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COMMENTARY | Poor drafting is one of the biggest reasons why the St. Louis Rams put together the worst five-year period in NFL history between 2007-2011. The team recorded a 15-65 record and never won more than seven games in a season during that stretch.
However, things changed when the Rams hired general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher. The two men revamped the front office and coaching staff, and now they have put together back-to-back successful NFL drafts. Here’s a look at the picks made by the Rams this year:
Round 1, Pick 8 – Tavon Austin (WR, West Virginia)
Nearly every NFL draft expert believed that the Rams were interested in Tavon Austin, but it became clear during the week leading up to the first round that he wouldn’t be there. If the Rams wanted Austin, they were going to have to go get him. That’s exactly what the Rams did when they traded the 16th, 46th, 78th and the 222nd picks of the draft to the Buffalo Bills for the 8th and 71st picks. The team then quickly selected Austin.
There were a lot of quality players available in the second round, so it hurt to lose that pick. However, Austin is exactly what the Rams needed. He is the most dynamic offensive player in the 2013 draft class, and I believe that he alone is worth at least an extra four to six points per game in the Rams offense. Look for offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to find many different ways to get him the ball next season. Grade: A+
Round 1, pick 30 – Alec Ogletree (LB, Georgia)
The Rams traded down from the 22nd slot and still got the player they were looking for when they selected Alec Ogletree. One of the biggest problems the Rams dealt with last season was their inability to cover receivers on intermediate routes. Ogletree entered this draft as the most skilled coverage linebacker out there and should help solve that problem. He’s also an aggressive player who should be able to disrupt opposing backfields from time to time.
The Rams had to make a decision with this pick. They could go with the playmaking linebacker who can cover underneath, or they could select a dominant safety for the secondary. I think the Rams made the right decision here since the linebacker class wasn’t very deep. If the team can keep Ogletree’s character issues under control, he’s going to have a very productive career. Grade: A-
Round 3, pick 71 – T.J. McDonald (S, USC)
T.J. McDonald entered this draft as a third or fourth round prospect, and that’s where he was taken. Unfortunately, I don’t think he’s a great fit for what the Rams needed out of the safety position. Darian Stewart is already on the roster as a strong safety, which is where McDonald would make the most sense. The Rams still need a free safety who can cover, which something that McDonald had problems with at USC.
Snead and Fisher have proven that they always have a plan for their picks, so I’m sure that there is a place for the hard-hitting McDonald. However, there were some quality free safeties available when he came off the board at 71. Grade: C+
Round 3, pick 92 – Stedman Bailey (WR, West Virginia)
The Rams went to the well for the second time in the draft when they selected Tavon Austin’s Mountaineers teammate Stedman Bailey. This is an outstanding value pick for the Rams. Bailey has perhaps the best hands in this draft class, which will make him extremely valuable in the slot and as a third-down receiver. He’s also an excellent athlete and a great route-runner. The Rams may have found a hidden star by selecting Bailey. Grade: A+
Round 4, pick 113 – Barrett Jones (OL, Alabama)
St. Louis needed some depth on the interior offensive line, and Barrett Jones instantly provides that. He’s not the most physically-gifted lineman, but Jones is the gritty, hard-working player the Rams need to open up holes in the running game. Some experts have projected Jones as nothing more than an NFL reserve, but I’m not buying it. Jones has an “it” factor that many players simply don’t have.Grade: A
Round 5, pick 149 – Brandon McKee (CB, Miami)
This is an underrated pick. It was easy to forget that the Rams only had three cornerbacks on the roster entering this draft. They needed help, especially in nickel situations. Brandon McKee has the speed to take that role. I doubt that he’ll develop into any more than that, but he’ll have a chance under one of his old coaches, Rams defensive coordinator Tim Walton. Grade: B+
Round 5, pick 160 – Zac Stacy (RB, Vanderbilt)
The Rams finally got the power back they needed when they traded up to take Zac Stacy. He brings leadership and work ethic to the team, but he has dealt with injuries in the past. If he can stay healthy, Stacy will be a solid addition to the running back corps. Grade: B
Overall, the Rams entered this draft with multiple needs, and they addressed nearly every one. It’s nice to finally have a front office that knows what it’s doing. Overall Grade: A-
Derek Ciapala is the managing editor of Rams Talk. You can follow him on Facebook or on Twitter @TalkRams.
(Originally published on Yahoo! Sports)
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COMMENTARY | Poor drafting is one of the biggest reasons why the St. Louis Rams put together the worst five-year period in NFL history between 2007-2011. The team recorded a 15-65 record and never won more than seven games in a season during that stretch.
However, things changed when the Rams hired general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher. The two men revamped the front office and coaching staff, and now they have put together back-to-back successful NFL drafts. Here’s a look at the picks made by the Rams this year:
Round 1, Pick 8 – Tavon Austin (WR, West Virginia)
Nearly every NFL draft expert believed that the Rams were interested in Tavon Austin, but it became clear during the week leading up to the first round that he wouldn’t be there. If the Rams wanted Austin, they were going to have to go get him. That’s exactly what the Rams did when they traded the 16th, 46th, 78th and the 222nd picks of the draft to the Buffalo Bills for the 8th and 71st picks. The team then quickly selected Austin.
There were a lot of quality players available in the second round, so it hurt to lose that pick. However, Austin is exactly what the Rams needed. He is the most dynamic offensive player in the 2013 draft class, and I believe that he alone is worth at least an extra four to six points per game in the Rams offense. Look for offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to find many different ways to get him the ball next season. Grade: A+
Round 1, pick 30 – Alec Ogletree (LB, Georgia)
The Rams traded down from the 22nd slot and still got the player they were looking for when they selected Alec Ogletree. One of the biggest problems the Rams dealt with last season was their inability to cover receivers on intermediate routes. Ogletree entered this draft as the most skilled coverage linebacker out there and should help solve that problem. He’s also an aggressive player who should be able to disrupt opposing backfields from time to time.
The Rams had to make a decision with this pick. They could go with the playmaking linebacker who can cover underneath, or they could select a dominant safety for the secondary. I think the Rams made the right decision here since the linebacker class wasn’t very deep. If the team can keep Ogletree’s character issues under control, he’s going to have a very productive career. Grade: A-
Round 3, pick 71 – T.J. McDonald (S, USC)
T.J. McDonald entered this draft as a third or fourth round prospect, and that’s where he was taken. Unfortunately, I don’t think he’s a great fit for what the Rams needed out of the safety position. Darian Stewart is already on the roster as a strong safety, which is where McDonald would make the most sense. The Rams still need a free safety who can cover, which something that McDonald had problems with at USC.
Snead and Fisher have proven that they always have a plan for their picks, so I’m sure that there is a place for the hard-hitting McDonald. However, there were some quality free safeties available when he came off the board at 71. Grade: C+
Round 3, pick 92 – Stedman Bailey (WR, West Virginia)
The Rams went to the well for the second time in the draft when they selected Tavon Austin’s Mountaineers teammate Stedman Bailey. This is an outstanding value pick for the Rams. Bailey has perhaps the best hands in this draft class, which will make him extremely valuable in the slot and as a third-down receiver. He’s also an excellent athlete and a great route-runner. The Rams may have found a hidden star by selecting Bailey. Grade: A+
Round 4, pick 113 – Barrett Jones (OL, Alabama)
St. Louis needed some depth on the interior offensive line, and Barrett Jones instantly provides that. He’s not the most physically-gifted lineman, but Jones is the gritty, hard-working player the Rams need to open up holes in the running game. Some experts have projected Jones as nothing more than an NFL reserve, but I’m not buying it. Jones has an “it” factor that many players simply don’t have.Grade: A
Round 5, pick 149 – Brandon McKee (CB, Miami)
This is an underrated pick. It was easy to forget that the Rams only had three cornerbacks on the roster entering this draft. They needed help, especially in nickel situations. Brandon McKee has the speed to take that role. I doubt that he’ll develop into any more than that, but he’ll have a chance under one of his old coaches, Rams defensive coordinator Tim Walton. Grade: B+
Round 5, pick 160 – Zac Stacy (RB, Vanderbilt)
The Rams finally got the power back they needed when they traded up to take Zac Stacy. He brings leadership and work ethic to the team, but he has dealt with injuries in the past. If he can stay healthy, Stacy will be a solid addition to the running back corps. Grade: B
Overall, the Rams entered this draft with multiple needs, and they addressed nearly every one. It’s nice to finally have a front office that knows what it’s doing. Overall Grade: A-
Derek Ciapala is the managing editor of Rams Talk. You can follow him on Facebook or on Twitter @TalkRams.
(Originally published on Yahoo! Sports)
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