Mike Clay@MikeClayNFL
John Kelly falls to Rams in 6th. Weird prospect. Efficiency atrocious in some areas and good in others (YAC, elusive good last year). Did very bad in short-area drills in Indy.

Joe Curley@vcsjoecurley
John Kelly said has has watched Todd Gurley play over the years. “I think he’s a great back in the league, obviously. I can’t wait to be able to learn some of the things that he’s able to do and compete with him at practice,” @DowntownRams @CVRamsClub

John Kelly says he was able to learn from Alvin Kamara at Tennessee: “I was blessed to have a guy like Alvin who was able to show me how to perfect my craft. I definitely feel like I’m ready for it.” @DowntownRams @CVRamsClub

“They were able to help me develop my skills. Me just being able watch him, how everything translated. I expected him to do the great things that he did. Having a guy like that is motivational.”

@PFF on Kelly: “Kelly was sparingly used at Tennessee and enters the NFL as a dynamic weapon in all facets of the game and has very little wear and tear. His grades have been impressive but very inconsistent, showing potential rather than reliable production…

…He has a lot of weight on a short frame but doesn’t have the powerful legs that that usually translates to. He represents an interesting and versatile option for a team looking for a complementary back who could have success early.”

Ogbonnia “Obo” Okoronkwo (pronounced o-BO-ny-uh o-kor-RON-kwo) was the son of Nigerian immigrants, and a defensive end recruit from Houston Alief Taylor High School before going to Oklahoma. He redshirted in 2013, then played in 11 games as a reserve, making eight tackles, three for loss, and two sacks. Okoronkwo lined up for the first nine games in 2015 (nine tackles, two sacks) before being sat down as an internal discipline. He got his chance to attack the quarterback in 2016, earning a second-team All-Big 12 selection as a junior, making 67 tackles, 12 for loss, nine sacks, three pass break-ups, and two forced fumbles. Sooners coaches sent him into the backfield again in 2017, and he shared the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award with Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson. Obo posted 76 tackles, a team-high 17.5 for loss and eight sacks, as well as two pass break-ups and three forced fumbles. He was also named second-team All-American with Jefferson by the Associated Press for his efforts.

By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Rounds 4-5
Overview
Okoronkwo doesn’t possess the height, weight and length teams usually want on the edge and he doesn’t have the bend or athletic traits to supersede his deficiencies. With that said, he’s solidly built and plays with good aggression and motor. He lacks the physical and athletic traits that would make him a more dangerous NFL rusher, but he flashes some explosiveness and has enough room for improvement that he should develop into a solid NFL backup with eventual starter potential.
Strengths
Compact build with thick shoulders and well-built legs
Flashes NFL power when it’s time to lock horns
Gets off ball and up the field with some juice
Attacks the pocket with natural instincts as a rusher
Uses hesitation moves, changes pace and alters his path to the quarterback
Leg drive and leverage allow him to play through soft edges at top of his rush and attack pocket from flat angle
Looks to play under the block if tackle over-sets
Lauded for growth and maturity since first coming into the program
Plays with decent strength at the point of attack
Posted impressive tackle numbers thanks to quick disengage and finish
Able to accelerate to the flanks to help run down the ball
Weaknesses
Lacks the length teams will look for from a full-time 3-4 OLB
Needs to improve technique and consistency setting edge
Needs faster punch to prevent edge blockers from owning his frame
Gets flattened out by quality run blockers
Doesn’t take a stand early on
Tight-hipped, face up rusher
Beat inferior Big 12 tackles with power and effort over athletic traits as rusher
First rush step is a false step
Counter moves get thwarted when he’s too tall
Needs to work on becoming more slippery as a rusher
More violent than skilled with hands
Lacks experience in coverage and will get lost at times

Look at Tenn RB John Kelly create, especially on contact, versus Florida.

Wonderful pic.twitter.com/62NxB3Offj

— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) February 22, 2018

Dane Brugler:

JAMIL DEMBY | Maine 6044 | 319 lbs. | SR. Vineland, N.J. (Vineland) 6/20/1996 (age 21.9) #65

BACKGROUND: A no-star offensive guard recruit out of high school, Jamil (JAH-meal) Demby (Dem-bee) was a First Team all-conference offensive tackle at Vineland, earning several accolades on the field and in the classroom. He attracted attention from Northeast FBS-programs like Boston College, Rutgers and Maryland, but he only received offers from FCS-level schools, committing to Maine. Demby saw immediate action as a true freshman, starting 10 games at left tackle. He started 10 games at left tackle as a sophomore and again as a junior, earning Third Team All-CAA honors in 2016. Demby returned for his senior season and started all 10 games in 2017, taking home First Team All-CAA and multiple All-American honors. He accepted his invitation to the 2018 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and drew enough attention to earn a late invitation to the 2018 Senior Bowl.

YEAR (GP/GS)
2014: (10/10) 10 LT
2015: (10/10) 10 LT
2016: (10/10) 10 LT
2017: (10/10) 10 LT
Total: (42/40) 40 LT
HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP
COMBINE 6044 319 33 3/4 10 79 1/4 5.68 3.17 1.87 23 1/2 08’02” 4.95 7.86 17
PRO DAY N/A (positional drills only)

STRENGTHS: Square-framed with desired body girth for the position…core strength to withstand punches and not let bull rushes alter his blocking plan…balanced, controlled steps in space…keeps rushers at bay when he locks out his long arms…able to pull and trap block…sinks his hips at contact to strengthen his base…drives his legs in the run game to generate movement…two-year team captain with a coachable attitude…earned multiple Academic All-CAA honors and is currently taking online classes to finish his degree in kinesiology and exercise science, graduating in May…started all four seasons as Maine’s left tackle.

WEAKNESSES: Heavy legged with below average on-the-move efficiency…struggles to recover after giving up body position…core flexibility is an issue…susceptible to inside moves…little consistency at the second level…poor timing with his punch and doesn’t utilize his length with any consistency…displays initial pop, but wears down quickly in the rep, struggling to accurately counter pass rush moves…pads rise as a run blocker, leaving little room for error…room to add more glass to his diet to match the physicality of defenders…most of his experience came vs. FCS-level competition, not facing a FBS-level opponent in 2017.

SUMMARY: A four-year starter at Maine, Demby earned the starting left tackle job shortly after arriving in Orono and didn’t give up his post, starting 40 games in his career. He doesn’t have ideal experience against top talent, but didn’t look out of place during NFLPA Collegiate Bowl or Senior Bowl practices against better competition. Demby has a study base with NFL dimensions with his frame, length and hand size, moving bodies when he can unleash his raw strength. His lack of core and lower body flexibility creates a small margin for error, struggling to recover after a false move. Overall, Demby has only average athleticism, which leads to technique and discipline lapses, but a move inside to guard with his inline power will benefit his NFL transition, projecting as a developmental lineman.

GRADE: 6th Round

PFF@PFF_Rams
New #LARams HB John Kelly was not taken down by first contact on 36% of his runs. He also gained 1,128 of his 1,552 rushing yards after contact over the last three seasons for a 3.5 yards after contact per attempt total. #NFLDraft

Pro Football Focus@PFF
The Rams add Virginia LB Micah Kiser. He ranked 46th among draft-eligible off-ball linebackers in run-stop percentage in 2017 (9.4)

Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
Latest Rams pick Micah Kiser was the 2017 winner of the Campbell Trophy, which is known as the “academic Heisman.”

Deadpool sez:

Brian Allen – OC – Michigan State – 6′-1″ 298 lbs. – A strong, tough center that is sluggish in his movement. A workhorse.

He was my 218th ranked prospect, but my 2nd highest rated pure OC behind Quessenberry from UCLA. He has short arms and isn’t very smooth in his movement but he has a few intangibles I really look for in a OL. He was a very good wrestler, that means he knows how to use his hands, he knows how to manipulate weight and is tougher then your average bear. He was also a captain, so a leader and he comes from a deep football family.

And as I have said in the past, my blind spot is OC. I just don’t nail those guys too often.

Not a bad pick if you are desperate for an OC this year. Thats why I had Sean Welsh or Tony Adams to the Rams in the 6th. But they are guards first, projecting to C, Allen is a OC.

ESPN had him ranked 197, NFL.com had him as a 7th rounder.

Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
And, you guessed it, Brian Allen played in the Les Snead Senior Bowl this year.

Coming up on pick 111

Unless they trade back into the 2019 7th round.

canadaram wrote:

Ourlads:
Three-year starter from Plano, TX. One of the more intriguing left tackle prospects in the class. Long and lean with a ways to go when it comes to muscle mass and power presence. The naturally gifted and athletic tackle is excellent out of his stance. Quick and efficient kick slide up the edge. Matched with his long arms and wide wingspan, he can routinely beat speed rushers to the junction point. His hands are always ready to strike and he does a nice job of locking them on the breast plate upon contact. His body control and awareness enable him to easily alter his plan against stunts and blitzes. Comes across as a player who is mentally with it and prepared. A productive second level blocker who gets movement on defenders in space, adjusts on the fly, and will finish his blocks. The struggle he will see early on against pro defenders is his power and strength deficiency. Not ready to handle the man-strength he will see at the next level. Needs a lot more out of his lower body and needs to play with more of an edge. A developmental tackle who could take over within a year or two should his body react well to pro-caliber strength training. OSR:4/38. Fifth/sixth round. (A-35, H- 9 5/8, BP – 27, 10-1.75).

More from Ourlands:

…

Joseph Noteboom, OT
Senior, TCU

A name that was only somewhat on the radar prior to the season but has been creeping his way up is Joseph Noteboom, a 5h year senior and three year starter from TCU. In his first year on the left side, he has showed consistent foot speed and technique. The ultra-wide wingspan and easy kick slide make him a tough guy to beat off the edge. When his balance is there, Noteboom has showed the ability to neutralize both speed and power rushers alike. He does a solid job of keeping his hands inside with proper knee bend foot separation, making him able to maintain his power. There is still a lot of strength development and progression to be done, but his frame is easily something an NFL team can work with. Matched with what he already has, there is a very high ceiling to work with here.

2017 Highlights

Started all 40 games at tackle in final three seasons for the Horned Frogs, finishing with 27 straight at LT after shifting over from the right side. Helped pave the way for TCU to average 176.2 yards rushing and 413.9 yards total offense last year, both good for fifth in the Big 12. Allowed just two sacks, one QB hit and 10 hurries in 483 pass-blocking snaps. Moved up draft boards with impressive weeks at Senior Bowl and combine. Ranked No.4 among O-linemen with 40 time of 4.96, and his shuttle time was second. Multi-sport athlete in high school, which included a spell playing club hockey.

from NFL Draft Grades: Analysis of Every Second- and Third-Round Pick

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/27/nfl-draft-2018-grades-second-third-round-analysis

89. LOS ANGELES RAMS—T JOSEPH NOTEBOOM

Welcome to the party, Rams. You show up late, needing a new starter or two at defensive end, as well as stack linebacker. But instead you add an offensive tackle to a line that stayed intact and played extremely well last season? It’s actually not as crazy as it sounds. Three linemen—Rob Havenstein, Jamon Brown and Rodger Saffold—are in contract years, and the other two, Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan, are old. All those young ball-handling weapons you have won’t do any good down the road if their blocking breaks down. Also, congratulations on finding Brandin Cooks with the No. 23 pick.

GRADE: B-

General Manager Les Snead and Head Coach Sean McVay NFL Draft Media Availability, Day Two, & T Joseph Noteboom Conference Call – April 27, 2018

(On what they like about OL Joseph Noteboom)

Snead: “Played left tackle for the last two years, started 40 straight games. Went to the Senior Bowl was able to play against some good rushers down there. At the end of the day, you got a chance to get a young offensive lineman, add depth, learn from the starters that we have and develop him to become a future player for us.”

(On how ready Noteboom is to be an NFL player and how much grooming he needs before being considered a starter)

Snead: “I can tell that you that from a mental standpoint to be active on gameday, number one, you’re going to have to be able to learn two positions – that’s right and left tackle. He can do that. That’s no problem for him. From that point forward, it’s going out and earning a job on the field.”

McVay: “He’s had a lot of experience. You talk about starting 40 straight games. He’s got experience starting at right tackle, he’s played left the last two seasons. I think, when you just look at the athleticism, his ability to be able to get removal in the run game, but then also be able to just cover people up in protection. Watch the way that he can change angles, he understands those types of things. I think it’s a great situation for him, being able to come in and learn behind (T) Andrew Whitworth and (T) Rob Havenstein – two tackles that we feel great about. Learn under (Run Game Coordinator) Coach (Aaron) Kromer’s guidance and leadership, so it’s an exciting thing. He’s a very impressive person, we got a chance to meet with him at the combine. Everybody that’s spent a lot of time with him, thinks very highly. We’re excited about Joe.”

(On how good a mentor Andrew Whitworth can be to a young offensive lineman like Noteboom)

Snead: “Joe is a lucky man. I don’t think any offensive tackle would be in a better situation. That’s Andrew, that’s Coach (Kromer), that’s Rob Havenstein, that’s all of our guys. So it’s a perfect situation for him to be able to come and learn from one of the best.”

(On how today played out compared to their original thoughts going into today)

Snead: “We talked about this scenario, it was one of the scenarios we talked about earlier this week in preparation for tonight. ‘Hey, if Joe is available, bringing in a let’s call it a young offensive lineman that we can develop for the future.’ So that was the scenario we talked about. When you wait until (pick) 87, there’s a lot of players that you do talk about. Some were there, some weren’t that we discussed. So this was one of the scenarios we discussed and we went with it along with maybe a little small trade at the end that was really, hey,we had players on the board that we liked. We felt like Joe would fall based on the teams in front of us that we were going to move behind, who they had picked earlier and their roster situation, so it was ‘Ok, let’s just get an extra pick and still try to get Joe as well.”

(On how today’s outcome affects tomorrow with eight picks still on the board)

McVay: “I think really today’s been a great representation of Les and his staff being on point with some of the things they had projected. Being able to play out a bunch of different scenarios that we kind of envisioned, and really they envisioned, is kind of where you feel good about being ready to go. Today was something that was reflective of that where a lot of different scenarios like Les mentioned, this was one that we talked through. We all felt very good about the decision we made today. To their credit, I think when you look at just the players that we have left on the board right now, having those eight picks like you mentioned with three of them in the fourth and then five in the sixth, we feel confident we’re going to add some good depth to our football team but also some good football players that we feel like are going to be able to help us. That’ll allow us to acquire good players number one but also be able to address some needs where we can improve our depth at certain positions. That’s what’s exciting is when you’ve got a great personnel staff led by Les, to be able to have all those plans in place and then allow the coaching staff to be a part of it as well.”

(On if Noteboom’s speed stood out during the draft process)

Snead: “It’s interesting because he went to the combine and probably, if you want to call it, won the combine. But I think what stood out first was, you saw that athleticism, obviously, at TCU, but when he got to Mobile (Ala.) and it translated down there against some of the better players, seniors in this draft. But when a guy goes to the combine and does what he did that does show you because measurements are not everything, you still have to play football. But what that helps us do is, OK coming in, like we said, learning under an Aaron Kromer, an Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein there’s upside there. He can get better. There’s skills in that body that can ascend. But a lot of times with these players, too, you just want to make sure that the floor is solid as well. We felt that with Joe.”

(On the remaining edge rushers and what they hope to be available in the fourth round tomorrow)

Snead: “I don’t want to tip my hand on what we think about the board, but we’re well aware that we’re going to need some depth, probably, at that position. But what you have to do, and stay disciplined in this situation, is follow the board within common sense. As an example, if there’s another position that helps us in a role that we could use, that we have a specific idea for, you take that position instead of reaching for another position.”

(On if he thinks ahead on a player like Noteboom’s ability to be a starter in the future or if that’s too far ahead to think about)

Snead: “To pick an offensive tackle, we had vision that coming in here, getting the chances, we’ve repeated multiple times in this press conference, to get to be mentored by Aaron (Kromer) and Andrew (Whitworth), he definitely has a chance to do that or become that.”

McVay: “Yeah, and I think that’s a spot where you want to be able to have depth. Unfortunately, we know that injuries, different things come up, and when you have guys that have that type of range, that type of length, and the athleticism to be able to play both left and right, that’s very valuable for us. We felt like that was going to be able to provide great value, especially with where we were able to acquire Joe. Getting him at (No.) 89 is something that we’re excited about, and you can’t say enough about the situation he’s coming into. We’ve talked about it already a bunch, but I think just looking at being able to get that guidance from an Aaron Kromer, but then also have the mentorship behind an Andrew Whitworth because he is truly one of those special players that goes out of his way. He’s done it at a high level for a long time, but he also goes out of his way to really help develop guys, and I think that’s what makes him so special. I think he was instrumental in really helping our line as a whole last year, and I know he’ll do the same thing taking Joe underneath his arm and kind of guiding him along the way.”

*****

Rams Third-Round Draft Selection, No. 89 overall –Tackle Joseph Noteboom Conference Call – April 27, 2018

(On if he prefers to go by Joe or Joseph)

“Either one really, it doesn’t matter.”

(On how it feels to be selected by the Rams)

“It’s fantastic, just knowing all of the pieces they’ve added. What a great young team it is and Coach McVay –I think it’s the perfect spot, so (it feels) amazing.”

(On what he thinks he brings to the Rams)

“I think they have an explosive offense, which we kind of had at TCU. Just athleticism, coachability, just do whatever they want me to do – help the offense out and try to score many points, which they did last year, so the same thing.”

(On if he is familiar with T Andrew Whitworth’s work and if he’s excited to be mentored by him)

“Yes, for sure. I know a lot about (T Andrew) Whitworth, watched a lot of him. I’m excited. I’m going to take in everything he’s telling me. That’s a perfect guy to learn from, a Pro Bowler like you said, a veteran.”

(On the type of contact he had with the Rams during the process)

“I had a top-30 visit and I had a formal visit at the (NFL Scouting) Combine. Those were pretty much the big moments right there.”

(On if they had a feeling the Rams were interested)

“Yeah, I had a good feeling they were interested. (Run Game Coordinator) Coach Kromer offensive line, I felt good in the visit – everyone was pretty interested and felt comfortable there, so it was the perfect place.”

wv wrote:

Enh. Very inconsistent, a project. A need pick.

What were the odds zn came up with about OT’s picked after the second round? Somethin like five percent?

Its a good thing they are an unstoppable Dream Team.

w
v

Yeah it’s about 5%. But that’s not OTs, it’s just LOTs. So a coupla outcomes here. One is, he becomes one of the odds defying lower round LOTs. Another is, he becomes a guard or ROT. Some have even mentioned center. The odds of finding a lower round starting guard or ROT are significantly better. They need OL. They just do…2 are old and the other 3 are FAs after this season. So if he becomes a starting LOT, then, they scored big time. If not, they need a guard or ROT anyway. Heck right now, as a swing tackle, he is already by far the best depth they have for THIS season.

Rams have had their share of good to great OL coaches, going back years. Kromer is one of the top ones, if not THE top one. He of course was in on this pick. So there’s probably more to this than the negatives in scouting reports would lead you to think.

Vincent Bonsignore@DailyNewsVinny
One other thing on #Rams pick of TCU OT Joseph Noteboom: there’s a ton of respect in their building for O-line coach Aaron Kromer, who I’m certain chimed in. Between input he provided and the confidence they have in him on the development side, I imagine the conviction was real

Thurman Thomas@thurmanthomas
Noteboom… Smart and nasty.