It's official that the Rams are negotiating a new contract for Marc Bulger,
a necessity both on and off the field. On because Marc's a Pro Bowl QB
who shouldn't get screwed over, and off because the Rams have cap room
and are swimming in money from ticket increases and free money from the
league. Marc's pocket is a place part of my $10 extra a game ought to be going.
Marc's also taken some heat in the media lately for commenting that he looked
forward to returning to Rams Park this spring and that he didn't always feel that
way in the past, i.e., when Mike Martz was HC. Marc promptly got criticized for
lacking gratitude for the opportunities he got, and cashed in, because of Martz.
I'd save the criticisms for later, though. Bulger seems for all the world like a
type "B" personality. So does Scott Linehan. They're a fit personality-wise, and
Marc's comfortable with that. No harm in saying it. Coach Martz is probably a
type-double-"A" personality and attracted a ton of controversy I need not review
here during Marc's stint as a starter. Did Marc perform well in that atmosphere?
Sure. (When he was upright.) Has the atmosphere relaxed noticeably since Scott
Linehan took over? Sure seems like it. Did Bulger specifically say anything negative
about Mike Martz? Not really. Is Bulger wrong to opine that the atmosphere at Rams
Park is more relaxed and that he likes it? Not at all.
Bulger's comment wasn't a story to me, and I doubt it should have been for anybody.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Site update - Derek Stanley
Updated Derek Stanley's bio with info I missed previously.
If he pans out, Stanley could one day fill Shaun McDonald's
role as kick returner and 4th wideout. McDonald's ineptitude
returning punts tends to drown out his pretty solid performance
as the Rams' 4th WR. They could miss McDonald's speed early on.
If he pans out, Stanley could one day fill Shaun McDonald's
role as kick returner and 4th wideout. McDonald's ineptitude
returning punts tends to drown out his pretty solid performance
as the Rams' 4th WR. They could miss McDonald's speed early on.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Vive la Google
The blog has moved off of the hideous Yahoo platform and onto
Google's Blogger at ramview.blogspot.com.
Wow, when you hit a line return here, it's... a line return!
Not between 1-12 lines of random blank space! Imagine that.
I brought all the old Yahoo posts over, and now that I'm working
with a competent text editor, business should get to pickin' up
again on the ol' RamBlog.
Google's Blogger at ramview.blogspot.com.
Wow, when you hit a line return here, it's... a line return!
Not between 1-12 lines of random blank space! Imagine that.
I brought all the old Yahoo posts over, and now that I'm working
with a competent text editor, business should get to pickin' up
again on the ol' RamBlog.
Rams' 7th-round pick #249: Derek Stanley, WR, Wisconsin-Whitewater
(4/29/07)
Derek Stanley 5'10" 172 4.44
PFW has the only information I have available on Stanley. He's not on
the Sporting News' top 36 WRs or the War Room value board. Scout.com
doesn't give him a bio and put him deep on its list of free agents.
36.9 kick return average as a freshman, two TDs. Full-time starter at WR
as junior, averaged 25.5 a catch. Also saw some time on defense. Only
started 5 games as a senior but led team in receiving: 61-1141, 17 TDs.
Owns school records for single-season TDs and career receiving yards.
2nd in career receptions... Has outstanding straight-line speed and can
track the ball well over his shoulder. Reliable hands... Not-field fast;
can't set up DBs. Has not faced top competition at Div-III level. Raw as
route runner; does not play to timed speed. Could struggle to get off
line vs. NFL CBs... Intriguing speed could open up some doors, but when
he matches up with better competition, he will not be able to get by on
his natural ability. Developmental project.
Sounds like this is a flyer on a kick returner. Outstanding kick return
average his freshman year, though he never came close to matching those
numbers in following years. Probably worth a tryout there. Could also be
a stab at a big-play receiver, though he'd be at least the third "project"
of this draft if so. Thumbs: make that shoulders: shrug.
Derek Stanley 5'10" 172 4.44
PFW has the only information I have available on Stanley. He's not on
the Sporting News' top 36 WRs or the War Room value board. Scout.com
doesn't give him a bio and put him deep on its list of free agents.
36.9 kick return average as a freshman, two TDs. Full-time starter at WR
as junior, averaged 25.5 a catch. Also saw some time on defense. Only
started 5 games as a senior but led team in receiving: 61-1141, 17 TDs.
Owns school records for single-season TDs and career receiving yards.
2nd in career receptions... Has outstanding straight-line speed and can
track the ball well over his shoulder. Reliable hands... Not-field fast;
can't set up DBs. Has not faced top competition at Div-III level. Raw as
route runner; does not play to timed speed. Could struggle to get off
line vs. NFL CBs... Intriguing speed could open up some doors, but when
he matches up with better competition, he will not be able to get by on
his natural ability. Developmental project.
Sounds like this is a flyer on a kick returner. Outstanding kick return
average his freshman year, though he never came close to matching those
numbers in following years. Probably worth a tryout there. Could also be
a stab at a big-play receiver, though he'd be at least the third "project"
of this draft if so. Thumbs: make that shoulders: shrug.
Rams' 7th round pick #248: Keith Jackson, DT, Arkansas
(4/29/07)
Whoa Nellie!
Keith Jackson 6'0" 305 5.08
Son of the former Pro Bowl tight end.
Scout.com: Projected as a late 5th-rounder. Two-year starter; all-SEC as a junior.
2.5 sacks and 2 INTs as a senior. Undersized, active DL who constantly chases to
make plays on the ball. Explodes off the snap; quick first step. Fires between gaps
up the field and plays with good pad level... Possesses just a short-area burst of
speed. Can be controlled by a single blocker or engulfed by opponents... High-effort
defender who plays with a good motor, offers possibilities in a rotational front
four and as a three-technique lineman.
Sporting News ranked Jackson #13 at DT. Not an explosive playmaker, but is strong
and athletic two-gap player with the skills to be a starter. War Room valued him
as an early fifth-rounder.
Jackson was PFW's 27th-rated DT. Can play nose. Returned an INT 69 yards for a TD
against SE Missouri. Good production. Strength to hold the point of attack and can
play off blocks. Chases hard. NFL bloodline. Very durable... Lacks size. Not a great
pass rusher. Does not show great awareness. Not a great worker, has a sense of
entitlement as the son of a former NFL star... Needs to play in a scheme where he is
angling, slanting and playing in gaps.
Remind anybody else of D'Marco Farr? Have the Rams struck again with one of their
supplemental picks? I like this idea a lot for DT depth and for what it looks like
Jackson can bring to the field. Thumbs up.
Whoa Nellie!
Keith Jackson 6'0" 305 5.08
Son of the former Pro Bowl tight end.
Scout.com: Projected as a late 5th-rounder. Two-year starter; all-SEC as a junior.
2.5 sacks and 2 INTs as a senior. Undersized, active DL who constantly chases to
make plays on the ball. Explodes off the snap; quick first step. Fires between gaps
up the field and plays with good pad level... Possesses just a short-area burst of
speed. Can be controlled by a single blocker or engulfed by opponents... High-effort
defender who plays with a good motor, offers possibilities in a rotational front
four and as a three-technique lineman.
Sporting News ranked Jackson #13 at DT. Not an explosive playmaker, but is strong
and athletic two-gap player with the skills to be a starter. War Room valued him
as an early fifth-rounder.
Jackson was PFW's 27th-rated DT. Can play nose. Returned an INT 69 yards for a TD
against SE Missouri. Good production. Strength to hold the point of attack and can
play off blocks. Chases hard. NFL bloodline. Very durable... Lacks size. Not a great
pass rusher. Does not show great awareness. Not a great worker, has a sense of
entitlement as the son of a former NFL star... Needs to play in a scheme where he is
angling, slanting and playing in gaps.
Remind anybody else of D'Marco Farr? Have the Rams struck again with one of their
supplemental picks? I like this idea a lot for DT depth and for what it looks like
Jackson can bring to the field. Thumbs up.
Rams' 6th-round pick: Ken Shackleford, T, Georgia
(4/29/07)
Ken Shackleford 6'5" 322 5.37
PFW: 16th-ranked OT. Has good size with a big "bubble butt"
and power base. Moves well enough to reach the second level.
Versatile; has played multiple positions... Only a one-year
starter. Plays too passively and will fall off of blocks. Can be
late off the ball (opposite of Alex Barron, then?). Raw; needs to
play with better pad level, leverage, hand work. On the ground
more than he should be... Strictly a developmental prospect
who really struggled at the Combine. Finished last in many
categories. At least a few years away.
Shackleford is not in Sporting News' top 20 tackles or on the
War Room value board as draftable.
Scout.com has an entry for Shackleford at OT but fails to rank
him on their OT prospect list. King-sized blocker who works
best in confined quarters. Stays square, strong at the point
of contact and controls opponents once engaged. Nasty attitude,
another Rams pick this year always looking for someone to hit.
Keeps his feet moving... Haphazard in movements, plays with poor
balance. Not light on his feet, needs to shed a few pounds. Slow
to adjust, lacks skill sliding out to protect the edge... Better-than-
advertised athlete with size and strength to play in the pros.
Developmental prospect who could surprise if he hits on all cylinders.
I'm more receptive to taking a project at this stage of the draft. Rams
are smart to plan for the eventual exit of Orlando Pace. They'll have
time to bring Shackleford along. Thumbs slightly up.
Ken Shackleford 6'5" 322 5.37
PFW: 16th-ranked OT. Has good size with a big "bubble butt"
and power base. Moves well enough to reach the second level.
Versatile; has played multiple positions... Only a one-year
starter. Plays too passively and will fall off of blocks. Can be
late off the ball (opposite of Alex Barron, then?). Raw; needs to
play with better pad level, leverage, hand work. On the ground
more than he should be... Strictly a developmental prospect
who really struggled at the Combine. Finished last in many
categories. At least a few years away.
Shackleford is not in Sporting News' top 20 tackles or on the
War Room value board as draftable.
Scout.com has an entry for Shackleford at OT but fails to rank
him on their OT prospect list. King-sized blocker who works
best in confined quarters. Stays square, strong at the point
of contact and controls opponents once engaged. Nasty attitude,
another Rams pick this year always looking for someone to hit.
Keeps his feet moving... Haphazard in movements, plays with poor
balance. Not light on his feet, needs to shed a few pounds. Slow
to adjust, lacks skill sliding out to protect the edge... Better-than-
advertised athlete with size and strength to play in the pros.
Developmental prospect who could surprise if he hits on all cylinders.
I'm more receptive to taking a project at this stage of the draft. Rams
are smart to plan for the eventual exit of Orlando Pace. They'll have
time to bring Shackleford along. Thumbs slightly up.
Rams' 5th-round pick #154: Cliff Ryan, DL, Michigan State
(4/29/07)
Cliff Ryan 6'3" 310 5.12
PFW lists him #31 at the DE position; not in the top 150 players.
Can also play tackle. Three-year starter; played end his sophomore
and junior years; tackle his senior year. Four sacks and 13 hurries in
'06. Good strength; will chase and pursue down the line... Can be late
to find the ball. Doesn't show strength or power to collapse the pocket.
Too much finess; not a strong tackler... Had some early-season production,
and looked like a player against Notre Dame, but faded down the stretch
and seemed to be going through the motions. Has ability to warrant being
drafted, but has to learn how to use it to make a team.
War Room board listed Ryan as an early fifth-rounder.
Sporting News evaluated him as a tackle: Versatile and productive. A
tweener most suited to playing tackle.
Scout.com has Ryan valued right about here, mid-5th-round, as a DE.
Three-year starter experienced at tackle and end. Hard-working leverage
lineman who makes plays in all directions. Quick off the snap, can wedge
through small creases, immediately changes direction. Works hard to get
involved against the run... Undersized and can be controlled by a single
blocker; marginally productive in college... Explosive lineman who made
plenty of big plays. An underrated prospect who can be used as a 3-technique
tackle or a 2-gap end.
I've been banging on the Rams for not getting deep enough on the line.
Ryan looks like a pretty good acquisition this late in the draft and the
way d-linemen have been flying off the board. Like how the Rams are
making a conscious effort to get physically stronger on both lines.
Thumbs up.
Cliff Ryan 6'3" 310 5.12
PFW lists him #31 at the DE position; not in the top 150 players.
Can also play tackle. Three-year starter; played end his sophomore
and junior years; tackle his senior year. Four sacks and 13 hurries in
'06. Good strength; will chase and pursue down the line... Can be late
to find the ball. Doesn't show strength or power to collapse the pocket.
Too much finess; not a strong tackler... Had some early-season production,
and looked like a player against Notre Dame, but faded down the stretch
and seemed to be going through the motions. Has ability to warrant being
drafted, but has to learn how to use it to make a team.
War Room board listed Ryan as an early fifth-rounder.
Sporting News evaluated him as a tackle: Versatile and productive. A
tweener most suited to playing tackle.
Scout.com has Ryan valued right about here, mid-5th-round, as a DE.
Three-year starter experienced at tackle and end. Hard-working leverage
lineman who makes plays in all directions. Quick off the snap, can wedge
through small creases, immediately changes direction. Works hard to get
involved against the run... Undersized and can be controlled by a single
blocker; marginally productive in college... Explosive lineman who made
plenty of big plays. An underrated prospect who can be used as a 3-technique
tackle or a 2-gap end.
I've been banging on the Rams for not getting deep enough on the line.
Ryan looks like a pretty good acquisition this late in the draft and the
way d-linemen have been flying off the board. Like how the Rams are
making a conscious effort to get physically stronger on both lines.
Thumbs up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)