Do they have to keep Barksdale after this season?

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  • August 16, 2014 at 1:56 pm #4123
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator

    Assuming that he isn’t injured and keeps playing well if not better…

    re-sign him, or not?

    My view is, unless they lose Long, having up to possibly 4 2nd-or-more contract guys on the same OL is a lot to ask.

    OL continuity died a long time ago; the new way is to both keep a couple of core guys (Saffold, Robinson) while also being adept at finding/preparing replacements. For example…they found Barksdale. He is the perfect illustration of what I mean.

    .

    August 16, 2014 at 2:52 pm #4127
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator

    that’s a very good question. my guess is they don’t keep him.

    i think robinson is expected to be the left tackle next year. in which case long slides over to right tackle. maybe then they find or already have a guard/tackle prospect who immediately fills in at left guard with the potential of being groomed for the right tackle position.

    that’s what i would do.

    August 16, 2014 at 3:22 pm #4128
    TackleDummy
    Participant

    The question might better be “Can the Rams keep Barksdale after this season.” “Assuming that he isn’t injured and keeps playing well if not better…” I am sure that the Rams would want to keep him around for more years. A bird in the hand is worth more than one in the bush. But the real question is at what price? Barksdale will be a free agent after this year. How much will other teams be willing to pay Barksdale? Will that be more than the Rams will be willing to pay him. Demoff will set a price for Barksdale. If he wants or can get more than that the Rams will let him go.

    My view is, unless they lose Long, having up to possibly 4 2nd-or-more contract guys on the same OL is a lot to ask.

    With the current starters, Robinson is good for 10 years, Saffold should be good for another 5 or so and is they resign Barksdale he would be good for another 6 or so years. Wells is nearing the end of his career (maybe next year) and Long could have from 2 to 4 years left. That would be a good mix and would allow the Rams time to draft and develop replacements. I really hope that if Barksdale does well this year that the Rams could retain him.

    • This reply was modified 10 years, 3 months ago by TackleDummy.
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    August 16, 2014 at 3:38 pm #4131
    Avatar photoInvaderRam
    Moderator

    how many years does jake long have on his contract? if he can be cut or if his contact expires soon, then i could see the rams keeping barksdale.

    well i just checked. his contract ends after 2016. but he could be cut after this season. interesting.

    August 16, 2014 at 3:44 pm #4132
    Avatar photozn
    Moderator
    TackleDummy wrote:

    The question might better be “Can the Rams keep Barksdale after this season.” “Assuming that he isn’t injured and keeps playing well if not better…” I am sure that the Rams would want to keep him around for more years. A bird in the hand is worth more than one in the bush. But the real question is at what price? Barksdale will be a free agent after this year. How much will other teams be willing to pay Barksdale? Will that be more than the Rams will be willing to pay him. Demoff will set a price for Barksdale. If he wants or can get more than that the Rams will let him go.

    My view is, unless they lose Long, having up to possibly 4 2nd-or-more contract guys on the same OL is a lot to ask.

    With the current starters, Robinson is good for 10 years, Saffold should be good for another 5 or so and is they resign Barksdale he would be good for another 6 or so years. Wells is nearing the end of his career (maybe next year) and Long could have from 2 to 4 years left. That would be a good mix and would allow the Rams time to draft and develop replacements. I really hope that if Barksdale does well this year that the Rams could retain him.

    My whole take on this comes from the idea that OL continuity as we used to know it in the 70s and 80s died with free agency and the cap. According to Pasquerelli, teams change starting O-linemen on the avg. of 1.7 a year or at least 3 every 2 years. It becomes cap prohibitive to put that much in terms of cap resources into one unit.

    Would Barksdale command a lot on the market? Would he take a Hayes-style lesser deal just to be a Ram? I dunno, but I do know that Boudreau linemen are sought after on the market (see Wms and Smith).

    I also know that ROT is easier to replace than LOT.

    I see teams these days as keeping 2, MAYBE 3 core linemen and then constantly looking for replacements for the others. So you need an OL coach who can develop them, and who can coach them to be flexible. I think the Rams 2 core linemen for the next few years will be Robinson and Saffold. I see Long, Wells, and Barksdale all dropping off one by one as the next couple of years go by, and having to be replaced.

    August 16, 2014 at 3:58 pm #4133
    Avatar photoAgamemnon
    Participant

    Of all the FAs for next year, but really there aren’t many, I would resign Barksdale. Maybe they can keep Britt? But, they are in good shape and the cap crunch doesn’t hit until 2016.

    Agamemnon

    August 17, 2014 at 11:54 am #4197
    GreatRamNTheSky
    Participant

    At this point, yes, they re-sign him and keep him. He came out of nowhere to become the starting right tackle and did a good job.
    He has the size, the experience and the physical skills you want.

    Grits

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