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.

Rams 2010 pick-by-pick Draft analysis

Needs Analysis: It's not every year that a team in need of a franchise QB gets a shot at one, but the Rams could get their chance with Sam Bradford. With how well he performed at Monday's workout, and if the doctors clear him, he will be the No. 1 overall pick. After that decision, it might be a good idea to move down in the other rounds and get multiple picks to fill up the roster. At least one wide receiver is a must, and a third-down running back would help if they don't add one in free agency. The defense needs help at left defensive end.

Rams' draft picks
Rd	Sel. #	Player	Pos.	School
1	1	Sam Bradford	QB	Oklahoma
2	33	Rodger Saffold	OT	Indiana
3	65	Jerome Murphy	CB	South Florida
4	99	Mardy Gilyard	WR	Cincinnati
5	132	Michael Hoomanawanui	TE	Illinois
5	149	Hall Davis	DE	La.-Lafayette
6	170	Fendi Onobun	TE	Arizona
6	189	Eugene Sims	DE	West Texas A&M
7	211	Marquis Johnson	DB	Alabama
7	226	George Selvie	DE	South Florida
7	254	Josh Hull	LB	Penn State

Rams pick by pick analysis

Day 2 Summary: Rams solidify O-Line picked OT from Indiana

Day 2 of the NFL draft started with a not so spectacular yet a very solid pick as the Rams picked Offensive Tackle Rodger Saffold from Indiana. This pick shows that they will protect Sam Bradford and Steven Jackson. It also signals Alex Barron's upcoming departure as Scaffold might start opposite Jason Smith.

Round 3 was a bit of a surprise for me a the Rams drafted cornerback Jerome Murphy of South Florida. This pick is obviously influenced by coach Spagnuolo as he likes big and physical defensive backs (Jerome Butler and Ron Bartell are above 6 feet in height).

Rodger Saffold At a Glance

Jerome Murphy At a Glance

Rams To Work Out Colt McCoy Before Draft

The Rams plan to take a closer look at their options for drafting a quarterback, including Texas’ Colt McCoy.

St. Louis will hold a private workout — date unknown — for McCoy in Austin before the NFL draft begins April 22, according to an ESPN.com source.

McCoy is working out today during the Texas Longhorns’ pro day, and NFL.com reports more yhan 75 coaches and scouts representing 30 teams (Rams and Lions are not represented) are in Austin.

The Rams could still be considering taking one of the stellar defensive tackles, Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy, with their first overall pick and then look to pick up the Texas QB in the second round (No. 33 overall).

Rams Draft scenarios

It's only weeks until the 2010 NFL Draft and there's no clear idea on which draft prospect will the Rams take for the top overall pick. Would it be Oklahoma's Sam Bradford or would it be either defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh (Nebrask) or Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma) or would there be a trade-down to get additional picks .

I will be posting a series of blog post on each scenarios and explain my take on that particular scenario and what would be the possible benefits that the team would gain.

2nd Day Draft Picks Where So-So but solid

Based from the several articles that I read today from GM Bill Devaney's breakdown to the fan's reaction as well some of the Draft analysts analysis, The 2nd day of the Rams draft was more on "so-so" for me personally. Bill Devaney and Coach Spags like what they have picked but it could have been better.

Read Bill Devaney's Break Down of the 2nd day draft picks

Rams Day 2 Draft Picks

from espn.com

3	2(66)	Bradley Fletcher	CB	Iowa
	Fletcher is 6-feet tall and, like we said yesterday in regard to Utah cornerback Sean Smith, corners this tall can have a hard time changing directions. In Fletcher's case, he doesn't have the burst or hip fluidity to consistently match up in man coverage. However, he does a good job masking his weaknesses with instincts. Because of his long arms he doesn't necessarily have to be in perfect position to make a play on the ball.
4	3(103)	Dorell Scott	DT	Clemson
	Scott possesses the adequate size to be an effective one-gap defensive tackle. However, his quickness is just average and we'd like to see him play with more of a mean streak. We do believe he has enough strength to develop into an effective interior run-stopper.
5	24(160)	Brooks Foster	WR	North Carolina
	from Atlanta
	Foster's a relatively fluid route-runner for his size. He possesses the body control to make the tough catch away from his frame. However, he takes too long to reach top-end speed and needs to work on getting a cleaner release against press coverage.
6	23(196)	Keith Null	QB	West Texas A&M
	from Atlanta
	Null is a developmental prospect with a strong arm and limited mobility. We like his upside due to good decision-making and his maturity as a leader.
7	2(211)	Chris Ogbonnaya	RB	Texas
	Ogbonnaya is a big north-south back who possesses great overall strength. He lacks in terms of top-end speed and elusiveness in the open field, but he is able to pick up tough yards after contact.

I'm Two for Two on my Mock Draft

As expected the St. Louis Rams picked Baylor OT Jason Smith for the number 2 pick overall and on the 2nd round the Rams filled in a need at Middle linebacker as they passed over USC's Rey Malauaga and drafted Ohio State's James Laurinaitis which is more of a three-down player and is a solid character.

On Day 2, I would expect the Rams to add depth on the Wideout positions and maybe a quarterback or a runningback.



Jason Smith Highlights


James Laurinaitis Highlights

Draft Prospect Review: Wide Receivers

The Wide Reciever position has become an urgent need when Pro Bowler Torry Holt was released so the Rams stockpiled their pre-draft visits with  a lot of WR prospects in this years draft and here's are the scouting reports of some of these prospects based from various scouting websites.

Texas Tech WR Michal Crabtree 
Height: 6-3, Weight: 209

Strengths: Sensational playmaker…utilizes his hands very well in catching the football away from his body…Crabtree is a physical player who has demonstrated that getting off a jam at the line of scrimmage is not an issue…has had the additional advantage of lining up at both flankers and slot positions, and has found success while playing both…runs crisp routes, so transition to the NFL level should be more smoothly than others…outstanding vertical leap, catches the football at its highest point…should develop into a terrific red zone threat…

Weaknesses: Top end speed is not going to be ideal, reportedly…added speculation circulates Crabtree’s 40 time as he is not going to run at the Scouting Combine, rather at individual workout…recent high-profile receivers who have not run well, Dwayne Jarrett, Malcolm Kelly, etc. have not progressed well to the NFL level…Crabtree has had an amazing collegiate career, but it was only two years, and prior to that, he was a high school QB, so as a wide receiver, he is still developing…playing in the spread offense at Texas Tech has, in all likelihood, glorified his statistics…will he be able to separate from cornerbacks at the next level…?

Overall: The one knock on Michael Crabtree’s NFL potential is his top-end speed, besides that he is, in many scouts opinion, infallible. He is extremely quick off the ball, and the more physical nature of the National Football League will be a fit for Michael Crabtree’s game. He has outstanding hands, and it is almost unbelievable to think that he has only played the position for two years. There are two schools of thought in regards to his experience or lack thereof, some may feel that there is going to be a transition phase where he struggles to the NFL level, some feel that due to his inexperience, the best is yet to come. The Andre Johnson/Larry Fitzgerald comparisons are out there, and they are accurate. Michael Crabtree is a top five talent in the 2009 NFL Draft, and the early favorite for 2009 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin
Height: 6-1, Weight: 198

Strengths: Has sprinter speed and possesses acceleration that is second to none…ultra-talented, as he can make an impact in the passing, rushing, and returning game…has produced off the chart all-purpose yardage numbers…has been the focus of an offensive attack for several seasons now, and although the opposing defense has game planned to stop him, rarely any do…many times track stars are sloppy route runners, that is not the case in regards to Jeremy Maclin, his route running isn’t Jerry Rice caliber, but it is at least average...bottom line—if he gets a step on the defense, he’s gone…

Weaknesses: Needs work on catching the football, his receiving skills are not the smoothest…very fluid with the ball in his hands, needs to adapt that to his game prior to the ball being in his hands…the spread offense that he played in at Missouri can be a detriment to his future NFL prospects…listed at under 200 pounds, and around 6 foot, many doubt his ability to become a true #1 WR…hasn’t had to go over the middle and make the tough grab on a regular basis…not the red-zone threat that many 2009 prospects are…to get in to the end zone, an offense may have to be a bit more creative…

Overall: The comparisons have been made to Ted Ginn Jr. due to their receiving/returning skills and the fact that they are both world class speed athletes, however, the comparison falls short. For one, Maclin is a bigger receiver prospect, and two, he is just a better natural receiver than Ginn. The better comparison is a poor man’s Reggie Wayne. Maclin will immediately help an offense and on special teams, just don’t expect a legit 1,000 season right away. Maclin will take time to learn the nuances of the National Football League, but he has a ton of potential and will stretch a defense like not many in the league can.

Maryland WR Darius Heyward-Bey
Height: 6-2, Weight: 206

Strengths: Has electrifying speed and quickness…has the capabilities to take every play the distance and will provide whatever team selects him with explosiveness that they may currently lack…he possesses a unique combo of size and speed that is rarely seen—think Roddy White as a comparison…a versatile wide receiver prospect that can stretch the defense, go across the middle, and can be a factor in the red zone…plays with an edge at the WR position, gets after it in blocking the oppositions secondary down field…possibly has more potential than ANY other wide receiver in the 2009 NFL Draft…

Weaknesses: Had a very up and down collegiate career…will need to work on his hands, at times lets the ball get in on him…focusing on technique is essential in regards to progression…needs to work on refining his route running, has a tendency to get sloppy at times….statistics were nothing to write home about…could develop a little more strength to better develop his level of physicality…does he rely too much on his speed and quickness?

Overall: Some scouts and pundits are sleeping on Darius Heyward-Bey in my opinion. Critics will point to an underwhelming career at Maryland where he never dominated, but if one were to watch the Maryland football games you would clearly see that Heyward-Bey was not utilized very well at all and the passing attack, primarily at the quarterback position, of the Terps leaves a lot to be desired. Many are focusing on Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin, however, don’t be surprised if you see pundits start using the terminology "stock moving up" in regards to Darius Heyward-Bey during the Scouting Combine and thereafter. Make no mistakes about it, Heyward-Bey is going to light up the Scouting Combine, and don’t be stunned if he even runs a faster 40 time than speedster Jeremy Maclin, and opens up the eyes of scouts in the process.

Hakeem Nicks
Wide Reciever - North Carolina

Height:6-1 , Weight: 212lbs.

The 6-2 wideout has had three productive years with the Tar Heels. As a freshman in 2006 he caught 39 passes for 660 yards, both records for a North Carolina freshman. As a sophomore he caught 74 passes for 958 yards and five touchdowns. His 958 yards ranked third all-time in UNC history. He shattered the record in 2008, tallying 1,222 receiving yards. He also set a record with 12 touchdown receptions. Even with playing just three years, Nicks has been the most prolific receiver in Tar Heel history.

Nicks is not a pure speed receiver, but he has certainly been productive. At 6-2 and 210 pounds, he has decent size and could develop into a solid complimentary receiver on just about any team in the NFL. It will take a big effort to move up into the first round, but Nicks' performance at the combine should be the difference between a second and third round selection.

2/11 Update: Nicks may even be able to sneak into the first round if teams start going after wide receivers early. Nicks is looking more and more like the fifth best receiver in the draft. The difference will be how well he does in the combine. There are some speed concerns with Nicks and if he quells those concerns, he will be a first or second round selection.

Brandon Tate

Wide Reciever - North Carolina

Height:6-0, Weight:183 lbs.

A knee injury sidelined Brandon Tate for most of his senior year, but he still had a very productive career at North Carolina. During the 2008 campaign he caught 16 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns in just five games before the injury. In 2007 he totaled 1,765 all-purpose yards. A majority of those yards came from kick-off and punt returns and that skill will make him very attractive to certain NFL teams.

It will be his return skills that give him an opportunity in the NFL, but Tate could be a solid second or third receiving option on certain teams sooner or later. His collegiate production was never anything that impressive, but he did do a nice job of complimenting Hakeem Nicks, who could be a first or second round choice this year. Tate's 6-1, 195 pound frame will not allow him to be a primary receiver in the NFL and he has too many questions to answer. That means he will not likely be drafted during the first day of the draft.

However, he should show at the combine that his knee injury is behind him and that he is a quick player who can run decent routes and catch the ball in traffic. If that is the case, Tate will not last very long into the second day.

Opinion: Most of these years wide receiver prospects have the size to go with the speed which mean it's a good year for the position. The Rams will probably draft a wide receiver on the 2nd and 3rd rounds and the possibility of drafting one or two from these top picks. Personally I would go with either Heyward-Bey or Nicks on round 2 with the possibility of getting Tate on round 3. Crabtree and Maclin are sure 1st rounders unless the Rams drafts either of them on the #2 pick overall (which I doubt).

Day 2 Draft Summary

Overall Assessment: The Rams traded up several time to get the best possible player for the positions they want to fill up.

Here are Rams picks on Day 2

ROUND 3 (No. 65 overall): JOHN GRECO
Position: Offensive tackle
Height, weight: 6-4, 326
College: Toledo

COLLEGE RECAP
Greco was the first offensive lineman to win the school’s Norman Cohen Award as the team’s top freshman. After starting at right tackle his first year, he moved to the left side for his final three years. He was a member of the All-Mid-American Conference first team his final two seasons and a team captain and third-team All-American his senior year.

PLUSES
Good bone structure. Goes full blast until the whistle. Uses his size and lower-body strength to get movement off the snap. Has the knee-bend to stay low in his pads off the snap and good recovery quickness to protect the pocket.

MINUSES
Lacks the athleticism and long arms to be effective reaching and mirroring edge rushers on the left side. Looks a bit sluggish trying to go long distances. Occassionally comes off a block early. Tends to lunge when punching if he gets his hands on the outside.

PROJECTED ROLE
Could become the Rams third tackle, though he also could see time at guard.

******

ROUND 4 (No. 101 overall): JUSTIN KING
Position: Cornerback
Height, weight: 5-10, 192
College: Penn State

COLLEGE RECAP
Selected to the Sporting News’ Freshman All-American team, starting five of 12 games as a slot receiver in addition to reserve duty at cornerback. He switched full-time to cornerback in 2006 and was a first-team All-Big Ten pick in 2007. Was involved in an off-campus incident in April 2007; charges of criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and harassment were dropped because of lack of evidence.

PLUSES
Good leaping ability. Ran 4.3 speed in the 40, and has a smooth running stride. Shows proper timing to make plays on the ball in flight. Shows good acceleration staying with receivers on deep routes. Possesses a closing burst to prevent long gains on throws underneath.

MINUSES
Strength was rated as marginal, and he seems to shy away from contact in run support. He tends to give receivers a large cushion, which bigger receivers use to their advantage. More of an ankle-biter as a tackler.

PROJECTED ROLE
Should fit into special teams and provide depth in the defensive backfield. Consider him a project.

******

ROUND 4 (No. 128 overall): KEENAN BURTON
Position: WR
Height, weight: 6-0, 202
College: Kentucky

COLLEGE RECAP
No. 4 in Kentucky history in TD catches (25), third in receiving yards (2,320) and fourth in receptions (182). Dangerous kick returner who amassed more than 4,000 career all-purpose yards.

PLUSES
Good size, speed (4.4 for 40 yards) and leaping ability (43½-inch vertical). Nice change-of-direction skills. Crisp route-runner. Has ability to get open. Willing to play hurt.

MINUSES
Long list of injuries in college. Doesn’t always use hands to make catches, cradling the ball instead. So-so burst off the line of scrimmage.

PROJECTED ROLE
Will get a shot to break into corps of wideouts. Also will get a look as a return man.

******

ROUND 5 (No. 157 overall): ROY SCHUENING
Position: Offensive tackle
Height, weight: 6-4, 308
College: Oregon State

COLLEGE RECAP
Schuening made 50 consecutive starts at Oregon State, a school record, but played part of 2007 with pneumonia. He most often played at right guard but shifted to right tackle for the last four games of his senior season.

PLUSES
Has a well-proportioned frame that can carry at least another 15 pounds. Plays with aggression and 100 percent effort until the whistle. Has good field vision and picks up blitzes alertly. Good position blocker who keeps his feet working in-line.

MINUSES
Can suffer mental lapses on the field. Sometimes reacts slowly to a bull rush and is slow to get good hand placement against double moves. Must do a better job of shifting his weight and lowering his pads.

PROJECTED ROLE
Schuening should poivide depth on the offensive line, probably at guard.

******

ROUND 7 (No. 228 overall): CHRISTOPHER CHAMBERLAIN
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6-2, 226
College: Tulsa

COLLEGE RECAP
The Tulsa coaching staff considered Chamberlain the best athlete on the squad. He was recruited as a quarterback and defensive back but made the transition to weakside linebacker. He ended his career as the school's fifth-leading tackler, registering 352 in 50 games and was an honorable mention All-American his senior year.

PLUSES
Impressive flexibility, agility, balance, body control and change-of-direction skills. Reads and reacts to the plays instinctively. Smooth turning out of his backpedal and has a sharp initial burst to get a good jump on the ball.

MINUSES
He will need to add more bulk and improve his overall strength. Struggles to split double teams and loses battles when a lineman gets into his body. He can overpursue and miss tackles.

PROJECTED ROLE
Depth at outside linebacker, though he has changed positions so often that could be subject to change.

******


ROUND 7 (No. 252 overall): DAVID VOBORA
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6-1, 236
College: Idaho

COLLEGE RECAP
Vobora’s 134 tackles as a junior ranked seventh in the NCAA and his 148 in 2007 ranked third. Played more at weakside linebacker but occasionally moved into the middle. As a senior, he was an All-American honorable mention, All-WAC first-team member and the Vandals’ MVP.

PLUSES
Compensates for lack of size with good instincts. He’s often around the ball and almost never bites on play action or misdirection. Demonstrates good discipline and is quick to read and react to the run or pass. Takes good angles to close on the ball with urgency.

MINUSES
Struggles to add bulk and maintain weight. Lacks the range to chase down plays at the opposite end of the field. Does not show much explosion behind his hits. Backs push him easily when running right at him because of his high stance.

PROJECTED ROLE
Depth at strong side linebacker, special teams.

Day 1 Draft Summary and Analysis

As I expected the Rams 1st round pick was the safest prospect in former Virginia defensive end Chris Long compare to LSU DT Glenn Dorsey. Coach Scott Linehan really liked C. Long's "intangibles" and he is excited to see him part of the defensive line that inludes ex-Pro Bowlers Leonard Little and LaRoi Glover with emerging tackles Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan. Long will add some versatility on defense as he can play both left and right defensive end positions as well as stand up pass rusher as a linebacker (similar to what Philadelphia did Jevon Kearse before he went back to Tennessee).

Round Two on the other hand was a bit of a surprise personally as the Rams drafted WR Donnie Avery from University of Houston. I admit I have no knowledge about this guy because I would assume Cal WR DeSean Jackson would be here. Avery was the first pick overall for the Wide Reciever position (I was surprise that top WR prospects Devin Thomas and Limas Sweed where not picked during the 1st round). I did some research on Avery and i found out that he's a double threat as he has exceptional speed and he is also a good kick and punt returner. Some experts (and many Rams fans) argue that this team reached to make him the first receiver taken in the draft. But the Rams got something they needed. Once the run on receivers started in the second round, he probably would have gone somewhere else.

Houston played a spread offense, so Avery attacked defenses from every angle. He caught 210 passes for the Cougars, including 91 for 1,456 yards as a senior. For Donnie Avery's Scouting report you can go here.

To summarize the Rams draft, the team were able to fill some needed areas particularly on the defensive end position and depth at wide receiver and possible backup to Dante Hall.