Do The Rams Really Need Receiving Help That Badly?

by ramerica on Apr 27, 2011 2:27 AM CDT

I know most people who are reading this are doing so mainly because they wish to bash this post, and respond "Yes, you moron, haven't you watched the last three years?". I agree the current group is without that larry fitzgerald dominating type wideout, but I see a bunch of guys who when healthy can make plays. That said I know most have health questionmarks, but I see several of these guys having good years. Avery is coming off injury and has a ton to prove. Clayton is entering the twilight of his career, and wants to show he's still got it. Gibson and Gilyard want to prove they don't suck, DX is in the same situation as Avery, and Amendola want's to prove its not about the size of the boat( I think he already has). I see a bunch of hungry guys who are going to work their butts off this year, if for no other reason than because they want to look good. I know desire can't always compensate for talent, but it sure as hell couldn't hurt our chances. I'd rather have guys like that then the likes of Haynesworth and Russell who aren't willing to work. If Julio is there I would take him, but in the end I think we'd be alright standing pat one more season. Just something to think about.

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I agree with the thinking we will be fine if Jones and Green are gone

If either is there I say take them. Obviously Green is a no brainer but I don’t see Jones as being the savior to our problems at wide reciever but we would obviously take him if he was available at 14. Trading up for Jones would be a catastrophe, but if we traded away a 3rd or 4th rounder to get Green I’d be estatic.

by richter122 on Apr 27, 2011 2:34 AM CDT reply actions

I agree but

perhaps I think too highly of Avery. I don’t know much about his injury. Anyone know how much it might impact him?

by stgeorgie on Apr 27, 2011 2:39 AM CDT reply actions

We won't know until he hits the field

He stated he isn’t 100% back yet mentally and physically as a season ending injury will do that to you but I think he will come back stronger and better than ever.

by richter122 on Apr 27, 2011 2:57 AM CDT up reply actions

In the last quote I read from Avery in the St. Louis paper

he said currently he is the slowest of the Rams receivers – that he still hasn’t been able to get his speed back. If he isn’t able to get the full amount of his speed back he won’t be much help because he never was a good route runner. Almost his entire value was sprinting down the sideline and hoping the QB could throw a perfect pass. His comment sure didn’t sound good.

by andyhawk on Apr 27, 2011 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions

This was my biggest concern with him, but I think it usually takes a year to get back, too

I’m not saying he’s behind where he should be, but he may be behind where he needs to be if he wants to be on the roster this year. If he doesn’t show up at least somewhat healthy it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they make room for someone who is.

I wouldn’t devalue him because ’he’s only speed guy’, since deep threats seemed (to me) to be the biggest missing part of the offense last year. No one stepped up to fill that role and they need that skillset from somewhere.

by CoachConnors on Apr 27, 2011 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Yelp IF they stay healthy I guy anythings possible but

We will all still gasp everytime DX goes down because of them hamburger legs
Avery in my opinion doesn’t have what it takes ( just a speed demon nothing more, shouldn’t have been picked before Jackson)
Clayton will be fine
Amendola will be even better this year
I think Gilyard might show up this year in the spread
Gibson and Robinson should be backups and nothing more.
I hope your right but when I look at this WR corps I see a bunch of backups

Get some impact players!!

by RG31 on Apr 27, 2011 7:08 AM CDT reply actions

I agree

when Avery was drafted I thought wow great speed thia guy is a winner.Now I think he’s just a wiener.I also think DX’s knees wont hold up,the others are question mark except Clayton.Even if they take a WR in the 3rd round I’d be happy.FA would be an option and no Owens,Moss,or Ochostinco.

by chndlr54 on Apr 27, 2011 9:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks

Yea that’s still a head scratcher to me why we pick him
and I don’t think they will either
I’m hoping for Rice and Spoiles

Get some impact players!!

by RG31 on Apr 27, 2011 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Rice and a great guard would make my year!

by Douglas M on Apr 27, 2011 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Same here actually

Buff up our Offense!

Get some impact players!!

by RG31 on Apr 27, 2011 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Avery was a 'what the hell!' pick IMO...

I’m hoping they learned something since then.

by RamsFan1979 on Apr 27, 2011 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions

we need help, and we need Julio Jones

Sam Bradford + Julio Jones = Championships all day...
Melo + Amar'e = NBA Championships all day...

by MyACLisBrittle on Apr 27, 2011 11:26 AM CDT reply actions

Can we flog this dead horse any more??

This topic has been discussed at nosium here. While it is a vital question to this organizations future, it has been beat to death. The answer to the question is yes, we need help. We need improvement at the WR position. We have some talented WR’s on this roster that have a lot of "ifs’ about them. “If” Avery can recover from his injury, “if” DX can stay healthy and steadily improve from his rookie season, “if” Brandon Gibson can continue to improve. We can’t rely on “ifs”

by bdemartin on Apr 27, 2011 11:27 AM CDT reply actions

That's a stupid comment...We can't rely on ifs

Well what IF Jones can’t assimilate into the physical play of the NFL. What IF he can’t learn to use his hands instead of catching with his body. Every year there are a ton of IF’s on every team.

by richter122 on Apr 27, 2011 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions

think before you comment

Where in my post did I mention Jones? I didn’t. Of course there are “ifs” with any rookie. Of course there are “ifs” on every team, but our topic of discussion is our WR’s. We have “ifs” with every single one of our WR’s currently on the roster. Do you think the 2001 Rams went into the year saying, “if we could just get some consistant production from our WR’s??” Jones might not be the answer, but the topic of discussion is, do we need help, and yes we do.

Take it from someone who’s 3 favorite pro sports teams are the Oakland A’s, Portland Trail Blazers, and the Rams. I’ve witnessed many a season heading into the start when everyone would say “if” we can stay healthy this year we will be good. When that tean has a roster full of injury prone players, you just can’t count on the what “ifs”.

by bdemartin on Apr 27, 2011 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions

You said you can't rely on IF's

The whole game rely’s on ifs. I used Jones as an example b/c you say we need help. I disagree. If those if’s pan out this season we are fine. The IFs of the draft, and free agency are also risky.

by richter122 on Apr 27, 2011 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions

You have a

Danario who is one tackle away from being benched
Avery who has showed nothing more than “flashes”
Gilyard who has to learn ANOTHER playbook
Gibson and Robinson who shouldn’t be starting
Clayton who is nothing more than a #2
and Amendola who is nothing more than a Slot and you want to keep that?!
You are bold sir

Get some impact players!!

by RG31 on Apr 27, 2011 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions

No my plan is to pick up someone in FA like Sidney Rice

but since neither Jones or Green will be there at 14 then yes we should keep that. Trading up for Jones would be a bad mistake.

by richter122 on Apr 28, 2011 2:10 AM CDT up reply actions

Yea I'm hoping for Rice to

What you think about Sproiles?

Get some impact players!!

by RG31 on Apr 28, 2011 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

if we can get him for the right price I'm 100% down

I’ve always been a sproles fan but from what it sounds like he wants starter money and we just can’t give him that.

by richter122 on Apr 29, 2011 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

Get some impact players!!

by RG31 on Apr 29, 2011 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Totally disagree with the post.

Avery and Gilyard are the same guy. Avery, Clayton, Alexander are all fragile or comming off injury. As it stands, we have the least reliable receivers in the NFC. If we get Jones at 14, I would still consider drafting another player in the passing game. Not necessarily a receiver, but an RB like Noel Devine to provide another threat on passing downs. Would also consider a project receiver like the kid from W. Texas A&M, Burton in the 7th round. I wouldn’t trade up to get Jones, but would absolutely use a 2nd round pick on the other impact WR guys like Hankerson, Smith, Baldwin or Greg Little in the 3rd.

by JD70-79 on Apr 27, 2011 1:44 PM CDT reply actions

Avery and Gilyard are the same

You don’t know much then. Gilyard couldn’t learn the damn play book. Avery was pretty successful in his first 2 years with a multitude of inadequate qb’s throwing him the ball (Null, Boller, a beat up Bulger). Quite a big difference if you ask me. I agree with getting Noel Devine..been wanting him for quite a while but we don’t need any more #2-5 wide recievers like Hankerson, Smith, Baldwin, or Little would be in the NFL, we need a #1.

by richter122 on Apr 27, 2011 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Avery was average in his 1st 2 years

and Bulger played behind a crappy OL,and if Avery would of gotten open it would of helped.

by chndlr54 on Apr 27, 2011 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

welp Gilyard never got on the field

It’s basically as if he never played in the NFL and Avery had 2 solid seasons, not great but not poor by any means. If Desean Jackson was picked before we picked Avery noone would complain about this pick. Oh what 20//20 hindsight gives us.

by richter122 on Apr 27, 2011 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Yea but he wasn't!

And now look what we have! Avery seasons were average NOT solid.

Get some impact players!!

by RG31 on Apr 27, 2011 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Solid rookie season

Average sophomore season

by richter122 on Apr 28, 2011 2:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Wassup guys, long time no comment (or post)

Been a little preoccupied taking care of some thangs.

I have to agree a little bit with Ramerica on this. If Jones or Green are not available at #14, I almost wonder if we should avoid picking a receiver. I almost feel like if we draft a wideout outside of the first round, it’s just another body to clump into the collection of #2’s. And who do we let go of to make space for a Leonard Hankerson or a Randall Cobb? I was actually impressed with the way Brandon Gibson was coming along at the end of the season and I have a feeling Gilyard will click with the new offense.

Sam Bradford has never had an opportunity to field a receiver corps that featured Mark Clayton, Donnie Avery, Danny Amendola, Danario Alexander, Brandon Gibson and Mardy Gilyard at the same time when they were all healthy and well versed on the playbook. I am hoping that by the start of the 2011 season they will all be healthy, signed and up to speed on Josh McDaniels way of doing things. We all have to remember that McDaniels likes to spread them out with multiple reciever sets which is going to be like the offense that Bradford is used to running in his Oklahoma Sooner days. If Bradford can line up with SJax behind him and Clayton, Amendola, Avery and Alexander on the wings and Gibson and Gilyard coming off the bench, look out.

If we can beef up the defensive line, linebacker, offensive line, secondary and backup running back positions this year and run with the receivers we have right now it will give Donnie Avery, Mardy Gilyard and Brandon Gibson a chance to prove whether or not they will cut it in St. Louis. If they don’t cut it, there will be a better crop of receivers to choose from next year.

I'm suffering from an extreme case of laurinaitis!

by NachoD on Apr 28, 2011 12:26 AM CDT reply actions

Wait until next year?

Our receivers have not shown that they are capable of anything, hands down. I mean 600 yards as a number one is garbage, not average. Three hundred yards as a number one and you should be run out of the league (instead we extend an offer to Lauren). Now every team starts the season with some questions but the smart ones don’t start the season with 5 question marks at the same position. That would be plain stupid IMO.

Clayton- Not signed, severe knee injury, 4 good games in a 5 year career

Avery- Severe knee injury, 1,200 yards in 3 seasons, used speed to get open, not a great route runner.

Alexander- Multiple knee injuries, plays a physical style and even with all the injuries, I let everyone but Clayton go before him. I like him a lot even with the knee surgeries.

Gibson- Drops critical balls, not much of an “upside”, would be a solid #3

Lauren- Not even worth mentioning.

Gilyard- Another playbook?

Amendola- With any receiver stretching the field last year, he gets a 1,000 yards. Always busts his butt, just doesn’t have the god given talent to be a 1 or a 2.

We had 1 (100yd) receiving game last year-Clayton, and 2 (90+) games -Alexander. Pretty sad stuff considering one was injured in the first play of week 5 and the other didn’t start a single game and saw very limited action.
With all of the injury concern I am convinced we need a tough receiver, with good speed to make this offense go and the #2,3,4 are all interchangeable. Jones would be a perfect fit, H. Ward but bigger and faster.

Ignorance is bliss and way too many people are happy.

by Everett 11 on Apr 28, 2011 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions