Clifton Ryan

by Brendan W on Oct 24, 2009 1:16 AM CDT Comment 38 comments

http://www.stlouisrams.com/article/75819/

I just read this article on the Rams website, and I gotta say, on first impression it has me rethinking our draft/FA needs.

I'll be honest, I have totally overlooked Clifton Ryan and his play. I guess the article is right about DT being an oft overlooked position.

So, if the article carries some water and Ryan is what we're looking for on DT, I'm still expecting Chris Long to do great things, and we have Leonidas, so should we shift our draft crosshairs elsewhere? Before reading this article I had decided that QB or DT would need to be taken 1st, now I'm not so sure.

Your thoughts? Is Ryan the DT we've been looking for and just not realized that we already have him?

Poll

Is Ryan the real deal?

Yes

93 votes

No

8 votes

Keep him, but get Suh or similar in the draft

79 votes

180 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I still say we take Suh w/our first pick. The more ppl we bring in that requires special attention or double teams will only help those around them. Now can they take advantage… still waiting to see.

by RamsFan1979 on Oct 24, 2009 8:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I really believe he is the single biggest reason we've improved against the run...

…and I was wondering when an article like this would be written. He has looked great this season. That said, I think Suh is a phenomenal talent, and one of the few I see worth drafting with the presumed high pick we will have (haven’t given up on this season yet). Beyond that, I’d say we take the best wide receiver available. Check out :37-1:38 of this video.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/st-louis-rams/09000d5d813a4127/WK-7-Playbook-Colts-vs-Rams

This is what we’ve had to deal with this year with our receivers. I’m anxious to see what this Brandon Gibson kid can bring. The Philly fans seemed endeared to him. That being said, if we draft a potentially elite receiver, this would help our entire receiving corps because it would demand double teams. I stand at DT/WR as our top concerns, and a QB in rounds 2-4 would be ideal. I just hope one of these receivers stands out so that it could be a REALLY intriguing draft, because Suh looks like the best DT already. I’d be ~~ecstatic~~ pleased with Suh and maybe Arrelious Benn in the second round (it’s possible).

"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."

"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."

-Kobe Bryant

A mantra for all athletes.

by TrojanRam on Oct 24, 2009 9:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This being said however...

…why are we talking about the draft already!!! Enjoy the football guys! 10 games left! We ARE getting better! Go RAMS!!!

"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."

"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."

-Kobe Bryant

A mantra for all athletes.

by TrojanRam on Oct 24, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see how none of our receivers are getting open

Is it play calling or all they all really just that bad? You’d think at least one should be able to break free on every play but thats just not happening. Its not like they’re playing against the best corners in the game. Jacksonville has terrible pass defense and we couldn’t get open on them. I don’t get it. Is it coaching or talent?

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by Carneros on Oct 24, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure...

Only Robinson was able to get separation, and his season went kapoot. Avery’s speed has helped him, but he can’t stay healthy for whatever reason. I think he’s one of those guys that has to be completely healthy to perform well, and he seemed to have regained his stride until he went down in Jacksonville last week. This Brandon Gibson trade might be huge for us if the kid is as good as the Philly fans made him seem, even if it hurts to see WW go.

"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."

"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."

-Kobe Bryant

A mantra for all athletes.

by TrojanRam on Oct 24, 2009 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully he can be durable too.

Maybe if the QB had a consistent reliable target, that would help them a lot.

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by Carneros on Oct 24, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Receivers getting open

In that very same situation, if you replace the receiver at the top with Holt, then he would have been considered open and Bulger would have thrown it in there. It is really hard for Bulger to begin his career playing with two HOF in Bruce and Holt, and then to have to sink to Donnie Avery’s level. In other words, Bulger doesn’t trust his receivers, and I don’t blame him. Donnie is not a Larry Fitz kind of guy who can go up and get it. He’s a small little guy, for him to be open, he needs to really be open, as in 5 yards ahead of his coverage. That is not a #1 receiver, that is more like a #2 or a #3 who has other guys taking the heat off of him.

by jb22 on Oct 25, 2009 1:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I sort of agree mostly

But you’ve overstated the situation quite a bit. If Avery is 1 yard open, he is open enough to get the ball throw to him. I think Bulger would be happy enough with 3 solid feet of seperation. That’s actually quite a bit.

by CoachConnors on Nov 17, 2009 11:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We need two DTs and we need better D-line play

So getting Suh paired with Ryan would hopefully help Long and Little or whoevers over there next year. It should.

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by Carneros on Oct 24, 2009 10:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If we keep Little, which I highly doubt,

draft Suh, and bring in a vet DE, we would be much better. I really like A Carriker, but w/the continual injuries we’ve gotten no ROI what-so-ever; next year is it. It’ll be interesting who we keep, who we pick up and who we draft…. but w/so much football left I’m enjoying it as much as I can.

by RamsFan1979 on Oct 24, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where does that leave Ryan

do you think?

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by Carneros on Oct 24, 2009 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

part of the defensive rotation, IMO.

by RamsFan1979 on Oct 24, 2009 9:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Carricker needs to go back to DE

and either shit or go.

by dbcouver on Nov 17, 2009 1:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

im pretty excited

the rams are definitely getting better, it’s jut a matter of time

by loyal2therams on Oct 24, 2009 10:55 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

that's exactly

what Cubs fans say every year about the World Series. “It’s just a matter of time.”

by victorian on Oct 25, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What's the alternative?

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

by Tackle Box on Oct 25, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the difference is the we have won a Superbowl within the last 100 years

within 10 years actually

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by Carneros on Oct 25, 2009 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

defiantly

i just like how we are handling things. Unlike the lions and all the teams that hang around year to year at the bottom it seems like instead of signing old players and trying to put a band aid on a war wound we’re really setting the bar high and making players compete and letting them know their spot isn’t safe. And if the argument about we need veteran leadership wait til the off season look for some great pick ups. I would rather lose every game one season then win 5 games every year for a decade.

by keeperskillz24 on Oct 25, 2009 11:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If the Rams draft Suh

Does anyone think moving Carriker back to DE would help him? He’s as fast as Long and he’s also bigger. Assuming Carriker comes back next season, does anyone think that is likely or if it would work?

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by Carneros on Oct 25, 2009 9:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It couldn't hurt

We need to stop moving players out of their naturally skill developed positions anyway. Thats just a natural handicap.

by dbcouver on Oct 26, 2009 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You beat me to it

By about 3 weeks it would seem. Yes I agree.

by dbcouver on Nov 17, 2009 1:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

not sure

i really think carriker might be on his way out i could be wrong but it just seems he’s a waste of space. Not sure about his contract but iam thinking we do another tye hill move and trade him for a pick (if we can) or something. Maybe his buddy suh from nebraska is all he needs who knows. This season is frustrating but we really can not talk draft yet as much as i want to we still have a season and a off season and not to mention a college season, suh could get badly injured or any of these highly ranked players as of that matter.

by keeperskillz24 on Oct 25, 2009 10:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Carriker is signed through 2011

2009: $720,000
2010: $1.07M
2011: 1.42M

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

by Tackle Box on Oct 25, 2009 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That isn't too much money

Why’d we move him to DT in the first place?

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by Carneros on Oct 25, 2009 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know

when he was drafted, i think they took him with the intent of moving him to DT.

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

by Tackle Box on Oct 26, 2009 7:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

pretty stupid decision

in my opinion, but what do i know. I’m sure the coaches know best.
Carricker and Long playing DE would look good tho. I’m assuming Little will retire after the season, which will let Chris Long line up opposite the Right Tackle, which is where he got all (i think) of his sacks last year

by jb22 on Oct 26, 2009 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're talking about Scott Linehan and Jay Zygmunt.

I think we can safely say the coaches didn’t know best.

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

by Tackle Box on Oct 26, 2009 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I seem to remember that too

I always watch the draft, I believe I heard that when he was drafted. I’m not a big fan of moving player positions from the college level to the pros so it stuck with me.

Moving in college is a different situation. Warren Sapp was a TE for example. I always grin when I think a guy with his belly running routes out there. But it’s a tough jump just to go from college to the pros without moving their position, and it seems to me the athletes that can successfully switch positions are actually quite few.

Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.

by CoachConnors on Oct 26, 2009 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You must have flipped your lid

when Martz drafted Eric Crouch to be a wide receiver and Steve Bellisario to be a safety.

They should have fired Martz immediately but unfortunately, I think he was still the smartest guy in the room when it came to personnel.

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

by Tackle Box on Oct 26, 2009 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Leonidas

My smile for the day

Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.

by CoachConnors on Oct 26, 2009 11:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Carriker was a DE in a 3 - 4 scheme.

That’s a lot different than being in a 4 – 3 defense. He really seems to be a guy without a postition.

Why does Aurelius Benn keep coming up? He hasn’t done anything the last two years. Another guy with great potential, but no production. We don’t need more guys like that.

by andyrose on Oct 26, 2009 10:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If the Rams wanted to switch to 3-4

We could switch Long to OLB and Carriker to DE and just need another MLB and OLB, and if we draft Suh him and Ryan can play inside with Carriker. But I doubt we’d want to since Spags hasn’t done that before I don’t think.

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by Carneros on Oct 26, 2009 10:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs