With Jake Long and Jered Cook now part of the offense, I don't think we stop there. I would still take Warmack or Cooper at OG with the #16 pick and then draft Jevon Austin at #22. Then in the 2nd and 3rd rounds take a safety and OLB. What do you guys and redgirl think?
Blue - for some reason I don't think we're going to take OL with our first three picks unless we cut Harvey Dahl. As things stand now, I'd go Tavon Austin at #16, Kenny Vaccaro/Matt Elam at #22, and Eddie Lacy/LeVeon Bell/Montee Ball at #46.
The great advantage to signing Long is that we don't have to reach for the OL position.
Fisher never took an OL with a first round pick while he was in Tennessee. Snead and the Falcons were also of that mindset considering OT Sam Baker - the second of two number 1's in 2008 - and OT Lincoln Kennedy the number one in 1993 were the only two OL taken in the first round in the past 19 years!
If Warmack is on the board and their draft grades match most other peoples, they will take him. Dahl has a few years left but he's at the age where you start trending downward, and most people at this point think Warmack is a special player.
But Long opens up the doors for a lot of moves in the draft. The Rams still have needs at a lot of positions, I think they'll take the best player available, and with a deep draft that positions them very well to get impact players. This is looking to be a very promising draft for the team.
austin & vacarro in round 1 would be perfect...assuming both are available at #16 they should take the one at #16 that is most at risk between picks 17-21 that way they have the highest probability of getting both. i think there is enough of a gap between vacaro and elam. austin will be huge since we need an explosive return guy as well as a WR.
long signing is terrific - rules out any thought of potentially moving up in round 1 which is good. we need to pick 2 guys in round 1.
Miami and Buffalo were the 2 teams in front us at #22 that I was worried they might take a WR. NOW, Miami has signed Wallace and re-signed Hartline. Buffalo has let go of Fitz, so I assuming they will take QB Geno. Now maybe someone throws a monkey in there and drafts a WR, but we might end up with Patterson or Allen at #22?? Minnesota may draft a WR too?
Either way I think we are in good position to get some solid talent with those 2 picks OR even if we trade 1 and get more down a little further.
Do we still take Chance Warmack at #16 if he's there? And then Allen if he is there?
We could get a good safety in the 2nd or 3rd most likely. I guess it just comes down to whoever Fisher and Co fall in love with.
Blue, I think we go #16 safety (Vaccaro) and #22 WR (Austin) or the best players available at those positions. Jeff Fisher has never drafted an OL in the first round and with the Long signing, I think he stands pact with that theory.
hey Blue, I like your thinking as well as Ramcub's but dont forget we have Rok coming back off IR.I probably wouldnt take Tavon at 18 as we already have a short speedy receiver. I'd probably go for a safety and OLB in the first. Then look for Lacy, Christine Michael from A&M, or Bell from Michigan State. Dont know if Michael can play but he was combine freak. Then hope Brian Quick emerges from the fog.
Now that the Rams have shored up the OL they need the offensive pieces to take advantage of it. Draft a WR and a running back. Jake Long won't score any TD's on his own, and we need more than Richardson and Pead running with the ball. We have improved with the acquisition of Cook, but have a ways to go finding an impact WR. Just about anyone who replaces Dahl will be an improvement and hopefully we find a "starter ready" Safety in the Draft. The Rams are certainly making progress.
I wouldn't have any issue with taking Chance Warmack, or another top-tier guard with our first pick, though. Especially after adding Chris Long. Solidifying the line for years to come, isn't so bad of a route to go. And it can have tremendous effects on both the run and passing game. This isn't to say we don't have other needs. But, with Fisher's propensity for a balanced attack, a guard might not be too far fetched.
This is really both the beauty and curse of the Jake Long signing. It opens up so many more options for us in the draft this year. Now we just gotta figure out the right one. Not a bad curse to have, for once.
All pretty good points and none are wrong for the Rams and Fisher. I understand Fisher and Snead haven't drafted a OL in the draft like forever and with the Jake Long signing, you all may be right. It would be hard to pass on Warmack or Cooper at the spot though and with Watkins back that is a powerful and young line for years. For the discussion though lets say Fisher and Snead pass on the OGs or they are gone by the 16th pick. Austin is Amendola X 3, younger, faster and every bit the return guy without the injury history. I don't know how long he stays on the board, so if your going to take him it better be at #16. Safety at #22 for sure, Elam, Reid or best available strong safety is a decent move. Junkie by the way, the Dolphins also signed Gibson so WR is not on their radar. Also a while back there was discussion about Kyle Long, he would be available in the 2nd and maybe 3rd, he has played a lot more OG than OT at Oregon. Just a thought.
Saffold is in his last year....... hmmm. My guess is that we'll be drafting a RT that could possibly be his replacement in one of these rounds. I really think we're going to go BPA. We can afford to now. Just my thoughts.
As a life long Ram fan I can say every year I get excited for the drafty and every year I see a whole bunch of non impact players get picked. I say lets trade those spots for 2 quality receivers now and let some other team take the gamble on non nfl proven players
I say trade those picks for 2 proven WR's and let some other team take the gamble on these non nfl proven players. I cannot think of a single player we have drafted that was impactful in the first year that wasnt picked in the first 5 overall.
Uh NO. I would not do what you propose. This idea of trading for "proven" receivers is not logical. First of all what is "proven"? Pro bowl or what? And then taking on those contracts and the salary cap. And what system were those guys in? Are they number 1 receivers or number 2 or 3 and not being covered by the best db and cb etc. Brandon Llyod was a proven receiver and di just okay. How about Steve Smith. No impact at all last year. Gibson? Hah. The guy is at best the 3rd option due to his inconsistency. The fact is many teams bring in "proven" wr's who never pan out in their systems. Look at how many wr's in Indy went on to other teams and never did put up the numbers they did in Indy with Peyton. Also WR is one of those primadonna positions it seems and when they dont get the ball enought they start complaining and cause problems in the locker room. You fill a team with young hungry players and let them compete and let the chips fall where they do. Your idea would hurt the Rams not help. I dont mean to be rude just stating the facts IMO.
trilayer, I understand your thinking in that over the past 10 or so years, with the exception of a few, Lil Animal, Chris Long, Steven Jackson to name a few, the Rams draft has been poor at best. The problem wasn't taking a chance on a draftee, it was taking the wrong guy each year. The organization as a whole and the guys picking stunk up the draft. They got what we had by making the wrong choise. I believe Fisher and Snead have a clue and won't blow it. The draft is a crap shoot at best anyway but taking the approach of what helps now over their entire body of work, I think the Rams get better. As for the receivers, I don't know if we know yet, if we have to improve much. Givens showed the speed and hands to stretch the field. Pettis caught the ball when Amendola was out and we don't know enough about Quick to know if he can't do the job. Picking up Cook was huge and Kendricks has also improved so a double TE set isn't a bad play for the Rams at times. I would pick up Austim if we can because I think he will be a difference maker from the slot and in the return game. We can argue about the other pick in the 1st round and if Fisher wants to move back for more picks, it is for a reason. They have a plan, we must just enjoy the ride.
I say trade those picks for 2 proven WR's and let some other team take the gamble on these non nfl proven players. I cannot think of a single player we have drafted that was impactful in the first year that wasnt picked in the first 5 overall.
Trade em
Janoris Jenkins wasn't impactful last year? Did you watch the Cardinals game in AZ? Did you watch the SF game in STL? How about the TB game? How about the Redskins game?
How about Michael Brockers? He had a pretty solid year as well..
LONG and caynine, you both are exactly right. As I stated in my response, for 10 years or so with different management and coaches, the Rams draft was poor at best. Yes we did get a few players, ala Lil Animal, Chris Long and Jackson but failed on way more than were successful. That was up to last year. Fisher and Snead have a clue, a plan, an idea how to get the Rams better and I fully expect that this years draft will be no different.
with cap limits we have now, we need to bring in someone from the draft. i cant think of a single WR whos both worth a first rounder and avalible. sure i'd love to trade it for Calvin Johnson, but the Lions sure arent.
we need weapons, but i dont see us going OG, unless we cut dahl. i think rok watkins takes over at LG this season and shines. C is my biggest worry... again.
