Rams draft: April thread 1

[zn]

Report: Rams targeting Day 2 OT Tyrell Crosby, host him for visit

Cameron DaSilva

Report: Rams targeting Day 2 OT Tyrell Crosby, host him for visit

Despite having two solid tackles on the offensive line, led by All-Pro Andrew Whitworth, the Los Angeles Rams are showing interest in players at that position in the draft. Tyrell Crosby out of Oregon is one tackle who’s seemingly piqued their interest in a big way, potentially as a Day 2 target for Los Angeles.

According to reports, the Rams hosted Crosby for an official pre-draft visit – which they get 30 of – last week after already meeting with him at the combine.

Crosby is projected as a Day 2 selection, ranging from the top of Round 2 down to the third round. He’s a versatile tackle, having played both on the left and right sides, though he probably fits best at the latter.

Rob Havenstein and Whitworth are both under contract through 2018, but the former will hit the market next offseason. Whitworth is signed through 2019, though given his age (36), retirement could come sooner.

Crosby is great in the running game, which is what the Rams have built their offense around. Though he needs to improve as a pass blocker, he has the athleticism to transition to left tackle at some point in his career.

[zn]

Note: I wouldn’t necessarily assume this guy is a tackle in the Rams eyes. Kromer has a long history of putting guys like this at guard.

===

zn wrote:

Tyrell Crosby out of Oregon is one tackle who’s seemingly piqued their interest

TYRELL CROSBY
6’5″, 325 LBS.

Crosby is a big-bodied tackle prospect with a strong anchor and a mean streak as a run blocker. He was poised for a great junior year before injuries caused him to miss all but three games. He missed the opener due to injury, started the next two games at left tackle but suffered a broken left foot. Crosby started 12 of 13 games played in 2015 at right tackle, one year after stepping into the starting lineup because of injuries in 2014. Crosby (a top-40 tackle recruit from Henderson, Nevada) started nine games that year, including each of the final six at left and right tackle, while playing in all of the Ducks’ 15 contests.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Wide body with very good combination of mass and length for the tackle spot. Drive blocker with exceptional strength. Has adequate flexibility to drop pads and land at an adequate entry point at first contact. Able to unlock hips enough to boom on smaller opponents at impact. Runs feet through contact and will often generate quality movement in running game. Possesses powerful upper body and can engulf and maul opponents when he gets into them. Not a dancing bear, but he has serviceable movement skills combined with power and arm length to recover against opponents who challenge his inside or outside edge. Hands are strong. Able to handle short pull duties. Has experience at both tackle positions.
WEAKNESSES Lacks initial quickness. Cut-off blocks are a challenge. Doesn’t always secure positioning of base blocks through footwork. Lower hit rate on second level blocks. Technique and finesse need work. Gets lazy with hand placement in pass pro and will default to swallowing opponents with wide hands. Rarely asked to make pure pass sets in Oregon offense. Needs to prove he has adequate kick-slide quickness. Mirror footwork is a little sluggish. Struggles to keep his blocks centered. Will narrow base as a drive blocker allowing opponents to slide out of side door. Body control and balance and are just average.
DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 2-3
SOURCES TELL US “I think he will be a pretty good pro if he gets with the right team. If you are strong you can play in the NFL. He can improve his feet and learn tricks and shortcuts to help in that area. Coaches can slide protections to him. But you can’t coach that size and power.” – Retired NFL offensive lineman
NFL COMPARISON Jermey Parnell
BOTTOM LINE Crosby won’t be a favorite of evaluators looking for a pretty tackle who wins with athleticism and technique, but he will appeal to teams who covet size, length and strength as he puts big checkmarks in those boxes. Crosby is a bulldozing right tackle prospect who can generate good movement in the run game, but he still needs to prove he has enough foot quickness and technique to sit on an island and handle quality pass rushers. He has NFL starting talent but his draft stock will be strongly influenced by how he performs at the Senior Bowl and Combine.
-Lance Zierlein: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2018/profiles/tyrell-crosby?id=2559836

[InvaderRam]

james daniels. rams are bringing him in for a pre-draft visit in april.

i’m intrigued. schrager mocked him to the rams in his latest mock draft.

graded as a first to second round pick. arguably the best center prospect in the draft.

only 20 years old. rare athlete for his position. i might be more worried about center than i am left tackle. although really. they’re both old. but whitworth seems to be the healthier of the two.

rams could trade down and still get this guy. and at this point. i’m really more worried about depth. so more draft picks wouldn’t hurt.

zn wrote:

Note: I wouldn’t necessarily assume this guy is a tackle in the Rams eyes. Kromer has a long history of putting guys like this at guard.

well. he’s got length (35″ arms). so i think he could play guard or tackle.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by InvaderRam.

[InvaderRam]

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2018/3/23/17141072/james-daniels-scouting-report-bengals-replacement-russell-bodine-nfl-draft-2018

here’s another report on daniels
https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2018/2/9/16994122/2018-nfl-draft-prospect-james-daniels-iowa

Iowa – Junior
6’3’’, 295 Pounds
Strongest offensive line class in quite a bit of time, and I’m totally okay with saying that. You could legitimately see nine offensive linemen go in the first two rounds of this draft. A surprise entry for the draft, James Daniels is coming from Iowa, which has a history of producing talented lineman. I would love his pedigree.

Strengths: James Daniels versatility is unbelievable, playing both guard positions and center with the ability to succeed at all of those positions. Plays the run game like a mauler and seems to read a blitz in time. Not one to get bull-rushed, and athletic enough to play the next level of the defense. Athleticism is off the charts, as he has lower body strength that would squat a car. If you need an immediate plug-and-play guard, James Daniels can be that guy, and seems unselfish about communication.

Weaknesses: When climbing to the next level, James Daniels seems to struggle against fast linebackers. Extends his arms too much, so much so that he seems to have one holding call a game. That has more to do with the technical part of the game, tends to overthink on passing plays, and typically plays bullish when he needs to pull.

Cardinals Summary: I was impressed with A.Q. Shipley, but at some point, you need to have a permanent mainstay at center. You don’t even have to play him at center, as he could be a right guard for us, and probably still play at a consistent level. Overall, my type of lineman who’s tenacious with his run blocking.

Projected: Late 1st-2nd Round
Stats: None
Pro Comparison: Jason Kelce – Philadelphia Eagles

[Cal]

The interest in Crosby suggests the Rams will seek a trade down. I can’t see a player like Crosby lasting until round 3. He was the Pac-12 o-lineman of the year & had solid numbers at the combine.

Crosby, in fact, sounds a lot like Whitworth–big, physical tackles who had good college careers but were viewed as sub-par athletes for the position. Whitworth played guard his first two years in the league.

[snowman]

Someone like Crosby could be a rotational guy for one year, then find a home at ROT and move Hav back to guard after re signing him. Or e could be our LOT after Whit retires. He could stay at guard too. Versatile.

[snowman]

Cal wrote:

The interest in Crosby suggests the Rams will seek a trade down. I can’t see a player like Crosby lasting until round 3. He was the Pac-12 o-lineman of the year & had solid numbers at the combine.

Crosby, in fact, sounds a lot like Whitworth–big, physical tackles who had good college careers but were viewed as sub-par athletes for the position. Whitworth played guard his first two years in the league.

I’m ok with any trade down as long as it nets us at least another third round pick. Fourth round and later, it’s really hard to find potential starters. Depth maybe.

[InvaderRam]

i think so too. looking more and more like a trade down.

[zn]

BigGame81 did this:

Current list of prospects Rams have interviewed. Thought this list might be useful:

East/West ShrineGame:

WR Devonte Boyd, UNLV
G Jaryd Jones-Smith, Pittsburgh
G Salesi Uhatafe, Utah
DT Deadrin Senat, USF
LB Chris Worley, Ohio State
LB Jacob Pugh, Florida State
LB Joel Lanning, Iowa State
CB Damon Webb, Ohio State
CB Linden Stephens, Cincinnati
S Jamar Summers, UConn
S Chucky Williams, Louisville
P Joseph Davidson, Bowling Green
LS Hunter Bradley, Mississippi State

SeniorBowl:

RB Ito Smith
RB Akrum Wadley
TE Tyler Conklin, Central Michigan
TE Durham Smythe, Notre Dame
TE Ian Thomas, Indiana
OT Tyrell Crosby
DL Bilal Nichols
S Trayvon Henderson, Hawaii
LS Ike Powell, Auburn

ProDay Meetings:

RB Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
WR Dante Pettis, Washington
C Tony Adams, NC State
OT Nick Gates, Nebraska
NT Tim Settle, Virginia Tech
NT Vita Vea, Washington
EDGE Ogbo Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
EDGE Joe Ostman, C. Michigan
CB Quenton Meeks, Stanford
CB Chandon Sullivan, Georgia State
S Trayvon Henderson, Hawaii
S Justin Reid, Stanford

30 Exclusive Pre-Draft Visits:

RB Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
WR Daurice Fountain, Northern Iowa
WR Dante Pettis, Washington
OT Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
EDGE Ogbo Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
EDGE Joe Ostman, Central Michigan

Private Workout:

WR DJ Myers, Midwestern State
LB CJ Johnson, East Texas Baptist[

[wv]

…P Joseph Davidson, Bowling Green.

================

Hekker’s in trouble I see.

w
v

[zn]

wv wrote:

Hekker’s in trouble I see.

w
v

Fwiw…

5 OL
3 TE
5 WR
4 RB
4 DT
8 LB/edge
5 safeties
4 CBs
1 P
2 LS

[zn]

bigjimram21 wrote:

Doing some reading

2019 may have as many as 5/6 LOT first round guys and 2/3 more in round two.

Guess unless the Rams see the ND kid as LOT quality AND he were to fall they may take him.

But none of the others are sure fire starters on the left side. So get one like Crosby in the third,

and maybe a G and or C later. If Crosby looks like he may be it fine, if not move him to the right

side and grab one of the 8/9 guys in 2019.

[zn]

The Professor sez:

According to http://www.draftace.com/draft-visit-tracker/, the rams are the only teams to have had pre-draft visits with OT Tyrell Crosby Oregon and LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo Oklahoma. They are also only other team that has had a visits with DE Justin Lawler SMU (TB) and one team with DE Joe Ostman Central Michigan (Oak).

As teams are allowed 30 visits and many teams only have 5 to 10 visits listed, these players may be interviewed by other teams (or were interviewed at the combine, senior bowl, etc.).

The rams also interviewed the RB from SDSU Rashaad Penny, but he shows up on about 8-10 teams lists.

[InvaderRam]

zn wrote:

2019 may have as many as 5/6 LOT first round guys and 2/3 more in round two.

interesting. i don’t know either way but if it’s true then maybe wait another year.

i really do like miller though. and i also like james daniels from iowa. i think center is very important. and if they like him enough get him in the first round. i read some great things about him.

[InvaderRam]

also they’re bringing in daniels for a pre-draft visit so the interest is very real.

[InvaderRam]

zn wrote:

The Professor

According to http://www.draftace.com/draft-visit-tracker/, the rams are the only teams to have had pre-draft visits with OT Tyrell Crosby Oregon and LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo Oklahoma. They are also only other team that has had a visits with DE Justin Lawler SMU (TB) and one team with DE Joe Ostman Central Michigan (Oak).

As teams are allowed 30 visits and many teams only have 5 to 10 visits listed, these players may be interviewed by other teams (or were interviewed at the combine, senior bowl, etc.).

The rams also interviewed the RB from SDSU Rashaad Penny, but he shows up on about 8-10 teams lists.

i like what i’ve read about okoronkwo. i also really really like what i’ve read about penny.

okoronkwo’s 40 was low. so maybe he drops which would be great. he’s low to the ground. he’s explosive. 38″ vert. 10 foot broad jump. and he ran a sub-6.9 3-cone. an excellent number for an edge rusher. so he’s short and a little slower. i know snead loves that cuz it could mean a bargain in the third round.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by InvaderRam.

[InvaderRam]

if the rams could get the browns to trade their 35th and 64th pick for their 23rd that’d be brilliant.

two second round picks and two third rounders. could get some quality depth there.

[snowman]

zn, thanks for posting the college visits list, I was looking for that.

I see only one likely first round pick on that list; Vita Vea. I know the list is incomplete right now, but only one? That’s odd. I would think the team wants to have a private visit with the kid they take at #23.

[InvaderRam]

snowman wrote:

zn, thanks for posting the college visits list, I was looking for that.

I see only one likely first round pick on that list; Vita Vea. I know the list is incomplete right now, but only one? That’s odd. I would think the team wants to have a private visit with the kid they take at #23.

makes me think they want the trade down. but i don’t think it’s a complete list like you said. for example they brought james daniels in for a visit but he’s not listed on there.

am listening to sirius nfl right now. they had jedd fisch who i either forgot or didn’t remember is now a senior offensive assistant with the rams. last year he was offensive coordinator and interim head coach for the bruins. they asked him about kolton miller and he all he had to say about miller is that he never missed a practice. didn’t quite know what to make of it. if the rams had any interest in miller i wonder what kind of input he would have. i’d have to think a lot.

the ridiculous part of me speculates that there is real interest miller but they’re trying to keep a lid on it. thus the muted response from fisch. a pre-draft visit would be easy to do with miller and who better to get insight from than his former offensive coordinator?

• This reply was modified 6 years, 8 months ago by InvaderRam.

[JackPMiller]

Don’t forget. There may be a player we watched on tape that we could draft that no one expected. So keep that in mind. But I do agree, it looks like our Rams want to trade down, and get a couple of second rounders, even if it is one this year and one next year.

[snowman]

#23 and other picks back and forth with New England for Brandin Cooks. zn posted about how the Rams tried to get Cooks over a year ago, and then talked with Belichick at a college pro day recently. Patriots stuck to their guns and got the picks they wanted. I guess our first round pick was never going to be used by us, that’s why they had only one private visit with first round prospect.

Going to be a boring draft for Rams fans. I wish Cooks was two inches taller and 10 pounds heavier, and just as fast.

[zn]

Joe Schad@schadjoe
Adam Gase says this QB draft class is “rare.” (via WQAM)

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Baker Mayfield all have grades of at least 90 on Scouts Inc., the first time in 15 years that four QBs in same Draft grade that high:

Scouts Inc. QB Grades, 2018
Darnold, USC 94
Allen, WYO 92
Rosen, UCLA 92
Mayfield, OKLA 91

Evan Silva@evansilva
Basically, this is THE draft in recent NFL history to invest in for QB-needy teams. Execs know it & are positioning themselves accordingly.

Jeff Zrebiec@jeffzrebiecsun
Eric DeCosta said that he believes there’s 8 to 9 QBs in this draft that will start and prove capable of winning games at some point during their rookie contracts.

[Author]

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