Who cares about the #1 pick, that's not where the battle will be won or lost
by RamsFan1979 on Mar 20, 2010 7:19 PM CDT
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Admit it, someone on our team needs some help. via www.lonelykicker.com
Basically it comes down to the FO's breakdown of the talent and they will grab who they think will do best for us with the first overall selection. The question we have to ask is, 'what picks make the most sense to help us recover?' Remember, our D-line and O-ine received lots of injuries, WR was a revolving injury door, it was quite a bug. Hard to evaluate the development of talent when they are on IR isn't it? If we had a better LB corp it would help stop the run. Injuries and lack of talent in key spots was really exposed last year. Spags & Co have worked to bring in vet talent in key spots that will [hopefully] prevent a repeat of last year.
With that said, what areas do we still need to improve on? TE, RT, QB, OLB, WR, DE, CB. OK, for the most part, I view those are the teams 'Area of Needs'. Even tho we have many other positions we can use an upgrade on, it's not wise to draft w/BPA as our only tool. Just because an awesome C drops to us at #33, we have to be intelligent and not grab him because he is the BPA. We obviously know C is more an area of strength on our team, so is it really wise to select him? I would think not. Some ppl may think a DT is an area of need, but we have enough of a rotation. If you follow my rationale, it is applicable here. We don't draft out of need. We also have to look at available talent and what positions are low in impactful players vs our area of needs. I came up w/some surprising results. I am a big D fan; champions are won or lost by D. I didn't let me personal desire get in the way of team need. Here's what I came up w/:
Rnd 2, TE. Here is the logic: very few TE's that will come in and contribute at some point in the year. Either Hernandez or, who I prefer, is Graham out of Miami [he has a huge upside, but is a gamble I admit]. Obviously if neither is there, we then move to our BPA at our positions of need we haven't filled yet.
Rnd 3, WR. There are only 5 WR's worth it: Williams out of USC, LeFell, Benn, Bryant, & GoldenBoyTate. They all could easily make the team and improve an area of need for us. Yeah sure we have quite a few WR's on the team, but scoring points is important for a team to win. Only ones we might get available here are Benn & Williams. Either has the skill set we need. We could also use a back-up RB as well. But who do we want here, Best or McCluster if available. IMO neither. I'd look at my trusty BPA for area of need.
Rnd 4, OLB. We have a distinct need for WLB specifically. I'm more than willing to take Muckelroy, Watson, Perry or Riley here. The production drop between Washinton [#2 rated LB] and these guys aren't as big as between Weatherspoon & these guys. But Weatherspoon should go top 20-25. If we're lucky enough Dekoda Watson is available, but we have a great chance of improving over Paris Lenon in rnd 4.
From here, for me, it gets a little hazy to guess who we get. I would rely on one tool, that's right BPA for position of need. Fill the rest of our picks that way. IMO, the evaluation of the talent is very important in getting the correct player for our team. It goes beyond the physical tools and is told in the interview process. Even w/all the physical tools, it has been proven, some players just don't have the football smarts to play.
I'm sure many ppl think I'm crazy, but it's not that far fetched if you digest it a bit.
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I wish we would stop considering Benn.
I know he is highly rated and was supposed to be a star his entire career. Well, he never did perform like a star at Illinois. A good, physical corner could take him out of the game every time. When Bradley Fletcher was still playing for Iowa, he completely shut Benn down. I know Illinois didn’t have a great QB, but Benn wasn’t getting open for him to even try to complete passes to him. Maybe he will finally turn out to be a star in the NFL, but I don’t think the chances are real good.
I think we should disregard...
…drafting any of these receivers. If we do draft any of them we are using an early pick at a position that is not as a great a need as other positions. If we do draft a wide reciever I wouldn’t mind taking Jeremy Williams from Tulane or Freddie Barnes in the 5th round if they are still there. If there not, no big deal, the young talent we have on the roster is poised to emerge this year. You watch!!
Agree...
If a WR is taken early – it should be because the FO can see them as a true #1. Outside of Bryant – who there is no real chance of getting – I’m not sure one is available so I would rely on scouting and hope to select a gem in rds 5 and on. IMO 1st 4 rds should be focussed on QB, DT/DE, LB, and TE.
Free Brandon Wood!
With the WR's and RB's, who, if the right player is found
can come in and contribute. This is why I say in Rnd 3 we go to our board and see who is left that fits our needs. We’ll end up w/what you say, IMO: WB, TE, DE, wLB. I’d be very happy with that.
My opinion is that we are a few players and if the players can stay healthy, we will win a few more games than ppl will expect. We will not, next year, be in a position to draft a franchise QB. Maybe I’m more optomistic than I need to be, but I saw talent on the team before so many fell to injury. We should take what the football gods give us and smile [think Soup Nazi…]. Like some pointed out, maybe next year we grab a #1 WR and hold on to what we have for now.
if the players can stay healthy, we will win a few more games than ppl will expect
I think so too.
Of course, I said that very thing right here last year. But yeah.
I like getting a TE ealry too. I think a lot of guys underestimate what a difference a recieving TE could make.
The blind stares of a million pairs of eyes, lookin hard but won't realize, that they'll never see the C. And when I'm rollin by, you can't see me!
by CoachConnors on Mar 22, 2010 7:37 AM CDT up reply actions
Most of those receivers will probably be gone by the 3rd round
And why waste a pick on one this year when next year you got the following 1st-2nd round rated receivers:
Julio Jones- 6’4’’ 220 lbs. 4.45 40 yard and 38.5" vertical leap
AJ Green- 6’4’’ 210 lbs. 4.52 40 yard and I don’t know his vertical
Michael Floyd- 6’3’’ 220 lbs 4.52 40 yard also don’t know his vertical
Jonathan Baldwin 6’5’’ 225 4.54 40 yard (somewhere I read 4.37, don’t know how accurate that is) and a 42" vertical leap (from the same place that said he ran a 4.37).
How about this unlikely but possibly possible idea:
Draft Bradford this year, sit him for a year, also draft Ed Dickson, then draft Julio Jones in round 1 and Jonathan Baldwin in round 2 if he is available. Then you could throw in Jahvid Best in 2010 and we have a dominant offense, but possibly no defense. We’ll have to rely on the later rounds and hopefully a capped free agency for that. That would be amazing to have that offense. Too bad it won’t happen because Spags will want a defense of that caliber.
Next year's WRs
make me itchy
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 Mar 21, 2010 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions
We know that floyd and green can jump like jordan so verticals aren't really needed
Per fas et nefas - Latin translation="By Any Means Necessary"
I'm on board with 3K!
I’ve been long saying that the group of WRs in next years class make me salivate. Baldwin, just looks like that blue and gold he wears are in need of some Rams Horns! He such a refined beast when the ball is in the air. Just think, IF Bradford was drafted and had a year to develop, and say next year we give him Baldwin to compliment the young core we have now….that could look like a promising future (Barring an addition at RT). However, that is a big IF.
Q: where the battle will be won or lost ?
A: the trenches
i think that the rams lost a few games because the OLine was a sponge many times in the game and allowed many sacks, pressure our qb and no open holes for our rb, all the things we’re the cause of the worst offensive in the league.
by other hand, our defense was not so bad as offense but needs help against the rush and put a little pressure against the rival qb
To put some perspecive on this comment:
It’s difficult to evaluate the talent when it’s not playing. We had injuries on both sides of the ball. D line, WR, O line, etc. We do have a D line player & WR w/injury history’s. Maybe 2 spots we should find some talent in case they go down again.
I don't think so
It’s disappointing that their firing had to take place. I know something had to be done, but that phrase is the last reason someone should be fired. Now we have new turf, again, that won’t be replaced next year. Lets hope the injuries fall off, but if they do, it won;t be because our training staff get replaced.
How does demaryius not even get consideration in the 3rd round?
Per fas et nefas - Latin translation="By Any Means Necessary"
My bad...
Bay-Bay does deserve consideration and would be an impact player we could use. Still, he should be gone by the time our 2nd pick rolls around and for sure gone by the 3rd. I view TE more important than WR, hence TE in rnd 2. The improvement from Fell to one of a few TE’s we could draft is an upgrade that will be felt this year. At WR, we still have some question marks and the position could not be as much of a need as we think; injuries slowed the young crew down.
by RamsFan1979 on Mar 22, 2010 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree 100%
The blind stares of a million pairs of eyes, lookin hard but won't realize, that they'll never see the C. And when I'm rollin by, you can't see me!
by CoachConnors on Mar 22, 2010 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions
None of the TE have a track record of being healthy though.
Gresham tore his acl in highschool and then again in college. The guy from arizona had back problems this year so that be a problem in his blocking game. Both can be impact players if healthy though
Per fas et nefas - Latin translation="By Any Means Necessary"
Yeah, anyone w/an injury history is a gamble we can't take
at least in the rebuilding process w/TE being a big area of need.
Hernandez is a pure catching TE, no blocking skills and short arms. Would work for us since Bajema is more a blocking TE anyway. If we want someone who will work his way into our system I still believe Graham is a hidden gem.
http://cdsdraft.com/profile.php?id=4885 A gamble in rnd 2 I know.
Well you can say that about QB too
same logic applies, doesn’t it? Rebuilding process, w/QB being a big area of need. I don’t know, I think Gronk’s injury worries me most, out a year and still can’t even work out for pro day, but Gresham has been a star since he was a kid and I would feel comfortable drafting him if the Dr cleared him. I definitely wouldn’t draft soeone who can’t even work out for pro day….it’s not even a game, it’s not even contact, millions on the line and he can’t run around and catch the ball because he’s so broken, yikes. Maybe it’s just that I had a disasterous back injury and am biased against them.
The blind stares of a million pairs of eyes, lookin hard but won't realize, that they'll never see the C. And when I'm rollin by, you can't see me!
by CoachConnors on Mar 24, 2010 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Here's what I've got so far at MTD
1. Suh
2. Campbell
3. McCluster
3. Dickson
4. Austen Lane
5. 1st pick BPA
5. 24th pick BPA
6. 1st pick BPA
7. 1st pick BPA
7. 19th pick BPA
BPA of course refers to position of need: I can’t divulge my preferences just yet what that is until this thing is over but you all have a pretty good idea of what those are.
Unless a QB falls to me I’m expecting Bulger to be retained, or Feeley to take over with Null and Reilly to battle it out this year for #2 through next year with Locker, Mallett, Gabbert or some other 1st round riser to be our Face of the Franchise, starting out next year as our #3 then rising to #1 by 2012. By that time we have plenty of opportunity to keep the O-line stocked and acquire some killer WRs.
Bruce Campbell is a huge project.
overalll….I hope they find someone with a more extablished track record. People wouldn’t have him as high if he didn’t tear up the combine. I know the draft pundits may not agree with me on this but I think his bust potential is considerable, and even though I’m all for difference makers, this is a pretty high pick to spend on a guy who is a freak but a freak project.
The blind stares of a million pairs of eyes, lookin hard but won't realize, that they'll never see the C. And when I'm rollin by, you can't see me!
by CoachConnors on Mar 22, 2010 7:34 AM CDT up reply actions
OH no theres no shortage of people who agree with you
I got him because of how far he fell and what I think of our current state of OTs. In hind sight I kind of wish I’d picked up Hughes, but IMHO we need help on the O-line before we bring in the QB of the future. Campbells upside is that we may have long term bookend tackles now. I had him in the top 5 tackles before the combine. The combine is best to get honest measurements on height and weight and little else.
Biggest need?
Rams biggest need is health. Picks on day 2 & 3 will be the make or break.
Are those guys doctors?
I’m kidding
The blind stares of a million pairs of eyes, lookin hard but won't realize, that they'll never see the C. And when I'm rollin by, you can't see me!
by CoachConnors on Mar 22, 2010 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions
That is my view as well,
day 2 & 3 will make or break our draft. I’m really hoping we trade back on day 2, which IMO, will more than likely happen. Many teams will see certain players drop into rnd 2 and somebody will pull the trigger on getting their guy and trade w/us. If we can move back in 2 and pick up an extra pick or two it would be more than worth it.
by RamsFan1979 on Mar 22, 2010 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions
I did not notice any loss,,,
that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen
The blind stares of a million pairs of eyes, lookin hard but won't realize, that they'll never see the C. And when I'm rollin by, you can't see me!
by CoachConnors on Mar 22, 2010 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions
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