Rams host free agent RB: Random Ramsdom, 9/8

by VanRam on Sep 8, 2009 8:52 AM CDT in Random Ramsdom Comment 10 comments

It's a game week, regular season game week as the St. Louis Rams get ready to take on the Seattle Seahawks to pull the curtain off the new look franchise.

Ramsdom2_medium_medium

ESPN has their NFL team previews up, with expert projections (we're projected to finish 4th in the division), info from Scouts, Inc. and more. Here's the bottom line from their preview:

The Rams took the safe route by selecting an offensive tackle, Jason Smith, with the second overall choice. They had too much money invested in Marc Bulger to select a quarterback early without considering other options. Of course, the Rams couldn't help but draft for need because they had so many from which to choose. Second-round linebacker James Laurinaitis filled another one. The biggest disappointment might have been failing to find an impact receiver, but how many of those are there in a given draft?

It never ceases to amaze me how closely NFL projections follow precedent. Barring the addition of a big time free agent or a sexy draft pick, predictions from the experts always look a lot like the final standings from the season before...which ought to tell you something about the usefulness of predictions.

The Rams will be hosting RB Gary Russell for a visit today. Russell got some work down the stretch as a short yardage guy for the Steelers, getting a Super Bowl TD. In preseason with the Raiders, he had 28 carries for 154 yards and 3 TDs. Russell averaged 5.5 yards per carry. He also shows some promise as a return man, where the Steelers also used him in the postseason. This news has to make Kenneth Darby a little worried.

Apparently, S Anthony Smith was quite a prize for the Rams, as a number of teams wanted him, but the Rams had an early shot at him thanks to their waiver priority status. Few thought he would be cut in Green Bay.

QB Marc Bulger and his broken pinkie will take snaps under center (he's been fine out of the shotgun) for the first time since the week after the Jets preseason game on Wednesday. You can pretty much guarantee it will be painful. How painful is the real question.

DT Adam Carriker has shoulder surgery tomorrow. Meh.

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thank you

predictions are so dumb, because no one picks anything out of the ordinary. they always pick last season’s standings plus moving up the washington redskins because “they had a great offseason”. every year.

and then then there is 5 of 10 new playoff teams and all the pundits act like they aren’t surprised.

It’s the NFL, no one knows anything. that’s what makes it great.

[off soapbox]

Future Redbirds!
www.futureredbirds.net
Rams Gab!
www.ramsgab.com

by jroman on Sep 8, 2009 10:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

RAMS

There is no surprise with the RAMS draft picks. They have a lot of money invested in Bulger, unfortunately for him hye lacks mobility, and this means lots of sacks, and probably a 12-13 game season again. I think the RAMS were smart entertaining another Running Back, if they can get a good running game that will take a ;lot of pressure off of Bulger, Jackson is a good back, but he doesnt seem to be a team player or motivated to play like Faulk, L.T., Sproles and some of the other great backs, The RAMS do need to draft a great back next year along with a Q.B. Boller isnt the answer, we will see about Null, it looks like a 4 win max season for the RAMS, they will lose 2 games to both Arizona and the 49ers and 1 to Seattle, they cant beat Chicago or Green Bay.

by California Mobile CPR on Sep 8, 2009 11:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think your assessment of Jackson is about a thousand miles off base.

"F@*& Lidge and the horse he rode in on!"

-Cards Fan in Chitown, via text message shortly after the VEB Get Together Day.

by Tackle Box on Sep 8, 2009 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

It's funny.

espn.com predicts the Rams to finish 4th citing their selection of a Tackle over something sexy like a quarterback or the prima dona Michael Crabtree.

While, on the other hand, ESPN The Magazing predicts the Rams finish 2nd citing their selection of a Tackle in the first round saying “teams that select OT’s early in the draft improve quickly”.

"F@*& Lidge and the horse he rode in on!"

-Cards Fan in Chitown, via text message shortly after the VEB Get Together Day.

by Tackle Box on Sep 8, 2009 12:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Or how about

this bit, which would otherwise be self-contradictory, but since it’s ESPN it makes sense:

Best addition in free agency: Center Jason Brown. The Rams badly needed an anchor for their offensive line. Brown seems like a strong leader. He has unusual size for a center.

Weaknesses
…
Offensive line: The addition of No. 2 pick Jason Smith is not enough to solidify what has been one of the weaker units in the NFL the past few seasons.

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Sep 8, 2009 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

espn sucks

yet, i continue to watch….i cannot look away

Future Redbirds!
www.futureredbirds.net
Rams Gab!
www.ramsgab.com

by jroman on Sep 8, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

guys, i'm here to tell you

that you can live the sporting fan’s life without ESPN. ok, I do read Sando’s blog, but that’s it.

Turf Show Times

by VanRam on Sep 8, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Such is what happens when Disney controls sports.

Spagamania is in full bloom

by ram_rod on Sep 8, 2009 3:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I gotta admit I'm powerless to stop

switching to espn first before realizing the futility.

by dbcouver on Sep 9, 2009 4:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not really journalists

Alot of these guys are not really journalists and it shows. They are ex sports fiugres that lack analiytical and writing skills. The best they can do is reverberate last years standings. Most have no local insight which is why they miss surprise teams every year.

by gomer7 on Sep 9, 2009 8:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs