draft grades

it’s a risk definitely. but the rams have the luxury of not having to put the entire load on gurley. not immediately anyway.

with gurley you have the potential to make a solid unit great. and why would you pass that up? especially given who the coach is. that’s what they did with the dline. and now they potentially have that with the rb corps.

the rams have not exactly been an upper echelon rushing offense anyway under fisher. last year they finished in the bottom half. i feel like they’ve improved the two things that can push them toward the top. the offensive line. and the running backs.

i do feel they still need to sign a free agent. i would still prefer they sign barksdale and slide him inside to right guard.

but i get the feeling that if the rams can field a top 5 rushing offense. things will open up in the passing game.

Interesting about Gurley but dang it that ACL can easily end up would of, could of, should of. Got lucky with Quinn and he was healthy.

http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2010/2/12/1307175/torn-acl-success-stories

i also want to note that jamal lewis tore his lateral collateral ligament in college.

also. with willis mcgahee. he tore the acl, pcl, and mcl his last game in college. a much more serious injury.

i’ll be wondering/worrying about gurley’s knee for the next eight years… and that’s the BEST case scenario…

me personally. i would wait until midseason next year and slowly phase him in. they have the luxury of doing that. tre mason is very capable as is cunningham.

i just heard a report that he is on track for mid training camp to start practicing. still. i would be cautious.

Well who knows how the future will unfold,
but they picked a bunch of seemingly-solid,
big, fat, mauling, road-grading
Hog-Mollies.

About as unsexy a draft as you will ever
see. An injured RB and big fat Hogs.

But i like it. They had a good plan
it seems to me.

This was a “Madden” draft.
Madden players. Old-schoolers.
The Fisher identity finally emerges
on offense.

My only head=tilt is with Mannion.
I might have picked one more
Hog, myself. 🙂

w
v

i wanted hundley instead of mannion. but perhaps a risk the rams were unwilling to take.

i hated the havenstein pick the moment it was made. i prefer linemen with versatility. this guy is a one position pony. but the more i read about him the more excited i get. character seems through the roof. a naturally big guy. hard worker. nasty. i keep thinking jon runyan. a nice complement to robinson on the other side. we got some mean nasty bookends now. i like it.

i like the brown pick too. i think he sounds like an excellent guard prospect although i think he’s a year away at least.

from off the net

==

Truthy1

Draft Thoughts, Now That the Party is Over

Before this all started, back in early March, even earlier, I said over and over to anyone who would listen, and some who wish I would shut up, that offensive line was the only saving grace of an awful draft class, full of character risks, but mainly one lacking in players at most positions who have the physical measurables to play in the NFL, let alone ever start.

It’s pretty clear when you have fullbacks, deep snappers, and punters going as high as they started this year, what kind of crop of pure athletes there is.

However, way before draft day, I saw at least 20-25 offensive lineman who should be drafted. So why is that, seeing the rest of this abysmal crop?

One reason is that measurable don’t apply at all to O-linemen. Some of the best ever wouldn’t get much attention as obvious athletes. Believe me, I’ve seen some undressed in the locker room. So less offensive linemen get eliminated from my list because they ran a lousy forty, or couldn‘t jump.

But that’s every year, so what makes this year so special?

1. Pure luck that you had a bunch of guys graduating and coming out early, from schools that breed great linemen, like Florida, Miami, FSU, Wisconsin, Iowa, Pitt, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Stanford. And the guys coming out happened to be stars.

2. Really great health among this crop, which pushes their stock up.

3. For a running team, such as the Rams, it’s an even better crop, and if you don’t need a LT, like the Rams, it’s spectacular, among the best I’ve seen in years.

4. While the passing teams went for certain guys, they left the ones the Rams coveted.

I think Fisher, Snead,, OL coach Paul Boudreau, and their scouting staff saw that the abundance of guys who fit what they wanted made for an almost perfect storm for them in the draft. Even so, the way they orchestrated it all was brilliant, and they even let Gregg Williams have a bone or two.

Why so brilliant?

Lets start with the hill they had to climb, so high fans wanted Joe Barksdale to get whatever he wanted to sign. But here’s the deal. Does Barksdale fit what Fisher and Cignetti want from their RT? Plus it’s his only position, and they wanted a lot of flexibility so injuries never cripple their chances.

They brought in Garrett Reynolds, who can play both sides at tackle, and have Tim Barnes and Barrett Jones already trained at both G and C. Both Greg Robinson and Rodger Saffold can play all over.

But look at the rest of the roster on the line before the draft. No high, or even mid round picks ready to plug in, due to ignoring O-line in favor of free agents. No right tackle or backup, no right guard or backup. Four spots to fill with capable talent that again, fits the system.

So after drafting Gurley, instead of trading down to add a much needed third rounder, perhaps for a young passer, the Rams took a chance on a big deal down, confident that they would still get their starting RT, and now had at least a shot at a QB to groom, one with real potential.

This is why they were brilliant. Only two OL went before the Rams too Rob Havenstein—Mitch Morse of Mizzou, and Jake Fisher of Oregon. Both could be good, but both played in spread offenses in college. Like Qbs, coming to a running team may not work for those guys, and the Rams were not interested as a result.

So they get Havenstein, who was so impressive at the senior bowl that, like seemingly every Wisconsin lineman, he moved up draft boards, especially teams looking for guys from great rushing offenses. Havenstein is huge, strong, smart, experienced, well coached, and comes from a dynamic running attack and a school with a great history of OL success. Remember that theme.

When their own round three pick came up, the Rams had their pick of Qbs, especially the one they wanted. If they didn’t get him, maybe they don’t even take a QB at all. However, the Rams had been sweating bullets because another lineman, perhaps the last in the same tier with Havenstein might not get to them, so they jumped all over Jamon Brown, who they see starting at guard.

At Louisville, their linemen switch sides depending on the play, and which is long or short side of the field, so Brown has played with either hand in the dirt, and both at guard and tackles. He probably could play center as well.

Because of the big dropoff after Brown, the Rams figured it was time to take their QB, the one they targeted all along and worked out, with a nice clipboard and lots of studying awaiting; Sean Mannion from Oregon State. It won’t take him long though, having learned the pro system from former NFL coach and offensive guru Mike Riley.

Then round four rolls around, and there are still some good linemen left, when other positions are going all over the place as far as trying to find talent. The Rams go with another guy from a great lineman tradition, Andrew Donnell from Iowa, who played every year across from 5th overall pick Brandon Scherff.

Unlike Scherff, Donnell is more a technician, but he has great feet, and could add strength and weight for a year and really be a good one, and another alternative at RT, like Havenstein, probably his only position as a pro.

The Rams then waited an eternity, before picking what might be a real steal that late, in round six; Missouri WR Bud Sasser. Don’t let the name fool you. He’s a strapping 6-2, 220lb athlete, who ran 4.52 at his pro day. He took over for Dorial Green -Beckham this year, and put up a 77 catch, 100 yard, 10 TD season, with less than stellar QB play. He will give Chris Givens, who probably won’t be re-signed by the Rams next year, a real run for the money, especially if he plays special teams and can block.

In round seven, the Rams added a pick by trading Zac Stacy, per his wishes, to the Jets, where he actually could play a lot. Then with back to back picks, they filled the last guard spot opening with Cody Wichman from Fresno St. another big physical player, though this one from a passing offense primarily.

Still a pretty good prospect for a late pick in this draft. So was MLB Bryce Hagar, a heat seeking missile from Baylor, whose dad played for the Eagles and Rams. Britt Hager was coached by none other than Jeff Fisher, the Eagles DC, who was behind the Eagles trading a load of picks to move up for the Texas product. Hager should be a terror on special teams while he learns behind Laurinaitis.

With their final pick, the Rams took Martin Ifedi, from Memphis, who holds their sack record despite being injured last season, which is why he fell so far. The 6-3, 275 lb defensive end brings memories of popular former Ram Victor Adeyanju, as far as abilities, if not height.

Now when you look at those impossible to fill holes, with so few picks, so much luck involved;

1. Young talented passer, highly productive, from a pro offense, and similar to your starter….check

2. Starting right tackle with experience and talent who can start right away and be a great run blocker for sure? …. Check

3. Starting caliber player at RG, experienced, big strong, nasty, with some flexibility, from a running or at least balanced offense ………Check

4. Two backups on O-line with talent to eventually even start …….Check

5. A backup MLB from a good football program that can play special teams that fit s their profile….Check

6. A big receiver to compete with Givens and maybe be a sleeper down the road…check

Now add in the opportunistic move of snatching Todd Gurley, before anyone got him and made the Rams sorry for a long time.

The Rams drafted nine guys, and eight have a pretty easy path to making the team, because of their perfect fit with need. That my friends, is how you do a draft, not taking guys you have to cut anyway.

They only have 12 open spots at all in camp for undrafted guys, with 65 players already on the team roster. The Rams already signed a couple receivers and Malcolm Br own, Texas running back. They need camp legs, with Gurley probably not participating, and Brown is a decent prospect, as most Texas guys are.

One thing very noticeable about this draft is the quality of coaching these players have had; Mike Riley for a QB, Gary Pinkel for a WR, Kirk Ferentz, Brett Bielema & Gary Anderson, Bobby Petrino, and Tim Deruyter, for the O-linemen, and Art Briles for the MLB.

That bodes well for few problems, and all these guys, when interviewed, were very polished and impressive.

Of course it remains to be seen how these actual players fare, but as far as filling holes, the Rams are to be congratulated for doing that repair with some really strong stuff.

One last note, really two; First, Kudos to the Chicago fans for their ovation for the great Jim Kelly. How great is it that one of America’s favorites LOST four Super Bowls. I hate the Cubs, but I love Chicago, and Chicagoans. It really is “My kind of town”, so this Bud is for the classy people of the Windy City.

Secondly, as much as I hate the Seattle Seahawks, and their stupid 12th man nonsense and gimmicked stadium to funnel noise, you cannot help but dig Pete Carroll, for what he has done for the inner city kids, and for signing Texas deep snapper and 34 year old former green beret Nate Boyer as a free agent.

Right on, dude !!

wv wrote:

Well who knows how the future will unfold,
but they picked a bunch of seemingly-solid,
big, fat, mauling, road-grading
Hog-Mollies.

About as unsexy a draft as you will ever
see. An injured RB and big fat Hogs.

But i like it. They had a good plan
it seems to me.

This was a “Madden” draft.
Madden players. Old-schoolers.
The Fisher identity finally emerges
on offense.

My only head=tilt is with Mannion.
I might have picked one more
Hog, myself.

w
v

No qb taken outside the first round is ever going to excite fans. Some of them develop, obviously. I think the Rams need to draft another one next year, too. Even if Foles does well and is resigned. The Rams need to be developing Foles successor now.

from off the net

==

merlin

First off I did not love the Gurley pick. It is a high risk, high reward pick IMO and at least they didn’t take a defensive end, but the injury deal with the selection being at 10 overall worries me. I’m one of very few that had Gordon high and between the two he was not an injury risk. Of course it’s water under the bridge now and I’m gonna pray it works out and that Gurley lives up to his ability. I will say that selecting a RB is a fit, so value plus fit is hard to argue with.

As to the OL the Rams went extremely deep in their analysis. Snead even mentioned this, and you can see it from their visits list that they were all over the position. Havenstein and Brown were clearly chosen ahead of some other choices that were thought to be higher, but when you look at the glut of players the Rams clearly took the guys who fit, and I am with you that both were solid picks. I also agree with you that Wichmann was a great pick. Donnal is clearly OT insurance and for whatever reason they had a higher grade on him than many others. What is really funny with him is that I watched enormous amounts of game tape on Scherff (since I was so convinced that he was the guy they wanted) and totally overlooked his linemate. But as I go back and watch Donnal a bit I have to admit he does some things well; he is quite solid in pass pro for example. So again the OL is going to be insane during camp, that position alone will make camp worth attending for those of you lucky enough to attend.

Sasser I think is a case of the Rams taking their targeted late round guy. I think that is the case because Waller would have been a better choice (he was my late round gem) and then I gotta watch him go to the effin Ravens two picks later. But whatever.

I believe what we are missing are two things… 1. inside information on these guys from their locker room personas to their work ethic. And 2. what the Rams think about a player’s ability to make their roster. If I had to guess I would say that Fish and Snead are among the best in the league right now at networking and getting that kind of “real” information on players from their college programs.

What I wonder about is what would have happened if the Skins hadn’t reached for Scherff at 5 and had taken Gurley. I honestly think their approach would have been more BPA the rest of the way had they nailed a guy up high like Scherff or Flowers that they are comfortable with, and ironically they might have come out of this draft with one less OL at least but better value overall. But of course we’ll never know and as I said once the draft is over I get behind the picks and root for them so we’ll see.

I thought the Rams handled the draft well. Gurley is a real playmaker. If they want to gamble on his injury that is OK with me. They got continuity on the Oline. They did it with players that fit their scheme. They got a second QB. It was him or Grayson and Grayson was gone. I don’t think they could afford to bet on a spread QB. That was all boxes ticked. Then they got some help in the later rounds. The fact that this was an overall down year in the draft means the result is a B, cause it was an A effort with B players. They might not get Mannion if they don’t get the extra 3 in the trade down of pick 41. They still got 2 of the guys they had in the group at 41 after the trade down. It is just the players were a scheme fit, not a follow a popular mock pick. imo

from Greg Cosell’s draft review: Three teams whose drafts I really liked

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/greg-cosell-s-draft-review–three-teams-whose-drafts-i-liked-195814345.html

St. Louis Rams

More of the same kind of thing…a “from.”

—-

from 5 picks I loved and 5 head-scratching picks from 2015 NFL Draft

By Charles Davis
NFL Media analyst

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000491167/article/5-picks-i-loved-and-5-headscratching-picks-from-2015-nfl-draft

On the heels of the 2015 NFL Draft, here’s a look at five picks that I loved and five that led me to raise an eyebrow as a bit of a head-scratcher.

5 picks I loved

Round 1, pick 10: RB Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams: People obviously have mixed feelings about taking a running back early in the draft, especially one that is coming off of an ACL tear. However, I was very high on Gurley prior to his injury and remain so given that all the medical updates I’ve heard lead me to believe he’s still going to be a big-time player. The addition of Gurley allows head coach Jeff Fisher to play the style of offense he did in his heyday with the Tennessee Titans. Gurley can be Fisher’s Eddie George.