Rams Draft And More: With Correction

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 8:57 AM CST

Correction Salary Cap Space:

Thanks to Bobhugehands and David for pointing out my error in regards to the cap space number. The cap is 10 million for 2012 and 45 million for 2013. Thanks again for correcting me.

Rams trade the 1st pick of the 2nd round to Cleveland in exchange for: Cleveland's 2nd round pick; the 4th

pick of the 2nd round, their 3rd round pick; the 4th pick of the 3rd round, and their 2nd round pick in 2013.

With a 10 million dollar cap( Correction from 45 million), The Rams signed FA's:

OG Carl Nicks, New Orleans

RB Mike Tolbert, San Diego

The Rams resigned Brandon Lloyd

UDFA's :

CB Chris Greenwood, Albion 6'1 190

WR Jared Green, Southern 6'1 190

DT Chigbo Anunoby, Morehouse 6'4 324

OG Amini Silatolu. Midwestern 6'3 325

C Scott Wedige, Northern Ill 6'4 314

WR Danarlo Belcher, Indiana 6'4 215

OT Matt McCants, 6'6 300 UAB

OT Matt Reynolds, BYU 330

OG Lonnie Edwards, Texas Tech 6'4 322

RB Robert Turbin, Utah St 5'10 216

OLB Ronnie Thorton, Southern Miss 6'3 240

TE Michael Williams, Alabama 6'7 270

FB Cody Johnson, Texas 5'11 250

2012 Draft for The St.Louis Rams after the jump.

1.WR Justin Blackmon, Okla St

2. OLB Ronnell Lewis, Okla

3.CB Cliff Harris, Oregon

3.RB Doug Martin, Boise St

4. WR Jordan White, Western Michigan

4. DT Kawann Short, Purdue

6. OLB Terrell Manning, N.C. St

7.FS Janzen Jackson, McNeese St

7. ILB Nico Johnson, Bama

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Comments

B+ in regards to the free agent pick up’s but if u want an A, & I’m sure you do than replacing bryant with jones from tennessee will see to it! As for ur undrafted rookies, I’d grade u at a C-! And finally ur draft… Uhm NO! You had me with the blackmon & lewis picks but I am not sold on martin! Short is my pick at dt if we don’t retrieve dude from clemson & u had us scooping up dude from western michigan!? No way! If we go wide out again than I want fuller from a&m! But u did heal ur issue with the janzen pick I for one admire the kid! C- maybe D! The lbacker from n.c state can be replaced with dude from kentucky trevathan!

by Boy Yottic on Jan 17, 2012 9:20 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Thanks For Reading My Post

I think Martin brings youth and versatility to the RB position. He is also a return guy and he also has receiving skills. You are a tough grader! I respect that! I like Trevathan as well. It came down to a judgement call; and i chose Terrell Manning. He is faster and taller. I would like to have them both but that is unlikely. Jordan White is a better WR than Fuller IMO. If he last until round four I will be surprised.

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 11:13 AM CST up reply actions

Cap space

If I am correct the Rams don’t have 45 million available in cap space this year, it is next year when they will have that much available.

by bobhugehands on Jan 17, 2012 9:22 AM CST reply actions

I thought the same thing. Don't we only have around $10 million this year?

That will make F.A pretty thin this year.

by David5264 on Jan 17, 2012 10:04 AM CST up reply actions

You Are Right

Thanks for pointing out my mistake. Appreciate it.

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 11:02 AM CST up reply actions

Thanks For Pointing out My Mistake

You were right; 10 mil in cap space for 2012 and 45 mil for 2013. Thanks again.

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 11:01 AM CST up reply actions

You Were Right

Thanks for catching my mistake!

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 11:14 AM CST up reply actions

Draft

Do you not think OLB Ronnell Lewis is more suited to a 3-4!? I think he is a great prospect but not sure whether he would fit with the Rams. I like the Doug Martin pick but personally I think Bernard Pierce RB JR Temple is very underrated and has the size and speed that will transcend well to the NFL and will be available in a relatively late round.

by Cyber Jesus on Jan 17, 2012 9:45 AM CST reply actions

Lewis IMO could play both

The 4-3 or 3-4 LB equally well. Greg Williams would probably have him moving around to confuse offenses and to create mismatches. Pierce is a great RB; I agree. The concern that I have with him is the number of injuries he has sustained over time.

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 11:18 AM CST up reply actions

we don't have the cap space

Also, why did you not factor in us trading the first pick in in the draft?i hope it wasn’t simply to get blackmon.

by Ram_Redemption on Jan 17, 2012 10:14 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Thanks For Correcting Me

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 11:19 AM CST up reply actions

we don't have the cap space

Also, why did you not factor in us trading the first pick in in the draft?i hope it wasn’t simply to get blackmon.

by Ram_Redemption on Jan 17, 2012 10:14 AM CST via mobile reply actions

I Had No Intention

Of trading the first pick. IMO, Blackmon is worth that position. He can create separation, line up practically anywhere, is an effective blocker downfield, he adjust well to balls thrown poorly. My intention was to “simply get Blackmon”.

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 11:25 AM CST up reply actions

would rather we trade down for monster picks

If we stay put kalil is the better pick .dnt mind blackmon tho. Just not over kalil

by Ram_Redemption on Jan 17, 2012 11:49 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

I Think Kalil

Is a great player. I think Kalil is a top 5 player, However; I think Blackmon would bring a more immediate impact for The Rams. I know that I probably stand alone in this opinion, but it is how I see it. This argument: Kalil vs Blackmon sounds like a case that should be heard before the U.S. Supreme Court! LMAO!!!

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 6:56 PM CST up reply actions

What kind of hit do we take if we cut Smith? How much of his contract do we have to eat?

Join my Google+ circle

by Douglas M on Jan 17, 2012 12:35 PM CST reply actions

I may be wrong but I've heard 13 mill

Rather just restructure

by Ram_Redemption on Jan 17, 2012 4:18 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

It's 10$M to cut Smith, depending on when he is cut determines what year that cap space is hit.

Our best option is for him to receive another concussion and we give him an injury settlement. Heck, we’d probably receive a compensatory pick for that. If we cut him, we have to hope someone else picks him up so we are off the hook. It’s the guaranteed money & bonus that hurt, his base salary doesn’t count at all.

by RamsFan1979 on Jan 17, 2012 5:02 PM CST up reply actions

I Thought it was 10 Mil.

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 6:57 PM CST up reply actions

Here's my question

I thought the Rams put money on the side for the draft and 10 million to spend, I’m probably wrong though.

Is that great man formally known as Tevin T. Broner, also I'm on twitter Follow @T_Bron

by Tevin Broner on Jan 17, 2012 12:45 PM CST reply actions

That Trade is Plausible.

And I think you’ve got the positions covered at the right levels in the draft. I just like a couple of different players better. I think Doug Martin is a little overrated as a 3rd rounder. I like him as our 4th though. I see Isiah Pead as more of a playmaker and I think we could get him at the 4B pick. Finally, I like the kid from W. Mich. but I like the hands and huge catch circle of Fuller better. 2 other WR who might slide to the 4B slot are Tommy Streeter and the kid from Georgia Tech. I like receivers from GT, because of their offensive philosophy. If a WR gets noticed at GT, he’s usually something special.

by JD70-79 on Jan 17, 2012 12:55 PM CST reply actions

I Could See

Martin as a fourth rounder. I liked Fuller coming off last season. In 2011 he was much more inconsistent throughout the entire season. I know he was dealing with injuries and such, but he did not look like the samr player. That causes some concern for me. Great call on Streeter and Stephen Hill. They are big targets that can get vertical. Hill has more speed and can blow past a secondary. If I had to pick one; Hill would be the choice. Great Thoughts!

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 7:07 PM CST up reply actions

I can't believe no love for Jordan White.

I know we don’t need another slot guy, but this guy, if available in the 4th should not be passed up IMO. We could save cap space by drafting him and letting Amendola sign elsewhere; I do think this kid will be something special.

Interesting you chose to trade the day 2 pick and go for FA’s to fill certain needs. I don’t think we’ll find anyone to be our starting LT in FA. We draft or we lose, IMO. One question, why did you choose an 3-4 ILB to play in our 4-3D? Where would he play? Anytime I think of drafting out of position I think of Carriker.

by RamsFan1979 on Jan 17, 2012 5:18 PM CST reply actions

I Must Admit

I am sold on Blackmon. Now that doesn’t mean that a 1st round trade would be the wrong thing to do. It would depend on the compensation package. I did this mock as if the draft were held now. A lot can, and probably will change between now and April. The Colts may decide to trade Luck for a boatload of compensation for this year and 2013. A move like that would cause a ripple effect throughout the entire draft.What if Minnesota decided to go for Luck or RGIII? The madness has just begun! LMAO!
OLT: I think if The Rams utilize elements of the power run game, Saffold will be fine at OLT. He will not be required to sustain blocks in pass protection for long periods of time. With Shottenheimer as the OC; I think he will have Bradford get the ball out quicker with fewer steps in his drops. More of a rythmic passing game which IMO, suits Bradford best. That power run element can open up the passing game. I like the idea of forcing a defense to commit more players in the box. This forces one on one matchups downfield. An ideal situation for Wr’s like Lloyd, Amendola , and Blackmon to exploit.
Ronnell Lewis is a talented player that could play either OLB in a 4-3 or a 3-4. With Williams as the DC, Lewis will be lined up in a variety of ways in order to confuse a defense. Williams is very good at that. I guess I am more comfortable with the DC and his abilitiy to find ways to get the most from a talented player like Lewis. Also in my mock, Lewis is selected in the 2nd round; unlike Carriker who was a first rounder. Another reason I like Lewis is his ability to create fumbles with his hitting.

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 7:33 PM CST up reply actions

I like your explanation

for OT, but we’re still gonna need some improvement on the line. We can both agree to that, but it has to be balanced with picking playmakers too IMO.

I wasn’t talking about Lewis; I think he would be a natural fit in a 3-4 and could do great as a SamLB. I was talking about the final pick, Nico. If we’re gonna choose someone to play out of position, why don’t we go for a hard hitting, zone blocking OT/OG to be our FB/blocking TE? Miller is OK, but just that OK.

by RamsFan1979 on Jan 18, 2012 10:13 AM CST up reply actions

I Misunderstood

I had Nico Johnson as the final pick b/c of his run stopping ability.

I went with UDFA’s to address additional blocking. TE Michael Williams, Bama is a great blocker. He was used on more than one occasion to seal the edge in Bama’s running game. He was very effective. Williams is also an underrated receiver with great athleticism for his size. It would be great to add him to the offense.

FB Cody Johnson,Texas Great blocker and is effective running the ball in short yardage and goal line situations. He will probably be an UDFA as well.

by ValdezY on Jan 18, 2012 12:37 PM CST up reply actions

I'll look into Johnson, but I am aware of Williams.

The unfortunate thing about Williams was his lack of touches. That doesn’t mean he can’t perform, but when you have other talent on the team that’s the way it goes.

by RamsFan1979 on Jan 18, 2012 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

You're Right

Especially in that Bama offense where they run the ball a great deal.

by ValdezY on Jan 18, 2012 6:17 PM CST up reply actions

2nd Tier Conference

kids always scare me. There are lots of sleepers from those schools, but every time I see a kid I like from a Mt. West, WAC, MAC, Conf. USA school I see Donnie Avery and I want to vomit.

by JD70-79 on Jan 17, 2012 5:24 PM CST reply actions

LMAO!

I look at the draft as a game of chance. Teams try to eliminate a lot of chance with due diligence. It is never easy. The thing that scares me is when I hear draft analyst use phrases like: “Can’t miss prospect”, “No brainer”, and " Once in a generation player". Akili Smith, Charles Rogers, Jeff George, Tony Mandarich, Brian Bosworth, Ryan Leaf. A list of players that prove that the draft is far from a sure thing.
The concern about small school guys is legitimate: Lower level of competition, not playing on a big stage, big stats may be a result of playing against that “inferior competition.” Which is why these players fall to the later rounds or become UDFA’s. Ron Bartell came from Howard University. He had great measurables for a CB. He also displayed his skill at draft time. Maybe I am just out of touch; but I truly believe it is more about an individuals skill than the school they attended. Kids that are poor, smart, and hungry can give the players from the larger football powers a run for their money.

by ValdezY on Jan 17, 2012 7:56 PM CST up reply actions