Different Take on LB for the Rams

by Reading Ram on Feb 25, 2008 2:56 PM CST Comment 4 comments

I have a different take then the recent rumblings here that we should persue a trade for Vilma. While Vilma would be a nice fit I think it would be a one spot fit where we need to address several positions. We could do this with some drastic player changes.

Bear with me on this one.

Draft Sedrik Ellis, This guy has been nothing but positive, he would work great as a nose or could play a 4-3 Tackle if we need to depending on our choice for this year.

Try to Sign Allen Faneca, I wrote a bit on this before. We do not just want to have a shot next year but with 3 wins we want to fix some problem spots. If we can sign Faneca then Cut pace which should give us the cap room we need.

Try to Sign Lance Briggs, This is in place of the trade for Vilma. I see Briggs as a better fit and the guy is a more dominate player then Vilma. This may create some cap issues but we NEED to address Bruce's contract. If we do then we can make this move or at least try and cut a linebacker and hopefully restructure Bruce.

Now look at this picture. Adam Moves outside to DE, Ellis takes over the middle, Briggs at LB and Faneca to address out LT issues. Our DBs stay out of trouble and all of a sudden the rams have a Defense and we shored up LT for a few years to come...

If this all falls apart and wild speculation sometimes does. And we can not sign Faneca or Briggs then We do not cut pace, Sign Ellis and try to Trade for Vilma...Or work that at the same time to see which deal we can work out. Pace and Bruce = 14.5 Million in Cap space. Alot can be done with that and few people think Pace will last the year in 08

I like to dream big. We have alot of issues to address up front and in the LB core and this does alot of it in a big sweep. If you have a choice between Briggs and Vilma which would you choose? :)

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i wish

I wish we could get Briggs and Faneca but we will have to line up behind plenty of other teams. Also, we don't look too much like an attractive destination for many top free agents.

by jroman on Feb 25, 2008 3:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

True, but

I would say that the attraction would definatly needs to be the cash. If we want to reverse this position it needs to be aggressive.

15 million a year in cap space and out 9.6 currently is not a bad chunk of change to play with.

We can always hope. Even if it is not both if we get one we can hang on to Pace perhaps. I do not think Barron should be starting though so he concerns me. If Pace does not make the year and Barron is our plan for a backup I am afraid I will be yelling "Run for your life" at Bulger again this year. I hope that is not the case.

However, If we make the move for Faneca and can not get him we can always fall back on the Draft and take Jake long(assuming the #1 pick does not and I have a feeling Miami is going to trade out for more picks and someone will go up for Darren...)

by Reading Ram on Feb 25, 2008 3:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Just one more

Comment to my comments

Alan Faneca in 2007 made 6,122,750(cap hit) base salary of about 3.5 million. If we just pay him what PAce is making your looking at upwards of a 2 million dollar a year raise.

Lance Briggs is making in and around 7.2 Million. So he would be a bit more painful but your only talking about a cap hit in year one a little more then Bruce's. I love Bruce of course what Rams fan does not, but I love Briggs at LB for ours years to come(he is only like 28)

by Reading Ram on Feb 25, 2008 3:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'm sorry, but Faneca and Briggs

Are going to be closer to the 10 mil mark in free angency. Free agents are so weak this year that the top two guys (these ARE the top two guys), are going to the bank big time.

Take the #2 OG what's his name guy from NFL Pit in free angency.

Jeremy Zuttah Rutgers. What do you know about this guy? Please Rams fans, Let's look for unusuall opertunities, keep our base players, and don't spend the lot on a couple of overpriced free agents. That is the only way we will be competitive. No quick fixes mucho bucks (ain't gonna work + don't have the money).

one bourbon, one scotch, and one beer.

by chosen1 on Feb 26, 2008 4:50 AM CST reply actions 0 recs