Free Agent Ramblings: Part Two

by Eric Nagel on Dec 8, 2010 2:10 PM CST in 2010 St. Louis Rams offseason

Could Sam Bradford have more weapons next year?

After looking at what options the Rams would have for defense, it's time to take a look at the offensive side of the ball. A lot has been said about the inconsistency the Rams have had on offense, either when talking about players or play calling. Either way, it's clear the Rams could use some help here too. Below are some players that could help out the team next year, as long as the NFLPA doesn't go guerrilla warfare on the CBA negotiations.

Jerome Harrison, RB, Eagles:

This guy played for the Browns up until just recently. After gaining over 1,000 yards (receiving and rushing) last year, he lost his job to Peyton Hillis and was subsequently traded to the Eagles. He's been doing well in a backup role, averaging 4.7 yards per carry in the crowded Eagles backfield. He played at WSU, and as such, he was one of the few college players I saw play. Even though the Cougars were (and still are) horrible, he was probably the only bright spot on that team when he was there. The guy can run, and if you look at his stats, you'd tend to agree.

Darren Sproles, RB, Chargers:

The Rams almost nagged before he was tagged by the Chargers, so it wouldn't be too far of a stretch to say he'd still be on the teams radar. His price tag has probably dropped, which isn't a bad thing either. He'd be a good change of pace runner who could also chip in on returns should Danny Amendola want a break. (What am I thinking, Amendola never needs a break. Sorry VT.)

Evan Mathis, G, Bengals:

He's been pretty quite this year. He lost the job after an ankle injury took him out last year, but you'll notice from Football Outsiders that their mid/guard rushing rating dropped from 10th best in the league to 25th (2009 to 2010). It can't all be attributed to him, sure, but he's both a good pass protector and run blocker, and most certainly would be an upgrade over Adam Goldberg, or even Jacob Bell, if the coaching staff so desired.

Steve Smith, WR, Giants:

After having a huge season last year, Smith has dropped off a bit with only around half the yardage and touchdown totals this year. The problem is that the Giants have always been pretty keen to spreading out the ball, and he simply isn't getting the same amount of receptions this year as he did last year. Considering the fact that New York has quite a few players ready to hit the free agency, Smith may be tempted by a starting position and a familiar coach.

Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings:

What's not to like about this guy? If the Rams don't get it done with Vincent Jackson the second time around, he'd be a hell of a Plan B. I don't think there is any legitimate reason to not go after him. He's a deep threat, has size, and is everything you wished the Rams had at that position. Having a proven threat like this could be the key to opening up this offense and seeing just what type of plays Pat Shurmur really has in that head of his.

Tweet Comment 25 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Just thinking about landing Smith or Rice amazes me

I would love either and both are a good possibility

What Would Joey Votto Do?

by OGC Reds on Dec 8, 2010 2:26 PM CST reply actions

tons of scat backs in the draft

Devine, Murray, Hunter, Rodgers. You figure someone will be available rounds 3-5.

by biggilybird on Dec 8, 2010 2:59 PM CST reply actions

In Addition to the above, how about the following (just going by potential FAs as of middle of 2010 available Mar 2011)

WR-Santonio Holmes, Steve Breaston, Sam Hurd, Jacoby Jones, Mike Sims-Walker, Braylon Edwards

FB/RB-LeRon McClain, Mike Tolbert
RB-Tim Hightower, DeAngelo Williams, Cedric Benson, Laurence Maroney, Jamaal Charles, Pierre Thomas, Ahmad Bradshaw, Michael Bush, Leon Washington

Now I do not know if any of the above have signed new contracts or not but with new Money and the potential we have shown as an up and coming team, I do not think we need to limit our FA search (unless cap space becomes an issue). I would think any of the above FA’s might be willing to come to the Lou (not like previous years).

My preference is pick up one of the FB/RB types(McClain or Tolbert) and a WR (Rice would be good but so would Sims-Walker or Breaston and usually healthier since those hip things are not good).

by RBramfan on Dec 8, 2010 3:24 PM CST reply actions

How good are mcclain and tolbert at blocking?

I like Jamaal Charles. He’d be a great compliment and would really give us a two headed monster.

from WR Sims Walker looks ideal, as does Breaston OR SIDNEY RICE lol

Bradford to Onobun!

by Infemous on Dec 8, 2010 4:32 PM CST up reply actions

I thought about putting him on there

But I see no way on Earth the Chiefs let him get away.

Number 8 is great

by Eric Nagel on Dec 8, 2010 6:37 PM CST up reply actions

McClain blocked pretty well for Ray Rice last year he just wants more carries.

Not sure about Tolbert since SD does not utilize “power” running that often.

If they play on ST though (Tolbert does, not sure about McClain), they won’t be inactive week to week and can still get 4-6 touches a game (running & catching) as needed. Also being able to keep one of these FBs in passing situations is a very powerful tool as it can free up SJax to go out on patterns and/or give an extra target to SB in the flat.

I am concerned that we would land S. Rice and lose him to injury. As I mentioned, hip injuries are “very” disabling.

by RBramfan on Dec 8, 2010 7:06 PM CST up reply actions

I'm drooling over Rice...

…now that dude is a STUD! Better than Jackson in my opinion. Adding him would solve our WR problems.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 8, 2010 3:39 PM CST reply actions

not better than Jackson

different. Sidney Rice is WAY more athletic than Vincent Jackson, but VJ’s possession game is definitely above Sidney’s. It would be a hard choice to make, but as we’ve discussed on TSR, the question would be, “What WR role do we need to upgrade?” If it’s the athlete position, then Brandon Gibson is in trouble. If it’s Laurent Robinson’s possession spot (and that’s got to be the assumed upgrade), then VJ makes more sense. I wouldn’t be too upset if Julio Jones falls into that spot though.

You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.

by 3k on Dec 8, 2010 4:19 PM CST up reply actions

i thought it was our #1 spot lol

as in a guy that defenses have to worry about, and i’m not fussed about either.
but the way sidney made that first TD grab sunday i definitely want him.

Jackson is good and would be great but I think Sidney is a more complete #1 WR and can do anything for us.

you know where I stand on Julio Jones.

Bradford to Onobun!

by Infemous on Dec 8, 2010 4:31 PM CST up reply actions

The point is that I'd like to sign a FA WR...

…and Rice is the better WR in my opinion. Great size, great hands. The reason why I’d like to sign one is so we can focus the draft on defense. Take a DT and OLB in the first two rounds, then take a RB in the third to complement SJax and then maybe beef up the OL and secondary with the remaining picks. Then our offense would be stellar (albeit young).

Then we’d be damn young but with a boat load of potential. Having to draft a WR in the first bumps all of those picks I mentioned down a rung of the draft, which I don’t like.

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 8, 2010 5:44 PM CST up reply actions

I'm starting to think OG might be one of our more critical additions

FA or draft.

I can take a beating ... I'm a Rams fan.

by Midasknight on Dec 8, 2010 5:57 PM CST up reply actions

I like spending a 3rd or 4th rounder on OG!

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 8, 2010 6:20 PM CST up reply actions

I'm thinking higher. A real feisty road grader.

Like Incognito only not a moron. More like Steve Wisnewski.

I can take a beating ... I'm a Rams fan.

by Midasknight on Dec 8, 2010 6:23 PM CST up reply actions

I've thought that 3rd would be a good spot to take a OG too...

…but I’d rather get a high quality shifty RB in the third. Maybe Boren (Ohio State) in the 4th? He’s a paver!

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Dec 8, 2010 6:39 PM CST up reply actions

What if...

we stay with the WR’s we have and go after some really good DB’s? After all, next year… we’ll have DX full and healthy and Mark Clayton as our #2 WR. Then throw in Danny as our slot guy.. and we still have good depth then with Avery, Gibson, Robinson… hmmm, who am I forgetting? Anyway, seems like we’ve found some good WR’s and could focus elsewhere to spend our money?

by Rams Homer on Dec 8, 2010 4:49 PM CST reply actions

Oh...

I do like the LeRon McClain idea!

by Rams Homer on Dec 8, 2010 4:50 PM CST up reply actions

Of all these prospects Mathis intrigues me the most

        Our lines upgrade will be the most important of the off-season. Regardless of whom we draft, our needs cover all areas still but the O-line can’t be upgraded this draft. There isn’t a plan I’ve heard of that would include the kind of O-lineman who could come in and make us a better run-blocking team. The only way that could happen immediately is thru FA, and it can’t wait. I hope other than Mathis we could pickup a backup OT that would lower the injury risk we have now as well.
        That being said I’d like to see us address at least 3 or 4 of our high priority positions thru free-agency, every free-agent signed is 1 less position of need, and we still need too many. How about Sproles, Mathis, Rice and Jackson?
     Did you do defense already? I must have missed it. Also anyone know where to get all potential free agents in one easy site that is regularly updated? Walters the closest thing I’ve found and he’s way behind. I would think Roto-world or someone would have a list but they don’t. They do however keep up pretty well on transactions, which is the best thing right now I can find.

by dbcouver on Dec 8, 2010 4:53 PM CST reply actions

I used footballsfuture.com

for this. And I did defense Saturday…so it should be on…page three? two? by now. Since 3k is the scouting general manager round these parts, I thought it’d be fun to do something that wouldn’t make me look like a moron!

Number 8 is great

by Eric Nagel on Dec 8, 2010 6:40 PM CST up reply actions

TY

good site

by dbcouver on Dec 10, 2010 3:53 PM CST up reply actions

WR, OG, and OLB

One of those three will be via FA. The other two will be in the top of the draft.

But which?

I don’t think we grab Charles, but Sproles or Harrison would fit very nicely.

I can take a beating ... I'm a Rams fan.

by Midasknight on Dec 8, 2010 5:25 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

My main concern about Sidney Rice is health.

The last thing the Rams need is another WR on the shelf, and Vincent Jackson seems to be sturdier in that regard. As far as pure talent goes, though, Rice is incredible.

by Abrantes on Dec 8, 2010 7:25 PM CST reply actions

My two cents

I think we should target two players specifically this offseason.
1) Logan Mankins OG. Since he has returned people have been reigniting their Brady man-crushes all over the place. Brady has looked unstoppable with his big boy back in the interor, and the Lawfirm (BeJarvis Green Ellis) sure has liked his wider lanes.
2) Vincent Jackson WR. We already made headway with his agent and we know that he will consider STL as a destination. It is always nice when you don’t have to give up resources to bring in talent.
This would allow us to concentrate on other pieces of the puzzle during the Draft.

by CaliRamMan on Dec 8, 2010 9:55 PM CST reply actions

If we had picked up Ryan Lilja

like I wanted, then we might not be having this damn need of another OG…..Damn you chiefs.

by CaliRamMan on Dec 8, 2010 10:02 PM CST up reply actions

I can totally get on board with that since AJ Green is clearly unreachable now.

I can take a beating ... I'm a Rams fan.

by Midasknight on Dec 9, 2010 12:53 PM CST up reply actions

i dont care who we get

spags has the magic touch with defense and bradford can work with anybody on offense.whoever we sign will help but i am good as long as we dont lose anybody that has been doing their job all season long. but if i had too pick one free agent this offseason it would be health and plenty of it

by RAISEtheDEAD on Dec 9, 2010 8:11 AM CST reply actions