INTERESTING DRAFT

Watching the 2011 NFL draft, I had my ideas and hopes of what the Rams would do. With Julio Jones gone the Rams picked Robert Quinn defensive end out of North Carolina. I liked this pick. With no standout receivers sitting there, Spags turned to defense. Quinn is a speed rusher and will make a good bookend to Long on the other side. He has good size, but he's known for his speed. 

The Rams then used their second round pick to take TE Lance Kendricks from Wisconsin. I was confused by this pick. I know that the Rams are trying to get some help for Bradford, but this is a wait and see pick for me. The Rams then took WR's  Austin Pettis and Greg Salas in the third and fourth rounds respectively. Both are not from your typical "BIG" schools, but that doesn't bother me. 

Pettis is the all time leader in receptions and touchdowns at Boise State. Salas had 285 career receptions at Hawaii, which is third there all time and tied for 15th in NCAA history. Both might not be from "BIG" schools, but they have big time production.

 In the fifth round the Rams took Jermale Hines a safety from Ohio State University. I have to admit I am a Buckeye. I watched them almost every game this year and this guy can hit. With the last remaining picks, the Rams stuck to defense by taking Mikail Baker DB from Baylor, Jabara Williams OLB from Stephen F. Austin and Jonathan Nelson a DB from Oklahoma U. If these guys make the team, they are most likely to play special teams. The Rams need help there too. 

Time will tell how the draft class of 2011 will turn out, but it was an interesting draft.

"SEE YOU ON THE HIT SIDE" #21     

A New Year

With the 2011 NFL draft starting this Thursday, a new crop of Rams will be taken. As always, this is a major crap shoot. Since I took a year off from writing for Planet Rams, a lot has happened to our beloved Rams. After a year, Sam Bradford proved to be worth his #1 pick overall. I was skeptical and wary of this pick when the Rams took him. A history of shoulder problems, and coming from Oklahoma, I didn't have a lot of faith. I'm glad to say that I was wrong. 

Now that we are getting back on track to being a winning franchise, what do the Rams need next? The first thing the Rams need is a stud at WR. We need to get Bradford some help. Julio Jones from Alabama is a good fit here. The biggest problem is that he had an amazing combine performance and helped his draft ranking. If the Rams could trade up a few spots to grab him, I would be ecstatic. The Rams also need to look at drafting a running back sometime in the first 4 rounds. Steven Jackson is not getting younger, even though he can still bring the pain to defenders. 

For the defense (which if you've read this column before, I focus on the defense), there are two glaring spots I think we need help in. If the Rams take a defensive lineman in the first round (Julio would have to be gone) you would be able to hear me scream all the way from Georgia. The Rams need a free safety. Losing Atogwe to the Redskins backfired on the Rams. The other need for the Rams defense is another beast of a linebacker. James Laurinaitis needs some help, he can't do it all by himself. The Rams can fill the other 3 picks with what they think are their needs. As long as we get a WR,RB,LB and safety, this should make for a great weekend and the start of a great new year.

"See you on the hit side" #21  

Last Entry

It has been fun writing for Planet Rams. Over the years it has been my pleasure to give my opinion on the St Louis Rams. Being a die hard fan for 40+ years, I have seen the good times and the bad. Lately, as Rams fans know, it has leaned towards the bad. I've seen this before. The Rams had the worst record for the whole decade of the 1990's before they won the Superbowl. If anything, I have learned that the NFL is cyclical. The old adage "what goes around, comes around" is true in the NFL. The Rams might be one of the worst teams in the NFL now, but they won't be that way for long.

I believe the coaching staff and management have them pointed in the right direction. A few "tweaks" here and there, and the Rams will be competitive again.

Here are my final thoughts on this, and unlike my previous writings, it will not be "defensive heavy". As you will see, it is all connected.

First, make a decision at QB. Bulger is not the answer anymore. I have always liked him as a QB, but the Rams made a big mistake by signing him to a long term contract. He is getting up in years and he is fragile. The reason he is fragile and has been injury prone, is the play of the offensive line. This needs to be addressed immediately in free agency or the draft. Another reason Bulger gets banged up, is his receiving corps. There's not enough experience in this area. Blown routes and miss-communication, lead to a lot of hits on your QB.

As Rams fans, we could all agree that Steven Jackson is a stud. With no threat of a passing game, this allows defenses to put 8 or 9 in the box to stop him. The hits and chances of injury will mount up and will take it's toll on Jackson. If the Rams don't address the QB situation, Jackson will age before his time.

The defense is another thing all together. Over the last few years there seems to be a lack of leadership. Maybe Laurinaitis will take on that role. Time will tell. The secondary needs a complete overhaul. The defensive line is average, the line backing corps. needs help. Saying all of this, if I was in a position to make decisions for the Rams, here is what I would do. I'd look at free agents for any veteran help, especially at the QB position, maybe even offer a trade for a respectable veteran QB.

In April, I would draft (not necessarily in this order, but the best available player) offensive linemen, wide receivers, defensive backs, & linebackers. That's all I would draft. No running backs, tight ends, defensive linemen (after the Rams draft Ndamukong Suh first pick of course), kickers or specialty players. That's it in a nutshell, seems pretty simple to me.

Since this is my final article, I would like to thank the great Rams fans that started and run Planet Rams. Also thanks to all the diehard Rams fans that read this. It has been an experience that I will never forget. So, for my last entry all I can say is GO RAMS!!!!!

"See you on the hit side" #21

You will be missed Randy!! Hate to see you leave us!