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Looking to Looker for experience at WR

You know it's a slow day when you're getting a post about Dane Looker. And what exactly do we want to say about Dane Looker?

Look, you and I both know the Rams don't have a lot of experience at WR - note I said they lack experience not talent - the two guys on the depth chart behind Donnie Avery - Keenan Burton and the newly acquired Laurent Robinson - carry big question marks. Now, teams have gone far with lesser receiving corps, but there's usually always some experience on the roster...that and an unstoppable defense and/or running game. There's not exactly anyone on the free agent market who'd be considered elite, to say the least, but there is plenty of experience, and some names the Rams could be considering. From a Pro Football Weekly item last week:

...we hear it’s quite possible the Rams might decide to re-up with veteran free agent Dane Looker after the draft if he's still available. Consistent and reliable, Looker has managed to stick around because of his savvy, versatility and special-teams ability. After the draft, we hear it’s also possible that the Rams might consider adding veteran free-agent WR Amani Toomer, whom Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo is familiar with from their time spent together with the Giants, or perhaps Ike Hilliard, a former Giant who was released by Tampa Bay.

They could do a lot worse than Toomer or Hillard, who would just be one-year hands hired to work the ranch as the Rams rebuild. Football Outsiders even suggested Philly WR Hank Baskett, a restricted free agent the Eagles tendered at a second round level. That seems unlikely until you consider that the Eagles are interested in some big names like Ocho Cinco and earlier talk about being a player for Anquan Boldin. If that happens, they might be willing to let Baskett walk since they also have Kevin Curtis, DeSean Jackson and Reggie Brown on the roster, unless they see his productivity from last season as a sign of things to come. 

Baskett would be a nice get, more of a long-term solution at 26 than Toomer or Hillard. I also like his blocking ability. The Rams have decent blocking WRs in Burton and Robinson, but, again, we come back to the injury question marks surrounding those two. It seems pretty unlikely that Baskett will be a Ram.

And so we're back to Looker. He's a known commodity. He can block, play special teams (he's a fine holder). Don't overlook the blocking thing; one of Robinson or Burton is likely to be healthy at any point in the season but just one blocker among the WRs isn't enough. Looker wouldn't be much of a cap hit either. He's not your playmaker to complement Avery, but seems like a useful enough part to have around, as Tackle Box mentioned in his Being Billy Devaney series.

Bringing Looker back makes sense and gives the team some much needed experience at WR, but is that going to be enough?

0 recs  |  Comment 15 comments |

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Comments

Display:

Bleh on Looker, meh on Hillard, eh on Toomer, and a weh? on Baskett.

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

by 3k on Apr 8, 2009 12:52 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i wouldnt mind bringing back looker…but bringing in Toomer or Hilliard seems intriguing….

if we do bring in one of these vets then i say one more WR from the third round of the draft and we’ll be set.

by rams since day1 on Apr 8, 2009 1:09 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

ret at receiver

Toomer would be ok but Hilliard looks old and what is Torry Holt doing I know that ship has sailed but still I didn’t see any one pick him up he still looked good the last few games of the season.

by 39jackson on Apr 8, 2009 2:53 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i would definitely prefer toomer over hilliard…

by rams since day1 on Apr 8, 2009 3:02 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Toomer has had a solid career, and

he would be a good trainer for the young receivers on the team

by PCarn on Apr 8, 2009 3:31 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

too old

Toomer, Hilliard, Harrison, et al are too old. Looker is just a reminder of the failed teams of 2007 & 2008. Like most all Ram FA’s, he won’t be coming back. What’s wrong with being young? Avery, Burton, Robinson and maybe Michael Crabtree will provide an above average receiving corps.

by edpjr on Apr 8, 2009 5:26 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

The problem is that you have three recievers now (robinson included) that have to learn a new system, while adjusting to a new coaching regime and still have to adjust to the NFL speed of play and the demands that include it.

Having Robinson and Burton become experienced playmakers in one offseason doesn’t really help them that much, espicially when it is all up to them.

Looker isn’t just a reminder of the failed teams of 2007 and 2008, how could you say that? I suppose that means Little is a reminder of failed teams too. Lets boot him out. Bulger is a failed member too. He’s gone. Holt and Pace already got the boot because they were just reminders of the failed teams.

Avery should be booted out too he was on that horrible 2008 team. Along with Burton.

Get my point?

I heart Scotty L.
(in 2006)

by ram_rod on Apr 8, 2009 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

point taken, but...

Sorry, but I still disagree. A very few Ram players showed talent in 2007 and 2008. Avery and Burton were rookies, but were two of the few players that showed us anything. As for Leonard Little, I was quite surprised to see him retained at age 35. And, if Bulger didn’t have a bullet proof $65M contract, he’d likely have been gone and replaced by Cassel, Cutler or Quinn. Back to WR though; in the past few years the Rams have let Kevin Curtis, Isaac Bruce, and now ,Tory Holt, go. They don’t appear as concerned about experience as you do. And, even an over-the-hill guy like Toomer, Hilliard, Harrison, etc. would have to adjust to a new coach and system. I think Spags and company are building a virtually new Rams squad that will be much younger and more motivated. These “new” Rams may not make the playoffs this year, but they’ll be better and may make a run at it in 2010. I don’t see Looker, or hardly any of the outstanding free agents, being asked to come back for this season.

by edpjr on Apr 8, 2009 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

experience is not a factor... Why you ask?

Toomer has been a solid wr his whole career but I dont see him getting better with age. Hilliard has been average, Looker has good hands but doesnt really bring any thing spectacular to the table. Rams need a vet now more than ever…Just think they still could have BRUCE!!! If they didnt run him out of town to keep injury prone Drew Bennett only to cut him after paying him huge money. Holts production went down not due to him losing a step but to our qb Mark Bulgers’ horrible play. Holt will have a solid season with a new team just like Bruce had with the 40whiners. Point being it really doest matter who you have at wr if your qb cant get the job done. Bring Holt back and trade Bulger for cracker jacks.

by ivobox on Apr 8, 2009 11:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

We need at least one vet...

because not only will they have experience but they will do one very important thing…mentor.

whoever we bring in can teach avery, burton, robinson, and possibly a rookie what it takes to play in this leauge. They go through the learning curve this year under his guidance because like you said….we are not going to be a great team next year. That said when we do make a run at it in 2010, they will have learned and matured under the veterans mentoring. It will give them a chance to be really good with all of the learning already behind them.

by rams since day1 on Apr 9, 2009 12:10 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ram rod is right

our receivers do have to learn a new system……its almost guaranteed that Toomer will be brought on board because of his familiarity of what spags wants to do

by JordansDad on Apr 9, 2009 1:16 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

doubt it

In the last few years the Rams have let Kevin Curtis go, cut Bruce, Bennett and Holt, and are unlikely to bring back Looker again They’re just not gonna let a Tory Holt go and bring in an aged Toomer, Harrison or poison Plexico. They have a coaching staff to mentor young guys. If Curry is taken by Detroit, my guess on the 2nd pick is Crabtree. Then we’re set at WR with Crab, Avery, Burton and Robinson. We’ll also have McMichael to catch passes across the middle and Steven Jackson to catch coming out of the backfield. AND, if Bulger can’t throw this year, maybe Kyle Boller can…

by edpjr on Apr 12, 2009 12:31 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree

edpjr is right. We have a coaching staff that is being paid to bring along young talent, I don’t think you need to waste money and roster space on a veteran player who can’t play. If Spags and Devaney think that Toomer can put up 800-1000 yards this year as a 1 or 2 then sure get him, but not just to “teach” Avery and Burton et al. how to play.

by kickasskeever on Apr 12, 2009 4:58 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

no thanks

we dont need the Giants hasbin receivers on this team ,if they wanted experience the should have kept Holt, and even get Bruce back before getting some hasbin just cause he coached on the Giants ,Van ram realy nigga shut ta fuck up with your ideas ,one thing the rams dont need is you picking any players ,every one you pic sucks for the last three years,i told you this before just watch and learn how teams are bilt

by james535 on Apr 12, 2009 10:58 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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