Rams Wide Receiver Review

It's been a while since I posted an update because of the lockout. Now that football is back, the St. Louis Rams wasted no time upgrading the key areas that need attention. The wide receiver position was the focus of the draft as the Rams drafted a potential red-zone threat with TE Lance Kendricks and two sure handed wideouts in Austin Pettis and Greg Salas. On the free agency market Rams signed to a one-year deal Mike Sims-Walker adding more sure hand recievers for Sam Bradford. On the mix is Mark Clayton which was Bradfords favorite target aside from slot receiver extraordinaire Danny Amendola.

Who is the heir to Adam Timmerman?

The Rams has been having problems holding fort at the right guard position since All-Pro Adam Timmerman retired. Since then it was a revolving chair on that position Richie Incognito man the position but character issues cut his stay in St.Louis short; Mark Setterstrom also did good manning the position but injuries keep creeping up and decided to let him go as a free agent. Then there is the project on using  utility man OG/OT Adam Goldberg and OG John Greco. With the Rams tendering Greco shows that they still have some confidence on him and as football expert says "he just need some competition to prove himself".

Personally if given the chance to compete, John Greco might have found their answer to that position within the roster all along. Not drafting an interior lineman during the 2011 NFL draft has only enforced that Greco will be given a chance to compete although the Rams will try to add another veteran via free agency to add some depth.  

The Rams basically need to upgrade the interior as a they where able to draft the Rams bookend tackles in Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith and they will be holding fort for quiet sometime. Center Jason Brown has been the anchor and the de-facto leader of the group since he was signed as a free agents in 2009 as he has shown consistency with his play.

Rams 2011 Draft Review

If I were to sum up the the first two days of the 2011 NFL Draft, it would be like this: a lot of surprises, and a lot of steals. Yes folks this year NFL draft has a lot of surprises which includes the chance for the Rams to pick the best pass rusher in this years draft class in North Carolina DE Robert Quinn.   

Round 2 of the Rams draft was also a surprise even to the fans as Bill Devaney trade up with the Denver Broncos for the Rams to able to pick Wisconsin TE Lance Kendricks. Some would say this is a Josh McDaniels pick as McD likes to pass catching TE's with a good set of hands and Kendricks is one of the few with the best hands in his position. Sam Bradford will have another toy to play with.

Round 3 was also a surprise to most fans as the Rams drafted Boise State WR Austin Pettis. A big wideout 6' 3" with good route running skills and good hands (which is now becoming the trend of the Rams draft).

In Round 4 Rams got basically a similar wideout in Hawaii WR Greg Salas. The Rams continue to upgrade Sam Bradford's supporting cast with the addition of Salas. He is a highly productive receiver with great hands and outstanding toughness. He should compete for time as a slot receiver in their three- and four-receiver sets

The rest of the picks

Round 5: DB/LB Jermale Hines, Ohio State
Round 7: DB/Returner Mikail Baker, Baylor

Round 7: LB Jabara Williams, Stephen F. Austin

Round 7: FS Jonathan Nelson, Oklahoma

Countdown to the 2011 NFL Draft: Julio Jones or the D-Linemen

It's obvious that the whole Rams' draft strategy will depend on 14th overall pick. It's a consensus by most draft experts that the Rams that Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones fills the urgent need "if" he's available by the time. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has a knack on developing quarterbacks and wide receivers so if the Rams where lucky enough to pick Jones, Sam Bradford' will be one happy camper.

If in case Jones is not availble, draft experts has said that the Rams will turn to drafting Defensive Linemen to atleast prepare for the eventual leaving of aging players DT Fred Robbins and DE James Hall. Prospect like defensive end Missouri's Aldon Smith,  California's DE/DT Cameron Jordan and Illionois defensive tackle Corey Liuget are basically the Rams can afford to choose from. It's common knowledge head coach Steve Spagnoulo loves to using multiple defensive ends on passing downs to which disrupts opposing teams as part of defensive packages. Drafting any of the three prospect will surely upgarde their need on their defensive line. Imagine having Chirs Long, Fred Robbins, James Hall, George Selvie plus any of those three prospect rotating every now and then will surely make those opposing offensive coordinator lose their mind.