QB of the Future (Update with solution to the problem that is the Rams)
by Carneros on Nov 23, 2009 5:18 PM CST
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There has been a lot of talk about how the Rams should start or should have already started grooming the QB of the future. We are in a difficult situation because Bulger is on the decline and his salary is on the rise. We need a QB for next year and for the future. These two people may be the same of different people. So I'll take a quick look at some options.
In-house options:
Not much here. Two washed up QBs in Boller and Bulger. I suppose they could handle the job for one more season, but I'd rather have the future step in. Null was a mistake from the beginning. I don't think he will ever do anything in the league as a starter. And if he could it wouldn't be for a couple of years.
So for next year I think we're going to need to either keep Bulger and/or Boller while we groom the next QB or sign a FA to bridge the gap.
Some options in free agency would be Kyle Orton (most likely resigned), Jason Campbell (may be a restricted FA), which could cost a first rounder to sign him, Chad Pennington, Tavaris Jackson and Kellen Clemens. My choice would be one of the last three, probably Pennington. Just for a year or two while we groom the QB of the future.
So this leads us to who we are going to groom.
Here are my top 5 choices for QB of the future (not in any particular order):
1. Dan LeFevour
2. Pat Devlin
3. Tim Hiller
4. Ryan Mallett
5. Tony Pike
Honorable Mention
My top 2 choices are Dan LeFevour and Pat Devlin. I would be fine with either of those two guys as our QB of the future. I don't think Jimmy Clausen or any other first rounder is the way to go. Bradford would be the best choice but injury issues scare me away from him.
Pat Devlin would be a great choice in my mind. He's got good size at 6'4'' 222 lbs. He's a redshirt junior and may not declare this year, but if he does, I'd take a flyer on him. Good arm, good accuracy, needs more experience to develop, so he could have a lot of upside, he's got decent mobility, and a quick release. He also plays in a pro-style offense. I think he could be a guy that can be developed into a nice QB with good coaching and without spending a high draft pick on him. I don't really know a whole lot about him except what scouting reports say but he seems like a decent prospect at QB and may even be my first choice.
Dan LeFevour could be a good option too. Accurate, decent size, good arm, more mobile than Devlin. We'll hear plenty more about him in the next 4-5 months leading up to the draft.
Mallett like Devlin, is very raw and does not have a lot of experience. Monster size at 6'7'', rocket arm, needs work on accuracy, which is a problem for me.
The other two have good size and accuracy but weak arms, so I'm not complete sure about them.
Devlin could be had in the 4th as could any of these guys really.
I'm not a fan of any of the first rounders and don't think we should draft one first round. If we are committed to drafting a QB first round, the only one I would think about taking is Bradford.
I left out Case Keenum, but I am a fan of prototypical size and he doesn't have it, but he still deserved at least a mentioning.
So I think we need to keep Bulger for one more year, or sign a FA QB for one year and start grooming a not Null QB out of this draft to be our future QB.
Thoughts?
Also here's a link to my fanshot that shows an article on how offenses run too often on first down
***UPDATE***
SOLUTION TO RAMS PROBLEMS
Erik Ainge
23 years old, 6'6'' 220 lbs.
Drafted in 5th round by Jets in '08. They now have Sanchez, Clemens and O'Connell, so they could give up a QB. Could be had for a late rounder since they don't appear to have future plans for him. Here's his scouting report.
Continuing with my solution to the Rams:
Rd 1- Trade down if Suh is already gone, if not draft him. If you trade down 10-15 spots, draft LaFell.
Rd 2- Best Available D-Lineman
Rd 3-1- Best available non-safety defensive player
Rd 3-2 from trade down- Noel Devine
Rd 4- Best available defender or Terrance Toliver
Rd- 5-1 O-line/Defense
Rd- 5-2- Traded for Ainge
Rd-6 and 7- O-line/Defense
This gives us a huge upgrade, and this is without dipping into free agency. If we could sign a above average corner or two and Derrick Johnson and a good D-lineman we could really compete next year, all with Erik Ainge at the helm.
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Your not convincing me
With such descriptive words like good and decent you use for your hopeful draft picks you are not really selling them to me. And I think it is a mistake to write off Null already. He may never make it as a starter but we still don’t know what he can do.
It is milk it may be spilled it may be delicious.
I was just saying what the scouting report said with the words good and decent.
These are later round projects and if everything was great they wouldn’t be late round picks. Null could still be good, I just think we should’ve waited until after the draft to get him because he’d still be around. We could get a look at what he’s got in the coming weeks and we’ll see what happens. It just doesn’t seem like we’re making any effort to develop him. He’s not getting him many reps in practice and if you’re not going to work with him why draft him? That’s what I’m saying if that helps.
LeFevour and the Rams 2010 Superbowl Champions
LOST MINDED
Neither one of u r right the QB the rams need is bradford, But ask ur self do u want these coaches we have now to coach our new QB? My self I say hell no cause neither one knows how to coach let alone be a QB coach
I wouldn't even consider...
…QB’s like Orton, Campbell, Jackson, etc. They were NO good with teams much better than the Rams. The coaching staff must not think Null has much to offer either. I’m afraid Bulger was actually done before the season started and this recent head injury probably ended his career the hard way. Boller has no career. So, the Rams have got a heckuva mess on their hands trying to find a quality QB. The draft field looks weak to me. Who wants Bradford starting out a career with a bum wing? I say there are two credible prospects out there; Brady Quinn and Michael Vick. Nobody’s gonna trade a Manning, or Brady, a Big Ben, a Brees, etc. No, not even a Rodgers a Cassel, or even an aged Warner. It sucks!
Maybe we could convince Favre to try and prove his greatness
by taking us from worst to first. If only…
And I was just naming possibilities of which there are very few. I don’t want all those guys, they’re just possibilities.
LeFevour and the Rams 2010 Superbowl Champions
Quinn would be an
intersting move… he could use a new surrounding to inspire him [along with qb coaches].
Are you saying LeFevour is better than Clausen/Locker/Bradford?
Or are you suggesting that he would be better value (because he’s probably a 3-5 rounder)
Better value
Especially since we can get him and D-Line help
LeFevour and the Rams 2010 Superbowl Champions
Right. But what we're looking for isn't value. It's talent
QB isn’t really a position where value matters IMO.
The fact that you’re looking at value picks for QB means that you don’t think much of the top rated QB’s in this draft. That’s fair. But who says we have to draft a QB this year? I don’t want to draft a QB just because he was a bargain deal. We need the best talent we can get at the QB position. If it’s not there, we shouldn’t force it. We can afford to wait a year.
They're still talented
You just have to develop them. If we draft Clausen we’re paying him Sanchez money, and he is not worth that. We need a QB for next year, it doesn’t have to be through the draft but we need one. I get the feeling we’re going to end up with Boller as our QB for next year competing with Null and LeFevour or some other young QB or FA. We’re drafting LeFevour after the fourth round most likely, he is the best available talent at that point in the draft. We have bigger needs on the D-line. If we only had one hole and it was at QB then Clausen would be fine, but we have many more and Clausen would probably help the least, especially with Suh and other D-line beast available.
LeFevour and the Rams 2010 Superbowl Champions
QB's
Given what the Rams’ draft position is likely to be, I’m not so sure that I take a QB with the first pick. If you see a QB that is second coming of Elway, OK. But none of the QB’s listed is. Remember, even Tom Brady was a late round pick.
I believe you win and lose in the trenches. I would take the first pick (which could be the first or second overall) for that block out the sun type of lineman. I always felt the foundation for the Rams in the Vermeil era was the trade that got the pick for Orlando Pace. I know that we blew pick on Kennedy and Pickett as DT’s. But Suh may be the way to go, even better if we can trade down and still get him.
We should still be in pretty good shape to get a QB in the top of the second round. Case Keenum was mentioned earlier. He’s not coming out and will return to Houston for his senior year. However, his predecessor at Houston, Kevin Kolb could be someone to think about. What about our second round pick to the Eagles for Kolb? he’s put up some good numbers in Philly when given the chance.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. -- George Santayana (1863-1952)
With the rookie pay scales' affect on the number of QBs coming out this year
I think that there will be talent available in the 3rd and 4th rounds. Clausen isn’t a top 5 pick type. No QB is. Trade down first and if not get Suh. If we got an extra pick or 2 in the top 3-4 rounds we could still get a QB.
Well
You certainly do have a keen preference for spread offense QBs who are more projects than anything else. Pike is being pushed by a freshman. Mallett probably isn’t coming out.. Hiller and LeFevour are major projects coming from smaller schools.
Yea I was thinking about them for 3 or 4 years down the road.
The problem is, its going to be tough for us to find a QB for next year and the year it takes to groom them, at least a decent one.
Can't think of a good sig
I have a keen preference for the spread option offense
ASAP, Why not start looking for that super mobile QB and that ultra fast RB.
A couple corrections
Callaros is not a freshman. He is 21 years old and a 3rd year student….a soph in eligibility.
When Mallet was in Michigan he was able to play in a few games in a offense that was not a spread offense. He is about the truest pocket passer in college. I LeFevour would be your closest Flacco comparison. He has played in college as a starter what seems to be like 50 years. He is mature in football experience terms, but he will def. have a nice learning curve to deal with the speed of the NFL Defense.
I think Kolb could be a good addition if he is attainable or even Vick, I hear he isn’t very happy watching in Philly, and with his addition the Falcons he originally joined went from laughing stocks to top notch within like a year or 2….sounds great for the Rams if they could swing it
Then again were still discussing a team who to this day does not know how to fullfill a need, just look at our recieving corp that still doesn’t have a real threat and see how they allowed Chambers to go to the Chiefs when he was made available. Life time story of being a Rams fan!
You're right about Vick...
…but with the likes of Bulger, Boller, Null and now the need to sign even Brock Berlin, nobody on the Rams staff seems to show the slightest bit of interest in him. I think he’s hungry and would be better than all four of the aforementioned QB’s put together.
What about Drew Stanton?
He was drafted in 2007 by the Lions, and is still on the Lions, who have definitely gone in a different direction since they drafted Stafford. Here is a scouting report on him. He could be worth a shot and could probably be had for a mid to late round pick. He’s better and/or has got more potential than anything we have now.
Can't think of a good sig
what about...
briam brohm on the bills practice squad has a lot of raw potential just needs to be groomed
I think he's on their active roster
So we’d have to get him in the offseason via trade or if he is released we could get him.
Can't think of a good sig
I've watched Mallet play
and his accuracy (or lack thereof) reminds me of Boller. There is no way he is going to be a successful NFL QB with that lack of accuracy.
Why is everyone against McCoy? He looked great on Thanksgiving. He can throw accurately (70% plus completion percentage) and he is obviously very mobile. He is 6’ 2", so he isn’t tiny, and he is a leader. The announcers were comparing him with Drew Breese coming out of college. I don’t know that he will last until the 2nd round, but I think he would be a winner.
You guys are on the right track...
I’m normally from Big Cat Country, but i like to drop by and peek at what other teams are saying.
The big problem with the Rams is overall lack of talent. They don’t really do anything particularly well. I think QB is a way to solve a lot of things in this league, but you’ve got to a have the right pieces around him for him to succeed.
I’m glad to see how few of you think with the #3 (Browns and Bucs pick in front of you) pick you’ll end up getting Ndakamakasojgh Suh (I’m not even gonna try or look it up. I know his last name, he plays for Nebraska, and he’s a force). I don’t know if he’ll be available (TB might grab him) but football starts and ends at the line play. You’ve already got some good O-Line guys (Brown, J. Smith) but any Spagnulo team is going to have to make plays with their front 4 and the back end flow and cover behind it.
In terms of offensive and defensive skills positions, i really think TE, QB, CB, OLB and SS are your biggest needs. I don’t know what you got for WIll Witherspoon, but i hope it was a 3rd or better. He’s a monster in Philly now, and i’m sure he’s missed. RB, OT, C, WR (i still think D. Avery and L. Robinson are a good combo) MLB, FS, and K are positions you need to stay away from, barring some “can’t miss” player ( Noel Devine) is available to you.
Think about this: The Lions got the best QB, TE, and FS in last year’s draft and they all have contributed. If the Rams can go BPA and flip their roster in 2 seasons, they can contend.
As for quarterbacks, you want Jake Locker. Trust me. I’m no scout, but i’ve seen that guy show serious composure and accuracy to win games. The Rams have to sculpt their offense around his skillset and maximize his effectiveness.
Good luck guys, I really wish the best for you and your team.
Witherspoon trade.
Witherspoon wasn’t in the plans going forward. Would he have helped this year? Absolutely, but this season is a moot point. Spags is building a young team that can contend in two years as opposed to trying to win 3 or 4 games this and every year like the Raiders.
As for the trade, the Rams got WR Brandon Gibson and a 5th round pick. I’m sure the pick would have been higher had the Rams not gotten Gibson. And before you ask, “who in the hell is Brandon Gibson?”. Well, he’s a rookie WR who was stuck on the Eagles’ practice squad. Since the Rams and Eagles run the exact same offense, they’ve picked two guys off the Eagles this year who have been able to step in and contribute immediately.
Gibson, while needed to develop a familiarity with our QBs, has impressed everyone with his abilities and a couple months ago, the Rams plucked Danny Amendola who has stepped in as the number 2 WR and Kick Returner/Punt Returner pretty much since he was acquired.
Right now, it’s not about getting well known experienced guys. Spags and Devaney have been shedding age and money (as much as they can) from the roster and are replacing it with young, hungry guys who have talent or size or whatever to build a team going forward.
The roster was an absolute mess when Spags took over. After next offseason, the roster will look about 95% different from the Linehan teams. And I don’t think you’ll hear anyone complain about that.
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
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