St. Louis Rams

Owner: Stan Kroenke
Founded: 1937
Stadium: Edward Jones Dome
2010 record: 7-9
Last playoff appearance: 2004, 8-8, W27-20 SEA, 47-17 ATL
General Manager: Billy Devaney (Hired as GM on December 24, 2008 – current)
Head Coach: Steve Spagnolo (2009 – current, 8-24 overall record as head coach)
Offensive Coordinator: Josh McDaniels
Defensive Coordinator: Ken Flajole
Defensive Alignment: 4-3
2010 NFL Rankings:
OFF: 18.1 PTS (26th)        302.9 YDS (26th)               204.2 PASS (21st)             98.6 RUSH (25th)
DEF: 20.5 PTS (12th)        336.8 YDS (19th)               223.6 PASS (19th)             113.1 RUSH (17th)
Pro Bowlers: Steven Jackson RB
2011 schedule:
1 Sep 11 vs. Eagles 1:00 PM Tickets
2 Sep 19 at Giants 8:30 PM Tickets
3 Sep 25 vs. Ravens 4:05 PM Tickets
4 Oct 02 vs. Redskins 1:00 PM Tickets
5 Bye
6 Oct 16 at Packers 1:00 PM Tickets
7 Oct 23 at Cowboys 4:15 PM Tickets
8 Oct 30 vs. Saints 1:00 PM Tickets
9 Nov 06 at Cardinals 4:15 PM Tickets
10 Nov 13 at Browns 1:00 PM Tickets
11 Nov 20 vs. Seahawks 4:05 PM Tickets
12 Nov 27 vs. Cardinals 1:00 PM Tickets
13 Dec 04 at 49ers 4:15 PM Tickets
14 Dec 12 at Seahawks 8:30 PM Tickets
15 Dec 18 vs. Bengals 1:00 PM Tickets
16 Dec 24 at Steelers 1:00 PM Tickets
17 Jan 01 vs. 49ers 1:00 PM Tickets

TEAM NEEDS: #2RB, OLB, CB

Potential Free Agents:
Mark Clayton WR
Darcy Johnson TE
Derek Schouman TE
Adam Goldberg OT/G – re-signed
Mark Setterstrom G/C
Jacob Bell OG – re-signed
Gary Gibson DT
Chris Hovan DT
Clifton Ryan DT
Kevin Dockery CB
Michael Lewis SS

Free agent acquisitions:
Jerious Norwood RB Falcons) – 1 yr
Carnell Williams RB (Buccaneers) – 1 yr
Mike Sims-Walker WR (Jaguars) – 1 yr, 3.7 million
Harvey Dahl OG (Falcons) – 4 yrs
Quinn Ojinnaka OT/G (Patriots)
Justin Bannan DT (Broncos) -
Dan Muir DT (Colts) – 1 yr, 1.85 million
Brady Poppinga LB (Packers)
Ben Leber OLB (Vikings)
Zac Diles LB (Texans) – 1 yr
Al Harris CB (Packers) -
Quintin Mikell S (Eagles) – 4 yrs, 28 million

Free agent losses:
Mike Karney FB
Laurent Robinson WR – signed by Chargers
Daniel Fells TE – Signed by Broncos
OJ Otogwe S – Signed by Redskins

Trades:
Rams traded OG John Greco to Browns for undisclosed draft pick

Picks in 2011 Draft: (overall draft grade: B+): Snatching up Robert Quinn at 14 is a huge steal and the rest of the Rams draft ended up being a great success as well. Kendricks was taken a little early, but he’s going to become a nice asset for Sam Bradford’s offense (both as a receiver and a blocker). Sam Bradford also got some more help on the outside as well in Greg Salas and Austin Pettis. The secondary received quite a bit of help and competition as well, which was another need for them. Overall, I like what the Rams did and got out of this draft class.

(! Indicates draft pick who was interviewed, had a private workout, etc. prior to the draft according to my compiled list):
Rd 1, Pick 14 (14) Robert Quinn DE, North Carolina – Very good value here, although the suspension and benign brain tumor were causes for his fall. There haven’t been any problems with the tumor since it was discovered and he won’t have to worry about the NCAA keeping him off the field any more. I really think the Rams will have a monster coming off the edge across from Chris Long.
Grade: A+           Rated: 6

Rd 2, Pick 15 (47) Lance Kendricks TE, Wisconsin– Kendricks is a nice playmaker and blocker, but he’s not quite on the level of where the Rams took him. DJ Williams and Luke Stocker I felt were more talented. Rams should’ve looked at other position at this slot. Stephen Paea would’ve been great or interior an interior lineman (Wisniewski, Ijalana, or Hudson).
Grade: C-             Rated: 103

Rd 3, Pick 14 (78) Austin Pettis WR, Boise State – The Rams address their biggest need here at wide receiver. Pettis doesn’t have the speed of his teammate Titus Young, but he’s got very reliable hands and route running.
Grade: B-             Rated: 117

Rd 4, Pick 15 (112) Greg Salas WR, Hawaii – Many people think Salas is a sleeper. This is a solid pick for the Rams and another solid, reliable pair of hands for Sam Bradford to work with.
Grade: B+            Rated: 124

Rd 5, Pick 27 (158) Jermale Hines DB, Ohio State – The Rams had a need at one safety, then OJ Otogwe left for the Washington Redskins.
Grade: A              Rated: 155

Rd 7, Pick 13 (216) Mikail Baker DB, Baylor – The Rams leave this draft without taking a running back to complement Steven Jackson. Got a medical hardship after major knee surgery in 2009. Ran a 4.3 at pro day.
Grade: C              Rated: NR

Rd 7, Pick 25 (228) Jabara Williams OLB, “Stone Cold” Stephen F. Austin – The Rams are in need of outside linebacker help.
Grade: B+            Rated: 249

Rd 7, Pick 26 (229) Jonathan Nelson DB, Oklahoma – The Rams take plenty of risky picks here in the seventh. Honorable mention All-Big 12 his last two seasons, but only saw most of action his senior season.
Grade: C              Rated: NR

2010 Rams’ Draft review:
Here are some interesting nuggets of information I found about the 2010 St. Louis Rams’ draft class from their draft press conferences: General Manager Billy Devaney and the Rams “wrestled” with the decision on whether to take Ndamukong Suh, Bradford, or Gerald McCoy. As I mentioned in the Cleveland Browns post, the Rams and Browns had conversations back and forth about trade possibilities all the way up to a few hours before the draft, but nothing was actually proposed. Devaney said himself that there were never any offers on the table for the pick, only discussions with teams. Scouts, coaches, and everybody was in favor of taking Bradford when it came time to make the pick. Devaney believes that Bradford has a great ceiling. He said Bradford’s a much better athlete than given credit for. In Sam Bradford’s press conference he stated that famous sports doctor Dr. James Andrews told him that his arm would be stronger than it was before the surgery on his throwing shoulder. And he said it did feel stronger. Bradford said his leadership could be described as leading by actions, not words, but you have to be vocal at times. There was a buzz about Illinois tight end Michael Hoomanawanui that started about two weeks before draft. Illinois’ offense didn’t focus on the tight end much at all, so Hoomanawanui was kind of a hidden talent. He first caught the eyes of scouts (and the Rams) at the Senior Bowl. At the Senior Bowl, he showed his blocking abilities and his stock rocketed upwards from there. Hall Davis showed ability to bend to get around the corner and Spags said they’d try to build around that for him. Well, that was short-lived because they traded him to the Redskins before the season started.

Rd 1, Pick 1 (1)                   Sam Bradford QB, Oklahoma – Offensive Rookie of the Year, 16 starts, 354-590, 60.0%, 3512 YDS, 6.0 YPA, 18 TD, 15 INT, 2 FMBL LOST, 76.5 RTG

Rd 2, Pick 1 (33)                 Rodger Saffold OT, Indiana – 16 starts

Rd 3, Pick 1 (65)                 Jerome Murphy CB, USF – 14 games, 30 TCK, 3 PD, 1 INT, 1 FF

Rd 4, Pick 1 (99)                 Mardy Gilyard WR, Cincinnati – 11 games, 2 starts, 6 REC, 63 YDS, 10.5 YPC, 1 FMBL LOST, 16 PR, 356 YDS, 22.3 YPR, 34 LNG, offseason surgery on wrist

Rd 5, Pick 1 (132)              Michael Hoomanawanui TE, Illinois – 8 games, 3 starts, 13 REC, 146 YDS, 11.2 YPC, 3 TD

Rd 5, Pick 18 (149)            Hall Davis DE, Louisiana-Lafayette – traded to Washington for undisclosed conditional draft pick. The following day, he was released, and then signed with Tennessee’s practice squad.

Rd 6, Pick 1 (170)              Fendi Onobun TE, Houston – 3 games, 2 REC, 15 YDS, 7.5 YPC

Rd 6, Pick 20 (189)            Eugene Sims DE, West Texas A&M – 9 games, 8 TCK, 1 SFTY, 1 PD

Rd 7, Pick 4 (211)              Marquis Johnson DB, Alabama – practice squad

Rd 7, Pick 19 (226)            George Selvie DE, USF – 16 games, 21 TCK, 1.5 SCK

Rd 7, Pick 47 (254)            Josh Hull LB, Penn State – 1 game, 1 TCK, 1 FF

Looking back at my grades for the Rams’ 2010 draft class: Obviously, I was wrong about Sam Bradford vs. Jimmy Clausen. I gave the Bradford pick a B, but clearly, that pick deserved an A. Then again, it was my first year closely covering the NFL Draft, so I expected to be wrong…a lot. I was also wrong about Roger Saffold. I knew he was a hot prospect who rose quickly as the pre-draft process went along, but I didn’t think he was good enough to go at 33. I had him ranked at 41 on my draft value board, so at least I wasn’t way off. Jerome Murphy played in 14 games and George Selvie played in all 16. The best picks the Rams had in the class were Bradford (B), Saffold (B-), Murphy (B-), and Selvie (B). I’d want to change all of those grades to A’s. As for the rest of the class, Hoomanawanui (C) and Eugene Sims (C+) need to be upgraded, as well, to B’s. Mardy Gilyard (A) got injured, but will have to improve quite a bit in order to stay in the race for playing time in 2011 because the Rams will be looking to bring in plenty of talent at wide receiver. He wasn’t exactly impressive when he played. He should’ve been graded a C+, but I thought his value at where the Rams got him was good. The rest of the picks, Davis (C), Onobun (C-), Johnson (B-), and Hull (B) I feel were accurate grades. The Rams’ overall grade was given a B-, but I’ve got to change it to an A. Getting their franchise quarterback and left tackle with their first two picks was huge. That’s rare.

First Round Picks From Last 5 Years: Sam Bradford QB, Jason Smith OT, Chris Long DE, Adam Carriker DT,  Tye Hill CB

2010 Stat Leaders
Sam Bradford  354-590  60.0%  3512 YDS  6.0 YPA  18 TD  15 INT  76.5 RTG

Steven Jackson  330 ATT  1241 YDS  3.8 YPA  42 LNG  6 TD

Danny Amendola  85 REC  689 YDS  8.1 YPC  3 TD

James Laurinaitis  114 TCK

Josh Brown  33-39  84.6%  53 LNG

James Hall  10.5 SCK

Bradley Fletcher  4 INT

Out of Season Storylines (Because there is no offseason)
OC Pat Shurmur Leaves To Become Head Coach of Browns

Josh McDaniels Hired As New Offensive Coordinator

Sam Bradford Named Offensive Rookie of the Year