OLB or WR in the first round?

by PCarn on Feb 3, 2011 8:02 PM CST

Just looking at Mel Kipers latest big board and it got me thinking.

Our latest fan poll produced the highest need for our Rams from the TST community would be outside linebacker.

Now in Mel Kiper's latest big board I was looking at Julio Jones at 13, and I look next to him and see Akem Ayers at 12.

I'm loving our defense and I think we can manage with the WRs coming back from IR for another year. If we can grab an OLB in the first round then it would really add another piece to make the defense even better.

If you were the GM and put yourself in a position where you could pick OLB or WR in the first round, what would it be?

Poll

In the first round what position do you want to address?

OLB (Akeem Ayers)

98 votes

WR (Julio Jones)

114 votes

212 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 23 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

love it

if we can get both solid out side linebackers in the first 2 rounds, im all for it. then our d is pretty much set.

by ramsguy6 on Feb 4, 2011 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

Exactly

Maybe Sidney Rice, Steve Smith(NYG), or James Jones, We can pull off Ayers/B.Carter

by RaginRams88 on Feb 8, 2011 3:44 PM CST up reply actions

I'm a huge fan of Ayers. If he's on the board, take him.

by StopSpe on Feb 3, 2011 9:32 PM CST reply actions

Did you watch UCLA this year?

Gives up on plays, cannot handle top speed RBs, etc. This guy is going to be another Vernon Gholston or Aaron Curry: A freak athlete who can play with his hands on the ground or at outside LB. Will get burnt by speedy RBs and will give up on plays.

The kid is soft, not on my team. Honestly, I’d rather trade back several spots and take Cannon, Hankerson, or Pouncey.

by 81 Witness on Feb 4, 2011 11:59 AM CST up reply actions

I have read Ayers gives up on plays as well

Though I have to admit I have watched zero college football this year. Do you think he has more hype than play? Reminds me of last years draft and the LB position. I’ll trust Spags to make the right decision on D.

We could use the first two picks on OLB/DT/OG as long as we get one big FA WR. Either WR from SD would work IMO. FA OLB/DT would be great additions as well. This could be an interesting, in a positive way, offseason for us.

by RamsFan1979 on Feb 6, 2011 10:10 AM CST up reply actions

Is Ayers really good enough to justify taking him with the 14th pick?

Maybe I just haven’t seen enough of him, but I’m not sold.

by Abrantes on Feb 3, 2011 9:42 PM CST reply actions

I suppose if I had to go with one or the other

I’d say OLB, but I’d prefer a CB, DT, or OG over those two.

by ramswo85 on Feb 3, 2011 11:28 PM CST reply actions

I don't like Akeem Ayers.

I’m not even sure if I would want him if he was still available in the second round. It seems like he has BUST written all over him. And thats coming from a UCLA fan!

I'm suffering from an extreme case of laurinaitis!

by NachoD on Feb 3, 2011 11:44 PM CST reply actions

Word

See my post above. Totally fits the mold of Aaron Curry and Gholston.

by 81 Witness on Feb 4, 2011 12:00 PM CST up reply actions

I didn't vote for either option.

I feel that the first round pick should be used on either Mike Pouncey (OG) or a stud defensive line man. I don’t think their is any linebacker or receiver worthy of being drafted at #14. Unless Von Miller is still on the board. As much as people say he won’t work in a 4-3, I would love for Spags to put him to work and prove them wrong.

I'm suffering from an extreme case of laurinaitis!

by NachoD on Feb 7, 2011 11:34 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

I don’t think either is worth a first round pick. I would definitely love to trade back and get Pouncy.

by richter122 on Feb 8, 2011 12:02 AM CST up reply actions

No Way boys...

…Spags is a DL guy, not a LB guy. He has Pros for DL and Joes at LB.

I voted for WR, but I think since Gilyard (hopefully), Clayton and Avery will be back next year, we take neither in the first.

1st: DT/DL…Cameron Jordan or Cameron Heyward or somebody that can say hello to the QB on a regular basis
2nd: OLB…Mason Foster
3rd: RB…maybe the fella from OK-state…a guy who can run the ball 90 yards on one play rather than one game.
4th: OG…Moffitt
5th: LB: Homan
6th: Athlete/BPA
7th:…QB (Bradford doesn’t really have a backup)

Just offering up some cannon fodder!

by Pekka for Predator Pontiff on Feb 4, 2011 11:24 AM CST reply actions

Back up QB...

Thad Lewis… he looked good in preseason last year and would bring a very different look to our offense if he had to step in for an injured Bradford. Plus we’ll still have A.J. Feely

by Rams Homer on Feb 4, 2011 11:52 AM CST up reply actions

Thaddeus Lewis

looked good in preseason and in OTA’s. I feel he would be what we needed in a backup.

by richter122 on Feb 8, 2011 12:04 AM CST up reply actions

Some good cannon fodder there!

If we don’t do much in FA this year we’ll need to solidify our lines in this draft. I like a pass rushing DL in the 1st and I think we’ll need a couple of interior O-linemen, I like Moffitt’s size and I like Ijalana in the 3rd.

Some of you guys do some great position reviews but I haven’t seen one on LB’s yet. Hard to know who’d work best in our 4-3.

by NewMerlin on Feb 4, 2011 3:32 PM CST up reply actions

I like this mock.

You’re taking a chance by not drafting a wideout unless that 6th round BPA happens to be one. But if we can pick up a solid veteran through free agency, this draft looks good to me.

I'm suffering from an extreme case of laurinaitis!

by NachoD on Feb 7, 2011 11:30 PM CST up reply actions

Close Poll!!!!

by PCarn on Feb 4, 2011 10:29 PM CST reply actions

if julio is available i say bang...

and pull that trigger… if not … then trade down and get an olb 1st and leonard hankerson in the 2nd… or baldwin if hes available of course instead of L H …. u like? .. makes sense to me

by ramat on Feb 7, 2011 4:08 AM CST reply actions

+1

"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 Feb 8, 2011 2:20 PM CST up reply actions

I like Ayers

Mainly cuz he’s from UCLA but he also has great size,speed, and most importantly playmaking ability….But……I also feel that OLB can very much be addressed a round later as well….mayb not by the eye test but Greg jones,Mason Foster and more later down the draft. Sooo if Julio is there get’em and get Mason next….If Julio is gone then get Akeem followed by Hankerson (oh BLAH Baldwin) and after that let the chips fall where the must but those 2 picks alone boost up our team significently either route we go with the additions of a RB/OL/DT/DB for sure somewhere before the draft is over.

"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 Feb 8, 2011 2:25 PM CST reply actions