Take It or Leave It.. Rams high draft picks aren't doing enough?

[jrry32]

Brockers was supposed to be arriving by now, eating double teams and making those around him better but he's not that guy. He's just a big body at this point, extremely disappointing. Tavon is probably a poor fit more than anything else (he actually has shown his stuff plays in the NFL when used correctly), I think in a lot of other schemes (Eagles for example) he'd be electrifying by now, and would probably have superstar status.

The thing is that Brockers WAS that guy last year. Our rush defense was dominant over the second half of the season and over the entire season, one of the best in football. Brockers was an absolute animal and opened Quinn up to be one of the best in the NFL in terms of tackles for loss in the run game.

I don't know if it's the new scheme(hasn't gotten comfortable in it yet so he's thinking instead of reacting) or if there's some other issue but he's not been the same guy this year.

As far as Tavon goes, I'm not sure he'd be a superstar on another team...maybe the Eagles but that's because they'd simplify things for him and use him more as a specialist than a starter like they do with Sproles. I think people underestimate the time it takes to transition to the pro game as a WR. I think Tavon is starting to get there mentally but we'll likely not see him turn that corner until the second half of the season. However, I think we'll see that player we expected in Year 3 for sure.

 

[Thordaddy]

Well the "enough" complaint is just too obvious because of course we are 1-2 so the whole team isn't doing "enough".
As far as Grob goes, o-linemen taken that high are expected to solve a problem for 10 years at least ,not ruining the kid by throwing him into the fire is not bad coaching IMO, he doesn't need to be thrown out there and lose confidence or acquire bad habits ,commit costly penalties if his technique isn't fitting what he's asked to do. AND do we even know where he's practicing now, have they switched him to tackle full time now or is he still a guard?

I had an idea for one of our rookies that I'm kind of surprised Fisher hasn't tried ,back in his Bear days his team used William Perry as a short yardage back,IMO Aaron Donald could be excellent in that role ,he's nearly as fast as Trey Watts , low to the ground kind of a natural to me,he's got great hands so I think he wouldn't be a fumbler either ,and with his speed if he breaks through he could rip off a 25 yard run.
Besides it'd be fun

 

[mr.stlouis]

What about their low draft picks like Gaines, Stacy, and Sims? Come on, let's not just focus on the bad. We got the whole media to do that for us.

 

[blackbart]

Surely the media can't be that stupid and need to be reminded...

Rodger Saffold- starting and effecting guard, can play multiple spots if need be
Robert Quinn- best 4-3 end in the league
Lance Kendricks- consistent all around TE
Austin Pettis- clutch WR
Michael Brockers- beastly run defender
Brian Quick- 3rd year guy that is producing
Janoris Jenkins- has really played well his 3rd year; playmaker
Trumaine Johnson- most consistent CB
Greg Zuerlein- efficient, big-legged, accurate kicker
Tavon Austin- playmaker
Alec Ogletree- starting beast of a LB
TJ McDonald- physical safety
Stedman Bailey- considered the best all around WR on the roster
Zac Stacy- a solid RB that hardly ever loses yardage

Aaron Donald
Lamarcus Joyner
EJ Gaines

But yet they are stuck on Greg Robinson not yet starting? Really?

Look at all those guys the Rams got, plus throw in a couple guys Chris Long and James Laurinaitis, and holy crap. It's just on par or better than any given team.

Sure, some of the guys may not have lived up to the hype, but are they problems? Are they so terrible they won't be on the team for the long term future? Seems unlikely.

Not doing enough? IDK what they want from these guys to be honest.

While I like most of our players I think we have a tendency to be wearing our Rams colored glasses when evaluating them. If Quinn was the best 4-3 DE in the league he would be having sacks in spite of the attention other teams are giving him. Ogletree wold be showing up much more at the LOS and be able to get off blocks much better. Saffold has not done much his entire career expect get hurt, he does have about half a season asa decent looking guard. Austin has not done enough to earn that label. Tru has not played enough, was going to get his real chance this year before being hurt.

Lots of potential on this roster but eventually these guys ALL need to step up their games. IMO the team just is not getting the results you would expect with so many high draft picks.

 

[LesBaker]

How many of those players DESERVED to start day one is the question? Usually, those players are starting day one because they are the lesser evil...not because they're ready to be an impact starter day one. For every star that was an impact starter day one, there are ten stars that weren't.

When it comes down to it, you'll find that the vast majority(75+%) of rookies are average or worse starters due to their lack of experience. You're not drafting that guy for what he'll be as a rookie.

Hell, LaMarcus Joyner is more or less a starter and look at the criticism he's getting on this board because god forbid he's not a star as a rookie. LaMarcus Joyner is the norm for rookies. They have ups and they have downs...and they tend to start the season off with more downs than ups...then tend to improve as the year goes on.

I'm going to pile on here, and I hope you don't mind.

People are clearly forgetting how bad this roster was just a couple of years ago and are forgetting that the worst 5 year stretch in the history of the NFL JUST happened right there in STL. So your point about guys getting drafted and getting thrown into the breach when maybe they needed to acclimate a little bit more is a very, very valid point.

But it'll fall on deaf ears because to often these days people want a turnaround to happen right away. I've mentioned this before but I will again. There is a poster called Waterfield, he's been a Rams fan since forever and has tons of great stories to relate, he said that the rebuild would take 5-7 years. He may be right, but we will see.

I know this.......there was almost no talent on the team when Fisher and Snead got to STL. Long, Laurinaitis, Bradford and Quinn were really the only players with average to above average talent, I may be leaving out one or two other guys but when you have 45 below average players on the roster you're fucked. So the change they have effected has been significant. This Rams team with Davis under center beats the Rams teams from that awful stretch 8 out of 10 games, maybe 9. That's how much better the talent level is.

 

[Athos]

Maybe "doing enough" isn't quite the word to use.

But to answer your question, they should probably being more.

 

[LesBaker]

Maybe "doing enough" isn't quite the word to use.

But to answer your question, they should probably being more.

That's fair, if you mean what I think and mean making fewer mistakes.

 

[junkman]

My one note on this thread is that I'm kinda ready to see GRob at LG, pushing Saffold to the critically important RG spot. We've seen enough of JLong to know he's solid (thank god!). Davin Joseph has been ok, but the sooner we get our big boy (GRob) out there taking live snaps, the sooner he'll be awesome! At RG, Saffold will be even more awesome for this offense.

 

[dieterbrock]

2014
G Robinson 1
A Donald 1
L Joyner 2
T Mason 3

I agree. 2014 draft felt like Christmas!

 

[Angry Ram]

While I like most of our players I think we have a tendency to be wearing our Rams colored glasses when evaluating them. If Quinn was the best 4-3 DE in the league he would be having sacks in spite of the attention other teams are giving him. Ogletree wold be showing up much more at the LOS and be able to get off blocks much better. Saffold has not done much his entire career expect get hurt, he does have about half a season asa decent looking guard. Austin has not done enough to earn that label. Tru has not played enough, was going to get his real chance this year before being hurt.

Lots of potential on this roster but eventually these guys ALL need to step up their games. IMO the team just is not getting the results you would expect with so many high draft picks.

Nah dude. 3 games in, and he's played well. Just because sacks haven't been there, doesn't mean he's not an effective pass rusher. And I think he did have one against the Vikings, either it was taken away or it was ruled a short gain. I remember Chris Long embracing him after.

I'm not saying all these guys are elite, but all of those have played well, obviously some more consistently than others. I'm not sure what the media wants when it claims they aren't doing enough; they're doing with what's on par with the rest of the league's draft picks.

Except SF's. LOL.

 

[blackbart]

Nah dude. 3 games in, and he's played well. Just because sacks haven't been there, doesn't mean he's not an effective pass rusher. And I think he did have one against the Vikings, either it was taken away or it was ruled a short gain. I remember Chris Long embracing him after.

I'm not saying all these guys are elite, but all of those have played well, obviously some more consistently than others. I'm not sure what the media wants when it claims they aren't doing enough; they're doing with what's on par with the rest of the league's draft picks.

Except SF's. LOL.

Maybe Quinn needs to work on flopping better to draw the flags if he isn't going to get to the QB or maybe move him around more to get better match ups??? I love the guy in horns but he absolutely has to be a factor and I mean sacks and turn overs ever game for this team.

One of the concerns I have is that we are developing players who won't stick around once the rookie contracts are up, the team won't be able to pay everyone. We need production now.

I'm just damn tired of waiting until next year.

 

[DaveFan'51]

Well until they remove that rule that says thou shall not call teams for holding against the Rams, Quinn's value may not be realized with this team.

Maybe, IF this Crap keeps up, during the philly game, and beyond, ROD should start a letter writing campaign, and SWOMP the League Offices with complaints! The Rams FO don't appear to be doing anything about it!!!

 

[thirteen28]

Maybe, IF this Crap keeps up, during the philly game, and beyond, ROD should start a letter writing campaign, and SWOMP the League Offices with complaints! The Rams FO don't appear to be doing anything about it!!!

I'm guessing the way Fisher discussed the penalties and non-calls against the Dallas OL in his press conferences last week, he's probably been on the phone with the league offices. He's got to be quiet about it though, given the prohibition on publicly criticizing the officials.

 

[Angry Ram]

Maybe Quinn needs to work on flopping better to draw the flags if he isn't going to get to the QB or maybe move him around more to get better match ups??? I love the guy in horns but he absolutely has to be a factor and I mean sacks and turn overs ever game for this team.

One of the concerns I have is that we are developing players who won't stick around once the rookie contracts are up, the team won't be able to pay everyone. We need production now.

I'm just damn tired of waiting until next year.

Well, if your prediction holds true and all these guys are gone, we'll be right back in square one, waiting for next year with new rookies and young players. At some point we as fans gotta step back, and hold these players to a more realistic standard. Not things like next Orlando Pace, Peyton Manning, 10 year starter, plug and play, etc. I don't believe for one second these guys on this Rams team collectively are any better or worse compared to other teams. They're developing, some more faster than others. And that's fine, as long as they play well and field a non-joke of a team, it's all fine with me. Of course win, but I won't be extremely butthurt and bitch and moan about the team during the bad times. At least not on Sundays.