Sunday, March 30, 2014

Rams free agent signing: Shaun Hill

AP / mlive.com
RamView hasn't had the kindest things to say about quarterback Shaun Hill over the years. Namely: he's a "hack"; he throws a football like he's trying to launch a shot put; he telegraphs his throws; his passes have hang time and are challenged to cut through a modest headwind; and he has a noodle arm to make Steve Walsh look like John Elway. But, the Rams had to fill a roster hole at QB2 after losing Kellen Clemens to San Diego, and in signing Hill, they've upgraded at the position.

Hill, 34 years old, 6'3" 220, has a .500 lifetime record, thanks in part to his mesmerizing sway over the Rams. Not only has he never lost to the Rams, in 2008, he led the 49ers to a 35-0 victory over St. Louis, and 2 years later, led the Lions over the Rams in an even more humiliating 44-6 fiasco. Most of Hill's career action has been in that 2008-2010 timeframe; he's only thrown 16 passes the past three seasons (completing 12). His numbers add up, though. His career passer rating (85.9) is better than Sam Bradford's (QB controversy!!). He's completed 61.9% of his career passes (62.8 in 9 games in 2008, 61.8 in 11 games in 2010). The number of Hill's I, and I'm guessing Jeff Fisher, like best is that he has a nearly 2:1 career TD:INT ration (41:23). That's a huge advantage over Clemens, who's been more in the 1:1 range. And though, hell no, Hill doesn't have a big arm, Clemens' arm strength advantage is trumped by Hill's accuracy and ability to avoid INTs. Hill's been an effective game manager and an accurate short passer who'll kill a defense with checkdowns and underneath stuff if you give him time.

The main caveat about Hill is that he's coming off offseason foot surgery for the second straight season and isn't a lock to participate in OTAs. But, unless he'd have difficulty with Brian Schottenheimer's system, which no one anywhere expects, the Rams have landed one of the better backup QBs in the league and still have a QB aboard good enough to keep the offense afloat if (when?) Bradford gets hurt again.

-$-

Rams free agent signing: Alex Carrington

Associated Press
The Rams addressed a depth issue at defensive tackle by signing 26-year-old free agent Alex Carrington (6'5” 301) away from the Buffalo Bills. A third-round pick in 2010 as a defensive end, Carrington was a wash-out in Buffalo until they figured out to kick him inside. He's graded out negatively inside as a run defender, but has been a strong bull-rusher and a consistent pass pressure factor as a DT. Mike Waufle will like that Carrington can play all over the line and provide pocket push off the bench the Rams haven't really been getting at DT. John Fassel will like that Carrington blocked FOUR kicks in 2012.

It's not like Carrington is any kind of sack machine. Pro Football Focus loves his ability to penetrate the pocket to the point they have called him a “secret superstar”, but he has a whole 4 career sacks and was never higher than fourth on the DT depth chart in Buffalo. He also missed almost all of last season due to a torn quadriceps. But he should be comfortable enough in the Rams' system, and the team needed to get better depth behind Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford. He's more athletic and more productive than either Jermelle Cudjo or Matt Conrath. Carrington's pass rush ability gives the Rams someone they can rotate in and have the two stud Dts fresher for the 4th quarter.

Also, you can't have a dynasty without a Carrington. (Ask your parents.)

-$-

Rams free agent signing: Greg Reid

Sports Illustrated
With holes in a secondary that was disappointing last season anyway, the Rams made a low-risk signing March 23rd of former Florida State cornerback Greg Reid. Well, low-risk in that it won't cost anything if they end up cutting him. An undrafted 2013 rookie free agent, Reid himself is a pretty high-risk combination of Janoris Jenkins' off-field record and Danario Alexander's knees. Reid started shooting down a pretty promising football career in 2011, getting kicked off the FSU football team for “multiple arrests”, including a marijiuana possession/driving with suspended license combo. He transferred to Valdosta State in 2012 but tore an ACL and missed the season. He was invited to the 2013 NFL Combine, but while training for it, learned he had torn that ACL again. As a result, he hasn't played football in 2 years.

Reid's on-field resume at Florida State wasn't half-bad. He was a freshman all-American punt returner, leading the NCAA with an average of 18.4 yards a bringback. He started at nickelback the next two season, intercepting 5 passes, with 14 pass breakups and 17 pass defenses just in 2010. He returned three punts for TDs and would have broken Deion Sanders' school record for career kickoff returns had he finished out his career at FSU. (Yet, curiously, Jeff Fisher, who must not have actually watched any of the Rams' kickoff returns last season, recently said the Rams do not have a need for a returner.)

Pros from the scouts: Electrifying special teams player. Natural playmaker, tremendous elusiveness and field vision makes him a threat to score any time he touches the ball. Aggressive tackler and vicious hitter. Moves fluidly and tracks the ball well. Shows well in big games.

Cons: Only 5'8” 178. (Has been listed as high as 190.) Too small to line him up outside. Only did 10 bench presses; Rams owner Stan Kroenke has done 12. His 40 time has been reported at 4.58, but Gil Brandt reported him at 4.69 with an underwhelming 30” vertical. He actually pulled a hamstring on his 2nd run. Instincts and technique need to be better. Gets beaten in man coverage and gives up big plays.

Early speculation has already got Reid installed as the Rams' nickelback ahead of disappointing 2013 rookie Brandon McGee, but let's slow our roll just a bit. We're talking about a guy who's too small, too weak, too slow, and hasn't played in two years. Might just want to wait till at least training camp before we start sending the guy to the Pro Bowl. The Rams were reportedly happy with his workout, though, and since Jenkins seems to have very much cleaned up his act after getting kicked out of a major program, there's reason to believe Rams Park will be a good place for Reid to pull his career back together. Who knows, maybe he can even return kickoffs in the event Jeff Fisher figures out the Rams need someone who can do that.

-$-

Rams free agent signing: Etienne Sabino

Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Etienne Sabino" sounds more likely to be the answer to "Who are you wearing?" than "Who's that at linebacker?", but Sabino's designs are indeed on playing LB for the Rams, who signed him as an unrestricted free agent March 24.

Just 23 years old, Sabino's a rookie for all intents and purposes; the 6'3" 237 LB didn't play last season after the Giants cut him in training camp. He had been projected as a 6th-round pick in the 2013 draft but was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent. He ran a 4.75 40 at the 2013 Combine, with 24 bench presses and a 9'6" broad jump. He recorded a 34" vertical and a 4.41 shuttle at Ohio State's pro day.

Sabino's Ohio State career sounds like a lot of unfulfilled promise. He actually backed up James Laurinaitis in 2008, coming to Columbus as the #1 high school inside LB in the country. He was a special teams ace as a freshman and sophomore, winning one game by returning a punt he'd also blocked for a TD. He didn't start for the Buckeyes until 2011, though, earning all-Big Ten honorable mention in 2012, getting 45 tackles in only 8 games, missing the rest of the season due to a broken fibula.

Scouts like Sabino's smarts, his athletic frame and excellent range. He covers sideline to sideline and can run people down from behind. He's an effective downhill player, an athletic blitzer who's hard to keep out of the backfield on A-gap blitzes. He has strength, length and violent hands to shed blockers and fight through blocks, along with a powerful punch that can disrupt pulling blockers. He doesn't miss tackles, always hustles to the ball and has enough speed to string out outside runs. He's got the potential to help the Rams at Mike LB or at Sam.

There are serious concerns both with Sabino's short-area quickness and instincts, though. He doesn't have good change of direction or burst and has to think way too much out on the field, all of which consistently leaves him a step behind in coverage. He doesn't move well laterally and doesn't have a good feel for pass coverage. He needs to play with better balance and take better angles. He tends to leave his hands down when attacking blockers, but otherwise plays too high and doesn't break down well against runners in the hole.

Sabino sounds like a very good athlete who just lacks the instincts to be an elite player. Theoretically he's taking over Will Witherspoon's vacated roster spot (the Rams have not shown any interest in re-signing Will), and has a chance to contribute on special teams and back up Laurinaitis. Realistically, he'll be challenged again to make it past training camp, where he'll be at best the 6th LB, with Jo-Lonn Dunbar the first LB off the bench and Daren Bates and Ray Ray the Penalty Machine likely to be in line to play on the 2nd unit defense. Sabino also likely will have to beat out practice squadder Caleb McSurdy and a draft pick. He has a lot of flaws to fix, but he's got a good chance to develop under the Rams' excellent defensive coaching staff. It's an opportunity he'll have to make the most of.

-$-

Monday, March 24, 2014

Rams receive three compensatory picks

If you're one of the many who have wondered why the Rams have been all but silent during this year's free agency period, consider that after receiving three compensatory picks today, they have about 100 picks to use in the MAY draft. Okay, it's actually 12, but jeez, is that a lot of draft picks, and Trader Les hasn't even started wheeling or dealing yet.

Here are all the picks scheduled to the Rams in the 2014 draft:
* Round 1, #2 overall, from Washington
* Round 1, #13 overall
* Round 2, #44 overall
* Round 3, #75 overall
* Round 4, #110 overall
* Round 5, #153 overall
* Round 6, #188 overall
* Round 6, #214 overall, compensatory
* Round 7, #226 overall
* Round 7, #241 overall, received from Indianapolis for Josh Gordy.
* Round 7, #249 overall, compensatory
* Round 7, #250 overall, compensatory

The Rams own the seventh round!

-$-

Sunday, March 16, 2014

More Rams on the move


ESPN

Nothing very new here - just trying to keep the blog caught up...

* Cortland Finnegan, Miami, 2 years, $11 million. Yet another surprisingly expensive deal for a Ram, but unlike the average Rodger Saffold and the average-at-best Chris Williams, Finnegan was terrible last season. He didn't look like he'd lost a step; he looked like he lost five steps. He couldn't cover or tackle anyone. The Rams were never terribly up front about the amount of injuries Finnegan played with, though; if he bounces back in Miami, don't be too surprised. Finnegan's signing is also going to gain the Rams another $2-3 million against the salary cap per the terms of his deal here.

* Shelley Smith, also Miami, 2 years, $5.5 million. Yet ANOTHER guard leaves Rams Park. Miami knows Smith was a backup here, right? He'll fit great if they're trying to become a smashmouth offense. If they need him to protect Ryan Tannehill, things may not work out. Meanwhile, the Rams' roster hole at left guard gets ever larger.

* Mike McNeill, Carolina, 2 years, $not disclosed. The local product (Kirkwood) was not tendered by the Rams as an exclusive rights free agent. Neither, to my knowledge, was Quinton Pointer.

* Last and certainly least, OF COURSE the Rams had Kenny Britt in for a free-agency visit. After all, what's not to love? The injuries? Britt hasn't been the same since tearing an ACL in 2011. The unreliability on the field? Britt dropped a lot of passes, ran poor routes, committed stupid penalties and went entire games without even being targeted. Yet he was the one tweeting that the Titans were cutting back his snaps to keep him from being pursued as a free agent, calling it the "Jared Cook treatment". How about off the field? Britt has been "involved with police" NINE TIMES in his pro career, including a car chase, resisting arrest and attempting to cover up a friend's involvement in a stabbing.

Britt is getting interest from several other teams, including the Redskins and Patriots, and he left Rams Park without a contract. If the Rams are smart, Jeff Fisher was just paying Britt a professional courtesy, and the disaster waiting to happen won't happen to the Rams.

-$-

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Saffold returns; Clemens, Williams gone

ESPN
* Rodger Saffold won't have to worry about blocking Robert Quinn now, except possibly in training camp. After a "failed physical" nullified the deal the Raiders signed him to earlier this week, the Rams acted quickly and brought him back with a 5-year contract. The Rams got a slight discount; $19.5 million guaranteed of a $31.7 million deal vs. $21 million guaranteed of a $42 million deal. That might still be high for a player who typically misses a third of every season, but plugging Rodger back in at right guard settles at least that side of the offensive line and gives the Rams the insurance they probably need against Jake Long not being able to start the season.

As for that "failed physical", the Raiders suddenly claimed Thursday that Saffold has a shoulder injury that will require surgery before he could start the season, leading owner Mark Davis to nix the deal. Saffold played with the injury all last season; it happened in a preseason game against Cleveland. He's passed all his Rams physicals since then. Suspicion is the Raiders got cold feet after mostly negative reactions to news of the deal.

Well, it's their loss, then. If Saffold can stay healthy - notice the size of that if, given his injury history and the possibility of that shoulder injury - and continue to perform as well as he did at guard at the end of last season, the Rams will have themselves a player.


* The left side of the offensive line is far from settled, and not just because of Long's injury. Chris Williams signed a surprising 4-year deal with the Bills Wednesday, for 4 years, $13.5 million, $5.5 million guaranteed. I don't know why the rest of the league is so determined to make it too expensive for a 7-9 team to keep its offensive line together, but for now it looks like the Rams are depending hard on Barrett Jones to live up to all of those college trophies. They also had former Bucs guard Davin Joseph in for a visit Wednesday.

AP
* Thursday afternoon didn't bring any better news, as Kellen Clemens bailed on the Rams for San Diego for a 2-year deal that sounded like it was barely above the league minimum. Surely the Rams could have offered that to the guy who kept the Rams competitive half of last year after Sam Bradford tore his ACL. Clemens would have been a cheap and effective insurance policy against Bradford's brittleness, but other than Saffold, the Rams have not shown any determination this offseason to keep their veteran free agents.

Rams Nation has figured for a while that the team would have to draft a QB this year, though it now looks like they're going to have to use a pretty high pick. Bradford's history has made it mandatory to have a guy behind him who can step in and be credible right away.

Just for the team's reference, the seat next to RamView is free right now if they want to draft A.J. McCarron.

* Late update: Thursday night the Rams announced they have signed linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar to a two-year deal.

-$-


Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Harvey Dahl cut

Having failed his most recent physical, guard Harvey Dahl was cut by the Rams Monday. Dahl missed the second half of last season due to an ankle injury. The move was widely expected regardless of Dahl's current physical condition. By cutting him, the Rams save a pretty big cap hit (I think around $4 million) and get themselves close to $17 million under the salary cap.

A good and physical run-blocker and pass-protector with enough versatility to play right tackle for the Rams in emergencies, Dahl provided leadership, toughness and nastiness to an offensive line that needed all of those things his first years here. Football seemed to get the better of him physically the last two seasons, though, neither of which he was able to finish. He tore a bicep at the end of 2012.

The Rams claim they're interested in bringing Dahl back once he's healthy again, but for now, there is a massive hole at guard on the roster. Dahl's replacement last year (Rodger Saffold) is gone, and the next two veteran guards, Chris Williams and Shelley Smith, are both free agents. We've heard little interest from Rams Park in re-signing them, leaving Barrett Jones and Brandon Washington atop the depth chart for the moment.

It's hard to believe things will stay that way, but I still don't see the Rams making a major move. They shouldn't have to break the bank for a veteran guard. Doors at the free agency store open at 3 p.m. today.

-$-

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Saffold to Raiders

CBS Sports
Tackle Rodger Saffold has informed the Rams that he will be signing with another team; reports from the Baltimore Sun say that team is the Oakland Raiders, for a whopping $8 million a year. The Raiders had to counter the loss of tackle Jared Veldheer to the Big Dead in another pending UFA signing.

The Rams' 2nd-round pick in 2010, Saffold's Rams career got off to a promising start when he dislodged 2009 second pick overall Jason Smith from the starting left tackle job in training camp. After a promising, steady-but-not-spectacular rookie season, Saffold missed 17 games the next three seasons due to a variety of injuries, lost his left tackle job to free agent Jake Long last year, went to right tackle and lost that job to Joseph Barksdale, emerging late in the season as a surprisingly successful guard.

$8 million for Rodger Saffold also officially means it is Funny Money season in the NFL. $8 mil a year for a guy who's missed a full season in the last three seasons! The Raiders are going to trust the blindside of their future at QB to a guy who lost his starting job to Joseph Barksdale! (who used to be a Raider) The NFL definitely inflated the market when it inflated the salary cap by $10 million earlier this month.

That $8 million a year is money the Rams couldn't, and shouldn't have spent on Saffold, but Jake Long's ACL has them over a barrel right now since Barksdale's the only healthy tackle on the roster with any significant playing history. I still don't expect a panic free-agent signing, and their hand still isn't necessarily forced to draft a tackle early. I'd put more urgency now toward re-signing Chris Williams, who's versatile enough to kick out to tackle if the Rams absolutely had to while having a cost nowhere near the Saffold neighborhood.

Saffold has always seemed like a good guy, though; he could have stirred a lot of discontent with his demotion from left tackle to guard last season, but came out and kept playing hard instead. May his luck change that he's able to take the field when the Raiders visit St. Louis in the 2014 season, so Robert Quinn can put a major smoking on him.

-$-

Friday, March 7, 2014

Free agency preview: tight end

Newsday
Top 10 UFA TEs:
1 – Jermichael Finley. His offense has slowed but Finley is still pretty clearly the best receiving TE available, provided he is indeed cleared for action (expected this week) after spinal fusion surgery. Was on pace for 66 catches, 800 yards, 8 TDs last season.
2 - Scott Chandler. Good hands, reliable big target over the middle and has been surprisingly productive in the red zone. 53-653 last year for career highs in catches and yardage; had 6-TD seasons in ’11 and ’12.
3 – Garrett Graham. Reliable checkdown receiver with 49 catches, even though he’s not considered much of a playmaker, and might only have been Houston’s third-best TE.
4 - Jeff Cumberland. Came into league as a blocking TE only but has developed into a pretty good all-around TE, with 7 TDs the past two seasons. Good hands.
5 – Andrew Quarless. He’s  a big TE first, but contributed 32 catches in Green Bay last year and is just 25. Should still have upside.
6 - Brandon Myers. Looks like that big year in Oakland was a fluke, and he’s not talented enough to be a #1 TE, but even at that, you can get Brandon Pettigrew’s likely production for a lot less money.
7 - Brandon Pettigrew. Raise your hand if you’ve ever drafted this guy too high in your fantasy league. Wants $6 mil a year coming off a 41-catch season, doesn’t have good hands and has declined a lot as a playmaker. Good luck.
8 - Michael Hoomanawanui. Lack of durability has always been an issue, but Illini Mike’s 12-136-1 TD last season was actually close to career highs. He’s just 26, can make acrobatic catches and put on one of the best blocking performances you’ll ever see against the Colts in the playoffs. Best of the blocking TEs here.
9 – Jim Dray. With 26 catches for 215, of the tight ends left, Dray is the best combination of a blocking TE who can provide a little offense. (No, it’s not a high hurdle to clear at this point.)
10 – Alex Smith. One of the better run-blocking TEs out there but hasn’t created much as a receiver in recent seasons.

Sleepers: A big disappointment in Baltimore, Ed Dickson’s your guy if you’re good at reclaiming other teams’ still-young draft disappointments. He could be a candidate for the change-of-scenery career bounce.

Wild card: There are several decent blocking tight ends in the also-rans list, including former Ram Matthew Mulligan. If you're digging deep for some offense at TE, you'll have to hope physicals for Dustin Keller or Tony Scheffler go well. They've both been productive TEs in the past.

Tag you're it: Jimmy Graham (Saints)

(Also) out of the running: Dennis Pitta (re-signed by Ravens); Clay Harbor (re-signed by Jagwires); John Carlson (signed by Big Dead); Dallas Clark (rumored to be retiring); Fred Davis (suspended indefinitely for substance abuse violations, and collected a DUI in February while suspended)

Voting present: Ed Dickson, Matthew Mulligan, Bear Pascoe. Dante Rosario, Nate Byham, Jeron Mastrud, Kellen Davis, Michael Palmer, David Johnson, Chase Coffman, Kory Sperry, Ben Hartsock

The doctor will see you now: Dustin Keller (severe knee injury last preseason, missed all of ’13 season and is questionable for start of ’14); Jeff King (out all of ’13 with knee problems); Anthony McCoy (torn Achilles, out all of ’13); Tony Scheffler (out most of ’13 with serious concussion problems)

Gawd no: Fortunately for them, the lasting single image of anyone from the Kellen Winslow family will always be Kellen Sr.’s epic 1982 playoff performance against Miami, and not Kellen II’s performance in a New Jersey Target parking lot that led to getting him arrested for marijuana possession in November. Let’s hope.

AP
RamView’s moves: The Rams already have too much invested at tight end for a significant UFA signing to make any sense, and there’s almost no one here worth signing anyway. The best thing the Rams can do at the position is figure out how to keep a fire lit under Jared Cook, to get more Pro Bowl games out of him and fewer toilet bowl games. His inconsistency was a known issue when they signed him to the big contract, so they must have had a plan for improving him past that. Right?

Shoot the moon: You’ve got an extra first-round pick, and can probably trade the #2 pick for another next year… make Jimmy Graham an offer! Sure, you’d have to cut Bradford, most of the offensive line and probably Rampage to fit him under the cap, but Paul Boudreau’s always been able to do a lot with a little up front, right? Who could stop that 2-TE attack, assuming the QB got more than 2 seconds to throw?

Prediction: The Rams will stand pat at tight end.

-$-





Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Free agency preview: wide receiver

Top 10 UFA WRs: (updated March 7)
 
Seahawks.com
1 – Golden Tate. With my Rams glasses off, much easier to appreciate Tate as a hard-nosed WR coming off a career year (64-898). Also a good punt returner, he’s just 26, and the Rams proved to have no one who could cover him last year. Almost certainly re-upping with Seattle, however.
2 – Eric Decker. Excellent size, great back-to-back seasons, nearly 1,300 yards last year, 24 TDs the last two years. In FFL, he’d be the first of this group off the board. My free-agent-bust Geiger counter is really clicking at paying a #2 guy $8-10 million to be a #1 guy, though. How does he fare without Peyton and Demaryius on his team? Like he did in the Super Bowl?
3 – Julian Edelman. Exploded for 105 catches, bailing New England out for Danny Amendola getting hurt yet again. But how much money will the Patriots want to throw at slot receivers?
4 – Emmanuel Sanders. Speedy, hitting his prime at 27 and coming off a career year, 67-740, 6 TD. Bothersome that he only caught 60% of his targets.
5 – James Jones. Better stats (59-817) than any Ram receiver in ’13, and his 14 TDs in ’12 are still hard to ignore. Also hard to ignore that he’ll be 30.
6 – Hakeem Nicks. Similar year (56-896) as Jones, except he’s supposed to be a #1 WR. Was a massive disappointment instead in ‘13, with terrible hands, nagging injuries and NO TDs. At 6’1”, he’s not even as tall as I thought. If the Rams were to sign him, I’d be disappointed, not excited.
7 – Dexter McCluster. Only 26, coming off his best season with career highs in yards and receptions. Added value as a punt returner, with 2 TDs last year.
8 – Jerricho Cotchery. 32-year-old had career renaissance in Pittsburgh at slot receiver (46-602) and was outstanding in the red zone, scoring 10 TDs. Very likely to stay with Steelers.
9 – Ted Ginn. Coming off his best year since 2008 with 5 TDs and has added value as a punt and kickoff returner. Rams should consider going after him.
10 – Andre Roberts. Has youth (26) and slot/wide versatility on his side, though Big Dead didn’t seem to throw to the slot (43-471) a lot, and as things were, he lost reps to Rob Housler at the end of last season anyway.

Sleepers: Ginn and Roberts are just a couple of sleeper picks out of this group. Though Damian Williams couldn’t crack WR3 on the Titans’ depth chart, I liked him and his route-running a lot when he came out of college. Jacoby Ford was a lethal kick returner as a rookie; if you dedicated him to that full-time, maybe he stays healthy for once while remaining a potent weapon there. The Rams definitely could use any kind of kick return threat. If they aren’t too expensive, Santana Moss, Nate Burleson or Jason Avant could add a veteran component that’s badly missing from the chemistry of the Rams’ receiving corps. (They’d have to provide leadership, to make up for lack of speed.)

Wild card: 2013 was a(nother) lost season for Sidney Rice, which you can’t spell without IR. He blew a knee last October in St. Louis and also battled concussion problems. But he feels like a perfect “take-a-flier” signing to me. He’s only 28. He has the size/speed/experience combo the Ram receiving corps badly lacks. His 2012 stats (50-748, 7 TD) ought to make him worth a look. On a one-year contract, what’s a better gamble, a flier on Rice or continuing to wait on Brian Quick? No doubt in disagreement with the Rams, I’d say the flier.

Tag you're it: despite Jimmy Graham’s protests, no player was franchise-tagged as a wide receiver this year.

Out of the running: Anquan Boldin (re-signed by 49ers); Riley Cooper (re-signed by Eagles); Jeremy Maclin (re-signed by Eagles); Brandon Stokley (retired)

Voting present: Santana Moss, Nate Burleson, Jason Avant, Jerome Simpson, Damian Williams, Austin Collie, Jacoby Jones, Kassim Osgood (ST), Devin Hester (KR), Trindon Holliday (KR), Brandon Tate (KR), Jacoby Ford (KR), Andre Caldwell, Tiquan Underwood, Kevin Ogletree, Robert Meachem, Josh Morgan, Brandon LaFell,  Lavelle Hawkins, Louis Murphy, Seyi Ajirotutu, Micheal Spurlock (KR), Domenik Hixon, Kenny Britt, Deion Branch, Josh Cribbs (KR), Darius Heyward-Bey, Joe Webb, Marlon Moore, Taylor Price, Dezmon Briscoe

The doctor will see you now: Davone Bess (psychological); Plaxico Burress (torn rotator cuff, missed all of 2013); Mario Manningham (recurring knee problems since tearing ACL in ’12); Marc Mariani (hasn’t played in 2 seasons due to a broken leg in ’12 and a separated shoulder in ’13); Kevin Walter (back surgery, out all season); Kyle Williams (tore right ACL for 2nd time in November).

Might as well move next door to the doctor: Sigh. Danario Alexander tore his right ACL for the second time last August. He needed “followup” surgery on it in January, then had more on it last month due to an infection. I have that as four operations lifetime on his right knee. And that’s still behind his left knee, which has been operated on at least FIVE times! DX is obviously doubtful even to play in 2014.

Gawd no: Ah, what a wonderful time this’ll be with analysts constantly tying Jeff Fisher to former Titan WR Kenny Britt. Britt’s legion off-field problems automatically put him on the Rams’ wishlist in the minds of most writers. In his flashes of quality play in the pros, yeah, the 6’3 223 Britt, able to play big and stretch the field, showed exactly the qualities the Ram receiving corps badly needs. But he’s also fought injuries for three seasons, and even when he was healthy for the Titans down the stretch in ’13, he was a gameday inactive, thanks to too many drops and penalties. Wait a minute – he has a boatload of off-field issues AND he drops balls and commits stupid penalties? Great. He’s a Ram.

Sports Illustrated
RamView’s moves: DRAFT. SAMMY. WATKINS. As much as I’d like to add a veteran into the mix, this UFA class really has a lot of flaws. I’d hate to put out much money for anybody. But whether it’s via the draft or free agency, the Rams need to make some kind of big move at the position. Also, if Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt give any further hints of wanting to coach WRs in the future, I’d drop Ray Sherman for either in a heartbeat.

Shoot the moon: Nicks is the logical player to take a run at if the Rams were to make a free-agent splash at WR. He’s been a #1 receiver and has amply demonstrated the big WR skills and ability to stretch the field the Rams need badly. He’ll still be very expensive, though, especially given the number of flaws he has.

Prediction: Les Snead has already infamously said the Rams don't need a #1 wide receiver. P.S. Les: you mispronounced “remotely have”. They could replace half their current receivers as far as I’m concerned, but seem likelier to give Chris Givens a chance to overcome Kennison Syndrome, which is fine, and to cling bitterly to The Next T.O. project, which is wishful thinking at best. I’ll try not to be shocked when they take a flier and give Britt a look, and even less shocked when he doesn’t make it out of training camp. And I’ll be highly disappointed if they enter this training camp with the same receivers that finished last season, which seems very possible the way Snead’s talking.

-$-



Free agency preview: running back

Top 10 UFA RBs:

ESPN
1 - Knowshown Moreno. Breakout season with 13 TDs, 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards, or the ultimate proof Peyton Manning makes everyone around him better?
2 - Ben Tate. Gutted out 771 yards last year playing with bad ribs, but that's the thing - Tate is injured a lot. Not sure you can play him or pay him like a bell-cow back.
3 - Donald Brown. Finally played like a feature back last year, with 5.25 yards a carry, 8 TDs and 700+ yards overall to bail Indy out on the awful Trent Richardson trade. But was that a fluke for the career-inconsistent, turning-27 Brown?
4 - Rashad Jennings. 4.5 ypc last year behind a bad line and knocked Darren McFadden out of his starting job. Biggest issue: he's 29.
5 - Darren McFadden. As boom or bust as it gets. See Wild Card section.
6 - Maurice Jones-Drew. Also 29 and has declined steeply the last two years, down to 3.4 a carry. Has been behind a terrible line, though, and did contribute 43 catches last season.
7 - LeGarrette Blount. Strictly a short-yardage, two-down banger, but he banged out 5 yards a carry last year.
8 - John KUUUUUUUHN. See fullbacks.
9 - James Starks. Bounced back nicely for the Packers, with 500 yards on 5.5 a carry. Turning 28 but doesn't have a ton of wear.
10 - Jonathan Dwyer. Admittedly a stretch. See Sleepers.

Top 5 UFA fullbacks:
1 - John KUUUUUUUHN. Still grades highly as a pass protector and lead blocker, plays 20 snaps a game and is still a primary short-yardage back.
2 – Henry Hynoski. Only 25 but coming off a shoulder injury that cost him all of last season.
3 - Greg Jones. A top-3 fullback from 2010-12. Will be 33.
4 - Unbelievably, Brian Leonard. Last year was his best season since busting out of St. Louis and he got good grades for pass protection.
5 - Vonta Leach. Pro Bowler in Houston but declined sharply in Baltimore last year at 33.

Sleepers: The Steelers' short-yardage specialist behind rookie LeVeon Bell, Jonathan Dwyer is only 25 himself, is still low-mileage and knocked out 4 yards a carry against fronts designed to stop him. Had been inconsistent previously in a more expanded role behind a really banged-up line. Should have a lot of potential to tap.

Wild card: Darren McFadden didn't originally even crack RamView's top ten because he is injured constantly, missing 19 games the last three years. He averaged an eye-opening mere 3.3 ypc in 2013 and lost his starting job in Oakland to Rashad Jennings. It is probably time to declare him Felix Jones 2.0, after another Razorback with breathtaking track-star speed but Drew Bennett-like durability. That speed is probably going to tempt somebody, though.

Tag you're it: no running backs received a franchise tag.

Out of the running: Jackie Battle (re-signed by Titans); Brandon Jacobs (retired)

Voting present: Toby Gerhart, Andre Brown, Ahmad Bradshaw, Rashard Mendenhall, Ronnie Brown, Anthony Dixon, Felix Jones 1.0, Darius Reynaud (KR), LaRod Stephens-Howling, Bernard Scott, Deji Karim, Phillip Tanner, Le'Ron McClain (fb); Michael Robinson (fb), Eric Lorig (fb), Willis McGahee, Peyton Hillis, Leon Washington (KR), Kahlil Bell, Lex Hilliard (fb), Spencer Larsen (fb), Chris Gronkowski (fb)

The doctor will see you now: Ahmad Bradshaw (coming off neck surgery, missed most of 2013); LaRod Stephens-Howling (torn ACL, out all season); Henry Hynoski (broken shoulder, out all season); Lex Hilliard (broken scapula, out all season); Deji Karim (broken collarbone)

Gawd no: Before anyone thinks about dropping coin on Rashard Mendenhall, know the 26-year-old recently got on Huffington Post to hint at retirement. His head never did keep up with his physical ability, which has been dented for two years' running by knee and toe injuries. Pass on anything above league minimum.

KMOX
RamView’s moves: The Rams have Zac Stacy as their 1,000-plus yard heavy-duty RB, and Benny Cunningham, though he needs to protect the ball much better, acquitted himself well enough the rare times he was called on to take over for Stacy. Daryl Washington has a huge chance to be a huge factor if he can rebound from a disastrous 2013. Ideally he'd be the outside threat and third-down receiver the Ram backfield really lacked last year while he was hurt/ineffective and Isaiah Pead's head continued not to be on straight. Best to let this young core develop than to go all Billy Devaney and start throwing anyone out in favor of veterans.

Shoot the moon: Require any team that wants to trade up for the #2 pick overall to take Pead off the Rams' hands for a 7th-round pick. Hee.

Prediction: Not much to see here for the Rams other than the possibility of dumping Pead for Chase Reynolds or a draft pick.

-$-


Free agency preview: quarterback

News that the NFL bumped the salary cap up $10 million, to $133 million, came as very good news to the Rams, who had about $500,000 of room under the old cap. The "found money" affords them a much better chance to splash around in the free agent pool in 2014. It also means their hand isn't forced this offseason to tear down their offensive line. If they decide to, they can afford to keep Harvey Dahl and Scott Wells and still make a competitive offer to unrestricted free agent Rodger Saffold. Dahl's and Wells' health records may still lead to a euphemistic "roster move" or two in the coming days, but not having to pull up every stake and start over up front could be huge for the Ram offense in 2014, too. The Rams increased their cap room further Wednesday by cutting Cortland Finnegan, a move that overthecap.com indicates puts them at $11.3 million under the cap.

Of course, every team got that $10 million to play with, a lot of teams were already well under the cap, and more teams than ever focus on re-signing their own free agents and rebuilding through the draft, which leaves a whole lotta money chasing a pretty thin market at most positions. And even though there's no Lombardi Trophy to be won in March, there will be a lot of competition to try anyway. RamView will try to find the Rams some bargains, but I think it would be wrong to expect them to have a very busy free-agency period.

Illustrating the bare free agency cupboard, allow me to present the 2014 UFA QBs:

USA Today
Top 10 UFA QBs:
1 – Michael Vick. Might be the most proven commodity here. Needs to take better care of the ball (always has) but, turning 34 this season, still capable of starting for somebody for a couple of years, still mobile enough to help out a team that may not have the best of offensive lines.
2 – Matt Cassel. 3,000-yard passer if you get him protection. Disaster if you don't.
3 - Josh McCown. Coming off his best season as a pro at age 34, 13 TDs vs. 1 INT in 8 games. Was it a fluke?
4 - Josh Freeman. Young talent who deserves a better chance to redeem himself for a disappointing 2012 than he got in 2013. Raiders are believed to be very interested.
5 - Kellen Clemens. Solid game manager last season. Heads the line of QBs who top out as emergency starters at best.
6 - Chad Henne. Near his career high with over 3,200 yards last year and is just 28. Still throws more INTs than TDs, though. (re-signed by Jagwires, 3/8)
7 - Rex Grossman. Veteran QB with a lot of starting experience and a good arm should be a dependable backup for somebody.
8 - Shaun Hill. The soft-tossing 34-year-old just has a knack for producing a big game or two off the bench.
9 - Matt Flynn. Assumes you get him in the right system, which appears to be Green Bay's. And only Green Bay's. 
10 - Luke McCown, see next.

Sleepers: There aren't sleepers outside of the top ten as much as there are zombies. But if Josh McCown could pull it off last year, why not brother Luke? I'll push Luke again this year as a strong-armed, mobile QB. Backing up Matt Ryan and Drew Brees the last two seasons didn't exactly lead to a lot of snaps for him.

Wild cards: Though I wonder what they're waiting for, the Texans hadn't cut Matt Schaub at the time of this post. Despite his epic 2014 meltdown and predilection for pick-sixes, he'll shoot to the top of the list once he's cut loose, probably to be the transitional starter for the team that drafts Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater or Blake Bortles. Which, of course, may be Houston.

Tag you're it: no QBs were franchise tagged.

Out of the running: Jay Cutler (re-signed with Bears); Jordan Palmer (went into coaching), Tim Tebow (SEC Network).

Voting present: Tarvaris Jackson, Dan Orlovsky, Brady Quinn, Curtis Painter, Colt McCoy, Derek Anderson, Charlie Whitehurst, David Garrard, Rusty Smith, Jimmy Clausen, Seneca Wallace

The doctor will see you now: Brady Quinn, who must have hurt his back signing his contract with the Rams in October and never made it to a practice to my knowledge, is coming off surgery but is supposed to be ready for training camp.

Gawd no: RamView's bottom-ranked UFA QB, Seneca Wallace, is 33, coming off groin surgery, and was so bad in Green Bay last season you have to believe he is done.

Sports Illustrated
RamView’s moves: Well, you can see the lack of quality in this free-agent QB class for yourself, making it all the more important in my eyes that the Rams get Clemens locked up for 2014. With Bradford's injury history, you have to assume he's going to miss multiple games, and Clemens was good enough to hold serve, and then some, last season. Laugh, but a QB who can come off the bench and play as well as Clemens did the last 9 weeks of 2013 is pretty valuable to keep around. Austin Davis' flop in 2013 leaves the Rams needing a young QB to groom as a potential starter, but I'm not looking until day 3 of the draft, where Logan Thomas or Dustin Vaughan are potential value picks.

Shoot the moon: If you cut Finnegan AND Bradford, you'd have about $20 million of cap space to put talent around Johnny Football. Just saying.

Prediction: Bradford won't get any serious competition until 2015, and won't then if he has the season he's supposed to have this year. It also doesn't sound like his torn ACL will force the Rams to draft a QB early or pick up an additional UFA QB out of necessity. David Fales (San Jose State) would fill a lot of the bill if they're looking for a day 3 pick well-suited to be an emergency QB out of the gate. Clemens should return as Bradford's main backup.

-$-

Free agent list from OverTheCap.com and Rotoworld... any players missing or wrongly listed as UFAs, feel free to blame them!