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Is it an oxymoron to have a Football Outsiders article featured in ESPN Insiders?
By Danny Tuccitto | Football Outsiders
<a class="postlink" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8959111/2013-nfl-offseason-biggest-offseason-needs-cardinals-49ers-seahawks-rams" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/ ... hawks-rams</a>
St. Louis Rams: Right tackle, safety
Only one year removed from 2-14, it's remarkable that the Rams' roster doesn't have more holes. On the surface, it appears that free agency may decimate their offense due to the potential loss of Steven Jackson, but 2012 seventh-round pick Daryl Richardson would have ranked 16th in running back DVOA if he had the two additional carries needed to qualify. Talented second-rounder Isaiah Pead played only 39 offensive snaps last season and should contribute much more in 2013. At wide receiver, rookie Chris Givens finished a respectable 47th in DYAR, while free agent Brandon Gibson -- as good as gone -- has been in jeopardy of losing his role as the team's big, possession receiver since St. Louis drafted 6-foot-4 Brian Quick last April. And if the team doesn't re-sign injury-prone slot receiver Danny Amendola, the draft has the potential of three first-round wide receivers, and the free-agent market offers several additional options, including fellow Wes Welker clone Julian Edelman.
Instead, the biggest offensive issue St. Louis needs to address is at right tackle, where Barry Richardson had another awful year in pass protection (18 blown-block sacks or hurries allowed), and backup Wayne Hunter struggled mightily as an injury replacement for left tackle Rodger Saffold (eight blown-block sacks or hurries allowed in one-third of a season's worth of snaps). It should also be noted that, in the running game, St. Louis' least productive run direction was behind right tackle. As of right now, premier right tackles Sebastian Vollmer and Andre Smith are available if the Rams want to throw money at the problem. Otherwise, it's likely that Oklahoma's Lane Johnson will be available at their No. 16 pick.
On defense, St. Louis went from the 32nd-ranked DVOA in 2011 to 21st in 2012. With Rocky McIntosh and Mario Haggan set to hit the market as unrestricted free agents, strongside linebacker might be a concern. Of course, it's not like either of those guys is Von Miller. No, the biggest impending hole on defense is at safety, where it's likely that both 2012 starters (Quintin Mikell and Craig Dahl) won't be re-signed, and backup Darian Stewart went from "strong safety of the future" to "Gatorade watchman" in the course of one calendar year. Again, the Rams could benefit from a deep pool of second-tier free agents (e.g., Yeremiah Bell and Louis Delmas), while their No. 22 pick lines up nicely with where the two potential first-round safeties, Texas' Kenny Vaccaro and Florida's Matt Elam, are projected to go off the board.
By Danny Tuccitto | Football Outsiders
<a class="postlink" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8959111/2013-nfl-offseason-biggest-offseason-needs-cardinals-49ers-seahawks-rams" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/ ... hawks-rams</a>
St. Louis Rams: Right tackle, safety
Only one year removed from 2-14, it's remarkable that the Rams' roster doesn't have more holes. On the surface, it appears that free agency may decimate their offense due to the potential loss of Steven Jackson, but 2012 seventh-round pick Daryl Richardson would have ranked 16th in running back DVOA if he had the two additional carries needed to qualify. Talented second-rounder Isaiah Pead played only 39 offensive snaps last season and should contribute much more in 2013. At wide receiver, rookie Chris Givens finished a respectable 47th in DYAR, while free agent Brandon Gibson -- as good as gone -- has been in jeopardy of losing his role as the team's big, possession receiver since St. Louis drafted 6-foot-4 Brian Quick last April. And if the team doesn't re-sign injury-prone slot receiver Danny Amendola, the draft has the potential of three first-round wide receivers, and the free-agent market offers several additional options, including fellow Wes Welker clone Julian Edelman.
Instead, the biggest offensive issue St. Louis needs to address is at right tackle, where Barry Richardson had another awful year in pass protection (18 blown-block sacks or hurries allowed), and backup Wayne Hunter struggled mightily as an injury replacement for left tackle Rodger Saffold (eight blown-block sacks or hurries allowed in one-third of a season's worth of snaps). It should also be noted that, in the running game, St. Louis' least productive run direction was behind right tackle. As of right now, premier right tackles Sebastian Vollmer and Andre Smith are available if the Rams want to throw money at the problem. Otherwise, it's likely that Oklahoma's Lane Johnson will be available at their No. 16 pick.
On defense, St. Louis went from the 32nd-ranked DVOA in 2011 to 21st in 2012. With Rocky McIntosh and Mario Haggan set to hit the market as unrestricted free agents, strongside linebacker might be a concern. Of course, it's not like either of those guys is Von Miller. No, the biggest impending hole on defense is at safety, where it's likely that both 2012 starters (Quintin Mikell and Craig Dahl) won't be re-signed, and backup Darian Stewart went from "strong safety of the future" to "Gatorade watchman" in the course of one calendar year. Again, the Rams could benefit from a deep pool of second-tier free agents (e.g., Yeremiah Bell and Louis Delmas), while their No. 22 pick lines up nicely with where the two potential first-round safeties, Texas' Kenny Vaccaro and Florida's Matt Elam, are projected to go off the board.
