2009 Rams free agents - offense

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jan 15, 2009 10:11 AM CST in News

With plenty of roster turnover predicted - and needed - the Rams may get some help through parting ways with some free agents. Which Rams free agents should the team hang hang on to and which ones should go? Let's take a look.

QB Brock Berlin - He's a Restricted free agent (RFA), and probably worth keeping around to see if he can earn the vaunted 3rd QB spot in camp this summer.

RB Sakmon Gado - Why bother?

RB Travis Minor - A Linehan employee, Minor hasn't really contributed much beyond special teams. With the Rams in the market for a studly #2 RB and Brian Leonard coming back from injury, Minor would be a major inconvenience on the roster.

KR/WR Dante Hall - Adios. Some much needed money off the books for the Rams, the close of another "meh" free agent story.

WR Dane Looker - They guy played hard this season, and probably earned the right to compete for a roster spot next year. He surely wouldn't be expensive to keep around, at least in his role as a holder.

OG Richie Incognito, RFA - He has value, or does he? See our earlier discussion(s) of Incognito's future with the Rams.

OG Mark Setterstrom, RFA - If he can play, I'd love to see him in uniform again. The Rams could certainly use him. Unfortunately, a shattered knee cap may have ended his career.

OT Brandon Gorin - The Rams signed him to a one year deal last spring, and then he got injured in camp an put on IR. Might be worth considering for depth competition at camp.

OL Adam Goldberg - Played 2008 on a one year deal. He's been useful as a depth guy, playing multiple positions on the line. Probably worth keeping since he'd be cheap.

Alright, weigh in.

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I REALLY REALLY hope we can have a thorough upgrade of the back-up QB positions and that includes bringing in a better #3 guy, whether that is through the draft or free agency. I’m just not convinced that Berlin could handle the position if you had to rely on him for an extended period. Every year, at least one team has both it’s starter and it’s number 2 go down. It’s happened here before. If Bulger and whomever is #2 are unavailable for more than a game or two, I want a guy who can do more than just hand off to the RB’s. Just not a fan of Berlin.

by tbell61 on Jan 15, 2009 10:33 AM CST reply actions

If your starter and backup both go down

you’re pretty much screwed anyway.

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Jan 15, 2009 11:19 AM CST up reply actions

unless you’re the Ravens and you make Flacco your #3 behind Kyle Boller and Troy Smith.

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Jan 15, 2009 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

I love the TST reactions to Incognito

Is he a dummy? Sure. But aren’t his outbursts more a result of a disruptive team environment? A more professional, focused franchise would have probably nipped the entire Incognito saga in the bud after the Redskins game. If you remember, Incognito got a dumb penalty that almost cost us the chance to win the game. Obviously, the Rams (with a new head coach in his first game) were not prepared to deal with those kinds of issues. A franchise with a more focused mentality would have been able to get him line (or off the line, as it were) immediately.

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Jan 15, 2009 11:24 AM CST reply actions

I think you're right, 3k

I liked how they handled him for the Atlanta game (unfortunately the last game of the season). If Haslett had benched him earlier, who knows what might have happened. I also admit that there may have been some things that occurred internally that the media and fans know nothing about.

I’d like to see how a new coaching staff would handle him. He DOES have an upside.

by tbell61 on Jan 15, 2009 11:47 AM CST up reply actions

Oh, he's definitely got an upside

He’s a good blocker. A coach who can maximize his potential and temper the penalties that result from his personality will find themselves with an incredibly valuable asset on their O-line

Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.

by 3k on Jan 15, 2009 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

Incognito

With all of the help needed on the O line, how do we get rid of him?

by RD198201 on Jan 15, 2009 2:09 PM CST reply actions

O-Line

We need as much depth as possible on the O-Line so you could make a case for keeping at least 2 or 3 of these guys. As much as I hate Incognito we might need him. Every other free agent can hit the road.

by ksmooth on Jan 15, 2009 2:49 PM CST reply actions

Some FA pick ups-

This doesn’t help the line- but say they draft Andre Smith- Setterstrom comes back and they work Greco in (with a 300lb Bell) and Pace can give them 12-14 games… it seems something like this is going to be needed to see a Dolphins like rise from the ashes…

perhaps looking at a few UFA’s-

Re-sign- Holt, Bartell, Atogwe

Sign ONE of the following? (2?)

CB
Nnamdi Asomugha
Chris Gamble
Dunta Robinson

MLB
Vilma
Dansby
(Ray Lewis!)

by ukdutch on Jan 15, 2009 3:18 PM CST reply actions

unfortunately

Robinson’s the only CB on that list that hasn’t already been resigned.

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jan 15, 2009 3:39 PM CST up reply actions

but

I’d sure take him for the Rams

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jan 15, 2009 3:40 PM CST up reply actions

nuts

I made this list a little while back… nuts- I still think they NEED to re-sign the above from the team and make at least one attempt at a big name to help the OL (I think the offense, if healthy can work out- and then I suppose we can talk defense (where a big pickup of phenom rookie is a necessity when the defense becomes the discussion

by ukdutch on Jan 15, 2009 3:43 PM CST up reply actions