Laurent Robinson, Scott Shanle, Ryan Pickett, Otagwae

by ct-ramfan on Dec 5, 2011 6:32 PM CST

Anybody surprised? This has going on too long. Why do we draft horribly and let good folks go? I am more than embarrassed to be a Ram fan these days - much more than in the past when we were having a tough time with Brooks and Linehan. Too bad that all of these ex-rams move on and play crucial roles with others... The party's over...

Stan, get Jeff Fisher in here NOW - Please!!

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Ever heard of success breeds better play?

When your losing..everyone is exposed more and thrown into the fire more. When your winning, guys play better because they are less exposed and under less pressure to perform.

by Bralidore on Dec 5, 2011 6:46 PM CST reply actions

im guessing the last name is atogwe... the safety we just lost to the skins this offeason

he has 44 tackles and one int this season… not exactly pro bowl stuff. ryan pickett was average at best and worthless at worst, our issue isnt letting him go, its not finding an upgrade. nothing will ever convince me laurent robinson doesnt suck. nothing. ever. scott shanle was irrelevant on our team. got decent with the cowboys, and good with the saints. that means that other teams did a far better job developing him then we did… or hes in a system that fits him. most likely a combination. we have dont many many dumb things, but i really dont see much of this premiere talent we let go. other then the legendary london fletcher, i just dont see it.

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by nodisrespect on Dec 6, 2011 2:22 PM CST reply actions

and the guy who replaced atogwe, has 64 tackles 3 FF a sack and two ints. a far better year.

he does this while being far more solid in both coverage and run defense. i loved atogwe as much as the next guy, but we upgraded here. that is called being mad for the sake of being bad rather then a real reason.

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by nodisrespect on Dec 6, 2011 2:26 PM CST reply actions

I would argue that the best players aren't being taken in the draft.

Since the Rams have just let a lot of gems go to other teams. I would argue that the scouting dept needs some serious work. Maybe it’s the coaching, but I doubt it. This season is a perfect example of this. They reached huge on Kendricks. This is not an indictment on him being bad or anything, but they could’ve traded down or just grabbed someone better at that spot. I agree with the Quinn pick. He isn’t playing as much as he should, but at least they took him so that he’ll be here for the next coach.

These players were taken too early: Kendricks, Salas, Pettis from 11’ draft; Saffold, Murphy, Gilyard (I’m still laughing at this one), Hooman from 10’.

The mediocre play will continue as the team continues to pass on more talented players. The draft is not a crap shoot even though it may appear to be that way.

by jdough on Dec 6, 2011 7:30 PM CST reply actions

Saffold

Saffold had a rough year this year, but that also has to do with a different blocking scheme to deal wtih. But I am pretty sure every person on this site, and numerous coaches around the league were commenting on how impressive Saffold looked, and how he looked like a legit Pro Bowl quality tackle last year. I am no way willing to through that away, and I will not say the Rams stretched on a player that showed ELITE talent last year, only to have a rough year on a team that was just beaten to death by injuries and an offensive coordinator that is great at scheming and less at development.

by kickasskeever on Dec 6, 2011 10:58 PM CST up reply actions

My comment about Saffold is that he was taken too early.

There was a strong chance that he could’ve been had later which would’ve enabled the Rams to trade down and acquire another pick.

I agree with you that all is not lost with Saffold. But the consistent trend that Spags and Co. keep taking players too early remains, or just taking players that shouldn’t been passed over.

by jdough on Dec 7, 2011 12:05 AM CST up reply actions

i specifically remember a certain colts GM

mention how much he screwed up by not taking staffold before the rams. did you have these complaints when he was taken? i really think your more angry with production then draft placement.

i am really leaning toward we suck at developing more then we suck at drafting. yea some were reaches, and many of the early 2000s were just terrible drafts, but recently, i think its been on the coaching. why cant we develop a pass catcher, DT or O line to save our lives, while we turnout safeties?

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by nodisrespect on Dec 7, 2011 4:08 AM CST up reply actions

I did have these complaints when he was taken.

Spags draft board was revealed that if Kendricks wasn’t the pick, then it would be Mikel Leshoure or Terrell McClain. Well, McClain is showing very little ability for the Panthers. Leshoure is injured. But either way, all three of these players were reaches where they were taken, and now so many fans seem to be shocked. It’s not just the development of a player. It’s how talent is rated, and if Spags wanted to take these players in the 2nd…it says something about the way they rate their players.

The Rams have been rating talent poorly in terms of where to pick them. Kendricks would’ve been fine in the 4th, maybe even a steal. However, being taken in the 2nd, he is a reach and disappointing so far.

That certain Colts GM isn’t looking too bright these days. His first round picks are performing poorly and it shows in the overall team statistics. Ignoring their record due to Peyton’s injury, a lot of his picks are looking like reaches now…or were they reaches when he made them?

by jdough on Dec 7, 2011 1:19 PM CST up reply actions

i wont argue with that

i really didnt like the kendricks pick, to be honest i hated this entire rams draft, at least robert quinn is showing something. there are some rare occasions where i generally think i could have done better then X gm of a major franchise. last years draft was one of them.

i knew you were gonna bring up the crappy colts, but he built that entire team around one player. that colts offense is driven by peyton, and the defense is built to protect leads. take away the guy who is that team, and its going to be terrible. they had some serious success for a long time, and thats not something to ignore.

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by nodisrespect on Dec 8, 2011 11:08 AM CST up reply actions