Rams News Recap For April 21

[RamBill]

Rams Return to Work with Sense of Urgency –PD
It’s still six weeks until the Rams hold an actual practice session. Three months until training camp starts, and 4½ months until the regular-season opener. But with the start of the offseason conditioning program Monday at Rams Park, veteran linebacker James Laurinaitis said the sense of urgency already is there for 2014.

What to do at No. 2? –Peter King
The Rams will have a tough choice May 8. Should they take the best defensive player on the board (possibly Jadeveon Clowney) or boost the offense with Sammy Watkins or a top tackle? Our unsolicited advice for St. Louis,

Rams Rumors, News and Notes from Twitter: April 21

Jeremiah: Manziel to Rams ‘a real possibility’ –NFL.com
St. Louis general manager Les Snead caused quite a stir Monday morning when he said in a radio interview that the Rams have been scouting quarterbacks for the 2014 NFL Draft.

Taylor Lewan’s Stock Continues to Rise –St.LouisRams.com
University of Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan’s stock continues to rise heading into next month’s Draft.

Will the Rams Draft Johnny Manziel? –Video

Jeff Fisher: Kenny Britt Can Be a #1 WR –Radio Interview

Chris Givens Excited For Fresh Start –Wagoner
Last offseason, St. Louis Rams receiver Chris Givens told anyone willing to listen that he was making the changes necessary to eliminate any obstacles that could keep him from reaching his NFL goals.

Les Snead Scouting QBs, But Puts Faith in Sam Bradford –NFL.com
Armed with a bevy of early draft picks, St. Louis Rams general manager Les Snead has been doing his due diligence on quarterbacks.

Rams GM Les Snead Talks Rams With Adam Schein –Radio Interview

Are The Rams Committed to QB Sam Bradford? –NBC Video

Draft Needs: St. Louis Rams –PFT
With the NFL Draft approaching, we’re taking a team-by-team look at the needs of each club. Next up is the St. Louis Rams.

Rams Prospect Profile: Aaron Murray –Wagoner
The 2014 NFL draft is still 17 days away. Before we get there, we’ll take a look at a prospect or two in the draft who could be of interest to the St. Louis Rams.

Rams Begin Offseason Program –Wagoner
he St. Louis Rams kicked off their offseason conditioning program Monday. Access is as limited as the on-field work players can do during this time, but there will be plenty of things worth watching as they head toward the more open organized team activities.

Sam Bradford Facing High-Stakes ’14 –ESPN
egardless of whether the St. Louis Rams select a quarterback in this year’s draft — and there have been recent rumblings, specifically by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, that such a move could happen — Sam Bradford already should know what’s at stake this coming season.

Fisher: Everyone Says They’re Ahead of Schedule, Bradford Really Is –PFT
n the last few years, so many players recovering from torn ACLs have been described as “ahead of schedule” that it seems like everyone in the league has begun viewing ACL tears through rose-colored glasses.

Morning Ram-blings: Offseason Guidelines –Wagoner
The newest Collective Bargaining Agreement the players and owners signed in 2011 greatly reduced the amount of required offseason work for players.

Time For Sam Bradford To Leap Forward –ESPN Video

 

[RamBill]

Rams Tweets: Apr. 21

**Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora
I don’t usually mention draft visits much, but Texans, undecided on their 1st pick, host Auburn T Greg Robinson on Wed/Thurs

**Evan Silva ‏@evansilva
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said he expects Jadeveon Clowney, Greg Robinson, Khalil Mack, and Sammy Watkins to be the first 4 picks in the draft.

Should clarify that Schefter said he doesn’t necessarily expect those 4 to go in that order. But expects some combination of them in Top 4.

**Nick Wagoner ‏@nwagoner
Caught up with LB James Laurinaitis who said he had ankle cleanup surgery in offseason but is back to 100 percent for offseason program.

Just chatted with WR Chris Givens for a bit. He spent offseason working out in Arizona with Mack Newton, who trained Aeneas Williams.

Rams offseason program began today. Sounds like everyone in attendance for first day of school.

**Jim Thomas ‏@jthom1
Full house for first day of Rams offseason program. About 60 players on hand.

Rams continue to look at all the top corners. TCU’s Jason Verrett visiting Rams Park this week.

Read All Rams Tweets

 

[RamBill]

Morning Ram-blings: The top needs
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/7667/morning-ram-blings-the-top-needs

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- On Monday afternoon, ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released his team-by-team list of the top needs Insider for every team in the league in his latest Insider piece.

For the St. Louis Rams, Kiper probably couldn't have been more on point in selecting safety, offensive tackle, wide receiver (namely a top wideout) and cornerback as the team's greatest areas where help is required.

A relatively quiet free-agent period in which the team added depth at quarterback, receiver and on the defensive line didn't really help fill any gaping holes. Re-signing Rodger Saffold eased the need on the offensive line just a bit, but the team could still use a tackle and a guard or someone capable of playing both (like Saffold himself).

Kiper offers more explanation of why each spot sits as a need and it's worth checking out for all of you Insider subscribers.

From my perspective, I find it hard to disagree with that take at all. Putting them in some kind of order would, be difficult but if the Rams used their first four picks to bolster each of those positions and the need meets the value at each of those picks, it'd be hard to find much fault with the first two days of the draft.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Monday's Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. ... In the Ram-blings, we began the day with a look at what is and isn't allowed during the offseason conditioning program. ... Next, we took a look at four things to watch during the next couple of months as the program kicks into gear. ... From there, we began a series of looks at possible fits for the Rams in the draft, starting with Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray. ... We finished the day with a look at how Rams receiver Chris Givens wants to start fresh after a disappointing 2013.

Elsewhere:

ESPN columnist Jeffri Chadiha writes about the importance of the 2014 season for quarterback Sam Bradford.

At stltoday.com, Jim Thomas offers some thoughts from coach Jeff Fisher on the start of the offseason program.

Pro Football Talk provides its take on the team's needs entering the draft.

NFL.com adds another log to the "Rams are going to draft a quarterback" fire. Of course, that isn't even remotely news since they've openly been saying that since January.

At stlouisrams.com, the team announced it has signed a contract extension with 101 ESPN in St. Louis as its radio rights holder.