St. Louis Rams Offseason (2007) (1 Viewer)

this will include some observations & commentary about last year, state of the team currently & expected/possible direction leading into next season... please pitch in with thoughts & additional news as they occur, homers & non-homers alike... i'll try & track this & keep it up to date until the FBG off-season team reports are submitted, at which point this will no longer be needed...

HC linehan looks like he could be a keeper... he improved the teams record to 8-8... in some ways it was a frustrating season in that the offense started to look pretty good once it got cranked up, but the defense faltered badly (more on that later)... all in all, though, this was expected to be a retooling year, if not a massive rebuild, & with a new (rookie) HC & implementation of an unfamiliar system after having martz as OC/HC for over half a decade (& a lot of turnover in personnel on defense & new DC as well), they probably did about what should have been expected...

bulger played in all 16 games for the first time in his career, & linehan's attention & the importance he attaches to pass protection within the scheme compared to martz paid immediate dividends... though he started the season slowly & the team as a whole continues to exhibit a disturbing trend of starting games slowly (holt also had knee injury down the stretch & appeared to be slowed), he often looked very good after getting acclimated (INTs greatly reduced compared to previous seasons/martz era)... the word is from STL insiders that linehan was very pleased with bulger, appreciates how his strengths (toughness, mental quickness & decisiveness, accuracy, etc) can be an assett within the scheme/system, & the team would like to lock him up to a long term contract (after doing his second contract, a medium range extension done a few years ago that protected both sides, in event that bulger either became a superstar or bombed, at a time when his future was a bit more shrouded in uncertainty, & he was less known & proven of a commodity)...

holt is having the knee cleaned up in the offseason & it isn't thought to be serious or involved surgery... he should return as strong as ever, is only about 30, 06 was i think first season since rookie year he didn't get 1,300+ yards, is still one of the best WRs & skill position talents in the NFL at any position, & looks to be well on his way towards a HoF career... he takes good care of himself & doesn't take a lot of big shots, & if the knee condition isn't chronic & degenerative, he should be able to play at a high level well into his mid-thirties, ala marvin harrison...

bruce is the last active ram legacy to los angeles... he played more like a talented rookie than a grizzled vet on his last legs... he can't keep this up forever, but based on how well he is holding up (like holt he is ultra-savvy & has great field vision & awareness & isn't the recipient of too many kill shots), he could keep this up for another year or two, maybe longer...

partly because bruce still remains entrenched, & kevin curtis may be able to get more on the open market than the rams may want to part with (for a role player), many expect him to move on this season... he is blazing fast & has had his moments, & at times was viewed a shoo in to be heir apparent to bruce, but he has some limitations, & is more of a one-dimensional deep threat, isn't a strong inside presence & isn't known as a devastating blocker... WR shaun mcdonald generally underwhelmed even for martz, where he may have been a better fit... it wouldn't be a surprise if STL loses one or both of these WRs to add some size at the position, whether through free agency or the draft...

TE was a neglected position under martz, but linehan wasn't shy about using wiggins in MIN & mcmichael in MIA... klopfenstein wasn't used much in his rookie season, but that should change at some point for the talented second rounder... he could have the physical skills, once he matures physically a little more & adjusts more fully to the speed of the NFL, to be a poor man's jason witten or heath miller... dynasty owners probably weren't thrilled when they heard fellow rookie byrd was charged with stabbing somebody in the face with a broken bar bottle in a bar fight... he was inactive a lot during the season, & reportedly has a lot of work to do on his blocking to see the field... he flashed amazing athleticism, agility, hand eye coordination, body control & hands for a big man at USC, & if he reached his potential, the rams could have a devestating two TE set... more likely, if byrd doesn't set the world on fire & continues to underachieve as a pro, the rams would be very pleased if even one of their two TEs, namely klopfenstein, are able to become a solid contributor... the nice thing about having one or both of them pan out is that it would add a dimension to their passing attack long absent due to martz's philospophical neglect of the position... it could align well with long-standing problems plaguing their red zone offense...

steven jackson has become one of the top few RBs in the league... he overcame the shadow of faulk to finally have the breakout season that was expected of him... a lot of teams are probably kicking themselves for letting him slide in the 04 season... he is a nasty, futuristic combination of size, strength, speed (reportedly ran 10.6 as a prep but is now up to LB-like 230+ lbs) & moves, & is a load for DBs in the open field... many suspected he had the talent to uncork a 1,500 yard type rushing season, but leading all NFL RBs with about 90 receptions was a pleasant surprise on the bonus plan...

factoring in that the rams were forced to go with three young new starters at three interior OL position, the rams probably did well to finish .500 (not to mention pace missing good chunk of the season with torn tricep injury)... there did seem to be some positives looking to next season... incognito played OC & OG, finishing season at later position, & the rams are said to view guard as his natural position... he earned some rave reviews from dr Z for his motor, tenacity, toughness & to-the-whistle intensity... he was just a second year player but effectively a rookie, as he was IRed in 05 with a broken knee cap... rookie stetterstrom looks like a keeper at the other OG position, & youngster brett romberg was a revelation at center... it is very possible those three are the starting interior OL in 07... pace is expected to return in 07, but i'm not sure what condition he will be in for mini-camps & the like... or even if it could linger into pre & regular season... though not as good as he used to be, he is still one of the top handful of LTs in the league & can still play at a very high level... second year RT barron makes WAY too many boneheaded & preventable drive killing penalties, but his potential is compelling if the light comes on for him & he plays with more fire & urgency...

depending on the defense (to follow), STL seems to have the potential to improve on that 8-8 record & make a push towards the playoffs, in what might be one of the weaker divisions in the NFL... that said, it looks like ARI & SF may also be teams on the ascent...

* i'll give my thoughts on the draft soon...

DEFENSE -

DL - leonard little continues to be the rams best defender, and among the most dangerous DEs in the game... despite being in his thirties, his games continues to defy the ravages of age... he looks like he could play at a high level for a few more years... while he may not have exactly the electric burst & suddenness he had in his prime (former collegiate LB with tennessee), he is still one of the quickest edge rushers in the business... they would like to get him some help, after getting virtually none last season... the RDE position only had 2 sacks all season... thats not enough, & lack of pressure on the QB was a burden on the rest of the D, and made it hard to get off the field on third down... DE anthony hargrove inexplicably went AWOL in-season, which didn't impress the new coaching staff, & he was quickly traded to BUF in the wake of that career blunder... second day rookie victor adeyanju played like a rookie for the most part... he is big & stout for a DE & would occasionally flash good speed & movement skills for his size, but may always be better against the run... its unclear if he has what it takes to be a difference maker, or even an effective long term starter... STL struck quickly in free agency, signing ex-DET DE james hall... supposedly lions HC marinelli didn't prioritize him because he was viewed as a malcontent, but the rams were very happy to obtain a veteran presence that is a solid two way DE with pass rush & run stuffing ability (a rare commodity), reversing the exodus of DL talent in recent years (whether in FA, like grant wistrom & bryce fisher in consecutive years, & due to blown picks, like damione lewis & "big grease" pickett)... for a relatively accomplished vet at a coveted & difficult to fill position, he came cheaply at modest cost of a fifth rounder... this was a commendable pre-emptive move by rams front office & coaching staff to fill a massive hole at a position without a lot of good options in FA (the best DEs like freeney, charles grant & justin smith, never making it to market)... DT la'roi glover was part of a mixed 06 FA class... in his prime, he was one of the top sack artists for an interior DL in league history, but he is past his prime, & in retrospect it is questionable whether his impact on the overall defense was in line with the cost of his contract... he is very smart, a good locker room presence & influence in terms of his professionalism... other starter jimmy kennedy increasingly looks like a bust... he isn't very stout at the POA, & is too ponderous to get to the QB, but other than that he has a lot going for him... a competent two-gap, run stuffing DT is thought to be high on the team's off-season wish list (whether from FA or draft)...

to be cont...

Very nice. Safe to assume Marshall is going to be asked to retire?

he recently said he would like to come back but not sure yet if his knee/s would allow it... it is unclear as to his standing with team, but my understanding is linehan encouraged him to return in 06 if he had been able... he also said he would only return to the rams... even if he does come back, it won't impact on jackson much anymore... my guess is his knees are shot (like curtis martin) & he is done for good, but i wouldn't be stunned if he returned for another season... he is very smart, like a coach on the field, and just his presence would be an asset to the team, not a distraction, imo...

What do you think the Rams will do if Curtis leaves? Is there anybody else seriously competing for WR3? (McDonald, Looker, taxi squad?) Are Curtis and McDonald both UFAs?

why would faulk retire? for some reason (i'm pretty sure about this) the rams paid him like 2 million this year to do nothing. my conspiracy theory on this is that Linehan didn't want to come in as a new coach and cut faulk, fearing a fan backlash. i wish marshall would do the team a favor and retire. i fear that he is looking for a way for the rams to shell out a couple more million this year while he's working at the nfl network. in my opinion, marshall was done about 3 years ago.

anyway. nice thread. i'm a homer and i thought your opening post was very insightful. i really don't have much to add as you obviously know a lot more about this subject than i. shamefully, i'm a ff player first and a rams fan second.

as far as the draft goes:

i think the rams will probably emphasize defense in the draft, although i think a 'taking the best player available' scenario is very likely. barring injury, i don't think they'll use a high pick on a qb or a rb anytime soon. probably not a te either since they drafted two relatively early last year (as long as they remain in the fold).

it was strange this year when they had numerous injuries to ol starters and then the replacements came in and seemed to play surprisingly well. i wonder if mccollum and timmerman are just getting too old and worn out. their ol seems like it could be an asset but i don't think it is a priority in the draft. i'm sure they'd jump on someone that fell to them that they couldn't pass up early in the draft or i'd expect them to pick up one or two ol men somewhere in the draft for depth.

at some point in the next couple years, they are going to have to make some kind of future plans at wr. i think a lot depends on whether they re-sign curtis or not but i'm not convinced that he is the best solution as an everydown wr2 in the nfl. bruce can't have too many years left and holt isn't exactly young either. i could see them drafting a reciever that they really liked to eventually supplant bruce. it actually seems like a good idea to me because they could bring him along slowly while bruce is still playing at a pretty high level and then he'd hopefully be up to speed in his second or third year but i have no idea who this player could be.

now to the defense. i would think this is where they could use the best player available practice because i would think that they could use they help/upgrade at any position. i've heard a lot of people say that they need to get bigger and tougher which might sacrifice some speed. i wonder if it would be more effective to get those types of players through free agency or trades than through the draft. for some reason i'm thinking most rookies are trying to learn the game and not screw up more than being an enforcer or a physical presence. or that most rookies have the speed where as the veterans might have slowed a little but have the technique and the fully matured bodies. i really don't know if there is anything to these ideas. i just came up with them and am throwing them out there. i also know that it is difficult to make trades in the nfl and there doesn't seem to be a lot of viable free agents out there so maybe most teams are forced to depend on the draft anyway.

i actualy don't pay that much attention to the rams defense but i know that leonard little is a stud. i think witherspoon is also very good but maybe a little undersized at mlb. maybe better suited to play olb. i also like tye hill. he's only 5'9" or something but i think he has the ability to 'play fast'. (an above average ability to stop/start, change directions at full speed, have great acceleration, etc.) i think he has the physical tools to be great and is just a matter of how well he learns the game, how good his insincts are, and how much help he can get from the defense as a whole to determine how good he gets.

i apologize to anyone that regrets reading this post.

sizzer55 said:

why would faulk retire? for some reason (i'm pretty sure about this) the rams paid him like 2 million this year to do nothing. my conspiracy theory on this is that Linehan didn't want to come in as a new coach and cut faulk, fearing a fan backlash. i wish marshall would do the team a favor and retire. i fear that he is looking for a way for the rams to shell out a couple more million this year while he's working at the nfl network. in my opinion, marshall was done about 3 years ago.anyway. nice thread. i'm a homer and i thought your opening post was very insightful. i really don't have much to add as you obviously know a lot more about this subject than i. shamefully, i'm a ff player first and a rams fan second. as far as the draft goes:i think the rams will probably emphasize defense in the draft, although i think a 'taking the best player available' scenario is very likely. barring injury, i don't think they'll use a high pick on a qb or a rb anytime soon. probably not a te either since they drafted two relatively early last year (as long as they remain in the fold). it was strange this year when they had numerous injuries to ol starters and then the replacements came in and seemed to play surprisingly well. i wonder if mccollum and timmerman are just getting too old and worn out. their ol seems like it could be an asset but i don't think it is a priority in the draft. i'm sure they'd jump on someone that fell to them that they couldn't pass up early in the draft or i'd expect them to pick up one or two ol men somewhere in the draft for depth. at some point in the next couple years, they are going to have to make some kind of future plans at wr. i think a lot depends on whether they re-sign curtis or not but i'm not convinced that he is the best solution as an everydown wr2 in the nfl. bruce can't have too many years left and holt isn't exactly young either. i could see them drafting a reciever that they really liked to eventually supplant bruce. it actually seems like a good idea to me because they could bring him along slowly while bruce is still playing at a pretty high level and then he'd hopefully be up to speed in his second or third year but i have no idea who this player could be. now to the defense. i would think this is where they could use the best player available practice because i would think that they could use they help/upgrade at any position. i've heard a lot of people say that they need to get bigger and tougher which might sacrifice some speed. i wonder if it would be more effective to get those types of players through free agency or trades than through the draft. for some reason i'm thinking most rookies are trying to learn the game and not screw up more than being an enforcer or a physical presence. or that most rookies have the speed where as the veterans might have slowed a little but have the technique and the fully matured bodies. i really don't know if there is anything to these ideas. i just came up with them and am throwing them out there. i also know that it is difficult to make trades in the nfl and there doesn't seem to be a lot of viable free agents out there so maybe most teams are forced to depend on the draft anyway. i actualy don't pay that much attention to the rams defense but i know that leonard little is a stud. i think witherspoon is also very good but maybe a little undersized at mlb. maybe better suited to play olb. i also like tye hill. he's only 5'9" or something but i think he has the ability to 'play fast'. (an above average ability to stop/start, change directions at full speed, have great acceleration, etc.) i think he has the physical tools to be great and is just a matter of how well he learns the game, how good his insincts are, and how much help he can get from the defense as a whole to determine how good he gets. i apologize to anyone that regrets reading this post.

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no need to apologize... thanx for contributing...i'll add some thoughts on your post & the curtis question shortly, as well as look at rams defense & draft...

i actualy don't pay that much attention to the rams defense but i know that leonard little is a stud. i think witherspoon is also very good but maybe a little undersized at mlb. maybe better suited to play olb.

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It sounds like Haslett is intent on keeping Witherspoon in the middle - if so, a DT that can clog up the middle should be a priority in the offseason.But they're too low in the draft order to get Branch and there's no one else rated highly that seems to fit that description.

i'll add some thoughts on your post & the curtis question shortly, as well as look at rams defense & draft...

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bump.

Any DTs that are FA or might get cut? I'd sure like them to fill that hole that way instead of another 1st rounder. Maybe they should have kept Pickett???

I for one would love to see a game changing return man on this roster. Ted Ginn at 13..not sure about that but who else fits the return mold that can be had 3rd or 4th round?

I was very please with the team last year asid of course from the D at times. I REALLY like the apparent emergence of OJ Atogwe as a ballhawk at the FS position...seems like he was always around big plays. Also Tye Hill came along real nice and he'll be a staple at CB1 for the rams for several years.

Can't wait to see what shakes down in the draft and FA

Great thread Bob Magaw...lets keep it going

Driver said:

What do you think the Rams will do if Curtis leaves? Is there anybody else seriously competing for WR3? (McDonald, Looker, taxi squad?) Are Curtis and McDonald both UFAs?

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that is a good question... its very possible if curtis & mcdonald are not re-signed (my expectation, & i think that of many other rams observers), the WR3 in 07 is not currently on the roster... they could address this in draft or, more likely free agency (& of course, both is an option)...it can be tough for rookies to make an impact right away at WR position, so it would make sense to at least get some help from free agency... the rams are in good salary cap position as far as that goes, & imo are viewed as an up 'n coming team, so it could be attractive & desireable destination...i don't think they would get in a bidding war for top WR from free agent class of 07 stallworth, & they don't need that with holt & bruce... though the latter is getting up there, so at some point they may have to think hard about spending a pick (maybe relatively high one - just not sure this is year with so much help being needed on defense) on the position, & grooming a replacement for ageless bruce...lets not forget, even if they don't procure a stellar WR3 option this year through draft/free agency, they do have some other options besides holt/bruce... jackson not only led all RBs in receptions (90), but most WRs & i think was around top 5 in NFL at any position... also, i think klopfenstein will be worked into the sytem increasingly in 07 & future seasons... he is getting stronger & learning to block at pro level, but he is a fairly gifted pass catcher & linehan has too much recent history of using the position extensively (complete opposite of martz) to not think it won't happen again... soon...if byrd pans out, that could be a devastating & hard to stop two TE set...

Bob_Magaw said:

i don't think they would get in a bidding war for top WR from free agent class of 07 stallworth, & they don't need that with holt & bruce... though the latter is getting up there, so at some point they may have to think hard about spending a pick (maybe relatively high one - just not sure this is year with so much help being needed on defense) on the position, & grooming a replacement for ageless bruce...

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With all the juniors coming out there might be some good bargains to be had this year though...

msommer said:

Bob_Magaw said:

i don't think they would get in a bidding war for top WR from free agent class of 07 stallworth, & they don't need that with holt & bruce... though the latter is getting up there, so at some point they may have to think hard about spending a pick (maybe relatively high one - just not sure this is year with so much help being needed on defense) on the position, & grooming a replacement for ageless bruce...

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With all the juniors coming out there might be some good bargains to be had this year though...

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great point. it's just speculation, but Jim thomas mentions the same thing:

Linehan noted that the influx of juniors has added pizzazz to the wide receiver class. Four of who generally are considered the top five wide receivers are players who are turning pro early: Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech; Dwayne Jarrett of Southern California; Ted Ginn Jr. of Ohio State; and Sidney Rice of South Carolina.

It's not outside the realm of possibility that the Rams will take a wide receiver at No. 13 overall — particularly if free agent Kevin Curtis signs elsewhere and the Rams fill more pressing needs at defensive end and nose tackle in free agency before the draft.

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Ginn at #13 sounds good to me as long as they address D in free agency...man he'd be fun to watch

bump (started defense - edited/added to end of post #1)...

draft thoughts to follow...

Drew Bennett and Randy McMichael are two big additions to the offense. Bennett gives the Rams their first BIG target at WR since I can remember, as the trademark Rams WR usually is a 5'10 smurf who streaks down the field. McMichael gives the Rams a bonafide pass-catching TE, something I also can't remember them having since they came to the Loo. Both will help out in the red zone.

I also read they signed Travis Minor. Hopefully, they get someone a little better in FA or the draft because having your fallback option be Travis Minor means you're screwed if S-Jax goes down.

BJ Sander will replace Matt Turk at punter. Which has as much to do with your fantasy team as a goat fight. Guess he'll have to show me he can play because he hasn't shown much at all.

What is the scoop on this Todd Johnson cat? I thought Atogwe and Chavous played very well last year. Atogwe a little erratic but you could see alot of promise and ball hawk skills. I assume he'll be depth and special teams. I sure hope Patrick Willis is there at 13

TheWick said:

What is the scoop on this Todd Johnson cat? I thought Atogwe and Chavous played very well last year. Atogwe a little erratic but you could see alot of promise and ball hawk skills. I assume he'll be depth and special teams. I sure hope Patrick Willis is there at 13

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Johnson's in there to challenge Jerome Carter for a backup DB spot. He's supposed to be exceptional on special teams, which is why he'll probably win the roster spot.I'm hoping for either Willis or Okoye at 13. Both would make a huge impact to the defense. Willis would be great because he can put Witherspoon to his natural OLB position. But you can't deny Okoye's upside.

MP...

The Draft -

with the additions of drew bennett & randy mcmichael in free agency (as well as james hall on defense), the probable direction the rams will take have started to become a little clearer...

the team is looking pretty stacked on offense... its very unlikely a high pick (first two rounds) would be used on a QB, RB, WR or TE... STL used 1st round picks on orlando pace & alex barron, but otherwise haven't spent a lot of high picks on interior OL in recent years... STL seems happy with 06 first year starters incognito, stetterstrom & romberg, but like virtually all teams, they could use some OL depth...

maybe if a guy like tony ugoh was hanging around in the mid-second, they might look at him, to have a better third OT than has been in the roster in a few seasons...

one key behind the scenes addition that i'm looking forward to is tony softli, formerly a high level personnel executive with CAR, who replaces charley armey... front office-types shaw & zygmunt also have input, & ex-HC mike martz supposedly used to have final authority on draft picks, but i'm not sure if linehan wield that kind of juice in the war room... softli is an extremely bright individual, & combined different former career paths & vectors (scouting & IT) to help conceive & build a proprietary scouting database that played a role in some productive drafts in CAR (first rounders have included julius peppers, jordan gross, chris gamble, thomas davis & deangelo williams... not too many whiffs there)...

but i digressed... all signs point to reloading on defense, now that a strength has been made even stronger in the "off"-season... when your defense is as bad as STL was last season, its easy to see how they could use help literally at every level of the stop unit... to break it down further...

DL - ex-lion FA hall filled a pressing need for a bookend DE opposite leonard little... if a great DE prospect fell to their pick at #13, & the opportunity presented itself in a BPA sense, they might have to think hard about it (hall isn't young & there are some good DEs in the draft... adams won't drop, & probably not anderson, but carriker might be there, if he is good fit as 4-3 DE, & charles johnson could be there as well)...

all things being equal, a better intersection of BPA with team need might be a stud DT... branch is not supposed to be there, & okoye's stock has shot up, so that is looking increasingly iffy that he would drop to them... it is unclear if there are any other elite interior DL that would interest them... a DT is critically important with jimmy kennedy looking like a bust, & la'roi glover nearing the end of the line... better push up the middle would help the DEs in pass rush, & being stouter, tougher & more physical in the middle would help the LBs in run support...

at LB, will witherspoon was signed to a blockbuster contract from the panthers & switched from WLB to MLB (he had played some MLB before, in college & in his rookie season in CAR)... he was as good as advertised, with outstanding speed, athleticism, instincts, pursuit ability, open field tackling prowess, as well as being a leader & high character locker room presence with great work ethic... he not a classic stack & shed LB capable of blowing up FBs & pulling guards in the hole, & if an athletic, big body gets into him he can be moved... he is so quick that he can run around blocks at times, but given other holes in the overall defense at DL & secondary level, that can create at times gaping holes that can be exploited in the run game... because some scouts think WLB is his best position (it might be, but he also seems to have some mike peterson in him, who made an effortless segueway from WLB to MLB going from IND to JAX), some think they might take more of a pure MLB-type like patrick willis & install him at MLB, shunting spoon to OLB... linehan & haslett deny this is the plans... that could be taken at face value or as disinformation so another team doesn't leap over them to snare their target (if willis is even there... some mocks have him off the board by that point)... its unclear if their are any other LBs that would be good value there (timmons?)... if they stay pat, pisa tinoisamoa was re-upped last season & is seemingly in the team's long term plans... he hasn't really fulfilled the promise he showed in a brilliant rookie campaign at SLB... he has been WLB past few years, but has been seemingly constantly hurt... he is a warrior who plays in pain, but is not as effective when hobbled... if he can just stay healthy, he could be a good (if not great) WLB in the mold of speedy & athletic cover two WLBs... he is undersized, & not as big as a young derrick brooks (supposedly struggles to maintain even a SS-like 220 in-season)... SLB brandon chillar just looked like just a guy prior to last season, but he started to show some potential as the season progessed... of course, with the rams appalingly poor defensive performance in 06, that was a severe indictment on just about everybody involved (except for little & perhaps witherspoon), so he might be the kind of guy that is better in a depth & reserve capacity, & a spot STL will always be looking to improve on?

in the secondary, free agent fakhir brown was brought in by haslett & was the team's best & steadiest, most consistent CB in coverage & run support (that may not be saying a lot, & analogous to being the biggest chick magnet at a dungeons & dragons convention)... he is solid, but on some teams he would probably be at best the CB2... this process could happen internally... first rounder tye hill flashed tantalizing skills coupled with typical rookie ups & downs (exacerbated by the rawness to be expected of a prospect who until just a few years ago was a clemson RB)... a late convert to defense, he has awesome natural ability, & was one of the fastest players overall at the 06 combine, but he is not just a track guy... he is further along in his coverage skills than might be expected, & has outstanding athleticism & ball skills (i think he had 3 INTs which would have been among rookie leaders - like BAL SS dawan landry)... his tackling needs some work, & he isn't that big (about 185?), but he appears very coachable & willing to learn & improve... he will likely start across from brown this season, & if he continues to mature at his new position could be very good in a few years (though maybe never a thumper in run support)... as to former starters travis fisher & jerametrius butler, fisher has been hurt a lot recently & is expected to depart in FA... butler looked like an up 'n coming CB in 04, but blew out his knee prior to the 05 season & then seemed to land in linehan/haslett's doghouse in 06 & barely played... it wouldn't be a surprise if he were let go, too... 05 second rounder ron bartell is a physical phenom that was both one of the biggest AND fastest DBs at his combine, though being a bit raw & a project with small school derivation... after an uneventful rookie season, he began to come on at the end of the year & looks like he could be a playmaker... he is currently thought to be in line for the crucially important nickle DB role (especially in a pass wacky division like wild, wild nfc west)... with brown, hill & bartell, not sure if CB is as urgent of a need as other areas of the D like DT, LB (maybe DE), but this is a place where talent may be best aligned with their slot in BPA sense... some highly graded CBs (& safeties) could still be on the board at this juncture in the draft...

as to safety, chavous was relatively high priced free agent addition at SS... when he was younger (& faster) he started out at CB & has some coverage skills, but has played safety in recent seasons in MIN & STL... he is a good if not great open field tackler, & while he may have lost a half step, he compensates by being like a coach/DC on the field, & is one of the smartest & most knowledgable players in the game on either side of the ball (see his stellar draft commentary with mike mayock on NFL network coverage)... while not their best player on D he should be a solid player for another season or two if needed, but he is in his thirties so at some point they will have to bring in a FA or through the draft groom a successor... second year FS OJ atogwe was essentially a rookie (got virtually no playing time in his 05 rookie season) & had some very rough moments, taking some brutal, cringe-inducing angles in run support & pursuit at times... towards the end of the season, though, he seemed to get better with each game, & flashed some of the athleticism he gained notoriety for at stanford (leading team in tackles three years in a row, leading pac-10 in FFs one season, while also raking up some INTs)... he can be a playmaker capable of stripping the ball or generating turnovers with his aerial skills... if he continues to improve, he could be the kind of player the team could build around in the secondary... that said, nobody would say STL has one of the elite deep patrols in the league, so if an elite safety prospect fell to them, they could pull the trigger from BPA standpoint (especially if laron landry fell to them, though their is virtually no chance after clocking a blistering 4.35 at combine... reggie nelson looks like a playmaker but probably won't grade as high when teams stack their board)...

if i had my druthers, i'd love to see the kid from louisville, akoye (son of nigerian nightmare, so you know he has amazing NFL bloodlines)... he has massive upside at a need position... it is amazing that he is about to become a pro & is about same age as some college freshmen! while they may need a classic NT type more to supplant the epic, collossal bust kennedy, glover is borderline ancient & they could hardly get a better successor in line...

willis is one of my favorite defenders in the draft, but it is uncertain if STL would go in this direction with witherspoon already at MLB (re-mix of roles possible?)...

DE depth is arguably more important than secondary at this point, as the roster is currently constituted, but that is debateable... with hall around thirty & little even older (approaching mid-thirties), a stud DE could serve dual purpose of immediate relief in rotation, & also as longer range succession plan for the aging vets... DE is a position that can take a few years to develope, so the sooner they get started, the better... the rams were a better defense, when, among other things, they could generate pressure not only from little but wistrom in his prime...

in secondary, to sum up & recap, i'm not sure if CB is as pressing a need as some other positions already mentioned, but some good BPA opportunities could present themselves... with chavous age & atogwe's inconsistency, a stud safety falling in their laps could be a possibility (but the staff seems quite high on OJ, based on off-season comments)...

* SS/FS todd johnson is versatile & has logged some starts in CHI, but i don't think is expected to challenge for a starting role... he could provide better depth than they have had recently...

** in retrospect, one advantage to a guy like reggie nelson would be flexibility he would afford... he can play safety but is athletic, fast (clocked sub-4.4 at florida pro day) & skilled enough in coverage to play CB... he could be immediate upgrade over bartell as nickle CB, could be an upgrade over atogwe, & if chavous hits the wall at some point possibly atogwe could slide to SS & nelson could be FS... he could also start at CB with hill at some point in the future... ATL drafted rookie jimmy williams partly for his versatility, & he began as CB but may be shifted to safety this year (some scouts & the falcons it appears think this will be his most natural position in the pros)...

Back to the top fellas

Strong rumors this morning that Kris Jenkins for 2nd rounder is a DONE deal.

How does that change this weekend for the Rams?

i can't find anything new?

as a rams fan, i hope they could pull this off... his upside is worth rolling dice on player that missed most or 04-05 seasons...

among STL local beat reporters, bernie miklasz characterized interest as lukewarm, yet jim thomas said STL would make strong offer...

most of players reported to be in play at this spot still could be... except for maybe branch (skill set too similar)... okoye is more penetrating 3 technique UT... with jenkins & okoye (groomed to replace aging glover), team could turn a positional weakness into a strength in a hurry... carriker could play on inside, & probably has quicks to be penetrating DT (mayock has him in top 10 & said he reminds him of howie long)... carriker could also of course play DE, as could jamaal anderson, & little is 33 & hall is 30... revis or hall at CB are possibilities, with revis holding attraction of being able to upgrade ST & return game... ginn may be of interest for same reason, & he could be groomed to replace bruce, who is in mid-30s... even with addition of bennett, rams don't have a lot of depth at WR position, & could be a chance to get top 10 talent at bargain price... impossible to tell if linehan talking about ginn is apparent smoke screen or not (reverse psychology?)...

There is speculation the Rams might be in the market for Kris Jenkins, DT Carolina Panthers. Panthers may settle for a 2nd round pick..but not a late one. Who knows. He'd definately fill a need for the Rams. I'm still upset about losing Witherspoon though. Crossing my fingers for Willis to fall for the Panthers.

I guess on NFL Network last night they said the Rams and Panthers had agreed to terms of the deal...but I didn't see it so I'm not 100%.

Hopefully if it happens he's just pissed off enough to come in with a chip on his shoulder. Revis is looking better if this happens.

I'm starting to get excited

Draft Grade (Day One)... from draft grade thread...

RAMS - B+

the acuisition of new starting DE james hall & returner/WR4 dante hasll for a pair of 5th rounders needs to be factored in...

1st - carriker had been moving up the board... mayock had him in top 10 (said he reminded him of howie long - high praise)... will probably play at 315 in 07, yet ran a smokin 4.7, had phenomenal cone drill COD times (i think better than #11 pick & MLB willis) & a monstrous 33 reps... linehan said he will be used at DT, possibly supplanting underwhelming jimmy kennedy at NT... STL was 31st or 32nd against run last season, & he could help stop the bleeding in a big way...

STL has been soft against run for too long... carriker not only has great character & intangibles, motor, football smarts & ability to diagnose, but he is tough & plays angry... that attitude, passion & intensity can be contagious... it could make rest of DL better, create pressure from inside (where QBs hate it), he is 6'6" & when he gets his hands up with constrict passing lanes for QB... he will help tie up blockers & free up spoon & 5-0 to fly to the ball from sideline-to-sideline... better pass rush & collapsing pocket will also be a boon to the secondary, which won't have to cover as long or well...

here is summary from frank coyle's scouting profile...

BTW, for Coyle's DE positional traits, Carriker was best in class in following categories - run stuffer, recognition, intangibles, instincts, strength & most developed... one of two coyle blue chippers (with gaines adams)... comp player ( hindu theory) - patrick kerney...

"Talented defender with huge upside. He is a fine prospect with the complete package to be a two-way defender early in his career. With further technique development, he has a chance to be as good as any prospect in this class. At the combine, he ran a 4.90 40, had a 33.5" VJ and 9'2" BJ. He had 33 reps in the lifting with exceptional agility drills. He is a powerful pass rusher with the tools to be a complete player and a defender with a nose for the ball to make big plays. He has the upfield speed to beat a blocker to the outside with the quickness to counter inside and the power to use a strong hump move and walk the blocker back in the pocket. He also has the power and leverage to push many tackles back to the passer and simply overpower them in any strength battle. Excellent combination of power and quickness and the ability to be an every down defender as early as a pro rookie. Big time well developed defender with the skills to rank with the top performers in the league. He is a fast rising prospect who should be off the board by the middle of the first round..."

2nd - brian leonard... may not have seemed like a pressing need with such a great young feature RB, but tony fisher was the RB2... great athleticism (called best prep player to ever come from NY state)... can catch a lot of passes & be a goal line, short yardage weapon (not particularly a strong suit with jax, despite his size)... similar skill set to jackson, so when they need to spell him, the offense won't need to skip a beat... a team player that switched from RB to FB, and went to program despite offers from more prestigous schools, for satisfaction of turning program around... loves the game, plays with great intensity, desire to be great... rams got a FOOTBALL PLAYER, with outstanding character & intangibles...

3rd - developmental CB similar to tye hill (former track star who is new to defensive side of ball & CB position, with upside)... led conference in passes defensed...