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Countdown to Combine: St. Louis Rams OG/C
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16175/countdown-to-combine-st-louis-rams-3
A closer look at the areas the St. Louis Rams could address in the draft. We'll wrap it up today with a look at the interior offensive linemen, which are scheduled to work out Thursday in Indianapolis.
Position of need: Interior offensive line. At minimum, the Rams are going to need at least one new starter on the interior of the line with veteran Davin Joseph set to hit free agency after another rough season. They could also look to replace veteran Scott Wells, who struggled mightily in 2014. And some depth wouldn't hurt either given the injury history of the only player on the interior with a settled situation moving forward, Rodger Saffold. The Rams gave up a sack on 8.7 percent of drop backs against four or fewer pass-rushers last season, the highest percentage in the NFL. They also allowed pressure (sack or duress) on 33 percent of their drop backs last season, third highest in the NFL.
Three players the Rams could target in the draft:
Cameron Erving, Florida State: One of the most intriguing prospects in the entire class, Erving will remind Rams fans of Barrett Jones in terms of his extensive history of versatility. Erving actually started his career as a defensive tackle before moving to left tackle in 2012 and 2013. He moved to center in 2014 and looked his most comfortable in the middle. At a shade over 6-foot-5, 298 pounds, Erving probably projects best as a center or guard in the NFL but figuring out his fit will be a mission for any team, including the Rams this week. Likewise, they'll need to do some further medical research on Erving, who sat out in 2010 because of a back injury.
Laken Tomlinson, Duke: Tomlinson was one of the brightest spots of the Senior Bowl and has inched his way toward being one of the better true guards in the draft. A team captain who is a sturdy 6-3, 323 pounds, Tomlinson started all 52 games in his career and comes with no questions about his durability or injury history. Looks to have all the tools to be a dominant run-blocker but scouts wonder why he wasn't more consistent in that area. That's a question he'll have to answer in Indy but if he does that and performs well in the workouts, he could solidify his spot as one of the top guards in the draft and be a potentially appealing option for the Rams.
A.J. Cann, South Carolina: Depending on which position you peg for LSU's La'el Collins, Cann is generally regarded as the best true guard in the draft. He's 6'3, 315 pounds and comes with a nearly impeccable record of production and intangibles. Not a mauler, per se, but proved a solid run-blocker with his footwork and understanding of angles. Keep an eye on how he measures and how he fares in the bench press because teams have some questions about his power and size.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16175/countdown-to-combine-st-louis-rams-3
A closer look at the areas the St. Louis Rams could address in the draft. We'll wrap it up today with a look at the interior offensive linemen, which are scheduled to work out Thursday in Indianapolis.
Position of need: Interior offensive line. At minimum, the Rams are going to need at least one new starter on the interior of the line with veteran Davin Joseph set to hit free agency after another rough season. They could also look to replace veteran Scott Wells, who struggled mightily in 2014. And some depth wouldn't hurt either given the injury history of the only player on the interior with a settled situation moving forward, Rodger Saffold. The Rams gave up a sack on 8.7 percent of drop backs against four or fewer pass-rushers last season, the highest percentage in the NFL. They also allowed pressure (sack or duress) on 33 percent of their drop backs last season, third highest in the NFL.
Three players the Rams could target in the draft:
Cameron Erving, Florida State: One of the most intriguing prospects in the entire class, Erving will remind Rams fans of Barrett Jones in terms of his extensive history of versatility. Erving actually started his career as a defensive tackle before moving to left tackle in 2012 and 2013. He moved to center in 2014 and looked his most comfortable in the middle. At a shade over 6-foot-5, 298 pounds, Erving probably projects best as a center or guard in the NFL but figuring out his fit will be a mission for any team, including the Rams this week. Likewise, they'll need to do some further medical research on Erving, who sat out in 2010 because of a back injury.
Laken Tomlinson, Duke: Tomlinson was one of the brightest spots of the Senior Bowl and has inched his way toward being one of the better true guards in the draft. A team captain who is a sturdy 6-3, 323 pounds, Tomlinson started all 52 games in his career and comes with no questions about his durability or injury history. Looks to have all the tools to be a dominant run-blocker but scouts wonder why he wasn't more consistent in that area. That's a question he'll have to answer in Indy but if he does that and performs well in the workouts, he could solidify his spot as one of the top guards in the draft and be a potentially appealing option for the Rams.
A.J. Cann, South Carolina: Depending on which position you peg for LSU's La'el Collins, Cann is generally regarded as the best true guard in the draft. He's 6'3, 315 pounds and comes with a nearly impeccable record of production and intangibles. Not a mauler, per se, but proved a solid run-blocker with his footwork and understanding of angles. Keep an eye on how he measures and how he fares in the bench press because teams have some questions about his power and size.
