Rams 2.2 (1 Viewer)

[Bob Magaw]

based on some recent mock drafts, a few very good CBs & WRs could drop there...

if enough of them fall, STL could be in a power position, if a team is looking to trade up to the top of the second, possibly for a QB...

i'm guessing brohm will go higher than some draft wonks think that have him falling out of the 1st... its also possible that a team than trades into the bottom of the 1st (DAL fas two 1sts), to get either henne or flacco... that would take three teams out of the market (assuming ryan goes earlier), but could still leave some teams potentially in need... ATL, KC, NYJ, BAL (not sure if they all have their 2nd)... ATL is right behind STL, but they could get sniped by one of the other teams...

CBs could possibly be cason, flowers & talib...

WRs could be sweed (i sort of doubt it, with a few teams needing one, but this class doesn't seem to have any star power at the top, so it could definitely happen), the free falling kelly & doucet...

talib, incidentally, would be a dunder-headed pick... a big reason they need a CB is that fakhir brown is reportedly at risk to miss the season (strong indications coming from insiders like jim thomas)... it would be absurd to replace a suspended player with a prospect that admitted to failing drug tests three times in college (admitting usage didn't harm calvin johnson, gaines adams & okoye last year, but that isn't same as serial test failures)...

: this rams public service announcement brought to you by captain obvious :

mayock strongly praised flowers, calling him the best tackling CB he had scouted in past 5 years (hope i'm not paraphrasing too loosely)... cason is a ballhawk & playmaker, which would dovetail nicely with a chris long or dorsey selection (if j. long is #1 overall pick to MIA)...

mayock has also said he wishes sweed was more physical... kelly looks the part, but his knees have been questioned, & he hasn't helped himself since his disastrous pro day, with some bizarre career decisions... i like doucet... other than a lack of blazing speed, he has good size & route running skills, & experience at a major program (same with sweed & kelly... & thomas, but i think he will be long gone here)...

if there are enough players at this spot that they find draftable, good & approximately equal value at that point & fitting team need, they could be tempted to move down a little (i'd hope they would get one of above players, except talib, or similar graded prospect)... if they add an extra 3rd, they could get CB at 2.2, maybe WR like royal or bennett at 3.2, & use extra 3rd for a center like sullivan, who would be an upgrade & help stabilize the OL...

i could see how a good draft could lead to a rebound year for the rams...

they could get better just from less freakish attrition on the OL, even if they don't add j. long... a pick like sweed, kelly or doucet could also add some firepower on offense (also, new OC saunders, schooled in the martz system, could give offense a lift)... they should be improved on ST with josh brown, who could help win an extra 1-2 games a year...

if STL adds c. long or dorsey in first, & opt instead for CB in 2nd & get cason or flowers, the defense should be better... potentially how much is a good question...

 

[Lott's Fingertip]

I think the Rams could be a major turnaround team.... I think the main reason for their putrid record was the abundance of injuries. I know it's football and injuries happen, but they were crushed by injuries.

Here is a list from the middle of October:

QB Marc Bulger, broken ribs

RB Steven Jackson, torn groin (ouch)

OT Orlando Pace, separated shoulder (out for season)

OT Adam Goldberg, knee injury (out for season)

OT Todd Steussie, broken foot

OG Mark Setterstrom, torn ACL (out for season)

OG Richie Incognito, sprained ankle (missed first 5 games)

WR Isaac Bruce, hamstring injury

WR Drew Bennett, quad and hamstring injuries

WR Dane Looker, blood transfusion from severe thigh bruise

WR/KR Dante Hall, sprained ankle

They ended up with 11 players on IR, most of them starters. Egads.

I think the Rams were an average team without so many injuries, so I am cautiously optimistic that they can get two impact players with their first two picks and be a good team. I would put their over/under for wins at 8; if Pace and the rest of their Oline are healthy and unaffected by their injuries, good things can happen. If those players' injuries have robbed them of their effectiveness, it'll be a struggle again. A healthy line will keep Bulger upright, make Jackson more effective, and sustain drives, keeping their defense off the field.

I am concerned that their depth is not sufficient on the lines, though. SOMEBODY is going to get hurt, so my optimism is extremely cautious.

 

[Bob Magaw]

its weird that pace has had separate, seemingly unrelated injuries that ruined past two seasons (i think torn arm muscle in '06)... he is at an age where he could be breaking down (ogden could be done, & jones hasn't been his usual dominant self, the preeminent LTs of their era)... if they are flukey & not chronic, maybe it is a positive that he isn't breaking down from leg/knee injuries (though i think boselli's career foundered on shoulder problems)...

reportedly pace & little are ahead of rehab schedule... if j. long is off the board, pace is a key piece of the puzzle (prized free agent bell helps, & STL could use 3.2 on a center or other OL?)... if he goes down early again, back to the maelstrom & whirlwind of OL uncertainty for STL again... if he can hold up physically, that will take pressure off the defense, & the potential new defensive pieces could get a chance to click...

 

[Maroney=Speed]

based on some recent mock drafts, a few very good CBs & WRs could drop there...if enough of them fall, STL could be in a power position, if a team is looking to trade up to the top of the second, possibly for a QB...i'm guessing brohm will go higher than some draft wonks think that have him falling out of the 1st... its also possible that a team than trades into the bottom of the 1st (DAL fas two 1sts), to get either henne or flacco... that would take three teams out of the market (assuming ryan goes earlier), but could still leave some teams potentially in need... ATL, KC, NYJ, BAL (not sure if they all have their 2nd)... ATL is right behind STL, but they could get sniped by one of the other teams...CBs could possibly be cason, flowers & talib...WRs could be sweed (i sort of doubt it, with a few teams needing one, but this class doesn't seem to have any star power at the top, so it could definitely happen), the free falling kelly & doucet...talib, incidentally, would be a dunder-headed pick... a big reason they need a CB is that fakhir brown is reportedly at risk to miss the season (strong indications coming from insiders like jim thomas)... it would be absurd to replace a suspended player with a prospect that admitted to failing drug tests three times in college (admitting usage didn't harm calvin johnson, gaines adams & okoye last year, but that isn't same as serial test failures)...: this rams public service announcement brought to you by captain obvious :mayock strongly praised flowers, calling him the best tackling CB he had scouted in past 5 years (hope i'm not paraphrasing too loosely)... cason is a ballhawk & playmaker, which would dovetail nicely with a chris long or dorsey selection (if j. long is #1 overall pick to MIA)...mayock has also said he wishes sweed was more physical... kelly looks the part, but his knees have been questioned, & he hasn't helped himself since his disastrous pro day, with some bizarre career decisions... i like doucet... other than a lack of blazing speed, he has good size & route running skills, & experience at a major program (same with sweed & kelly... & thomas, but i think he will be long gone here)...if there are enough players at this spot that they find draftable, good & approximately equal value at that point & fitting team need, they could be tempted to move down a little (i'd hope they would get one of above players, except talib, or similar graded prospect)... if they add an extra 3rd, they could get CB at 2.2, maybe WR like royal or bennett at 3.2, & use extra 3rd for a center like sullivan, who would be an upgrade & help stabilize the OL...i could see how a good draft could lead to a rebound year for the rams...they could get better just from less freakish attrition on the OL, even if they don't add j. long... a pick like sweed, kelly or doucet could also add some firepower on offense (also, new OC saunders, schooled in the martz system, could give offense a lift)... they should be improved on ST with josh brown, who could help win an extra 1-2 games a year...if STL adds c. long or dorsey in first, & opt instead for CB in 2nd & get cason or flowers, the defense should be better... potentially how much is a good question...

I'm thinking a RB.

 

[Crippler]

...if enough of them fall, STL could be in a power position, if a team is looking to trade up to the top of the second, possibly for a QB...

I think the power players for the QB will be end of the 1st. San Deigo has got to love to move down and get some more picks with lacking them. Packers have no real needs and Thompson likes more picks. These 2, I think are power playersEven though I still think the Pack blew it last year in not trading down like a few teams behind them did as Harrell might have been a little bit of a reach. Hopefully if no CB worth taking is not there, that they move down and dont draft Brohm instead.