Rams Offseason thread

Good thinking SportsJunkie. I don't think we need to sign William Moore or Jarius Byrd. If the team drafts a Vacarro or Elam, why not sign a guy like Kenny Phillips or Louis Delmas for cheap. I know they are injury but so is Moore. Injuries are a part of the game. Kenny Phillips is a big time talent though. So is Delmas but that kid has a physical style like Cortland Finnegan. Delmas just needs to stay healthy and I bet he can find himself being an All Pro. This draft class has a ton on talent at S but the question is, will the Rams draft 2 safety's and be inexperienced on the back end of the defense??? Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins have only 1 year of experience and the team needs to have at least 1 safety with experience to show the young guys the tricks and trades of pro football.

As for Danny Amendola, he could be brought back for cheap IMO. He is injury prone but tough as nails though. Just think about it, none of the Titans teams that Fisher coached had super elite WR's. They had solid-above average WR's who could be counted to make plays. Derrick Mason was really the only WR on those teams who teams could actually fear outside of Frank Wycheck at TE

Guys good points on the Welker versus Amendola debate, I only brought it up as a talking point between two of the same but one on the field and one off injured.  I like Amendola and if he could stay on the field, I would want him.  Pettis does not have the same influence with Bradford when Amendola is on the sideline.  As far as safeties, we do need two.  I also don't think that drafting both is a great idea.  One yes but two might take us back a bit but with Dahl back there anyone would be better.  I like Elam myself but Vacarro is fine as are a couple of guys we could get in the 3rd or 4th rounds.  As far as O-Line, I also think Fisher will be gone by number 16 and it has been said that Warmack would be gone also.  I think when draft day comes, O-Lineman are pushed back a bit in favor of big defensive stoppers.  Media will push guys all around prior to the draft but coaches look at game changers when selecting in the 1st round.  Fisher might even get overlooked but I think the Chargers get him with number 11.  I do think Warmack will be there at number 16 and it will be Fisher's call if he wants to spend our first choise on a OG no matter how good he might be.  I like the idea that if Fisher, Warmack and all the big OL are gone, to move back for more picks as long as we get that big safety at some point.

I'd agree that the elite Ot's are usually gone in the top 10 to 12 but I'd be seriously surprised if anyone drafted a guard in the top 10. Theres a good chance that Warmack will be around at 16. There is a couple other quality mauler typed guards that could go in the 2nd or third round so if we don't land Warmack its not the end of the world.
But if we don't get one of the top 2 tackles...which is unlikely I think we have to start looking at free agent LT's because we need to keep Bradford upright this next season. IMO, next season is a make or break season for him. If he doesn't make the jump up in performance to match his massive contract then I'd bet Fisher uses one of next years(2014's) first rounders on a replacement.

SKERZ: I agree with you on the guard situation. If we don't get Warmack, there is Larry Warford in the later rounds. However, if Fisher is gone at OT, and he will probably be so, we don't need to go into FA for an OT. There are plenty of excellent OT players we can pick-up in the later rounds as well.

We can start with D.J. Fluker. Then there is Ricky Wagner out of Wisconsin and C. Long's brother Kyle we could get in rounds 4-6. So, FA is not going to be an option this year as Jeff Fisher as already stated the Rams are not going to be much of player this year. retroram

I love draft talk!

I think Fluker is probably gone by the time the Rams are picking in Round Two.  And (for what it's worth) the latest Kyle Long buzz is that he's going to be gone before the Rams pick in the third.

Another OL to keep an eye on is David Quessenberry (San Jose State).  He has the versatility to play tackle, guard or center, and is one of the biggest upward movers following a superb week at the Senior Bowl.  If the Rams want to focus on other positions (saftey, linebacker, running back and/or wide receiver) in the first couple of rounds, this is a guy they may be looking at in Round Three.   

DJ Fluker left the senior bowl because of injuries and was 20 lbs over weight.  They have coming out as the #1 RT in the draft.

Terrence Williams (6-foot-2, 201 pounds) , Baylor has developed steady hands in a series of unorthodox workouts at Athletes Performance outside of Dallas in Frisco, Texas. Under the guidance of former NFL receivers Raghib Ismail and Tim Brown, Williams has focused on sharpening his receiving skills. Throughout the routines, the ex-Notre Dame wideouts have stressed the importance of maintaining proper techniques while running routes and securing the ball.

“He still has it,” Williams said of Ismail. “He was showing us with our get-off how to take front steps off the line. We're just trying to learn new things that can help us focus on the ball.”

In a typical drill, Williams will field 10 balls from the front, 10 from the back, 10 low passes and 10 over-the-shoulder throws. The most challenging station, Williams said, is one where he must cover one of his eyes while snaring low balls near ground-level. The instructors require the prospects to repeat any of the drills if they struggle.

With his burst off the line and ability to adjust to poor throws, Williams is projected to be the first receiver selected in April's NFL Draft by [NFL.com]. Williams met with the head coaches and general managers of the [Dolphins], [Vikings] and [Bucs] in Mobile.

CBS has 8-9 OT's projected in the 1st or 2nd rounds of the draft.  We might be able to land Chris Faulk, 6'5 323 late in the 2nd or with one of our two 3rd round picks?  LT from LSU that had some injury problems.  Jury is out on him, but he is ahead of schedule on his rehab. 

I say we move up in the 2nd if we have to and get Kyle Long.  Bring him here with his older bro Chris... 


It's a no-brainer.



Maybe we get lucky and land Warmack or Jarvis Jones, along with a WR or SS with our 1st round picks.  It's still early and who knows what might happen in april at the draft.      

I may be wrong about this, but I don't see Fluker being gone by 48. 

Retro,

LOL @ Shurmur!

LOL @ Spags!

Former coach gone DC and is one and done... Former OC gone Head Coaching and no he is done!!! He is being coached on how to coach int he NFL.

Former regime was so sad.

I think we already have plenty of guys that can handle the right tackle spot.
Right tackle isn't an issue, someone capable of both protecting the left side and being reliably healthy week in and week out is something I'd like to see us attain.
Fluker certainly isn't that guy. Even at the Right tackle spot he has been seen as a liability in pass protection at the college level.
I'm not argueing that he is an absolute beast in the run game, but I'm not seeing how his pass protection skills improve against paid opponents.
Aside from Joeckel, Fisher, or the kid out of Oklahoma there isn't much in the draft that could fill that LT need.
As M A R S mentioned, Quissenberry had a good senior bowl and has shown some signs of potential.

Still alot to be seen with the combine and senior day workouts. But if Saffold is going to be displaced from Left Tackle, free agents may have to be considered. At the least I think we need to add a bit of quality LT depth behind Saffold just in case he gets another injury.

Love all the draft talk in here though, it's nice to see a group of active ram fans.

 At the least I think we need to add a bit of quality LT depth behind Saffold




BEHIND Saffold?? Um no... if we draft a left tackle it is specifically to move Saffold to the right side where we have the depth to replace him if injured. Saffold will NOT start at left tackle in 2013 unless we do not draft a left tackle. He is not solid enough to play there. PERIOD.


How about this defensive backfield?? Finnegan,Bryd,Vaccaro,Jenkins?? Come on Les, make it happen!!!

Thanks KSUDodgers for a voice of reason. We don't need back-up to Saffold to come from FA. Those individuals are already on our roster in the form of Barksdale and Nyseke and we are not going to the FA market for any O-lineman either as Snead and Fisher have aready eluded to in several articles.

I am not sure what part of this some people on this board DO NOT understand but one or more of those big tackles will be on our roster and Kyle Long has a very real chance of being one of them as you have been pining for from the beginning. We shall see how it all plays out. retroram.

Congrats to all Rams fans, the 49ers did not win the Super Bowl and don't have to listen to whinner fans throwing it at us all year.  By the way a choke by the 49ers, not have the QB (run) on at least one play at 1st and goal from the 7glad he didn't, probably would have been a different outcome.

Dick Jauron the ex-DC for the Browns and ex-HC for the Bears and Bills is interviewing for the Rams DC job.  I know he did an excellent job in Cleveland and was fired because of the the huge turnover in coaching after the season.  What do you guys think?

I'm all for it Blue but the will Jauron run alot of cover 2??? The defense is better when they play man to man

I agree Jballa, I'm for Jauron and as far as the cover 2, I think a lot depends on the drafting of the SS and FS.  We know Finnigan and Jenkins can play man on man but the SS especially needs to be a hunter to help plug the run game.  If the Rams can also get a FS out of free agency or the draft that can fly, that will help.  I know a lot of Browns fans that were disappointed when Jauron was let go.

Titus Young has become a Rams wide receiver.  Cut by the Lions after saying he was better than Megatron and daring the Lions to cut him, he states he just wants the ball.  Well he will have a chance to prove his worth with Sam Bradford.  He is a very talented receiver and Fisher has made a career of taking chances on players, I hope this works out well.  This guy will open up the field opposite Givens and is a good Red Zone threat.

Hey Blue, I love the Titus Young signing. I see him as the Az Hakim type of player. That's who he reminds me of. Now the question is who will get the walking papers, Danny Amendola or Brandon Gibson????? Young can take over the slot position for Amendola if he is not resigned. Is Chris Givens ready to man the #2 WR spot for our Rams????? Our ST's unit just got a boost. I can see Amendola staying because Young will be a FA if he makes the team next offseason and plus, he has to prove himself. What a move made by Fisher and Snead. I like the move as well because he is young and adds a lil experience to the WR core but I hope he acts right here in St. Louis.

Hey all Rams fans, I seen in a chat by a close source to the Rams said that the Rams really like FS Phillip Thomas of Fresno State. He would fill one S spot for the team and he looks like a real playmaker on film. I would still rather have Kenny Vacarro or Matt Elam though :)