Rams rebuild: What would you do?
by Ryan Van Bibber on Nov 28, 2009 8:34 AM CST
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PrintIt's week 12 and the St. Louis Rams are 1-9. On top of that, they've got some marquee players injured, making it tough sledding the rest of the season, er, tougher.
But then again, you knew this year would be tough. Sure, we all thought 5 wins was a reasonable projection, but tomorrow is one of the Rams mist winnable games and they could be without their best player, Steven Jackson. Breath. Focus on the fact that the Rams are rebuilding, and so far, despite what the record says, it's moving along with some encouraging signs. The offensive line is finally starting to come together and represents a big improvement over recent seasons (of course two starters are out this week, but the depth is good too). The defense, still struggling, has made huge strides up the middle by drafting MLB James Laurinaitis and signing SS James Butler in free agency.
This spring it's another draft, free agency, and a whole lot of dead money off the books. But before we start (continue) speculating about what the Rams could/should do in a few months, let's take a look back at what they did do. Like I said above, we knew this was going to be a rough year with a rebuilding team, but are there moves that GM Billy Devaney & Co. could have done better could have made to begin with that would have made a bigger impact on the reboot? Should they have sacrificed competing this year? Did they have any choice?
In the comments section, weigh-in with what moves you would have (or wouldn't have) made in the rebuilding process. Remember, be realistic. Yes, they could have signed Albert Haynesworth (kind of glad they didn't since he seems to be a bust in DC), but that's not realistic because that would have directed too many resources elsewhere.
Have at it GMs.
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second RB
hindsight 20/20, i would have found a solid backup running back.
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by Ryan Van Bibber on Nov 28, 2009 8:43 AM CST reply actions
SIGNING PAT SHURMUR
He is terrible at play calling, but other than that nothing big jumps out at me.
There are some things I didn’t like, but still believe were necessary, like releasing Torry Holt and some of the other veteran guys. But they did what they could with very little.
I’m not sure if this was possible, but I would have traded down the pick. Even if we get pick 27 or 28, we get Michael Oher and other picks. I’d be happy with Oher and Lauranitus, plus other good players from the middle rounds, over Smith and Lauranitus, and Fletcher and Scott. The draft could have been handled better, although it wasn’t bad. I’m still scratching my head on a couple of rounds though. Fletcher, while I like him, was projected to go in the 5th round and we took him in the third. Foster was projected 6th or 7th round and Keith Null wasn’t expected to be drafted. I guess they went in with a plan to get these 7 players and they got them.
Can't think of a good sig
I think you nailed it for me
But it’s not too late. We can still trrade down this year, unless we get a shot at Suh. I liked Loadholdtt last year too. I always said though I was fine with our first 2 if we couldn’t trade down. It is that 3rd, 4th, 6 and 7th that we should have gotten more picky with.
Oher
is a sure pick up. Would have went with Stafford. He has shown a lot of toughness through the last few weeks despite the mistakes. (Interceptions)
They will notice and they will giggle.
couldn't have happened
Detroit took him first overall.
How about Sanchez?
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by Ryan Van Bibber on Nov 28, 2009 10:59 AM CST up reply actions
I have to say...
…not to boast or anything, but as someone who watches USC’s practices consistently(since 2007), and games (always),Mark Sanchez’ decision making has always been questionable at best. I can’t tell you how many times our coaches would tell him he missed someone or how many times we’d seen it in a game, wide open receivers get ignored for a check down. When Sarkisian (then OC) and Carroll said he wasn’t ready, myself and most Trojans agreed with the coaches. His scintillating performance against Penn State and his charisma are basically what his scouting grades were made of, but in this first year we’ve seen his decision making bite him with 4 and 5 interception games, rolling out and throwing off of his back foot into the hands of defenders many times.
One season of poor play doesn’t make his career, but I’ve been MUCH more impressed by Matthew Stafford than by Mark Sanchez, despite similar numbers.
Time will tell, but Trojan Nation wasn’t in Sanchez’ lap the way the media/ESPN were at the time of his decision.
"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 Nov 28, 2009 1:16 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I'm glad someone
else heard Sark say that Sanchez wasn’t ready. He had no incentive to say that considering the fact that he had just taken a HC job in the Pac 10. He said it because after working with him for the last couple years, he knew that the kid was REALLY not ready. He benefitted from the fact that it was really a poor QB class.
Yeah I heard it...
…and because it was a poor class, I can’t fault Mark for not staying from a business standpoint. As far as a football standpoint, I couldn’t disagree with his decision more.
"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.
I still wish him the best however...
…he just needs to take care of the ball better. I hope Rex stays with him.
"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.
2009 Draft
The Shurmer offense is troublesome, as was the decision to let Torry Holt go. How nice would it have been to have a route runner mentoring to our very young receiving core? No problem with Smith in R1, and JL was a steal in the 2nd. Coffee in Rd. 3 would have been nice; we are DOA without SJAX in there. This year lets bring in a QB like Jason Campbell for a 2 year contract so we can draft a DT, CB, OLB, RB,. we HAVE to pressure the QB and stop the run….just don’t see a Top 5 QB out there. So many needs so few draft picks…
We're going to have some money...
…we need to look at Free Agents on defense in particular. Any forthcoming pieces on that VanRam/3k?
I agree with your statement however. If this is the year to go QB in the draft for the Rams, then we’re pretty screwed because no one has stood out IMO.
"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 Nov 28, 2009 1:20 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Something I would do right now
Sign Cedric Peerman off Detroit’s practice squad. 5-9 210 4.34 40. Sounds better than anything we got behind SJax. He could even come in on 3rd and short!
Can't think of a good sig
Changes
Would have gone back to the Jacob Bell Signing….I would have shelled out the extra cash and went after Faneca. Although, much older he is as consistent and experienced at the position that you could ask for. He would help out the LT and the C for the last two years and I say he has prob another 2 years of quality ball left. Would have made this transition through rebuilding not so drastic.
Moving to more recently- the draft. I would have pulled a move-a la chargers. If it wasn’t obvious the Jets, Redskins, and the Bucs wanted Sanchez worse than a fat kid wanting a donut. If I could not made the trade that I wanted before my pick in the 1st round. I would have drated him and then dangled him for a bidding war. Although risky it was apparent the Jets would have given up picks. They were pretty confident in the fellas they had and were willing to give up picks. Stacking future and early picks is the way to rebuild. The law of averages is bound to provide you with some studs.
Then with my pick I traded down I would have taken Oher or even JL earlier than he we could have gotten him. But since that didn’t happen, I would have started differently at the 3rd round. I would have taken DE Michael Johnson for Spags to develop. Then maybe Fletcher in the 4th if they were that high on him. But, in the 5th I would have taken OG Duke Robinson. An OG that plays with a mean streak and is known for opening holes for the RB. I would not have drafted Foster or Ogbannaya or Null. I felt that we could have claimed the RB and the QB off of waivers after the draft. I would have taken Captain Munerlyn in the 7th.
Like they say, Hindsight is 20/20.
2010
The rams should try to get Suh in the draft but if hes already taken then draft a QB. Jimmy Clausen looks great against Stanford. This is the year for a QB.People say the defensive lineman in the draft have great talent, so they should get their defensive tackle in the second round or free agencie(if Suh has been taken).
No on Clausen
Please! The guy is a trap. By the way, I also watched the Stanford game and he looked very average. I gave that credit to his receivers. Floyd and Tate, especially Tate deserve the credit. They made corrections to compensate for poorly thrown balls. Tate made more of any situation once the ball was in his hands.
Plus, did you watch the last drive? Sacks with no timeouts?? He got exacly what he wanted from the defense, the safety shifted over to double Tate, so tell me how do you check down Floyd with one on one coverge in the end zone?? No safety help and you have Floyd one on one with a smaller DB. I’ll take that chance. Not to mention he actually beat his man.
No on Clausen.
Good enough for me
I was trying to find a way to slip out of the Clausen camp anyway. I’m for a 2nd or 3rd rounder. Pike, Locker, etc. Ryan Mallet or Jerrod Johnson next year, if we strike out again. I wouldn’t be disappointed if we found another 1-2 year patch until we have a chance at the right franchise QB.
2010+
In all honestly, out of a 53 man roster, we have few NFL calibre players. Anybody disagree? I may miss a couple but I’m thinking; SJax, J Smith, J Brown, Lauranitis, Avery, Otogwe, Bartel, Josh Brown, Donnie Williams, Butler, Robinson, Amendola….? We have some average or mediocre players, and some have potential; Setts, Goldberg, Incognito, Burton, Ah You, Long, Vobora, Ryan, Gibson (2)….? And we’ve sure got a plethora of sub-par guys; Barron, Carriker, Bell, Gado, Darby, McMichael, etc. – Yecch! Other than that we have NO QB’s, no capable backups at RB, and our stalwart D-Lineman are getting older by the min. I don’t think Little or Hall will return. So speaking on a priority basis, gotta have a new QB (the single most important postion). Secondly, the current D-Line is by far and away the worst component of the team. They can pressure the passer and they can’t stop the run, other than that they’re OK. The weak D-Line frequently causes the secondary to get killed. Next, SJax will be dead in a couple years if we don’t get another capable back to help carry the load AND a quality TE to help block. So there’s where we stand. Filling those key positions has gotta be of paramount importance. We’ll just have to go with what we got everywhere else.
Yur right because
Yeah we shoulda drafted Curry because Laurenitis only has 75 tackles, and that’s far too many. Wish we could have Curry’s 46.
And Laurenitis’s 2 INT’s are useless, so might as well have Curry’s Zero INT’s.
But Curry has a single sack more than Laurenitis, so I guess in hindsight he really was the one we should have drafted first. Who needs the best OT in the country, anyway?
by CoachConnors on Nov 30, 2009 11:44 PM CST up reply actions
Not gonna complain about the past......
But for this offseason: Draft a DT, WR, OLB, or S with the top 5 pick, single out the guy in the draft who you think will be the QB of the future and make sure you get him in the late 1st or early 2nd rounds, then put together some other roster pieces with FA signings. The front office has been pretty good at evaluating talent thats on other teams, so lets stick with that.
Safety? Seriously Safety? Why safety?
As I’ve said before, Safety is the only position on the field that we don’t need to improve. We are already solid their with Togs and Butler, and Dahl. DT/DE, WR, I don’t see us going OLB with a top 5 pick, but maybe we miss Witherspoon so much will go with Weatherspoon, just for old times sake. I agree with the QB and FAs. The coaches seem to believe Null will develop nicely into an NFL QB, which is why I say take one mid-late rounds and let them compete their entire careers and whoevers better gets to start. I like Mallett but his completion percentage is way too low, especially in big games. He’s been below 54 % 6 times this season and two of those games he was in the mid 30 %s. That will never work in the NFL. If you complete 3 or 4 out of every 10 passes you won’t last long.
Can't think of a good sig
To be honest
the top two safeties in the draft could start and play better than what we currently have. NOT that I’d draft either one since we have greater need else where on the team…
by RamsFan1979 on Nov 29, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions
OJ?
you think the top safety in the draft would be better then our FS OJ Atogwe? I seriously doubt that.
Mays or Berry would be an upgrade IMO
http://walterfootball.com/draft2010S.php
You can also check video off Youtube to see some highlights. IMO, either would be a step up, but w/too many needs it’s not a luxury we can afford.
Basically whichever guy in this draft they see as a game-changing monster of a player, I want them to get.
We keep drafting high in these drafts and so far none of the guys can really take over a game (or come close to a pro bowl). So I want them to get the best player, pretty much regardless of the position.
To keep atogwe we have to keep giving him top 5 safety money cause of the franchise tag, i dont think he is a top 5’er. Besides getting turnovers, i hardly ever see him making plays on the field. The guy’s not troy polamalu (dont want to look up how to spell his name), so lets not spend money on him like he is. If Berry blows us away in workouts and no DT is standing out, I have no problem taking him and letting atogwe walk.
I’m less inclined to take a DE that early, something about that position screams bust to me.
That is the beauty of it
It is the position that is most in need, and now we have a coach how seems to get the most out of his DE’s. Look at the Giants DE during and after the Spags era. This is a postion on huge need and Dunlap is looking better to me each day. Damn you 3K…making me deviate away from my trade down thought process.
The more I think about it
The more I think we should use our first 2 picks for D-line. Get aggressive towards FA QBs, and get multiple picks after Suh.
How do you propose
we draft Suh and gain picks? IMO we either draft our first pick or trade back. We really don’t have a player we can trade for draft picks, or at least players we can afford to get rid of.
by RamsFan1979 on Nov 29, 2009 11:03 AM CST up reply actions
Yes, yes I do
I’ve argued into the ground my disagreement with the consensus that one can’t do both. I think we do have players (or a player) we can afford to get rid of, if the price is right. That, I’ve also made clear in other posts, but I don’t think a QB is worthy of the level of pick we’ll have in the first round. I also think by the time our 2nd round pick comes up any QB would again be too much of a reach. So I"d justify my seemingly unrealistic stances above with the very grounded, (IMHO) belief that we have still too many positions of need to not get the BPA or BTA.
Who?
Little, Hall, Bell, Bulger…. Anyone else is worth less than what I mentioned or not worth us trading, IMO. If we can’t get Suh, who would be a starter, we then trade back. We can still get a worthy DL player, just not at the level where Suh is. As you so mastefully pointed out, we need too many positions to not trake back if we can… just not any of our current performers.
As I also so mastefully pointed out
I’ve argued that subject before. As far as whom I would target? Again ,as I so mastefully pointed out best player or talent available. I like D-line in this draft but I wouldn’t be opposed to QB OL LB TE WR CB…. I’m thinking I like that order too. But not at the expense of leaving obviously better talent on the board at any time.
What players do you propose trading away for middle round picks?
Just Jackson or do you think there’s others?
Can't think of a good sig
Jackson is the only one other teams may covet
But you never know what another teams needs are. The point I was initially making was, that I believe we may have to find a QB elsewhere, as opposed to the first day of the draft. It’s hard to argue that anyone has value on a 1-10 team so, I think I’m not going to bang my head on that wall right now.
Jackson?!?!
getting rid of him is absurd and redundant. So you get rid of him and Darby becomes our starter? Cause if he’s not we have to draft another starting RB. Jackson is our proven star and worth building the team around.
Not to be mean, but you aren’t very good at making points….lol. I agree w/you about acquiring a QB, tho our choices are very limited. I’m still seeing Brady Quinn as our best option, which IMO means he’s the only option if we want vets. I like Garcia, but at 38 he won’t go a whole year w/out an injury so he’s a short stop gap at best.
Claussen & McCoy look like they could go somewhere in the NFL, but IMO they won’t come in and start. Does that help or hurt us? Hard to tell at this point right? Heck, Null hasn’t really even gotten a shot yet, but I’m sure he’ll get one by season’s end.
by RamsFan1979 on Nov 30, 2009 10:10 AM CST up reply actions
You make it sound like I want to get rid of Jackson
I don’t want to get rid of Jackson. I don’t want to start Darby. If I did want to do those things you’d be winning your argument. You asked me who’d be tradeable and I answered. I’m not here to educate anyone. I don’t think I qualify. I’m not a wanna be GM. Just a fan.
I'm not here to argue with you
or anyone for that matter. Like you, I am a fan. You stated Jackson is the only player another team would want, and couple that w/the ‘acquire more picks’ thought you can see where one would think you are saying we get rid of Jackson, no?
I would still lke to know you’re idea of increasing our picks.
wide receiver
looking back, they didn’t have many options at WR outside of the draft, and they made some nice moves to get some decent role players at that position. I still think they’ve got to consider a WR with their first two picks this year.
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by Ryan Van Bibber on Nov 29, 2009 8:00 AM CST reply actions
Here is what I think:
Which is a greater need for us, QB or DL? We need both, and IMO, it’s too difficult to decide which is a greater need that we can fill thru the draft vs. FA.
We look at QB FA and most can agree it’s SLIM picken’s at best. IMO, there is really only one option for a QB of the future, Quinn. IF the Browns pick a QB we know Quinn will be dealt or let go. Other than him anyone else out there [FA] that can possibly be the future?
DL FA, for younger players, is on the light side as well. IMO a possible player could be Cofield from NY. He would be great in our system and obviously Spags knows him [he’s not having his best year, he played better under Spags… shocker]. He would make a great addition to our team, but we still need help which we could get thru the draft. There are many other FA players that could work as well.
I fully agree with you on the QB
But if a Franchise QB is unavailable you can’t just poop one out. I’m not convinced one will be available in the 2nd round. I don’t want to reach in the first if Suh is available. Hopefully, soon we will whittle down our needs so as not to be in this position year after year.
Too many variables to
perdict what could happen. IF the Browns draft a QB, Quinn will be available. IF the Bucs pick Suh, we draft back for two DL’rs and try a draft day pick for Quinn [maybe the pick we received from the Eagles]. Who knows for sure what a team will pick, for example, prior to the draft, who would of thought Laurinaitis would fall to us in the 2nd. Anything is possible, yeah?
I believe
We should trade for Quinn or Kolb and draft Suh.
Those’d be HUGE moves for this organization and cover so, so much of your deficiencies within 2 years of them getting here.
SJ39 would be very helpful for Quinn’s development, so too Avery, Robinson and Fell, the likes of which he never had in Cleveland. And Jackson would have a couple years still left in the tank by the time Quinn/Avery/Robinson are really hitting thier stride. The timing of the development curve lines up well.
by CoachConnors on Nov 30, 2009 11:16 PM CST up reply actions
FA QB
Does anybody know any good free agent quarterbacks this offseason?
get a coach
this guy should be able to give us a coaching win.
Glad I didn't answer this 2 months ago
And probably will change my mind (maybe a couple times) between now and the draft.
But I’ve jumped on the Suh bandwagon after the second Seattle game. Their ability to get after our QB maybe had as much to do with our injuries as their strenght, BUT their ability to bully our D line and run at will is a problem that will, as long as it exists, keep our team from being competitve.
Teams with bad QB’s and great defense can be competitive. Teams with a mushy soft middle of the D line can’t.
We can’t continue to be pushed around on defense. The lines are the most important area to shore up and the offensive line is well on its way with our new Center. Now it’s time for our new DT. Only if we acquire/trade for a stud DT do I move away from Suh at this point.
QB = later round or trade.
Plus, we have the middle set with our shiny new MLB and S's who can get it done.
All we need to make the middle of the D a strong point is Suh. Our whole defense will benefit the way our whole defense benfitted from Lauranitis, even more so due to high level synergy
by CoachConnors on Nov 30, 2009 11:08 PM CST up reply actions
I would try to trade for a young QB with promise
I like Brady Quinn, I like Kevin Kolb, Dixon for the Steelers looked competent (which REALLY frustrated me on the Null situaiton…why is there guy ready and ours isn’t…..its rhetorical, don;t answer)
not so high on Campbell as I think he’s reached his ceiling where the others haven’t yet.
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