Mike Sando offers words of caution on Darren Sproles to the St. Louis Rams

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jun 2, 2011 5:30 PM CDT in 2011 NFL offseason

In his weekly chat with NFC West fans, ESPN's Mike Sando fielded a question about the St. Louis Rams backup running back situation. Now there are lots of questions around that one big question mark that is the Rams #2 running back. Sando specifically tackles the notion of potential free agent addition Darren Sproles, who has been mentioned more than once as a possible answer to the Rams' question.

In poo-pooing the idea, Sando makes a good point, that underscores the problem with trying to solve this issue via free agency. Here's Sando:

Sproles is talented enough to fit in any system as a situational back. I would applaud the Rams for adding him, but the value might not be right. Sproles turns 28 this month. The Rams are going to give the ball to Steven Jackson most of the time. Spending big on a long-term deal for Sproles wouldn't make sense.

Jackson will himself be 28 this season. That's not particularly old, but add on the mileage the Rams have put on his tires along with his past health record and you can see the need to add a backup.

What does Sproles have left? Probably enough to be a complementary back, but probably not enough to be a full-fledged replacement should Jackson be lost for any amount of time this season. Backs in a similar mode as Sproles, i.e. scatbacks, would have a hard time handling 20 carries a game and those tough runs between the tackles, something the Rams would need desperately without Jackson.

Among the other potential free agents there aren't any easy answers. It's a pretty weak group of running backs, even without the six-year restriction.

Replacing Steven Jackson is an impossible task with the options out there. It's why the decision to pass on back like Mikel Leshoure or Ryan Williams, guys that do offer more of a full replacement, hurt so much.

Devaney would be best advised, in the humble opinion of this writer, to consider some of the options among undrafted free agents. We talked about Miami's Graig Cooper yesterday as well as a couple other options. In truth, they're best bet is to bring in a couple running backs, with a variety of skills, to compete with the current group behind Jackson, Keith Toston and Chauncey Washington.

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Well it might make a hellofa lot of sense if SJax gets hurt.

but we won’t know that until it happens, and it’d be too late to go get someone who can carry the team through 2 or 3 weeks. Toston as the primary back? For how long?

I’m just sayin. I can see looking back at this in week 12 and wishing to God they did it.

by CoachConnors on Jun 2, 2011 5:41 PM CDT reply actions

+1

by Douglas M on Jun 2, 2011 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions

I think if the Rams go big, it has to be DeAngelo Williams

he has injury concerns, but he is exactly the type of spark the Rams could use.

"Doin' blow off a strippers nipple" -VanRam

by Eric Nagel on Jun 2, 2011 7:00 PM CDT reply actions

Why would Williams want to come here

where he would clearly be the backup? He would be a great addition, but I just don’t see why he would want to do it.

by andyhawk on Jun 2, 2011 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I hear he wants to go to MIA and we all know their situation at the position so he pretty much is outta reach

But then again with his talent and the avg age of RB’s he’ll probably wanna go to a contender if he can work it so NYG, SD, ATL or PHI so many choices sooo little FA time.

"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 Jun 2, 2011 11:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Leshoure woulda been great or Murry, Green or even Todman

So many teams picked up a back some even 2 and others had at least 2-3 able body RB’s and still drafted a RB….WTF are we doin? relying on an undrafted FA and a scrub guy thats been a practice squad dummy his entire career…..Coulda woulda shoulda i know but still…..If we dont get a decent RB in FA/waivers/ or dare i say trade then all this “NFC West champs, playoff bound, team turnaround” BS goes all out the window….I love Steven Jackson,as much as a straight male fan can love a straight male athlete, But I in no way believe he will stay this next season completely healthy seeing is how he is used. Billy D you better have some magic up those sleeves or so help me I will change Austin Collie’s name on the new madden to yours and run slants with you against the Steelers D until your brain explodes.

"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 Jun 3, 2011 12:05 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I think that...

Spags certainly must have talked to some UDFA before the lockout to cover all his bases.

We sure need...another Dick Bass!

Go RAMs !!!

by VETT on Jun 3, 2011 5:20 AM CDT reply actions

too old too expensive

gimme a rook scat back and lets draft an eventual replacement next season, hopefully with top end speed to go with his power and between the tackles ability.

SJax should be the only major paid RB on this team until he retires in 3 or 4 years.

He’s got more production in him than ya’ll think. People forget he’s only 28 and if his mileage is high, I’d hate to see Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson in 3 or 4 years…

Bradford to Onobun!

by Infemous on Jun 3, 2011 7:51 AM CDT reply actions

Noel Devine

is interesting as an UDFA. Small, great straight line speed. Big play ability. Durability would obviously be a concern. More of a 3rd down back, of course. Would need to work on blocking.

by Toddius on Jun 3, 2011 8:48 AM CDT reply actions

What the hell happened to....

Travis Minor? Antonio Pitman? Aveion Cason? Arlen Harris? Lamar Gordon? Trung Canidate???? We also dabbled with Stephen Davis, Tony Fisher, Samkon Gado We even drafted Brian Leonard, Chris Obanhgyunannauy, and even went UDFA in Toston, Washington and yet we still have no viable suitor…something seriously needs to be done because our best B/U RB ever was SJax…seriously look it up he is.

"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 Jun 3, 2011 10:33 AM CDT reply actions

I firmly believe

mentioning Trung Canidate in a discussion about professional football players is punishable by 6 hours in the stocks.

"Fac Fortia et Patere"

by FailureDrill on Jun 3, 2011 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions

haha

but Trung Canidate is one hell of name…I’ve been calling for Ronnie Brown or Reggie Bush for quite some time as a backup situation. Brown could easily be the starter here and he brings the wildcat to the Rams. Bush can break off a touchdown at any time he touches the ball and gives us an instant threat.

by richter122 on Jun 4, 2011 2:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Sproles would be a great addition

but not at the cost. If they sign Sproles, he will be the big ticket FA, which would mean less money to be spent on, say, an OLB, DT, or S. I’d rather see the big money spent on Cofield, or Lawson, and then less money spent on a RB, like Jason Snelling or Jerome Harrison, seeing as how he hopefully will only see a limited amount of touches. For the record, I’d love to see Snelling in horns next year. He has filled in more than admirably for Turner in the last couple of years.

by mcihaelT on Jun 3, 2011 12:33 PM CDT reply actions