Romberg's back

by VanRam on Mar 21, 2008 9:01 AM CDT in News

The Romberg signing appeals to me on sort of 'devil you know' level. He has a track record with the team, and has been solid if unspectacular. His play down the stretch during the 2006 season, the last good stretch of Rams football since '04, earned him a spot on the roster last season and makes me feel at least mostly comfortable with him in the middle of the line. Last year was only his second in the league. If the Rams do get another center, Romberg gives them good depth at the league minimum. He's also the kind of player that could benefit with some talent around him on the line, the old rising tide lifts all ships theory or the Jacob Bell dividend.

In the recent past, the Rams haven't done well with getting the most of talented prospects like Wroten, Barron, Klopfenstein, Kennedy, etc. or even a free agent with some potential like Romberg. I don't think anyone would argue with that notion; the batting average is just too low. The difficulties of the old regime are well documented, and the tumult of the 2005 season just wasn't the kind of situation where young players are going to grow on their own. Since taking the helm ahead of the 2006 season, Linehan's simply been too overwhelmed as a head coach to make those things happen. This is already a make or break year for Linehan, and add to the list of things that need to happen this year besides winning is the growth and development of talent like Brian Leonard, Tye Hill, etc. There's hope there, and the coaching changes could do much to help the situation. We saw progress from young talent last season with Carriker and Clifton Ryan. That ought to be something to build on.

Who is David Macklin? I had to ask myself the same thing. Here's a few choice words from the Redskins bloggers at Hog Heaven from Feb 2008:

Macklin has experience as a starter in this league in both Indianapolis and Arizona. The experience mostly includes getting torched regularly by second class wide receivers. As a dime back covering the slot receiver, you could do worse than Macklin.

...players of Macklin's stature tend not to hang around past age thirty. I'm sure that he would really like to retire as a Redskin, and he will have the oppertunity to do so, but if he couldn't crack the playing roster with all the injuries in 2007, it's going to take some pretty incriminating photos of Greg Blache for Macklin to make the team in 2008, even if he bothers to go through the paperwork to play another season.

Surely, this is a move about depth, depth for camp. They'll give him a look and use him as a Ron Bartell replacement if Bartell becomes a Fakhir Brown replacement in the best case scenario for Macklin. If they follow our advice and take a corner early in the draft, Macklin might make the practice squad.

I'd definitely hold off on ordering your Macklin jersey.

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Young rams

For now, we have to have faith in hill, leonard, ryan, and carriker.

Klop was a high enough pick to give him another year. Wroten may have already become cut-bait. I don't know what to say about barron.

Macklin is a cheap, emergency backup.

one bourbon, one scotch, and one beer.

by chosen1 on Mar 22, 2008 1:21 AM CDT 0 recs

Billy Devanney

I heard an interview at http://stlsportsinsider.com/ it had Billy Devanney on and he had alot of good info you should check it talks about the draft and other off season moves check it out.

by teevis89 on Mar 22, 2008 2:25 AM CDT 0 recs

Macklin

I have to agree with the assessment of the Redskins guys on CB David Macklin. I live in Arizona and had the distinct displeasure of not only having to watch Cardinal games (I don't have DirecTV) but also, in particular, Macklin's play at cornerback. In one word - atrocious. Saying that he gets torched puts it mildly...he is a walking eternal flame. Too small, a step slow, and always in the best position to see a completed pass. I wanted to hurl when I read about this pick. Even worse was Linehan's comment that, "We had good grades on him." Oh, really? From where? Kindergarten, maybe? Apparently Macklin is projected as a nickel back...that's accurate because it sums up his worth. I hope he is no more than camp fodder.

by Dochal on Mar 22, 2008 3:49 AM CDT 0 recs

Thanks

for the info Dochal. The Rams acquire DB's and Special Teams like the Stl Cards acquire starting pitching: scrap heap bullshit. The only problem is we don't have a Dave Duncan on the Rams to make something out of these losers. Oh well, I guess more and more and more of the same shit when it comes to crispy corners. God I hate Linehan so much.

by AmpLee on Mar 23, 2008 1:27 AM CDT 0 recs