Assessing the 2012 St. Louis Rams' Needs - Final Call
by 3k on Feb 7, 2012 12:00 PM CST
in 2012 NFL offseason
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Well, I'm back. Had to move, and didn't have internet in the interim. So let's catch up where I left off.
In my last post, I put up the form for everyone to rank the 2012 Rams' biggest needs. There were almost 300 responses, so if you didn't get yours in, go ahead and throw it in.
You might want to go ahead and check the vote results to make sure yours is in. I deleted the votes that were backwards (remember, 1 means we don't need to upgrade the position, 10 means we need a total depth chart overhaul). So if you voted but you can't find it, I probably deleted it.
On Friday, I'll go ahead and put together the data sets like last year (although those charts have disappeared, so it'll look better on Friday).
After the jump, the current tally and some observations.
| position | avg. (descending) | Δ2011 |
| WR | 8.589 | +0.181 |
| OT | 8.000 | +5.082 |
| OLB | 7.729 | -1.081 |
| DT | 7.393 | +0.513 |
| CB | 6.421 | +0.970 |
| G | 6.400 | -1.654 |
| RET | 6.150 | +1.237 |
| C | 5.775 | +2.357 |
| RB | 5.246 | -1.265 |
| TE | 4.832 | +0.598 |
| SS | 4.139 | -1.437 |
| FS | 3.921 | -0.117 |
| K | 2.596 | +0.955 |
| DE | 2.279 | -3.498 |
| P | 1.893 | +0.610 |
| QB | 1.825 | -0.186 |
| MLB | 1.650 | -0.383 |
- The Adam Goldberg effect, y'all. Last year, guard rated above an 8 with Goldberg slotting at RG. A year later, and the returns don't look as bad with Harvey Dahl filling in. Meanwhile, as Jason Smith has filled out his ballot for the bust category, Goldberg has made the position look that much more deficient.
- Why isn't defensive tackle higher? The four DTs listed on the Rams' team site depth chart are Fred Robbins, Justin Bannan, Darell Scott and Gary Gibson. How that's not challenging WR for the top spot is beyond me. Speaking of...
- Is the WR depth chart all that horrible? I realize the Rams are without a true #1, but as a whole, the position has solid depth. I wouldn't have it in my top 3, although the need at the top is.
- Why did RB drop off? Is it just name recognition with Cadillac Williams and Jerious Norwood? A year ago, the position got more than a 7.5 rating. I don't see how we're much better off at the position, especially not a point and a quarter better.
- Tight ends. A mystery. A year ago, we had a young duo in Mike Hoomanawanui and Fendi Onobun with a blocking specialist (who isn't much of a blocking specialist) in Billy Bajema. Now, Onobun's gone, Bajema's a free agent who won't likely return and Hoomanawanui has yet to show his body can handle the rigors of football (and not just at the NFL level...). Throw in a less than overwhelming rookie campaign from Lance Kendricks, and who knows what's coming in 2012.
- Chris Long + Robert Quinn = yay.
- Jason Brown has two years under contract. Keep that in mind.
- OLB got better? I'm confused.
- And yes, James Laurinaitis is good.
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James Rodgers is the only one from OR ST to get invited....
Haikus are easy,
but sometimes they don't make sense.
Refrigerator.
well - posted that in the wrong thread.
Haikus are easy,
but sometimes they don't make sense.
Refrigerator.
by sergey606 on Feb 7, 2012 12:47 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
+1000000000000
on your confusion in why our bloggers don’t feel DT is a stronger position of need. Fortunately 3k, I am next to certain that Jeff Fisher will agree with us that his team needs DT help in a huge way.
Our bloggers??
Do you and 3k own them??
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I think it was a collective term of endearment
not of ownership. “Our dear bloggers…”
BTW, I’m going to write something and begin it with those three words.
Turf Show Times editor, Mocking the Draft writer, and I gots that Twitter too, yo.
"my keyboard won't corporate, neighter will my smell check." - Knoxfan
by 3k on Feb 7, 2012 1:41 PM CST up reply actions
I know, I was joking
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
yeah, I gotcha
My dear blogger
Turf Show Times editor, Mocking the Draft writer, and I gots that Twitter too, yo.
"my keyboard won't corporate, neighter will my smell check." - Knoxfan
by 3k on Feb 7, 2012 3:10 PM CST up reply actions
thats ok
we need WRs. Lets pick up Vincent Jax and draft Blackmon. Its a I. Bruce and T. Holt type of tandem. Sam needs weapons of mass destruction. This year superbowl had two teams with great receivers. Its the thing that makes you go….HUMMMMMMMMMMM
Patriots have had better WRs in the past, with an injured Gronk they didn't have much besides Welker, the tiny tiny Welker
Haikus are easy,
but sometimes they don't make sense.
Refrigerator.
We need
We need a scat back but not until the fifth round.
Now a guess at Jeff Fisher's assesment of team needs.
1. OT—Be physical and protect the quarterback. His words, not mine.
2. DT— Stop the run and pressure the pocket.
3. OLB— DITTO
4 TE—Better blocking and an effective 2 TE set.
5. WR—More weapons for Bradford
6. CB-Depth and probably will address in F.A
7. Center or Guard.
The rest is building depth on positions that are decent anyway. Historically Fisher loves DB’s in the Draft, so it wouldn’t be a shock if he drafted a corner earlier depending on if he gets Finigan or not.
by David5264 on Feb 7, 2012 1:31 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
I agree with you
In the end, it doesn’t matter what anyone on here thinks. Fisher’s assessment of team “needs” is all that matters, and while I think TE and WR should be switched, I think you’re on the right track.
Can't remember if I voted '1' for a single category.
Even MLB and QB don’t merit a one on my scale, given that the depth is awful.
Given the team’s run defense, DT and OLB have to be huge concerns. I don’t know if the team has one starting-quality NFL player at either position. Maybe Fred Robbins, but he’s coming off a very underwhelming year.
Haynesworth...
He can either be a starter or the perfect #3 DT in a rotation. He’ll more than likely start if he signs with the Rams
I know this isn't the right answer, but I am just tired of trying to address the TE need.
We have tried again and again, and at this point I want to conclusively see someone fail at the position. There are bigger needs that need to be addressed.
TE’s can be great, but great teams can live without a phenomenal TE.
While I agree
You have to consider that this is a new coaching staff. Failed attempts should not have any say with a new coach.its also crazy to pass on a guy you think is good because we failed before
by Ram_Redemption on Feb 7, 2012 4:41 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
3k and Brick Top - LoL!
No need to worry about me and pronoun problems!
On the matter of the draft and Fisher’s view of needs versus “ours,” I stick with my belief that he will work from the middle out. The exception may be as someone mentioned at cornerback. If he doesn’t address DT in free agency first I think he will by no later than the 2nd round of the draft. Would love to see Still or Brockers in a Rams uniform.
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