Looking seven rounds deep into the Rams draft

by VanRam on Apr 23, 2009 7:04 AM CDT in 2009 NFL draft Comment 14 comments

FILE - Ohio State's James Laurinaitis (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)

The draft is so close you can smell it. Of course, it's hard to sense anything with all the talk and speculation in the air. At this point, predictions are difficult to impossible, but let's take one last look at a very informed mock draft for some insight into a legit scenario for the Rams this weekend.

Scouts, Inc. has a full seven-round mock draft posted over at ESPN. It's behind the subscription wall, but you can download an Excel file with the full results, courtesy of Mike Sando, self-certified Excel maniac. You really have to be hard core to predict the full seven rounds, since there are likely to be more trades and surprise picks, lots of both, this weekend. Here's their prediction for the Rams:

R1 - Jason Smith, OT

R2 - James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State

R3 - Brian Robiskie, WR. Ohio State

R4 - Mike Goodson, RB, Texas A&M

R5 - Louis Vasquez, G, Texas Tech

R6 - Troy Nolan, S, Arizona State

R7 - Brandon Long, DE, Michigan State

Nabbing Laurintaitis in the second round would be ideal for the Rams, and it seems like there's more and more chatter that he may be available there, though it's pure speculation. Robiskie might be exactly what the Rams need in a WR to pair with Donnie Avery - big, physical, plays in well in the middle. He might not make it the third round. As for the first three rounds, those picks address the Rams biggest needs, but leave the debate about how to address those needs with what player wide open.

If you have some insight on any of the guys from rounds 4-7, let's hear it. I think another OT might be a better pick for OL depth than another guard...depending on what they've got in mind for John Greco's future. What kind of RB is Goodson? Would he be a nice change of pace guy for the Rams? Adding a RB isn't a bad move at all. Depth at DB is a need, and, knowing nothing about Nolan, I suspect he could be a special teams contributor. Long seems like the kind of guy Spagnuolo could make into a rotation specialist.

The biggest need not included here, that I'd like to see is a run stuffing NT, a specialist for the DT rotation and depth at the position. Of course, this really isn't the year for DTs. Another LB would make me happy too, but the Spagnuolo regime might well be able to make solid contributors out of last year's LB picks Chris Chamberlain and David Vobora. Both of these position might be more easily address through street free agents and roster victims prior to the start of the season.

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if this was our draft

I would be very very happy with our draft.

Future Redbirds!
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Rams Gab!
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by jroman on Apr 23, 2009 7:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

The Personal Finance Playbook.

by Toddius on Apr 23, 2009 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

4th round pick

Goodson is a good looking player who transferred from USC. He would be a great compliment to Jackson.

by Super99 on Apr 23, 2009 7:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Don't have specific players in mind for later rounds, but...

I’d bet that Spagnuolo gets at least two ‘tweeners,’ guys who are a little big at linebacker or a little small at DE, but who have great tackling instincts and can get after the quarterback. If one of them makes the club, he can play special teams and get rotated into the defense to spell Little.

"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 Apr 23, 2009 8:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Guards? What Guards? We don't need no stinkin' Guards!

Sorry, I just had to do a “Cheech & Chong” thing.

I don’t have a problem with Scouts, Inc’s Ram draft selections (except for guard) but in a differant order (see below). Plus after the 1st roound who really knows who will be left on the board so my picks are based on best available player at the position.

I also agree with you, I don’t feel we need another Guard. Aside from John Greco (age 24) and Adam Goldberg (age 28), who are both staunch utility lineman at either guard or tackle, and Richie Incognito (age 25) we also have a couple of youngsters in Roy Schuening (age 25) and Mark Setterstrom (age 25) for backup guards and possibly our guards of the future. That makes a total of five possible guards.

I also keep hearing/reading about how the Rams need to get a quality RB to spell Jackson now and then but my question is this, what is wrong with using Antonio Pittman (age 23), Brian Leonard (age 25), Kenneth Darby (age 26) and Samkon Gado (age 26) for that duty?

If you noticed I listed the ages of these players. I was emphasising the youth of our offense. Add in Steven Jackson (age 25) Jason Brown (age 25) and Jacob bell (age 28) and you get an average age of 25+. That to me is a young squad. I didn’t mention the tight-ends but they too range from 25 to 28, 28 being Randy McMichael.

Scouts, Inc picks:

R1 – Jason Smith, OT

R2 – James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State

R3 – Brian Robiskie, WR. Ohio State

R4 – Mike Goodson, RB, Texas A&M

R5 – Louis Vasquez, G, Texas Tech

R6 – Troy Nolan, S, Arizona State

R7 – Brandon Long, DE, Michigan State

My picks:

R1 – Aaron Curry, LB

R2 – Best available OT

R3 – Best available WR

R4 – Best available QB

R5 – Best available DE

R6 – Best available S

R7 – Best available CB

Anyway, that’s my take / 2 cents worth on the Rams draft situation.

Go Rams!

by Nbr1RamFan on Apr 23, 2009 8:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Quality 2nd RB

Of the group we used last year, none is a credible enough running threat to build a true running back tandem. None has so much as a 4.0 yards-per-carry average. Out of all of them, Darby showed a little pass-catching promise last season, but isn’t at the same level.

Consider the difference between the productivity of that group, and the true double-threat running tandems in the NFL last year. Each of these top rushing teams had a second guy who carried the ball at least 100 times, with no significant dropoff in production. (“Quality 2nd RB” highlighted):

Brandon Jacobs/ Derrick Ward (5.0/ 5.6 yards per carry)
Michael Turner/ Jerious Norwood (4.5/ 5.1 yards per carry)
Deangelo Williams/ Jonathan Stewart (5.5/ 4.5 yards per carry)
Adrian Peterson/ Chester Taylor (4.8/ 4.0 yards per carry)
Chris Johnson/ LenDale White (4.9/ 3.9 yards per carry
Ronnie Brown/Ricky Williams (4.3/ 4.1 yards per carry)

And that’s just a start. There are at least a dozen more quality backup runners in the league, including Michael Bush in Oakland and Benjarvus Green-Ellis in New England. Compare those guys to ours:

Antonio Pittman, career 3.7 yards per carry
Ken Darby, 4.4 yards per carry (on only 32 touches)
Brian Leonard + Samkon Gado combined: 4 carries, 11 yards

Again, Darby might have promise, but he is alone in that bunch, and hasn’t shown that he has the durability to become that 100-150 carry guy.

"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 Apr 23, 2009 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice draft possiblity

The only position of super need I don’t see in your draft is DT

by Ramfanforever on Apr 23, 2009 9:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's the problem, or is it?

I agree with you taiko, in recent years running back tandems proved to be very beneficial. My problem is, we have so many more demanding needs that before you know it it’s already the 5th, 6th or 7th round and how many times do you find quality running backs then. Offensively, I think QB, RB and WR are the most coveted players in the draft and the good ones go quick!

Go Rams!!!

by Nbr1RamFan on Apr 23, 2009 10:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

David Vobora

I think it would be awesomely hilarious if Mr. Irrelevent became a dominant force.

Go Vobora!!

by BruinHalo on Apr 23, 2009 11:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lower round guys

  Goodson – Solid agile RB. Got to see a decent amount of him in 2008 since A&M’s defense was stankified. He would definitely give us a change of pace from Action Jackson. Goodson did sustain a knee injury last season; I don’t remember what it was, but I do remember he only missed like 2 or 3 games. He would certainly give us a flash out of the backfield that we haven’t had in a while.
  Vasquez – Was part of an incredibly effective O-line against top-tier talent. I didn’’t Vasquez specifically, but the fact his name doesn’t ring any bells could also be a good thing. For example, Phil Loadholt’s name sticks in my mind because I saw him get beat on so many passing plays. In any case, Vasquez came up in a conversation about the strongest O-linemen in this year’s Draft. The other guys we mentioned are all round 1-2 talents.
  Troy Nolan – That same friend loves Arizona football, so I get tons of stuff on Wildcats and Sun Devils; Nolan was one of them. Although my boy’s not high on his ability, he is very high on his character. Chris Long anyone?
  Brandon Long – I saw Logn a couple times near the end of the season, and wasn’t incredibly impressed. Didn’t have the top-end athleticism to deal with Big Ten OTs, although that is a hell of a conference for tackles.

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

by 3k on Apr 23, 2009 11:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If the Rams

can get those first three picks, it would be great. I would be very excited to fill three of the major holes in one draft. I don’t think those guys will all be there, but it would be great.

I agree I would rather see them choose a nose tackle rather than another guard. We have guards coming out our ears already., and the backups played very well at the end of the season last year.

by andyrose on Apr 23, 2009 11:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

wat to do w/ 2nd pick

if the browns and seahawks are so high on sanchez, shouldnt the rams trade down w/ the browns and maybe pick up another 2nd rd pick or so, and still be able to get smith or monroe at the 5 spot

by b0xhead77 on Apr 23, 2009 2:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think that would definitely be the way to go!!!

by kickasskeever on Apr 23, 2009 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

why must it be an OT...???

All the sports talking heads say there’s not much difference in the OT’s available in the 1st and 2nd rounds this draft. There’s no budding Orlando Pace out there this year. So why are the Rams intent on using the 2nd overall pick to get one? There’s a plethora of impact players available; Curry, Crabtree, Sanchez, Raji, etc. The Rams could use any one of them, or even as trade bait. But no…., we’re going after another Alex Barron instead. Meanwhile, we’ve made only one single upgrade (Butler) to a defense that gave up 29 points per game last year. How can these guys not take Curry or Raji? Or at least get us someone that might help score some points. If he’s not already, Bulger is gonna be done in a couple years. And Holt’s already gone. Listen up guys to a 40 year fan that paid to watch you all lose 14 of 16 games last year.

by edpjr on Apr 23, 2009 9:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs