|
 Now, the Rams have won seven games in each of the last two years
and enter the 2014 draft with the final payment from the blockbuster
trade they made with Washington that enabled the Redskins to move up
to No. 2 overall and select quarterback Robert Griffin III. Thanks
to the Redskins' 3-13 finish in 2013, the Rams again have the second
pick in the first round to go with their own choice at No. 13.
Fisher and Snead have been able to build a young roster that has
been competitive, but also resides in a division with three teams — Seattle, San Francisco and Arizona — that won a combined total of 35
games last season. Upward mobility doesn't come easily, and can only
be achieved by hitting with their selections and then having those
young players continue to improve. The team's roster has just one
player, defensive end Chris Long, that came to the organization from
college prior to 2009.
Fisher likes what the trade with the Redskins produced, saying, "I
believe right now with what we've got on the roster resulting from
that trade that we've done well. We've drafted starters. We've
drafted high-character players that are going to be part of our
program hopefully for a long time. And as we all know, we're not
through. We're not done yet."
The extra picks enabled the Rams to take a chance on cornerback
Janoris Jenkins in the second round of the 2012 draft, trade up for
wide receiver Tavon Austin in the first round last year and then
trade down later in the first round while still adding linebacker
Alec Ogletree.
There remains the distinct possibility there will be more wheeling
and dealing this year. While the first two picks overall aren't as
clearly defined as they were two years ago, which is why the Rams
were able to make the trade with Washington on March 12, there is
still expected to be significant interest in the draft's best talent
from the teams selecting afterward. Once the first player is
selected, whether it's by the Houston Texans or a team trading up to
No. 1, the Rams' pick will be officially in play to a team yearning
for a quarterback, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, wide receiver
Sammy Watkins, linebacker Kahlil Mack or tackle Greg Robinson.
In a relatively quiet month after the March 11 beginning of the
league year, the Rams improved their roster with the re-signing of
guard Rodger Saffold and the additions of wide receiver Kenny Britt,
defensive tackle Alex Carrington and backup quarterback Shaun Hill.
That still leaves work to be done at tackle, where Jake Long is
returning from a torn ACL, and safety, where depth as well as a
potential starter would be welcome. With quarterback Sam Bradford
recovering from a torn ACL and with two years remaining on his
contract, the Rams are also expected to add another young arm behind
Bradford and Hill either in the third or fourth round, or possibly
in the second if an extra No. 2 choice could be acquired as part of
a trade down.
However, it's unrealistic to actually believe the Rams are targeting
a quarterback with their choice at 13. There's no reason to think
anyone they draft will be better than Bradford. A top half of the
first-round quarterback is expected to come in and play, not sit,
considering that player will have a cap charge approaching $1.9
million, which will make that No. 13 pick ironically the
13th-highest cap number on the roster. The general consensus is that
there isn't significant separation between the perceived top
quarterbacks in this draft and the next tier of passers.
It wouldn't be surprising if the Rams also look to trade down from
that 13th spot, especially if quarterbacks begin sliding through the
first round and teams want to move up for one.
However it plays out, the Rams should emerge from the draft
fortified with another strong group of talent that will help them
compete in what has developed into the toughest division in the NFL.
NOTES, QUOTES
The Rams opened the strength and conditioning phase of their offseason program Monday, and while quarterback
Sam Bradford is
limited as recovers from a torn ACL suffered during the 2014 season,
he is jogging and coach Jeff Fisher is optimistic that Bradford will
be participating more as the offseason work progresses.
"Sam's in a very good place considering what happened last year,"
Fisher told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I thought he was off to a
great start. Had he stayed healthy his projected numbers could've
been quite impressive. He's worked hard through the process, and I
would expect him at some point to be throwing in OTAs."
The OTAs begin in June, and Bradford is expected to participate
although it's not known yet how much. Added Fisher, "To the extent
of which I can't predict right now. It may be 1-on-1, it may be
7-on-7, it may be 'team.' We don't know. But he's doing great."
Fisher also believes (hopes?) there won't be additional issues with
injuries. He told the Post-Dispatch, "He really didn't have any
issues in 2012 with us, other than we had a real young team around
him. So I'm very disappointed for him because of the injury (last
season). But we really have no reservation whatsoever that he's
gonna have any trouble coming back.
"You're not gonna hear a head coach say he has a player on his team
that's not ahead of schedule coming off an ACL. Everybody says
they're all ahead of schedule. But he is realistically way ahead of
schedule. He's working hard. Since 'Jack' (Steven Jackson) left,
it's really pretty much become his locker room from a leadership
standpoint, at least on the offensive side of the ball. And he's
continuing with that as he rehabs."
Linebacker James Laurinaitis was anxious for the offseason program
to begin so the team could back to work and begin preparing for the
2014 season. Laurinaitis is entering his sixth season and he said
it's getting old not being part of the offseason.
Laurinaitis told the Post-Dispatch that strength and conditioning
coach Rock Gullickson "made a good point in the weight room today.
For a lot of us that have been here for a while — myself, Sam, Chris
Long — it's enough of, 'Hey in the future we're gonna be good.'
"It's more of, 'Hey, we need to be good now.' I wouldn't say that
we're getting old, but we're not second-, third-year guys any more.
So I think there's an urgency and kind of a realization that we were
fourth in our division."
[to top of second column] |
The Rams had their second consecutive seven-win season, but were
still three games behind third-place Arizona in the NFC West.
"We're still working to catch the Arizona Cardinals, if we're gonna
be honest with ourselves," Laurinaitis said. "Right now, you can't
play a football game for a while. So just go out there and work your
tail off while you can, and realize that's our goal. Our only vision
is to catch everybody else because right now we're fourth. And
that's the reality no matter how much it stinks."
He added, "This has got to be the year for us, I feel. I just want
to get to the postseason. I want to know what it's like to play
postseason football. And I think that's a lot of our goals in
talking to Chris and Sam."
Laurinaitis also revealed that he had ankle surgery shortly after
the end of the season, but that is 100 percent now.
He said, "I got my ankle cleaned out. It's no big deal. It was an
easy deal. I'm feeling good and I'm 100 percent at everything."
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
TEAM NEEDS:
-
SAFETY: T.J. McDonald was a solid pick in 2013 and quickly became
a starter, but more depth is needed, especially after Darian Stewart
departed in free agency and Matt Giordano remains an unrestricted
free agent. Rodney McLeod started last season, but the Rams could be
trying to improve at that spot.
-
OFFENSIVE LINE: Tackle Jake Long is coming back from an ACL
injury. Right guard Harvey Dahl was released and left guard Chris
Williams left for Buffalo. Rodger Saffold was re-signed and he is
expected to start at one of the guard spots, preferably on the left
side. Dahl could be brought back later, but the Rams hope to get
younger.
-
CORNERBACK: Depth is needed on a unit that currently has Janoris
Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson as the starters and Brandon McGee the
likely nickel back. There is more of a need following the release of
Cortland Finnegan, who eventually was signed by Miami.
PERSONNEL TRACKER
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers):
- CB Quinton Pointer (not tendered as ERFA) contributed on special
teams during his brief stint on the active roster.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS:
-
S Matt Giordano provides rare experience at the safety spot and
contributed on special teams. He could return at the veteran
minimum.
-
QB Brady Quinn ended the season on injured reserve because of a
back problem and would be considered an extreme longshot to be
re-signed.
-
LB Will Witherspoon could be at the end of the line. He was signed
last summer after the Jo-Lonn Dunbar suspension was announced, and
rarely played from scrimmage after he returned.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS:
-
C Tim Barnes (tendered at $570,000) started and held his own late
in the season when Scott Wells was injured.
-
WR Justin Veltung (tendered at $495,000) was added to the roster
from the practice squad when Tavon Austin missed time at the end of
the season. He has shown some ability as a punt returner and could
compete for a roster spot.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED:
-
QB Austin Davis: ERFA; $570,000/1 yr.
-
LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar: UFA; $2.006M/2 yrs, $128,821 guaranteed.
-
G Rodger Saffold: UFA; $31.347M/5 yrs, $5M SB/$19.5M partially
guaranteed/$11M fully guaranteed.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED:
-
WR Kenny Britt: UFA Titans; $1.4M/1 yr, $550,000 guaranteed.
-
DL Alex Carrington: UFA Bills; 1 yr, terms unknown.
-
QB Shaun Hill: UFA Lions; $1.75M/1 yr, $500,000 guaranteed.
PLAYERS LOST:
-
QB Kellen Clemens: UFA Chargers; 2 yrs, terms unknown.
-
G Harvey Dahl (released).
-
CB Cortland Finnegan (released).
-
TE Mike McNeill: Not tendered as RFA/Panthers; $1.52M/2 yr,
$100,000 SB.
-
G Shelley Smith: UFA Dolphins; $5.5M/2yrs, $500,000/SB/$1.5M
guaranteed.
-
S Darian Stewart: UFA Ravens; 1 yr, terms unknown.
-
G Chris Williams: UFA Bills; $13.5M/4 yrs, $5.5M guaranteed.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
