and their receivers) four times per season.
Jairus Byrd - Oregon - 6'0" 208 - Byrd has great size, durability, and is great in the physical game. He lacks in overall speed and will get beat by more talented receivers. Is a bit of a ballhawk who recorded 17 interceptions in his career which is one short of the Oregon all-time record.
Mike Mickens - Cincinnati - 5'11" 182 - After Sean Smith, there might be a bit of a drop-off in regards to cornerbacks but that's fine since it fits more into the Rams draft position this way. Mickens has a couple of things going against him. First, he had knee surgery late last season and ended up having to pull out of the Senior Bowl when that injury flared up on him. Second, he's a little undersized (weight-wise) and would need to put on probably 10 pounds to be ideal. Finally, he's not overly fast and the knee injury could effect that even more. He is agile and quick, but the Rams are going to have to do their homework on him if they consider him a legitimate option with their 3rd pick.
Captain Munnerlyn - South Carolina - 5'9" 185 - Munnerlyn is small but is extremely fast and is considered a pure cover corner. He was rarely thrown at last season and if he wasn't foregoing his senior season (apparently he's declaring to help his ailing mother) he would have been considered a top Cornerback in next year's draft. There is speculation that he wasn't playing hard last season, but that could have been something that resulted from his mother's health. One positive about him (other than his cover abiltiy and his speed and quickness) is he's not going to turn 21 until April 10.
Keenan Lewis - Oregon State - 6'1" 197 - Great size and great track record (4 year starter at Oregon State) but after that his attributes start to slip. He's really not considered to be a very good tackler and he's not a great cover man either. He's durable. Might be better suited to play Safety at the next level.
Mark Parson - Ohio - 5'10" 192 - Parson is actually a very good corner who has "shut down" ability. He suffered a bit by playing at Ohio where no one knew who he really was except for opposing MAC quarterbacks who rarely threw the ball in his direction. Parson had a great Senior Bowl workout where he was considered one of the best defenders on the field excelling in his backpedal, speed, and hands. This is a guy the Rams could possibly target in the 4th round and feel like they have gotten great value.
Coye Francies - San Jose State - 6'1" 185 - Francies has great height but is a little slight in build. He also has a bit of a checkered past stemming from getting kicked out of Oregon State after being charged with possession of a loaded firearm (charges were dismissed). He played well at San Jose State and impressed at the East-West Shrine Game. Is a good open field tackler and has great instincts and catch-up speed but may be more of a project than the Rams want to take on considering the depth of the their Cornerback unit and the pressance of Tye Hill, Jonathan Wade, and Justin King who are all (still) projects. Why would they bring in another project?
Asher Allen - Georgia - 5'10" 198 - Allen might be undervalued right now after having an unspectacullar 2008 season (one in which he played with a broken hand) and a not-so-impressive 40 time at the combine (4.48) which he says is the slowest 40 time of his life. Allen has a lot of upside and should be a solid corner in the NFL with greater things a being a possibility.

I'm going to cut the list off here since we're getting into the territory of guys who might have strengths but they also have weaknesses to a point that makes them either future depth guys or higher-risk projects.

Overall, I like the way the position maps out because (after the 1st round) it looks liker there are good options available for the Rams to select a cornerback in rounds 2-4 and not feel like they reached for anyone. I guess to make a prediction on what will happen you have to consider a few things. First, are the Rams going to add a free agent CB? I think they have to. They're just too thin and too inexperienced at the position to think the guys they have on the roster with someone added from the draft is going to be anything but trouble. In my Wide Receiver edition of BBD, I joked that with the way our Receiver corps stood, we'd be eaten alive by pretty much any NFL defensive backfield. Well, our receivers might have some success against our corners but thank goodness for O.J. Atogwe and James Bulter for those two are going to have a major impact on the success of our D-Backfield.

As you might have noticed, I'm advocating for Jason Craft. Was it obvious? Yeah, I know he's not the greatest cornerback, but I think when you look at what's available (and yes I know Ken Lucas is available) I don't see anything better than Craft at the price we could sign him. Plus, Craft is a known commodity. Granted, he might not be known to Spagnuolo or Flajole, but he's known to Billy Devaney and I put a lot of stock into that.

After signing Craft, I'd look to add a cornerback in probably the 4th round. I guess I could justify the 3rd round but that would have to be determined on what the team has added before the draft and what the plan is for 2010. I think there might be a chance the team doesn't add a MLB at all and might try to make-do for a season with what they already have, and then shoot for the moon next year in either the draft or free agency. It's hard to tell. But I do consider Cornerback to be more of a need right now than Middle Linebacker.

So, all things considered, I think I'd look squarely at Captain Munnerlyn in the 4th while keeping my fingers crossed for Sean Smith in the 3rd. I would think if Smith is available when the Rams pick in the 3rd, they'd be hard pressed to pass him up. If he's not, then you almost have to add the best corner back on the board with your 4th pick. Any lower and you're really not adding someone who will be able to contribute right away. Not that Munnerlyn is a lock to start on opening day, but I think he has a chance to find the field and have some sort of impact.

Another guy I'd like to consider with the 4th pick is Mark Parson. In all honesty, I probably like him more than Munnerlyn, but I'm not sure where he's going to fall in the draft. He's probably 2nd round talent that has a chance to fall to the 4th.

So, there you have my take on the Rams Cornerback situation. It's thin, and the team must make an effort to shore it up and build for the future in an off season that makes that extremely difficult.

Remember, this post is not going to be found in the FanPost section, so keep "rec-ing" in which I think will get it into the "Recommended" section. I think this is a topic that needs to be discussed since I don't think many people here are recognizing the state our Cornerback unit is in.

Being Billy Devaney - WR

Tackle Box — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:03:16 -0000

Well, with the recent developments I suppose a look at the wide receiver position might be in order. There's been a LOT of talk about the position around here over the past week, whether it's been about drafting Michael Crabtree or the eventual release/trade of Pro-Bowl wide receiver/fan favorite/face of the franchise Torry Holt.

Honestly, it doesn't really matter if the Rams release or retain Holt, this is a position that is in need of a new number 1 type receiver anyway. Holt just isn't a top dog anymore and Donnie Avery is probably best suited as a number two deep threat. So, the position was going to have to be addressed at some point in the next two years.

I don't know about you, but I could go through a season of Avery as the number 1 with plans to go big next offseason. Then again, just like almost everything else this offseason, it kind of depends on how the dominoes fall. We still have positions like Offensive Tackle, Middle Linebacker, Strong Safety (c'mon James Butler, we know you want to sign, please let me cross that position off the to-do list), Defensive Line, and Cornerback as well as adding a competent back-up Quarterback and depth at Running Back and a few more positions.

Where exactly does the Wide Receiver position rank in all that mess? Well, that's hard to deterimine. In a perfect world, we'd add a really good, big receiver (not necessarily Crabtree) who can go through some growing pains this season and then will be all set for 2010. Is that a possiblity? Let's take a look after the jump.

Okay, so I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume Mr. Holt is gone. Heck, he might be gone by the time you read this. I have no idea what their time-table is for him (although I wouldn't be surprised if they waited until the last minute to release him after his little public release-request) but I'm about 99.999999% sure he's gone, so I won't include him in my review of what is on the roster.

Donnie Avery - 5'11" 190 - Signed through 2011. Avery will make $547,500K this season with $1.7475M counting against the cap (I think). He's young and fast and he makes spectacular catches. Plus, he's not a knuckle-head like a certain someone from the Eagles so I like his future. He's best suited to be a No. 2 receiver since he really can take advantage of one-on-one coverage. He's not going to be a guy who makes a living going over the middle, but he is a major weapon flying up the field.
Keenan Burton - 6'1" 200 - Signed through 2010. Burton will make $470K this season and should count that same amount against the cap. Burton had a bit of an up and down season last year. He was hurt in the real early and then showed flashes of greatness in the pre-season before getting hurt again (that's the correct order, right?). Then, it seemed like pulling teeth to get him on the field again and once he did, he had moments of really good play mixed with periods of disappearing. When it was all said and done, he played in 13 games and caught 13 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. Burton's got a little more size than I originally thought, so he's probably got a career as a pretty good No. 3 who can mix it up over the middle and can stretch the field from time to time. He battled injuries all year so he never really got on track.
Dane Looker - 6'0" 194 - Dane is actually a free agent, but I'm putting him on this list anyway since I think there's a good chance he comes back next year. Looker is not a star by any stretch of the imagination, but he's so valuable to a team, you almost value someone like him a little more than you probably should. Looker plays special teams and is one of the leaders on the team. He's held for field goals and he's hauled in huge catches that keep the chains moving in crunch time. Basically, he's a modern day Ricky Proehl. And a team needs a Ricky Proehl which is why I think he'll be back. Sure, there's a new coaching staff, but Looker's the kind of guy who's probably just hanging around Rams Park all offseaosn and the coaches just assume he's still on the team. Plus, he's a fan favorite (they actually sell a lot of Looker jerseys). Bottom line........I think he'll be back.....I hope he'll be back.
Derek Stanley - 5'11" 179 - Signed through 2009 and will be making $460K. Anyone know anything about him right now? Stanley tore his ACL late in the season so I'm assuming he's not going to be 100% come pre-season. Stanley's a burner and that ACL injury might diminish his value a tad. Stanley's season pretty much consisted of one big play and then a few more little catches here and there. He also returned kicks although his performance was a little underwhelming. He's no more than a 4th receiver and if he loses his speed due to the injury, he'll probably fade away rather quickly.
The Rams also have Travis Brown (6'2" 198), Matt Caddell (6'0" 187), and Nate Jones (6'2" 195) on "reserve/futures contracts" which means these players were on practice squads last season. I wouldn't expect too much from any of these 3 guys.

So, if the Rams re-sign Looker, we'll have 4 guys under contract and 3 of those guys (Avery, Burton, Looker) can expect to see regular time next season. With the addition of a big number one receiver, this unit is good. Real good. But as it stands right now, our receiver will get eaten alive by even the most average pass defenses. Now, having Randy McMichael and Steven Jackson running around catching passes does throw a wrinkle into the whole thing, but you cannot escape the fact the Rams need a legit number 1 receiver.

So, let's see if there's someone in free agency who tickles anyone's fancy.

Terrell Owens - Dallas Cowboys - 6'3" 224 - Owens isn't going to be a Ram. Period. End of sentence.
Marvin Harrison - Indianapolis Colts - 6'0" 185 - There's speculation out there that Harrison might not want to play anymore. He's been banged up the past couple of seasons, he'd be taking a pay cut, and there really hasn't been any interest in him anyway so he might be leaning towards retirement. He's really not a top receiver anymore and if Torry Holt has no place on this team, I can't imagine Marvin Harrison does since they're pretty much the same player. Sure, he'd be a great tutor for the young guys on the Rams, but I always find it interesting when people assume old vets want to be mentors on their way out to pasture.
Bobby Engram - Seattle Seahawks - 5'10" 192 - Engram used to be good. He's not anymore. Kansas City was said to have interest in him, but let him leave his visit without offering a contract. He's a major injury risk and isn't someone we should be looking at.
Ronald Curry - Oakland Raiders - 6'2" 210 - Curry's got good size but he really isn't a number 1 type of guy. He's also an injury risk but he's only 1 year removed from back-to-back 700 yard seasons. I think he's still got something left to offer, but it's probably as a number 2 and that's not what we're looking for. If we already had our No. 1, I'd really consider signing Curry since he's sure to come at an affordable price but right now, I think our money can be better spent elsewhere.

At this point, I'm going to cut this list short. We're looking for a number one receiver and frankly, there isn't one available. It's not like there isn't good receivers out there because there is, it's just they're not the types of receivers who the Rams really need right now. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is signed with Seattle and Devery Henderson re-signed with New Orleans, and after those two and the above list, you'll see guys like Shaun McDonald, Hank Baskett, Ashley Lelie, Koren Robinson, Amani Toomer, Marty Booker, Mike Furrey, Joey Galloway, D.J. Hackett, and Ike Hilliard. If you find something in that list that interests you, well then good for you, I guess.

Anyway, anyone surprised we found absolutely nothing here? I didn't think so. So, what now? Maybe we can find something in the draft.

(Remember, click the player's name for Mocking Dan)

Michael Crabtree - Texas Tech - 6'1" 215 - We all know Michael Crabtree around here. He's a stud. Yes. Probably gonna be a real good wide receiver for a long time. Had a bit of a downer combine where he shrunk and it was revealed he had a stress fracture in his foot but I wouldn't worry too much about either "issue". Tape don't lie. Just because he's 6'1" instead of 6'3" doesn't mean all those great plays we all saw him make this past season never happened. They happened. He's special. And the Rams have to think long and hard about whether this is their guy or not.
Jeremy Maclin - Missouri - 6'0" 198 - Maclin probably isn't really on the Rams draft board since there's really no chance they could draft him. He'll go too low to take with the 2nd overall pick, and he'll be gone long before the Rams pick in the 2nd round. Plus, I'm not sure he fits into what the Rams are looking for. Is he really a number 1 receiver in the NFL? Well, probably on more than a few teams. But I think he'd really be amazing as a number 2.
Darrius Heyward-Bey - Maryland - 6'3" 206 - Now, depending on what the Rams do with their 1st pick, Heyward-Bey (Hey-Bey) could be a name you should become very familiar with. If the Rams don't select Crabtree with their first pick, there's a damn good chance Hey-Bey could be available when the Rams make their next pick. Although, I wouldn't want to bet my draft on it. Heyward-Bey really helped boost his draft position at the combine by running a 4.30 40-yard and killed the position drills. Add those skills to his 6'3" 206 frame, and you're going to have to work mighty hard to convince me he's not going to be the best NFL Wide Receiver in this draft. Some think he might go in the top 15 picks leading the Chicago Sun Times to speculate he won't last until the Bears pick at number 18.
Brian Robiskie - Ohio State - 6'3" 199 - So, if not Crabtree or Hey-Bey, how about Brian Robiskie? Let's see. Robiskie was the GMAC Performer of the Day at the NFL combine by placing 9th in the vertical (37.5"), 8th in the 20-yard shuttle (4.19), and 5th in the 3-cone drill (6.72). Oh, and he ran a 4.48 40-yard and his dad was disappointed (btw, his dad is Terry Robiskie). This guy is big (and can probably fill out still) and is athletic (think about that 6'3" frame jumping 37.5 inches straight up). Pair Robiskie with Donnie Avery and you might have one hell of a wide receiver combo for years.
Kenny Britt - Rutgers - 6'3" 218 - So, maybe the Rams decide to go receiver with their second pick, still want a big receiver, and just miss out on Brian Robiskie. Well, Kenny Britt might be waiting right behind him and he's just as big. He was timed at 4.47 in the 40 and is a beast over the middle. The Giants are said to be interested in him to replace Plaxico Burress and there are more than a few similarities between the two on the field (hopefully not off the field).
Percy Harvin - Florida - 5'11" 197 - As far as the Rams are concerned, Harvin's size and injury history (neck, hamstring, ankle) has to be a negative. He's fast and elusive but is he was the Rams are looking for? For what it's worth, the Sacramento Bee speculates that the Raiders could possibly take Harvin with the 7th overall pick. Personally, I don't think he'll go anywhere close to that high, but never underestimate Al Davis. Maybe he figures Michael Vick is going to need a target who can run with him? Heck, Al might draft Harvin and put him in the backfield in the Wildcat formation.
Hakeem Nicks - North Carolina - 6'1" 215 - Nicks is another guy who has the size the Rams are probably looking for so he's definitely a possibility. Supposedly the Dolphins are extremely intrigued by Nicks and might take him fairly early (25th overall). Nicks, by the way, pulled up lame with a hamstring injury in the combine and he didn't run the 40 quite as fast as he predicted (he ran 4.51 and said he'd be in the low-to-mid 4.4s).
Louis Murphy - Florida - 6'3" 203 - Here's yet another guy who has the size the Rams should be looking for. Murphy missed the Senior Bowl due to going under the knife to clean out some cartilage in his knee but still ran a 4.43 40-yard at the combine. They guy is big and can flat out move (unfortunately he didn't do a vertical at the combine) although he might be best used in an offense that allows him to be single covered as opposed to being the main guy.
Juaquin Iglesias - Oklahoma - 6'1" 204 - Iglesias was considered by the National Football Post as the "most natural receiver" at the Senior Bowl practice field. Everything I read about Iglesias reminds me of Torry Holt. He's a savvy route runner with reliable hands and tracks the ball well over both shoulders. He's also spent time as a kick and punt returner so he's got that going for him and the Rams definitely need someone back there who can get out past the 22 yard line. He's also not afraid to go over the middle. Iglesias would be a solid pick for the Rams. He's not the biggest and strongest receiver in the draft, but he's as solid as they come and the team could always go and draft a big dude in the first round next year.
Brandon Gibson - Washington State - 6'1" 202 - Gibson's got decent size but he's considered more of a possession receiver. Probably more of a role player as opposed to a number one guy the Rams really need. Plus, he pulled a hamstring at the Senior Bowl and didn't participate in the combine. That definitely hurt his draft position.
Derrick Williams - Penn State - 5'11" 197 - Had a poor showing at the combine but it's been revealed he had the flu which probably had an effect on his performance. Williams is actually a great athlete who has the potential to be a great playmaker, but he's been inconsistent in his career at Penn State. He's also had durability concerns.
Aaron Kelly - Clemson - 6'5" 190 - Kelly set the Clemson record for single-season catches his junior year and followed that campaign up with 67 catches for 722 yards and 4 touchdowns in his senior season. He also spent time returning kicks and punts so he has versatility. He's a tall dude and recorded a 38 inch vertical at the combine with a 4.49 40-yard. He's got talent.
Kevin Ogletree - Virginia - 6'2" 189 - Ogletree is really interesting. Playing at Virginia was a good and bad scenario for him. The good? He played in a pro-style offense. The bad? He never had a good quarterback. Also, keep in mind he posted a 4.38 40-yard and he missed 2007 with an ACL injury....and he still ran a 4.38! Ogletree's got a very good chance at being drafted in the middle rounds. Is he the type of guy the Rams are targeting? I'm thinking they have to have their eye on him. If they miss out on some of the guys listed above or feel the need to get a MLB or a CB or something else in rounds 2, 3, and maybe 4, picking Ogletree after the 3rd round could turn out to be a big steal.
Pat White - West Virginia - 6'0" 197 - Many feel he'll be drafted as a wide receiver and compare him to Antwan Randle-El but I don't think the Rams are in the market for a player like White.
Ramses Barden - Cal Poly SLO - 6'6" 229 - In his senior season for Cal Poly, Barden posted 67 receptions for 1,257 yards and 18 touchdowns which is impressive anywhere. He's not particularly fast (4.57 40-yard) compared to the rest of this year's wide receiver field but it's still pretty good. Barden could be a future WR/TE hybrid like Antonio Gates.

Okay, the Wide Receiver position is majorly deep and this is great news for the Rams. There's really no pressure for the Rams to spend their first round pick on Crabtree especially since I think there are a couple of other receivers who fit the Rams needs much better and could have just as good a career (if not better) than Crabtree.

If there's anyone here that can now make a legitimate argument for anyone on the free agent list after seeing the depth and breadth of the draft, then I welcome you to make that argument

Actually, this draft is too deep for the Rams not to take a dip in and see if they can't find a gem. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, they've always got next season to draft that big mofo since they should be much more solidified across the board with young and talented players on both sides of the ball.

Personally, I'd like the team to pass on Crabtree and target a group of receivers including Robiskie, Britt, Nicks, and Iglesias. Outside of Iglesias, all of those guys are projected in some mocks to go in the first round and in the late 2nd or early 3rd in others. But, so are a lot of the guys on this list so I'm inclined to think one or two of these guys is going to slip and be available when the Rams make their 3rd pick. Whoever, they get, is going to be able to help immediately and they might find themselves with an absolute steal.