Rams "may" visit with S Brodney Pool

by Ryan Van Bibber on Mar 6, 2010 8:45 PM CST in 2010 St. Louis Rams offseason

Just when you thought the free agent frenzy had dried like the ink on a bloated contract, the St. Louis Rams could be making another move. Browns safety Brodney Pool may visit Rams Park on Monday. Whether he signs with the Rams or not, clearly, they're doing their covering the bases if Oshiomogho Atogwe gets a better offer that the Rams don't want to match.

Pool, a second round pick in 2005, had four INTs in 10 starts last year, and has nine INTs in his last three seasons. Pool is an asset in coverage. Here's his scouting report from SBN:

A natural free safety. Diagnoses plays quickly and makes smart decisions. Excels in deep support and zone coverage, where he can react quickly to the ball in the air. Takes good position and angles.

Is a little long and lanky. Isn't as effective in the box. Has the hips and lateral quickness for man coverage but gets turned around and fails to locate at times. Not a bone-crushing tackler.

Ability isn't the issue; concussions are. Pool suffered his fourth concussion in five seasons last November, getting shut down for the season. The medical exam will have a lot to say about whether or not the Rams, or any team, signs Pool. If he's healthy, this is a good move.

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The Brodney Pool news actually helps

the hole only signing Giants for Defense and Eagles for offense. Because it shows a lot about how we are only signing these guys as veteran leaders/mentors, and Spags knows them, so he knows what kind of character they have. When we see a young player with some potential to help us, we will still go for it. This year, we were very limited in young players, and this may be the only guy worth getting. Hopefully he can build up an immunity to concussions from all the ones he’s had so he won’t have any for us. While I still think we can find those veteran guys elsewhere, I guess I’m okay with getting them exclusively from the Giants and Eagles, since they are just short term signings to help young guys progress and help out a little during games. Next offseason will be huge for this regime. With 3 drafts and 2 actual free agencies, I think we could be in contention or near to it. The Cardinals and Rams could be switching ends of the division by 2011.

by Carneros on Mar 7, 2010 9:16 AM CST reply actions

It would be nice if having multiple concusssions

would help a guy build up an immunity to them. That’s a great line. That could really help some players if it only worked that way.

by andyrose on Mar 7, 2010 3:20 PM CST up reply actions

Great idea! Pool and Jason Smith can discuss neurology while they're on IR this season.

Is there ANYONE the Rams are interested in acquiring that’s not too old, or in a state of decline, or with injury issues…?

by edpjr on Mar 7, 2010 4:56 PM CST reply actions

No but is there anyone available that's not too old, or in a state of decline, or without injury issues?

Not unless we start trading draft picks, which is the last thing we want to do.

by Carneros on Mar 7, 2010 5:37 PM CST up reply actions

I see your point. We tend to do so well with the draft every year...

….that’s why our team is loaded with 6-7th round picks and undrafted players. And in recent years the draft has acquired us such All-Pros as Alex Barron, Tye Hill, Adam Carriker, Chris Long, Jason Smith, Keith Null, Brian Leonard, Joe Klop and many more. We did manage to stumble across one potential All-Pro named James Lauranitis. At least last year we managed to pick up decent FA’s like Jason Brown and James Butler. So far this year zippo, unless you think relics like Feeley and Robbins are worth a crap. I don’t.

by edpjr on Mar 7, 2010 6:18 PM CST up reply actions

I don't either

But we are limited and its almost pointless to sign any big name FAs. They won’t help the present that much and the future at all. Our last regime was bad at drafting, you can’t blame that on the current regime. You cannot say Smith is a bust yet, he was injured all year and could still turn into an All-Pro. And you even admit Chris Long was coming along next year, 10 sacks next year seems very possible. If everything returns to normal with free agency next offseason we should be back in contention for the division. 3 drafts and we’ll have a lot of money to spend next year in free agency when there is players worth targeting. 2011 will be a good year.

by Carneros on Mar 7, 2010 7:20 PM CST up reply actions