Draft day usually is over for RamView when Mr. Irrelevant's name is called. Frankly, by then, I'm exhausted. I wouldn't have the time or energy to profile the Rams' rookie free agents the way I do the drafted rookies.
But I've got time now, so what better time to start? Let's try to find out more about the lesser-celebrated players who'll be trying to win spots in training camp later this month, starting with:
Kirston Pittman, 6'3" 250DE, LSU
Rankings: Pro Football Weekly: #34 defensive end. Rated as a free agent who should be in an NFL training camp.
NFLDraftScout.com: #32 defensive end, #370 player overall; free agent grade.
Biography/Honors: 2003: Sporting News Freshmen All-SEC team; College Football News honorable mention All-American.
2007: Led LSU with 8 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. 68 total tackles.
2008: 2.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, 35 total tackles.
Major: General studies.
Injuries: Missed two straight seasons prior to his junior year with foot injuries: 2005 for left ankle surgery, 2006 for a torn right Achilles. NCAA granted him a sixth season of eligibility. Limited AGAIN by injuries his senior season.
Pro Day Stats: (not invited to NFL Combine)
* Most benches at LSU's Pro Day with 28, 8 more than #3 overall pick Tyson Jackson.
* Ran 4.68 40 with 1.61 and 2.72 second splits. (James Laurinaitis ran 4.88)
* 30-inch vertical leap (JL: 33)
* 7.64 seconds in 3-cone drill (JL: 6.93, fastest at Combine)
* 4.45 20-yard shuttle (JL: 4.24)
Positives: Smart player with good motor, high character and great work ethic. Has reputation as one of the hardest-working players in the country. Uses leverage and momentum well to get off blocks and push taller blockers into backfield. Maintains gap and containment. Fights off initial blocks and keeps coming after QB. Technically sound with good balance. Best skill is pass rushing. Sets up his blocker well with inside/outside moves. Big performance at LSU Pro Day moved him up into the later rounds of the draft. Projects as a 3rd-4th DE who'll get at most 25% of snaps and contribute on special teams. Teams like his ability to drop into coverage. Sack leader of 2007 LSU defensive line which also had future NFL top-5 picks in Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey.
Negatives: INJURIES. Just average strength and speed. Not very explosive. Not quick enough to chase fast runners down from behind. Not fluid in the hips. Won't be able to bull rush in the pros and will have difficulty freeing himself from a blocker who gets his hands on him.
Fun Facts: Kirston trained with three-time Olympic gold medal winner Gail Devers this spring, which a) is cool, and b) showed at his impressive pro day. His cousin David is a DB now with the Texans. His brother Thomas was a DE with the Broncos and Browns. He is not related to Rams RB Antonio. If he's hoping not to be a bench rider, though, he's from the wrong hometown: Reserve, Louisiana.
RamView: There's no question Kirston Pittman is a Steve Spagnuolo "four pillars" type of player. And Spagnuolo obviously wants as many guys as he can get who can get after the QB, which Pittman's shown he can do when he's healthy. Sadly, he's just never healthy, a trend that reared its ugly head again during Rams OTAs when he missed time due to a heel injury. His workout, college production and character certainly made him worth a try in free agency, but he's just GOTTA find get better injury luck if he's going to make it in the NFL into September. Injured thumbs up, but odds are really against him.
Sources: 2009 Pro Football Weekly Draft Preview, NFL.com, CBSSports.com, LSUsports.net, LSU Daily Reveille, Wikipedia, SportingNews.com
photo from nbcsports.com
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