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znModeratorAaron Wilson @RavensInsider ·
St. Louis Rams guaranteed $10,000 of defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat 2015 base salary, and gave him $15,000 signing bonusznModeratorNice article by Silver. Dunno if itz already posted.
He actually has 2 (including yours), both here in this thread. Interestin stuff.
znModeratorBut yeah, if he’s clear and even if he might miss a bit of time, I’d jump on it…early.
He’s a 1st round talent who does what we want to do. Show some faith in the kid and watch him pay it back.
It would be nice but he is in essence a free agent.
He can go anywhere he wants, if things hold up as is.
This could work out that he essentially “fell” to the Patriots for nothing.
znModeratorhttp://theadvocate.com/sports/lsu/12264606-123/left-out-a-first-round-projection
Set to meet with police Monday, ex-LSU star La’el Collins goes undrafted, now ineligible to enter the 2016 draftLa’el Collins’ improbable tumble in the NFL draft is complete. In 256 picks, he wasn’t selected.
Collins was left out during the three-day, seven-round event in Chicago that ended Saturday, a stunning free fall that began when news broke Tuesday that police wished to speak with him regarding the shooting death last weekend of a pregnant woman.
“We have never seen a story like this in NFL draft history,” ESPN reporter Adam Schefter said during the network’s coverage of the event.
Collins, LSU’s former star left tackle and Redemptorist standout, began the week as a sure-fire first-round pick — a 6-foot-4, 305-pounder who many projected as a potential top-10 selection before his name surfaced in the homicide investigation.
Baton Rouge police have said Collins is not a suspect in the death of Brittney Mills, but the mere association with the incident sent his draft stock tumbling. It caused his agent on Friday to make a rare move.
The agent told multiple national outlets that the former All-Southeastern Conference player would sit out the 2015 season and re-enter the draft in 2016 if he was not drafted in Friday’s second and third rounds. He said his client would not sign with a team if picked in Saturday’s fourth through seventh rounds and that he would not sign an undrafted free agent contract.
He’s now ineligible to enter the 2016 draft because he was not selected in the 2015 event. He is eligible to sign a free-agent deal.
Collins returned to Baton Rouge on Wednesday from the draft site in Chicago with plans to meet with police. A source confirmed Collins will meet with homicide detectives Monday and will take a paternity test to determine whether he was the father of Mills’ child Brenton. Brenton Mills, delivered alive immediately after his mother’s death, died Friday as a 1-week-old.
The ordeal has hovered over Collins this week, spooking NFL teams from taking him. He lost a hefty signing bonus. Even as a late first-round draft pick, Collins would have received upward of $2 million in guaranteed money.
Collins was projected by some to be selected in the top 10. A source said Saturday that an NFL team had reached out to a former LSU assistant coach for his thoughts on Collins. The team thought seriously about taking him in the second round Friday. They passed on him.
One NFL general manager, the Houston Texans’ Rick Smith, told local reporter Howard Chen on Saturday that Collins’ situation is “unfortunate” and “tragic” and that there is too much uncertainty to risk a draft pick on him.
A source told The Advocate that, as of Saturday night, Collins had not signed with a team as a free agent.
Collins’ agency, Priority Sports/Maven Sports Group, knew this was coming. They asked the NFL to withdraw Collins from the selection process just hours before the draft began Thursday, FoxSports.com reported. The NFL rejected the request.
“We’ve seen seven rounds come and seven rounds (go), and La’el Collins, once considered a first-round draft pick, still has not been drafted,” Schefter said. “It now will put him into a very difficult and challenging situation, particularly with teams having rookie salary caps that they have to squeeze players under. … Everybody is waiting to see exactly what happens here.”
Collins is one of many people who will be interviewed as part of the investigation into Mills’ death, police have said.
Mills was shot multiple times in “the upper body” last Friday night after answering the door at her Ship Drive apartment, police said, likely by someone she knew. It appeared she refused a request by the shooter to use her vehicle and then was shot, police have said.
Collins’ attorney, Jim Boren, said Wednesday he would not be commenting further on the matter.
The attorney said a private investigative company was hired to prove Collins was out of town and therefore couldn’t have shot Mills. The nature of the relationship between Mills and Collins hasn’t been made clear, except that the two knew each other.
znModeratorfrom off the net
==
Prime Time,
This article was published before the end of the draft which accounts for the author’s statements that he believed Collins would be drafted by someone. It doesn’t really explain whether or not Collins will be allowed to enter the 2016 draft because there’s no precedence on this for an undrafted player.
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http://mmqb.si.com/2015/05/02/lael-collins-2015-nfl-draft/
What Happens to La’el Collins Now?
After not being drafted on Thursday or Friday, La’el Collins’ representatives have said he won’t play in 2015 and will re-enter next year’s draft. According to teams and agents, the offensive lineman’s situation isn’t so cut-and-dried
By Robert KlemkoIn the case of La’el Collins, there are football interests, collective bargaining ramifications and public relations decisions worthy of scrutiny and discussion. But in doing so, we must not lose sight of the most important—and heinous—detail: a pregnant woman was shot and killed, and the baby, whom doctors delivered, died a week later; the killer is likely at large.
That said, my expertise after polling teams and agents, is on the football side of things, so that’s what I’ll discuss here. And I’ll start with an educated guess: La’el Collins will get drafted today in Chicago.
Before I explain, a recap: Collins, the former LSU offensive lineman, was invited to attend the draft and expected to go in the first round. On Friday, April 24, 29-year-old Brittney Mills, reportedly Collins’ ex-girlfriend, was shot to death in her Baton Rouge, La., home. The child, Brenton Mills, died one week later. Collins had arrived in Chicago for draft festivities this week but left the city in order to meet with police in Louisiana, who considered him a person of interest but not a suspect.
Collins’ representation, led by Deryk Gilmore of Priority Sports, petitioned for Collins to be removed from the draft and placed in this summer’s supplemental draft for special cases. That petition was denied on the grounds of a hard and fast CBA rule: “No player may elect to bypass a draft for which he is eligible to apply for selection in a supplemental draft.”
Fair enough.
Then came this bombshell from the Collins camp: If drafted beyond round 3 (or not drafted at all), Collins would decline to sign, and would sit out the year and enter the 2016 draft. Ostensibly, the motivation would be to recoup the guaranteed cash he has lost by falling out of the first round.
For the first scenario, there is precedent. Bo Jackson, drafted in 1986 by Tampa Bay, played a season of pro baseball rather than join the Bucs, and because he refused to sign a contract the team lost his rights before the next draft. The Raiders chose Jackson in the seventh round of the ’87 draft. Today the cutoff is Week 10, and you get thrown back into the next year’s draft pool.
You can do that.
But what if you’re not drafted, and you want to sit out a season and gain entry to the next draft? There’s no precedent, and zero language in the 2011 collective bargaining agreement providing for such a scenario. Media reports subsequent to Collins’ declaration have yet to touch on this, instead treating his assumed admission to the 2016 draft as a ’15 UDFA as a given.
“It certainly is not automatic,” said one agent well-versed in the CBA. “There is obviously some language in the CBA that can lead to a rendering of an interpretation by the league on the issue. How valid an interpretation that is would have to be examined, and if a player thought it was not a correct interpretation he could bring a System Arbitration challenging it.”
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says the league’s stance is clear: “If he’s not drafted today? He would be the same as any other player in this draft. He becomes a free agent like any other undrafted player. You only go through one draft. If he’s drafted and sits out the year, he would go back into the 2016 draft.”
Again, there is no language in the CBA for this scenario, complicating his prospects of winning any kind of argument with the league. All of which makes his agency’s declaration so peculiar. Why wouldn’t you want to get drafted, so you could have the option of sitting out a year and re-entering the draft?
You can table this question for now as we wait for the NFLPA to weigh in. The most valuable interpretation will come from the union’s counsel, who did not respond to an email Friday night. For now, a bigger, burning question: Why isn’t La’el Collins screaming his innocence from the rooftops?
I can confirm that he and his attorney have spent the last several days on the phone with any team who will talk to him, explaining his side of things and his belief that the child was not his (no word on a paternity test so far). He also took a lie detector test organized by his reps Thursday, and passed, per Jason Cole.
That’s what we’re hearing through back channels, but why aren’t we hearing it from the man himself?
Consider the tragic case of Dennis Weathersby, the former Oregon State cornerback and projected first-round pick in the 2003 draft. The week of the draft, he was shot in the back in a drive-by shooting, and police concluded he and a companion were mistaken for someone else. The night before the draft, ESPN aired a piece on SportsCenter chronicling the bizarre turn of events, including an interview with Weathersby. Given expectations of a full recovery by doctors, the Bengals drafted him in the fourth round.
Different strokes for different crisis managers, perhaps. If Collins is so distraught he’s unable or unwilling to compose himself for cameras, that wouldn’t jibe with making the audacious “don’t draft me” declaration.
And despite all of this, I still think Collins will get drafted. At this point, I think most of the NFL has taken him off their draft boards. Collins’ ultimatum didn’t help his cause. But the majority of agents and team sources I spoke with believe Collins will continue to slide until one team—and all it takes is one—decides to call his bluff on the assumption that Collins will come around once the dust settles. Given the information available Friday night, I’ll be watching the seventh round very closely.
znModeratorRams notes: Rams add undrafted free agents to roster
By Joe Lyons
At the end of the NFL draft Saturday night, Rams coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead met at Rams Park with members of the media to discuss the team’s selections.
But they still had some work to do, namely the “eighth round’’ of the draft — or the addition of undrafted rookie free agents.
It’s been an area of strength for Fisher and Snead, who wrapped up their fourth St. Louis draft Saturday. The team’s roster features a number of productive players who joined the team as undrafted free agents, including Pro Bowl punter Johnny Hekker, starting safety Rodney McLeod and special teams contributors Daren Bates, Benny Cunningham, Marcus Roberson and Trey Watts.
With 73 players under contract or drafted over the weekend, the Rams only needed to sign a handful to approach the 90-man offseason roster limit. And there’s always a chance they’ll need a spot or two to sign veteran free agents.
“Really (our current roster) affects the numbers, how many players you need,’’ Snead said. “So obviously we need less when there’s more under contract presently. Post-draft, instead of signing 30, you may only need 15, so that’s really all it does.’’
Snead also noted that this year’s draft wasn’t as strong as some other years.
“This draft is probably a little less deep than last year,’’ he said. “Last year, you get a (cornerback) Marcus Roberson in free agency, I don’t know if we’re getting a Marcus Roberson this year in free agency.”
Fisher added: “Or a Rodney McLeod.”
Still, the Rams — like every team in the NFL — will add a number of players, hoping to find a guy or two who can beat the odds and find a way to earn a spot on the regular-season roster as an undrafted free agent.
Since the draft, the Rams have signed or agreed to terms with 13 undrafted rookies.
One of the more intriguing prospects is two-sport standout Bradley Marquez, a wide receiver from Texas Tech who spent the summers of 2012 and 2013 playing minor-league baseball for the Kingsport (Tenn.) Mets. A 16th-round draft choice of the New York Mets in 2011, he batted .254 with a homer, 11 RBIs and four steals in 36 career games as a rookie-ball outfielder.
He has decided to put his baseball career on hold while giving football a try.
At Texas Tech last fall, the 6-foot, 203-pounder played in a number of different receiving spots and finished with a career-best 65 catches for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Another receiver to watch is Tyler Slavin, a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder from Division II New Mexico Highlands. Slavin, who transferred to the Cowboys after two seasons at Arizona, caught 119 passes for 1,418 yards and had 17 touchdowns last fall. He had double-digit catches in six of 11 games, finishing with 17 grabs two times.
The Rams’ group also features a pair of running backs from Texas — former Longhorn Malcolm Brown and Texas State’s Terrence Franks.
Brown, a physical 5-foot-11, 224-pounder, finished his four-year stay in Austin with 2,678 yards, 27 touchdowns and 11 100-yard games. Not bad statistics for someone who battled injuries early and a crowded backfield late in his Texas career.
Franks played in 12 games but made just two starts last fall at Texas State. The 5-foot-10, 214-pounder had a career day against Idaho, rushing for 284 yards and three touchdowns, in just 15 carries, in a 35-30 Bobcats win. He finished the season with 712 rushing yards and scored 11 times.
Some other Rams signings of special note:
• Projected as a fifth- or sixth-round selection, Iowa defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat posted the following on Twitter: “Officially signed with the St. Louis Rams. Thank God Rams have given me one more opportunity. Those who overlooked me will regret it.”
The 6-foot-1, 290-pounder was a three-year starter in Iowa City and had career bests in tackles (65), tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (seven) as a senior.
• Safety Jay Hughes of Mississippi State missed the final 12 games of his junior season because of an Achilles tendon injury but bounced back strong as a captain and team leader last fall. He played in all 13 games, making 12 starts, and had a pair of interceptions as the 10-3 Bulldogs reached the Orange Bowl. His father, Tony, is assistant head coach at Mississippi State.
• Two other FCS defensive backs who bear watching are cornerback Imoan Claiborne of Northwestern State of Louisiana and rangy safety Jacob Hagen of Liberty (Va.) University.
Claiborne (5-11, 187) is a physical man-to-man defender who had three interceptions and four fumble recoveries as a senior last fall. He also played in the Senior Bowl.
Hagen is a ball-hawking free safety with size (6-3, 215) and big-time production — 108 tackles, including 5½ for loss, eight interceptions, seven pass breakups and four forced fumbles last fall.
DAVON WALLS TO THE JETS
Davon Walls, the Brooklyn native who starred at Lincoln University in Jefferson City last fall, will be sticking close to home after signing as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets.
Walls, who spent time at five colleges since 2009, was kicked off the team at Syracuse in 2013 after being charged with felony burglary for stealing $950 worth of electronic equipment. After fulfilling the terms of his probation, the charges were reduced to misdemeanor trespassing.
He eventually found his way to Lincoln, where he excelled in one season under coach Mike Jones, a former Rams linebacker.
In 11 games last fall, Walls, a 6-6, 295 defensive lineman, had 17½ tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
OTHER NFL SIGNINGS
Missouri State tight end Gannon Sinclair signed with the Arizona Cardinals. A 6-7, 280-pound transfer from the North Dakota College of Science, Sinclair started 12 games as a senior for the Bears last fall, finishing with 18 catches for 258 yards with a team-high seven touchdown receptions.
• Missouri S&T cornerback Will Brown, a Hazelwood West High product, will have a minicamp tryout with Tennessee.
znModeratorHow Rams graded out in 2015 NFL draft
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/18222/how-rams-graded-out-in-2015-nfl-draft
EARTH CITY, Mo. — It’s an annual tradition after the NFL draft for teams to get graded on how they performed during the three-day selection process.
Of course, those grades don’t mean a lot in the grand scheme of things because the only thing that really matters is how the players perform once they get on the field. Three years is generally a better sample size.
Regardless, it can be a fun exercise to see how pundits rate the St. Louis Rams’ performance in the draft, as long as we view it as such rather than something that really matters all that much.
With that out of the way, let’s dig in to how various NFL draft analysts rated what the Rams got done this year:
Right here at ESPN.com, Mel Kiper Jr. gave the Rams a ‘C.’ Kiper would’ve liked to have seen the Rams spend a little more draft capital on a wide receiver and a cornerback. He also isn’t a big believer in drafting a running back so early, though he acknowledged Todd Gurley as a special talent.
At cbssports.com, Will Brinson doesn’t hand out grades but calls the Rams one of his big winners from the draft. He correctly points out that most of how you feel about the Rams’ draft is directly related to how you feel about Gurley. Clearly, he likes Gurley’s potential.
Also at cbssports.com, Pete Prisco passed out his grades and offered the Rams a ‘C+.’ Prisco liked the selection of Louisville offensive lineman Jamon Brown in the third round but believes the Gurley pick is a luxury rather than a need.At NFL.com, Bryan Fischer also gave the Rams a ‘C+.’He liked the Rams’ approach and pointed to Gurley as a potential game-changer. With five picks on Day 3, he didn’t like much of what the Rams did until the seventh round.
At SI.com, the love for the Rams is most abundant. Doug Farrar gives the Rams an ‘A’ for their work. He liked the team’s commitment to the run game and views the Rams as a potentially dangerous team moving forward.
As for my take, I gave the Rams a ‘B-minus’ in my instant evaluation after the draft. We’ll know more in three years, but I liked how the Rams committed to a direction and stuck with it by accumulating bodies. I lowered the grade a bit, though, because this class simply doesn’t look to have a lot of upside. There’s nothing wrong with that, but other than Gurley, it feels like a low ceiling, high-floor type of class. Only Gurley stands out to me as a possible star. But if he becomes one and some of the offensive linemen turn into quality starters, there’s no doubt this will be viewed as an important class in the Rams’ attempts to right the ship.
znModeratorznModeratorCertainly, the strategy was fueled by the need to give assistant coach Paul Boudreau some (hopefully) able and (definitely) experienced bodies for his offensive line.
I just think Boudreau had a big hand in making all of these selections.
znModeratorRams might have NFL’s least-experienced O-line
By Jim Thomas
If the NFL season started next Sunday, the Rams’ offensive line probably would look like this:
• Left tackle Greg Robinson.
• Left guard Rodger Saffold.
• Center Barrett Jones.
• Right guard Garrett Reynolds or Jamon Brown.
• Right tackle Rob Havenstein.
Will that get it done for quarterback Nick Foles? Todd Gurley and the Rams’ running game?
Will it inspire confidence in Rams coaches? Or even Rams fandom?
We’ll see. After three consecutive years of opening the season with the NFL’s youngest roster, the Rams very well could have the most inexperienced offensive line in pro football.
Joe Barksdale, you say, at right tackle?
Well, maybe it still happens.
But why would Barksdale — who along with his agent severely overestimated his market value — sign with the Rams after they drafted a right tackle in the second round (Havenstein) and one in the fourth (Andrew Donnal)?
Veteran Justin Blalock at guard? Released by the Atlanta Falcons much earlier in the offseason, Blalock would be an improved Davin Joseph when it came to being a stopgap starter. Maybe a much-improved Joseph.
Blalock once played for Rams offensive line coach Paul Boudreau, so he knows the system and could step right in.
He’s a hard-working veteran who could teach the younger Rams how to take notes in the meeting room, how to approach their craft, how to be a pro. He’s been on the Rams’ radar for a while. But if it hasn’t happened yet, will it happen at all?
There has been some organizational conjecture at Rams Park about the possibility of re-signing center Scott Wells at a reduced rate. But Wells is 34 and might want to call it a career. And he was slowed by injury throughout his three seasons here.
Tackle Jake Long? He initially considered retiring after suffering another knee injury last season, a season-ender in Game 7. But the word is he wants to return to the NFL, although it’s uncertain the subject even has come up at Rams Park.
It would have to be at a reduced rate and could possibly be at a different position — such as right tackle or guard. Even if the Rams decided to make another run at him, would he come back under those terms — less money, new spot?
Somebody else with experience might crop up in the coming weeks or months, but it’s hard to bank on that.
So what you see could be what you get on the Rams’ current offensive line. After drafting four O-linemen Friday and Saturday, they have 13 on their offseason roster. That’s not including any undrafted rookies the team might sign, but already enough to get the Rams through training camp.
From a mental standpoint, playing in the NFL is like getting your Ph.D in football. Even on the offensive line, it normally takes the smartest, most studious player to grasp the schemes, protections and proper blocking angles quickly.
If Havenstein or Brown has to start right away, there undoubtedly would be bumps along the way because of the adjustment process. Remember, No. 2 overall pick Robinson was held out of the first four games in 2014 for that very reason.
At right guard, the veteran Reynolds (27 NFL starts) could begin the year as the starter while Brown gets some grooming.
Reynolds, a free-agent pickup from Detroit, is a scrapper with a reputation for having his teammates’ back on the field, and trying to get that extra block downfield. But ideally, he’s a third guard — a swing player who also can help at tackle if needed.
If it all falls apart up front, the Rams will regret the fact that they didn’t aggressively pursue veteran help in free agency.
Along those same lines, taking a running back with the 10th the pick of the draft and waiting until No. 57 to draft an offensive lineman might blow up in their faces as well. A healthy Gurley might indeed be a special back, or what general manager Les Snead called a “once-in-a-while” kind of back.
He also might have been the vaunted “best player available” on the board at the time. That probably wasn’t the case for Havenstein and Brown. Both could turn out to be effective players and long-term starters, but at first glance they appear to be over-drafted. In other words, taken a little higher than their value.
Havenstein, for example, was the eighth tackle selected (the seventh if you consider Iowa’s Brandon Scherff an NFL guard). The talent available at the position dropped considerably after Havenstein’s selection — he might have been the last tackle drafted with genuine potential to start on day one as a rookie.
A college tackle, Brown projects as an NFL guard, and most pre-draft projections had him going in the Round 4-5 area. He’s a wide-body mauler type with 40 games of college starting experience at Louisville, and obviously the Rams had a higher opinion as they took him early in Round 3.
We’ll find out soon enough if the Rams’ assessment was right. But strictly in terms of being a prospect entering the league, Brown is no Laken Tomlinson — the Duke player considered the best true guard prospect. Similarly, Havenstein is no Andrus Peat, the Stanford project considered the best left tackle prospect in the draft.
Three years from now, those draft ratings might seem ridiculous. But for now, Gurley better be plenty good. And plenty good right away. Because in an already-stacked backfield, he looks like a luxury pick right now.
For those reasons, our instant grade on the Rams’ draft class of 2015 is C+.
znModerator
St. Louis Rams – TeamReportThe Sports Xchange
on May 3, 2015 @ 3:40 PM
http://www.globalpost.com/article/6536854/2015/05/03/st-louis-rams-teamreport
NFL Team Report – St. Louis Rams – INSIDE SLANT
St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher loves running backs. When his Tennessee Titans advanced to the Super Bowl in 1999, it was with Eddie George, the 14th overall choice in the 1996 draft. In eight seasons with Houston and Tennessee, George rushed for 10,009 yards and 64 touchdowns.
After George, it was Chris Johnson, who rushed for 2,006 yards for Fisher in 2009.
Thus, it really wasn’t that much of a surprise when the Rams gambled heavily Thursday night, selecting Georgia running back Todd Gurley with the 10th overall choice in the draft. It surely fits Fisher’s philosophy.
While Fisher didn’t want to compare Gurley to George, who rushed for 10,009 yards and 64 touchdowns in eight seasons with Houston and Tennessee, he did say of Gurley, “He’s special, but they’re different. They have different running styles. But when the career is all said and done, he can be that guy.”
George also believes that. He texted Fisher after the pick, writing, “Congratulations. Great pick.”
Gurley becomes the seventh running back on the Rams’ roster and marks the fourth consecutive year the Rams have selected a runner in the draft: Isaiah Pead in the second round in 2012, Zac Stacy in the fifth round in 2013 and Tre Mason in the third round last year.
Taking the immensely talented Gurley is a risk because he is rehabbing from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered in the fourth quarter of the Bulldogs’ Nov. 15 game against Auburn. That game was his first one after returning from a four-game suspension for accepting more than $3,000 for autographed memorabilia.
The Rams were present at Gurley’s medical recheck on April 18 at Indianapolis, and Fisher said, “His rehab is coming along fine. We don’t know when he’s gonna be on the field competitively, but we do know he’s not having any issues right now and the docs say he’s ahead of schedule.”
Gurley, who said he was surprised to be selected by the Rams and didn’t visit the team in recent weeks, also echoed Fisher’s sentiment, saying, “There is no timetable. I know I have a lot of work to do. But opening day is a realistic goal.”
Said Fisher, when asked if Gurley could be playing at the beginning of the regular season, “There’s always that possibility, but we’re not going to be specific as to when. I will tell you this: we’re not going to rush it. We may be a little on the conservative side. This is our running back of the future, so it makes no sense to subject him, to put him in a bad situation sooner than we have to. We’ve got outstanding backs on our roster and he’s going to add to that group. When that happens we don’t know, but he’s going to be the running back of the future for a number of years.”
Still, there was significant discussion among the Rams’ hierarchy about the wisdom of adding another player with a torn ACL history, especially considering the injuries suffered in successive years by quarterback Sam Bradford and tackle Jake Long. Both are no longer Rams. Pead missed the 2014 season, also with a torn ACL.
But, they believed it was worth the risk to acquire a talent like Gurley. Fisher admitted the ACL issues have “been a concern of ours. But every situation is different. We don’t have reservations about him getting back to full speed and 100 percent. That’s not going to be an issue with him.”
Snead said the Rams only had a chance at Gurley because of the injury. “It was a bonus to be sitting there at 10 and get him,” Snead said. “It was a consensus that he’s a player that helps everybody: our defense, he helps our offense, our offensive line, our receivers, our quarterback. That’s the pick in a nutshell.”
Added Fisher, “A talent like him comes along once in a great while. His body of work speaks for itself. The athletic ability, the strength, the explosion, the acceleration, the instincts he has as a runner. He also has great hands out of the backfield. He’s that complete back. We have a good group; we really like our group in the room, but this is an opportunity that we could not pass up.”
Last season, the 6-foot-1, 226-pound Gurley rushed for 911 yards on 123 attempts (7.4 per rush) and nine touchdowns in just six games. In his Georgia career, he totaled 3,285 yards and 36 touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.
The pick of Gurley came after the Washington Redskins selected Iowa tackle/guard Brandon Scherff fifth overall and the New York Giants picked Miami tackle Ereck Flowers one choice in front of the Rams. Three picks after the Rams, the New Orleans Saints chose Stanford tackle Andrus Peat.
Conventional wisdom had the Rams selecting a lineman in the first round, but Fisher went against the grain. That prompted an obvious question to Fisher and Snead: “Who’s going to block for him?”
To which Snead said, “They did make this thing a three-day event. We have to live through Friday and Saturday, so we’ll see if we can help improve that position there. We’ll still let the board guide us, but … we’re well aware.”
———————————————–
NFL Team Report – St. Louis Rams – NOTES, QUOTES
–After selecting running back Todd Gurley in the first round of the draft, the Rams’ game plan entering Day 2 was to upgrade their offensive line and add a quarterback. They were able to do that with the choice of two offensive linemen and quarterback Sean Mannion thanks to a trade with Carolina that provided them with an extra third-round pick.
The Rams moved from 41 to 57 in the third round, and were confident doing that because, as head coach Jeff Fisher said, “At that point, our group (of targets) was large. It was good. We felt like we had a chance just to trade out. Really looking at the group, we also thought the three was probably a little more important than a four and a five.”
Trade talks were occurring with as many as five teams, but a lesser move down would have yielded just a fourth- or fifth-round choice. By making the deal with the Panthers, the Rams received not only the third-round choice, but also one in the sixth round.
They added tackles Rob Havenstein with the second-round pick and Jamon Brown with the first third-rounder, but Brown is likely headed for right guard. Havenstein will compete for a starting job at right tackle.
“He is ready to play,” general manager Les Snead said of Havenstein. “(He) started a ton of games – never missed any. They run the ball well up there. He’s just a guy that knows his strengths and weaknesses and how to use them.”
Describing Havenstein and Brown, Fisher said, “We’ve got two big, strong, physical players that extend plays, that finish plays, that go downfield. They’re mauler-type. They’re very, very aggressive, so they’re going to fit our style.
“We’re building this team for the future and I think we’re establishing an identity right now.”
The Rams then followed up on the third day by picking Iowa tackle Andrew Donnal in the fourth round and Fresno State guard Cody Wichmann in the sixth round.
Donnal is yet another Rams pick that suffered a torn ACL although his was during the 2012 season. He had played in the first four games of the season and then became a starter at right guard. Early in that third start, he tore the ACL, but was able to come back to play in the season opener the next season. He didn’t start at all in 2013, but played at both guard and tackle.
Last season, he started all 13 games at right tackle, and rarely missed a snap.
Donnal also fits what the Rams were looking for in their linemen. After being asked to describe himself, he said, “I view myself as a blue-collar grinder. I’m a guy that’s going to come out and work my ass off every day to be the best that I can possibly be. I thoroughly enjoy juts playing football, being an offensive lineman and moving the guy from point A to point B against his will. Protecting the quarterback and mauling inside. There’s nothing better.”
As Fisher said of the draft haul, “It’s been a long time coming, particularly because of the needs. After Todd, our focus went to the big guys. All of them finish; that’s the thing we really like. They’re downfield, they’re pushing people over piles, they’re aggressive and they’re finishing. As Les (general manager Les Snead) said about Cody, ‘If you’re somewhere in the vicinity, he’s gonna hit you.’ There’s some contact involved, and that’s the mindset that we need to carry forward. But it’s also not something that we have to teach; it’s the way they play right now.”
When it was suggested that the Rams made as many choices as they did on the line hoping that some work out, Fisher took exception to that notion.
“We didn’t throw darts now,” he said. “We think these guys can play. Now, we’ll have a much better idea once we get them in here, but we feel they all can come in and contribute. They are durable, they’re smart, they’re well-coached and they’re going to fit in.
“We’re building this team for the future and I think we’re establishing an identity right now.”
Despite the selection of four offensive linemen among their nine picks, Fisher said they remain interested in re-signing unrestricted free agent right tackle Joe Barksdale, their starter last year who thought his value in the market was much higher than reality.
–Mannion ended up being the fourth quarterback selected in the draft after Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Garrett Grayson. He was one of several quarterbacks the Rams worked out in the week before the draft, and Snead said that private session was “what solidified him for us.”
Fisher cited Mannion’s “understanding of terminology, of defenses, decision-making. We sent some information, let him study the night before. We talked about it the next day and he had it down. He’s exceptionally smart. Again, I think the thing that I was most impressed with was his ability to make every throw; the different touches, the deep balls, the shorter throws and then the footwork. I thought his footwork in the pocket and getting out of the pocket was much better than I saw on tape. He had a great Pro Day and he had a great workout for us.”
Draft analysts said Mannion’s weakness was his slow feet and delivery. Mannion knew it and worked on those things with quarterbacks coach Jordan Palmer, the brother of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer.
Mannion said, “I know one thing that I really tried to focus on after the end of my season was really sharpening up my footwork and really cleaning that stuff up and I felt like I was able to kind of show that at the Senior Bowl and at the combine and at my Pro Day. A lot of it was really positive feedback about how they’d seen I made improvements in those areas.”
Asked if improving his footwork helped speeding up his release, Mannion said, “I definitely think so. I think footwork is something that can help a lot of areas of your game. Obviously, quickening my release is something that I had been wanting to do. I think focusing on my footwork and always throwing from the same base in the pocket can really speed up my delivery and get the ball out very fast.”
———————————————–
NFL Team Report – St. Louis Rams – STRATEGY AND PERSONNELA closer look at the Rams’ nine picks:
–Round 1/10 – Todd Gurley, RB, 6-1, 222, Georgia
The Rams believe he is a transcendent back that will help make their entire team better. The only question in the short term is when he will be available to play as he recovers from a torn ACL. Gurley’s explosiveness and big-play ability will go a long way toward improving the Rams’ offense.
–Round 2/57 – Rob Havenstein, T, 6-7, 321, Wisconsin
Tied a school record with 54 games played, starting 42 and the final 41 at right tackle over the last three seasons. He helped lead the way for three 1,000-yard rushers: Montee Ball, Melvin Gordon and James White, three of the top five rushers in Wisconsin history. Projects to be a right tackle for the Rams.
–Round 3/72 – Jamon Brown, G/T, 6-4, 323, Louisville
Started 39 games over the last three seasons, playing right tackle in 2012 and left tackle the last two years. Brown went to Louisville as a defensive lineman, but made the switch to the offensive line during his freshman season. He started one game at guard that season. Expect to begin his Rams career as a guard.
–Round 3/89 – Sean Mannion, QB, 6-6, 229, Oregon State
The Pac-12’s all-time leading passer, Mannion has excellent size and football smarts. He worked hard during pre-draft workouts to improve his footwork and delivery, so it will be important to see if he reverts to bad habits.
–Round 4/119 – Andrew Donnal, T, 6-6, 313, Iowa
A 2012 torn ACL just when he became a starter as a sophomore sabotaged his 2013 season and kept him from becoming a fulltime starter until last year when he started all 13 games at right tackle. A self-described “blue-collar grinder,” Donnal added, “I thoroughly enjoy just playing football, being an offensive lineman and moving the guy from point A to point B against his will. Protecting the quarterback and mauling inside; there’s nothing better.”
–Round 6/201 – Bud Sasser, WR, 6-2, 210, Missouri
A very productive receiver that doesn’t have great speed, but runs good routes and is able to go up and get the ball. Showed that he is a willing blocker.
–Round 6/215 – Cody Wichmann, G, 6-6, 315, Fresno State
Another lineman that plays hard all the time and was called a “self-made guy” by general manager Les Snead. He started 50 games in college, and as head coach Jeff Fisher said, “If someone is in the vicinity, he’s going to hit them.”
–Round 7/224 – Bryce Hager, LB, 6-1, 234, Baylor
Hager’s father Britt played nine seasons in the NFL, including his final year in 1997 with the Rams. Head coach Jeff Fisher was Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator in 1989 when he was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the draft. Hager played six seasons for the Eagles and his next two with Denver. Fisher said Bryce is similar to his father in being a “sideline-to sideline” player that plays fast and urgent. Led Baylor last season with 114 tackles in 13 games.
–Round 7/227 – Martin Ifedi, DE, 6-3, 275, Memphis
Ended his college career as the school’s all-time leader with 22.5 sacks and also compiled 36 tackles for loss. That sacks total ranked sixth among active NCAA FBS players. A sprained MCL cost him four games at the beginning of the 2014 season, but still had 9.5 sacks in nine games played. Rams defensive line coach Mike Waufle is said to be high on him and likes his upside.
PERSONNEL TRACKER
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
–T Joe Barksdale has been durable and solid manning the right side of the offensive line. The Rams want him back, and is still available after not getting the money he expected.
–DT Alex Carrington was part of the rotation last season. He can be competitive, but the Rams won’t go very high to re-sign him.
–LB Will Herring contributed on special teams and was one of the older players on the roster. Head coach Jeff Fisher values special teams, so he might return on a minimum deal.
–G Davin Joseph was up and down during the 2014 season, but was better than anyone else the Rams had. He is not expected to be re-signed.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
–C Tim Barnes: Not tendered as RFA; $710,017/1 yr, $50,017 RB.
–WR Kenny Britt: $9.15M/2 yrs, $2.55M guaranteed.
–QB Austin Davis: RFA tendered at $1.542M with no compensation; $1.542M/1 yr.
–TE Cory Harkey: RFA tendered at $1.542M with no compensation; $1.542M/1 yr.
–TE Lance Kendricks: UFA; $18.5M/4 yrs, $10M guaranteed/$4M RB 2015/$1.25M RB 2016.
–S Rodney McLeod: RFA tendered at $2.356M with second-round pick as compensation); $2.365M/1 yr.
–RB Chase Reynolds: ERFA; $585,000/1 yr.
–G Brandon Washington: ERFA; $585,000/1 yr.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
–LB Akeem Ayers: UFA Patriots; $6M/2 yrs, $2.75M guaranteed.
–DT Nick Fairley: UFA Lions; $5M/1 yr; $1.5M guaranteed.
–QB Nick Foles (trade Eagles).
–QB Case Keenum (trade Texans).
–T/G Garrett Reynolds: UFA Lions; $2.2M/2 yrs, $249,999 RB guaranteed.
PLAYERS LOST
–QB Sam Bradford (traded Eagles).
–QB Shaun Hill: UFA Vikings; $6.5M/2 yrs, $3M guaranteed.
–DT Kendall Langford (released).
–T Jake Long (released/failed physical).
–T/G Mike Person: UFA Falcons; $3.35M/3 yrs, $500,000 SB.
–RB Zac Stacy (traded Jets).
znModeratorOregon State Beavers quarterback Sean Mannion goes inside Rick Neuheisel’s dungeon on ‘Under Center’
http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2014/04/oregon_state_beavers_quarterba_5.html
Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion recently descended into Rick Neuheisel’s Los Angeles “dungeon,” the place where the coach-turned-broadcaster evaluates quarterback film for the Pac-12 Networks.
Mannion was part of Neuheisel’s new show called “Under Center,” which breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of the conference’s signal-callers. It has a similar tone and objective as Jon Gruden’s QB Camp, which dissects NFL Draft prospects on ESPN.
Here are some highlights of Mannion’s appearance:
*The first throw Neuheisel called up was Mannion’s 20-yard touchdown strike to Brandin Cooks in the Beavers’ upset of Wisconsin in 2012.
Mannion broke down the double-post play. Slot receiver Kevin Cummings ran what Manion called a “b-line” to control the safety. That left Cooks 1-on-1 against the cornerback to run a “lean post,” where he leaned into the defender before turning into his break toward the end zone. Once that happened, Mannion threw right down the hash to the wide-open Cooks. Touchdown.
On what he felt after that score: “I was going nuts. I couldn’t believe it. It was such a great win for our team. When we went up 10-0, and the way our defense was playing, we felt really good. Man, it was exciting. It’s something that you’ll always remember.”
On Cooks being so open: “When they’re so open, it’s scary.”
*Neuheisel wanted to highlight Mannion’s “magnificent” deep ball, an element the former coach said will translate well in the NFL.
He first picked a deep post play against UCLA in 2012 that resulted in a touchdown.
Mannion said he read the safety and knew he’d get 1-on-1 coverage deep. Neuheisel pointed out Mannion benefits from his 6-5 stature, because it allows him to see over the line of scrimmage and deep down the field.
Later, Neuheisel called up a deep throw in the shadow of the Beavers’ end zone against California last season that perfectly hit Cooks in stride. Mannion was asked to grade the pass.
“Let’s put it this way, I was real happy with this throw.”
*Neuheisel brought up Mannion’s 2012 knee injury and Cody Vaz’s performance in his place. Mannion noted that following surgery, he asked the training staff if he could take the ice machine home so he could lay in bed, elevate his knee, ice and repeat.
Mannion: “Part of what was so frustrating about it was it was a complete fluke thing. It was actually a run play I got hurt on. I was wearing a knee brace. You just ask, ‘How could this happen?’ The doctors kind of had to take it out of my hands and say I had to have surgery, and from that point, you just try to get back as soon as you can.”
*Cut to film of Mannion’s return against Washington.
On one of his four interceptions, Mannion noted that he “double hitched,” or got his feet back into throwing position following his drop-back twice, instead of once. That usually means his timing is late. Neuheisel also pointed out that Mannion’s eyes were locked on Cooks, rather than the free safety lurking back.
Later, Mannion missed high on a wide-open tight end. Mannion said he didn’t step over his front foot enough. “I can just drive it to him. It’s wide open.” Vaz replaced Mannion after that misfire.
On his feelings after the game: “Probably about as bad as I’ve felt after any football game in my life.”
*Neuheisel asked how Mannion handled the quarterback competition going into the 2013 season.
Mannion: “I wouldn’t say I felt (slighted). I think maybe, without me even knowing it, it made me a better player. I know myself during the competition, I just tried to just block it out, just tried to focus on being the best football player that I could be. My parents, my aunts and uncles, grandparents, everything, they were just triyng to support me and be positive with me. I think it helped and I think, really, in a way, took my mind off of the competition. I think I had a great camp in large part because I didn’t think about it. I just thought about going out to practice, executing and improving myself as a quarterback.”
* Neuheisel gave Mannion a trivia question: Which quarterback owns the Pac-12 single-season record for passing yards? John Elway, Troy Aikman, Aaron Rodgers or Sean Mannion? Mannion sheepishly answered that he did.
“I’ve never been someone that’s been real into stats. It’s all about wins. But at the same time, to be in a conference with so many great quarterbacks through the years … it’s really humbling to me. But if anything, I want it to reflect on my teammates and what they enabled me to do with their help.”
Neuheisel called Mannion a “throwback,” or a quarterback that is “not gonna win any races, but they certainly can control the game from the pocket.”
*Neuheisel decided to “take a Beaver to the beach.” Cue the jokes about how much it rains in Oregon and a shot of Mannion practicing in a downpour. And a jab at Mannion for being fair-skinned and needing sunscreen.
Mannion: “All the jokes aside about the weather, it’s really an awesome place to live and I couldn’t be happier anywhere.”
*Mannion on the decision to pass on entering the NFL Draft to return to Oregon State for his senior season: “There wasn’t any wrong decision, just two different ones. But when it came down to it, I love Oregon State so much and I enjoy spending time with my teammates and coaches and I thought I could continue to improve as a player.”
*The show finished up with an exercise with Neuheisel’s “Old Board,” a wooden board with a football field painted on. Neuheisel took Mannion through a rapid-fire, two-minute drill, where the quarterback needed to call out underneath or longer throws and quickly react to any result of the play that Neuheisel decided.
Neuheisel: “This is what the whole next is going to be for you … the ability to make plays despite pressure because you’ve rehearsed it.”
*The show wrapped with Mannion signing the “Passion Bucket” in the dungeon.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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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.
znModeratorI have to say, I’m surprised no team
drafted him in the 6th or 7th round.There was some kind of issue, like I think he said he would not sign a day 3 deal.
.
znModeratorafter all this offense is going to be built around the running game.
Ah but.
To me, running game or not, if the qb ain’t clutch, you don;t get that much.
The classic Oakland Raiders were a running team too, but, Kenny “The Carnivorous Reptile of the Suborder Serpentes” Stabler was clutch, and that was all the difference.
Me? I keep whoever is clutch. Even if he’s a klutz for the other 3 1/2 quarters.
..
znModeratorPretty sure Havenstein and Jamon Brown addressed the OL in a BIG way.
Pun intended.
from off the net
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ReddingRam
We are MASSIVE along the OL now.
Steven Baker – T- 6’7″ – 310
Tim Barnes – C – 6’4″-306
Travis Bond – G/T – 6’6″- 329
Barrett Jones – G/C- 6’4″ – 308
Garrett Reynolds – T – 6’7″ – 308
Greg Robinson – T – 6’5″ – 332
Roger Saffold – G/T – 6’5″ – 332
Brandon Washington – G – 6’2″ – 318Now add
Rob Havenstein – T – 6’7″ – 321
Jamon Brown – G/T – 6’4″ – 323
Andrew Donnal – G/T – 6’6″ – 313
Cody Wichmann – G/T- 6’6″ – 315That is a WALL of BEEF my friends!
znModeratorznModeratorDid the Rams sign Blalock?
No. He;s just speculatoratizing.
znModeratorNoncontact anterior cruciate ligament injuries: risk factors and prevention strategies.
J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2000 May-Jun;8(3):141-50.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10874221
Abstract
An estimated 80,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears occur annually in the United States. The highest incidence is in individuals 15 to 25 years old who participate in pivoting sports. With an estimated cost for these injuries of almost a billion dollars per year, the ability to identify risk factors and develop prevention strategies has widespread health and fiscal importance. Seventy percent of ACL injuries occur in noncontact situations. The risk factors for non-contact ACL injuries fall into four distinct categories: environmental, anatomic, hormonal, and biomechanical. Early data on existing neuromuscular training programs suggest that enhancing body control may decrease ACL injuries in women. Further investigation is needed prior to instituting prevention programs related to the other risk factors.
..
znModeratorJaguars Rookie DE Dante Fowler Injures Knee In Rookie Minicamp…Do Rams Need Gurley Ready for Week 1?
With Jacksonville’s first round rookie going down in camp today, should it remind the Rams to take it slow with their own?
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
What is the timeline for Todd Gurley? He tore his ACL on Nov. 15 last year against Auburn, his first game back after the four-game suspension for be being paid for signing autographs. Doctors have suggested it was a “clean” tear that didn’t require any follow-up surgery or offer any complications in the repair of the ligament. The initial timeline was “six to nine months” which would of course put him in line to return to normal football operations between May 15 and August 15.
So when does he start to test the knee at full speed?
The Rams can’t even begin training camp until the last day of July, following OTAs throughout June. The Rams’ first preseason game is August 15. So there’s a broad window in there if the Rams and Gurley are interested in really pushing to hit that window.
But consider a couple factors:
1.) Todd Gurley is 20 years old. The Rams spent a 10th overall draft pick on him a week ago. They can’t contribute to risking any further injuries to that knee.
2.) Jeff Fisher hates playing rookies early. Aaron Donald didn’t even start until the fifth game. Tre Mason was inactive until week six and didn’t even start until week nine.
3.) Not trying to find another angle to squeeze this argument in, but I don’t think he improves the team all that much especially this early in his career having yet to adjust to the NFL game. The Rams can afford to go with Tre Mason, Benny Cunningham and whomever comes out of the preseason as a legitimate alternative beyond those two, if anyone, to get the season going.
Those three being considered, how long should the Rams sit him out of caution alone? Let’s say he’s comfortable with his knee and tell Fish he’s ready to go full speed when training camp starts. Should Fish let him? Should he hold him out of the preseason? Should he even hold him out of the first few games, again, for caution alone? Now consider those questions if Gurley’s NOT able to go for training camp. Do you have to consider placing him on the PUP and saying goodbye to the opportunity to play him until after the bye?
There’s never a right answer except for the one that gets your guy back as early as possible and avoids another injury. Here’s hoping the Rams land on that one.
znModeratorHow will St. Louis Rams quarterback Sean Mannion fit with new team?
NFL Media’s Charley Casserly and Brian Baldinger break down how New Orleans Saints quarterback Garrett Grayson and St. Louis Rams quarterback Sean Mannion will fit in with their new teams.
,
May 3, 2015 at 5:51 pm in reply to: various podcasts, vids, & vid links… a lot of Snead, Gurley #23893znModeratorLes Snead: We couldn’t pass up on Todd Gurley
Les Snead explains why the team chose to select Todd Gurley, what the plan is for getting him on the field and what went behind the decision to draft Sean Mannion
znModeratorznModeratorfrom off the net
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alyoshamucci
1) Gurley … I ran around the house screaming. I have been watching him for 3 years. This was my happiest draft pick of all time. Janoris Jenkins is a close second though. A +
2) Havenstein … I was surprised for a minute, but since I know the other guys were there (Clemmings, the OK kids) it means they prefer the ugly ugly mauler to them. I know they like height and length also. So that was their “need this position, this is our guy” pick. I’m fine with that. B
3) Jamon Brown … I figured he’d be our 4th round pick, but given the run on linemen I wasn’t shocked at all. B
At this point I consider our needs filled, back to BPA.3) Mannion … That hurt. I had him with a barely draftable grade and there were top 50 guys still on the board. I don’t believe we needed him either. D –
4) Donnal … also pretty painful. I specifically left him off my lists. I didn’t like his play at Iowa. F6) Sasser … I figured we’d do this. The value was going to be there late in the draft for a big bodied competitive kid. I like drafting Mizzou also. B
6) Wichmann … 2nd favorite pick of the draft. I had about 10 OGs with the “these kids can play” after my top 20 OGs, and he was one of them. I would NOT be surprised to see him beat out Brown for the starting OT job. A
7) Ifedi … again, coming back to value after the middle rounds, a DE had to be taken because it was a superior class. This guy is a run stuffer and may not seem like he brings much flare to the position, but he’s really a 4th-round grade guy, maybe only a rotational player, but he is pretty likely to make a squad. Sims is on a short leash. B +znModerator========================================
Kindof Blue/GoldBaldinger (PTTD) just pointed out 3 2014 playoff teams started
two rookies on the Olinencluding the Super Bowl winner.
NE, IND and BAL.
* Three hour draft wrap today (team by team analysis?), 10:00 AM -1:00 PM and re-broadcast 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM PST
Rams with Les Snead are the third team covered (after TB and TEN), starts about the 22 minute mark.
Enh. New England had a lot of injury replacements during the season. Fwiw, their playoff OL (with years in the league in 2014) was:
Nate Solder…4
Daniel Connolly…8
Bryan Stork … R
Ryan Wendell …. 6
Sebastian Vollmer …. 6Kline (2) replaced Wendell in one playoff game.
I don’t know about IND, but then, they had a weak OL.
znModeratorMay 3, 2015 at 2:04 pm in reply to: reactions to Havenstein Pick … + conference call transcript #23866znModeratorHey Cal good post.
On youtube vids. Don’t use command functions–just drop the raw URL into the post box. (I fixed it already, so this is fyi for next time).
Here’s another (though it’s a link)
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Havenstein v. Gregory
http://draftbreakdown.com/video/rob-havenstein-vs-nebraska-2014/
May 3, 2015 at 1:55 pm in reply to: NFL PUP list, Injured Reserve, NFI List rules and udfa stuff (for ref.) #23861znModeratorThis thread covers different situations about Gurley and Collins and other stuff (practice squad, etc.).
ie. stuff we might need to know later on
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