Archive for April, 2007
Saturday, April 28th, 2007
Rams 3rd round pick.
- Class: Senior 3V
- Height: 6-0
- Weight: 195
- Previous School: Evangel Christian HS
- Hometown: Shreveport, Louisiana
John Murphy’s take: Has some of the best pure deep speed of anyone available at the cornerback position and has developed into a more technically sound defender over each of the past two years. His back pedal has improved, but he can still take some false steps and get caught out of position. He is feisty at times, but is not strong enough to continuously play press. He is a flexible defender that can turn and run with most receivers and is not just a track star. However, he needs to get better as he still allows a few too many catches. He will be there but the ball still comes down in the receivers’ hands. More of a push and pull tackler in the open field, Wade has ideal size to go along with sub-4.4 40-times, which should make him a first-day pick.
Posted in Draft / Free Agency | No Comments »
Saturday, April 28th, 2007
- Rams 2nd round draft pick.
- Class: Senior 4V
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 235
- Previous School: Gouverneur HS
- Hometown: Gouverneur, New York
John Murphy’s take: This is one of the best pure football players in this year’s draft — one that is versatile enough to play either running back or fullback at the next level. Leonard bulked up for his senior campaign in order to serve as the lead blocker for Ray Rice, but what impressed both scouts, coaches and teammates alike was that, unlike most potential pro athletes, he put his team and its needs ahead of his own after having gained over 3,900 yards of total offense in his first three seasons with the Scarlet Knights.
He has some of the draft’s best hands out of the backfield, having totaled 207 career receptions. He was able to bruise his way to yardage in the second half of games, but he also has quick feet to the hole and can bounce a few carries outside for big gains. A good cutback-style runner, Leonard uses very good vision, balance and power to consistently gain yardage. That said, he needs to make better use of his size once he gets into the open field. He has been susceptible to being tackled around the ankles or when defenders grab at his legs.
Leonard proved to be a viable and productive member of the backfield from the fullback position. A very good cut blocker, he can stand his ground firmly when picking up the blitz. He will dip his head at times and lead in without having the full balance of his body weight underneath him, but his effort is never waning. Leonard’s workout numbers will surprise. He has spent the offseason getting his weight back down to the mid-220-pound range while focusing on his explosiveness, speed and quickness in the 40-yard dash and drills. It should not be surprising to see him run in the 4.5 range at the combine.
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Saturday, April 28th, 2007
Scout.com Player Evaluation:
Hard-working and tenacious, Carriker is a smart prospect who could be used at a variety of positions. Looks like a perfect two-gap end, yet may also fit in at defensive tackle. His draft stock is soaring, and he may end up as a top 12 pick.
Three-year starter awarded All-Conference honors after his junior and senior campaigns. Totals last season were 52/16/7, with one interception and three pass break-ups. Junior totals included 43/17/9.5.
Positives:
Physically impressive prospect who plays an intelligent brand of football. Instinctive and immediately locates the ball. Moves laterally with speed defending the run and has a burst upfield rushing the quarterback. Makes plays in all directions, immediately altering his angle of attack or redirecting to ball handlers. Flashes power and wraps-up tackling.
Neg:
Stymied at the point of attack by a single blocker. Stands to develop more moves to disengage from opponents.
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Saturday, April 28th, 2007
Nebraska DE Adam Carriker talks about what he’s most proud of from his spectacular collegiate career and what he’s going to bring to the NFL team that drafts him next weekend in this exclusive interview with Scout.com’s Ed Thompson.
Ed Thompson: What do you think is going to be your strongest selling point to these NFL teams? You’ve got so many great attributes both as a person and as a player, what do you think is really standing out to them?
Adam Carriker: I would say my versatility. It doesn’t matter where I go or what team I play for, they can find a spot for me whether it be a 3-4 end, a 4-3 D-tackle or a 4-3 end. They’ve asked if I can play nose guard and I said, “sure, I can play everything.” So I’d say my versatility.
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Friday, April 27th, 2007
Lately, I’ve spent a lot of time in draft forums and team sites reading about all the 300 or so of the players that will be selected this weekend and thereby granted the opportunity to have a Future in the National Football League.
Much of what I am reading is the same stuff you read every year — this guy has a hamstring, that guy is a Phi Beta Kappa, this guy runs a 4.38 40 and has a 40 inch vertical jump, that guy smoked pot out behind the dorm, this guy got drunk and slapped his girlfriend silly. Teams make stuff up about guys they don’t want anybody else to pick, fan a little smoke around the picks they intend to make, and otherwise play the yearly game of bargaining over horseflesh and trying to bite, scratch and claw their way to the best draft they can manage.
Every year so far, I have pretty much just floated downstream with the whole deal, trying to keep my nose above the water line and be aware of what was going on, but this year I have bonked headfirst into a log in the stream, and my enjoyment is troubled with a headache. For the lack of a better tag to pin on it, I guess I’ll just call it conscience.
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Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
Ram Nation no longer has to fret about the team selecting Ohio State receiver
Ted Ginn Jr. with the 13th overall pick in this weekend’s NFL Draft.
Scott Linehan fixed his Return Game Crisis with an outstanding trade – landing
Chiefs game breaker Dante Hall for a fifth-round draft pick. The Rams also
swapped third-round picks with Kansas City, moving back two spots.
The Rams will turn their return duties over to Hall and move on to address
other needs in the draft. This team can add immediate help for the defensive
front seven in the first round, then shop for other needs (like an another
power back to use behind Steven Jackson) in later rounds.
Hall fits into the Rams lineup because Linehan doesn’t use many four-receiver
sets. Linehan doesn’t need big offensive production from Hall’s spot on the
depth chart.
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Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
At first glance, running back is the last place the Rams need help.
After all, Steven Jackson is coming off a career year in which he led the NFL
in yards from scrimmage (2,334), caught 90 passes and made his first Pro Bowl.
But what if something happens to Jackson and he’s sidelined for a couple of
games? Who carries the load? At the moment, there’s a gaping hole on the Rams’
depth chart behind Jackson. Free-agent pickup Travis Minor probably makes the
final 53 at the start of September, but as a No. 3 running back at best and a
special-teams player.
Rich Alexis, Kay-Jay Harris and J.D. Washington also are on the team’s current
offseason roster, but they are roster long shots. Stephen Davis? He had some
good moments in limited duty last season and was an excellent mentor for
Jackson. But Davis has chronic knee problems and told Rams coaches last season
that he probably couldn’t handle more than 10 touches a game.
(more…)
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Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Rams’ long search for a return man ended Wednesday when the team acquired Dante Hall from Kansas City in exchange for a fifth-round pick in this weekend’s draft.
“We have filled a need with one of the top players in football at his specialty, returning punts and kicks,” Rams coach Scott Linehan said. “Dante will fit nicely on our special teams and can be utilized as a receiver in certain situations.”
The trade could have draft-day implications. The Rams had expressed strong interest in Ohio State’s Ted Ginn Jr., as much for his return ability as for his resume as a receiver. St. Louis also has several needs on defense.
As part of the trade, the teams swapped positions in the third round — the Chiefs moving up to 82nd overall, the Rams down to 84th.
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Monday, April 23rd, 2007
As wild dreams go, this NFL draft was the Playboy Mansion on alumni night. Five Pro Football Hall of Fame players selected in the first round – a number that will swell to six when Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green reaches eligibility. Three franchise quarterbacks who would lead their teams to 10 Super Bowl appearances and obliterate league passing records. Not to be forgotten: one of the best running backs and offensive linemen in history.
Yes, 1983 was a great year to have a first-round pick.
With that particular draft in mind, we got to thinking. If first-round picks mean as much as NFL personnel gurus say they do, what were the greatest first-round picks in league history? Who was the greatest No. 1 ever? The greatest No. 2? And has there even been a greatest No. 32?
So we peeled into the league’s voluminous 1,500-page encyclopedia, in search of the ultimate first round – the best No. 1 picks of all time. Some opinions formed won’t be surprising, with teams like Pittsburgh, Washington, San Francisco and Baltimore/Indianapolis each landing three of the best first-round picks taken at their respective positions.
But some of the opinions are bound to infuriate. Like Richard Seymour being named the best No. 6 pick in history or the Colts having a quarterback and two wideouts on the list – none named Peyton Manning or Marvin Harrison.
At best, the list is a fluid argument. At worst, some will find it to be an atrocity (like Steelers fans who will see that only two of their famed 1970s draft picks made the cut). Keep in mind that this list doesn’t include the USFL draft, which was talent rich, or supplemental picks, which produced some great players as well. And of course, realize that picks 29-32 have a rather limited base of players because league expansion is still fresh.
With all of those factors in mind, here is our list of the best No. 1 picks since the league’s merger in 1970.
| TEAMS WITH PICKS ON THE LIST |
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1. John Elway, QB, Baltimore Colts (1983)
Many apologies to Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning. Manning might take this spot before it’s all over, but Elway gets the nod for having the ultimate mix of credentials: arm strength, clutch play, toughness and statistics. Not to mention the fact that he never had the dominant defenses provided Bradshaw and Aikman. Elway’s five Super Bowl appearances are still plenty impressive, particularly the back-to-back championship wins. He hung up his cleats with one more Super Bowl run likely left in him, too. And while he never actually played for the Colts, that doesn’t mean they didn’t take the right guy.
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2. Lawrence Taylor, LB, New York Giants (1981)
Marshall Faulk has a legitimate claim to this spot, but Taylor still resonates as perhaps the most feared defensive player in the history of the league. He had speed, strength, and intimidation, and was one of the few defensive players consistently capable of making a game-deciding play. His off-the-field issues leave a slight tarnish on his legacy, but even that can’t stand in the way of him being considered the best No. 2 pick ever.
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Monday, April 23rd, 2007
With three interceptions in the last three games of 2006 at the nickel back position, Ron Bartell opened some eyes on the coaching staff. Physically, Bartell has a lot of gifts, including size, speed and athleticism. He needs to continue polishing his game and needs work to be more physical, but entering the training camp the nickel back job is his to lose. In an NFC West brimming with bigger receivers, coach Scott Linehan likes the idea of Bartell (6-1, 200) covering slot receivers. . . .
Earlier this offseason, Linehan extended an olive branch to G Claude Terrell and CB Jerametrius Butler — both players in the coach’s doghouse last season — and said he would give them a clean slate to make an impact on the ‘07 roster. Neither player has done anything to make the most of the opportunity. Butler and Terrell missed the first two weeks of the offseason program and have cast doubts on their interest in playing for the Rams next season. Terrell, who started 10 games at guard as a rookie in ‘05, missed the entire ‘06 season with a wrist injury that some at Rams Park felt he could have played through — at least for part of the campaign. Ideally, the coaching staff was hoping that Terrell could challenge Mark Setterstrom for the starting job at left guard. With Fakhir Brown and Tye Hill secure as the starting corners, and with the emergence of Bartell at nickel back, Butler may see himself without a role in St. Louis. . . .
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Monday, April 23rd, 2007
The St. Louis Rams improved their veteran depth at two positions on Friday, re-signing linebacker Raonall Smith and offensive lineman Adam Goldberg, two players who had key backup roles with the club in 2006.
A five-year veteran, Smith rejoined the Rams after spending the first two months of the free agency period exploring his options with other teams. An unrestricted free agent, Smith can play both outside linebacker positions, and, for a St. Louis team that is thin at the position, he figures to be a top reserve in 2007.
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Friday, April 20th, 2007
From the where are they now column, I bring you the unfolding story of our favorite Ram gone wild….Lawrance Phillips.
Phillips’ sentencing postponed again
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lawrence Phillips, the former Nebraska running back trying to avoid a potential 20-year prison term for assault by contesting a guilty plea he made in another case, had his sentencing postponed again Thursday.
A Superior Court judge pushed back sentencing until May 29, the latest in at least a half-dozen postponements since Phillips was convicted in October, prosecutor Todd Hicks said.
A call to Phillips’s public defender, Leslie Ringold, seeking comment was not immediately returned Thursday.
The 31-year-old Phillips was convicted of seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon. He has been jailed since his arrest in August 2005 after he drove onto a field near Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. His car struck two boys, ages 14 and 15, and a 19-year-old man, who suffered cuts and bruises. The car narrowly missed four other people.
Authorities said Phillips was upset over losing a pickup football game with the youths.
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Thursday, April 19th, 2007
Rams coach Scott Linehan said he would entertain the prospect of bringing Ricky
Williams to St. Louis as the team’s No. 2 running back. Williams played for
Miami when Linehan was Dolphins offensive coordinator in 2005.
“Based on how he played and the kind of person he was to be around, and the
professional he was, I would certainly consider it,” Linehan said Thursday.
“He’s proven himself with me. I know there would a certain amount of risk
involved on that. . . I would have to look into it a little bit more.”
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Saturday, April 14th, 2007
When it comes to the NFL draft, there’s always plenty to argue about. And there’s never a shortage of opinions to go along with the many questions that always seem to come up this time of year.
How important is the scouting combine? Is it better to have a high pick in the early rounds or multiple picks in later rounds? Is there really such a thing as a safe pick?
Scout’s Inc.’s Todd McShay and Jeremy Green debate these questions and more. We’ll leave it up to you to decide who makes more sense.
DEBATE 1: If you take quarterbacks out of the equation, would you take WR Calvin Johnson or OT Joe Thomas with the No. 1 overall pick?
McShay: Ordinarily, I would take the elite offensive tackle over the elite wide receiver with the No. 1 pick. But there’s nothing ordinary about Johnson’s game-breaking pro potential. He possesses freakish natural ability, including a rare combination of size (6-5, 239 pounds), speed (4.39 in the 40) and leaping ability (42½-inch vertical leap). It was obvious Johnson was a man playing among boys in college — even as a true freshman full-time starter in 2004. In three seasons for the Yellow Jackets, Johnson racked up 2,927 yards and 28 touchdowns on 178 receptions. Just think if he were teamed with a quarterback who could complete 50 percent or more of his passes?
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Friday, April 13th, 2007
Punter Donnie Jones chronicled LSU’s 2003 national championship season in his
book “Nine Seconds to a Championship.”
After signing an offer sheet with the Rams, Jones might have to pen a sequel:
“$5.59 Million to St. Louis.”
Having long ago grown weary of deadlocked negotiations with punter Matt Turk,
the Rams signed Jones to a five-year, $5.59 million offer sheet as a restricted
free agent. The contract includes a signing bonus of $1.175 million
Jones, 26, is a left-footed punter from Louisiana State who kicked the past two
seasons for Miami. The Dolphins have one week to match the offer. If they
don’t, Jones would join the Rams and the Dolphins would get a seventh-round
draft pick from the Rams.
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Posted in Draft / Free Agency, Rams News | No Comments »
