New directions and the Rams draft

by VanRam on Mar 11, 2009 6:58 AM CDT in 2009 NFL draft Comment 23 comments

The Rams are starting over. That became official yesterday afternoon when the team released LT Orlando Pace. That Pace's time with the Rams is up should surprise no one. It's been one of the most discussed subjects of the off-season. More to the point, as much as Pace will always be a identified with this franchise, the need to reinvigorate a team that has suffered considerable neglect over the last five years trumps sentimentality. Now what?

GM Billy Devaney is really pushing the notion of moving Alex Barron to LT. Under most circumstances that would be fine, but not in the wake of releasing a franchise bedrock, the face of the o-line. With the right coaching Barron I have no doubt that Barron would reach somewhere above average, but still well below the stratospheric level or Pace.

They've got options with the second overall pick, besides OTs Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe, but it's hard to imagine a team cutting ties with the cornerstone of their offensive line and not replacing him. This is a team that has to be competitive while building for the future. It's also worth remembering that Devaney, who led the way on the Rams draft last year, was part of a group that would have drafted OT Jake Long had he been available.

I'm not the only one who thinks this move hints at the Rams plans for the #2 pick.

-------

Chicago media is already arranging Pace's marriage to the Bears, also a potential destination for the soon-to-be released Torry Holt.

------

Fixing another bad decision of the past regime, releasing FB Madison Hedgecock, the Rams signed former Saints FB Mike Karney to a 3-year, $3.6 million deal, with $1.2 million in guaranteed money. Still think the Rams aren't serious about the running game?

------

I always thought that Jim Haslett came out of the Rams experience looking much better than Scott Linehan. But who works in the NFL now and who works in the UFL?

0 recs | Comment 23 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

How is the UFL attracting coaches?

I don’t know that it legitimizes the league at all, but Haslett, Cottrell, Fassel, and Denny Green make a fairly impressive set of coaches (or names at least) for a league with 0 games played, 0 stadium deals, and 4 projected teams.

by brackenthebox on Mar 11, 2009 7:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

........

Bears are planning on taking a couple pieces from the good ol’ times eh?

"I always think one step ahead, like a carpenter....the builds stairs"

by sergey606 on Mar 11, 2009 11:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

rams draft TRADE THAT PICK

TRADE THAT PICK
I don’t see much to celebrate about the o-line going into the season as it stands with the loss of Pace. Yes Curry would be a good pick, as would J. Smith or Monroe. The problem is that this team has so many holes to fill that any one of these picks just doesn’t do enough to fill the gaps. I felt that Curry with the second pick was the best move but I am now faltering. I think it would be in the best interest of the Rams to trade out of the No. 2 spot for multiple draft picks and hold Curry and Crabtree out there as the bait for the team that feels one is worth the trade. Perhaps Cleveland would make that trade. They sure love Curry. Look at the multiple draft picks the Rams had to gave away to get Pace who was the best player in the draft. Swaps of first round picks and extra third, forth or fifth picks or multiple combinations of same with maybe an extra pick in 2010 thrown in for good measure or player would help this team fill many needs. They could still come out with a top tackle or guard in the first round. They need both. If you did not trade down too far maybe Monroe may still be there and if not Oher or A. Smith will be. It just now seems that there is more value in trading this pick than keeping it.

by nickro on Mar 11, 2009 12:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

by PCarn on Mar 11, 2009 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

trades are completely unpredictable

Who is going to give fair value? What pick has the talent to command a trade from any low teens/high single digit team?

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

by 3k on Mar 11, 2009 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

draft picks

I think the Rams need to draft a LT just like Miami did with Jake Long it could turn their season around they have a good coach they are making the right moves, in our division we could make the playoffs I think you will see this team look like it did against Dallas all year long.

by 39jackson on Mar 11, 2009 2:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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

by 3k on Mar 11, 2009 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree

There’s no O/T in this draft with the talent Jake Long had last year,sorry not even the same ball park.Curry or bust!

by Magyar on Mar 12, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree 100%

with a nice WR in the 2nd RD.

by Caruso on Mar 11, 2009 3:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

depends on how the draft shakes out

what if a nice WR isn’t there but a nice MLB is?

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

by 3k on Mar 11, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Devaney "pushing" Barron as our new LT?

Devaney said as much on Bernie’s radio show yesterday, but I take that with a grain of salt, since Devaney can only talk about players under the team’s control. Given the linemen he has signed right now, Barron is the guy. But anything can change with the draft.

I think speculation has to be high about the Rams taking Jason Smith or Monroe as a result, but — and I’m probably in the minority here — I think the Rams can get away with not taking a “stud” left tackle in this year’s draft, or at least not in the first round. Some reasoning:

Barron is a veteran, and while he has penalty issues, he doesn’t get physically mauled by opposing DEs that often.
Most of Bulger’s pressure came straight up the gut, last year, and we’ve addressed that weakness over center very well.
Our division is not awash with fearsome DEs. In fact, Leonard Little might still be the best of the West, and that’s not bragging. Sure, we might struggle against the Colts, Bears, Vikings and Titans, but then again, we’re not competing for the playoffs this year.
The offense is definitively moving towards a power running game, putting less emphasis on blindside pass protection — the specific reason LTs are such a premier position compared to other offensive linemen.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d still like to upgrade the line overall, but I think the net effect of drafting Curry — which completely turns our linebacking corps from a weakness to a strength — is higher than the net effect of drafting Monroe or Smith.

So could it be that Devaney is just blowing smoke, or could it be that he is serious about installing Barron as the Rams’ new LT? I kinda hope he’s serious.

"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 Mar 11, 2009 5:47 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

good post

I agree that Barron can be our LT but I think they’re gonna draft a OT in one of the first 2 round. And I expect him to be a better run blocker than Barron.

by MathB on Mar 11, 2009 7:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed: good post

but it overlooks two unsavory consequences:

1) Jacob Bell at right tackle? The right tackle is supposed to be a major engine in the running game – I view Bell as worse than average in this respect, and only decent as a pass protector on the right side.

2) Richie Incognito would have to start at RG. Right now I have high hopes that John Greco will start at RG for most if not all of next season and leave Incognito as a backup – something he seems to want anyway, as it would allow him to eat candy on the sidelines. I imagine Spags would do more than merely rip a candy bar out of Cogs’s hands.

This is what I suggest we do in the upcoming days to provide the best results for our team.

1) Take Monroe at #2. He’s a sure thing character-wise and equally proficient as a run and pass blocker
2) Take Ron Brace in the 2nd round. We need a true NT and he would complete our DL by providing hulk and freeing the LBS against the run. He would make Carriker, Long, AND Little better.
3) Draft a CB or MLB in the 3rd, so we can move Spoon to the Weakside or continue developing the best secondary in the NFC West.
4) Pick up a veteran WR in free agency – I say Amani Toomer can be purchased on the cheap. WR can wait till next year, and a 2nd rd WR prolly wouldn’t see much playing time this year anyway.

by AKBaller on Mar 11, 2009 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Backup plan

If Brace isn’t there for us in the 2nd?

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

by 3k on Mar 11, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

then the pick should be whoever is the best among the following positions: NT, MLB, CB, RB, WR, QB (mainly if Josh Freeman or Mark Sanchez is still available). I’d personally like seeing James Laurinaitis here if Brace isn’t available.

by AKBaller on Mar 11, 2009 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree completely on Bell

And that is the big hole in my argument. My thinking is that it’s easier to replace a right tackle in the mid- to late rounds of the draft than a left tackle.

Either way, Bell is definitely miscast as a right tackle, but again I chalk this “suggestion” by Devaney up to the fact that he isn’t allowed to talk about players not under team control.

Ideally, he should be lining up next to Jason Brown and benefiting from the big man swallowing up bodies. That puts Greco in the RG, and Incognito as backup / candyman. Or, lights a fire under Incognito and he blows everyone away in camp and puts Greco on the bench.

"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 Mar 11, 2009 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice Post

I agree – I think Curry is a great pick at 2 w/ either the best Tackle or WR to be taken (leaning towards T) in the 2nd. Draft is DEEP in both those two positions – much deeper than the MLB position (or those that can play MLB seeings how Curry hasn’t done before).

The consensus – even though I haven’t heard of Spags mentioning (someone correct me if I am wrong) – is that Spoon gets moved from the Middle. Drafting Curry allows options – it doesn’t mandate he goes to the middle. But I tend to lean towards Taiko in the upgrade to have both Curry and Spoon is a stronger upgrade at LB than a Smith or Monroe brings to the OL.

Outfielders For Sale! This weeks special...GMJ - see Tony for details!

by gorams77 on Mar 11, 2009 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please post the link to the show

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Mar 12, 2009 2:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Radio show link: http://www.team1380.net/pages/3039355.php
(Scroll down to Tuesday, 4:00, Billy Devaney).

My original source was actually Bernie’s Twitter page, which had updates like:

Billy Devaney on releasing Pace: ’We’re at the point now where we just think we’re laying the foundation going forward. It was right time."1:28 PM Mar 10th from web

Devaney said they waited hoping someone would trade for Pace; didn’t happen. “So let’s do it now and bring an end to it.”1:29 PM Mar 10th from web

Devaney says this doesn’t mean they will zero in on an OT with No. 2 overall pick… AND Alex Barron will be moved to LT immediately.

"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 Mar 12, 2009 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fantastic interview

This actually leaves open the possibility of drafting Curry.

So far: One addition to defense (SS)
Two additions to offense (C, FB)

Get one veteran TE and OL, then defense has to be addressed with the first pick. CURRY, CURRY!

Angel Pitching, Angel Defense - get past that.

by vladtheimpaler on Mar 13, 2009 3:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No Doubt

Jason Smith, has become a necessity, has anyone seen the footage of this guy in the run game. He DOMINATED. I saw footage of him literally bulling his man out, arming another and making into the secondary. End result of that play was a sweep to the left side that resulted in an untouched touchdown.

by No1Betta on Mar 11, 2009 9:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Jason Smith

Jason Smith is clibing up so fast on many scouts draft boards that it now looks that many they feel that he may be the top prospect in this draft at any position and the safest pick. Crabtree although a good wide reciever is no Larry Fitzgerald . Curry is a very good player but don’t expect him to excell in the pros as he did in college. He is no Ray Lewis.

by nickro on Mar 13, 2009 8:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs