- Joined
- May 8, 2014
- Messages
- 38,644
Since we're eliminated from the playoffs for all intents and purposes, here's a quick look at the offensive players that I think can help the team quickly, i.e. not needing 3 years of breast feeding before they can actually make an impact on gameday. Also, this list is prioritized by impact to the Rams and is intended for a balanced type offensive approach with the assumption that Fisher and Snead return next year:
1. WR Boyd. He's usually listed in round 2 due to his non-elite athleticism, but he gets open consistently through crisp route running and what I particularly like about him is teams key on him due to lack of other weapons in the passing game and he still gets it done. Had instant impact right out the gate as a freshman, and it's continued through... Consistent production weapon in the passing game. Good size at 6-2. This guy will be an impact player his rookie season in the NFL regardless of how low NFL teams draft him due to over-nuking and analysis. My guess is he goes late round 1 to early round 2 to some very lucky team.
2. TE Henry. Another guy I see mostly in round 2 projections who I think is being undervalued. He is big, very smooth in his routes, and has the kind of hands that will have Rams fans drooling after years of watching Cook mishandle the ball. Not a slouch in blocking, willing to do the dirty work on the line. Just won the Mackey, and should be the top TE off the board. If we get this guy in round 2 I would do effin backflips. I'm serious, he's that good.
3. TE Williams. Very good chain mover in the passing game. Not as fluid as Henry but he's a very big target at 6'6" who will beat LBs and can come down with contested catches. Very good hands. I see him listed around rounds 4-5 it seems, and yeah it's early, but he's gonna carry a lot of value for teams that, like the Rams, have been abused by poor play at the position. Looks WR-like and plays like a WR to my eye, and is going to move chains in the NFL; he will be a mid-round steal for some team.
4. C Boehm. 51 consecutive starts for Mizzou. I'm sure the lot of you can say plenty about him. But IMO this team could really use a guy like him, who not only has a propensity for staying healthy but also the power at center to move dudes off the ball. I don't care that he looks like a refrigerator or that he's gonna set a new high for the 40 at the combine. Experienced, powerful center? Uh, yeah, draft him please. As to his position, centers usually last into mid-rounds so might have a shot at him there.
5. OG Whitehair. Polished OL who scooped 4 straight years of All Big 12, lots of experience and it doesn't hurt that he played the last two years at LT. Lacks length you want for OT but again this is a versatile and experienced player that immediately starts for the Rams at OG. Not sure where he's gonna go, probably first OG off the board so maybe late round 1 to early round 2.
6. OG Drango. Huge OL. Plays LT for Baylor but projected to OG in the NFL. Gonna be knocked and nuked through the draft process for his back surgery he had a couple years back I'm sure, but the guy is money. Another polished, experienced lineman who could step right in to the Rams line as a starter if needed. 3rd straight year All Big 12 and known for consistent play and not taking snaps off. Most likely he'll be off the board in round 2.
Notably missing:
WR Treadwell. He's the guy everyone loves due to his size and ability and with good reason, but that read-option play action heavy offense might not have him positioned to be an instant impact guy. Think he needs a season to be eased into a real NFL offense. Will go first round, potentially quite high depending on his 40 time of course. Oh and there will probably be a handful of others listed above Boyd along with Treadwell but again for one reason or another I am iffy on calling any of them instant impact guys for this offense.
OT position. The guys I've seen listed up high are iffy on experience and technique. Guys like Tunsil and Stanley have the upside you want to see but probably gonna need some serious time. Decker has a lot of the same issues Havenstein had, so even though I do like him he's not gonna be a quick study unless it's at RT. Conklin might end up being the best of the group even though the others will go ahead of him due to athleticism but really none of these guys are going to help us soon where we need it at LT.
1. WR Boyd. He's usually listed in round 2 due to his non-elite athleticism, but he gets open consistently through crisp route running and what I particularly like about him is teams key on him due to lack of other weapons in the passing game and he still gets it done. Had instant impact right out the gate as a freshman, and it's continued through... Consistent production weapon in the passing game. Good size at 6-2. This guy will be an impact player his rookie season in the NFL regardless of how low NFL teams draft him due to over-nuking and analysis. My guess is he goes late round 1 to early round 2 to some very lucky team.
2. TE Henry. Another guy I see mostly in round 2 projections who I think is being undervalued. He is big, very smooth in his routes, and has the kind of hands that will have Rams fans drooling after years of watching Cook mishandle the ball. Not a slouch in blocking, willing to do the dirty work on the line. Just won the Mackey, and should be the top TE off the board. If we get this guy in round 2 I would do effin backflips. I'm serious, he's that good.
3. TE Williams. Very good chain mover in the passing game. Not as fluid as Henry but he's a very big target at 6'6" who will beat LBs and can come down with contested catches. Very good hands. I see him listed around rounds 4-5 it seems, and yeah it's early, but he's gonna carry a lot of value for teams that, like the Rams, have been abused by poor play at the position. Looks WR-like and plays like a WR to my eye, and is going to move chains in the NFL; he will be a mid-round steal for some team.
4. C Boehm. 51 consecutive starts for Mizzou. I'm sure the lot of you can say plenty about him. But IMO this team could really use a guy like him, who not only has a propensity for staying healthy but also the power at center to move dudes off the ball. I don't care that he looks like a refrigerator or that he's gonna set a new high for the 40 at the combine. Experienced, powerful center? Uh, yeah, draft him please. As to his position, centers usually last into mid-rounds so might have a shot at him there.
5. OG Whitehair. Polished OL who scooped 4 straight years of All Big 12, lots of experience and it doesn't hurt that he played the last two years at LT. Lacks length you want for OT but again this is a versatile and experienced player that immediately starts for the Rams at OG. Not sure where he's gonna go, probably first OG off the board so maybe late round 1 to early round 2.
6. OG Drango. Huge OL. Plays LT for Baylor but projected to OG in the NFL. Gonna be knocked and nuked through the draft process for his back surgery he had a couple years back I'm sure, but the guy is money. Another polished, experienced lineman who could step right in to the Rams line as a starter if needed. 3rd straight year All Big 12 and known for consistent play and not taking snaps off. Most likely he'll be off the board in round 2.
Notably missing:
WR Treadwell. He's the guy everyone loves due to his size and ability and with good reason, but that read-option play action heavy offense might not have him positioned to be an instant impact guy. Think he needs a season to be eased into a real NFL offense. Will go first round, potentially quite high depending on his 40 time of course. Oh and there will probably be a handful of others listed above Boyd along with Treadwell but again for one reason or another I am iffy on calling any of them instant impact guys for this offense.
OT position. The guys I've seen listed up high are iffy on experience and technique. Guys like Tunsil and Stanley have the upside you want to see but probably gonna need some serious time. Decker has a lot of the same issues Havenstein had, so even though I do like him he's not gonna be a quick study unless it's at RT. Conklin might end up being the best of the group even though the others will go ahead of him due to athleticism but really none of these guys are going to help us soon where we need it at LT.