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Talkin 'Bout Practice

Written By: Anthony Bafaro

The Rams released their list of scheduled open practices today which will take place at the Russell Training Center (RTC) located at 1 Rams Way, off the Earth City Expressway.  In addition to these open practices fans are invited to see the team in action at a scrimmage scheduled to take place on August 4^th at the Edward Jones Dome.  Free parking will be provided for all open practices at the north lot of the RTC.  Unfortunately, fans will be denied the privilege of filming their own version of “Hard Knocks”—video recording devices are strictly prohibited; alcohol is also off limits.  Here are the pertinent dates:

 

Sunday, July 29 Practice 3:30 p.m.

Monday, July 30 Practice 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 31 Practice 3:30 p.m.

Friday, August 3 Practice 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 4 Scrimmage 12:30 p.m.
Edward Jones Dome

Monday, August 6 Practice 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 7 Practice 3:30 p.m.

Wed., August 8 Practice 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 9 Practice 3:30 p.m.

Friday, August 10 Practice 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 14 Practice 3:30 p.m.

Wed., August 15 Practice 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 16 Practice 3:30 p.m.

Monday, August 20 Practice 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 21 Practice 5:30 p.m.

Wed., August 22 Practice 3:30 p.m.

photo credit: Darin House via photo pin cc

The Final Fifty-Three: Quarterbacks and Kickers

Written By: Anthony Bafaro

Quarterback: 2-3 Roster Spots

The Lock: Sam Bradford

In this case, the lock is singular: Sam Bradford.  After living up to the hype in his stellar rookie-of-the-year season, Bradford suffered from the proverbial sophomore slump.  In many, oh so many ways, he was the victim of circumstance in his second season.  He suffered a high-ankle sprain in week six that left him hobbled for the rest of the season, and a string of injuries dropped the offensive talent around him from bad to downright embarrassing.  Additionally, and perhaps most egregiously, he was stuck working under the torturous tutelage of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.  I must admit, like many (but not all), I was excited when the Rams hired McDaniels.  Although he flopped as a head coach, his ability to facilitate a high-octane offense was undeniable.  

Unfortunately, that success catalyzed a very stubborn sort of pretentiousness. 

Despite the difficulties that come with installing such a complicated offensive system in a shortened offseason, McDaniels refused to admit the need for a quarterbacks coach.  He also refused to simplify, or in any way adapt, his offense to fit the talent level of his players.  It was clear early on that the offensive line play would be sub-par.  It was also clear that the team lacked receivers capable of beating one-on-one coverage downfield.  Instead of shortening the passing attack, McDaniels insisted on calling seven-step-drops without so much as a single check-down option.  When McDaniels and Bradford achieved some success early in the season utilizing the no-huddle offense—methodically marching up and down the field against the eventual Superbowl Champion Giants—the strategy was inexplicably abandoned.

The aforementioned plights would prove detrimental to most quarterbacks, but this franchise needs Bradford to be better than most quarterbacks; this franchise needs him to be a great quarterback.  Great quarterbacks find a way to fight through injuries.  Great quarterbacks elevate the players around them, making those players look better than they actually are.  Great quarterbacks, in many ways, take over the offensive game plan and make it their own.

With new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, Bradford returns to a system similar to the one he was successful in as a rookie.  The onus is on Sam to take his game to a higher level.

The Likely: Kellen Clemens

All signs seem to point to Kellen Clemens as Bradford’s backup.  Clemens was the starter for the final three games of the 2011 season, and although his play wasn’t great, it wasn’t awful either.  Against Cincinnati in week fifteen, Clemens completed 25 of 36 passes (69%) for 229 yards with 1 TD and 0 INTs.  He followed up that solid start with an anemic shutout loss playing on the road against the Steelers.  In his final game of the season, against the dominant defense of the 49ers, Clemens completed 14 of 31 passes (45%) for 226 yards with 1 TD and 1INT, plus he added an additional rushing TD.  His numbers against the 49ers do not stand out as solid, but ProFootballFocus (PFF) actually graded his final start the highest of the three because he was victimized by two sacks, two hits, eighteen hurries, and four dropped passes.

More important than his moderate late season success is the fact that prior to joining the Rams in 2011, Clemens spent the first five years of his career playing in Schottenheimer’s system as a member of the Jets.  His experience in the system means that from day one he’ll be prepared to step in and competently manage the offense in the absence of Bradford.  His knowledge of the system also makes him the ideal mentor to Sam Bradford, as the young starter attempts to absorb his third offense in as many years.

 

The Long-Shots:  Austin Davis, Tom Brandstater

If the Rams keep three QBs, it will be because Austin Davis had a terrific camp.  The scouting report on the undrafted rookie out of Southern Mississippi is that he’s smart and accurate, but lacks the arm strength to start at the next level.  However, that lack of arm strength did not stop Davis from overtaking fifteen of his school’s single-game and single-season records, including most passing yards in a season (3,128), which had been held by some guy named Brett Favre.

It’s difficult to justify using a roster spot on a third-string, project quarterback, especially when your starter is only 24-years old.  Unless Davis is so good that the Rams fear losing him to the active roster of another team, they’ll likely send him to the practice squad.

Tom Brandstater is not a long-shot; he’s a lost cause.  His most notable moment as a Ram is losing a ball in the rafters while trying to test Brian Quick’s deep-ball ability during pre-draft workouts.

K: 1 Roster Spot

The Lock: Greg Zuerlein

There can be only one lock at kicker, and if a team spends a draft pick of any kind on the position, that player is the lock for the entire season.  Zuerlein broke an NCAA DII record with 21 consecutive FG’s made, including nine over 50 yards and two from 58.

The Long-Shot: Garrett Londholm

Again, this long-shot has no chance at all.  Lindholm was signed to a futures contract back in January, when the only thing certain about the kicker position was that Josh Brown would not be getting his $2.7 million.  For all practical purposes, Londholm was cut the minute Zuerlein was drafted.

Next week we’ll be looking at the running back and full back positions, where the Rams have finally shown some interest in players under the age of 25—a truly revolutionary idea.

photo credit: Jeffrey Beall via photo pin cc photo credit: Ed Yourdon via photo pin cc

The Final Fifty-Three: Preface to the Preseason

Written By: Anthony Bafaro

I can feel myself fading, my fervor for words waning and melting in the summer sun.  In the same way that Hemingway needed war and Bukowski needed tawdry women and cheap wine, I need NFL football; OTA’s and mini-camps are no substitute.

Luckily, help is on the horizon.  Training camp begins July 27^th, where at least there will be pads, and thus, real blocking and tackling, and two weeks later, the preseason will begin.

To many, the preseason is little more than a tease—games focused on warming up veterans and defining bubble-players.  The preseason has been an especially foul temptress to Rams fans, who have been built up by a 14-6 exhibition record over the last five years, only to have their hopes decimated by a 15-65 regular season record.  However, thanks to the off-season overhaul, this preseason comes with some added intrigue. 

When the Rams face off against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in early August, Rams fans will be introduced to a new brand of football being implemented by Jeff Fisher, Brian Schottenheimer, and…Dave McGinnis?  Fans will also get a first look at free-agent acquisitions Cortland Finnegan, Kendall Langford, and Steve Smith, along with Michael Brockers, Brian Quick, Janoris Jenkins, Isaiah Pead, and the rest of the 2012 draft class.  These changes are exciting in their own right, but the big difference between this exhibition season and the preseason games of years’ past may be found in the second halves of games.  A two-win season, followed by a clean sweep of the front-office and coaching staff leaves the 2011 Rams players with about as much job security as most newspaper men.  All of the no-name players fighting through the third and fourth quarters of the 2012 preseason will have very real opportunities to make the final fifty-three.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be breaking down the roster—identifying the locks, the long-shots, and all players in between at each position, so that by the time the Rams kickoff against the Colts, you’ll have reason to see every snap.  Here’s a list of the current candidates:

QB

Austin Davis
Via usm.edu

Sam Bradford

Kellen Clemens

Tom Brandstater

Austin Davis

RB/FB

Steven Jackson

Isaiah Pead

Chase Reynolds

Daryl Richardson

Calvin Middleton

Nick Schwieger

Brit Miller

Todd Anderson

WR/TE

Danny Amendola

Brian Quick
Via thevikingden.com

Steve Smith

Brian Quick

Chris Givens

Greg Salas

Austin Pettis

Danario Alexander

Nick Johnson

Michael Campbell

Brandon Gibson

Lance Kendricks

Michael Hoomanawanui

Ben Guidugli

Matthew Mulligan

Jamie Childers

Brody Eldridge

Joe Long
Via mlive.com

Cory Harkey

Mike McNeil

Deangelo Peterson

OT/OG/C

Rodger Saffold

Quinn Ojinnaka

Ryan McKee

Joe Long

Jason Smith

Barry Richardson

Jose Valdez

Bryan Mattison

Rokevious Watkins
Via Southcarolina.247sports.com

Rokevious Watkins

Tim Barnes

Harvey Dahl

Kevin Hughes

Michael Hay

Scott Wells

Robert Turner

T-Bob Hebert

DE/DT

Chris Long

Eugene Sims

Michael Brockers
Via hergamelife.com

Jamaar Jarrett

Robert Quinn

William Hayes

Scott Smith

Michael Brockers

Trevor Laws

Cornell Banks

Matt Conrath

Kendall Langford

Darell Scott

Jermelle Cudjo

ILB/OLB

James Laurinaitis

Sammy Brown
Via smudailymustang.com

Josh Hull

Aaron Brown

Noah Keller

Jo-Lonn Dunbar

Mario Haggan

Alex Hoffman-Ellis

Justin Cole

Rocky McIntosh

Sammy Brown

CB/S

Cortland Finnegan

Trumaine Johnson

Kendric Burney

Janoris Jenkins
Via blogs.palmbeachpost.com

Quinton Pointer

Jeremy Caldwell

Janoris Jenkins

Bradley Fletcher

Josh Gordy

Jerome Murphy

Rodney McLeod

Quintin Mikell

Craig Dahl

Darian Stewar

Matt Daniels

K/P/LS

Greg Zuerlein

Garrett Lindholm

Tom Malone

Johnny Hekker

Greg Zuerlein
Via footballsfuture.com

Jake McQuaide

Travis Tipuka      

Rams Land a Litter in Ground-Breaking Trade

Written By:  Anthony Bafaro

Just when you thought the wheeling and dealing was done, Les Snead struck again, and he did so in unprecedented fashion.  

According to Tony Softli’s sock-puppet sources, the Rams are the center piece of a ground-breaking multi-team trade.  It’s still unclear what exactly the Rams are giving up, but their return is a staggering 12 1^st round draft picks, spanning the 2027-2034 drafts.  I was able to sync up with Softli’s argyle insider, who quoted Les Snead on the matter.

“This league is changing,” Snead said, “within the next twenty years, hitting the quarterback will be outlawed completely; at that point, defenses will abandon defensive line play altogether.  We’re looking at a scenario where the best defenses will be fielding eleven defensive backs at once.”

Alright sir, maybe you’re right, but what makes those particular drafts so special?  Whom exactly are you targeting?  Snead was surprisingly candid and amazingly brief in his response; “Cromarties,” he said, “all of them.”

Antonio Cromartie’s procreation prowess has been well documented.  He has twelve children, ranging from womb, to seven years-old, and according to coach Jeff Fisher, they have their father’s athleticism.  “Well, Antonio’s a very special player,” Fisher said, “and he’s a very special playa.  People make snarky comments about all of his children, but I think it’s a great.  A man that’s blessed with exceptional genetics has a responsibility to spread his seed.  These kids hit the ground running, literally.  It reminds me of that Upright Citizens Brigade skit, “Baby Runner.”  Do you remember that one—infants born with the leg strength of adult Cheetahs?  Christ that skit was funny; who knew it was a premonition?”

It’s worth noting that not all of Cromartie’s children are boys.  Fisher and Snead both acknowledged this fact.  According the Rams’ brass, Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, in their steadfastly arbitrary fashion, is backing a movement to break the sex-barrier in the NFL.  With the physicality of the game waning out of sight, both Fisher and Snead believe a co-ed NFL is a very real possibility.  “Let’s be honest,” Snead said, “you’re going to get a lot more production out of Jurzie Cromartie than Craig Dahl, that’s just a fact.  Plus, since they’re women, we’ll only have to pay them about 80% of what their male counterparts make.”

This is the type of move that can make or break an entire franchise.  A lot of things have to go right over the next thirty-years for this to qualify as a good trade for the Rams.  Only time will tell whether Snead’s move leaves him with the legacy of being a genius or a joker, but he has secured himself a permanent place in NFL history.  If he’s right, we may see an all Cromartie NFL by the turn of the century.    

Wide Receiver Optimism

Written By: Jon Wekerle


With another draft behind us, all of the excitement surrounding the Rams is focused on their new players.   I wanted to take a minute to add some excitement to players that were already on the roster—two players in particular—at a position that I view as the shallowest on the roster: wide receiver.  Rams fans everywhere, myself included, are upset that the team did not get Justin Blackmon or Michael Floyd.  I think Rams fans need to focus on the great possibility that we have two good young receivers already on the roster. 

If you have read my past posts, then you might know that, although I live in Denver, I am a Rams fan through and through.  I wanted to use my Broncos’ experience to provide two great examples that will give Rams nation reason to be optimistic for next season.  Those examples are Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas.  I compared these two receivers, who made great strides in their second seasons, to two Rams receivers who are entering their second seasons: Austin Pettis and Greg Salas.  Here is some background on these guys.

Demaryius Thomas – 6 foot 3 – 235 lbs – 22nd pick 2010 – Georgia Tech – 24 years old

-          First-Team All-ACC in 2009, but played in a predominately run-oriented offense in college.  He impressed at the combine and raised his draft stock dramatically.

Stats in 2010 – 10 games played – 22 receptions – 283 yards – 2 TDs

Stats in 2011 – 11 games played – 32 receptions – 551 yards – 4 TDs



This is an actual picture of Eric Decker



Eric Decker – 6 foot 3 – 218 lbs – 3rd round pick – Minnesota – 25 years old

-          In 2009, he finished 6th in the nation in receiving despite playing through injuries for most of his college career.

Stats in 2010 – 14 games played – 6 receptions – 106 yards – 1 TD

Stats in 2011 – 16 games played – 44 receptions – 612 yards – 8 TDs

Austin Pettis – 6 foot 3 – 203 lbs – 3rd round pick – Boise State – 23 years old

-          Left Boise as the school’s all-time leader in receptions and touchdowns, and ran the fastest shuttle at the combine in 2011.  His stock also rose when he posted eye-popping numbers at the combine.

Stats in 2011 – 12 games played – 27 receptions – 256 yards – 0 TDs

Greg Salas – 6 foot 1 – 207 lbs – 4th round pick – Hawaii – 23 years old.

-          First-Team WAC and led a receiving core that finished the year 3rd in FBS in receiving yards.  In 2010, he had the most yards by a receiver and beat out 2nd place candidate Justin Blackmon. 

Stats in 2011 – 6 games played – 27 receptions – 264 yards – 0 TDs

                When researching these guys, I was amazed by their similarities.  Thomas, Decker, and Pettis are the same height, and all four receivers have similar builds.  Thomas’ and Pettis’ draft stocks were significantly  influenced by the combine.  All four players played for middle/upper class college programs.  All of them had very lack luster rookie seasons.  Further, all of them had to deal with bad quarterback situations.  Thomas and Decker had Tebow-mania and a run-first offense, while Salas and Pettis were dealing with Sam Bradford’s injuries and poor offensive line play.  All four receivers missed games with injuries in their rookie campaign. 

                Decker and Thomas are much more nationally known because of Tim Tebow.  I am not surprised because it seemed like one of the seven completions Tebow had a game was a great catch from Thomas and plastered all over Sportscenter.  I watched many Broncos games last year, and I am amazed, after seeing some of those catches, that Thomas had such a crappy year statistically.

                I don’t think ESPN knew the Rams had a team last year, so it doesn’t surprise me that no one has heard of Salas or Pettis outside of St. Louis.  Decker and Thomas also made incredible strides in their 2nd year, which helped put them on the map.

                Thomas looked awful in 2010.  He frequently was jammed at the line and looked lost at times.  In his second year, he turned into a much better all-around receiver.  Decker, in his rookie campaign, was non-existent.  Some of the local media mentioned him as the worst route runner in the NFL in his rookie season.  I thought he would be cut going into this season, but he turned it around and became a fantastic slot guy after just one year.

                The other connection between these four wideouts is who was in the draft room when these guys were drafted.  Josh McDaniels is known in many circles to be a good offensive coordinator and a really bad head coach.  This man was hated in Denver while he was here, both because he traded Jay Cutler in favor of an unproven Kyle Orton and because he traded up to get Tim Tebow.  For some reason, his sideline antics were what irked the Denver fan base the most—his obscene facial expressions and Pauly-D-like fist pumping.  All that aside, he has a decent track-record in drafting players.  He drafted a team that beat the Steelers in the playoffs last season.  Beyond Thomas, Decker, and Tebow, McDaniels drafted a couple of starting offensive lineman—a unit that helped the team lead the league in rushing.  He also drafted Robert Ayers, an impact player at the line backer position.

                He has missed a couple of times in the draft, but not at wideout.  In fact, his track record for finding good, overlooked receivers goes back to his New England days when he picked up Wes Welker as an undrafted free agent.  McDaniels was not the most liked guy in St. Louis or Denver, but you have to feel pretty good that he had a hand in drafting Pettis and Salas. 

Are Pettis and Salas going to have the same level of improvement after one season as Thomas and Decker?  Maybe.  Salas and Pettis are very young.  Both were 22 years old last year.  I think people forget about Salas and Pettis when Rams fans or national media describe the Rams receiving corp.  With the additions of Brian Quick and Chris Givens in the draft, we should have the youngest group of receivers in the league.  All four of these guys have extreme athleticism, and I think people are neglecting to recognize this about our WR core.  All of these guys are, or will be, signed to multiyear deals, so we will have them for a good amount of time.  Do I think we have a great receiving core?  No, but I think there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the guys that are coming to camp.  I’m expecting a great deal of improvement from our 2nd year guys. 

               

Bringing in Outside Help

Written By: Vince Hulett

  Identifying the Rams’ two current starters at the linebacker position is fairly easy.  James Laurinaitis will play at his pro bowl level at middle linebacker, and newly-signed veteran Jo-Lonn Dunbar will man either the weak or strong side linebacker position.  Dunbar comes from his “bounty gate” days in New Orleans with experience to play all three linebacker positions.  Preferably, in a defense with proper linebacker depth and skill, Dunbar would play a piano-type player who spells tired or injured starting linebackers.  Additionally, he will fill the void left by Chamberlain in the special teams department.  However, with the depletion of linebackers on the Rams’ roster, it looks as though Dunbar will have to increase his level of play to become a factor in 2012 until the Rams can utilize one of their two 2013 first round draft picks on a tenacious linebacker. 

This situation leaves the Rams’ front office with the dilemma: who will be the third starting linebacker to wear the blue and gold?  Returning players include Josh Hull and Justin Cole.  Hull, being the more appealing player of the two, was a former walk-on at Penn State and 7^th round selection in 2010 for the Rams.  Hull is known for his hard work and blue-collar attitude both on and off the field.  Hull played special teams and ended his season with an ankle injury against the Cincinnati Bengals last year.  At best, Hull will provide depth and good special teams play while continuing his development as an NFL linebacker.  Cole is an undrafted, former San Jose State defensive lineman who is making the transition to linebacker in the NFL.  To insinuate Cole as a “project” is an overstatement.  Cole will be lucky to make the final 2012 Rams roster.  Between the two wild card linebackers still on the roster, Hull presents the only real possibility as a starter.  More realistically, at the most he is a special teams leader for the Rams.

 With the first selection in the 7^th round, the Rams selected linebacker Aaron Brown out of Hawaii.  Brown joins the “Bad Boys Club”, better known as the St. Louis Rams, with a very productive stat line in college.  Brown’s combined junior and senior stat line includes: 186 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 20 tackles for a loss, and six interceptions.  A ball-hawking, undersized linebacker—6’1 220lbs.—he may find a hard time transitioning to the NFL because he played in the skill-lacking WAC conference.  Additionally, he was arrested and suspended the first game of the year in 2012 for fighting in a bar.  These are some red flags that should warrant suspicion when evaluating this player’s potential to solidify himself as a starter in the Rams’ 2012 linebacking core.  Brown seems to be another project who has potential to be a prominent role player in the future for the Rams’ defense.

The Rams made some moves by signing a group of talented, undrafted free agent linebackers over the past couple days.  These players include Sammy Brown of Houston, Derrick Choice of Stephen F. Austin, Alex Hoffman-Ellis of Washington State, and Noah Keller of Ohio.

The two most attractive players out of the bunch are Hoffman-Ellis and Brown.  Sammy Brown has NFL size at 6-2, 240 lbs. and led college football in tackles for loss last year while showing off his pass rushing skills with 13 ½ sacks for the Cougars.  Brown also possesses great speed running a 4.6 40-yard dash at Houston’s pro day.  However, Brown played in a non-BCS conference and may have trouble, initially, transitioning to the NFL.  Moreover, a lot of his plays in the backfield could be inflated because Houston was usually blowing teams out and forcing them to become one dimensional by passing heavily.  Altogether, Brown is a player who was used primarily as a pass rushing specialist and would need proper coaching in the NFL to convert into an every down linebacker.

Hoffman-Ellis is a player who is very inexperienced, but plays the game with great passion.  His technique and ability to play in space need a lot of improvement.  Ellis is undersized, but can lay the wood when tackling.  Ellis isn’t a tackling machine, contributing just 178 tackles in three years, but he hits hard and has potential to improve his game with technique and experience.  Both of these players are, again, projects. 

This leaves the Rams with many projects and only two NFL starting linebackers on the roster: Dunbar and Laurinaitis.  The tactful plan of drafting a kicker and parting ways with Josh Brown’s 2.7 million dollar cap hit in 2012 indicates that the Rams have plans to sign a veteran free agent. 

There are some legit 4-3 linebacker names in the free agency pool that could draw some attention from the Rams.  These players include Gary Brackett, Omar Gaither, Ernie Sims, Mike Peterson, and Ben Leber.  All players are comfortable playing in the 4-3 Jeff Fisher system and are former starters in the NFL.  However, the Rams cut Leber after a disappointing 2011 season, and Gary Bracket and Mike Peterson seem to be at the tail end of their careers, not to mention they have had serious injury problems the last two years.  The signing of any these three players seems unlikely.  This leaves the Rams with two possible young linebackers to choose from: Omar Gaither and/or Ernie Sims.  With the Rams’ salary cap situation, it is more likely that they can afford to sign only one of these players.

Analyzing Ernie Sims is a tough job.  He is a former first round selection out of Florida State who is undersized, and many compared him to Derek Brooks coming out of college.  In his first three seasons with Detroit, he tallied 372 tackled and wreaked havoc on opposing offenses.  His last two out of three seasons were decimated by injuries, and in 2010 with the Eagles, he didn’t fit their scheme.  While playing for Philadelphia, Sims was asked to take on fullbacks more than he did in the Lions’ defensive scheme.  Sims isn’t a great block shedder and suffered with a career low 55 tackles while playing his worst full season.  Sims is a fast linebacker who can make plays in space by using his 4.5 40 speed and would fit perfectly in the weak side linebacker position wearing blue and gold.  Worst case, Sims could experiment at strong safety during running downs and supplement as a nickel linebacker in coverage on passing downs.  Moreover, he could contribute during his one-year contract and provide better play than the young projects that the Rams currently possess at linebacker.  Sims is an NFL starting linebacker, and on the right team (e.g., playing behind double-team, attention-drawing lineman like Long, Langford, and Brockers, and with the offensive line keying on star linebacker James Laurinaitis), Sims would thrive by running free for the Rams at their weak side linebacker position.

The other possible candidate is linebacker Omar Gaither.  Ironically, Gaither was Sims’ back up during their time together in Philadelphia in 2010.  Gaither finished an injury-riddled 2011 campaign with the Carolina Panthers after they projected him to start for them as their weak side backer.  Gaither has started and played many games at both the middle linebacker and weak side linebacker positions.  Gaither isn’t as fast as Sims, but could be a huge improvement over the current Rams’ linebacking core.  Gaither doesn’t show as much upside as Sims at the weak side linebacker position but he has great versatility with a lot of special team experience. 

Altogether, both Sims and Gaither are in their late twenties, and at least one should be signed to a one-year contract.  Both of these players have the experience and talent to start at weak side linebacker for the Rams.  Sims or Gaither would improve the Rams’ defense, and neither would require a large or long contract.  Preferably, Sims should be the choice for the Rams to sign because of his former pro bowl potential and cornerback-caliber speed.  Look for the Rams to sign one of these players in the next couple weeks.

Eighth Round Picks

Written By:  Anthony Bafaro

Kurt Warner, Tony Romo, Jeff Saturday, London Fletcher, Priest Holmes, Arian Foster, Wes Welker, James Harrison, Antonio Gates, John Randle, Warren Moon, and Dick “Night-Train” Lane—all of these players have two things in common—1) They were All-Pro players in the NFL and 2) No team thought they were good enough to warrant a draft pick.

  

The Rams wasted no time reaching out to a slew of undrafted free agents following the completion of the 2012 draft.  Most of these guys won’t make the team, so it may be a bit beyond diligence to delve, but some of them will.  Besides, this site is not named “RamsModeration”; I have a disease, and the only fix for my off-season itch is a continuous feed of pseudo-news.  Here’s a quick look at some of the undrafted rookies that will be competing in camp.    

Todd Anderson, FB, Michigan State: Run-blocking specialist.

Sammy Brown, LB, Houston: Good athleticism, decent pass-rush skills, and above-average coverage skills, especially in zone.  His problem is he’s lazy; he pretty much ignores any play that’s not directly in front of him.  If an NFL paycheck motivates him, this guy is making the squad.

Jeremy Caldwell, CB, Eastern Kentucky: Good ball skills, K/P returner.

Derek Choice, OLB, Stephen F. Austin: He received All-Southland Conference Honorable Mention in 2009…so there’s that …

Matt Conrath, DT, Virginia: It would be nice to stash this guy in the weight room as a scout team player.  He’s 6’7, 277lbs and has enough athleticism to still be functional if he adds 20 or 30 pounds—could be a 2-gap monster.

 

Matt Daniels, S, Duke: Smart, technically sound, high-motor player that had good production against inferior talent.  He lacks the athleticism to become a starter, but could be a solid backup and special teams player.

Austin Davis, QB, Southern Mississippi: Smart, accurate quarterback that gets rid of the ball quickly and is a natural leader.  He doesn’t have the arm-strength to be an NFL starter, but could be a very good back-up.  I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him beat out Brandstater.

Cory Harkey, TE, UCLA: Fisher seems to love offensive tackles that pretend to be tight-ends.  Harkey is slow, and doesn’t know what a route-tree is, but he does have good hands.  He could supplant Matthew Mulligan as a goal-line tight-end.

Johnny Hekker, P, Oregon State: In the post-draft press conference, Fisher said the Rams won’t be punting this year.  However, based on my experience playing Madden, you have to at least have one on the roster.

T-Bob Hebert, C, LSU: He’s a fat bastard that can hold his ground in pass protection; plus he has a sweet name.  Most effective when opposing defensive tackles are wearing candy-necklaces with Twinkie pendants.  More pancake breakfasts than pancake blocks at LSU.

Alex Hoffman-Ellis, OLB, Washington State: Great athlete and natural tackler, but he’s the definition of raw in all other aspects of the game.  He’s an intriguing project player.  The fact that he can run and wrap-up might earn him a spot on special teams and buy him some time to develop.

Jamaar Jarrett, DE, Arizona State: I know we’re taking chances on some “red-flag” players, but if you fail a drug test at the combine, you’re either a complete moron, or you have a serious addiction problem.

Nick Johnson, WR, Henderson State: You know what this team really needs?  Another slot-receiver.  He did run a 4.34.

Noah Keller, LB, Ohio: He’s a solid run-stuffing MLB, but is too slow to do anything else.  The new regime seems to like Josh Hull.  Dunbar can also play the middle, so it seems unlikely that Keller would make the cut.

Rodney McLeod, S, Virginia: McLeod has a great chance of making this team.  He has great athleticism and starter-caliber awareness in zone coverage.  He’s instinctual and has a quick closing burst.  He’s also a very sound tackler.  His biggest problem is that he’s small for a safety—5’10, 183lbs.  It’s difficult to project how the defensive backfield is going to shake-out on this team; we may very well see Jerome Murphy or Bradley Fletcher starting at safety, but McLeod is definitely talented enough to add some solid depth. 

Calvin Middleton, RB, Jackson State: I have no idea who this guy is, but I know who he’s not—Jerious Norwood, and that is good enough for me.

Joe Long, OT, Wayne State: Doesn’t have the athleticism or polished technique of brother Jake, but he was the Division II offensive lineman of the year in 2011 and the Rams need offensive line depth.

DeAngelo Peterson, TE, LSU: He’s our new Fendi Onobun (who, if you were wondering, now plays for the Bills).  He’s 6’4, 243lbs, has great speed and all around athleticism, but is too raw to be of much service right away.

Quinton Pointer, S, UNLV: This guy wasn’t a very good athlete to begin with, then he tore his ACL. 

Nick Schwieger, RB, Dartmouth: Refer to Calvin Middleton analysis.

Scott Smith, DE, Texas Tech: Smith has a pro body—6’6”, 262lbs—but will have to improve his technique to make up for his average athleticism.

Travis Tripucka, LS, Massachusetts: He's strictly a long snapper, so I’m guessing he does that pretty well.

Undrafted rookie free agents always have long-odds, but this group of misfits has the advantage of trying out during the first year of a new coaching staff.  I doubt very much that Fisher and Snead are beholden to more than a few players brought in by the old regime.  If I were to wager, I’d say Sammy Brown and Rodney McLeod are on the team, and Austin Davis, Johnny Hekker, Alex Hoffman-Ellis, Joe Long have a good shot.  Hopefully some of them will reach the level of their undrafted pro-bowl predecessors.    

Starting Over

Written By: Anthony Bafaro

The Rams are starting over, and that means picking up a quantity of talent in the draft.  The draft’s focus was on adding talent and athleticism— at times at the expense of positional needs, and often at the expense of character standards.  Here’s a look at the results.

Round 1, Pick 14—Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Height:  6’5”           Weight: 322lbs     Arm Length: 35”     Hand Size: 9”    

Wing-Span: 84”      40 time: 5.35        Vertical: 27”           Shuttle time: 4.80

Bench Press Reps (225lbs): 21           Broad Jump: 8’9”      3-Cone Drill: 7.45

Strengths

-Big and powerful—consistently drives linemen backwards when one-on-one

-Shows ability to sink low and explode up through the hips—a valuable trait in many aspects of life

-Rare quickness and athleticism for his size—fluid in his sideline-to-sideline pursuit

-Good power pass rusher—drives a wedge through the pocket

-Dominant run stopper—too strong to be driven off the line of scrimmage or sealed, and quick enough to reach running backs before they hit 2^nd gear

-Angry hitter that has a huge tackling radius due to having a massive wingspan and the strength to arm tackle

-Good play recognition

-Great work-ethic

Weaknesses

-Lacks the first step burst to shoot gaps and get into the backfield

-Started only one year in college—came out after redshirt sophomore season

-Does not have the top-end speed to chase down running backs in the open

-Gets his pad level too high at times, allowing opposing linemen to neutralize his strength

My Thoughts

I was blown away by the astonishment and outrage Rams fans displayed after this trade and pick.  Irrelevant references to decade-old draft busts at the defensive tackle position are particularly puzzling, especially considering that Pickett and Carriker were not busts, just misused.  I understand the desire to get a great wide receiver, but I missed the part where the team was one player away from being a Super Bowl contender.  The Rams were able to acquire an extra pick in the talent-loaded 2^nd round and still draft an impact player at a position of need in the 1^st round.  Brockers instantly improves a run defense that ranked 31^st in the NFL last season.  Additionally, his propensity for drawing double teams will make all three of his linemates and middle linebacker James Laurinaitis better players.  Some scouts question Brockers’s ability as an inside pass rusher due to his lack of gap-shooting burst.  Defensive line coach Mike Waufle had this to say on the matter, “They say he's not much of a pass rusher, but we'll teach him to pass rush.  Tommy Kelly wasn't either, at one time, and we taught him how to power rush. The last two years he's had more sacks [14 ½] than any defensive tackle in the league, and this kid will do the same. Tommy's tough, but this guy's nasty." 

Round 2, Pick 33—Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian ST.

Height:  6’3”           Weight: 222lbs     Arm Length: 34”     Hand Size: 10”    

Wing-Span: 81”      40 time: 4.51       Vertical: 34”            Shuttle time:  4.22

Bench Press Reps (225lbs): 15           Broad Jump: 9’11”  3-Cone Drill time: 7.09

Strengths

-Great size and strength

-Great hands—extends arms to make catches away from his body

-Good run-after-catch ability—aggressive runner with ability to break tackles

-Possesses the quickness and dexterity to make sharp cuts in route-running

-Positions himself well to beat one-on-one coverage in jump-ball situations

Weaknesses

-Not an elite athlete—lacks burst and top-end speed

-Unpolished route runner

-Ineffective run blocker

My Thoughts

This was a questionable pick, with names like Rueben Randle, Alshon Jeffery, and Stephen Hill still on the board.  Apparently the Rams were smitten with Quick, and for now, I’m willing to give the new regime the benefit of the doubt.  His skill set is similar to Justin Blackmon’s.  Quick is bigger, but his hands and run-after-catch ability are a notch below Blackmon’s.  His size and skill set differ from every receiver on the current roster, except perhaps the injury-troubled Danario Alexander.  He’s a big receiver with good jump-ball skills, which should provide the Rams with the redzone target they’ve lacked for years.

Round 2, Pick 39—Janoris Jenkins, CB, N. Alabama

Height:  5’11”           Weight: 193lbs     Arm Length: 32”     Hand Size: 8”     

Wing-Span: 74”      40 time: 4.46         Vertical: 34”            Shuttle time: 4.12

Bench Press Reps (225lbs): NA           Broad Jump: 10’ 1”          3-Cone Drill: 6.94

Strengths

-Elite athleticism—great speed, agility, and flexibility

-Seamless transition from back-pedal to forward pursuit

-Surprisingly physical in press coverage despite being somewhat undersized

-Arguably the best man-coverage corner in the draft

-Instinctive in zone-coverage—rare closing burst

-Good play recognition

-Excellent ball skills—very aggressive going for pass-deflections and interceptions

-Impact player as a punt returner

Weaknesses

-Significant off-the-field issues—kicked off Florida team after failed drug test and multiple marijuana-related arrests.  Also arrested for his involvement in a bar fight

-Can be overpowered by bigger receivers

-Can be overaggressive—bites on pump-fakes and double-moves

-Inconsistent tackling ability

My Thoughts

This was by far my favorite pick of the draft.  If Jenkins wasn’t such a knucklehead, he would’ve been an early 1^st round pick.  It’s even more exciting because this is a pick that defines the contrast between the old regime and the new, marked by a willingness to take a chance on “red-flag” players that possess high-level talent.  Jenkins has the ability to be a premier shut-down corner if he can wrangle his other issues.  Additionally, Jenkins provides a punt return threat the team hasn’t had since Az Hakim.

Round 2, Pick 50—Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati

Height:  5’10”           Weight: 197lbs     Arm Length: 31”     Hand Size: 9”    

Wing-Span: 74”      40 time: 4.43         Vertical: 33”            Shuttle time: 4.31

Bench Press Reps (225lbs): NA           Broad Jump: 9’ 8”          3-Cone Drill: 6.94

Strengths

-Good athleticism—explosive homerun threat

-Attacks line of scrimmage—good speed through the hole

-Good hands

-Good base strength and leg drive—runs through arm tackles

-Great work-ethic

Weaknesses

-Inconsistent game speed—seems to let up at times and is run down from behind

-Needs to add bulk to hold up as an every down back

-Overaggressive—does not show the patience to let plays develop

-Lacks the shake and wiggle of truly elusive backs

My Thoughts

The Rams passed on more explosive runners like LaMichael James and Lamar Miller to take Pead—a pick some thought was a bit of a reach.  However, Pead has the strength to run between the tackles.  He serves as a complementary change-of-pace back immediately, and has the potential to be a replacement for Steven Jackson if he’s able to add some weight without losing his burst.  Pead has some experience as both a punt returner and kick returner.

Round 3, Pick 65—Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana

Height:  6’2”           Weight: 207lbs     Arm Length: 33”     Hand Size: 9”    

Wing-Span: 79”      40 time: 4.54         Vertical: 36”            Shuttle time: 4.14

Bench Press Reps (225lbs): 19           Broad Jump: 10’ 2”          3-Cone Drill: 7.19

Strengths

-Rare athleticism for his size

-Good transition from back-pedal to forward pursuit

-Good closing burst

-Excellent ball skills

-Extremely physical—hard hitting tackler that plays with an edge

Weakness

-Will not keep up with some of the faster receivers in the league on go-routes

-Lacks positional awareness in zone defense

-Inconsistent play recognition skills

-Poor tackling technique

-Off-the-field issues—arrested and charged with obstructing a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in an alcohol-related incident.

My Thoughts

With Trumaine’s size and skill set, he could become an excellent safety if he’s able to improve his zone coverage skills.  However, Jeff Fisher already said that he will stay at the cornerback position and expects him to contend for the starting job at nickel corner.  Johnson is a good player and athletic enough to become great if he’s receptive to polishing and keeps clean off the field.

Round 4, Pick 96—Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest

Height:  5’11”           Weight: 193lbs     Arm Length: 31”     Hand Size: 8”    

Wing-Span: 74”      40 time: 4.39         Vertical: 34”            Shuttle time: 4.22

Bench Press Reps (225lbs): 19           Broad Jump: 9’ 10”          3-Cone Drill: 6.96

Strengths

-Excellent athleticism—quick to accelerate and great top-end speed

-Creates separation with ease—quick, sharp cuts in his routes

-Too quick to be disrupted by press coverage

-Stretches the field—big-play deep threat

-Very elusive

Weaknesses

-Must be open to make the catch—will not win one-on-one battles for the ball

-Slow and timid when running routes across the middle

-Goes down at first contact—unwilling to take a hit for extra yardage

-Liability as a run blocker

My Thoughts

For now, Givens is strictly a role player as a wide receiver.  However, it’s a role that no other player on the roster can play—he’s an explosive deep threat.  I’m somewhat concerned because his scouting report sounds like a description of Donnie Avery, but it was lack of health, not lack of skill that held Avery back.  For years, the Rams have been looking for a true deep threat to take the top off the defense; Givens should be that player.  He also has some experience as a kick returner.

Round 5, Pick 150—Rokevious Watkins, G, South Carolina      

Height:  6’4”           Weight: 338lbs     Arm Length: 35”     Hand Size: 10”    

Wing-Span: 83”      40 time: 5.29         Vertical: 27”            Shuttle time: 4.89

Bench Press Reps (225lbs): NA           Broad Jump: 8’ 6”          3-Cone Drill: 7.86

Strengths

-Good size and athleticism at guard, but not a potential tackle

-Quick to set off the snap

-Strong hands—maintains blocks well once engaged

-Has decent ability to pull and maintain blocks while on the move

-Strong base—anchors well to defend the bull-rush

Weaknesses

-Lacks aggressiveness—plays somewhat soft

-Lack of concentration leads to inconsistent play

My Thoughts

Rokevious has the skill set to start immediately at guard if the coaching staff is able to amplify his intensity.  Fisher has a track record of developing late round offensive linemen, which is one reason the Rams waited until the 5^th round to address the vacancy at guard.  Watkins is a perfect candidate to be coached up.  Once polished, he has the physical tools to be a solid, and possibly above-average, starter. 

Round 6, Pick 171—Greg Zuerlein, K, Missouri Western    

Height:  6’0”           Weight: 190lbs     Arm Length: NA     Hand Size: NA    

Wing-Span: NA      40 time: NA         Vertical: NA            Shuttle time: NA

Bench Press Reps (225lbs): NA           Broad Jump: NA   3-Cone Drill: NA

Strengths

-Consistent accuracy—broke NCAA DII record with 21 consecutive FG’s made

-Good power—9 FG’s of at least 50 yards in 2011, 2 from 58 yards

Weaknesses

-Kickers are not real football players

My Thoughts

With the lack of overall talent on the team, I wanted the Rams to use all of their picks on position players; however, Zuerlein does have a lot of leg.  Mel Kiper had Zuerlein as the number one kicker on his board.  Additionally, the Zuerlein pick allows the team to part ways with Josh Brown and his $2.7 million cap hit.  This gives them some flexibility to add some cap-casualty veterans, possibly at OLB.

 

Round 7, Pick 209—Aaron Brown, LB, Hawaii

Height:  6’1”           Weight: 220lbs     Arm Length: NA     Hand Size: NA    

Wing-Span: NA      40 time: 4.80         Vertical: 34”            Shuttle time: 4.78

Bench Press Reps (225lbs): 31          Broad Jump: 9’ 6”          3-Cone Drill: NA

Strengths

-Good Strength

-2011 All-MAC linebacker

-Good production—186 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and 6 interceptions in two years.

-Very physical

Weaknesses

-Off-the-field issues—suspended after 3^rd degree assault charge stemming from bar fight

-Lacks high-end athleticism

-Undersized

My thoughts

Brown plays with an intensity that should make him a good special teams player.  He had good production at Hawaii, but his size/athleticism raise questions about whether  he can become an effective position player at the next level.

Round 7, Pick 252—Daryl Richardson, RB, Abilene Christian

Height:  5’10”           Weight: 193lbs     Arm Length: NA     Hand Size: NA    

Wing-Span: NA      40 time: 4.47         Vertical: 41”            Shuttle time: 4.46

Bench Press Reps (225lbs): 16           Broad Jump: 11’ 3”          3-Cone Drill: 7.07

Strengths

-Good burst and acceleration

-Good top-end speed

-Creative and elusive in the open field

-Kick return experience

Weaknesses

-Strictly an outside-the-tackles playmaker

My Thoughts

More speed and another kick returner.  I’ll take that from the Rams’ Mr. Irrelevant.  Sorry, couldn't find any footage.

Overall Thoughts

Bar bouncers and drug dogs throughout the nation are on notice—the Rams are coming.  I was only joking when I set a minimum of one assault charge per defensive player, but apparently the team took me seriously.  There is one refreshing conclusion that we can draw from this draft—the new regime values talent and athleticism over character and polished play.  The new coaching staff put a lot of pressure on themselves by essentially drafting ten project players.  I don’t say that to be alarming—Brockers, Jenkins, and probably Quick are already solid/good players.  The project is providing the coaching to fulfill their great/elite potential.   The Rams come out of this draft with some exciting players on both sides of the ball.  They’ve also put themselves in position to finally have some real threats in the return game.  Only time will tell whether the reward potential from this draft will outweigh the risks, but I feel optimistic about the first draft of this new chapter.

1st Round Press Conferences

2nd and 3rd round press conferences

Full Draft Recap