Which OT should the Rams target?
by VanRam on Jan 9, 2009 3:02 PM CST
in 2009 NFL draft
11 comments
Funny how exciting the draft gets when you're team finishes under .500, again. But that's the great thing about being a Rams fan, or a sports fan in general, you're always just a few right moves away from having something to get excited about again. With that, I thought this Friday afternoon might be a good time to quickly check in on the draft consensus. With the second overall pick in the draft, again, who will the Rams take?
For me, if the Rams take anyone that stands less than 6'4" and weighs less than 320 lbs, oh, and plays offensive tackle, is a wasted pick. Alright, I'm being irrational, but the Rams need for a stud OT, the next Orlando Pace if you will, has become painfully obvious. Just ask Marc Bulger or Steven Jackson how painfully obvious.
Looking at the 2009 Mock Draft database complied by the site HailRedskins.com, it appears the draft pundits agree, most of them, about the need for an OT. A few outliers predict have the Rams drafting someone other than an OT, and most of those scenarios have the Lions taking an OT with their first overall pick. Don't automatically assume the Lions will take a QB; there are legit arguments out there for the woeful Lions to take an offensive tackle with the first pick to kick off the rebuilding process.
Enough about the Lions, we've got our own shitty football team's future to talk about. Rolling through the mock drafts most seem to agree that Alabama OT Andre Smith is the best OT in the draft, and the ideal pick for the Rams at the number two spot. ESPN's Todd McShay agrees with that assessment as does our own 3k. Ole MIss OT Michael Oher gets some prognostication as the #2 pick, but conventional wisdom seems to think that Smith ranks higher.
Why? There seems to be little question about Smith's ability at the next level, and the biggest concern about him is whether or not his weight will hinder the agility he'll need on the left side. For Oher, there are questions about his size and strength working against him on run blocking at the NFL level, as well as some concern about how well he'll pick up offensive schemes.
I honestly haven't done enough homework yet to make a call here, so I'll open it up to you. Who do you prefer? What's the case for or against Oher or Smith with the Rams' second pick?
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Which is better in pass protection? And which plays in a more complex offensive scheme?
Andre Smith is an impressive brute, and I was checking out some of the Andre Smith highlights on YouTube that TackleBox linked to, and he did an impressive job of just swallowing the man in front of him and pushing him back on nearly every play. However, ’Bama is an old-school collegiate run-dominant team. How is he backpedaling against a fierce pass rush?
"Attaway to stomp 'em. Stomp the piss out of 'em. Stomp 'em when they're down. Kick 'em and stomp 'em. Attaway to go boys. Pound that old Budweiser into you and go get them tomorrow." -- Joe Schultz
by taiko on Jan 9, 2009 4:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
From the videos I watched
he seemed to do fine against a pass rush. You see him react to blitzes as well as you see the same dude using about every technique he can think of to get bye him. That tells me whoever he’s going against in those clips was having a bitch of a day and was doing anything he could to mix it up.
Btw. Remember who he’s doing this against. This is the SEC. It’s not the MAC or Mountain West or whatever. The SEC is pretty loaded with talent almost across the board when compared to other conferences (only the Big 12 comes close).
IMO. This discussion begins and ends with the words Andre Smith.
A teenage boy with a sprit inside
Of a Samurai warrior who long ago died.
Now he's O....O....O....O Oshikuru!
O....O....O....O Oshikuru!
My oh My he's a demon Samurai
Who's the guy who had to die.......Oshikuru!
by Tackle Box on Jan 9, 2009 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
hey, easy on the Mountain West
Wyoming alum here. We know we’ve got an inferiority complex, but you try to recruit kids to play ball in Wyoming…
by VanRam on Jan 10, 2009 12:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, I mentioned the MAC first (NIU alum)
so after that, all conferences are fair game.
And, no. I don’t want to try to recruit kids to play football in Wyoming. No thank you. Although, to shoot a little hole in your excuse, Boise State seems to be able to do it……..
A teenage boy with a sprit inside
Of a Samurai warrior who long ago died.
Now he's O....O....O....O Oshikuru!
O....O....O....O Oshikuru!
My oh My he's a demon Samurai
Who's the guy who had to die.......Oshikuru!
by Tackle Box on Jan 10, 2009 10:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Well....
not to Wyoming. That would be a waste of time for BSU. But you get my angle, right?
A teenage boy with a sprit inside
Of a Samurai warrior who long ago died.
Now he's O....O....O....O Oshikuru!
O....O....O....O Oshikuru!
My oh My he's a demon Samurai
Who's the guy who had to die.......Oshikuru!
by Tackle Box on Jan 10, 2009 10:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Here are some materials for you to peruse
I’m holding out on my own overall summary of what I thought of A-Smith (I saw 4 ’Bama games this year), but here are some good resources to answer some of those questions:
- Steve Muench from Scouts, Inc. reviewed Smith’s performance against Florida’s defense (which had a decent night last night, no?) in early December here. Muench also brings up the conventional wisdom on Smith which is that he has difficulty handling speed rushers, but who doesn’t?
- DraftCountdown’s most recent mock draft (mid-December) had us taking Smith at #2 with a brief synopsis of his skills. They haven’t published their profile on Smith yet.
- FootballsFuture’s profile of A-Smitty. Nothing to blow your mind, but some extra yakking.
I’ll try to compile Oher mats soon.
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on Jan 9, 2009 4:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Just as something extra to worry about
the late season progress of Eugene Monroe (OT, Virginia) and Jasom Smith (OT, Baylor) have made this a serious horse race to see who will be the second OT picked in the draft. The combine will be a huge factor for franchises who have to decide between Oher, Monroe and Smith (J version). There is an outside chance that Russell Okung (OT, Oklahoma St.) makes it into the first round. To see 5 OTs go in the 1st would speak to the lack of top-tier players at the media-friendly positions.
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on Jan 9, 2009 4:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
With the Draft seeming to
be both OL (Specifically OT) and LB heavy – it begs the question. Do you trade down in the hopes of getting multiple 1st rd picks to get one of each (or secondary help).
I haven’t researched to see if there are any tams with mulitple picks and a need to trade up though…
Outfielders For Sale! This weeks special...GMJ - see Tony for details!
by gorams77 on Jan 9, 2009 6:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Detroit?
With 0 wins, you would think they would need as much as possible, and with the 1st and 20th picks, maybe they could trade the 1st pick for two other first rounders and have 3 (!) first round picks?!
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on Jan 9, 2009 9:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
the OTs
the senior bowl will be interesting to say the least. i’ll bet anything that the OT order will shift.
by VanRam on Jan 10, 2009 12:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Combine is worth more than the senior bowl
Now if that game meant something, it could be valuable as a drafting tool. but think about this. Andre Smith didn’t play in his team’s game (which in and of itself would have been a good chance to see him bring his A-game)
Jay Zygmunt, now that you have fired yourself, please have yourself hired by Seattle. Thanks.
by 3k on Jan 10, 2009 1:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
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