Grade our draft so far.

[jjab360]

The Whiners reached.

With Robinson and Saffold the Rams have potentially the best pair of G getting to the second level....translation? Plenty of chunk runs for Stacy.
This will be more beneficial to Bradford and the passing game than yet another WR.

I really like Jimmie Ward, he could've done big things for us.

 

[fearsomefour]

I really like Jimmie Ward, he could've done big things for us.

He is a good player. Projected 2-3 round by most guys. Of course that only matters if he doesn't do well.
This is what makes the draft interesting. Coaches and scouts convictions vs media projections.

 

[PhxRam]

Are you a Rams fan?

You have been here long enough to know that doesn't fly here. Consider this a friendly reminder.

 

[CoachO]

As long as we stay ahead of the chains I don't think we'll have many problems, but as soon as we fall behind I don't see any receiver on our team who can pull us out of it or who the opposition D has to respect. I also worry about 3rd and 10 I'd only trust Bailey to actually catch the football in such a situation, everyone else is an adventure even on a well thrown ball. Our O line on the other hand was already solid.

Defensively sacks and hurries are great, but if opposition QBs have WRs running wide open they're still going to complete a high percentage of passes regardless of the impact that Donald has. How many sacks/hurries does Donald actually contribute when that's already your D's strength?

If both players turn out to be the hall of famers Snead wanted to get from the draft then it will easily be an A++++ draft but today it still leaves me with the same worries I had going into the draft.

So based on your comments, you must have already figured out that players won't or can't develop with experience? Especially at a position that is renown for exactly that in terms of players needing more than a year or two to fully understand how the NFL game works. Adding Kenny Britt to a group of TALENTED, albeit raw receivers certainly gives me reason to be optimistic. You sound like you are approaching this with a Fantasy Football mindset, and by adding another ROOKIE WR will automatically fix your perceived areas of concern.

While I agree with you regarding the CB position, that is more an area of need solely due to a lack of numbers, than it is a lack of ability. They will hopefully address that tonight. Finding a quality 3rd CB is, IMO, the only real NEED, everything else, is just adding depth.

 

[Boston Ram]

I gotta go with A
Only thing I would have preferred was Matthews over Robinson but Robinson does have the higher ceiling ( can't believe I just said higher ceiling ) this is a great draft so far let's hope in continues.

Agree here as I liked the versatility Matthews would provide. I think he could play LT, LG and RT from day 1. Robinson to me is strictly a guard and ceiling is RT. I do think Robinson is going to be a great guard if that's all he ever plays. I am splitting hairs here too.

 

[scifiman]

I dont think there is much point in grading yet as none of these guys have played a down yet in the nfl. On paper it looks good to get the highest rated OT and the highest rated DT in the draft. You dont win games on paper. As for some who are saying we did not get a FS, CB or WR I say be patient. We still have 6 rounds and 10 picks to go.

 

[scifiman]

Lol I don't care - you think his pass blocking isn't an issue, I think it is. You can call me a naysayer all you want - but in reality it's actually called a disagreement.

I'll bet you $1000 ROD dollars he leads the team in Holding

I also saw plenty of film of Mathews getting beaten by the rush and the scouts saying he was not so good in the run blocking department. I am no scout or coach or gm so I really dont know the answer to this question but maybe someone else does. Is it better to start with run blocking skills and be taught the pass blocking or better to have the pass blocking skills and be taught the run blocking. I think there is more of a technical aspect with pass blocking than run blocking so if a guy does not have run blocking skills at a high level then he probably wont get to the high level no matter what coaching is given as it is more physical than technical. I could be totally wrong here. Any thoughts?

 

[bluecoconuts]

The last regime would have made me nervous about Robinson at 2 over Matthews. However with our o-line coach now? I'm all for it, we got one of the best in the business and he will do wonders for Robinson.

Never saw the hoopla about Watkins for us. Would rather have gotten a guy like Evans, but trading up for him is silly and taking him at 2 is just dumb.

Donald falling to us at 13 reminds me of Quinn falling to us at 14. We're going to beat the shit out of other teams on the line.

 

[ausmurp]

This is what I don't understand for the people who wanted Robinson...

They also said we have to keep Sam upright, and that was the primary cause for wanting an OT right? Matthews PASS BLOCKING ability is WAY BETTER than Robinsons, so why would those people prefer Robinson over Matthews??? Playing Matthews at LG this yr would have helped more to keep Sam less pressured. I sure hope we didn't waste the #2 pick on a RG/RT because that just so happens to be the two positions we absolutely positively did not need on the OL with Saffold and Barksdale playing very well and our running game really not having any issues last yr...

 

[Boffo97]

I think I made it through the 5 Stages of Grief faster than iced has...

I would have picked differently too... but Robinson's a Ram now... Watkins isn't.

 

[RamFan503]

As long as we stay ahead of the chains I don't think we'll have many problems, but as soon as we fall behind I don't see any receiver on our team who can pull us out of it or who the opposition D has to respect. I also worry about 3rd and 10 I'd only trust Bailey to actually catch the football in such a situation, everyone else is an adventure even on a well thrown ball. Our O line on the other hand was already solid.

Defensively sacks and hurries are great, but if opposition QBs have WRs running wide open they're still going to complete a high percentage of passes regardless of the impact that Donald has. How many sacks/hurries does Donald actually contribute when that's already your D's strength?

If both players turn out to be the hall of famers Snead wanted to get from the draft then it will easily be an A++++ draft but today it still leaves me with the same worries I had going into the draft.

I dunno man. I think all three of our TEs can get that 10 yards and we have yet to see how Britt is looking. Third year for Quick - we'll see.

And our O-line was already solid? Clearly we have different definitions of solid and so do Fish, Snead, and Bou apparently.

 

[Rams and Gators]

I dunno man. I think all three of our TEs can get that 10 yards and we have yet to see how Britt is looking. Third year for Quick - we'll see.

And our O-line was already solid? Clearly we have different definitions of solid and so do Fish, Snead, and Bou apparently.

I'd class Long/Jones/Wells/Saffold/Barksdale as more solid than Austin/Bailey/whoever and Cook/Kendricks, but as you say Fisher agrees with you.

 

[BeerOClock]

I give it a solid "A".

Robinson is a project at LT and at #2 is a slight reach. However, if picking Robinson at #2 is good for Boudreau, it's good for me. Fills a big need.
Donald--love this pick. I got blasted on the Bleacher Report last February for saying "if Donald is available at #13, the Rams won't pass on him." Quoting Fisher: "You can't have too many pass rushers." The Rams now have three of the best.

Donald is also a force against the run--he won't be just a pass specialist. He's very strong (35 reps on the bench--one from the combine best, Clowney 21, K. Langford 24, Brockers though slightly hurt 19), shoots the gaps with the best of them and keeps his pads low. At the combine, his 40yd dash was near equal to Anthony Barr and Khalil Mack though he weighs 38 pounds more.

This guy's got Geno Atkins written all over him.

 

[RamFan503]

I'd class Long/Jones/Wells/Saffold/Barksdale as more solid than Austin/Bailey/whoever and Cook/Kendricks, but as you say Fisher agrees with you.

Yeah - I just think this regime has a plan. They realize (or think they do) what they have in the receivers they have already put resources into and are continuing on with the plan. With Long coming off an ACL late in the season and needing to put all that bulk on that knee, Jones an unknown, Wells at 33 and breaking down, Saffold having so many injury issues, Barksdale having the only good season he has ever had, and almost no depth, I really don't see that as a solid O-line that you would want to go into the season thinking you were going to move anyone off the line or protect your QB who is also coming off an ACL.

What they appear to be doing IMO is this. They have really good starters and depth at DE, they picked up the missing penetrating DT and now have Brockers and Donald with depth behind them, we have a pretty good defensive QB in JL and a play maker in Tree with a nasty presence in Dunbar and potential in Ray Ray, we have IMO two very good young CBs and one Safety, we have a very good QB and now the makings of a very stout O-line if we add another Guard, we have a pretty versatile group of TEs, we have two pretty good RBs in Stacy and Benny, we have talented - yet unproven receivers, and a pretty decent back-up QB.

This is a team that can compete in and even win this division. It is being designed to do just that. I like what they are putting together and we still have 10 picks to pick up a CB, Safety, Guard, QB, RB, WR

 

[Memphis Ram]

This is what I don't understand for the people who wanted Robinson...

They also said we have to keep Sam upright, and that was the primary cause for wanting an OT right? Matthews PASS BLOCKING ability is WAY BETTER than Robinsons, so why would those people prefer Robinson over Matthews??? Playing Matthews at LG this yr would have helped more to keep Sam less pressured. I sure hope we didn't waste the #2 pick on a RG/RT because that just so happens to be the two positions we absolutely positively did not need on the OL with Saffold and Barksdale playing very well and our running game really not having any issues last yr...

A strong running game plays a role in keeping Sam upright, too. It keeps defenders honest rather than pinning their ears back and heading for the QB. I preferred Robinson over Matthews because of his physical abilities, upside, and fit (power man philosophy). But, I'd never expect a red-shirt sophomore with only 2 years experience starting to be able to pass protect better than a 4 year starter with Matthews bloodline.

Now I'd be concerned with Robinson if he didn't show the physical skills / feet to pass protect. But, this kid looks like a dancing bear to me.

 

[Mick]

I'd give it a C. robinson is a C pick, Donald is an A

Low C? Damn, even the harshest critics of Robinson I've heard don't grade him a low C...must be some personal animus at work here....low C?

 

[iced]

Low C? Damn, even the harshest critics of Robinson I've heard don't grade him a low C...must be some personal animus at work here....low C?

First Grade I saw for him was a C. least they were handing them out live so take it FWIW.

http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftgrades.php

There's nothing personal here - just the last guy I didn't want, and I felt there were multiple better prospects at #2. I think at #2 you look for impact players, not "projects and upside"

 

[Mick]

First Grade I saw for him was a C. least they were handing them out live so take it FWIW.

http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftgrades.php

There's nothing personal here - just the last guy I didn't want, and I felt there were multiple better prospects at #2. I think at #2 you look for impact players, not "projects and upside"

Haven't heard one analyst call this guy a project...he is going to have an immediate impact, no doubt about that. While I've heard he needs work on pass protection, everyone I've heard says he could start at LT immediately...that says impact to me.

 

[RamsJunkie]

I give it 110% A++ couldnt have gone any beter IMO. We have the 2 best lines in football now. Stacy is gonna rush for 1500 yards and were gonna break the sack record!

 

[iced]

Haven't heard one analyst call this guy a project...he is going to have an immediate impact, no doubt about that. While I've heard he needs work on pass protection, everyone I've heard says he could start at LT immediately...that says impact to me.

That's the exact opposite of everything I've heard and read.

Even Jeff fisher said pre-draft he's gonna need time