Thomas: Could ex-Rams give LA Rams a contest?

[Florida_Ram]

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/ex-s...cle_a287129f-bc04-5f06-b444-639f562a9311.html

Thomas: Could ex-Rams give LA Rams a contest?

• By Jim Thomas St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  • Jul 16, 2016
  • 
    

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford goes into the 2016 season with a new two-year contract.

When training camps open later this month, there will be nearly three-dozen former St. Louis Rams sprinkled throughout the NFL. There are 35 such players, to be exact, according to a Post-Dispatch survey of all 32 preseason rosters.

While not quite enough players to fill a full regular-season roster, there are enough ex-Rams to raise the question: Could a team made up of the ex-Rams defeat the current roster of Los Angeles Rams? It’s closer than you’d think, which makes you wonder if the Rams are actually showing improvement or simply running in place in recent seasons.

At quarterback, for instance, Sam Bradford (Philadelphia) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (New York Jets) would compete for the starting job on the ex-Rams squad with Kellen Clemens (San Diego), Austin Davis (Cleveland), and Shaun Hill (Minnesota) competing for the No. 3 spot.

No matter, how that three-deep works out, you have to like it better in 2016 than the LA Rams’ trio of Jared Goff, Case Keenum, and Sean Mannion. A few years from now, Goff may be a franchise quarterback, but that probably won’t happen this season.

Moving to tight end, you have Jared Cook (Green Bay), backed up by blocking specialists Michael Hoomanawanui (New Orleans) and Matthew Mulligan (Detroit) versus Lance Kendricks, Cory Harkey, and rookie Tyler Higbee on the LA Rams. That’s pretty close.

Same holds for the kicking game where the ex-Rams are veterans Josh Brown (New York Giants) at kicker and Donnie Jones (Philadelphia) at punter versus Greg Zuerlein and Johnny Hekker.

The top three ex-Rams in the secondary are safeties Rodney McLeod and Darian Stewart, plus cornerback Janoris Jenkins versus current Rams T.J. McDonald, Maurice Alexander, and Trumaine Johnson. Pretty close again.

On the offensive line, the ex-Rams are led by offensive guard Richie Incognito, who recovered from the bullying scandal in Miami to make his second Pro Bowl last season in Buffalo. John Greco, a Scott Linehan draft pick as a Ram, rarely played in St. Louis but has started 54 games — mainly at guard — over the past four seasons in Cleveland. Joe Barksdale (San Diego) and Mike Remmers (Carolina) are the tackles.

That compares to projected starting tackles Greg Robinson and Rob Havenstein, and guards Rodger Saffold and Jamon Brown on the LA Rams.

But the LA Rams would have a decided advantage at running back with Todd Gurley, Benny Cunningham, and Tre Mason over Zac Stacy (New York Jets), Daryl Richardson (Pittsburgh), and Isaiah Pead (Miami).

Even with the departures of Chris Long (New England), James Laurinaitis (New Orleans), and Danny Amendola (New England), you’d have to give the LA Rams the edge at defensive line, linebacker, and wide receiver.

EX-ST. LOUIS RAMS IN NFL

Leger Douzable Buffalo DE

Richie Incognito Buffalo OG

Greg Salas Buffalo WR

Mike Remmers Carolina OT

Austin Davis Cleveland QB

John Greco Cleveland OL

Darian Stewart Denver S

Matthew Mulligan Deroit TE

Jared Cook Green Bay TE

Gerald Rivers Houston LB

Kendall Langford Indianapolis DE

Mitchell Van Dyk Indianapolis OT

Isaiah Pead Miami RB

Shaun Hill Minnesota QB

Danny Amendola New England WR

Chris Long New England DE

Nick Fairley New Orleans DT

Michael Hoomanawanui New Orleans TE

James Laurinaitis New Orleans LB

Ryan Fitzpatrick NY Jets QB

Zac Stacy NY Jets RB

Josh Brown NY Giants K

Janoris Jenkins NY Giants CB

Daren Bates Oakland LB

Korey Toomer Oakland LB

Sam Bradford Philadelphia QB

Chris Givens Philadelphia WR

Donnie Jones Philadelphia P

Rodney McLeod Philadelphia S

Daryl Richardson Pittsburgh RB

Joe Barksdale San Diego OT

Kellen Clemens San Diego QB

Ray Ray Armstrong San Francisco LB

Thad Lewis San Francisco QB

Ty Nsekhe Washington OT

I chuckle at Jim Thomas when he scribbles out some of his articles that I rarely ever read unless I'm extremely bored

 

[Loyal]

I read this, and thought how petty of an article it is by Jim Thomas. The answer to the question is "no"... His hypothetical even asks you to overlook that the "old" Rams can't even muster 40 guys. It's a sickeningly passive agressive BS article. I wish that if he is going to be this butthurt, that he just forgets the Rams and covers the Chefs or the Colts. What a freakin' douche'

 

[DaveFan'51]

I read this, and thought how petty of an article it is by Jim Thomas. The answer to the question is "no"... His hypothetical even asks you to overlook that the "old" Rams can't even muster 40 guys. It's a sickeningly passive agressive BS article. I wish that if he is going to be this butthurt, that he just forgets the Rams and covers the Chefs or the Colts. What a freakin' douche'

I scanned it a little, didn't like what I saw. And after reading your comment, I know I'm not bored enough to go back and read it!:rimshot:

 

[Loyal]

I scanned it a little, didn't like what I saw. And after reading your comment, I know I'm not bored enough to go back and read it!

I just tweeted JT, and told him he should just quit covering the Rams, because he is acting unprofessional.

 

[bubbaramfan]

JT could have turned this into a real positive article about the Rams, pointing out how many ex-Rams are on other teams rosters, proof the Rams are getting better. Just a few years ago, if you got cut by the Rams, you were out of football. Instead, JT has to make it look like the Rams made mistakes letting good players go.
That list in no way would give the Rams current roster any competition. Ledger Douzable or Aaron Donald? Yeah, no contest.

Get over it JT.

 

[OldSchool]

He's working his way off the list of sports journalists that I'll read with garbage like this.

 

[Boat Ram]

You could write the same article for any team in the league.

 

[bluecoconuts]

Are you kidding me, our roster would fucking smoke those guys. Other than Jenkins, Bradford, Long, and Fairley (maybe Stewart and Incognito if his head is right) there's nobody on that roster I would even think about playing over any of our current guys. And Bradford only until Goff is ready.

 

[Akrasian]

Are you kidding me, our roster would freaking smoke those guys. Other than Jenkins, Bradford, Long, and Fairley (maybe Stewart and Incognito if his head is right) there's nobody on that roster I would even think about playing over any of our current guys. And Bradford only until Goff is ready.

Jenkins is a good player, and would likely be a starter for the Rams next season. Bradford is likely to be better in 2016 than the other Rams QBs - if he's healthy. Both are more expensive than the players they would replace.

Long hasn't been good for a couple of years. Fairley was a rotational guy, a backup, with the Rams before, and would be this season too. Incognito is good, if he's not being a headcase. So a headcase guard, a very expensive CB, and Bradford who can't stay healthy would be upgrades - and Bradford not for the long term.

It would be a serious smack down.

 

[PressureD41]

Just another rant, showing his bitterness since Fisher didn't "keep" in the roster loop. Hopefully the LA media won't act like a spoiled brat. Jim = :blah::sleepz:

 

[rdlkgliders]

I only looked at the players, I don't need anyone to break it down for me. Especially him.
Oh and HELL NO!

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

IT is now lumped in with the former Rams. So, he is trying to take their side because he feels like a cast off. The real comparison will come when we start reading more articles from LA reporters and think back to ITs old reporting.

 

[HeiseNBerg]

At quarterback, for instance, Sam Bradford (Philadelphia) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (New York Jets) would compete for the starting job on the ex-Rams squad with Kellen Clemens (San Diego), Austin Davis (Cleveland), and Shaun Hill (Minnesota) competing for the No. 3 spot.

No matter how that three-deep works out, you have to like it better in 2016 than the LA Rams’ trio of Jared Goff, Case Keenum, and Sean Mannion. A few years from now, Goff may be a franchise quarterback, but that probably won’t happen this season.

SNARK ATTACK!!!

JT is assuming that Bradford can get through an entire season completely healthy. And the fact that he did it last year only reduces the odds that he could do it 2 years in a row.

 

[DaveFan'51]

Are you kidding me, our roster would freaking smoke those guys. Other than Jenkins, Bradford, Long, and Fairley (maybe Stewart and Incognito if his head is right) there's nobody on that roster I would even think about playing over any of our current guys. And Bradford only until Goff is ready.

Maybe Laurinaitis could be added back in as Ogletree is not proven ne's a MLB yet!