Feature Article
There Is No Off In Offseason For This Rams Team
Smallwood's Rams
Staff Writer
In this, the month of March, the NFL's offseason is in full swing. And now that teams' focus is now on the draft, I am going to tackle what work I think the Rams still have left to do. They have been relatively quiet, but in my eyes, that's a good thing. I think this year's free agent class was one loaded with risks, unproven talent and ability, and malcontents.
The Rams have addressed a couple areas of need, particularly Guard and Kicker. I was the first to damn Josh Brown over the past couple years, but as Jeff retired, I think it was a good pickup, made all the more better by swiping him away from the Seahawks. Bringing in Jacob Bell was an unheralded move as far as making the news rounds, but he should provide stability, and youth, to the starting lineup. I'm not convinced by Trent Gren's signing; on the one hand, he's a professional, a smart player, and a leader. But his health is just plain worrisome. Then again, if he's on the field that much, then a number of stories will be being told, including that the offensive line still stinks and Marc Bulger is still holding the ball too long.
As for what's next...
The draft - The draft is really exciting and also confusing, as to where I feel the Rams should go. While yes, the offensive line needs work, I also feel like it has the talent, but just simply couldn't stay healthy. I don't feel we should give up on some of the talent we have in place; remember, Romberg, Stetterstrom, and Incognito were playing very well at the end of '06 and I think, if healthy, can form a good interior. That and Richie finally realizing he doesn't have to get into a fight after every play.
With that said, while Jake Long is going to be a good player, I feel we need to address our defense, and lack of pass rush and consistent playmakers.
As with the offense, this side of the ball has good players. A big part of the blame for the defensive rankings I feel goes directly toward the offense, with turnovers and horrible play calling on 3rd downs, etc. The Rams defense played a great many games the past two seasons with their backs against the wall, in a corner. They kept us in a good many games, especially in the first halves. Will is a tremendous athlete and playmaker, Leonard is still a pass rush threat, La'roi is a hustler and leader, etc...However....there are still too many fundamental problems on this side. One, we STILL aren't a good, sound tackling defense. While Atogwe is growing, he better learn to tackle better real soon, or his ascending career will fall fast. Corey Chavous is a leader, but his tackling and angle to the ball many times last season was horrible. Pisa can't stay healthy and even when he is, he doesn't make many plays. There's still WAY too many players breaking tackles with this team. Two, our pass rush MUST improve. I feel the secondary, when healthy, can be a bright spot. But our overwhelming lack of a consisent rush last year, hurt us tremendously. If Leonard returns healthy, obviously it's a huge boost. But he needs help and really hasn't had consistent help since our Super Bowl days. I think Adam will be greatly improved this year, and his strength will show itself more, as far as a push up the middle. I still feel we need to implement Will on blitzes again, as last year. He's too fast and quick for almost any lineman, not expecting him to come flying in. But we need another consistent threat, which is where my draft pick ideas lean.
Either Chris Long or Vernon Gholston is my choice. Both are intriguing to say the least. I live in Columbus, and Gholston, what I saw at least of him last year, is just a tremendous pass rusher. I think many people feel he's just speed. He's also very strong at the point. He will obviously need work, in techniques and leverage, plus run defense, but his ability to consistently get to the quarterback last year was really impressive. Every OSU game I saw, which was the majority of 6-7 games, he had at least a couple plays where he either blew up the QB or his rush led to a turnover. I didn't see any of Chris Long, playing at Virginia as he did. But from what I'm reading and hearing of him, he'd be hard to pass up. I think saying a player is a hard worker, comes across as he has no real talent, just work ethic. If the Rams feel he pushes himself much harder than Gholston or anybody else for that matter, then I wouldn't even hesitate. You want guys who work hard, who love playing, and who push themselves and their teammates. He looks fiery, which is what we need, throughout this organization. So, for me, it's either Long or Gholston. One of them will be there for us, and I feel we should not let them out of our sight with our 2nd pick.
I've heard and read from a great many Rams fans, that we should trade down and get into possibly the 6th slot, 7th slot, etc. To me, it's the wrong move. While yes, we need players, I really think the top tier of this draft has can't miss, solid prospects. If the Rams are convinced in Sedrick Ellis, or Cromartie, or gtting Gholston later, then I'd pursue. But with Gholston shooting up the boards of every team, and Long staying right up there, I think both of them will be long gone by the 5th, 6th or 7th picks. If you want them, get them at number 2. Don't play games and try to be all crafty. I'm afraid they'll be long gone if we do this.
As for later rounds and target positions, I'm thinking WR, OL, DB...I like the idea of grooming a big, strong receiver, a young Left Tackle, and a hard hitting, solid tackling Safety. Torry, Orlando, and Corey will all be gone within the next few years, especially Corey and Orlando. They need to hit on solid players in these positions to keep an upward trajectory going. I also feel that LB needs adressing.
Free Agency - The same positions addressed in later rounds of the draft, need addressing here. WR,OL,DB, and LB...at the LB spot, Chillar still might be gone, Pisa is always hurt, and Draft is an older veteran. Culbertson might develop, but we still need another youngster to groom. I don't see Pisa, Brandon, or Chris Draft being here next year or the year after. I'd like to see them perhaps grab another player or two, who is versatile and can do the fundamentals well...block, tackle, instincts.
I'm excited. I think if we can stay healthy, that this team has major improvement written all over it. We have too many good players to be 3-13. This offseason has been rough, with the face of the franchise leaving us. I still feel that will come back to bite this team, in some fashion or another. However, I feel good about the rest of the moves so far. If we can get this draft and hit on it, it could mean the difference between future 11-5's, 12-4's and remaining in the 5,6,7 win seasons for the next couple years.
Go Rams!
