Truly impactful draft class

[Merlin]

And we know this how? I've never seen anything that's actually confirmed this. Just rumors.

He had full power. Also he was not on good terms with Les.

 

[Merlin]

Oh, you can keep that “victimizing” shit to yourself. What’s up, you watching too much cable news?

I think it is appropriate given your tendency to obsess over any whiff of insult to those you consider to be victims.

But fair enough.

 

[WestCoastRam]

He had full power. Also he was not on good terms with Les.

Source?

 

[oldnotdead]

Re: Tomlinson
It's what I've been saying about undersized CBs, particularly if you play them on the boundary. There play radius is much smaller forcing them to play much tighter or simply not be able to affect the play. Accordingly, they are subject to a lot of PI and injuries. With DK it's simply his lack of athleticism which is the problem. DK is outmatched athletically so he feels he needs to be physical so he gets called. His technique isn't good enough to compensate for his athleticism issues.

Tomlinson by all accounts has a good work ethic and I think he can and will improve. I can see him in a rotational role for a year or two starting next year.

Also, in regards to DK, speed can be improved with proper training (look no father than Kupp). Improved film study and game prep will allow him to better anticipate WR tendencies. Improved technique will also allow him to bait WRs with his alignment knowing they will then run their route in a predictable manner. The problem is his rep in college was having a questionable work ethic which along with his poor Combine performance is what dropped him in the draft.

DK actually should be inside at SCB in a zone scheme where he can use his play recoginition skills to better advantage and his limited speed wouldn't be such a liability. Why Morris doesn't see that is another issue. IMO what will hold DK back is DK's ego where thus far he's given no indication he's working to mitigate his limitations. That unsportsmanlike penalty he got tells me all I need to know about his mindset.

 

[Jacobarch]

He had full power. Also he was not on good terms with Les.

Did he? I don't remember this.

 

[Loyal]

And we know this how? I've never seen anything that's actually confirmed this. Just rumors.

The fact is that Jeff Fisher had to sign off on Les Snead's hiring. I do think Fisher had a thing for athletic freaks and Snead accommodated him with Brian Quick and Gregg Robinson. Another indication that Fisher was held to a higher standard than Snead was how only Fisher was fired and not Snead at the end. I think Snead knew knew Fisher was going to be fired that last year because he was curiously quiet and in the background that whole season, unlike before and after that year. He was keeping low and let Fisher flail out before the cameras....

 

[Ram_Rally]

It keeps looking better. I would love to know what changed in these last two classes with draft philosophy. It cannot just be identifying leadership qualities.

I’ll be very interested to see if it continues. If Snead keeps hitting on the picks this will be really fun.

Weirdly enough I don't think much has changed. I've always liked our draft classes outside of a few "wtf" picks. Hitting on draft picks is just really really hard.

 

[Kupped]

One thing that has changed is that they’ve decided that it’s okay to bring in guys on the Oline who are Guards.
For years they’ve brought in tackles and cross trained.
I wouldn’t put this in the draft bin… they brought Dotson in. Just a total shift and a good one.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Les Snead gets some undeserved sh*t for some of his drafts (drafting is hard and it seems to me his rate of success is above league average) but he doesn't get any mention when it comes to personnel moves like FA acquisitions, trades and waiver pickups.

He's been mostly stellar in that category.

I can maybe think of 5 GM's who are better than him in the league at all the things a GM does.

 

[Merlin]

Source?

https://www.si.com/nfl/2016/12/08/los-angeles-rams-junior-high-jeff-fisher-les-snead-problem

Did he? I don't remember this.

He was the most highly sought after coach that hiring cycle. Rams (Stan) threw money at him plus at the time were a fucking shambles. When he was finally axed, the GM was kept around. So to me it's pretty clear he had full power. Was it ever mentioned by the Rams? Not that I can recall but I am certain of this.

 

[Kupped]

https://www.si.com/nfl/2016/12/08/los-angeles-rams-junior-high-jeff-fisher-les-snead-problem

He was the most highly sought after coach that hiring cycle. Rams (Stan) threw money at him plus at the time were a fucking shambles. When he was finally axed, the GM was kept around. So to me it's pretty clear he had full power. Was it ever mentioned by the Rams? Not that I can recall but I am certain of this.

Fisher had the last word on everything, as I recall. As pointed out.. he was highly sought after when the Rams brought him in.

Snead was kept around during the transition.. and it was basically up to McVay whether the team kept him. McVay and Snead clicked right away and the rest is history.

And, yep.. Fisher loved him some athletic freaks and was definitely drawn to those types of players.

 

[Merlin]

Fisher had the last word on everything, as I recall. As pointed out.. he was highly sought after when the Rams brought him in.

Snead was kept around during the transition.. and it was basically up to McVay whether the team kept him. McVay and Snead clicked right away and the rest is history.

And, yep.. Fisher loved him some athletic freaks and was definitely drawn to those types of players.

It's funny... I actually re-read that MMQB article and there was a quote by the source (which I think can be argued but MMQB is legit) alluding to Fisher feeling that need to remind everyone he was in charge, but then mentioned how even though the talent was improved the team was still losing. So I think his addition by Stan really did elevate us in the personnel side, and even though he was a dickhead or whatever I am sure it helped our personnel side raise the bar because they went from being among the worst in the league to among the best.

I mean even given the fact that we haven't done too well up high in our drafts, it is clear our personnel side know what they're doing. Which was not the case before. So maybe in some ways that foot up the ass by Fish made a lot of guys better, to include Snead. But that's a different conversation.

 

[Kupped]

It's funny... I actually re-read that MMQB article and there was a quote by the source (which I think can be argued but MMQB is legit) alluding to Fisher feeling that need to remind everyone he was in charge, but then mentioned how even though the talent was improved the team was still losing. So I think his addition by Stan really did elevate us in the personnel side, and even though he was a dickhead or whatever I am sure it helped our personnel side raise the bar because they went from being among the worst in the league to among the best.

I mean even given the fact that we haven't done too well up high in our drafts, it is clear our personnel side know what they're doing. Which was not the case before. So maybe in some ways that foot up the ass by Fish made a lot of guys better, to include Snead. But that's a different conversation.

They brought in some excellent players during his time.. but they had many major misses.
For what they spent on Tavon.. woof.. and I like him as a player. Brian Quick.
His first draft class with Rams, other than landing Aaron Donald, was probably his best.

The 2017 offseason just transformed the organization.. from McVay.. to bringing in Whit and Woods.. to that STELLAR draft class.

I liked Fisher a lot when the Rams hired him.. but I think he might have been better off with less personnel power. Who knows?

 

[FrantikRam]

I think this draft class is awesome, but that it's likely variance. I mean a lot of these guys match the Cooper Kupp profile - older rookies, didn't test off the charts but good solid football players.

In between there were a few times we drafted for physical traits - to me that's probably the only thing they've done differently.

Everett was the first ever draft pick - close to Avila's spot. The production from him was very similar to Akers/Jefferson/Rapp. Drafting an offensive lineman earlier was a shift, but for me Snead and McVay have always drafted well overall, especially considering the lack of first round picks.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I’ve only seen him really going after “traits” with Rochelle and Harris…. Unless we’re going all the way back to Greg Robinson..

He did that for years, ever since he was with the Rams.

 

[Kupped]

He did that for years, ever since he was with the Rams.

Name them. During McVay years.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Weirdly enough I don't think much has changed. I've always liked our draft classes outside of a few "wtf" picks. Hitting on draft picks is just really really hard.

I’ve been critical of Snead’s drafting. I hate all of the trading back. Take BPA. Too many times he’s all about looking for a specific type so he passes up good players and trades back for sixth round picks. The Tutu pick is famously bad. Same with Wagner. And yes that was all him trying to play the board. I didn’t like Rapp in round 2. That’s too high for a strong safety. Most of his drafts have been below average imo. He nailed the AD pick of course but had a colossal whiff in that same draft. His last two drafts have been good so far. I think there was a bit of a philosophy change. I hope he keeps it up.
He’s great at making trades too.

It's funny... I actually re-read that MMQB article and there was a quote by the source (which I think can be argued but MMQB is legit) alluding to Fisher feeling that need to remind everyone he was in charge, but then mentioned how even though the talent was improved the team was still losing. So I think his addition by Stan really did elevate us in the personnel side, and even though he was a dickhead or whatever I am sure it helped our personnel side raise the bar because they went from being among the worst in the league to among the best.

I mean even given the fact that we haven't done too well up high in our drafts, it is clear our personnel side know what they're doing. Which was not the case before. So maybe in some ways that foot up the ass by Fish made a lot of guys better, to include Snead. But that's a different conversation.

Those teams could have been better. Fisher thought he knew offense and his ultra conservative approach scared off any good OC’s that he interviewed. I was excited for the hire. In the end I think he’s best as a DC.

 

[Jacobarch]

https://www.si.com/nfl/2016/12/08/los-angeles-rams-junior-high-jeff-fisher-les-snead-problem

He was the most highly sought after coach that hiring cycle. Rams (Stan) threw money at him plus at the time were a fucking shambles. When he was finally axed, the GM was kept around. So to me it's pretty clear he had full power. Was it ever mentioned by the Rams? Not that I can recall but I am certain of this.

Yeah I read some articles on this and it's definitely more on a rumor mill than actually what was going on behind closed doors. I'll agree that Fisher might have had final say but it's not something thats been absolutely confirmed. Either way going back to the original point that Snead is directly at least 50% responsible for Goff, Donald, and Gurely.

 

[Merlin]

Yeah I read some articles on this and it's definitely more on a rumor mill than actually what was going on behind closed doors.

Let's disagree.

 

[Kupped]

Yeah I read some articles on this and it's definitely more on a rumor mill than actually what was going on behind closed doors. I'll agree that Fisher might have had final say but it's not something thats been absolutely confirmed. Either way going back to the original point that Snead is directly at least 50% responsible for Goff, Donald, and Gurely.

Sorry, but this is nonsense. Structurally.. Fisher was in charge.

It was one of the things he required to take a job.

Numerous articles out there on it.

Here’s just one;


View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2633712-2016-nfl-draft-decision-makers-for-each-team-revealed-by-espn-nfl-nation