Dude, you're gettin' a Dorsey

by VanRam on Mar 27, 2008 9:41 AM CDT in News

Draft time offers a lot of platitudes. Trying to read into what the coaches and front office people are saying is futile, so recent comments that have the Rams interested in LSU DT Glenn Dorsey with their second overall pick in the April draft make me wonder.

Remember, they're also high on Gholston, but don't know about taking him with the second overall pick. And Jake Long is seen by some as a sure thing for the second pick.

In the PD article from Monday, there was some speculation that their interest in Dorsey could intensify.

If Dorsey's healthy, he could shoot to the top of the Rams' draft board. Right now, that's a big if.

"We really like him a lot," Linehan said. "We've got to make sure on a lot of stuff on him. ... I think you've got to see him work out."

LSU held their Pro Day yesterday, and Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett was in attendance. Dorsey, after missing the Senior Bowl and workouts at the Combine, had a lot riding on his workout in Baton Rouge. Seems like he put to rest the doubts and rumors about his health that had become so common in the wake of the college football season.

Hashmarks has the wrap on his workout results; let's just say they were solid.

Two things stand out here. First, is this quote from an unnamed pro scout in attendance.

"I know people talk about the injuries, but we're not too worried. He's the type of kid who won't come off the field unless you make him."

Set aside the question of whether or not the Rams should take a DT in the first round. The Rams have had problems with guys not giving 110% in the past (jimmy Kennedy anyone?) and having guys that won't quit can do a lot for the team.

Then there's this nugget from an NFC scout:

"He reminds you a little of Warren Sapp when he was younger. I could see him turning into a pretty impressive pass-rusher from the tackle spot, but he could also slide down and play some defensive end in the 3-4."

And that, my friends, likely explains the Rams interest. Hell, I almost wonder if that's not Haslett himself or at least someone in the Rams entourage.

Here's a video of Dorsey working out at pro day.

Thoughts about drafting Dorsey now?

0 recs | Comment 18 comments

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Comments

you know what

I like Dorsey, and I like him even more as a competitor. If he's healthy, I think he's the best D-lineman in the draft. If he proves he's healthy in this workout, by all means pick him.
I only worry about a pass rush with the line of:
Carriker-Dorsey-Ryan-Little.
I guess we could blitz very freely.
Who knows.

by jroman on Mar 27, 2008 10:17 AM CDT 0 recs

reading comprehension

Dorsey can pass rush from the DT spot, whoops.

by jroman on Mar 27, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

Comparisons

Before I post this, first I'll put a disclaimer. I saw this on the stltoday.com ram's forum posted by picklefork, who at least acts like he knows what hes talking about and who may or may not warrant credibility. He compared Dorsey's pro day (from lsu's website) to carriker's numbers from last year. Take it for what its worth but I thought they were interesting. If nothing else, it should show the type of athlete that carriker is.

Dorsey
Height 6-1 3/4"
Weight 297
Arm 34 5/8"
Hand 10"
40 yrd 5.14
Bench 27 reps
Short Shuttle 4.95
3 Cone 7.63
Broad Jump 8 ft 4"
Vertical 25 1/2

Carriker
6'6 296lbs
40 yrd 4.90 (4.72 at pro day)
Bench 33 reps
Short Shuttle 4.18
3 Cone 7.06
Broad Jump 9 ft 2"
Vertical 33 1/2

by 636thestruggle on Mar 27, 2008 10:30 AM CDT 0 recs

wow

its amazing that Carriker is bigger, stronger AND faster. wow.

by jroman on Mar 27, 2008 10:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

I've heard the Sapp thing a lot

If he turns out to be a young Warren Sapp, I'm kinda for it.

by Option27 on Mar 27, 2008 10:42 AM CDT 0 recs

No on Dorsey

Our track record with drafting DTs is horrible= No Dorsey
Our track record with drafting LSU players is horrible (see Kennison, Eddie and Wroten, Claude)= No Dorsey

I do not want to draft a DT.

Why is there a Mark McGwire highway and no Larry Marmie highway?

by Marmie is the best on Mar 27, 2008 10:46 AM CDT 0 recs

i agree

however, this new(ish) administration has not picked any of the DTs that didn't pan out or any of the LSU players named above. so, i don't think they are personally tainted by those past mistakes.
LSU has some good players, I don't think we should ban them from the Rams squad forever.

by jroman on Mar 27, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up 0 recs

the DE thing

I kind of had him pegged as the NT in a 3-4, but the expressed sentiment that he could play DE occasionally in the 3-4 blew me away.

jroman, don't forget the pass rushing power that is Will Witherspoon in a 3-4 package either. Man, if we could grab Groves in the 2nd round, the defensive line would instantly be a force to be reckoned with.

what a sea change, the Rams as a defensive powerhouse.

by VanRam on Mar 27, 2008 11:26 AM CDT 0 recs

me too

i had him at NT as well, but who knows who is saying what around draft time.
Witherspoon is a pass rushing force in the 4-3 or 3-4.
i think if we draft dorsey, we will be able to find some pass rush. (understatement of the year)
and yes to groves.

by jroman on Mar 27, 2008 11:43 AM CDT up 0 recs

does the 3-4 look like this?

DE- Carriker
NT- Clifton Ryan
DE- Long/Dorsey/Hall (this one I struggle with)

Witherspoon and Little as the two outside rushing LBs. Pisa and Culberson ILBs.

Take Groves in the draft, moves Little back to DE (might waste his speed a bit there)??

by VanRam on Mar 27, 2008 11:31 AM CDT 0 recs

nervous

i'm nervous about Little playing linebacker-even if he is mostly rushing-, he looked lost at LB in his younger days with the rams.
if he is rushing every time, why not just play a 4-3.

by jroman on Mar 27, 2008 11:45 AM CDT up 0 recs

Did Ryan just gain 30 lbs?

Rumor has it that Ryan is actually better at the 3 technique and Carrike better at the nt (in the 4-3, of course).

one bourbon, one scotch, and one beer.

by chosen1 on Mar 28, 2008 4:36 AM CDT up 0 recs

Dorsey...

is clearly at the top of the heap now. He would occupy two blockers and provide pressure from the 3-technique slot. Ryan would be NT. Carriker would rotate in and replace Dorsey, Ryan, and Hall, as required. In a 3-4, Dorsey would be the NT and Little and Carriker would be the DE's. These guys would provide a lot of flexibility to the line and make it a real strong point. With Glover and Adeyanju as backups, everyone would stay fresh.

If Miami drafts Dorsey, which I believe is unlikely, then we should go with C. Long if we can't trade down. Wouldn't trade down past #5 so that we could be reasonably sure of getting Gholston.

by Dochal on Mar 28, 2008 2:03 AM CDT 0 recs

i agree

however, if Dorsey and Ryan were the tackles...I would start Little and Carriker at End being that Carriker is better than any of our other ends.

by jroman on Mar 28, 2008 8:12 AM CDT up 0 recs

hrmm...

I am ok with Dorsey being a number 2. BUT I doubt very highly that the rams will take him over Jake Long or Chris long.

Jake is a mauler that we could have on our team for the next 15 years.

Chris is an athletic pass rusher with a 110% motor.

If they want to draft Dorsey to use as an DE then why would you take him here when you will definatly have either gholsten or Long avail? Both of them beat him out in the measurables and both make a better 3-4 OLB.....

It just does not make a lot of sense to me. If we were in the 3-5 slot this conversation would make more sense...

by Reading Ram on Mar 28, 2008 8:53 AM CDT 0 recs

I am all over

the place with what the Rams should do. But I will tell you this... if they draft Dorsey, watch out, because this dude can flat out play. He was my original choice for the first pick and I hope he sticks. If we don't take Dorsey then I hope we trade down.

by AmpLee on Mar 28, 2008 11:53 AM CDT 0 recs

It is crazy

who fricken knows. I agree that for some reason I thing Dorsey is the best pick. But I am certainly not sure. Who do we trade down with again, and for what?

one bourbon, one scotch, and one beer.

by chosen1 on Mar 28, 2008 11:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

We trade down

with KC for their #1 and #2 this year...they need Jake Long real bad, so we can give them the opportunity...in return, we get Gholston with KC's #1 and a WR and an OT with our two #2's...

by Dochal on Mar 31, 2008 2:13 AM CDT 0 recs