TST Community Mock Draft: Pick 1
by Ryan Van Bibber on Apr 5, 2010 10:58 AM CDT
in 2010 Community Mock Draft
Email
PrintWelcome to the second annual Turf Show Times community mock draft, the draft as conducted by St. Louis Rams fans. Jumping right in, here's Midasknight with the Rams first overall pick in the draft.
Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Yes, I know he’s probably #4 on most people’s lists, so here’s my rationale.
- I think Clausen will be a better pro than Sam Bradford. Clausen is big enough, mobile enough, his arm is strong enough and he’s got an edge to him. I love his quick release and his attitude. He has grit. He has leadership. He’s tough. Yes, he seems to be slightly less on all the measurables than Bradford, but he also seems to be greater on all the intangibles.
- The Rams need a franchise QB and if they improve in the manner they should next year, they will ‘hopefully’ not be in a position to draft the best QB coming out next year. That means, Bradford or Clausen this year … see #1.
- I really wanted Suh here. If his knees hold up, he’ll be a beast for years. Clausen really has no ’if’s.’ With the first overall pick … and the money that goes with it … I want the best player with the fewest ’if’s.’ That player this year is Jimmy Clausen.
- With the depth of this year’s draft, we can address many of our other needs during the rest of the draft. We can’t do that at QB later. Only with this pick. I am not sold at all on Colt McCoy and while I was originally hopeful about Dan Lefevour, I no longer am.
- IF (and I repeat IF) for some reason the FO choses to, they can very likely grab Golden Tate with the 33rd pick (Clausen’s teammate in college) and address a position many think still needs to be addressed while giving Clausen a familar target. I personally think barring injuries, we will be fine this year at WR and be able to pick up one of the studs coming out next year to be our true long term #1.
- Aside from the #5 possibility, the rest of our draft should focus on DT, LB and backup RB. Maybe we grab Graham if he’s there at #33 but he shouldn’t be. TE isn’t here unless we take a flyer on a 4th rounder.
Remember, we need a few good drafts to become great again. I think Jimmy Clausen will be a great start.
As an aside, I thought prior to the Washington/Philly trade, that we could trade down to 4 and pick Clausen. Now we have to draft him #1 if we want him at all. For those Bradford fans, I have Bradford as my 5th option. Trading down and/or picking 4 others at #1 are preferable in my opinion to picking Bradford #1. He has too many question marks and I’m not even talking about his health. He seems soft, will take longer to become a good pro (if he gets there at all) doesn’t show much in the way of leadership, etc. I prioritize in this order: Clausen, Suh, Okung, McCoy, Bradford.
VanRam: It's definitely not the pick most people expected, and props to Midasknight for thinking outside the box. I know we have some Clausen fans on this site, and it's good to cut through the Bradford talk and get some other perspective on the team's draft. With Washington now Donovan McNabb's team, er, Mike Shanahan's team with Donovan McNabb, Bradford could end up falling pretty far in the draft, farther than expected at least.
Detroit is on the clock.
52 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
If You Wanted Clausen
You should had traded down to 6th. He isn’t worth #1 money. All I’m saying.
Here’s a wild thought. McNabb and Campbell for the #1 pick. I know both QBs want to be starters but, JC makes backup money anyways. 2.8M for 2009. Even Vick made 1.5M for ripping the March 4th page off his calendar. STL gets a starting QB and a very good 2nd stringer. WAS gets Bradford at #1 and Okung at #4 (if the Lions don’t take him). For the record, I’m against this trade scenario, it was just a thought.
Gutsy pick to get a gutsy player
I like the idea of taking Clausen rather than Bradford, I just hope that if the front office does do this come draft day that we don’t have to do it with the number one overall pick. What terms did you offer ram?
+1 to the nth
What does this team need to do to come back and win?
Heart, they need heart. A winner always wants the ball. Give the ball to someone who wants to win, Jimmy Clausen.
I say no to Golden Tate as well. I would rather see the Rams trade out of the #1 pick in the second round if and only if Everson Griffen and Graham have been swooped. I would like to see them trade down and grab Hardy + a late 3rd or an early 4th.
Graham would be great ...
… but I think my 8 year old twin daughters could block Griffin
Yes, I actually wore a watermelon on my head during the Rams SuperBowl victory in 2000.
either one of them :)
Yes, I actually wore a watermelon on my head during the Rams SuperBowl victory in 2000.
Lol.
No disrespect to your daughters, but when Everson Griffen wants it, you need Orlando Pace to block him. Sorry, I’ll defend a Trojan tooth and nails. The key word is WHEN though.
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
by TrojanRam on Apr 5, 2010 11:49 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Unless your 8 year old daughters are
6’6 and 300lbs, I am going to doubt that.
Griffen has been an elite talent since high school. I don’t really understand how people can make the assessment that he doesn’t put the effort in. I have watched him the last two years, being here on the west coast, and I have always been impressed. I think that people go off of what a so called expert says about a guy and uses that as a knock on him. Trojan, maybe you back me up here. I was happy with the way Griffen played this year, especially those last 8 games. If we could get this guy at 33, that would be a steal.
Oh yeah, believe me when I say this...
…he’s got Dwight Freeney potential. But he can also be Alex Barron as far as underperforming. As well as he played, he did have lapses. But when he’s on, he can get a sack on every play. I like his chances if Spags is coaching him.
Just look at the Giants’ D. That whole defense didn’t change much (they did have injuries in their defense), but they just weren’t as focused and I think it’s a lot because of Spags’ being gone. Umenyiora and Tuck underperformed and it’s probably because they weren’t as motivated under the coaching staff they had.
So I think Spags can get the Everson Freeney out of him rather than the Everson Barron. At least that’s what I’d put my money on. The question is, will he be there in R. 2?
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
by TrojanRam on Apr 5, 2010 12:34 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I like the call because it's yours and not the same regurge
Well, that and because I like JC as a player but the real draft will surely not go according to plan either. Never does.
You make the call!
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!
I still
Like Bradford but if we went clausen I wouldn’t be mad just surprised.
Can closed
by CanofRamz on Apr 5, 2010 11:48 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
Definitely not what I expected.
I can respect the fact that you went against the grain here, and you will have your fair share of supporters. I am not one, though.
You say “he seems to be slightly less on all the measurables than Bradford, but he also seems to be greater on all the intangibles.”
However, It is Bradford that has the intangibles on and off the field that has him so highly reveared even after such a serious injury. He is highly involved in the community and often donates his time to help out. He is considered a smart work-aholic in the film room. He is well respected amongst his peers. Most importantly, he did not have a drunken fan looking to punch him in the face…
With that said, I want to make it clear I have not made my choice on either QB at the #1 pick. I do hold Bradford in higher regard, I will admit.
But who hasn't
had a drunken fan looking to punch him in the face? Surely we all have..?
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 Apr 5, 2010 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions
coach, you have fans?
damn i’m impressed. usually the people tring to punch me are just drunk.
"SJAX" - The extra strength cleaner that fights off that Stubborn, Stingy Defense
by moy on Apr 5, 2010 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Fans of my players
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 Apr 6, 2010 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions
How
is it his fault that some jerk punched him, although I’m not the biggest fan of Clausen, this has to be the most ludicrous argument
Ok it may be hard to catch sarcasm
but I didn’t really mean the biggest difference between two FOOTBALL players is one getting punched in the face….come on guy! It was just a smartass remark that I still find funny that it happened. Its ashame when your own fan base wants to punch you in the face and it actually happens.
You said it. Check out this interview
Obviously going from college to NFL you are going to have more time to spend in the film room and do the little things like watch as much tape as you can. You always hear Tom Brady and Peyton Manning all being in the film room watching tape and that’s what I want to be. I want to be a gym rat in the film room. Each and every day get better – make myself better and my teammates better, and just help the team win games.
I love the competitive nature of the game of football and I love having the ball in my hands in crucial situations.
I am self-motivated. It isn’t just one thing that motivates me to succeed. I just want to be the best person and player that I can be. That’s why I work every single day to make myself better in all areas of the game of football and life.
The House of Spears reigns supreme
Let me get this straight
A draft prospect said that he is going to be dedicated to being the best player he can be, and be motivated to be like the best players at his position, and he wants to win.
Isn’t that what we expect them all to say???
Are you shocked that he said these things.
you could pull the SAME type quotes about any QB heading into the NFL...
Future Redbirds! www.futureredbirds.net
Rams Gab! www.ramsgab.com
Clausen is already a film room rat
There’s no way that kid improves that much, while increasing his pass attempts that much, while learning a pro offense, unless he was in the film room more than anywhere else.
I think this fact is not talked about enough. He has already overcome challenges that Bradford has yet to face.
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!
Such as a more complex offense.
Weis offense is more complicated than most. That’s just a fact. Probably too complicated for what he was trying to do, but that overdone ambition wasn’t hard to predict either, given he hadn’t been a colleg coach before and thought he was going to take the scene by storm and turn ND into the Pats West
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!
I think it is of note that
Charlie Weis made an extensive tape of Tom Brady for Jimmy to watch. Then he made him meet with him several times to go over it extensively. I think you need to attribute Clausens time in the film room as much to his mentor than to say it is all his doing.
Nonetheless, I am not going to be convinced otherwise on this. I know Jimmy is a good football player, hell he has been since high school. However, I just don’t know if I want our 1st overall pick to be him over the other guys available. So, Midasknight three cheers to you for sticking to your guns.
Why do you characterize it as "made him meet with Brady" to go over it?
I mean, how do you know he was not eager to meet with Brady, or anything else?
And then again, what would you expect Weis to do? Ask Clausen if he wanted to do it, or tell him he’s going to do it? Most coaches wouldn’t even think to ask. “Here’s your schedule, don’t be late.”
And most college QB’s would probably salivate over getting the chance to have Brady explain the nuances of the offense you’re running.
I think the film room work is evident. I don’t think we can see how much he wanted to or not, the fact is he was willing to do it.
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!
I was referring to him meeting
Weis in the film room, not to meet Tom Brady. Weis, gave him a schedule to meet him to go over and break down film that Weis had made of Tom Brady.
And yes I said “made him” because it was Charlie’s doing to have the custom film made, and to have the schedule made as to when and how often to meet.
So, are you saying Clausen is great in the film room because of his performances or because you know how much time he spent in the film room?
Improvement in his performances
big, big improvement. More than you would get without serious study.
I think probably all coaches make athletes do things in that case, in as much as they aren’t asking, but I rarely come across an athlete who has to be made. Lack of playing time can be motivating there (and I refuse to play non-efforts) but again that’s a rare thing in my experience.
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 Apr 6, 2010 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions
I think you are all still hung over from Easter
If you are thinking Clausen is better then Bradrofd,I give you couple days to clear your heads lol
Were taking Bradford get use to it lol
and be glad for that
Dude it's a mock.
This is his perspective and it’s the pick he would make if he were the GM. Chillax. His reasoning is solid even if you or I feel the Rams should go a different direction.
Plus, you can’t possibly know who the Rams are taking. They’ve said nothing other than those are the 4 they’re considering. Everything else, and I mean absolutely everything else, is speculation.
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
by TrojanRam on Apr 5, 2010 1:13 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Hm....
I like the points you brought up. Ballsy pick by the way. I salute you for that.
My ROFLcopter goes soi soi soi soi soi soi soi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pkAFR-7c-c
"intangibles" and "leadership"
I’m unclear how any fans know anything about any players intangibles or leadership, let alone rate players along that line.
Clausen is a d-bag, plain and simple and I’d rather not have him on the Rams, but I understand why he was a good quarterback in college.
Future Redbirds! www.futureredbirds.net
Rams Gab! www.ramsgab.com
Clausen
Clausen is big enough (not bigger than Bradford), Mobile enough (mobility has been on of his biggest concerns, and Bradford is faster and more athletic), arm is strong enough (Bradford’s is stronger), and he has an edge? What edge? He is arrogant and cocky? Does that constitute and edge? If so you can keep your edge. He has leadership (so does Bradford), He’s tough (so is Bradford, give Clausen the same shoulder injury and see what happens..), greater on all the intangibles? That is the most insane off the wall post ever. Bradford pwns Clausen in the intangibles department. Leadership, character, intelligence, etc. Bradford is either equal to or better.
If Clausen recovers correctly form his toe surgery he can continue to be slow as molasses. If Clausen has finally matured he won’t be seen as a cocky a-hole by people who have met him. If Clausen answers questions about his arm strength and accuracy at his pro day he might go in the top 10. I can add more “ifs” if you like.
I like Bradford and Gresham over Clausen and Tate.
Not sure why (or how..) you can like Clausen over Bradford. All opinion however. Jarrett Brown could be the best pro for all anyone knows…
"Jarrett Brown could be the best pro for all anyone knows…"
Why then waste the 1st pick on Bradford or Clausen ?
Let’s go with Suh, who I’m 99% sure doesn’t have his equivalent in later rounds
Not his equivalent but it is a deeper draft for the defense
meaning more meaningful talent can be had this year in the later rounds, compared to what you would expect to find in other years, which could lead someone to think you might need to get your offense early and then be able to get your defense late.
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!
Whatever ... as long as the Rams don't draft Sam Leaf
Yes, I actually wore a watermelon on my head during the Rams SuperBowl victory in 2000.
The contarian in me
appreciates this pick. I like independent thinking. A groupthink Q anyway – Does it bother you that virtually everyone that does this for a living has Bradford rated higher?
Bradford probably has more potential, more upside ...
… and they aren’t accounting for his risk as much.
I’m not a scout, but that’s my thinking.
Yes, I actually wore a watermelon on my head during the Rams SuperBowl victory in 2000.
Bradford....
Bradford seems to have the talent to play in the NFL and be a good QB. But I’ve yet to see the fire and the drive to excel coming from him…. I’ve watched Oklahoma games over the past couple of years and I’ve not seen Bradford get on his players for not running the correct route, or reading the defense and making adjustments at the line ala Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. I’m afraid the Rams could just be drafting a younger version of Marc Bulger. Yes, I know attitude to win isn’t the ONLY ingredient to be a winner. But I just want to see players on the football field in St Louis showing us fans a desire to win, emotions that they care, and someone on that field on Offense & Defense being THE leader! Ray Lewis is the perfect example of a Defensive leader. Manning, Brady, & Brees on Offense. Bradford seems like just a nice guy with a soft attitude. I want FIRE!
Same was said about Eli Manning
A super bowl later and those all went away. You have to understand that there are different ways to lead. There are different ways to communicate and get your point across.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
