2011 NFL Draft: Rams talk with two defensive tackle prospects

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jan 19, 2011 10:42 AM CST in 2011 NFL Draft

Hiring an offensive coordinator wasn't the only thing the St. Louis Rams were working on yesterday. Scouts were in Florida checking out 2011 NFL Draft prospects who were practicing for the East-West Shrine Game.

Rams scouts spent a little time talking one-on-one with a couple of defensive tackles, North Carolina's Marvin Austin and South Florida's Terrell McClain.

You're probably familiar with Austin. Prior to being dismissed from the team in 2010, Austin was considered one of the top defensive tackles in the country, one of the best prospects period. Just look at his draft grade from last June and the other names on that list. In a ridiculously early 2011 mock draft, 3k had Austin going 6th overall. And now Austin is working hard to rebuild his draft stock, and not matter how much work he does, it's unlikely that he'll get back into top ten pick consideration. But maybe he'll be a possibility in the second round. That's where CBS Sports and NFL Draft Scout put him, in the second or third round.

The Rams picked two players from South Florida in last year's draft: CB Jerome Murphy (third round) and DE George Selvie (seventh). Could McClain be another USF prospect for the Rams? McClain was a first team All-Big East player this year. CBS and NFL Draft Scout have him, for now, as a potential sixth or seventh round pick. At least one report from yesterday's practice said he looked pretty good in practice yesterday, better than another DT that the Rams talked to.

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Yep, DT is a secondary need position

Not the top need position though.

Topneeds are impact OLB or OG or WR, right now.

Secondary needs are DT, DE, S, RB, right now.

by jlcdb70 on Jan 19, 2011 11:01 AM CST reply actions

I would say though

that for people who are calling for BPA, Austin is in play by round 2.

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 Jan 19, 2011 11:02 AM CST up reply actions

I don’t know. I’ve watched him play a few times in person and he seems like a serious head case that doesn’t care at all. My girlfriends parent’s are huge UNC fans that have season tickets and they don’t care for him at all. I mean everyone acknowledges that he is a gifted athlete, but the lack of effort and distractions would not be worth it imo. Let Oakland or Cincy take him.

by NCRam55 on Jan 19, 2011 11:08 AM CST up reply actions

well,clearly your girlfriend's parents are prime talent evaluators

If you love something, set it free. If it doesn't come back, find it and kill it.

by gomer7 on Jan 19, 2011 12:07 PM CST up reply actions

They aren’t but neither are any of us as far as I know. The reason I’m including that was to say that even many UNC fans have had it with Austin and aren’t high on his future in the NFL.

by NCRam55 on Jan 21, 2011 4:23 PM CST up reply actions

I think that WR is slightly below OLB and OG, but there is much more high end talent in this draft at that position.

by NCRam55 on Jan 19, 2011 11:10 AM CST up reply actions

+1

If you love something, set it free. If it doesn't come back, find it and kill it.

by gomer7 on Jan 19, 2011 12:07 PM CST up reply actions

Conventional Wisdom Says

You don’t draft a guard with your 14th pick.

Mike Iupati went with the 17th last year, but he was versatile and played OT and OG. I see Mike Pouncey as a 1st Round talents, but not at 14.

Lots of great D-Lineman coming out in this draft and I’m ready to see them really develop and elite defensive line.

by JTPirate on Jan 19, 2011 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

Dick curl is retiring…very strange….

by RamsFan7 on Jan 19, 2011 12:32 PM CST via mobile reply actions

70 years old

The man made a some money and can go out on a very high note.

Take the money and go deep sea fishing for the rest of your life.

by JTPirate on Jan 19, 2011 12:35 PM CST up reply actions

YOU CAN BET AT 70YRS, DICK WILL JUST BE HANGIN' OUT FROM NOW ON-

by Knoxfan on Jan 25, 2011 9:45 PM CST up reply actions

LB Ayers from UCLA would be a great pick. LB Greenway may be a free agent, so spending a bit of money here might be a good idea. I don’t think Jones will be there at 14. This year there are quite a few WR free agents.

by Douglas M on Jan 19, 2011 1:21 PM CST reply actions

Fster in 2nd that would be my choice

Hes talented and a tackling machine with decent speed but the biggest reason i want him on the team is his hair….we need more dreadlocks on this team. lol

"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no PLAYOFFS."
Winston Churchill

by SMASH44 on Jan 19, 2011 3:09 PM CST up reply actions

Foster will be

a better NFL player than Ayers.

"I kind of stepped my swagger up. You look at the Madden game and the swagger's so low, maybe they'll bump me up. Before it was a meatball flex, so you've got to liven it up a little bit." - Animal Jr.

by douchiedude on Jan 19, 2011 9:45 PM CST up reply actions