Random Ramsdom, 4/16: Looming draft decisions

by VanRam on Apr 16, 2009 7:00 AM CDT in 2009 NFL draft Comment 6 comments

You'd never know we were still a week and a half away from the draft with all the draft talk. Still, there's a lot of information and scenarios to parse.

I'd be shocked if the Rams didn't draft a WR in the first three rounds this year, with the talent available. The PD has another run-down on the WR prospects, and I found one scout's take on North Carolina's Hakeem Nicks (scouting report) pretty telling. After discussing the possibility of Nicks dropping to the second round after his Combine hamstring incident and weighing in with an extra 14 lbs at his pro day, a Rams' scout said: "Good. Maybe that'll help him fall to us."

We mentioned the possibility of Nicks dropping to the second round after rumors (unconfirmed) of him testing positive for marijuana surfaced as well as Florida's Percy Harvin (scouting report) and Rutgers' Kenny Britt (scouting report) dropping into the second. I like NIcks' and Britt's size and speed, seems to nicely complement the receivers already on our roster. The weed rumors are flying and with nothing more to confirm them, I'd take it with a grain or two of salt. Still, like the scout said, anything that puts Nicks within our reach atop the second round, all the better.

Nicks will visit Rams Park as well as Brandon Tate (scouting report) and LSU's Demetrius Byrd (scouting report).

Debate topic: Suppose the Rams do draft a WR in the second and LB Aaron Curry in the first, a very likely scenario, especially if you're talking about best player available versus pure need. What do they do at OT? A third round OT might not be ready to start in the NFL. Couple other ways this could play out: 1) that second round pick could be used for an OT if they draft Curry in the first round, a scenario we've talked about A LOT. Is the WR class deep enough to get what we're looking for in the third round? 2) The Rams could draft an MLB in the third round, which might be the easiest place to draft a guy who could instantly be a two down LB. The ranks of NFL linebacking corps are filled with middle round picks.

More random Ramsdom-ness:

The non-top OTs are getting lots of talk lately. The PD article linked above has one NFL o-line coach gushing about Eben Britton. And here's some re-evaluation of UConn's William Beatty. Landing either one of those guys in the second round could be a steal for the Rams.
Rams' offensive lineman in position purgatory John Greco will try his hand at coaching in Toledo's spring football game.

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my draft board

1. Curry
2. Beatty/Britton
3. Ramses Barden – WR – for god’s sake, he has “Rams” in his name!

That fills our three major needs in the first three rounds.

If we don’t go OT in round one, that forces our hand to go OT in round two.

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by jroman on Apr 16, 2009 7:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

If we don’t go OT in the 1st I think it has to be in the 2nd. Ex: If Nicks (who I like) and Beatty are there in the 2nd – I thing the FO thinking dictates they take Beatty. Barden, Iglesias, and other will be there in the third.

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by gorams77 on Apr 16, 2009 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

OT needed in first two picks

…but I like Curry in 1st round.
Two scenarios:

1) If the Lions take Stafford, then we can take Curry. This means the OT’s will be pushed back, since the Lions and Rams didn’t take the first two – meaning we could get Beatty or Britton in round two.
2) If the Lions take Smith or Monroe, then we have no choice but to take the other OT in round one. This would most certainly cause a run on OT’s in the first round, making Britton or Beatty unlikely to be around in round two. Then, if Laurinitis is still there in round two, we take him. Otherwise, we take a WR in this scenario.

by Oski Bear on Apr 16, 2009 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Once again, the Rams pick does depend on the number 1 pick, but instead this time, if the Lions take Smith or Monroe, I think the Rams have to take the other tackle or they will just miss out. If they go Stafford, then we can go Curry, and if they go Curry, we can go tackle.

Other than that I like the T in round two if we go Curry, and then get a Barden in the 3rd and a CB in the 4th, with somewhere in the last picks one more LB to provide a little more depth.

by kickasskeever on Apr 16, 2009 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see the logic, but I disagree

Firstly, I think it would be incredibly rare for an NFL draft to start OT – OT with the first two picks. Kinda cool, but rare. Those marquee players are like bug zappers – teams can’t help but be drawn to them.

Prior to last year’s Jake Long/ Chris Long picks, the 2000 draft was the last one to feature blue-collar players for both of the top two, and I grudgingly consider Arrington “blue collar” for the sake or argument:

1. DE Courtney Brown
2. LB LaVar Arrington
3. OT Chris Samuels

(incidentally, 2000 looked like a terrible year for QBs — Chad Pennington was the only one chosen in the first round. However, two Pro Bowlers were picked in the sixth round that year: Marc Bulger and Tom Brady.)

But to your larger point, if the Lions picked an OT but we don’t, it hardly creates a “run” on offensive linemen. Now if we both took OTs, perhaps that would significantly shift teams’ thinking in terms of position scarcity.

No matter who the Lions take, we should take the top man on our draft board. (And I hope it’s Curry.) That’s one of the benefits of picking #2 overall.

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by taiko on Apr 17, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like a lot of other people

I’d really like to see the Rams draft Curry. Espn doesn’t seem to think it’s going to happen like this though – they insist that we’re going OT. So I’m readying myself for an OT. It’s hard to get as excited about an OT, but it’s an important football position. It worries me when I repeatedly hear that none of the OTs in this draft is an Orlando Pace or Jonathan Ogden. I want to get a good value for our huge investment. In that case, I’d love to make Curry a leader of our defense for years to come. I’m just not sure it’s in the cards.

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by Toddius on Apr 17, 2009 9:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs