SB Nation User Blog: Tackle Box

Picking the Best Available Talent: Smith vs Curry

Tackle Box — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:55:08 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

6 months ago: FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2009 file photo, Baylor offensive lineman Jason Smith runs a drill at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Smith is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

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Okay, so we've heard a lot of talk around here lately about the best strategy to use when drafting during a rebuild. Do you pick for need or pick best available talent. Obviously, there can be an argument made for either strategy, but you have to take each situation as a unique situation. For the Rams, I think the consensus around here is they went "need" followed by "best available". I'm not 100% sold on that though, so I figured I'd take a deeper look into what was known last year heading up to the draft to try to see if I can find anything.

So, as we all know, the Rams chose not to pick Aaron Curry (or Mark Sanchez) with their 2nd overall pick (btw, neither did the Lions.......but I'm not sure that's a vote of confidence) and instead took OT Jason Smith. There were plenty of draftniks and experts who lauded the combine performance of Aaron Curry which vaulted him into almost super-human ranks. And as we know, the media never over-reacts to things like the draft or an awesome game and extrapolates that performance over a player's career. Never, right?

Anyway, let's look at Aaron Curry's college career at Wake Forest.

Well, he was pretty good (to say the least). One could say he was a tacklin' machine recording 81, 99, and 101 tackles his final 3 years at WF. However, one might look at his big play stats (turnovers and sacks) and think they should be a little higher for someone labeled the best player in the draft. In 2006, Curry recorded 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 INT. In 2007, he tallied, 3 sacks, 2 FF, and 4 INTs. Then in 2008, he had 2 sacks, 1 FF, and 1 INT.

Jim Laurinaitis, whom the Rams picked in the 2nd round, had total tackles of 116, 121, and 130 in his last 3 years. In 2006 he combined for 4 sacks, 3 FF, and 5 INTs. In 2007, he had 5 sacks, 0 FF, and 2 INTs. Then in 2008 he totaled 4 sacks, 1 FF, and 2 INTs.

Over the same 3 seasons, Curry amassed 281 tackles, 8 sacks, 5 FF, and 6 INTs while Laurinaitis had totals of 367 tackles, 13 sacks, 4 FF, and 9 INTs. By the way, Laurinaitis had 251 tackles in his last two seasons which is almost as many as Curry totaled in his final 3 seasons at WF.

Just looking at those rough stats, I think one would have a diffucult time making the argument that Curry was better than Laurinaitis, let alone the best player in the draft hands down. Was Curry over-rated or was Laurinaitis under-rated according to those stats?

Okay, so in looking at that, it doesn't look like Curry was head and shoulders the best player in the draft. But, that's not exactly what it's all about, right? We need to know how athletic a guy is and what kind of character he brings. Curry was definitely a physical specimen at the combine and made front page news on ESPN.com with his physical prowess. Let see what was being said:

From NFL.com:

He has very good athleticism making plays in front of him, but bites often on play-action, lacks good depth playing in the zone and is a bit too stiff to generate the sideline-to-sideline range to make impact plays on the outside, where he struggles to stop the runner's forward momentum. He can clog the rush lanes when he stays low in his pads. Put him inside in a 3-4 alignment and he can be equally productive getting to the quarterback as he did in college. Play him on the outside and he will be exposed in a quick and deep passing game.

Okay, so it seems his athleticism was by far his greatest asset and I doubt many here would disagree with that. Then again, this might be why he was so popular with the talking heads after his performance at the combine. He blew the competition out of the water at the combine, but as we all know there have been plenty of players who impressed there but did less than impress once they stepped on the field.

Was there too much importance placed on Curry's combine? Probably. Don't get me wrong, he was a heck of a player at Wake Forest, but was he, hands down, the best player available? I don't think that's completely clear, especially when a guy who put up better numbers than he did got drafted in the 2nd round. Why was Laurinaitis drafted lower? Answer: It all had to do with physicality.

Alright, so we've talked about Aaron Curry for a while here but we've yet to discuss Jason Smith. Well, finding stats on an college Offensive Lineman that gives us a good idea of his impact is a little difficult so let's just look at what was said about him on NFL.com:

Smith needs to add at least another 20 pounds of bulk to handle the rigors of playing left tackle at the next level. His lack of great footwork and need to improve his stance could be covered up better playing inside for a year or two because he's still a neophyte at the left tackle position (19 starts). Once his body matures, his athletic skills will make him a quality left tackle in the mold of another former college tight end, Jason Peters (Buffalo).

Guess what sticks out to me? Two words....."tight end". I remember making the statement before the draft that I was sick of hearing about Smith being a "converted tight end" but let's not look past that and realize what is being said here. Smith was always been looked at as someone who needed to put on weight and was still developing, but his "athletic skills" were never in question and were always lauded. Every where you look on that page (if you click the link) you'll see descriptions like "ultra-athletic", "tall, athletic", "outstanding athleticism". It also talks about him being a "neophyte" at the left tackle position and that once he matures into his body he'll be a "quality left tackle". He's "raw".

Guess, what I'm noticing.... Curry and Smith were probably the two top athletes in the draft and which one was more "athletic" might not be so clear.

Sure, we all remember how much Curry was lauded because of his performance at the combine, but for some reason we fail to remember that Smith was talked about in the same vein. He was a "converted tight end" with "outstanding athleticism". We also have forgotten that he wasn't supposed to step right in and be Orlando Pace. Honestly, he may never be Orlando Pace, but is that even a realistic expectation? All along he was supposed to develop over time and with only having three games under his belt, it might be a little early to be making any judgements.

So, back to the question at hand. Did the Rams employ the "need" strategy or the "best available talent" strategy. I was starting to think it was "need" but now after remembering the hype that surrounded Smith, I'm thinking it might have been a combination of the two.

What happens when you have two guys who are both considered great athletes and are at the top of your list? How do you differentiate between the two? Well, I think in that case you figure it's a no-lose situation and you go with the greater need. Now, at this point, it all comes down to opinion. No matter what, the Rams weren't going to draft a QB in the first round so if anyone is out there thinking "hey, what about Sanchez?" well, it wasn't going to happen with Bulger's contract situation. But, where the decision lies is, what does the team need more? A Left Tackle or a Middle Linebacker?

And I think an arguement could have been made for either, but the stronger arguement probably lies with Left Tackle, since they could always just keep Witherspoon in the midde, which is what I suspect is the conclusion the Rams draft team arrived at on that day.

So, in the end, the Rams drafted an extremely athletic Left Tackle who is expected to and should mature and develop into a very good Tackle down the line and a hell of a middle linebacker who has the ability to lead the defense for years. It could have been much worse. We could have drafted Nate Davis to be our new Nickle Back.

Chat with Rams LB Will Witherspoon, Fri. 1:30pm CT

Tackle Box — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:34:15 -0000

Chat with Rams LB Will Witherspoon, Fri. 1:30pm CT

Click the link to pre-submit your question.

Chat With Rams GM Billy Devaney

Tackle Box — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:55:11 -0000

Chat With Rams GM Billy Devaney

Want to ask Billy Devaney why we don't have any Wide Receivers? Want to ask him why Alex Barron is still employed? Feel like having your question heard by the big guy? Well, wait no longer. Rams GM Billy Devaney will be doing a LIVE Chat Friday at 2pm CT on the Rams official website. Click here to submit your question in advance (which means it's not really a "LIVE" Chat.....)

Let's see if we can get some TST questions answered!

D-Bag of the Universe

Tackle Box — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:15:13 -0000

D-Bag of the Universe

This guy makes Ryan Braun look like Mother Theresa.

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?