 |
| ESPN |
Way to go, kid.
-$-
Sunday, May 17, 2015
St. Louis: yeah, just a baseball town
Way to go, kid.
-$-
Saturday, May 16, 2015
One last letter from the Rams
On behalf of the St. Louis Rams, coaches, players and front office, we look forward to your continued partnership and belief in our team.
We are excited about the direction of our franchise following an offseason dedicated to our identity of being a tough, physical football team. In the 2015 NFL Draft, we were able to add one of the draft's most dynamic players in RB Todd Gurley and solidified our offensive line for years to come with our next selections.
In addition to this year's incoming rookie class, we have many young, ascending players that we believe will continue to make significant strides. From back to back Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn, the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald, Pro Bowl Alternates [SNICKER] Janoris Jenkins and Tavon Austin and many more, our talented core continues to gain experience that will help us win the rugged NFC West.
During free agency, we targeted productive young players with significant upside. Pro Bowler Nick Foles is a talented quarterback who is 14-4 as an NFL starter and has the physical and mental makeup needed to lead our offense. We continued to add talent to our defensive front seven, signing defensive tackle Nick Fairley and linebacker Akeem Ayers, two four-year starters in the NFL who had their best NFL season this past year. Finally, it is always important to reward your own, which is why we are thrilled to bring back Lance Kendricks and Kenny Britt.
Last year's wins over Seattle and Denver thrilled our home crowd and highlighted how close this team is to taking the next step. Back-to-back shutouts for the first time in 68 years and playing 13 quarters without giving up a touchdown illustrated what our defense can be as we continue to grow. We believe our hard work this offseason - on the field, in the weight room and in the draft room - have put us in position to compete for the playoffs and beyond.
It's our hope that you'll be joining us this fall at the Edward Jones Dome. Unfortunately, if your season tickets aren't renewed by Monday, May 18 at 5 p.m., your seats will be released as the Ticket Office begins the seat upgrade program. As we prepare to take the next steps to returning winning football to this community, please know that we are driven by your passion and commitment to Rams football.
We look forward to making you a proud member of our Rams family.
Sincerely,
Jeff Fisher
Head Coach
St. Louis Rams
Dear Coach Fisher,
Best of luck to you in 2015. As far as "returning winning football to this community", I wish your employer would show even one atom of interest just in keeping football in this community. As a proud member of the Rams family for 20 years, that was about all I would have needed to continue to root the team on from the stands this season. Instead, I'm sitting this one out. The $1300 looks a lot better in my bank account than it would look burning a hole in that jackass carpetbagger's pocket to spend on moving vans. Let him know on my behalf that he can go straight to hell. Thanks, and Go Rams.
Sincere farewells,
me
-$-
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Rams rookie free agent signings
Eight drafted rookies (all except Todd Gurley), fifteen rookie free agents and two tryout players are participating in this weekend's Rams rookie minicamp. Here's a full listing of the Rams' current roster of undrafted rookies, with quick descriptions. As I get player profiles up, I'll link to them here.
Rookie free agents:
Malcolm Brown, RB, Texas. 5'11.5" 224. Powerful inside, downhill runner. Led Longhorns in rushing as a freshman.
Imoan Claiborne, CB, Northwestern State. 5'11" 194. 4 INTs last season. 39" vertical. Rams could be looking at him as a safety. Had 3rd-4th round grades. Small for safety, a little slow, around 4.6, for corner.
Isiah Ferguson, WR, Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 6'6" 218 with a 40" vertical, so he must be impossible to overthrow.
Terrence Franks, RB, Texas State. 5'9" 203. Had a 95-yard TD and two 70-yard TDs in one game against Idaho. Could compete on returns.
Montell Garner, CB, South Alabama. 6'0" 188. Not a terribly athletic corner; I'm thinking safety. 54 tackles, 2 INTs (1 TD), 2 forced fumbles, a sack, 4.5 tackles for loss last season. 60 tackles and 3 picks as a junior.
Jacob Hagen, S, Liberty. 6'2" 205. Free safety had 8 INTs last year. Big hitter with range, will get at least a look on special teams. Could compete with Cody Davis for a roster spot.
Jay Hughes, S, Mississippi State. 5'10" 194. 70 career tackles, 2 INTs and a blocked FG TD last season. Overcame torn Achilles in 2013. Maybe he was recommended by Adam Wainwright.
Zach Laskey, FB, Georgia Tech. 6'1" 218, at that size I doubt he's a pure fullback. He also got plenty of carries at Tech. 171 carries last season, only lost yardage twice.
Matt Longacre, DE/LB, NW Missouri State. 6'3" 260, 30.5 career sacks and a 4.75 40.
Cameron Lynch, LB, Syracuse. 5'11" 229. Comes highly regarded, he was Bill Polian's favorite player at the NFLPA Collegiate Game. Smart player, moves well, is supposed to be very good in pass coverage. That didn't show to me in the game itself, but Lynch still sounds like a pretty nice pickup.
Keshaun Malone, LB, Bacone. The second player from Bacone to ever sign with an NFL team, and both Rams! (Deonte Harlan last year.) Malone had 135 tackles last season and was the player of the year of his NAIA conference. Defensive player of the week four times! Listed as 6'3" 240.
Bradley Marquez, WR, Texas Tech. 5'11" 201. Led Big "12" in TDs last season but six of them came in two games.
Trovon Reed, CB, AUBURN. 6'0" 190. Signed August 5th. Converted WR with just one year experience at corner, but did have three INTs last season.
Tyler Slavin, WR, New Mexico Highlands. Division II school in Las Vegas. Las Vegas, New Mexico. Transferred from Arizona, seems to have left because he wasn't getting the ball enough. Good move. He went from 22 catches in 2013 to 119 last year. Listed at 6'2" 215.
Louis Trinca-Pasat, DT, Iowa. Thought he looked pretty good at the Senior Bowl. Good get-off. Undersized at 6'1" 290.
David Wang, OL, Virginia Tech. Signed May 15th. 6'1" 303. Center/guard with a history of foot injuries. Both parents were on the Chinese Olympic track team. Has two master's degrees.
Darrell Williams, T, South Florida. Yes, yet another offensive lineman. 6'5" 301. Born in Jamaica, hadn't even heard of football until he started high school in Orlando. 28 career starts at left tackle.
Tryout players:
Tyler Ott, LS, Harvard. Second-year rookie, if there is such a thing. Appeared in the 2014 Senior Bowl and was in camp with the Patriots last season. 6'3" 245, 15 catches for 188 yards and 4 TDs in 2013.
Daniel Rodriguez, WR, Clemson. Just 5'8" 180, just 11 catches in his college career, and I believe he's about 27 years old. More importantly than all that, though, Rodriguez, make that Sergeant Rodriguez, is a decorated war hero. He won a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star in Afghanistan.
-$-
Rams draft profile (7th round, pick #227): Martin Ifedi, DE, Memphis
 | |
| NFL.com |
DE, Memphis
Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #280 player overall, #25 defensive end. 7th round-free agent grade.
Nawrocki: #23 DE, not in top 150 players. Grade: 4.92, late draftable or priority free agent capable of battling for a roster spot.
Kiper: Not in top 300 players. Kiper ranked at least 30 DEs.
Draft Countdown: #25 DE. Late-round / free agent grade.
Sports Illustrated: #287 overall, #18 DE.
Scouts Inc: #247 player overall. #21 DE. Grade: 40, borderline draft prospect.
Biography/Honors
2014: First team all-AAC. Started 9 games. 29 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 4 QB hurries, 2 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery. School career sack record-holder with 22.5.
2013: First team all-AAC. Started all 12 games. 52 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks (2nd in team history), 3 QB hurries, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble.
2012: Second team all-Conference USA. Played in 12 games, starting 10. 46 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 4 QB hurries and 2 forced fumbles.
2011: Played in all 12 games, mostly at defensive tackle. 13 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup, 1 QB hurry, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery.
2010: Redshirted.
Brother Germain is a tackle at Texas A&M.
Academics: Graduated in May 2014 with degree in health promotion and lifestyle management. Zach Curlin Award winner as school's top male student-athlete. AAC All-Academic honors in 2013, Conference USA Honor Roll three straight years before that. At least 7 Dean's List and high GPA awards at Memphis.
Twitter: @mifedi
Injuries
2014: Missed first four games due to knee injury.
NFL Combine Stats
(Combine averages for defensive ends in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 4.88 (4.86)
10-yard split: 1.68
Vertical: 31" (33.5")
Broad: 9'3" (9'7")
3-cone: 7.39 (7.33)
Shuttle: 4.58 (3rd-slowest DE. Average was 4.40)
Bench: 16 (2nd-worst DE. Rams strength coach Rock Gullickson runs the bench press at the Combine, and the front office only seemed to look for the worst performers this year. DEs averaged 23)
Scouting Report
Pluses: Good overall size with big, quick hands and good arm length. Solid build. Strong hands, plays square to the line with a strong base. Reads and reacts to run plays quickly. Sees field very well. Decent range. Gets under blockers well and drives them. Stacks blockers well against the run. Disciplined run defender, sets edge and drives runners back inside to his teammates. Difficult for blockers to reach-block. Launches into his tackles and finishes well. Converts speed to power well when he takes off with good leverage. Has experience as an inside pass rusher. Can get skinny and squeeze through gaps. Has a nice head fake. Plays with good motor. Always working to improve his position, plays to the whistle. Has strength and toughness to be a run-stopper in a 4-3. Highly intelligent player, excellent role model for teammates.
Minuses: Slow-twitch, one-speed pass rusher. Lacks any acceleration. Average top speed. Average first step. Not elusive, not hard to find. Pops straight up out of his stance and plays too high. Lacking ideal flexibility and speed on the edge. Herky-jerky with below-average change of direction. Gets out-angled and sealed off by blockers way too often. Needs to improve leverage and refine hand use. Overthinks some plays and bogs down into hand fights. Not a natural mover on twists. Slows his feet down right when he gets to the QB. A lot of his junior year sacks were second-effort type or because the QB held the ball way too long. Playmaker but not a play creator. Lingering questions about his knee. Left some plays on the field.
Compares to: Jarius Wynn according to Sports Illustrated; Kerry Wynn according to NFL.com. You can't make this stuff up.
Fun Facts
Martin frequently volunteered for team community projects, including reading to children at school, tutoring, visiting St. Jude's hospital and serving as a clinician at a community center.
RamView
Matt Conrath. Gerald Rivers. Ethan Westbrooks. Even to a degree Michael Sam. Under defensive line coach Mike Waufle, the Rams in every training camp have a late-round draft pick or free agent play his way onto the team or at least really open eyes. Martin Ifedi should be a strong candidate to join that list this year. He has the size, smarts and effort, and the Rams have to love that he's played everywhere on the line. They've never been afraid of the player who dropped off in production as a senior, and have turned many of them into NFL players. Martin's in the right place. He'll come away with an NFL job even if it's not with the Rams.
Sources: Memphis Athletics, NFL.com, Wikipedia, SBNation
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Rams draft profile (7th round, pick #224): Bryce Hager, LB, Baylor
 | |
| USA Today |
LB, Baylor
Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #171 player overall, #9 inside linebacker. Fifth-round grade.
Nawrocki: #9 ILB, not in top 150 players. Grade: 5.22, should make a roster and contribute on special teams.
Kiper: #158 player overall, #9 ILB.
Draft Countdown: #185 player overall. Another #9 ILB. Late-round / free agent grade.
Scouts Inc: #219 player overall. #9 ILB! Maddening consistency. Grade: 44, borderline draft prospect.
Sports Illustrated: #206 overall, #11 ILB. BOO!
Biography/Honors
2014: All-Big "12" second team. Started all 13 games at middle linebacker. 114 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 9 QB hurries, two forced fumbles, and INT and a pass breakup.
2013: All-Big "12" second team. Started 9 games. 71 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, 10 QB hurries, 3 pass breakups and a 91-yard fumble return TD. Had 18 tackles in Kansas State game.
2012: All-Big "12" second team. Played in 13 games at middle linebacker with 10 starts. 124 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 8 QB hurries, two forced fumbles, one pass breakup. Seven games with at least 10 tackles and 9 in bowl game vs. UCLA. Led conference in tackles despite demotion to second-string for 3 games. I don't have an explanation for the demotion.
2011: Played in all 13 games on special teams and as a reserve linebacker. 13 tackles and a forced fumble.
2010: Redshirted.
Father Britt had a 9-year career at LB for the Eagles and Broncos, and played his final season with the Rams in 1997. He appeared in 13 games here and had four tackles.
Academics: Graduated in December with degree in health, human performance and recreation studies. What is that, monitoring people while they play beer pong or something?
Twitter: no Twitter ID
Injuries
2014: Sat out spring practices due to abdominal injury.
2013: Missed final four games due to groin/sports hernia injury.
NFL Combine Stats
(Combine averages for all linebackers in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 4.60 (4.73)
10-yard split: 1.60
Vertical: 35" (34.5")
Broad: 9'9" (9'10")
3-cone: 7.15 (7.19)
Shuttle: 4.36 (4.29)
Bench: 24 (22)
Scouting Report
Pluses: Big-league build. Runs from home to first in 4.1 seconds. Better than Ken Griffey Jr. or Alex Rodriguez at the same age. Oh, wait a minute, that's Bryce HARPER's scouting report.
Pluses: High football IQ and excellent field awareness. Durable and has frame to gain more weight and muscle. Very instinctive getting through traffic in the box. Always around the ball. Locates well and has the discipline not to bite on misdirection. Active hands make him difficult to lock on. Slips blocks quickly and beats blockers to the spot. Stays alive in pursuit down the line despite contact. Has very active feet and keeps his shoulders square, which allows him to maneuver past blockers in space and make open-field tackles. Has enough speed and athleticism to spy mobile QBs. Good closing speed. Very good motor. Excellent hip snap and wrapup technique make him a very good tackler. Gets good drops in pass rush. Vocal field leader with a tireless work ethic. Has the mindset of a core special teams player. Wins with intelligence, technique and instinct rather than sheer athleticism. Rams are collecting a lot of that type of player this year.
Minuses: Undersized and doesn't have ideal size or strength. Short armed and can get engulfed when run at. Not very powerful after contact. Not a lot of shock in his hands. Doesn't hold up well against bigger blockers. Takes some poor angles and doesn't have the speed or athleticism to recover. Tends to go around blockers and take himself out of plays. Struggles to stay with faster, more agile runners in space. Looks clumsy at full speed. Closing speed disguises that he's a little slow recognizing plays. Can turn and run well but doesn't have the size to match up with tight ends. Doesn't have the acceleration or change of direction to cover quicker backs. Average pass rusher who needs a clear path to get to the QB. Baylor's a 3-4, so scheme fit is a question, but Hager's characteristics probably dictate he switch to 4-3 OLB in the NFL anyway. May be too undersized to hold up play-to-play on defense and will be limited to special teams.
Compares to: Paul Worrilow, Colin McCarthy, Barrett Ruud
Fun Facts
Anybody else feeling old right about now? Bryce and Britt Hager are the first St. Louis Ram father/son combination I'm aware of. Jackie Slater's son Matthew has already been in the league with the Patriots a while and has been a Pro Bowl special teams player. Flipper Anderson's son Dres was signed as a rookie free agent by - perish the thought - the 49ers.
RamView
The Rams were said to be looking for LB depth in this draft, but let any perceived need there slide in order to build an army of offensive linemen. Hager's open-field tackling and nose for the ball are great qualities for a special teams player, and they got him with the pick they got for trading Zac Stacy, who didn't play special teams. Sounds like a win for John Fassel and another possible weapon for his already-loaded special teams.
Sources: Baylor Athletics, NFL.com, Pro Football Reference, ESPN.com, Rotoscouting.com
Rams draft profile (6th round, pick #215): Cody Wichmann, G, Fresno State
 |
| Fresno State University |
G, Fresno State
Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #253 player overall, #15 guard. Seventh-round grade.
Nawrocki: #33 guard. Grade: 4.50, solid free agent who could be invited to a training camp.
Kiper: Not in top 300 players. Kiper ranked at least 16 guards and three Codys.
Draft Countdown: #17 guard. Late-round / free agent grade.
NFL.com: Sixth-seventh round grade. Grade: 5.06, better-than-average chance to make an NFL roster.
Sports Illustrated: Not in top 300 players. SI ranked at least 18 guards.
Scouts Inc: Not ranked in top 340 players. #34 guard. Grade: 30, borderline draft prospect.
Biography/Honors
2014: Second team all-Mountain West. Started all 13 games at right guard. FSU ran for 182.4 yards per game and 22 TDs. Started 50 career games, second-most in team history.
2013: Honorable mention all-Mountain West. Started all 13 games at right guard. FSU allowed only 11 sacks while throwing 675 times. That's 1.6% of dropbacks. They also led the nation in passing.
2012: Started all 13 games, eight at right tackle, five at right guard. FSU allowed sacks on 5.4% of dropbacks.
2011: Played in all 13 games, starting ten. Blocked four kicks on special teams.
2010: Redshirted.
Academics: Majored in criminology and law enforcement. (Insert Law and Order sound effect here again)
Twitter:@cdwichmann33
Injuries
None listed
Pro Day Stats
(not invited to NFL Combine. Combine averages for guards in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 4.98 (Faster than any guard at the Combine. Fastest time was 5.19. Average was 5.36)
10-yard split: 1.73
Vertical: 27" (27")
Broad: 8'10" (Would have been second-longest. Average was 8'3")
3-cone: 7.41 (Faster than any guard at Combine. Fastest time was 7.51. Average was 8.00)
Shuttle: 4.75 (4.79)
Bench: 20 (26)
Scouting Report
Pluses: Thick and strong-framed. Excellent build for an NFL guard. Very durable. Will hold up against power players. Generates good push as a base blocker and delivers a jolt on the pull. Good strength and anchor. Played against Leonard Williams this season and held his own. Very good at reading line twists and catching the twister. Plays with fine angles and positioning as a down blocker, seals off his defender.
Minuses: Below-average athlete with average quickness and below-average feet. Best in a phone booth, doesn't block well in space. Doesn't have quick change of direction. Limited athleticism will limit him to a power scheme that lets him maul people and doesn't need him to move around a lot. Hmm.
Compares to: Jacob Bell
Fun Facts
Cody's favorite player is Logan Mankins, and he's following Mankins' path to the NFL. Both went to college at Fresno State and high school at Mariposa (Cal.) High. Cody's hobbies are rafting, fishing and swimming.
RamView
The scouts calling Wichmann a below-average athlete may want to check their numbers again. I see nice explosion and speed in those pro day numbers, and you know Les Snead loves guys with quick 3-cone times. Cody's impressively durable and I think is a solid sleeper pick to claim a main roster spot.
Sources: Fresno State Athletics, NFL.com, Fresno Bee
Rams draft profile (6th round, pick #201): Bud Sasser, WR, Mizzou
 |
| STLToday |
WR, Missouri
Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #283 player overall, #37 wide receiver. Seventh round to free-agent grade.
Nawrocki: #67 WR. Grade: 4.50, solid free agent who could be invited to a training camp.
Kiper: Not in top 300 players. Kiper ranked at least 49 WRs, the last one from Stony Brook.
Draft Countdown: #46 WR. Late-round / free agent grade.
Sports Illustrated: Not in top 300 players. SI ranked at least 43 WRs.
Scouts Inc: #310 player overall, #44 WR. Grade: 33, borderline draft prospect.
Biography/Honors
2014: Started all 14 games. 77 catches for 1,003 yards (13.0 ypc) and 12 TDs. Three 100-yard games. Scored TD in SEC Championship and 2 TDs in bowl game vs. Minnesota.
2013: Played in 14 games, starting nine. 26 catches for 361 yards (13.9 ypc) and one TD. Also threw a 40-yard TD.
2012: Played in 12 games, starting six. 10 catches for 231 yards (23.1 ypc) and a TD.
2011: Played in nine games, with 3 catches for 16 yards (5.3 ypc).
2010: Redshirted.
Academics: Majored in general studies.
Twitter: @budsasser21
Injuries
None listed
Pro Day Stats
(not invited to NFL Combine. Combine averages for WRs in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 4.53 (4.50)
10-yard split: 1.59
Vertical: 34.5" (36")
Broad: 10'0" (10'0")
3-cone: 6.88 (6.98)
Shuttle: 4.38 (Would have been 4th-slowest WR, right behind Dorial Green-Beckham. Average was 4.21)
Bench: 18 (Would have tied for second-best. Average was 14.)
Scouting Report
Pluses: Big body who causes matchup problems out of the slot. Average athlete but has good body control and is outstanding at tracking the ball. Makes plays against tight coverage. Textbook hands catcher. Weapon in the red zone. Best shot is with a team needing a big body in the slot or a zone-beating possession receiver.
Minuses: Can't shake press coverage. Doesn't have the quick twitch or foot speed to escape long-armed corners lined up to his outside. Doesn't have much deep speed and doesn't gain much after the catch. Doesn't use his size well enough. Doesn't make plays over smaller corners he should make and lets himself get pinned on the sideline. Becomes a spectator when QB breaks the pocket instead of helping him.
Compares to: (don't get mad) Brian Quick
Fun Facts
In a 2012 game against Vanderbilt, Bud had one catch for 101 yards and a TD. I'll let you figure out how he did that. I'll wait.*
Oh, and I can't leave this out. Bud's given name is Larry. He's nicknamed after the King of Beers. His sisters' names are Brandi and Tequila!
RamView
Sasser reminds me a ton of Brian Quick as a rookie, or at least his fault of not using his size well enough. Sasser's also two inches and 10 lbs. smaller. I don't think he has the speed to be the big slot receiver I was hoping to add in this draft, but if he busts his hump on special teams he'll at least give Chris Givens a run for his money.
Sources: University of Missouri Athletics, NFL.com, Columbia (Mo.) Tribune
* Bud had an 85-yard TD reception and recovered a pass fumbled by a teammate and advanced it 16 yards. Those go in the book as receiving yards, so, 1 catch for 101 yards and a TD.
Rams draft Martin Ifedi in 7th round
What I assume will be the Rams' final draft pick this year, #227 overall, is DE Martin Ifedi from Memphis. 6'3" 275 but, like Michael Sam last year, his sack production is downplayed because he got them on second effort and QBs holding the ball too long, not because he was doing anything exceptional physically.
Still, look for Martin to be this year's training camp surprise. Mike Waufle turns some late draft pick or rookie free agent into a NFL-quality pass rusher every training camp.
OK. Now to work on these last four profiles. And thanks for the extra work, Zac and Les!
-$-
Rams draft Bryce Hager in 7th round
Pick #224 overall, the pick the Rams got for Zac Stacy, is Baylor LB Bryce Hager. He's the son of former Eagle LB Britt Hager and the FIRST defensive player the Rams drafted this year. He's considered undersized at 6'1 234 and Nawrocki's draft guide projects him to play on special teams.
-$-
Rams trade Zac Stacy
Two nights after tweeting "Yikes" in reaction to the Rams picking Todd Gurley in the first round, Zac Stacy has been dealt by the Rams to the New York Jets for a seventh-round pick.I hope Zac gets a fairer shot there than he got here. His reward for cranking out nearly 1,000 yards as a rookie was to get buried on the depth chart.
-$-
Rams draft Cody Wichmann in sixth round
Two straight players not even in my Nawrocki guide, so I've got some work ahead of me.
Also, I am totally starting up a food truck outside of Rams training camp this summer.
-$-
Rams draft Bud Sasser in sixth round
-$-
Rams draft profile (4th round): Andrew Donnal, T, Iowa
 |
| HawkeyeCentral.com |
T, Iowa
Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #217 player overall, #19 tackle. Sixth-round grade.
Nawrocki: #17 tackle. Not rated in top 150 players. Grade: 5.25, should make a roster and contribute on special teams. Fifth-sixth round.
Kiper: #262 player overall, #24 tackle, right behind a tackle from Notre Dame. Notre Dame College in Ohio.
Draft Countdown: #211 player overall, #19 tackle. Late-round / free agent grade.
Sports Illustrated: #174 player overall, #17 tackle.
Scouts Inc: #158 player overall, #16 tackle. Grade: 52, adequate prospect, fifth-round value.
Biography/Honors
2014: Honorable mention all-Big "10". Started all 13 games at right tackle.
2013: Appeared in all 13 games, playing right guard and left tackle, but without a start.
2012: Appeared in seven games on offense and special teams, with three starts at left guard.
2011: Appeared in four game with no starts.
2010: Redshirted.
Twitter: @AndrewDonnal
Separated at birth from: Thor
Injuries
2012: Missed final five games after tearing MCL, PCL and meniscus in his left knee and breaking his tibia.
NFL Combine Stats
(Combine averages for tackles in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 5.31 (5.27)
10-yard split: 1.92
Vertical: 32" (29")
Broad: 8'6" (8'7")
3-cone: 7.84 (7.86)
Shuttle: 4.77 (4.70)
Bench: 17 (Average was 25. Rams drafted two of the three worst-benching tackles at the Combine in Donnal and Haverstein.)
Scouting Report
Pluses: Explosive, quick out of his stance. Technically sound. Active hands and gets his hands on defenders and steers and controls them. Light of foot and gets to second level and blocks LBs well. Adequate kick slide and ability to block edge rushers past the pocket. Has good recovery speed. Fighter who does whatever he can to get his guy blocked. Aggressive, plays with an edge and will drive defenders to the ground. Plays with solid enough base to anchor on the edge. Good pre-snap awareness, good at recognizing and picking up blitzes and stunts. Locates his assignments well and adjusts well on the fly. If he has no one to block, he finds somebody to hit instead of just standing around. Iowa program has produced a lot of successful offensive linemen. Versatile, could contribute at either of the guard or tackle positions.
Minuses: Limited starting experience. Lacks power. Needs to spend more time in the weight room. Limited lower-body strength and explosion. Like the rest of the Rams' offensive line class this year, tends to play too tall. Well, they're all tall. Does not drive defenders off the ball in the run game. Wins with explosion more than strength. Gets too wide with his hands at times. Average foot speed, struggles to adjust to moving targets. Slips off run blocks and ends up on the ground. Needs to play nasty more consistently.
Compares to: Erik Pears, possibly Kyle Turley and Thor
Fun Facts
Andrew was the center of his high school basketball team for three years and threw shot put and discus for the track team. When you look as much like Thor as he does, you should be throwing the hammer. Though born in Ohio and growing up Buckeye fans, Andrew went to Iowa and his brother Mark played basketball at Michigan.
RamView
The theme of the Rams' 2015 draft is big, tall offensive linemen who get the job done more with effort and technique than by sheer physical gifts. The guess here is that Donnal's going to be looked at as a swing man and wouldn't be expected to start any time soon. That makes him a, um, curious pick. The Rams passed on several center prospects I'd thought were easily better. As much as I appreciate gaining flexibility on the o-line, they could have found better players at many other positions here who would contribute more quickly. 2015's really morphing into a "huh" draft to me.
Sources: University of iowa athletics, NFL.com, Toledo Blade
Rams draft Andrew Donnal in fourth round
Donnal is a tackle from Iowa, so he played opposite Brandon Scherff. Only a one-year starter, appears to have an extensive injury history and benched poorly at the Combine. He's another side of beef at 6'6", 313, but again, the Rams are loading up on pretty unathletic offensive linemen. I have a lot of research to do on Andrew, let's see what I can cough up.-$-
Rams draft profile (3rd round, pick #89): Sean Mannion, QB, Oregon State
 |
| CBS Sports |
QB, Oregon State
Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #107 player overall, #6 quarterback. 3rd-4th round grade.
Nawrocki: #126 player overall, #5 QB. Grade: 5.32, 4th-5th round pick, should make a roster and contribute on special teams.Well, I dunno about that last part.
Mayock: Not rated in top 100 players, which included 4 QBs.
Kiper: #91 player overall, #6 QB.
Draft Countdown: #136 player overall, #6 QB. Mid-round grade.
Sports Illustrated: #140 player overall, #6 QB.
Scouts Inc: #108 player overall, #4 QB. Grade: 68, good to solid prospect.
Just about all of these analysts had Brett Hundley and Bryce Petty ahead of Mannion.
Biography/Honors
2014: Honorable mention all-Pac 12. Team captain. Started all 12 games. 282-453 (62.3%) for 3,164 yards (7.0 ypc), 15 TDs and 8 INTs. Won the Air-it-Out Challenge at the 2014 Manning Passing Academy. Finished career with 18 school passing records.
2013: Honorable mention all-Pac 12. Team captain. Started all 13 games. 400-603 (62.3%) for 4,662 yards (7.7 ypc), 37 TDs and 15 INTs. Second in the nation in yards, 4th in TDs. Yards set a conference record, TDs set a school record. Seven games of 350 yards or more.
2012: Started 8 games. First sophomore team captain in team history. 200-309 (64.7%) for 2,446 yards (7.9 ypc), 15 TDs and 13 INTs. Benched for final three games after throwing 4 INTs vs. Washington.
2011: Played in 12 games, starting 10. 305-473 (64.5%) for 3,328 yards (10.9 ypc), 16 TDs and 18 INTs.
2010: Redshirted.
Academics: Graduated with degree in liberal studies in December and is pursuing his master's in interdisciplinary studies with options in sociology, political science and history. Three-time Pac-12 Academic Honorable Mention.
Twitter: @seanmannion4
Injuries
2012: Missed two games due to torn left meniscus that required arthroscopic surgery.
NFL Combine Stats
(2015 Combine averages for QBs in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 5.14 (Slowest QB at Combine. Average was 4.80)
10-yard split: 1.87
Vertical: 31" (32.5")
Broad: 8'9" (9'6")
3-cone: 7.30 (Tied for 2nd-worst. Average was 7.11)
Shuttle: 4.39 (4.28)
Scouting Report
Pluses: Prototype size for the position. Very experienced QB in a pro-style offense where he worked from underneath center. Reads the defense well prior to the snap. Knows where his protection is and where his hot reads are. Stands tall in the pocket. Pure pocket passer. Good pocket awareness, keeps his eyes downfield well. Doesn't get many passes batted down, SAM BRADFORD. Very good arm strength and clean footwork. Very accurate thrower when his feet are set. Can make all the throws. Very good at throwing receivers open deep. Throws a very catchable, accurate deep ball, always gives his receiver a chance. Has major upside if he cleans up his lower-body mechanics. Has shortened his previously long, over-the-top delivery, a big reason the Rams took him after witnessing a private workout at OSU. Respected team leader (first three-time captain in school history) with calm, cool playing temperament. Very intelligent on and off field. Coach let him make his own reads and make audibles. Very hard worker who has the key to both the gym and the film room. Father John is a high school coach (but I don't think he coached Sean, at least not at his current school).
Minuses: Needs to put on some muscle. Has small hands and does not throw a consistently tight spiral. Just-average athletically. Doesn't process the defensive scheme well after the snap. If he read them wrong before the snap, he's toast. Falls apart under pressure. Doesn't step into his throws. Will take a hit but bails out and makes too many back-footed throws under pressure. Throws pretty poorly on the move. Tends to lock onto his primary target and telegraph passes. Takes too many chances forcing passes into coverage. Takes too long to scan the field, holds the ball too long, needs to speed up internal clock. Will have to time his throws better against NFL DBs. Limited mobility, stiff runner who's not a threat to scramble. With his hands and tendency to force passes, ball security will be a significant issue. Carries ball too low when he runs. Committed 84 turnovers in his college career, 30 fumbles. Needs to be more of a vocal, take-charge leader.
Compares to: Matt Ryan as a junior, but Mike Glennon as a senior.
Fun Facts
Sean's Oregon State bio claims he is contemplating a career as a fire fighter. Besides QB, he played center in high school. That would be in basketball. He also pitched for two seasons for the baseball team. Sean roomed for a year at OSU with... Johnny Hekker.
RamView
I like that the Rams finally spent a meaningful draft pick on a QB with long-term starting potential and more upside than the current backups. And I very much appreciate they got a QB who's run a real, adult, pro-style offense. I had Grayson as the #3 QB, and should have had Mannion 4th based on this. He was the best QB to take. The Rams filled a need the best way they could. Now, he's got a lot of flaws, and it seems like with as much as he's played, a lot of them are burned in. It's also more than fair to note that a big part of his junior-senior dropoff came from Brandin Cooks going pro and OSU having nothing left at wideout. I wasn't big on what I saw of Sean at the Senior Bowl. Too erratic, too inconsistent on the sideline routes that most demand a strong, accurate arm. But you make this pick, and you pick a QB like Sean, to develop him for the future. He may step into a situation where he's got improving receivers and a gelling offensive line around him, and if Chris Weinke does his job as QB coach, Mannion's a lot more like the junior QB who would have been a first-round pick than the QB who struggled a lot more as a senior. It's not a win-now pick, but it's a pick this franchise has been overdue to make. I can talk myself into liking this pick now.
Sources: Oregon State Athletics, NFL.com
Rams draft profile (3rd round, pick 72): Jamon Brown, G, Louisville
 |
| NFL.com |
T/G, Louisville
Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #264 player overall, #22 tackle. 7th round-free agent grade. Yikes.
Nawrocki: #14 tackle. Not rated in top 150 players. Grade: 5.26, should make a roster and contribute on special teams. At the same time, Nawrocki grades him as a 4th-5th round pick.
Mayock: Not rated in top 100 players.
Kiper: #281 (holy cats!) player overall, #14 guard.
Draft Countdown: #164 player overall, #10 guard. Late-round / free agent grade.
Sports Illustrated: #247 player overall, #20 tackle.
Scouts Inc: #192 player overall, #18 tackle. Grade: 48, borderline to adequate prospect.
Biography/Honors
2014: Started all 13 games at left tackle.
2013: First team all-AAC. Started all 13 games at left tackle.
2012: Started all 13 games at right tackle.
2011: Appeared in one game at defensive tackle and eight on the offensive line, with two starts at left guard. (Louisville's website says one.)
Academics: Graduated with degree in justice administration (insert Law and Order sound effect here).
Twitter: @NFLBOUND_jBrown
Injuries
2015: Strained pectoral (or, in Missouri, pectoreal) muscle during warmups at the Combine.
Pro Day Stats
(Brown did not work out at the NFL Combine due to pectoral injury. Combine averages for guards in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 5.08 (Faster than every guard and all but three tackles. Guard average was 5.36)
10-yard split: 1.74
Vertical: 28" (27")
Broad: 8'7" (8'3")
3-cone: 7.36 (Faster than every guard. Average was 8.00)
Shuttle: 4.61 (Faster than every guard but one. Average was 4.79)
Bench: DNP (26)
Scouting Report
Pluses: Outstanding girth and very good arm length. Strong, can lock down and mash defenders in tight areas. Weightlifter with strong hands and lower body. Gets out of stance quicker than expected and has quick first step. Flashes dominant play as a run-blocker. Will toy with defenders he gets his hands on. Has athleticism to be an effective pull-blocker (especially at guard) and push pass-rushers past the pocket. Ten-dollar cab ride for speed rushers to navigate. Anchors well in pass pro, which should serve him especially well at guard. Versatile and durable.
Minuses: Heavy and needs to improve conditioning. Tends to get fatigued and play too upright. Occasionally late off the snap. Gets gassed late in games and doesn't wear down defenders over the course of a game. Limited agility, change of direction, body control. Heavy-footed. Struggles with quickness and inside moves. Drops his hands. Needs to improve at sinking his hips and staying square. Struggles to adjust to second level and needs better awareness of blitzes and stunts. Needs to improve at leverage and sustaining and finishing blocks. Overextends in pass pro and gets off-balance. Not suited for a zone scheme. Still learning the hard work it takes to be a pro.
Compares to: Adam Snyder, Dallas Thomas
Fun Facts
Jamon is an accomplished singer. He was a competitive powerlifter in high school. He dropped close to 30 pounds prior to his senior season at Louisville, which meant fewer breakfasts at his favorite diner near campus, the awesomely-named Burger Boy. Stay away from Goody Goody's in St. Louis, then.
RamView
By the analyst rankings, Brown makes it two straight run-maulers drafted by the Rams at least a round early. As Mike Mayock likes to say, though, I'd "pound the table" for Brown based on his terrific, dominant Shrine Game performance. Of course, he was helped a lot there by not having to play every drive. Guard's the right spot for him in the pros and mitigates a lot of his minuses at tackle, but I'd argue he's even a better tackle than Rams second-round pick Rob Havenstein. In the Shrine Game he was a bulldozer in the running game and a wall in the passing game. DEs weren't even getting across the line of scrimmage on him. I'm more enthusiastic about Brown than the pro draftniks, but I still wouldn't have taken him before the fourth round. But having claimed to be a power running team for three years and mainly failing at it, it's about time the Rams accumulated some players who can actually back those claims up.
Sources: University of Louisville athletics, Louisville Courier-Journal
Rams draft profile (2nd round): Rob Havenstein, T, Wisconsin
 |
| Fox Sports |
T, Wisconsin
Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #114 player overall, #12 tackle. 3rd-4th round grade.
Nawrocki: #16 tackle. Not rated in top 150 players. Grade: 5.26, should make a roster and contribute on special teams. Ouch. But he's projected as a 4th-5th rounder despite this ranking.
Mayock: Not rated in top 100 players.
Kiper: #215 player overall, #14 tackle.
Draft Countdown: #138 player overall, #16 tackle. Mid-round grade.
Sports Illustrated: #112 player overall, #12 tackle.
Scouts Inc: #102 player overall, #12 tackle. Grade: 69, good to solid prospect.
Biography/Honors
2014: First team all-Big "10". Team captain. Started all 14 games at right tackle. Wisconsin rushed for 320 yards per game (3rd in nation) and shattered its record for yards per rush (6.91). The line allowed less than a sack per game. Wisconsin had a 2,500-yard rusher (Melvin Gordon), a 644-yard rushing game against Bowling Green and a 581-yard rushing game against Nebraska.
2013: Second team all-Big "10". Started all 13 games at right tackle. Wisconsin set school records for total yards, rushing yards and yards per rush (6.62)
2012: Started all 14 games at right tackle.
2011: Appeared in 13 games with one start at right tackle.
2010: Redshirted.
Academics: Graduated with degree in life sciences communication. No, that's not talking to animals like I hoped; it sounds like it's journalism with an emphasis on scientific topics like health and the environment.
Twitter: @RobBigDaddy78. I think. Rob's on at least his third different Twitter handle.
Injuries
2011: Had right labrum repaired prior to season.
2010: Arrived on campus weighing 380 pounds. Had surgery on left labrum and left knee surgery (meniscus and MCL) that summer.
NFL Combine Stats
(2015 NFL Combine averages for tackles in parentheses)
40-yard dash: 5.46 (5.27)
10-yard split: 1.88
Vertical: 28.5" (29")
Broad: 8'0 (8'7")
3-cone: 8.28 (Worst at Combine. Average tackle ran 7.86)
Shuttle: 4.87 (4.70)
Bench: 16 (Worst at Combine. Average was 25)
Scouting Report
Pluses: Nasty mauler with rare size and reach who dominates defenders in the running game when he gets his hands on them. Finishes his blocks. Very good technician, plays with very good leverage and positioning. Very good functional strength. Good drive blocker. Showed a strong power step in one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl, and at right tackle, was adept at shutting off inside rush attempts. Much better football player than athlete. Finds a way to get the job done. Quick hands and surprisingly quick feet, which are the key to his game. Committed no holding penalties in 2014. Wins with intelligence, toughness and angles.
Minuses: Limited athletically. Just average recovery speed. Plays too tall, flat-footed and stiff-legged. Not a natural bender. Gets outleveraged and put on the ground too often. Overextends at times. Slow getting to the second level. Limited blocking range. Doesn't get out well on sweeps. Doesn't move well to his right. Got beaten inside and outside at LT at the Senior Bowl. Has problems with speed rushers and gives them too much ground. Doesn't mirror well. Inconsistent at recognizing blitzes. Unsuited for zone blocking. Motor and mean streak are inconsistent. Will be a right tackle only and his shoulder injury history is a significant concern.
Compares to: Phil Loadholdt
Fun Facts
Rob blocked for three of the top five rushers in Wisconsin history: James White, Montee Ball and Melvin Gordon, all of whom had 1,000-yard seasons. Along with football, he played basketball, soccer and lacrosse in middle and high school. As a redshirt freshman on Wisconsin's scout team, Rob had the chore every day of going up against J.J. Watt. He says his weight got as high as it did because he didn't realize his high school's scale only went up to 340 and he thought he wasn't gaining any weight.
RamView
A mauling run-blocker, Havenstein was a good player for the Rams to pick. He fits what they want to do and his run-blocking and excellent footwork no doubt showed well on game tape and put him high on their draft board. His lack of athleticism and subpar Combine, much easier and quicker things for draftniks to see and process, put him low on theirs. No one had him in their top 100. It's been hard to go wrong with Wisconsin linemen in the draft over the years, but unless you tell me that Havenstein is an all-time elite run-blocker, the Rams reached by at least a round here. They unquestionably filled a need but paid too much for the player they got.
Sources: University of Wisconsin, Frederick (Md.) News-Post
Friday, May 1, 2015
Rams draft Sean Mannion in 3rd round
I'm not a big fan of the Rams' draft so far. A luxury pick RB, two extensive reaches for mauling run-blockers and a so-so college QB. To their credit, though, they're staying true to who they are and have filled needs while staying away from drafting criminals. Let me get cracking on profiles and see if I can find some things to further change my mindset.
-$-
Rams draft Jamon Brown in third round
Finally, the Rams are on my wavelength, drafting one of my favorite players from the East-West Shrine Game, possibly the best player there. He played at tackle there but is likely to be a guard here. If they still scoop up a backup QB or a WR at 89, this draft is starting to pick up a little shine.
My like for this pick should not cover up that the analysts think this is also a major reach. Brown's not in Mayock's top 100, not in Nawrocki's top 150, rated 247 by Sports Illustrated and 281 by Mel Kiper. I'd argue those are bad ratings for Brown, but I didn't expect him to be drafted before the 4th round myself.
-$-
Rams draft Rob Havenstein in 2nd round
-$-
Rams trade 2nd-round pick...
The Rams now have pick 2/57, 3/72, 3/89, 4/119, 6/201, 6/215 and 7/227.
Nice deal, sort of the kind of deal I wish they'd have done last night. Let's see if 57 is a center or a QB, that seemed to be the sweet spot for the 2nd tier (Marpet, Grasu, Hundley, Grayson, Petty) at those positions in most mock drafts.
-$-
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)