Rams Free Agent Signings 2012 - present

[Rmfnlt]

So, there's a lot of Cook bashing here lately... Kenny Britt's getting some "love"... it made me wonder.

Who have the Rams acquired since 2012:
* Finnegan (acquired from TN) retired
* Langford (MIA) - with Indy
* Barksdale (OAK) - with SD
* Clemens (NYJ_ - with SD)
* Dunbar (NO) - back with Rams
* Wells (GB) - retired
* Cook (TN)
* Long (MIA) - retired
* Smith (HOU) - retired
* Witherspoon (TN) - retired
* Britt (TN)
* Hill (DET) - retired
* Joseph (TB) - retired
* Barron (TB)
* Carrington (BUF) back twith BUF
* Hayes (TN)
* Person (SEA) - with ATL
Ayers (NE - formerly TN)
Fairley (DET)

I may have missed one or two or gotten one or two things wrong... but, when I looked back on all these, two things seemed apparent (to me, anyway)
1] A lot of the free agent pick ups were from Tennessee
2] None of the acquisitions have really distinguished themselves as really being a great pick up. A lot of "kinda OK" guys.

I'm not necessarily a fan of going too deep into free agency... but I'd hope we could have a better showing that what's above?

Just thinkin' out loud.

 

[Schmitzer]

Fisher may have familiarity bias.

 

[Rmfnlt]

Fisher may have familiarity bias.

And that's not necessarily a bad thing if the players are good and you weren't out of football two years.

 

[HometownBoy]

We knew that was coming, Fisher butt heads with Bud Adams based on being able to have his guys vs Bud's guys. Fisher is going to bring his guy through hell and high water, even if they're not good.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Fisher may have familiarity bias.

My guess is that every NFL Head Coach does. And it makes sense. Especially, given the shorter time these coaches get to work with these guys thanks to the new collective bargaining agreement.

 

[Memphis Ram]

So, there's a lot of Cook bashing here lately... Kenny Britt's getting some "love"... it made me wonder.

Who have the Rams acquired since 2012:
* Finnegan (acquired from TN) retired
* Langford (MIA) - with Indy
* Barksdale (OAK) - with SD
* Clemens (NYJ_ - with SD)
* Dunbar (NO) - back with Rams
* Wells (GB) - retired
* Cook (TN)
* Long (MIA) - retired
* Smith (HOU) - retired
* Witherspoon (TN) - retired
* Britt (TN)
* Hill (DET) - retired
* Joseph (TB) - retired
* Barron (TB)
* Carrington (BUF) back twith BUF
* Hayes (TN)
* Person (SEA) - with ATL
Ayers (NE - formerly TN)
Fairley (DET)

I may have missed one or two or gotten one or two things wrong... but, when I looked back on all these, two things seemed apparent (to me, anyway)
1] A lot of the free agent pick ups were from Tennessee
2] None of the acquisitions have really distinguished themselves as really being a great pick up. A lot of "kinda OK" guys.

I'm not necessarily a fan of going too deep into free agency... but I'd hope we could have a better showing that what's above?

Just thinkin' out loud.

Barron was a trade. Long is with the Falcons.

Speaking of free agency, I'm still waiting on Fairley to do something.

 

[MrMotes]

It doesn't make a lot of sense to look at FA when talking about a team built through the draft.

Just look at all the studs we have on defense:

Brockers, Donald, Ogletree, JJ, Trumaine, McDonald, all drafted in the last 3 drafts. Quinn, Laurinitis, Long, draft picks. McCleod, Gaines, virtually the entire defense is home grown. And they're very good.

On offense we have Gurley, pretty much our entire Oline, Tavon, Quick, Stedman, again all drafted in the last 3 years.

I wonder if any other team has a higher percentage of draft picks starting than we do?

 

[TheDYVKX]

It doesn't make a lot of sense to look at FA when talking about a team built through the draft.

Just look at all the studs we have on defense:

Brockers, Donald, Ogletree, JJ, Trumaine, McDonald, all drafted in the last 3 drafts. Quinn, Laurinitis, Long, draft picks. McCleod, Gaines, virtually the entire defense is home grown. And they're very good.

On offense we have Gurley, pretty much our entire Oline, Tavon, Quick, Stedman, again all drafted in the last 3 years.

I wonder if any other team has a higher percentage of draft picks starting than we do?

The Packers. They sign maybe 1-2 guys a year. Their whole team is home grown.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/home-grown-b99354285z1-275853711.html

An example from last year.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/ex...ft-picks-homegrown-packers-vs-foreigner-colts

 

[Rmfnlt]

It doesn't make a lot of sense to look at FA when talking about a team built through the draft.

Just look at all the studs we have on defense:

Brockers, Donald, Ogletree, JJ, Trumaine, McDonald, all drafted in the last 3 drafts. Quinn, Laurinitis, Long, draft picks. McCleod, Gaines, virtually the entire defense is home grown. And they're very good.

On offense we have Gurley, pretty much our entire Oline, Tavon, Quick, Stedman, again all drafted in the last 3 years.

I wonder if any other team has a higher percentage of draft picks starting than we do?

????Er, what????

Should we just write off the free agency acquisitions because the team was primarily built through the draft?

Now, that doesn't makes sense. Every move (free agency and draft) counts.

As far as tying success to "starting", I don't necessarily buy into that.

A lot of draft picks started under Linehan and Spagnuolo. Was that such a good thing? If your draft picks are starting and you are getting into the playoffs, then - yes - that means something.

Just starting draft picks doesn't mean much of anything, really - unless that results in success.
Tampa Bay probably starts a lot of their draft picks.

 

[MrMotes]

The Packers. They sign maybe 1-2 guys a year. Their whole team is home grown.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/home-grown-b99354285z1-275853711.html

An example from last year.

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/ex...ft-picks-homegrown-packers-vs-foreigner-colts

Just Googled it, Rams rank 8th in most home grown players.

The results on the defense are undeniable.

The offense is a little more cloudy...

 

[VegasRam]

Snead has said publicly, (and I assume Fish concurs), that their approach was to concentrate on making one side great, which they've done.
You can agree or disagree with the approach, but they have stayed the course.

 

[Angry Ram]

Finnegan

1 good year and out.

Langford

Really underrated. People bashed him b/c of his contract. He was a good player here and still a good one in Indy.

Barksdale

For a nobody, the guy was at the very least dependable at what he did.

Clemens

Backup QB not expected to be a full time starter. He did decent.

Dunbar

Like Cortland Finnegan.

Wells

I didn't think he was that bad until 2014. Injuries really got him. He was a fine player in GB w/o injuries.

Cook

Good player, he's exactly what people said he was when he signed here.

Long

Good player as well, sucks about injuries.

Smith

??? Shelley Smith? Meh.

Witherspoon

Meh.

Britt

He's been pretty good for us.

Hill

Again, like KC he wasn't expected to be a full time starter.

Joseph

Depth guy not expcted to start either.

Carrington

Filler signing.

Hayes

Underrated SOB.

Person

Filler signing.

Ayers

TBD

Fairley

TBD

So aside from the filler signings, overall the FAs weren't bad they just didnt live up to the hype that comes with the contract. Which is why I've always said FA is beyond overrated as the players rarely play up to their contract.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Snead has said publicly, (and I assume Fish concurs), that their approach was to concentrate on making one side great, which they've done.
You can agree or disagree with the approach, but they have stayed the course.

I heard that interview too.

 

[FRO]

You don't get your money's worth in free agency. The best bet is to get low risk high reward types on one year prove it deals and hope they prove it. None of our big free agent signings have made a lasting big impact for us. Most have been underwhelming.