I was surprised at the Gurley pick. Running backs are no longer precious commodities according to recent prevailing wisdom. Our RB unit is deep and good, if Mason is what he appeared to be last year.

Going in, the Oline was the unit most in need of reinforcements. After abstaining from the pre-draft FA market, the need for quality Olinemen in the draft gained a sense of urgency.

After about five seconds of pondering, I was on board. I didn’t want an OL with the number ten pick in the first round, especially not the (probably) third-best OL, with Scherff and Flowers already off the board (not that Peat wasn’t commonly considered on par with those two).

I learn more about college players in the weeks leading up to the draft than I do during the season. I read a bunch of articles and reports and evaluations. Gurley was revered by many commenters as being a potential superstar, a clear cut above the others in this draft and most other drafts. With the injury, he was projected in mock drafts much later than the number ten, so I pretty much just dismissed the possibility and didn’t think about Gurley as a potential selection for the Rams.

But I love getting a playmaker with a top-ten pick. That’s what I want from a number ten. Also, they didn’t succumb to the temptation of taking a player farther down their board just because it would fill a need, or reject a player almost at the top of their board because they don’t have a glaring need at that position.

But really, I am most pleased because Snead and Fisher appear to be pleased with the way they addressed their Oline in this draft. They sound like they got three they really wanted. They sound like they did a ton of homework and had a clear idea of what they wanted.

I am an optimist and I am inclined to trust Snead and Fisher that Gurley’s knee will be fine, and that a couple of the linemen will be quality starters. I feel good about this draft.

Zooey wrote:

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh. I guess he did technically pass through the draft. But it’s hard to imagine he wouldn’t have been taken in the 6th or 7th if he hadn’t threatened not to sign. I guess if I’m the NFL, I don’t want players threatening not to sign if drafted lower than they value themselves, only to be signed as a FA. You don’t want to turn the NFL draft into a game of chicken.

I did actually miss your point about Collins’ threat. I can see what you mean, but I’m not sure it poses that great a threat. Best case scenario for Collins would be a bidding war at this point I guess. Do UDFAs occasionally get paid more than draftees? It might pencil out for the player by a little bit, but if the player has already slid past his desired draft position, then maybe he’s already overestimated his value. How much is he going to gain by refusing to sign? Don’t teams have budgetary limitations for UDFAs?

Now I really am curious if such a strategy would make sense. I sure don’t know.

I don’t have any conscious memory of a time before I was a Rams fan. I don’t have a second-favorite team. I am a sucker for the Rams, because I require nothing from them in order for them to retain my total allegiance. No Ram owner or front-office executive – in fact no Ram of any kind, ever – has ever known or cared that I exist. I have no voice in the Rams’ realm. There have been some dismal years. Stretches of years. Difficult to watch years. I am critical, but I don’t waver.

My enthusiasm frequently manifests in the hope that I will be pleasantly surprised at how well the Rams play.

This season represents a potential step backwards, with a new QB and a first-time OC. That scenario has become monotonous. I have no clue as to which Foles we will see.

Everybody knows that priorty number one is the offensive line this offseason. Nothing but crickets so far, but that just means they’ve passed on two or three free agents. This isn’t the time to worry yet, even though we want all problems addressed immediately.

I already know how I will react if they move. I went through it when they left LA. I don’t hope they move back to LA. At this point, I think it will hurt Stl more than it will help LA or the Rams if they leave. I hope they stay put. But in either case, I’ll still be a Rams fan.

wv wrote:

Who do ya wanna draft, Maddy?

I think there are still enough needs to take the BPA at one of those need positions. OL, LB, CB, QB, WR – take the best guy from the position of least supply, or just take the best guy if you like him best by far.

I am leery of using an early pick on a questionable or so-so second or third tier QB, just because we need to get one. Mediocre QBs don’t seem that hard to find.

I do think there is something to the “keep drafting receivers” approach. If one of the big timers are sitting there, I wouldn’t disagree with taking one.

We need multiple OL. I’d like to dip into that pool kind of early at least once.

Well, I think we should get a guy like Andrew Luck in the draft. Or just get Andrew Luck. But if we can’t pull that off, I like the idea of getting a guy who has shown some ability, had some success, is young, and has developed already at the NFL level. That is, of course, if there aren’t any sure-thing pro-bowlers available.

I’d trade picks from this year’s draft to do it. You’d have to trade them to move up and get Mariota or Winston anyway, and we do actually need to get a QB fairly urgently. Plus, our big roster needs, to my knowledge, after QB, are interior Oline and OLB. Those are not the most dire, gotta get them in the first two rounds type of needs. Might be a good year for the Rams to trade a couple of picks away if they can get what they need.

GreatRamNTheSky wrote:

They could make a deal with the Eagles for either Foles or Sanchez.

Grits

Different, but not better. Our Paper Mache or Crap, or theirs. If the question is quarterback, Sanchez is not the answer.

Also, it seems like we could draft ALL offensive linemen, and still have holes to fill on the Oline.

I would prefer to take excellence at OL and LB, if available, than the best available QB if he’s just a guy, just because we need to address the position.

If an excellent QB prospect isn’t available when the Rams make their first pick, then they are going to make some kind of value pick in another round, right? It just seems like those turn into wasted picks, and seem that way even when the pick is being made.

My thoughts are all very positive. I can’t wait to see them play these days.

nittany ram wrote:

Seriously, it’s true.

Poppycock!

Playing to pass the Niners.

Fisher had the six players from the RGIII trade as coin toss captains. That’s pretty good.

Was Randall Cunningham not a refined pocket passer? Was Warren Moon not really that mobile? Seems like there have been guys who were good at both.

Some running QBs figure it out. Steve Young was too quick giving up plays and resorting to the run early in his career. Run-first type QBs need to become run-when-they-have-to type QBs. It worked out for Young.

I was at that 20-0 win. We had good seats, a couple of rows in front of Huggy Bear, who’s son was playing for the Raiders.