More questions ahead for the Rams

by Ryan Van Bibber on Apr 30, 2009 9:11 AM CDT in 2009 Off-Season

The dust is starting to settle on the draft, but plenty of questions remain unanswered for the Rams.

Will O.J. Atogwe be a Ram in 2010?

There's been some consternation over the future of Rams FS O.J. Atogwe, who the team franchised this year. Devaney is on the record stating that the team will try and work out a long-term deal for the playmaker this season. Who knows when to expect that; they've got some work with all the rookie contracts right now. Atogwe's free agency, however, will be a casualty of the now-severed collective bargaining agreement.

Under the new rules, players are required to have six seasons of experience before they become unrestricted free agents. This will be Atogwe's fifth season, making him a restriced free agent after the 2009 season. As a RFA, the Rams can tender him an offer likely at the highest level which would net them 1st and 3rd round picks in the draft should another team choose to sign him, making it unthinkable that another team would dare try to sign him at such a high cost. This year, the highest tender level gave a RFA $2.79 million in salary, far less than the $6.34 million the franchise tag for Atogwe cost the Rams this year. Obivously, it's to Atogwe's benefit to get a long-term deal worked out before RFA time rolls around next season.

What about our OT situation for 2010?

By drafting Jason Smith, a big part of that - literally and figuratively - issue is addressed. The good news for the Rams is their flexibility with Alex Barron, who will be a RFA after this season, like Atogwe. If Barron plays well, they can hang on to him via that process; if he stinks, they can simply forgo tendering him an offer.

Why didn't the Rams trade up for an extra first rounder in the 2010 draft, like San Fran and Seattle?

Getting a first round pick in 2010 was one of the conditions, by all accounts, of trading down from our number two spot. Word is that's what kept Washington from making the move. Part of the problem the Rams had, is that they weren't really in a position to lose draft picks.

If Bulger tanks in '09, will his contract prevent a cut or a trade after the season?

If Bulger tanks (I remain convinced he won't) this season, you won't have to worry about a trade. Cutting him, however, is a very real possibility. They'd eat some money by cutting him, but, similar to the situation with Pace and Holt this season, the Rams would save some cap space, $4.5 million to be exact.

Bulger critics aren't going to like what I have to say next... Ideally, you want Bulger to regain his form, or at least reach a level of competency where he's not a liability. In that situation, the Rams could find their next QB, and let him sit behind Bulger for a year or two to learn the ropes.

Can the Rams get a WR in free agency next year?

It's likely. Though teams will retain many of these guys, there are some intriguing names out there right now including Antonio Bryant, Michael Jenkins, Vincent Jackson, Lee Evans, Greg Jennings, Brandon Marshall, and even Larry Fitzgerald. Like I said, many of those guys will be re-signed by their teams, but there should be a few possibilities for the Rams to jump into a bidding war over their services. Of course, there's always the draft...

More questions? Get 'em in the comments and we can all mull it over.

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question

how much of bulger’s sub par play has been the bad o line and how much of it has been just bulger and the fact that the big contract may have thrown him off?

by LEFTY120491 on Apr 30, 2009 1:01 PM CDT reply actions

How 'bout this for an answer?

It depends….

I guess it all depends on where you lay the blame and that’s going to differ from person to person. Has Bulger been bad the past couple of years? Yes. Was it because of the beating he took? Probably to an extent. Was he an elite QB before the beating? Uh…kind of, but not really. Shouldn’t he have just sucked it up and took the beating? Ha! Easier said than done.

I think it’s hard to quantify who holds the majority of the blame. Heck, there’s just as much blame to be put on previous GMs and Coaches. It’s not like the O-Line chose to be bad. They just were.

As for the contract, I wouldn’t worry about it. He doesn’t strike me as a guy who will rest on his laurels. But there is cause for concern about how long it will take to get him confortable again. It took Warner about 3 seasons of sporadic playing time before he regained his former form. We don’t have that kind of time, but we do have time to see improvements over the next 2 years.

From time to time we’ll see the yippie, back-footed slinging Bulger but let’s not freak out when we see it. He’s not going to suddenly become Ben Roethlisberger. But, if he can simply improve upon his play as the season progresses, I’ll be happy since I don’t think any of us are looking at him to be the QB of the future who will lead the team through the rebuild. But, he does have to fill a role and that role is “competent QB”.

Did I ever tell you about the time Brasky and I went horseback riding, but there weren't any horses around? Anyway, Brasky throws a saddle on my back and rides me around Wyoming for three days. Well, wouldn't ya know it, my stamina increased with each day, and I develop tremendous leg muscles. So anyway, Brasky decides to enter me into the Breeders Cup under the name Turkish Delight. And Im running in second place, and I'm running, and I break my ankle. So anyway, they're about to shoot me. Then someone from the crowd yells out, God bless him, Dont shoot him, he's a human.

by Tackle Box on Apr 30, 2009 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Lets look at reality Ram fans

Wow listening to all the Monday morning quarterbacks is amusing. Everyone pointing out the needs the Rams should fill.
There is not a team in the NFL that does not have needs to fill on there team and will have needs every year. Lets take the world champions Pittsburg Steelers as a example. They have big needs on the offensive line and secondary. Its is obvious to everyone in the League but they still won the Superbowl. How? The players have bought into the system. They have a football culture and front office that is run by football people. It takes some luck to win the Superbowl but the Steelers are in the hunt ervery year.
I think we are all hoping that is the direction the Rams are going.
I find it amusing we are asking why the Rams didn’t trade there 2nd round pick for a 1st next year. All that would do is postpone the rebuilding of the talent on this team. We need players and postponeing picking a player till next year is not a intelligent move for a team that is rebuilding. Also Laurinaitis was a projected 1st round pick and he fell to us in the 2nd, should we have traded the pick for a first next year to hope someone falls to us next year?? That makes no sense whatsoever.
There are only so many players that can come in and start right away in the NFL, and usually they are found in the first and second rounds. We might have gotten 3-4 in this draft that can start for the Rams, and picked up 3-4 in free agency. that is incrediable!!!! The Rams may take some time until they are a playoff team but they won’t be as bad as last year, NO WAY

by Ramfanforever on Apr 30, 2009 1:04 PM CDT reply actions

playoff bound

I can see the Rams in the playoffs this year Miami did it Atlanta did it in one year why not us? We may not be the Steelers but we are not the Bengals. Bulgar will be ok I think he just hated coming to work but he will get back to his old form besides I don’t think he will have that pass happy offense,it’s Steven Jackson’s time now. Laurinaitis is a leader he is as tough as his dad I saw him take out the 4Horsemen in THE WAR GAMES. James will get the mic helmet not the SS and we will have a stud leader at MLB and Will can fill the hole left by Chiller. In our division playoffs should be a solid goal.

by 39jackson on Apr 30, 2009 2:29 PM CDT reply actions

As for the Bulger issue, I’m with you, I really want Bulger to regain his form…. you said:

Ideally, you want Bulger to regain his form, or at least reach a level of competency where he’s not a liability. In that situation, the Rams could find their next QB, and let him sit behind Bulger for a year or two to learn..

I also agree, I think next year’s draft would be a great time for the Rams to pluck one of them

I’ve been hearing that the 2010 NFL draft is going to be stacked with plenty of good quarterbacks. Here are three college quarterbacks that I’m fairly sure will be entering the NFL draft in 2010:

Sam Bradford (22 in Nov) – Oklahoma – 6’ 4" – 218 lbs
Tim Tebow (23 in Aug) – Florida – 6’ 2.6" – 238 lbs
Colt McCoy (23 in Sept) – Texas – 6’3" – 205 lbs

Not surprising to me, being from Missouri, they’re all from the Big 12 conference.

Now I’m pretty sure Bradford will go fast, very fast, being a top 5 candidate, unless something were to happen to him this year. What I don’t know is just how high Tebow or McCoy will go and to go along with that I have two questions:

One, what other top notch quarterbacks will be coming out of college next year that could be first round candidates?

Two, which ones would be best suited for the Rams?

Go Rams!

by Nbr1RamFan on Apr 30, 2009 3:58 PM CDT reply actions

Retraction!

Sorry, didn’t mean to include Tebow in the Big 12 Conf.

by Nbr1RamFan on Apr 30, 2009 3:59 PM CDT reply actions

You should apologize for including Tebow period.

by Tackle Box on Apr 30, 2009 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions

I Agree

with your comments on Bulger, showing signs of life again. We could use him for at least 2 more seasons. If Boller beats him out at some point, by showing improvements of his own, I would also be happy. I’d hate to settle for anyone other than “our guy” in 2010, just because we are desperate. If Bradford isn’t available, or whomever we think is #1, then I’d like to have the luxury of drafting another position, to get a high impact player. Who knows maybe Null will work out………………

Well we are just amusing ourselves aren’t we?

by dbcouver on May 1, 2009 12:07 AM CDT reply actions