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.

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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 4^th quarter.

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

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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 2^nd 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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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