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While the Blues continue to dominate down the stretch and the Cardinals begin to stretch their legs in camp, it’s time to take a look at the St. Louis Rams as the draft nears and training camp begins to develop. I am not here to provide an in depth look at the draft and who ran a 4.1 in their 40 yard dash and who impressed scouts by throwing a football seamlessly with no pressure and in an airtight dome. If you want draft analysis for the team read my colleague Scott Huntington’s detailed sharply written take on The Rams draft plans. I am here to give you my take on a few things going on with this team. So grab some hot coffee, cold medicine for this ever changing weather and warm up next to a computer while I dispense my Rams bullets. Gun is loaded and firing in 3..2..1…and action.
- Roger Saffold is a St. Louis Ram. After telling fans he was leaving the team and signing with the Raiders only to lose that deal via a failed physical, Saffold is on his way back. He gets a 5 year, 31.7 million dollar deal that includes 19 guaranteed million. It is less than the 42 million Oakland was going to give him but still a hefty sum of money for a player who has only average 9 games a year over the past 3 seasons. Saffold is an offensive guard and a pretty good one but he often gets hurt and misses work. Giving him a 5 year deal enriched with a lot of guaranteed Benjamin’s isn’t something Stan Kroenke and Les Snead wanted to do but had no choice when they looked at their bare thin depth chart on the offensive line. Saffold gives you the talent but can he give you the endurance for a 16 game season? That’s the gamble in any long term NFL deal. Look at Sam Bradford 6 year deal. The last expensive #1 draft pick deal before the rookie scale went into place and the lad has missed a heavy amount of playing time in two of his 4 seasons. Saffold is a risk but one worth taking in the end because with Jake Long coming back from knee surgery and Scott Wells a question mark to return, the Rams aren’t sure what they have there yet. The draft may bring some fruit but the team won’t be sure if they are ripe enough until the season starts. Saffold is steady if fragile insurance. And what went wrong with the Raiders? It wasn’t a failed physical. They just didn’t want to pay that kind of money for a decent player. They have a better chance of signing Pacman Jones than someone like Saffold.
- Kellen Clemens signed a two year deal in San Diego after guiding the sinking Rams ship in 2013 to 7 wins and a respectable finish after Bradford’s injury. Good for him, and you won’t see me crying. Look, I like what Clemens did for us last year but he is a quarterback who will never be able to shoulder a 16 game load and produce anything worth watching. He benefited from a solid defense and great running game. He couldn’t convert a 1 yard line pass against Seattle and he won’t win many games with his arm. He is a career backup with an ability to start for a temporary amount of time, which makes him better than Chase Daniel but not as good as any starter in the league. The Rams can now draft a QB in the later rounds or finally give Austin Davis a real shot.
- This is Sam Bradford’s year to impress and dominate. He has a running oriented offense with Zac Stacy back there handling things, and he has matured wide receivers in Chris Givens, Tavon Austin, Brian Quick and Jared Cook. He needs a line to protect him and another big time threat receiver but Bradford was able to win 3 games and put up outstanding numbers in 2013 before he got hurt. Everybody was so impressed with Clemens not sucking that they forgot what Bradford did without the restructured offense and help from behind. Bradford took a few steps forward in 2013 before losing his legs. He is poised for a big year. Play it again Sam but this time over 16 games if you’d like. I like Bradford and think he has become a very good quarterback since the middle of 2012 when the entire offense was changed to be more effective in the red zone. Rams fans just expected him to become Peyton Manning behind a horrible offensive line and no top flight receivers in under 4 years. Those things only happen in the movies. Bradford will shine with this revamped roster. He has the skill. He needs the time. I will admit this year has to be the year he shows us he is the face of this franchise going forward.
- Bye Cortland Finnegan. The overpriced cornerback isn’t coming back and gives the Rams a little salary cap comfort on the way out. He was a Fisher guy coming in and played a solid season in 2013 but was horribly outplayed by receivers before getting hurt in 2013. Cortland does a lot of talking but can’t back it up on the football field. He was bound to be escorted away before finishing his 5 year deal. That peskiness only helps in hockey and gets your football team flags. Finnegan wasn’t going to be an asset for this team so he was released. End of story. Draft someone younger. Move on.
- Sammy Watkins is an interesting choice for a team that needs top flight threat receivers. I have heard one trusted colleague endorse him while another says he is just another Tavon Austin gimmick styled player. I’ve watched some Watkins footage and I think he could be an asset but the Rams have a ton of young receivers with good potential out of college who either fell flat in the NFL or haven’t been given the opportunity. In a Brian Schottenheimer’s offense, I am not sure any incoming big time wide receiving talent could put together a big season. The offense is a pole to pole playcalling scheme with lots of short passes and running plays. Make sure there is a place for Watkins here before you spend a high pick on him.
- Let me restate. The Rams aren’t going anywhere. The city will buck up and provide the funds to revamp the dome or fire up a project on a new stadium. Done. Stan will plan a group hug session for the entire city so fans stop second guessing and hating him. The guy is a great poker player. That fools fans at times.
- Jadeveon Clowney is the biggest reason I don’t do a ton of pre-draft hype. It’s just not worth it. Unless you live and breathe this thing, it’s too hard to tell how things will play out because potential doesn’t always equal results in the NFL. Look at Clowney. Great talent, questionable head and a missing hunger to truly change and adapt to the NFL. People have him high on their mock drafts. He is a dangerous pick. Johnny Manziel is either hated or loved. He is a risk to some but saving grace to many others. I like to assess the draft after it happens because that is plain old safe. When the Rams draft a guy, I look him up and see what we got. Why spend so much time before hand on players you are not even sure the team has on their radar. Don’t do it. Spend that time outside doing more healthy things. Watch old movies. Make some popcorn. Forget the mock draft tango. Once your team selects someone, then go look them up. Trust me it’s healthier.
That’s it. Thanks for reading and have a great week.
-DLB
