Houston Texans beat writer John McClain, who’s been covering the NFL for nearly 40 years, joined The Hollywood Casino Press Box on Wednesday to discuss the Rams and the upcoming NFL Draft.
Impression of the Rams’ drafts under Les Snead and Jeff Fisher:
“I like what they’ve done. But if you look at every playoff team, what do they have in common? They have a really good quarterback. And the Rams, if they get the Nick Foles from 2013…anything close to that, they’re going to be a different team. They’re in a position again to get an impact player in the first round, probably the second round. I like where the Rams are.”
With three straight losing seasons, do you think Jeff Fisher is on the hot seat?
“Only Stan Kroenke knows that, and he’s kind of tied up with other matters. I think any owner that is smart would analyze each year separately instead of saying ‘We’ve had three straight losing seasons.’ When your quarterback blows out his knee two years in a row…it’s bad luck. And when your starting quarterback goes down and you’re supposed to play multiple back-up quarterbacks…And this day and age it’s hard to develop good back-up quarterbacks because the good ones are going to be gone in four seasons. So I think Kroenke has been wise while they continue to build their offensive line and pass rush.”
More on Jeff Fisher, who McClain covered when Fisher was head coach of the Houston Oilers:
“Jeff Fisher is really smart. He’s co-chairman of the Competition Committee. And if you sit down with Fisher and analyze every position in the organization, he’s a really smart guy. Results are all that matters. If Nick Foles comes in and say he bombs out and they have a losing season, maybe Jeff will be on the hot seat. But I think Kroenke has been very wise to see why the Rams have lost.”
Do you believe receivers Amari Cooper or Kevin White may be available for the Rams at No. 10?
“In my mind…based on everyone I talked to in the NFL that I built up contacts with teams through the decades whom I trust, those are two of the top five prospects. I don’t see any way both would be available, possibly one, whoever Oakland passes up. They are better prospects than there is at tackle. Brandon Scherff is better at guard. Then it’s wide open at tackle. Andrus Peat from Stanford is the best left tackle, but he’s no sure thing to step in and start immediately. Say the Raiders take Amari Cooper at four, and Kevin White is there, I think the Rams would be all over Kevin White. I don’t know their board, but I’m guessing he’d be higher rated on their board than a tackle.”
On protecting quarterback Nick Foles:
“If you trade for Nick Foles and he’s your starting quarterback, before he can throw to a receiver, he’s got to be protected. If they have someone else they think they can plug in there, that’s great, but they’ve got to make sure he’s protected before they worry about wide receiver. I could see the Rams going offensive lineman thinking ‘We can get a wide receiver in the second, but there’s no guarantee we’re going to get a tackle as talented as this guy in the second round.'”
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