Turf Show Times: FanPosts

FORGET ABOUT AUSTIN, OGLETREE, AND BAILEY....WHAT ABOUT THAT OTHER GUY?????

2013-05-18T13:43:51Z

Yaaaaaayyyyyyy we got Tavon Austin, and Ogletree, and McDonald, and Bailey, hell we even somehow came away with Stacy. But what about the guys who were a little more unheralded? Since the end of the draft I have spent the last three weeks researching the hell out of our undrafted free agents. I've been digging up every piece of info I could find. Some guys I had already done plenty of research on leading up to the draft, and others either not as much, or none at all. After doing all of that digging and reviewing our current roster, I came to the conclusion we could see 8-11 UDFA make the final 53. I'm only going to list the seven I believe have the best shot, with some having relatively nice impacts.

BENNY CUNNINGHAM RB

Benny Cunningham vs Georgia Tech 2012 (via xuesac84)

WOW!!!!!! This kid is the truth. He looks like a true gem, and a hell of a steal to go undrafted. I'm not saying he is the next Arian Foster, but he has some serious potential, and it only proves that we have better skill at the RB position than we are getting credit for. Understandably so! Steven Jackson is gone, so all you hear now is who is going to fill the void??? Well, we certainly have some damn good options between Richardson, Pead, Stacy, and Cunningham. I do believe Ganaway will be the odd man out, seeing as how he is the least talented of the bunch. But Stacy has been my favorite for a while now. I was a fan before we drafted him. But after studying a lot more on Cunningham, he is going to give Stacy a run for his money. Cunningham has a really well built upper body. He is 5'10" 210, and they way he is built he resembles Ray Rice. He ran a 40 four days before the draft at a private pro day where only two teams showed up, one being the Rams. He was declared 75% back to his old form (tore his patella tendon) at the time that he ran, and still clocked a 4.51. You can see on film his burst and top speed is closer to a 4.4. I found a few things saying he ran 4.42 and even a 4.38, but none were concrete sources, although I wouldn't doubt the accuracy. But he is more than speed. The guy is a BULL. He is so well built and so fast, he is really hard to bring down. His bench total was 26 reps. I thought the Georgia Tech tape was his most impressive game because of who the 212 yds were against, but his best game hands down was against Florida International. The guy only played in 5 games before hurting his knee and was averaging about 120 yds a game with 11 td's. I'm not one to get excited about someone getting injured, but it may have been a blessing in disguise for us, because at the rate he was going and top notch workout numbers to match (I estimate him finishing the year with about 1800 yds 24 td's, and testing a 4.40 40, 4.35 shuttle) he probably would have been about a 4th rounder and we would not have gotten him. He is a nice blend of Stacy, Pead, and Richardson mixed in one. He has Stacy's power, patience, and vision, Pead's speed and agility, and Richardson's burst and decisive running style. Once he is 100%, probably will start out on the PUP list, look out.

Click here for an article covering his entire and impressive workout!!!!!!

Click here for footage of his workout!!!!!!

EMORY BLAKE WR

Emory Blake vs Georgia (via Aaron Aloysius)

Blake is one of the guys I wrote about before the draft for possible UDFA pickups. He was definitely someone I was glad we got to sign. I believe he is terribly underrated. He runs good routes, has good hands, tough, smart, NFL bloodlines, and a VERY good blocker (most underrated and over looked trait for a WR). He just played on a team that sucked and the QB was abysmal. Even when Cam Newton was there (his best season 33 rec, 554 yds, 8 td, 16.8 ypc) they didn't run an offense that feeds their WR the ball. Between Cam running and the RB getting nearly 1200 yds, they ran too often and when they did pass it was spread out. Nevertheless Blake was a nice pickup.

PHILLIP STEWARD OLB

Phillip Steward vs UCLA (2012) (via Aaron Aloysius)

Steward is a complete OLB. He is, dare I say it, prototype. Can someone please tell me what he can't do? He covers the slot, he covers the back, he covers the TE, he blitzs (very very well I might add), he gets sacks, he uses his hands when taking on blocks, he keeps his upfield shoulder free when engaged, he wraps up, he reads plays well (shows he is a film rat), he plays smart, he strips the ball, he gets interceptions, the list goes on and on. He is yet another draft steal, who I still can't believe went undrafted. I probably put more effort into him than any other UDFA, because he is the biggest mystery. I tried to find out what is it that we don't know, that caused him to not be a top 100 pick. I found nothing. He is 6' 237lbs. Ran a 4.6 40, and hit 26 reps on the bench. All numbers you would expect of an OLB of his size. Ogletree 6'3" 242 ran a 4.7, 20 reps on the bench. And let's be honest, his production was nowhere near as good as Steward's. Not to mention to play strongside LB he has to do something that he sucks at, but Steward excels at, and thats disengage blocks. So what caused, what appears to be, a legit top 100 player to go undrafted? I don't know, but two things are for sure. 1. I am going to keep searching until I find out, and 2. I am sure glad he ended up with us lol.

RAY RAY ARMSTRONG OLB

Ray Ray Armstrong vs Ohio State 2010 (via JMPasq)

Look we all know his story by now, no need to go over it once again. He is filled with untapped potential. Originally I was opposed to the idea of moving him to OLB, but when I took some time to think it over, I realized having him is like having two Ogletree's. Ex-safety, who hits hard, full of potential, could become a stud with the correct coaching, they literally are almost identical when you write down their skill set. I think he will be a special teams stud his first year. After that, well, we shall see.............

DAREN BATES SS/OLB

Daren Bates - WLB, #25, Auburn - Auburn vs. Alabama 2011 (via ETLNYC)

I'm sure no one wants to watch this whole game but I did. He played extremely well.

Bates is undersized there is no way around it. At 5'11" 215lbs, he certainly is not what you expect your OLB to look like. But he has good reason for it, he is a converted safety, and not one of those oh he just kept growing guys (Ogletree), but a true safety who was extremely productive at the position. Bates is an IDEAL SS. He ran a 4.53 40, and vert of 34". He brings the thunder when he hits, and he is a decent cover guy as well. He was moved simply because of need, and he performed so well they decided to keep him there especially since they had no depth at OLB but plenty at safety. I believe he makes the squad because of his versatility, he would play the in the box/nickle safety role perfectly. His skill set and athletic ability makes for a special package and special teams dynamo. And did I mention he was ridiculously productive, 49 games, 313 TT, 17.5 TFL, 12 PBU, 3 INT, 5 SACKS,2 FF, 4 FR, 1 TD.

JONATHON STEWART MLB

Jonathan Stewart - LB, #11, Texas A&M - Texas A&M Defense vs. Florida 2012 (via ETLNYC)

He has all the tools, but sometimes I really hate his effort. If he actually went hard every snap, he probably could have been a 3-5 rd pick. Stewart is a big talented MLB, who plays the run well, but lacks the physicality that his size would indicate he has. He is talented, but you can't play LB for Fisher if you won't be physical. If he can change that about his game, he could be a lock to make the team. Because no one is going to question his skill set that goes well with his impressive measurements. If he gets his act together and plays consistently hard this preseason, Josh Hull will most likely be out of a job, and Stewart will be Laurinaitis' new back-up.

CODY DAVIS FS/SS

Cody Davis vs West Virginia (2012) (via Aaron Aloysius)

What's there not to like about Davis. This kid is a technician. I watched a lot of film on this draft class, and I can honestly say he might be the best and most sure tackler of the entire class. The guys tackling technique is flawless. He is very physically gifted as well. Athletically he has every safety on the team beat, and his signing is going to put someone out of a job. He plays really smart, and has some damn good skills when it comes to taking angles. I like this kid a lot, and I would not be the least bit surprised if he got a lot more playing time than some are expecting. He kind of reminds me of Earl Thomas. Not his skill set or style of play, but his demeanor. He doesn't draw attention to himself. He is very quiet and reserved, never celebrates or anything. Just consistently makes the play, then goes back to the huddle. Might have been the most efficient tackler in college football last year. That's something I might look into actually. Really like this kid, and he may ultimately push McDonald into the box, and Stewart out of a job.

Other Players that could make the 53 man roster:

PHILLIP LUTZENKIRCHEN TE

BRADEN BROWN OT/OG

CANNON SMITH FS/CB

ANDRE MARTIN CB

Projected 53 Man Roster/Depth Chart:

QB:

SAM BRADFORD
AUSTIN DAVIS

RB:

ISAIAH PEAD
ZAC STACY (I MAY FLIP 1 AND 2, GIVING PEAD THE UPPER HAND FOR NOW)
DARYL RICHARDSON
BENNY CUNNINGHAM

TE:

JARED COOK
LANCE KENDRICKS
MIKE MCNEIL

WR:

CHRIS GIVENS
BRIAN QUICK (THIS TOO MAY CHANGE)
TAVON AUSTIN
STEDMAN BAILEY
AUSTIN BAILEY
EMORY BLAKE

OT:

JAKE LONG
ROGER SAFFOLD
JOSEPH BARKSDALE
TY NESEKHE

OG:

HARVEY DAHL
ROKEIVIOUS WATKINS
BARRETT JONES (ALSO THE #2 CENTER)
SHELLY SMITH

SCOTT WELLS

DE:

CHRIS LONG
ROBERT QUINN
WILLIAM HAYES
EUGENE SIMS

DT:

MICHAEL BRROCKERS
KENDALL LANGFORD
JERMELE CUDJO
MATT CONRATH

OLB:

JO-LONN DUNBAR
ALEC OGLETREE
PHILLIP STEWARD
SAMMY BROWN
RAY RAY ARMSTRONG
DAREN BATES (SS TWEENER)

MLB:

JAMES LAURINAITIS
JONATHON STEWART

CB:

CORTLAND FINNEGAN
JANORIS JENKINS
TRUMAINE JOHNSON
BRANDON MCGEE

FS:

T.J. McDONALD
RODNEY MCLEOD
CANNON SMITH (SAFETY CB TWEENER)

SS:

DARIAN STEWART
CODY DAVIS (POSSIBLY THE #2 FOR BOTH SAFETY POSITIONS)

SPECIALISTS:

GREG ZUERLEIN (K)
JOHNNY HECKER (P)
JAKE McQUAIDE (COULD LOSE HIS SPOT TO JORGEN HUS, FISHER LOVES TRICK PLAYS ON SPECIAL TEAMS AND HUS IS A TRICK SNAPPER)

As always thanks for reading. Looking forward to all comments or any suggestions.

BENNY CUNNINGHAM RB

Benny Cunningham vs Georgia Tech 2012 (via xuesac84)

Click here for an article covering his entire and impressive workout!!!!!!

Click here for footage of his workout!!!!!!

EMORY BLAKE WR

Emory Blake vs Georgia (via Aaron Aloysius)

PHILLIP STEWARD OLB

Phillip Steward vs UCLA (2012) (via Aaron Aloysius)

RAY RAY ARMSTRONG OLB

Ray Ray Armstrong vs Ohio State 2010 (via JMPasq)

DAREN BATES SS/OLB

Daren Bates - WLB, #25, Auburn - Auburn vs. Alabama 2011 (via ETLNYC)

I'm sure no one wants to watch this whole game but I did. He played extremely well.

JONATHON STEWART MLB

Jonathan Stewart - LB, #11, Texas A&M - Texas A&M Defense vs. Florida 2012 (via ETLNYC)

CODY DAVIS FS/SS

Cody Davis vs West Virginia (2012) (via Aaron Aloysius)

Other Players that could make the 53 man roster:

PHILLIP LUTZENKIRCHEN TE

BRADEN BROWN OT/OG

CANNON SMITH FS/CB

ANDRE MARTIN CB

Projected 53 Man Roster/Depth Chart:

QB:

SAM BRADFORD
AUSTIN DAVIS

RB:

ISAIAH PEAD
ZAC STACY (I MAY FLIP 1 AND 2, GIVING PEAD THE UPPER HAND FOR NOW)
DARYL RICHARDSON
BENNY CUNNINGHAM

TE:

JARED COOK
LANCE KENDRICKS
MIKE MCNEIL

WR:

CHRIS GIVENS
BRIAN QUICK (THIS TOO MAY CHANGE)
TAVON AUSTIN
STEDMAN BAILEY
AUSTIN BAILEY
EMORY BLAKE

OT:

JAKE LONG
ROGER SAFFOLD
JOSEPH BARKSDALE
TY NESEKHE

OG:

HARVEY DAHL
ROKEIVIOUS WATKINS
BARRETT JONES (ALSO THE #2 CENTER)
SHELLY SMITH

SCOTT WELLS

DE:

CHRIS LONG
ROBERT QUINN
WILLIAM HAYES
EUGENE SIMS

DT:

MICHAEL BRROCKERS
KENDALL LANGFORD
JERMELE CUDJO
MATT CONRATH

OLB:

JO-LONN DUNBAR
ALEC OGLETREE
PHILLIP STEWARD
SAMMY BROWN
RAY RAY ARMSTRONG
DAREN BATES (SS TWEENER)

MLB:

JAMES LAURINAITIS
JONATHON STEWART

CB:

CORTLAND FINNEGAN
JANORIS JENKINS
TRUMAINE JOHNSON
BRANDON MCGEE

FS:

T.J. McDONALD
RODNEY MCLEOD
CANNON SMITH (SAFETY CB TWEENER)

SS:

DARIAN STEWART
CODY DAVIS (POSSIBLY THE #2 FOR BOTH SAFETY POSITIONS)

SPECIALISTS:

GREG ZUERLEIN (K)
JOHNNY HECKER (P)
JAKE McQUAIDE (COULD LOSE HIS SPOT TO JORGEN HUS, FISHER LOVES TRICK PLAYS ON SPECIAL TEAMS AND HUS IS A TRICK SNAPPER)

As always thanks for reading. Looking forward to all comments or any suggestions.

FO blows up Cap space by restructuring C. Long, Sam and JL's contracts!! Oh the Dead Money Sea Scrolls are coming!!!

2013-05-17T22:26:23Z

Sorry, about that, desperate times calls for desperate measures!! Of course the title is fictitious, but my dad always taught me that to set a good hook! So this is basically an all points bulletin of checking milk cartons done blog style here on TST. So I thought I would have a little fun with it, as we search for things to discuss prior to training camp.

Okay, I don't know about you, but I haven't seen or heard from Capwiz.1313% since about 2 days after the draft!! Maybe he's still lamenting and calculating depreciating assets of our new roster! Forever looking for that quarter in the couch cushion. Hell, that's how I pay my cable bill each month:) He can't be in a month long poker game can he??

Tax time is over, so he doesn't have that as an excuse, not that he ever did. The Canadian tundra has begun to thaw, at least on the far side of Lake Erie, and yet still no signs of him! So I thought the best thing to do, would be to bait the hook and lure him out of his hiding place!

Obviously, the easiest way to lure an accountant sports "Capologist" out of hiding is to bait the hook with "a prorated contractual context question with subjugated penalty clauses and hidden illegal usury interest charges" to bring him screaming out of his igloo like bees to honey! And if that fails....I went with the visuals a stack of money:)

So hey Cap! Check in with us every once in a while will ya?

Poll

Best guess on where Capwiz.1313% is?

Rams 2013 Game-By-Game Prediciton

2013-05-16T07:30:17Z

With the 2013 season comes great expectations of building on the accomplishments of last season, only furthered by what is widely considered one of the best draft classes in the league. With this in mind, and based on my knowledge of the current roster and what I think they are really capable of doing this year, I thought I'd take a shot at predicting the outcome of the 2013 St. Louis Rams season.

VS. Arizona

I think this game will only further the expectations of the coming season, and by that I mean I think the Rams make a statement opening up at home. The Cardinals will still have a learning curve with their new QB under center, as well as their new running back core that will likely be led by Mendenhall. While Jonathan Cooper will provide an immediate plug in what was arguably the worst offensive line in the league last year, there is very little a guard will be able to do about Long and Quinn. Rams show glimpses of what the offense is capable of in week 1.

Rams: 31

Cardinals: 14

@ Atlanta

On paper, this has the making of a very interesting football game. I believe the Rams have the personnel to handle the constant threats on offense Atlanta will bring to the table, now including Steven Jackson (sniffle, sniffle). Defensively, Atlanta never really turned any heads last year, but the additions they made to their defensive line and their secondary should prove to fix some immediate needs. The Rams should hang in the game for a while, but ultimately I think Atlanta's powerhouse offense will make some plays late to take home the W.

Rams: 21

Falcons: 27

@ Dallas

Reeling from a week 2 loss, I feel like the Rams will come back in a big way in week 3. They match up pretty well across the board. The toughest questions to answer to me will be Dez Bryant and Demarco Murray (assuming he hasn’t pulled something by this point). Since it’s the Cowboys, their defense will likely be vulnerable and Tony Romo will likely spend a decent amount of the game on his behind. A road game in Dallas is no gimme, but I think the Rams pull out a win here.

Rams: 24

Cowboys: 20

VS. San Francisco

Ah, yes. The matchup that both teams look forward to all offseason. I’m really hoping this will be another thriller, perhaps with a bit more offense than the last one. While I’d like to think the Rams will play up to the magnitude of the game and spank the niners, I’m going to have to be realistic here. In my opinion, they are the best team in the NFL with seemingly no holes at a single position. That being said, analysts were saying the same things about these games last year and the Rams still gave the niners fits. Hoping for the best, but I’m going to listen to my head over my heart on this one.

Rams: 17

49ers: 28

VS. Jacksonville

This game should give St. Louis the chance to really come together as a team and show the league what they are capable of when firing on all cylinders. Sure, easy enough against Jacksonville right? Maybe not. If MJD is still healthy at this point in the season, he will surely get his touches and most likely find pay dirt. Sure enough, this will be Blackmon’s first game back from his suspension, so take that for what it is. Either way, I think the Rams win comfortably and show some offense that hasn’t been seen for years.

Rams: 38

Jaguars: 14

@ Houston

This is definitely one of the more interesting games of the season. Houston really wasn’t playing well by the end of last season and had many questions emerge on defense that they couldn’t fully address in the draft or free agency. Nevertheless, they’ll get their points on offense, although, if I’m going to trust anyone to combat the Houston’s zone blocking scheme it’s going to be Jeff Fisher. Though I’m picking this as a loss, if I were to pick one upset game for the Rams this season it would be this one.

Rams: 20

Houston: 31

@ Carolina

It becomes difficult to pick the Rams in road games given they were fairly poor in them last year. This could be due to the youth of the team and the inexperience, so another year could give them a boost for 2013. Carolina presents an interesting matchup that will be tough to predict based simply on nobody knowing what kind of Cam Newton we’ll see in his junior season. Their defense is greatly improved and just came off a very solid draft that addressed the d-line issues. I’m going with the Rams in a close one.

Rams: 24

Panthers: 17

VS. Seattle

Could we see a sophomore slump out of Russell Wilson? God I hope so. Even so, the Rams gave him fits in both games last year, and I saw very little during the Seattle offseason to suggest we won’t do it again, at least as it applies to the pass rush. Maybe I stand alone on this, but I’m just not so sure the Seahawks are as good as advertised. Sure, they’re an up and coming team with a high ceiling. But 6/1 odds to win it all? Give me a break. I’ll take the Rams at home on prime time!

Rams: 21

Seahawks: 17

VS. Tennessee

The Rams may have one of the toughest schedules in the NFL, but by no means does that mean there aren’t some very winnable games on there. The Titans look like they’ll give Locker one more year to prove himself, and if you ask me, I just don’t think he has what it takes. I also don’t think Chris Johnson stands a chance against our defense, which with the addition of Ogletree should be greatly improved against the run. Worst case scenario, Fitzpatrick has won the job by this point, which as we saw last year shouldn’t be a big deal at all. Rams win comfortably.

Rams: 28

Titans: 10

@ Indianapolis

Another very interesting game that should prove to be a great matchup. Here’s hoping for another sophomore slump! Andrew Luck certainly lived up to expectations in terms of touchdowns, but he also turned the ball over a pretty healthy amount. I’ll look for the Rams to exploit this and make some plays on defense to win this game. Hopefully the offense will feel comfortable playing on turf, even if it is away from home. I really do see this game as a tossup on paper, but for the sake of not being such a homer, I guess I’ll have to take Indy.

Rams: 17

Colts: 27

VS. Chicago

Now I don’t know about the rest of TST, but boy, do I hate the Bears. I hate Jay Cutler. I hated Brian Urlacher. I hated them for stealing Lovie Smith. I hate their fan base. I hate them. Period. Anyway, back to business. While I do hate the Bears as I took a brief section to note, I really do believe that the Rams will beat them at home. The Bears will likely be in a transitional period with a new coach and losing a presence like Urlacher is not something easy for a team to adjust to, even if it is toward the middle of the season. Rams win. Bears lose. Win-win for me.

Rams: 17

Bears: 10

@ San Francisco

I’ve already spent some time talking about the niners, so I’ll be brief. I didn’t pick us at home, so it’d seem a bit odd to pick us on the road. Sorry folks. Here’s hoping I’m wrong on both accounts.

Rams: 14

49ers: 30

@ Arizona

I just refuse to believe Arizona will be better this year. Rams win.

Rams: 24

Cardinals: 10

VS. New Orleans

I’m having trouble deciding how good the Saints will be this year. They’ll surely be full of confidence having their coach back, not to mention the offensive genius Sean Peyton is. Even so, their defense will surely be in a transitional period with several young pieces in play. I believe Rob Ryan is a wonderful d-coordinator, and I feel like I was one of the few people on TST that was excited when we ‘hired’ him. I still trust you Fish. We’ve always played the Saints tough. I’ll do it. I’ll go out on a limb and do it. Rams win.

Rams: 35

Saints: 28

VS. Tampa Bay

This was probably the most fun game to watch for the Rams last year. The offense was clicking, the defense was fierce, capitalizing on turnovers and looking as good as we all know they can be. It’s starting to become tough to figure Josh Freeman out, but I still think he is a functional QB to say the least. The addition of Revis should be fun, but there’s only so much the guy can do. I think Tampa improves this year, but not as much as I feel the Rams will improve, and throwing a home game on top of that is a recipe for victory.

Rams: 28

Buccaneers: 20

@ Seattle

Does anybody ever win at CenturyLink?....I mean seriously, does anyone ever win at CenturyLink?

Rams: 13

Seahawks: 21

Now, if my math is correct that puts us at 10-6 for the season with a strong possibility of a playoff appearance. Looking at many of my picks, I feel like I was pretty conservative, giving us 2 losses against the niners, a team we played very well against last year as well as losses to teams I feel we are very capable of beating, like Indy and Atlanta. I feel like 10-6 will put this team right on schedule, continuing to build on the success of last season, and hopefully leading to more wins for years to come. Thanks for reading and Go Rams.

VS. Arizona

Rams: 31

Cardinals: 14

@ Atlanta

Rams: 21

Falcons: 27

@ Dallas

Rams: 24

Cowboys: 20

VS. San Francisco

Rams: 17

49ers: 28

VS. Jacksonville

Rams: 38

Jaguars: 14

@ Houston

Rams: 20

Houston: 31

@ Carolina

Rams: 24

Panthers: 17

VS. Seattle

Rams: 21

Seahawks: 17

VS. Tennessee

Rams: 28

Titans: 10

@ Indianapolis

Rams: 17

Colts: 27

VS. Chicago

Rams: 17

Bears: 10

@ San Francisco

Rams: 14

49ers: 30

@ Arizona

I just refuse to believe Arizona will be better this year. Rams win.

Rams: 24

Cardinals: 10

VS. New Orleans

Rams: 35

Saints: 28

VS. Tampa Bay

Rams: 28

Buccaneers: 20

@ Seattle

Does anybody ever win at CenturyLink?....I mean seriously, does anyone ever win at CenturyLink?

Rams: 13

Seahawks: 21

Poll

How many games do you think the Rams will win in the 2013 season?

Prediction-2015 NFC Championship Game....

2013-05-15T06:31:26Z

Eagles vs Rams...but hopefully sooner? As a U of O Alumn & Fan I was Leary of Chip Kelly when he took over For Mike Bellotti-It reminded me way too much of Martz taking over for Vermeil & what us Rams Fans went through. Moments of Brillance sandwiched between wasted Timeouts, Coaches Challenges, Rams QB's taking Beatings, punctuated by other displays of Arrogance. All of which can work as a Coordinator on one side of the ball when managing the game is not the main priority. So As a Ams fan i had witnessed the "Genius" Offensive Coordinater taking over the HC job from the defensive orientated veteran coach that kept Coordinator in check. I wasn't stoked on Kelly at first...but he entirely won me over(After seeing Kelly's results /the Ducks, I would've been a complete idiot not to have been won over)

Many are already criticizing & Scrutinizing Kelly. The NFL does not like change. But There is definite method to Kelly's madness & not only Will the Eagles have success, but the players will enjoy playing for Kelly & the Eagles will be fun as hell to watch

IMO the Eagles & the Rams will both be ascending to the class of the NFC by late 2014 & come the 2015 season both teams will be dominant

How much is Peyton Hillis Asking For??

2013-05-15T06:09:47Z

...if Rams want a Veteran Power back for holding Late Leads Hillis may be worth signing? I think Ganaway should get a shot at that role as well as Stacy. But IMO Hillis has a lot of Game left. HE backed up J.Charles last season & prior to that he was on the cover of Madden...so by now any curse may have worn off? He's the best veteran FA RB remaining...may be worth it?

Lightning In a Bottle: Tavon Austin

2013-05-14T18:52:51Z

I wanted to learn a bit more about our top draft pick. So the logical thing to do was start doing some research on how he got where he is today. I’m going to forget stats, and look at what the people who were around him had to say from as far back as his first days in college circa 2009.

Back in Morgantown, West Virginia there is a guy named Chris Beatty who happens to be the running back and slot receivers coach. Chris said that Tavon has some of the same qualities that Percy Harvin had at Florida. I guess he should know since he coached Harvin in high school. I think the best quote from Mr. Beatty is, "He can make you miss in a phone booth!"

These are some of Tavon’s quotes from an interview in 2009 that give us some insight how he thinks.

"Like Coach Stew says, ‘(Make) one move and then head north,’" Austin said. "That’s what I try to do."

"Before practice and after practice we do a lot of drills pertaining to our hands," Austin said. "It’s hard because I was never used to putting my hands up and now my hands are always up and always knocking the defender off of me."

"One thing that really helps me is the ladder drills," he said. "I really take the ladder drills serious doing the ‘Icky Shuffle’ and a lot of the footwork things that I do. I used to run a lot of steps at home so I think that’s why my feet are really quick."

"When I get the ball in my hands the first thing I’m thinking about is scoring," he added. "If not, then I just want to make a great play."

I think the Fish is working on the same plan WVU had for Austin. "The coaches there believed the further away you get Austin from the rest of the congestion on the field, the better the chance of him taking one to the house."

The OC Mr. Jeff Mullen believed in 2010 that his offense was to sideways. He wanted to go vertical with explosive players like Austin, Devine, and Sanders.

"They don’t know where we will hit them from," Austin explained. "We can hit them from the back field, from the slot or out at wide receiver now. Hopefully it just all works out."

I don’t know about you, but that sounds exactly what the Rams have planned for the near future.

Bailey brings another element, he was known as Mr. Outside, and Tavon was Mr. Inside. "He just makes plays," said Austin of Bailey. "He barely drops the ball. And he’s always positive in practice. He is always bringing me up."

John Antonik for WVUsports wrote this:

"Actually, Bailey brought up Austin in more ways than one. While Tavon did most of his work at the line of scrimmage and across the middle, mostly on crossing routes, it was Bailey who became West Virginia’s best downfield threat since Chris Henry, averaging 17.9 yards per catch with 16 of Bailey’s 67 receptions going for 20 yards or longer (seven of those going for touchdowns).

Having the two working the entire field means defenses can’t just focus on stopping one guy in order to slow down West Virginia's (Insert RAMS) offense."

A few more quotes:

"It’s helpful for me to be able to take the top off the defense and then you’ve got Tavon who can catch a lot of things underneath and make guys miss," said Bailey. "That keeps the defense on their heels."

"That’s what’s so dynamic about this offense," said Bailey. "He can put us in different spots and just pretty much put the playmakers where they need to be to make a play."

"Not only one person is getting the ball," Austin added. "It shows everybody can touch the ball and when you get it you’ve got to do something with it."

It sounds to me like the Ram’s are going to use the same approach. A lot of players that can line up anywhere and probably will. I think this is going to help our No-Name running backs as well.

It looks like this new Ram offense won’t resemble anything like we are used to and that’s just fine with me!

These are some of Tavon’s quotes from an interview in 2009 that give us some insight how he thinks.

"Like Coach Stew says, ‘(Make) one move and then head north,’" Austin said. "That’s what I try to do."

"When I get the ball in my hands the first thing I’m thinking about is scoring," he added. "If not, then I just want to make a great play."

The OC Mr. Jeff Mullen believed in 2010 that his offense was to sideways. He wanted to go vertical with explosive players like Austin, Devine, and Sanders.

"They don’t know where we will hit them from," Austin explained. "We can hit them from the back field, from the slot or out at wide receiver now. Hopefully it just all works out."

I don’t know about you, but that sounds exactly what the Rams have planned for the near future.

John Antonik for WVUsports wrote this:

Having the two working the entire field means defenses can’t just focus on stopping one guy in order to slow down West Virginia's (Insert RAMS) offense."

A few more quotes:

"That’s what’s so dynamic about this offense," said Bailey. "He can put us in different spots and just pretty much put the playmakers where they need to be to make a play."

"Not only one person is getting the ball," Austin added. "It shows everybody can touch the ball and when you get it you’ve got to do something with it."

It sounds to me like the Ram’s are going to use the same approach. A lot of players that can line up anywhere and probably will. I think this is going to help our No-Name running backs as well.

It looks like this new Ram offense won’t resemble anything like we are used to and that’s just fine with me!

To Hell With Patience: 2014 Mock Draft 1.0

2013-05-14T17:01:57Z

The withdrawal phase has officially begun. It's not like there is nothing else in the sports world to keep me entertained, but after spending so much time and effort on analyzing the draft for weeks....the comedown is hard. I know what's best for me is to just relax, unwind, enjoy my summer vacation, and feel satisfaction in the fact that the Cardinals are the best team in baseball. But dammit, I like all of you, so I'm not going to do that. Instead, at the risk of my own mental health, I will bring you a totally not too early first version of my 2014 NFL Mock Draft.

Round 1:

1. Raiders: Jadeveon Clowney/DE (South Carolina)

via i2.cdn.turner.com

This is tricky. Clowney is undoubtedly the top prospect in the class and does fill a need for the Raiders, but it's also going to be tough for the Raiders to pass up on the strong group of quarterbacks near the top. Realistically, I imagine the Raiders fielding calls from teams for the #1 spot. If they can trade down and still be inside the top 10 or so, they can still take a guy like David Fales or A.J. McCarron and get a bevy of extra picks from the resulting bidding war. However, it would still make sense if the Raiders stayed put and drafted Clowney, the best end prospect in quite some time.

2. Jaguars: Teddy Bridgewater/QB (Louisville)

via fullscalesports.com

This is a good situation for Jacksonville, and seems to be the one they've been aiming for all along. The new FO isn't stupid; they probably passed on taking a QB early in 2013 because they realize that in all likelihood the 2014 QB crop is much better than the one in 2013. Bridgewater is at the top of that group as of now. With an outstanding arm and solid mobility, he appears to be the ideal quarterback in today's NFL. If Jacksonville is serious about turning around the culture of losing, Bridgewater is a great piece to build around.

3. Jets: Marqise Lee/WR (USC)

via a.espncdn.com

It's reasonable to assume that the Jets will go BPA once again due to lack of talent on their roster, but they find themselves in a predicament. The top guys at this juncture (Tajh Boyd, Jake Matthews, Taylor Lewan) don't really make any sense for them. Right tackle will be a need, but that would be a waste of Matthews or Lewan's talent and a waste of a pick since they could get a right tackle later. So, the Jets here reach slightly for the dynamic receiver Lee. Players like Lee are at a premium today, and while he fits the 6-10 range better, you couldn't knock the Jets for bringing him in to instantly make the talent around Geno Smith more potent.

4. Browns: Tajh Boyd/QB (Clemson)

via i2.cdn.turner.com

This is a very intriguing quarterback class. Bridgewater is the clear top right now, but then it's a jumble of about 4 or 5 guys vying for the #2 spot. Right now Boyd is the guy I like the most. He seems to always be forgotten in the conversation of great college players, but Boyd is one of the best quarterbacks out there. The Browns by this point will be in the position where they will be needing to take a new quarterback or feel the ire of the city of Cleveland. Boyd would be a good long-term solution that the Browns have needed for quite some time.

5. Bills: Jake Matthews/OT (Texas A&M)

via cdn1.sbnation.com

The Bills need to build around E.J. Manuel if they want him to succeed, and while Robert Woods is a good start, they could stand to have a better cornerstone left tackle. While there is a logjam for the top offensive tackle spot between Matthews, Taylor Lewan, and Cyrus Kouandjio, I feel like Matthews' upside and pedigree will to him winning out.

6. Titans: Johnny Manziel/QB (Texas A&M)

via a.espncdn.com

My prediction is that if he decides to enter the draft, the saga of Johnny Football's draft stock is going to be dominant in the draft media next year. A couple years ago, Manziel might have been screwed as far as going this high is concerned. One guy, though, has indirectly saved him: Russell WIlson. WIlson found immediate success despite being as short as he is because the Seahawks were willing to develop their offense to fit his skill set. Manziel's height should not be much of an issue to GMs. He is taller than Russell WIlson and barely shorter than Robert Griffin. For a team considering using a read-option type offense, they will be drooling over Manziel, as his athleticism is a fit, and his upside is arguably even higher than Wilson or Colin Kaepernick. 2013 is going to be the make or break year for Jake Locker, and while I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that he fails, I think that outcome is more likely. An offense featuring Manziel and Chris Johnson is a scary thought for NFL defenses.

7. Eagles: Sammy Watkins/WR (Clemson)

via www.bloguin.com

It's tempting to give the Eagles another quarterback, and if Johnny Manziel is there that temptation is even higher. However, even with David Fales and A.J. McCarron there, I'm hesitant to say that they give up on both Nick Foles and Matt Barkley after year one. Chip Kelly probably indeed wants "his guy," but the Eagles will probably be patient enough to give his group another year, and if they fail, Marcus Mariota will probably be there in 2015. It's also tempting to give them De'Anthony Thomas, but I'm not sure his stock will be high enough to go 7. Watkins, however, is also extremely dynamic. Jeremy Maclin will be a free agent next year and if the Eagles let him walk, Watkins would be an excellent X-factor for the Eagles offense.

8. Chargers: Taylor Lewan/OT (Michigan)

via binaryapi.ap.org

The Chargers drafted D.J. Fluker, but have no long-term plan at left tackle. Unless they give up on Philip Rivers next year and aim for one of the top quarterbacks, they really need to snag one of the top 3 tackles. They luck out with Lewan sitting there. Had Lewan entered the draft this year, it's highly likely he could have been the first overall pick.

9. Cardinals: Cyrus Kouandjio/OT (Alabama)

via media.timesfreepress.com

Speaking of teams who need to need to take a top left tackle: The Cardinals have worked to revamp their offensive line, but still could use a true cornerstone to protect the blindside. I have Kouandjio ranked behind Matthews and Lewan because he has less experience, but from a pure talent standpoint is an absolute monster who could solve Arizona's problem with holding off the pass rushers of the NFC West.

10. Chiefs: Stephon Tuitt/DE (Notre Dame)

via espn.go.com

The Chiefs have done a lot to overhaul their roster, but still have not completely solved the issue of the bust status of Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson. Thus, they will likely look into a long-term answer at 3-4 DE. The Notre Dame defensive line is shaping up to be an NFL factory, and Tuitt is among the best of them right now.

11. Buccaneers: Anthony Barr/OLB (UCLA)

via cdn2.sbnation.com

This would be a hard pick to pass up for the Bucs. Barr, a former running back, is a rising star in college football. It's yet to be seen what the Bucs' quarterback situation will be next year with Josh Freeman as a free agent, but a top-tier linebacker would be a great addition. Barr can fit into both the mold of an outside linebacker in the 3-4 or 4-3 and can do a lot of different things. A linebacking corps consisting of Barr, Mason Foster, and Lavonte David would be a nightmare for opposing offenses.

12. Lions: De'Anthony Thomas/RB/WR (Oregon)

via fishduck.com

Where Thomas goes if he declares is a bit of a mystery as of now. His athleticism is unmatched in the NCAA, but he isn't a clear fit at one position. However, we saw the way NFL teams coveted Tavon Austin this year, and Thomas is a similar player, only with arguably higher upside. The Lions need to continue to add more offensive talent to divert double and triple teams from Calvin Johnson, and the Reggie Bush signing shows the Lions are interested in adding more exciting offensive weapons.

13. Cowboys: Kyle Van Noy/OLB (BYU)

via deepshadesofblue.com

There was a lot the Cowboys could and should have done in the 2013 draft for their front seven but failed to do. Next year, they will still need to build at end, tackle, and outside linebacker. Van Noy would be a great start. He's a riser who, like Barr, fits the profile at OLB in any system. His big-time athleticism and versatility should be highly coveted by teams next year, and he could go even higher than this.

14. Panthers: Bradley Roby/CB (Ohio St.)

via img.bleacherreport.net

Roby is the top corner prospect as of now and will almost definitely go higher than this. However, I couldn't find a place in the top 13 to put him, so the Panthers get a steal here. Both D.J. Moore and Drayton Florence will both be free agents next year so the Panthers will possibly look to address corner via the draft with a strong class near the top. Roby is smaller, but extremely quick with good coverage skills, and could have gone in the first round had he declared this year.

15. Dolphins: Loucheiz Purifoy/CB (Florida)

via cmsimg.courier-journal.com

One of my favorite prospects right now is Purifoy. Tall, strong corners are a hot commodity in the NFL today, and Purifoy hits the mold. He is still raw but extremely athletic and versatile. He's one of the best punt blockers in football and is even planning on lining up at receiver for the Gators this year too. There a few ways Miami could go here with some key players at multiple positions hitting free agency next year. Here they go with the best guy on the board and fill the void that will be left if Brent Grimes walks.

16. Steelers: C.J. Mosley/ILB (Alabama)

via www1.pictures.zimbio.com

The Steelers always seem hesitant to take inside linebackers in the first round, but should do so here, especially if Sean Spence's career is over. Mosley is the top inside linebacker prospect right now and fits Pittsburgh's defense like a gem.

17. Vikings: David Fales/QB (San Jose St.)

via image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com

Looking ahead, it's always hard to tell which teams will be taking quarterbacks early next year. Don't be surprised to see the Vikings be one next year. Adrian Peterson alone will win them some games next year, but might look into finding a new quarterback of the future if Christian Ponder isn't playing up to snuff. Fales is a rising prospect worth watching in 2013.

18. Saints: Trent Murphy/OLB (Stanford)

via cdn.bleacherreport.net

The Saints were not able to address the rush linebacker position in the 2013 draft, so it's highly likely they will look in that direction next year. The pass rush class near the top might not be as good as this year, but this would be a good value pick. There are a number of quality Stanford defensive prospects next year and Murphy is at the top.

19. Bears: Austin Seferian-Jenkins/TE (Washington)

via i2.cdn.turner.com

Despite signing Martellus Bennett, the Bears could still use a longer-term answer at tight end and until then could form a pretty outstanding tandem by taking Seferian-Jenkins, whose upside is even higher than Tyler Eifert. His DUI arrest may hurt his draft stock, but a good season should make it matter less.

20. Rams (from Redskins): Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix/S (Alabama)

via media.timesfreepress.com

The Rams covered one safety position in 2013 with T.J. McDonald, but still lack a clear long-term answer at the other spot, especially with Darian Stewart hitting free agency. The 2014 safety class has no clear #1 right now, but "HaHa" Clinton-Dix is a contender if he declares. He finished his 2012 season strong with interceptions in his last two games while steadily gaining more playing time. The former blue chip recruit looks to form a formidable tandem with Vinnie Sunseri at Alabama this season.

21. Colts: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu/CB (Oregon)

via www.saturdayedge.com

The Colts still lack a long-term answer across from Vontae Davis and could fix that problem with this pick. Ekpre-Olomu is a rising prospect and one of my players to watch for the 2013 season. He is a smaller, quicker type corner, but being the Ducks fan I am, I have seen a ton of tape on him, and his coverage skills are impeccable. This corner class has a ton of potential, and Ekpre-Olomu will be one of several players vying for the top spot.

22. Bengals: Ed Reynolds/S (Stanford)

via ww1.hdnux.com

Another contender for the top safety prospect is Reynolds. Like other Stanford defensive players, he is smart, tough, and instinctive, despite maybe not being able to put up the blazing workout numbers. The Bengals have an impressively talented defense, but could still use another starting safety for the future.

23. Giants: Timmy Jernigan/DT (Florida St.)

via blogs.orlandosentinel.com

Justin Tuck and Peanut Joseph will both be free agents next year, so the Giants could very well look into upgrading at defensive tackle in the 2014 Draft. Plus, Jernigan would be pretty close to BPA at this point. There are a number of really solid defensive tackle prospects next year, and Jernigan has one of the highest upsides of any of them.

24. 49ers: Jordan Matthews/WR (Vanderbilt)

via www1.pictures.zimbio.com

Once again the Niners won't have a ton of needs, but they will probably aim to improve at receiver next year. Anquan Boldin should be productive but his productive days are limited, and Mario Manningham will be a free agent. Some new blood would be helpful. Matthews is a tall, physical receiver with the athleticism to go up and make tough catches. He would be the type of receiver the Niners would want to match up against the physicality of NFC West corners like Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, and Cortland Finnegan, as well as the speed of guys like Janoris Jenkins and Patrick Peterson.

25. Rams: James Hurst/OT (North Carolina)

via cdn.fansided.com

While safety is almost guaranteed to be a position looked at next offseason, what else will need to be addressed depends a lot on what happens with a couple free agents, namely Rodger Saffold and Jo-Lonn Dunbar. While Saffold is not seemingly bent out of shape about playing right tackle this year, next year he may want to play left tackle for a team willing to play him left tackle money. If so, it's very likely one of the first round picks will be spent on a right tackle to bookend across from Jake Long. There are a few good tackles left on the board, but James Hurst is the top one here according to my projections and would settle in nicely at a right tackle role.

26. Ravens: Brandon Coleman/WR (Rutgers)

via www4.pictures.zimbio.com

The Ravens already have uncertainty at the receiver position, and may face even more if Jacoby Jones walks next year. Coleman is a massive, strong receiver type that many teams value highly today. His speed is not elite, but his hands and 6'5", 220 frame are comparable to a guy like Marques Colston, which would pair up nicely with Torrey Smith.

27. Texans: Aaron Colvin/CB (Oklahoma)

via insider.espn.go.com

The Texans don't have a ton of needs to address, so they can afford to invest in the future with a guy like Colvin. He can play nickel corner in 2014 and then take over if Kareem Jackson leaves via free agency the year after. Colvin is another prospect in the mix for first-round corners next year, and how he plays this year could give him a huge edge against the rest or bury him in the crowd.

28. Falcons: Anthony Johnson/DT (LSU)

via bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com

The Falcons still have a need next at defensive tackle next to Jonathan Babineaux and get what could be a huge steal here with LSU's Johnson. He is still relatively unpolished as a pro prospect, but is just as talented as any tackle out there and could go even higher than this with a big season this year. He will also need to put on some more bulk if he wants to get looked at by 4-3 teams like the Falcons.

29. Seahawks: Aaron Lynch/DE (South Florida)

via sitracking.files.wordpress.com

The Seahawks have Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett on the roster now, but neither are signed for the long term. Lynch, the former Notre Dame end who transferred and will be playing his first season at USF this year, has immense upside rushing the passer and could be a nice project for a team picking near the bottom of the first like Seattle.

30. Patriots: Louis Nix III/DT (Notre Dame)

via cdn2.sbnation.com

The Patriots don't have much next to Vince Wilfork right now. Tommy Kelly might get them through the year, but is a bum who should not be depended on for the long term. The Pats can end their string of bringing in lazy defensive tackles to pair next to Wilfork by drafting Nix, another product of the Notre Dame defensive line that is becoming an NFL factory. He is athletic for his size and demonstrated so by scoring a touchdown in the Irish's spring game as a quarterback.

31. Packers: Jackson Jeffcoat/OLB (Texas)

via www2.pictures.zimbio.com

Clay Matthews will be a free agent next year, and while I highly believe the Packers will be able to retain him, there still might be a need at rush linebacker if Nick Perry doesn't pan out this year. Jeffcoat, the son of former NFL player Jim Jeffcoat, is one of a number of highly talented defensive players to keep an eye on this year at Texas.

32. Broncos: Scott Crichton/DE (Oregon St.)

via i.cdn.turner.com

The Broncos signed Shaun Phillips to address the void at pass rusher left by the Elvis Dumervil fax fiasco. However, Phillips is just a short-term solution and defensive end should still be taken care of early in the draft. Crichton is one of the top defensive players in the Pac-12 currently and would fit well into the Denver system.

Round 2:

33. Raiders: A.J. McCarron/QB (Alabama)

34. Jaguars: Lache Seastrunk/RB (Baylor)

35. Jets: Adrian Hubbard/OLB (Alabama)

36. Browns: Gabe Jackson/G (Mississippi St.)

37. Bills: Karlos Williams/S (Florida St.)

38. Titans: Antonio Richardson/OT (Tennessee)

39. Eagles: Quandre Diggs/CB (Texas)

40. Chargers: Will Sutton/DE (Arizona St.)

41. Cardinals: Brett Hundley/QB (UCLA)

42. Chiefs: Mike Evans/WR (Texas A&M)

43. Buccaneers: Aaron Murray/QB (Georgia)

44. Lions: David Yankey/OT (Stanford)

45. Cowboys: Daniel McCullers/DT (Tennessee)

46. Panthers: Colt Lyerla/TE (Oregon)

47. Dolphins: Zack Martin/OT (Notre Dame)

48. Steelers: Henry Anderson/DE (Stanford)

49. Vikings: Shayne Skov/ILB (Stanford)

50. Saints: Jason Verrett/CB (TCU)

51. Bears: Logan Thomas/QB (Virginia Tech)

52. Redskins: Redskins: Marcus Roberson/CB (Florida)

53. Colts: Ka'Deem Carey/RB (Arizona)

54. Bengals: Trey DePriest/LB (Alabama)

55. Giants: Ryan Shazier/OLB (Ohio St.)

56. 49ers: Bryan Stork/C (Florida St.)

57. Rams: Christian Jones/OLB (Florida St.)

58. Ravens: Deshazor Everett/CB (Texas A&M)

59. Texans: Kareem Martin/OLB (North Carolina)

60. Falcons: Cody Hoffman/WR (BYU)

61. Seahawks: Cyril Richardson/G/OT (Baylor)

62. Patriots: Ty Zimmerman/S (Kansas St.)

63. Packers: Craig Loston/S (LSU)

64. Broncos: A.J. Johnson/ILB (Tennessee)

Round 3:

65. Raiders: Charles Sims/RB (Houston)

66. Jaguars: James Gayle/DE (Virginia Tech)

67. Jets: Lamarcus Joyner/S (Florida St.)

68. Browns: Justin Gilbert/CB (Oklahoma St.)

69. Bills: Cassius Marsh/DT (UCLA)

70. 49ers (from Titans): Damian Swann/CB (Georgia)

71. Eagles: Andrew Jackson/ILB (Western Kentucky)

72. Chargers: Michael Dyer/RB (Arkansas Baptist)

73. Cardinals: Odell Beckham/WR (LSU)

74. Chiefs: Bo Wallace/QB (Ole Miss)

75. Jets (from Buccaneers): Seantrel Henderson/OT (Miami)

76. Lions: Randall Telfer/TE (USC)

77. Cowboys: Chaz Green/OT (Florida)

78. Panthers: Devin Street/WR (Pittsburgh)

79. Dolphins: Calvin Barnett/DT (Oklahoma St.)

80. Browns (from Steelers): Vinnie Sunseri/S (Alabama)

81. Vikings: Ra'Shede Hageman/DE (Minnesota)

82. Saints: Russell Bodine/C (North Carolina)

83. Bears: Ben Gardner/DE (Stanford)

84. Redskins: Josh Huff/WR (Oregon)

85. Colts: DeAndre Coleman/DE (Cal)

86. Bengals: Deion Belue/CB (Alabama)

87. Giants: Gabe Ikard/G (Oklahoma)

88. 49ers: Jonathan Brown/OLB (Illinois)

89. Rams: Jeoffrey Pagan/DT (Alabama)

90. Ravens: Dion Bailey/ILB (USC)

91. Texans: Silas Redd/RB (USC)

92. Falcons: Isaiah Crowell/RB (Alabama St.)

93. Vikings (from Seahawks): Eric Ebron/TE (North Carolina)

94. Patriots: Xavier Su'a-Filo/G (UCLA)

95. Packers: Jared Abbredaris/WR (Wisconsin)

96. Broncos: Carrington Byndom/CB (Texas)

Round 1:

1. Raiders: Jadeveon Clowney/DE (South Carolina)

via i2.cdn.turner.com

2. Jaguars: Teddy Bridgewater/QB (Louisville)

via fullscalesports.com

3. Jets: Marqise Lee/WR (USC)

via a.espncdn.com

4. Browns: Tajh Boyd/QB (Clemson)

via i2.cdn.turner.com

5. Bills: Jake Matthews/OT (Texas A&M)

via cdn1.sbnation.com

6. Titans: Johnny Manziel/QB (Texas A&M)

via a.espncdn.com

7. Eagles: Sammy Watkins/WR (Clemson)

via www.bloguin.com

8. Chargers: Taylor Lewan/OT (Michigan)

via binaryapi.ap.org

9. Cardinals: Cyrus Kouandjio/OT (Alabama)

via media.timesfreepress.com

10. Chiefs: Stephon Tuitt/DE (Notre Dame)

via espn.go.com

11. Buccaneers: Anthony Barr/OLB (UCLA)

via cdn2.sbnation.com

12. Lions: De'Anthony Thomas/RB/WR (Oregon)

via fishduck.com

13. Cowboys: Kyle Van Noy/OLB (BYU)

via deepshadesofblue.com

14. Panthers: Bradley Roby/CB (Ohio St.)

via img.bleacherreport.net

15. Dolphins: Loucheiz Purifoy/CB (Florida)

via cmsimg.courier-journal.com

16. Steelers: C.J. Mosley/ILB (Alabama)

via www1.pictures.zimbio.com

17. Vikings: David Fales/QB (San Jose St.)

via image.cdnllnwnl.xosnetwork.com

18. Saints: Trent Murphy/OLB (Stanford)

via cdn.bleacherreport.net

19. Bears: Austin Seferian-Jenkins/TE (Washington)

via i2.cdn.turner.com

20. Rams (from Redskins): Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix/S (Alabama)

via media.timesfreepress.com

21. Colts: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu/CB (Oregon)

via www.saturdayedge.com

22. Bengals: Ed Reynolds/S (Stanford)

via ww1.hdnux.com

23. Giants: Timmy Jernigan/DT (Florida St.)

via blogs.orlandosentinel.com

24. 49ers: Jordan Matthews/WR (Vanderbilt)

via www1.pictures.zimbio.com

25. Rams: James Hurst/OT (North Carolina)

via cdn.fansided.com

26. Ravens: Brandon Coleman/WR (Rutgers)

via www4.pictures.zimbio.com

27. Texans: Aaron Colvin/CB (Oklahoma)

via insider.espn.go.com

28. Falcons: Anthony Johnson/DT (LSU)

via bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com

29. Seahawks: Aaron Lynch/DE (South Florida)

via sitracking.files.wordpress.com

30. Patriots: Louis Nix III/DT (Notre Dame)

via cdn2.sbnation.com

31. Packers: Jackson Jeffcoat/OLB (Texas)

via www2.pictures.zimbio.com

32. Broncos: Scott Crichton/DE (Oregon St.)

via i.cdn.turner.com

Round 2:

33. Raiders: A.J. McCarron/QB (Alabama)

34. Jaguars: Lache Seastrunk/RB (Baylor)

35. Jets: Adrian Hubbard/OLB (Alabama)

36. Browns: Gabe Jackson/G (Mississippi St.)

37. Bills: Karlos Williams/S (Florida St.)

38. Titans: Antonio Richardson/OT (Tennessee)

39. Eagles: Quandre Diggs/CB (Texas)

40. Chargers: Will Sutton/DE (Arizona St.)

41. Cardinals: Brett Hundley/QB (UCLA)

42. Chiefs: Mike Evans/WR (Texas A&M)

43. Buccaneers: Aaron Murray/QB (Georgia)

44. Lions: David Yankey/OT (Stanford)

45. Cowboys: Daniel McCullers/DT (Tennessee)

46. Panthers: Colt Lyerla/TE (Oregon)

47. Dolphins: Zack Martin/OT (Notre Dame)

48. Steelers: Henry Anderson/DE (Stanford)

49. Vikings: Shayne Skov/ILB (Stanford)

50. Saints: Jason Verrett/CB (TCU)

51. Bears: Logan Thomas/QB (Virginia Tech)

52. Redskins: Redskins: Marcus Roberson/CB (Florida)

53. Colts: Ka'Deem Carey/RB (Arizona)

54. Bengals: Trey DePriest/LB (Alabama)

55. Giants: Ryan Shazier/OLB (Ohio St.)

56. 49ers: Bryan Stork/C (Florida St.)

57. Rams: Christian Jones/OLB (Florida St.)

58. Ravens: Deshazor Everett/CB (Texas A&M)

59. Texans: Kareem Martin/OLB (North Carolina)

60. Falcons: Cody Hoffman/WR (BYU)

61. Seahawks: Cyril Richardson/G/OT (Baylor)

62. Patriots: Ty Zimmerman/S (Kansas St.)

63. Packers: Craig Loston/S (LSU)

64. Broncos: A.J. Johnson/ILB (Tennessee)

Round 3:

65. Raiders: Charles Sims/RB (Houston)

66. Jaguars: James Gayle/DE (Virginia Tech)

67. Jets: Lamarcus Joyner/S (Florida St.)

68. Browns: Justin Gilbert/CB (Oklahoma St.)

69. Bills: Cassius Marsh/DT (UCLA)

70. 49ers (from Titans): Damian Swann/CB (Georgia)

71. Eagles: Andrew Jackson/ILB (Western Kentucky)

72. Chargers: Michael Dyer/RB (Arkansas Baptist)

73. Cardinals: Odell Beckham/WR (LSU)

74. Chiefs: Bo Wallace/QB (Ole Miss)

75. Jets (from Buccaneers): Seantrel Henderson/OT (Miami)

76. Lions: Randall Telfer/TE (USC)

77. Cowboys: Chaz Green/OT (Florida)

78. Panthers: Devin Street/WR (Pittsburgh)

79. Dolphins: Calvin Barnett/DT (Oklahoma St.)

80. Browns (from Steelers): Vinnie Sunseri/S (Alabama)

81. Vikings: Ra'Shede Hageman/DE (Minnesota)

82. Saints: Russell Bodine/C (North Carolina)

83. Bears: Ben Gardner/DE (Stanford)

84. Redskins: Josh Huff/WR (Oregon)

85. Colts: DeAndre Coleman/DE (Cal)

86. Bengals: Deion Belue/CB (Alabama)

87. Giants: Gabe Ikard/G (Oklahoma)

88. 49ers: Jonathan Brown/OLB (Illinois)

89. Rams: Jeoffrey Pagan/DT (Alabama)

90. Ravens: Dion Bailey/ILB (USC)

91. Texans: Silas Redd/RB (USC)

92. Falcons: Isaiah Crowell/RB (Alabama St.)

93. Vikings (from Seahawks): Eric Ebron/TE (North Carolina)

94. Patriots: Xavier Su'a-Filo/G (UCLA)

95. Packers: Jared Abbredaris/WR (Wisconsin)

96. Broncos: Carrington Byndom/CB (Texas)

Ex Ram Titus Young...well sort of.

2013-05-14T03:48:08Z

I just want to send out well wishes to Titus Young. Clearly he is mentally ill. I have some experience with that subject, and know how troubling it can be. I hope he can get the help he needs and turns his life around. His story doesn't need to end up in tragedy. Good luck Titus! You are in my prayers. Hopefully you will be running routes in the NFL again someday. God speed Titus.

Brian Quick vs Stedman Bailey

2013-05-13T12:51:52Z

After reading through a couple articles and comments on the WR corps, I thought it'd be interesting to get a more structured look at the two WR's side by side. Conventional wisdom says Chris Givens is a starting WR, Tavon Austin is a starting something, and Pettis is likely in some sort of rotation. Adding Cook and Kendricks to the mix makes things a bit more complicated but let's avoid that conversation and get to the comparison.

Brian Quick (2012 NFL draft - 2nd round, 33rd overall)

via cdn.bleacherreport.net

6'4" 220 lbs. 40 time- 4.55 sec, Bench-15 reps, Vert- 34 in.

Senior stats

71 rec. 1,096 yds (15.4 yd avg), 11 TD's

NFL stats

11 rec. 156 yds (14.2 yd avg.), 2 TD's

NFL.com draft profile Grade: 84.7

Quotes:

Good stuff: "Uncommon size", "hands catcher who has the catching radius and grip strength to bring down any ball thrown near his area", "great option in the short game"

Not so good: "As a deep threat, Quick hasn't shown the speed to be a go-to option here", "hasn't had much experience at a high level of football"

Walterfootball.com draft profile Rank: 9 (Proj. Rd.: 2-3)

Quotes:

Good stuff: "big receiver", "potential red-zone threat", "some that believe he has a first-round skill set"

Not so good: "needs to be more aggressive and attack the football", "could be an overrated prospect", "some that believe he has a first-round skill set, but that was not on display at the Senior Bowl"

College Highlight and NFL video

Stedman Bailey (2013 NFL draft - 3rd round, 92nd overall)

via www4.pictures.zimbio.com

5'10" 193 lbs. 40 time- 4.52 sec, Bench- 11 reps, Vert- 34.5 in.

Senior stats

114 rec. 1622 yds (14.2 yd avg), 25 TD's

NFL.com draft profile Grade: 79.0

Quotes:

Good stuff: "Extremely productive.", "tremendous physicality", "Excellent body control", "Soft hands"

Not so good: "Lacks ideal size", "not an overly explosive athlete"

Walterfootball.com draft profile Rank: 8 (Proj. Rd.: 2-3)

Quotes:

Good stuff: "one of the most productive receivers in the nation", "had five touchdowns against Baylor", "very fast", "excellent route runner who has great hands"

Not so good: "has enough size" (reaching here, hehe)

College Highlight

K29 Impressions

If you've encountered me in the comments section, you probably know that I think it's a long shot for Stedman to rank ahead of Quick on the depth chart this year. Quick was drafted earlier, has better measurables, had quite a bit of hype coming out of the FO when he got drafted, and he'll be in his second year in the Rams system. But Stedman has way more college production, was a Biletnikoff award finalist, played against higher level college competition, and has chemistry with Tavon Austin (might be worth something).

Stedman may be able to quickly get on the same page with Bradford, as Givens did (who may be considered a less polished draft prospect than Bailey), leaving Quick on the sidelines. Quick may show that his NFL experience and impressive skill set give him a leg up on a rookie. It's tough to tell before training camp but it's interesting to look at these rather disparate prospects and try to come to a conclusion on who will be the better WR this year. Should be an interesting training camp battle.

And before you comment, don't forget to turn that Monday frown the other way around :)

Brian Quick (2012 NFL draft - 2nd round, 33rd overall)

via cdn.bleacherreport.net

6'4" 220 lbs. 40 time- 4.55 sec, Bench-15 reps, Vert- 34 in.

Senior stats

71 rec. 1,096 yds (15.4 yd avg), 11 TD's

NFL stats

11 rec. 156 yds (14.2 yd avg.), 2 TD's

NFL.com draft profile Grade: 84.7

Quotes:

Good stuff: "Uncommon size", "hands catcher who has the catching radius and grip strength to bring down any ball thrown near his area", "great option in the short game"

Not so good: "As a deep threat, Quick hasn't shown the speed to be a go-to option here", "hasn't had much experience at a high level of football"

Walterfootball.com draft profile Rank: 9 (Proj. Rd.: 2-3)

Quotes:

Good stuff: "big receiver", "potential red-zone threat", "some that believe he has a first-round skill set"

Not so good: "needs to be more aggressive and attack the football", "could be an overrated prospect", "some that believe he has a first-round skill set, but that was not on display at the Senior Bowl"

College Highlight and NFL video

Stedman Bailey (2013 NFL draft - 3rd round, 92nd overall)

via www4.pictures.zimbio.com

5'10" 193 lbs. 40 time- 4.52 sec, Bench- 11 reps, Vert- 34.5 in.

Senior stats

114 rec. 1622 yds (14.2 yd avg), 25 TD's

NFL.com draft profile Grade: 79.0

Quotes:

Good stuff: "Extremely productive.", "tremendous physicality", "Excellent body control", "Soft hands"

Not so good: "Lacks ideal size", "not an overly explosive athlete"

Walterfootball.com draft profile Rank: 8 (Proj. Rd.: 2-3)

Quotes:

Good stuff: "one of the most productive receivers in the nation", "had five touchdowns against Baylor", "very fast", "excellent route runner who has great hands"

Not so good: "has enough size" (reaching here, hehe)

College Highlight

K29 Impressions

And before you comment, don't forget to turn that Monday frown the other way around :)

Poll

Who will have the better 2013 season?

Mock MADDEN roster...Kinda....

2013-05-13T01:09:06Z

I'm sure some TSTers are excited as I for the next madden to have all our guys from last year and this past draft in the game to finally match someone who picks obvious teams online. Here are just a few things I'm looking forward too.

It will be great to have a decent receiver group that should be solid 70's, with givens and austin in the 80's this will allow alot of things to open up pending on your style of play.

Big ? mark all of us are thinking how are we going to make up for not having Steven Jackson in the backfield? what are the new ratings for the backs going to be? I for one have been thinking about putting Tavon Austin at RB since i play mostly in shotgun and like screens and throwing to the flats (yes i'm that kind of guy). Overall this is going to be a bitter sweet thing, EA sports for some reason thought SJAX was a sloth, getting the edge was impossible but on the bright side he mostly brushed off the first tackler on all plays.

Sam Bradford his rating shouldn't change much maybe move up 1 or 2 and regardless how you feel about Sam I have no problem with him in Madden he gets my throws there and if i need him to pick up 2 or 3 yards on his feet he gets it. He is solid all around in the game and fits most style's of user play.

Tight end is interesting I don't run the ball as much as madden suggests I wish he would just leave me alone I know what I'm doing gaw. But anyway some people I know like to put there TE's as receivers for greater blocking which might work well for you with Jared Cook kind of a win win with him he will defiantly be utilized in anyone's game plan. Lance Kendricks should move up a rating or 2 I like him at FB sometimes since i rarely run a 2 TE set but he should be a solid check down man.

offensive line should be the BIGGEST upgrade over maddens of yor it takes awhile before madden takes former pro bowlers ratings down so Scott Wells should still be a great center, Jake Long is Jake Long, Saffold is above average as they come, and we let go of bad dahl so good dahl should look even better. LG i'm thinking will be someone with a rating of 73-79 which will be most likely B Jones. Madden isn't real life but it tries it's damn best to get close and offensive line MATTERS in both.

D E F E N S E

No you are not drunk I spaced them like that for some reason? You probably haven't read this far my Grammar and sentence structure tends to give the big name editors on TST an eye sore like a 7th grader writing an essay in red pen.

Defensive line- I mostly am Quinn I let the cpu do coverage duties and i use Quinn to disrupt screens and BS slant routes and this unit will get after the QB hell the 3 man rush can get it done if you take away the guy the user is staring at.

Line Backers- will be an upgrade Ogletree should be an 80 I think that's pretty fair and he can be utilized a lot for one you can stay in the base 4-3 make the front look mean and run stoppy yet have a solid coverage guy in him to pick up most tight ends and Rb's. Jl55 keep doin what you do and Jolan you sir are getting a madden rating raise for what that is worth to you.

Corner backs- Finnegan will stay around his current rating and Janoris will get bumped up so we should be able to do man coverage plays pretty effectively and you can blitz without hesitation for the most part. That doesn't mean you can just engage eight blitz.... person who just turned the ball over and is pissed off... Depth is also pretty well here we should have a good dime look this year too.

Safety.... I kept it down at the bottom to make you read this far I'm a terrible person. But I just don't know what to expect, in reality i'm not too concerned but in madden I'm a bit scared. TJ mcdonald will be a 76-77 he just screams that in my head and I will take it and make it work but FS like who? I'm thinking about trying out TRU at the spot and see how it goes. I think before the first roster update if we have 2 safety's above 75 we should be alright against the competition. Just don't think a hit stick will work or take to many chances with them swat the ball and be happy to win a down.

I'm really excited hearing what you guys think. Oh mini games EA add that again pass attack and run attack are great for when you have guests over and don't feel like sitting around waiting to play.

It will be great to have a decent receiver group that should be solid 70's, with givens and austin in the 80's this will allow alot of things to open up pending on your style of play.

D E F E N S E

I'm really excited hearing what you guys think. Oh mini games EA add that again pass attack and run attack are great for when you have guests over and don't feel like sitting around waiting to play.

Podcast with Smoking Musket

2013-05-11T21:27:07Z

Hey guys, here's a podcast I recorded about two weeks ago with the editor of smokingmusket.com (SB Nation's WVU site), talking about Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. I recorded today with one of the editors of dawgsports.com (Georgia), which should be up on Monday. I've scheduled interviews with guys from conquestchronicles.com (USC), rollbamaroll.com (Alabama), and anchorofgold.com (Vanderbilt). If you like this one and are interested in the others, you can subscribe to the podcast feed here.

Rams New Look Devastating Defense

2013-05-11T21:13:06Z

The RAMS 2013 draft & UDFA signings might go down as the best draft yet... The defensive unit is going to be a game changer... The RAMS already had the best defensive line and rotation in the NFL... They now have the best linebacker trio with JL on the inside and Ogletree and Armstrong on the outside. Yes, Armstrong is a game changer and will redefine the WIL position in the NFL. The corners were already a strength... However, Davis and TJ at safeties takes them to the next level. We just may see more than a few rooks step in from day one and provide the RAMS with the youngest and best defensive unit in the NFL. It is going to be fun to watch this innovative defensive unit next year... I just can't wait till preseason starts...

2013

Fantastic Article by Steven Jackson

2013-05-09T21:14:15Z

http://www.sj39.com/news/moving-on-and-moving-in/2013/05/08

Being in St. Louis while not being a member of the Rams for the first time has been strange.

I always knew that this day would come, that one day, I would retire or play for another team. But it has been challenging to hear people talk about the organization that I'd been a part of for nine years.

There are young players that I consider little brothers, and I have a vested interest in them having successful careers for themselves, but I'm not a part of that now. That's been an adjustment. Although a business decision has been made, that doesn't take away from me wanting the best for them or even the friendships that we had.

There are so many guys -- Sam Bradford, Chris Long, Daryl Richardson, William Hayes, the list goes on -- that I keep in contact with there. We talk, but we don't necessarily talk football. Now our conversations are about overall life. Sam has become a traveler now, so we talk about destinations, families and our personal lives more.

A lot of my conversations with him have been about transition of leadership. That role is being fully handed over to him now that I'm out of the locker room. Through those conversations, I think maybe we have a closer relationship as friends than ever. I will continue to watch and follow those guys and come Week 2, I'll have to battle them.

http://www.sj39.com/news/moving-on-and-moving-in/2013/05/08

Being in St. Louis while not being a member of the Rams for the first time has been strange.

I always knew that this day would come, that one day, I would retire or play for another team. But it has been challenging to hear people talk about the organization that I'd been a part of for nine years.

There are young players that I consider little brothers, and I have a vested interest in them having successful careers for themselves, but I'm not a part of that now. That's been an adjustment. Although a business decision has been made, that doesn't take away from me wanting the best for them or even the friendships that we had.

There are so many guys -- Sam Bradford, Chris Long, Daryl Richardson, William Hayes, the list goes on -- that I keep in contact with there. We talk, but we don't necessarily talk football. Now our conversations are about overall life. Sam has become a traveler now, so we talk about destinations, families and our personal lives more.

A lot of my conversations with him have been about transition of leadership. That role is being fully handed over to him now that I'm out of the locker room. Through those conversations, I think maybe we have a closer relationship as friends than ever. I will continue to watch and follow those guys and come Week 2, I'll have to battle them.

The Safety Quandary....

2013-05-08T18:34:51Z

There are so many different ways our 2 starting safety jobs could go this year, and now I will give a hybrid option, most likely risk option, then my option. Lets kick it off.

Hybrid Option:
The two starting safeties could end up being T.J. McDonald and Ray Ray Armstrong. Even though the team said Ray Ray will be a linebacker. Let me explain before you go off on me haha. Just think this would be a new situation that no offensive coordinators have dealt with. Every other play they could switch 1 in the box the other on the TE or in center field. Neither have horrible cover skills, they are both incredibly physical, and really athletic. Just ponder with the thought.

Most Likely Option:
Darian Stewart and TJ McDonald, the coaches really like Stewart. He has shown the ability to start, but has some injury issues recently.

My Option:

TJ McDonald and Trumaine Johnson. That would in my opinion give us an elite secondary, Johnson has length and has strength that goes unnoticed. If he could make the move to safety ,which I think wouldn't be to hard for him, he would be our center fielder. Then that leaves TJ for our in the box safety.

via media.thenewstribune.com

via www4.pictures.zimbio.com

via pictures.replayphotos.com

via a.espncdn.com

What do you think? Any way it's gonna be better than last years safeties!!!!

via media.thenewstribune.com

via www4.pictures.zimbio.com

via pictures.replayphotos.com

via a.espncdn.com

What do you think? Any way it's gonna be better than last years safeties!!!!

Poll

Which set of starters do you prefer?

Why We Should All Stop Worrying About Sam Bradford

2013-05-08T17:05:54Z

*** Contains serious Oklahoma Sooner homerness ***

Hey Folks, i've lurked around TST for some time now, but I've never really written anything about the team and with all the questions about this being a "make or break" year for Sam, I wanted to write about my favorite player, but first a story.

In the fall of 2008 I was a sophomore in high school and I never really followed sports, but early on in the college football season my dad forced me to sit down and watch his Oklahoma Sooners. It just so happened that this game was against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and a pretty serious rivalry existed between the two teams. Sam threw three touchdown passes and led the team to a 35-0 advantage, in the first quarter. This started a run of scoring that has never been equalled in a five game span with 5 straight 60+ point games. I understand that some of you might be rolling your eyes and saying "well it was just college", and that is a fair point to make, and i'm not suggesting that he will ever put something like that together in the NFL, but I knew right then and there this guy was something special.

Jumping ahead a bit into 2009, the expectations around the sooners team were skyrocketing, and it seemed like Oklahoma would be in a prime position to push for a national title.Then Sam the Man, THE heisman trophy winner, the guy who was pretty much invincible in my eyes, got sacked that fateful day against texas when he was sacked for the last time in college. I remember hearing the draft pundits critiscing his decision to stay for his junior year, everyone around the country was second guessing him, and all I could say was "huh?". Let me elaborate.

When Sam and the Sooner's got to the national title game in 08' and lost, it would have been more than reasonable for sam to leave early for the draft. He had won a Heisman, set offensive records and had one of the best touchdown to interception ratios in the history of college football (seriously, he finished his career with 88 td and 16 int). However, he came back, and this is pure speculation on my part, but I think he is the fiercest competitor on the rams, and maybe in the nfc west. He risked injury and a helluva lot of money to come back to win a title because he failed in that title game (again speculation on my part).

During the 2010 draft process I don't think i've ever seen so many pundits completely reverse what they thought of a prospect after Sam had gotten reconstructive surgery on his shoulder. The guy had his shoulder smashed into bits and came back with a stronger arm. For as long as i've watched this guy play, when he fails he comes back better. I don't need to explain to ram's fans whats happened since he joined the team. I wont make excuses for him, he has been an average quarterback at best in his NFL career. But when I remember how perfect those passes he threw to Jermaine Greshman, Juaqin Iglesias and Demarco Murray were, and how completely in command of an offense that didnt huddle. I can't help but have blind faith that he will someday be one of the greatest quarterbacks to play this game.

I suppose you could call me a bandwagon fan, and yeah, I am. I love Sam Bradford, but I also have come to love the rams quite a bit. I've read about the fearsome foursome, I've watched highlights of the GSOT, and watched the america's game for the 1999 superbowl win so many times I'm pretty sure i could write down every spoken word in that episode. I don't know what the future holds for this team, but I am 100% confident that Sam Bradford is going to come out slinging this year, give his absolute best and shut up every single person who has doubted him. For some reason I keep coming back to that 08' season, but instead of crimson and cream Sam has got two mean ass fucking horns on his helmet and instead of Gresham, Iglesias and Murray, its going to be Austin, Givens and Quick dancing in the endzone. While some defensive back shakes his head, wondering "How do we defend these guys?"

Let me close by saying I don't expect many people to share my fanatical adoration of this guy, I don't expect people to share my views on what his ceiling as a QB is, but if you don't believe that with the right cast this guy could take the NFL by storm, go look at some of those highlight videos of that 08' offense. I started following sports because of what he did that year and with the weapons we have now, the possibilities are pretty damn tantalizing.

Go Rams ands thanks for reading!

*** Contains serious Oklahoma Sooner homerness ***

Go Rams ands thanks for reading!