Rams Offseason thread

I agee Junkie, we need a huge stud at the other OLB and a safety and the defense will even be better.  I also want to give Sam Bradford another year with a big new LT,  a big, fast, wide body WR either through FAgency, trade or the draft to compete with Givens, Amendola, Kendricks and Gibson for catches.  What the Rams miss is a Megatron, Marshall, Johnson or Garcon that dominates double teams.  I also think another year for Shotts at OC is needed and then after this next season, if Bradford or Shotts don't take the Rams to the next level, then move on to the MANY FREE AGENT QBs available after next season. 

Hey Jermaine, Blue, Junkie: I had to take a couple of days to cool off after some aspects of the Offensive performance in Seattle that just horked me right off. The OLB you guys are looking for may be in the draft. Here is a couple of names that may fit the bill.

Barkevious Mingo, 6-4, 240lbs, projected to go in the first round; Chase Thomas, 6-4, 248lbs, projected to go in 2-3 rounds; Jamie Collins, 6-3, 240lbs, projected to go 2-3 rounds; Brandon Jenkins, 6-3, 260lbs, projected to go 2-3 rounds; Travis Long, 6-4, 245lbs, projected to go in round 3 or later.

Mingo might not get out of the top ten. We are going to pick two of the following with our two number 1s. Chase Warmack (LG), Eric Fisher (OT), Eric Reid (S), Kenny Vaccaro (S), Taylor Lewan (OT). Most of the mocks have us taking an O-lineman and a saftey in the first. I suspect it'll be Warmack, or Lewan, and Reid or Vaccaro. That leaves the second round and beyond. 

After reading comments from Snead and Fisher, I doubt if we are going to be anywhere as active in the FA market this year especially thowing money at a guy like Jake Long. Fisher likes alot of the roster he has and he is not going to replace two-thirds of it like he did this year. C. Dahl will most likely be gone or relegated to back-up and Robert Turner will be relegated to back-up. Wayne Hunter is probably history. The attention will be retaining Steven Jackson

In the second, some mocks have us taking a big TE and there are quite a few this year. Other mocks have us taking D.J. Fluker the big OT from Alabama to complement Warmack who Fisher really likes.  It may be one of the aforementioned OLBs still remaining. In the third, if we don't get Fluker, the mocks have us picking Ricky Wagner, another big OT out of Wisconsin.

So it is quite evident we will be going after O-line, Saftey, and then everything else in this year's draft and we will not be as active in the FA market either. retroram. 


     

Jo Lonn is a weakside LB KSU...  We don't need another 6' 228 weakside OLB, we need a beast at least 240-250 and taller.



OK, OK... Brown is not a fit for the Rams. But mark it down, he will be a BEAST in the NFL..somewhere!


Hey Retro, to me the Rams have 2 major FA focuses.. Steven Jackson and Danny Amendola. After that, we can look at Jarius Bryd at Safety. Harvey Dahl will still be the starter at LG but Saffold will move to RT and we will draft a LT...

First we need to re-sign SJax or address RB spot everything else we do offensively comes after that. 

Honestly this is the most important factor in Jeff Fisher's system of ground and pound smash mouth football.  

Our QB and WR corp is very well suited to compliment a sound running game.  If we can just run the ball more and run it well, we will have no problems passing it.  Look no furhter than both SF and Seattle.  They run the heck out of the ball both top 5 or better and then look at how efficient their passing game is. 

So with that in mind we should seek out and put together an OL that can run block and commit to the run for 4 quarters of football.  I think effective running, run scoring and OL penalities were our biggest problems last year in our offense.  When we ran the ball well, we threw the ball well.  So IMO, we fix those attributes and our WR's will get better seperation on pass plays our OL doesn't face blitz packages on nearly every down and we don't jump pre-snap or hold as much, we just move the chains.

Call me crazy but I think SJAX is moving on to a team he can share carries with another RB and have a shot at the title.  We all want a shot at the title.  Plus look at what Fisher is doing with Terrance Gannaway 6' 240 - he was drafted last year by the Jets in the 6th round right before Daryl Richardson.  Isiah Pead even looked pretty good against the Seawags.

At RB in the NFL, you really just need some young guys that hit the hole hard and have some speed.  And a mix of a small burner and big beast to pound the rock is perfect.


RETRO - I'm with you - Chance Warmack is a beast and might fall to us.  Eric Fisher would be ok with me later, but we don't know how long RG3 is going to play in the playoffs?  I think the Redskins can beat Seattle, especially if they run the ball like they did on the Cowboys.  But if it's late 1st round, who knows who will be there. 

We should get 3 pretty good picks with the two 1st rounders and the 2nd.


The Redskins will trade Kirk Cousins and get more picks, but they won't get a 1st rounder. 

And Bark Mingo is more of a DE and will play in a 3-4 in the NFL.  But he's a heck of an athlete and his name is awesome.


Lot of good names in this draft. 

Yea, Sportsjunkie: I see us implementing Ganaway, Richardson, and Pead in next year's rotation if Jackson leaves. However, both Fisher and Jackson want Jackson to stay and he may just finish his career here. He wants to stay but wants a bit more money and there is just as good a possibility of Jackson staying as he is going. But you may be right. He may chase the championship elsewhere. If recent talk has weight, the chances of Jackson staying are good because I have been reading articles that indicate he thinks he'll get the championship here if not next year then in two-three years. We shall see. 

Also, I see Warmack, Reid or Vaccaro in the first, Fluker in the second, and may be Thomas or Collins falling to us in the third. If either of the latter two OLBs are not there, I see us taking Ricky Wagner in the third and picking up a pretty big OLB in the later rounds (there are a couple that I did not list that would fit nicely). Either way, I think WR is not a priority except for re-signing Amendola and with a new potential DC, I see some additions to make this defense even tougher. 

Stay tuned as we head forward. retroram. 

Hello Everyone: Just to get a laugh, I thought I would post from New Orleans about an old dope. They found out what we knew here St Louis and Rams park. Apparently, Spigot was and still is a complete A-hole and the players on the Saints don't mind saying so. They all want him fired. Red this article and know Kroneke made the right decision by getting rid of SpagnuOlie. I know it is a blast from the past but it pumps me up that I was right afterall and so were many of you. Here is the said article.

There's a reason people say "winning fixes everything." Success overshadows most else, from personality conflicts to coaching shortcomings, and it's a lot easier to live with less-than-perfect working conditions if the end result is a championship.

That all changes when losing becomes a habit. The Jets are the obvious example, but on Tuesday, an anonymous [Saints] player blasted first-year defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

"Trust me, all the guys were being politically correct this season when answering questions [about Spagnuolo]," the player told the [Times-Picayune]'s Larry Holder. "It's bad."

When asked if Spagunolo should be fired, the player offered up a "resounding" yes.

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The Saints finished last in the league in total defense, allowing a mind-blowing 440 yards per game. The defense was just as inept when viewed through the prism of advanced metrics; according to [Football Outsiders], New Orleans was equally as bad against the pass (28th) as the run (30th).

"To give up what we gave up can't be all talent," the player continued. "Look at where his units [have] been ranked before. I think one top 10?"

So other than getting treaded every week and losing nine times (the Saints combined for just eight losses the previous two seasons), what's the problem with Spagnuolo?

"Players have no say in anything," the player told Holder. "It was [a] complete opposite from before where it was a simple D that players had lot of control and say. We couldn't suggest [expletive] … Nothing ever changed. It was his way only.

"Don't even get me started on lack [of] ability to adjust during games. Bad, bad, bad."

Not surprisingly, we never heard complaints from the 2007 Giants, the team that beat the previously undefeated Patriots in the [Super Bowl] thanks in part to a resurgent defense coordinated by -- you guessed it -- Spagnuolo.

"He does have that good-guy persona, but he is a control freak and treats people like crap," the Saints player said. "[Spagnuolo has] no patience and zero personality. [He] has a way of pissing players and our defensive coaches off with how he says and does things. [I] think it's even harder after having [former defensive coordinator] Gregg [Williams], who guys enjoyed."

On Wednesday, Saints linebacker [Jonathan Vilma] wasn't particularly jazzed with the anonymous comments directed at Spagnuolo. "If you are going to make a statement, Vilma said, be man enough to put your name on it." "I am." "The guy should be fired because he sucks"!


LOLOLOLOL rotational justice is swwweeeeeetttt!!! retroram. 

 I know it is a blast from the past but it pumps me up that I was right afterall and so were many of you.

LOL retro!  I called for that fools head in 2010, I got blasted by some on these boards for it too.  I'm glad the way things worked out because the Fisher hire timing would have been off.  So in hindsight suffering 2011 was a necessary evil besides it got us all those picks from the RG tripple sticks trade for Fisher and Snead to rebuild with...

First on Spags, fired a thread prior to reading retros take.  Guys is a bum, troll and loser.

As for the FAs and draft, the Rams have a few holes we all agree and outside of depth which every team needs in this league, I will say that we have 4 pretty sizeable needs, OLB, SS, OLT and WR on a minor note.  Everywhere else, I believe the Rams are in decent shape and as young as they are will continue to get better.  Lets look at 3 free agents at each spot, there are others of course but I am just taking 3 now, we always discuss the others when they are brought up.

OLB, I looked at 3 guys, Anthony Spencer-Cowboys, Shaun Phillips-Chargers and Conner Barwin-Texans.  All 3 of these guys are from 3-4 defenses and that being said, I believe the Rams new OLB will come from the draft.

OLT, Jake Long-Dolphins, Ryan Clady-Broncos and Branden Albert-Chiefs.  First the Rams will not pay for Long or Clady, I would like either of them personnally and be happy if they were signed by don't think that will happen.  Albert is a superb run blocking OT and would come the cheaper, not a bad deal if that is the way.

SS, Louis Delmas-Lions, LaRon Landry-Redskins and William Moore-Falcons.  Most are the FS type, Delmas will likely be resigned by the Lions, Landry does have some health issues overall but Moore is an upgrade for the defense.  I think there is one guy in the draft that I think the Rams target and I will get into that in a minute.  None of these guys are signed to be a Ram probably.

WR, Greg Jennings-Packers, Dwayne Bowe-Chiefs and Mike Wallace-Steelers.  OK, were not going to sign Jennings period.  Injury concerns aside, his dollar total is beyond what we would give.  Bowe I would sign if the price were right.  He has to want to leave the Chiefs, and his big body would take on the double team to get Givens, Amendola, Kendricks, Gibson open.  Wallace, I don't want him, it is not that he can't stretch the field but NO STONE HANDS FOR ME.

All in all, I don't see the Rams doing much with the FAs, although Albert and Bowe are interesting to me.

OK, the draft and depending of course where the Redskins pick goes of course.  Here is what I think goes in the 1st 3 picks and Fisher and Snead will deal down to get these guys at the proper spots and pick up other picks.

#1 at #16, Chance Wormack OG Alabama, OK not necessary the biggert of needs at OG but best player available and the #1 OG in the draft.

#1 Redskins (depends of course) probably trade down and gain picks and takes Matt Elam SS Florida.  The best SS in the draft, hard hitter and we get rid of Dahl or make him a Special teams player only.

#2 at 48, Eric Fisher OLT Central Michigan.  This is not the Fisher MO for a draft, 2 O-lineman up front in the draft but it is the best way to make this team go.

Depending of course on others snatching our guys, Anthony Barr OLB UCLA, Taylor Lewan OLT Michigan, Kenny Vaccaro FS Texas, Jonathan Cooper OG North Carolina and Keenan Allen WR California will also be in the mix.

Just some thing guys.

Hey Blue: Yes, I agree that we will not be doing much in FA this year because Fisher has stated that he likes alot of his roster. Outside of re-signing Jackson and Amendola, FA is not going to be one of our look-see areas. I think we all agree that Dahl and possibly Stewart are going to be gone or relegated to back-up status next year. That being said....

...It is apparent by all involved including yourself, KSUDodgers, Sportsjunkie, VitaMike, Jermaine, ShaneC, and others that we are going to fulfill our need areas of O-line and Safety this year in the first 1-3 rounds. I agree with you and the aforementioned including mocks that our first pick is going to be either Warmack (OG) or one of three big safeties of Elam, Reid, or Vaccaro-the latter two are big guys and Elam will simply knock the krap out   of you. The second first rounder will be the remainder of the those four from who we selected with the first pick.

I don't see us waiting on any of them in the first to the second when we can eaily pick up a guy like Eric Fisher or D.J. Fluker in the second anyway. So in the second, I see us taking one of those two with Ricky Wagner in the third unless one of those big OLBs falls to us and Fisher is satisified with Warmack and say Fisher or Fluker. The rest of the draft will be add ons like O-lineman, maybe a WR or one of those big TEs, a speedy running back, or another run stuffing D-lineman.

So the draft is looking very good for us this year and I know our O-line will be much bigger and better next year with Barksdale, Nyseke, Williams, Watson, Washington, and others already here and signed. Saffold is headed to the right side, back-up, or out the door as is Turner. Hunter is gone.

Brian Schottenheimer appears to be staying for a second year and that will be good for Sammie. All we need now is the new DC which will probably be Dave McGinnis. Stay tuned. retroram. 

And Bark Mingo is more of a DE and will play in a 3-4 in the NFL.  But he's a heck of an athlete and his name is awesome.

That kid's parents did NOT like him. Lol. 

Let's say hypothetically the Rams went with Warmack, a safety, and Fisher with the first 3 picks. What's the starting O-line? Obviously it will take time to see how NFL ready those guys are and how long it will take Fisher to be a NFL ready LT. Obviously Wells will be the center, but who else do you guys want in there? If Fisher can start at LT does Saffold move to RT? If thats the case the line would look like this: Fisher, Dahl, Wells, Warmack, Saffold. Would anyone prefer Barry Richardson over Roger Saffold at RT?  

Barry Richardson is a free agent and most likely will not be brought back... at least not as a starter.

mutigers that is exactly what the line would look like with Watkins the backup at guard or if it takes time for Warmack to get started.  I think Fisher would be fine and along with Warmack will learn together.  Some growing pains there but their toughness and talent, especially in the run game will make it work.  Saffold on the RT spot is better suited.  They might look at a free agent backup Center or bring back Turner.  Only problem is and if Richardson leaves is the backup for Tackle,but Fisher and Snead will figure that out.

Also, I didn't address in my thoughts about Steven Jackson and Danny Amendola as FAs.  Steven Jackson has done everything and a half for the Rams in his time since we drafted him.  I want him to get to the playoffs and no hard feelings if he left for the horizon with a playoff shot.  That being said, I think he wants to do that with the Rams and a discussion with him about a smaller role might just bring him back.  Whether he comes back or not, the Rams must move forward with the thought that in some time forward, a new running back in necessary.

As for Amendola, I also think he wants to stay and should.  A poor man's Wes Welker is exactly what the Rams need in the passing game.  His heart and determation pushes other guys to go harder.  That is hard to replace on any team.  Sign him again and I would look to a wide body, tall, fast guy in the FA market that commands a double team to help the other young receivers get single coverage and expand the passing game.  I know several do not like Dwayne Bowe, but he is the type of player, that will help the passing game a great deal.

Yes Pigpen, I am one of those that does not want Bowie. While I believe he is very talented, I think he takes plays off, and he was in top 10 in NFL in passes dropped this year, he also holds the single game RECORD for dropped passes. And for a lot of people on here that was a big issue all year and the WR were blamed for Bradfords poor showings, sometimes! Only 6 TEAMS in the NFL had fewer drops than the Rams as a team, so that is not the issue, our WR are fine. I think, if some absolute stud came along, then yes I'd love to have him, but with our QB, running game, oline,and offensive schemes I don't see anyone improving our pass game that much. I think we have a very good YPUNG group of WR's. As always that's just my opinion, but that's how I see's it!

Your exactly right about the WRs smed, I think they have made strides to get better and if the o-line is upgraded, that will give Bradford more time to hit open receivers.  My only thinking was that we have no one at this time that commands a double team, and that for most teams like the Bears-Marshall, Texans-Johnson, Lions-Megatron, Chiefs-Bowe, Thomas-Broncos and Redskins-Garcon helps their passing game a lot.  Now teams like the Patriots, Packers and Falcons do not have that big guy but they do have Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan and more than one go to guy.  Maybe Sam gets in to that discussion but without a Vincent, Jennings, Colston, Green, White or Jones in the lineup, will our Givens, Gibson, Quick, Pettis ever reach up to even their stature?  I just don't know.

YES they will, I hope! :)

Yes Pigpen, I am one of those that does not want Bowie. While I believe he is very talented, I think he takes plays off, and he was in top 10 in NFL in passes dropped this year, he also holds the single game RECORD for dropped passes.

You are judging a man on a bad team, with a bad QB, and also a bad coach.  Oh and throw in the franchise tag and you got = FRUSTRATION.



Dwayne Bowe with Sam, and a better O-line, with Fisher....  Much improved.      

As far as having a dominant receiver goes, I'd rather have 2 1000 yard guys than 1 2000 yard guys. Just my opinion. 

Also, I'm probably about as extreme as you'll find in the anti-Bowe camp. True competitors pick up their lunch pale and go to work no matter the circumstances, just like SJ has for years. Bowe has not done that, and I don't expect him to stay happy at all times anywhere. Let's say he goes off for a little while and everyone is peachy. But then Quick develops a little bit, Givens catches a fair number of deep balls, and all this opens up Amendola who starts putting up great numbers in the slot. All of a sudden Bowe is just another guy and his ego gets too big for that. I just don't see it working out. Selfish football players tend to be selfish wherever they go.  

Back to the O-line for a second. The latest article I have read indicates Fisher wants to go huge and massive on the O-line. He likes both Warmack and Fluker from Alabama. He is probably going after Warmack and Fluker because both of these guys are very big and powerful. Warmack is a special talent and Fluker is an underclassman that has some pretty good talent. 

Right now, we have on the roster: Saffold, 6-5, 314, Dahl, 6-5, 308, Wells, 6-2, 305, Barksdale, 6-5, 330, Williams, 6-6, 320, Nsekhe, 6-8, 325, Watkins, 6-3, 338, Washington, 6-4, 325, Turner, 6-4, 308, Smith, 6-5, 297, and Barnes, 6-3, 308. Richardson (6-5, 314) is a free agent and Smith is too small and does not play very well and will peobably be gone. 

If Fisher picks up Warmack (6-3, 335) and Fluker (6-6, 330) he is not going after Eric Fisher as much because Eric Fisher is smallish and Jeff Fisher wants bigger O-lineman. Guys that play under 320 are going to be less of a priority than guys ten-twenty pounds heavier except for the center position where Wells and Turner are smallish under Jeff Fisher's apparent new definition of big.

So next year, our O-line could very well be from left to right: Barksdale (or Nsekhe), Watkins, Wells, Warmack, Fluker with Saffold, Williams, Washington, Dahl, Turner and maybe Barnes as back-ups. Smith is odd-man out. If Jeff Fisher stays with Saffold at left tackle and drafts Warmack and Fluker, then the line could look like from left to right: Saffold, Watkins, Wells, Warmack, and Fluker (or Barksdale and Nsekhe).

So we may see a very new and very big O-line that features power and massiveness the likes of resembles much of the rest of the league. Whoever it is, Fisher has made it clear that he wants excellent blocking on both run AND pass and he wants Sammie protected from getting the krap knocked out of him.

When Fisher was with Tennessee, he watched David Carr get utterly ruined by a FO office that did not provide Carr with suffiicent protection and Fisher has vowed to not have that happen to Sammie here in St Louis. So, we shall see has things unfold and how the draft goes but our O-line is going to be way bigger and hopefully way better. retroram.

Also, I'm probably about as extreme as you'll find in the anti-Bowe camp. True competitors pick up their lunch pale and go to work no matter the circumstances, just like SJ has for years. Bowe has not done that, and I don't expect him to stay happy at all times anywhere. Let's say he goes off for a little while and everyone is peachy. But then Quick develops a little bit, Givens catches a fair number of deep balls, and all this opens up Amendola who starts putting up great numbers in the slot. All of a sudden Bowe is just another guy and his ego gets too big for that. I just don't see it working out. Selfish football players tend to be selfish wherever they go. 

     


Like i said, you are judging a man and you don't know what it's like to play with a QB that is so bad, while getting the franchise tag.  KC has had no direction.  5 pro bowlers and 2 wins??  And I would take Randy Moss back in his prime in a heartbeat.   He took plays off and had an attitude.  And show me a #1 WR in the game today that is not selfish.  All good WR's in the NFL want the ball and if they have a team and QB that's awful, they tend to lose focus.  Especially at 23-25 years old.  Comparing SJAX and Bowe is night and day.  A RB sees alot more touches than a WR.


I get that Bowe had alot of drops.  I get that he didn't play to his full capabilities.  But put a talented guy on a talented team and watch what happens when the bar is raised.   Put Bowe around Pettis, Gibson, Amendola, Givens all making great catches and watch how contagious it is.   Bowe would be fine and a nice upgrade for this team.

And the Rams never franchise tagged SJAX.  They sat down and worked on the team around SJAX.

Bowe is in a situation where he's 25 and playing on a 1 year deal with a QB that couldn't hit a barn.

Do the math.     

Junkie, a lot of the stuff you've said about Bowe is fair, I'm still worried. That being said if Fisher sits down with the guy and trusts him enough to bring him in, then I'll trust Jeff Fisher. If its up to me I don't touch him, but I'm not the 1 calling the shots. It'll also be interesting to see if he has interest in going back to KC now that Andy Reid is there. 

retro, this is what I was talking about when I said I'll let someone else talk about the O-line, great post. Do Warmack and Fluker play opposite sides at Bama or are they next to each other? If they're next to each other then let's bring them in and let that continue. 

I am pretty sure both of them play on the Left side mutigers... but I could not swear to it.

Mutigers: FYI, I played the O-line in my football career and ended it at Linebacker in college back in the day. So I have a kindred spirit with both lines and the linebackers.

Warmack is a left guard and Fluker is a right tackle. Warmack is such a talent and his size is immense and with Fisher and Boudreau salivating over this guy, he'll probably play either guard spot for us wherever the need is. Fluker is a underclassman and he is also a huge man but may have to sit for a year because his versatility is less and he may take awhile before he plays at right tackle getting use to the pro game.

So we have some options but I suspect that both of these guys have a pretty good chance of ending up with us. This is why Williams, Barksdale, and Nsekhe are key if Saffold moves to the right side and still plays. Fisher wants players who get rid of the mental mistakes and stupid penalities and still block well in both the run and pass. If Saffold remains and moves to the right side, then there is a good chance we'll see the O-line left-to-right of: Barksdale or Nsekhe (both huge men) Watkins (The Rock also huge), Wells, Warmack (huge) or Williams (Also huge and played pretty well and if Warmack is gone in the draft), and Saffold (not so huge at 6-5, 314). If saffold stays on the left side, then just flip Barksdale to the right side and Nsekhe goes to back-up.

If Saffold goes to back-up status, then we may see Nsekhe, Watkins, Wells, Warmack, and Barksdale which is a huge-freakin' line. Nsekhe is 6-8, 325, Watkins is 6-3, 338, Wells is the small guy at 6-3, 308, Warmack is 6-3, 335, and Barksdale is 6-5, 330. The outliers are Williams at 6-6, 320 and Brandon Washington at 6-4, 320 and if they decide to bring Richardson back. I doubt it if Richardson returns because his pass blocking remains suspect and he is a FA. 

If Warmack gets selected before us in the first, then this whole scenario gets re-shuffled again depending who is selected in his place. Anything can happen in the draft and we shall see what transpires. retroram.   

If anyone is interested, you can watch Warmack and Fluker Monday night in the BCS championship game against Notre Dame. These guys are Clydesdales and it would be really peachy if we drafted both. retroram.

retro, great idea. I hadn't heard a thing about that game...

Makes sense why you like the line then, when it comes to baseball I'm that way with catchers because of when I played.

Also retro, what do you think of Kyle Long out of Oregon?