Rams News Recap: May 13

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RamBill

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Robinson, Donald Ready for More Big Things –PD
Any time you get drafted in the NFL, particularly in the first round, it’s a big deal. And it certainly was a big deal in Thibodaux, La., when one of the town’s native sons — Auburn offensive lineman Greg Robinson — was drafted No. 2 overall by the Rams.

Rams Notebook: Ex-Auburn Players Rib ex-Mizzou Guys about SEC Title Game –PD
Shortly before Tuesday afternoon’s news conference to introduce the rookies at Rams Park in Earth City, Auburn’s Greg Robinson and Tre Mason reminded Missouri’s E.J. Gaines and Michael Sam about the last time they were on the field together.

Michael Sam Goes to Work Amid Hoopla –Gordon

Michael Sam Focused on Football –Wagoner
Michael Sam’s long, excruciating wait lasted nearly three full days before the St. Louis Rams drafted him Saturday night.

Morning Ram-blings: Rams on the Radio –Wagoner
After a big weekend in which the St. Louis Rams made headlines by drafting defensive end Michael Sam and earned rave reviews for their draft class as a whole, everybody wanted a chance to talk to them about it.

Jim Thomas Rams Chat Highlights: May 13

Historic Day In St. Louis –Video

Rams Introduce Michael Sam –Video

Who Got the Better End of the RG3 Trade? --Video

Rams DB Mo Alexander Talks About Being Drafted –Radio Interview

Rams DB Lamarcus Joyner Talks About Joining the Rams –Radio Interview

Michael Silver Talks Rams Draft from the Inside –Radio Interview
Jim Thomas Grades the Rams’ Draft –PD

Post-Dispatch football writer Jim Thomas, who has covered the Rams all 19 of their seasons in St. Louis, grades the Rams’ 2014 draft class.

Gordon’s Tipsheet: Sam Possesses Speed Rush Potential
As you may have heard, Rams defensive end prospect Michael Sam became the first openly gay player selected by an NFL team.

Gordon: Bailey’s Ban Increases Pressure on Rams staff
Rams receiver Stedman Bailey finally showed some promise late in his rookie season. He ran crisp routes, got open for fill-in quarterback Kellen Clemens and caught 15 passes in his last five games.

Rams 18th in Post-Draft Power Rankings –Wagoner
Suffering from Power Ranking withdrawal? No worries, our ESPN voting panel made a quick cameo return Tuesday morning with the post-draft edition of the rankings.

Rams Rookies Get Jersey Numbers –Wagoner
On Tuesday morning, the Rams revealed what number will be on that jersey, along with the rest of their 11-man rookie class.

What Was it Like Inside the Rams Draft Room? –Video

One-on-One With Rams GM Les Snead –Video
 

RamBill

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Morning Ram-blings: Some QB perspective
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/8449/morning-ram-blings-some-qb-perspective

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- On Tuesday afternoon, ESPN Insider Mike Sando posted another of his usual insightful pieces, this time regarding what is needed from rookie quarterbacks Insider who could start in NFL cities like Jacksonville, Cleveland and Minneapolis.

In it, Sando digs into the numbers by breaking down the caliber of defenses quarterbacks see, how they fare against them and the relative success needed to beat them.

By now you might be asking what that has to do with the St. Louis Rams? Well, early in the piece Sando provides an interesting find about the types of defenses that quarterback Sam Bradford and the Rams will see this year. There's this little nugget that sticks out:

"St. Louis and Cincinnati have big decisions to make about their quarterbacks, but the Rams play a league-high eight games against defenses that finished 2013 ranked in the top quartile, as measured by defensive expected points added, while the Bengals play only one game against a defense in that category."

It's not groundbreaking news to say the Rams will play a number of good defenses in 2014. Such is life in the NFC West division.

But for Bradford and the Rams, playing top defenses is old hat. In fact, Sando's findings indicate the Rams have played the second-most top-tier defenses (top eight) since 2010, Bradford's rookie year. In that time, they've played 22 such defenses, trailing only the 23 of Cleveland.

That's not meant to make excuses for Bradford, who has yet to distinguish himself in that time. But it's worth noting. And in what figures to be a big year in determining his long-term future as a Ram, it's not going to get much easier in 2014.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Tuesday's Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. ... The Ram-blings began with a spin around the radio dial from various Rams discussing the draft and Michael Sam. ... Next, we provided a first look at the jersey numbers the rookies will be wearing at this level. ... From there, we offered a look at where the Rams rank in the post-draft Power Rankings. ... The biggest news of the day came in the rookies' introductory press conference. Here's the news story on Sam's introduction followed by a column on Sam's chance to move on to playing the game.

Elsewhere:

Presenting the aforementioned Power Rankings.

The always entertaining Gregg Easterbrook brings his draft review.

Darren Rovell takes a look at Sam's jersey number and early sales of it.

At stltoday.com, Jim Thomas grades the Rams draft class.

Bryan Burwell writes that the time has come to let Sam get to work.