methomas50
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View: https://x.com/TonyPauline/status/2022371129407533171
Tyson injury history scares the bejezus out of me. The rest is interesting. Payton learning from McVay is intriguing.
2026 NFL Draft Stuff
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View: https://x.com/TonyPauline/status/2022371129407533171
Tyson injury history scares the bejezus out of me. The rest is interesting. Payton learning from McVay is intriguing.
Yeah, Terrell does not interest me. Seems like a low ceiling guy that shouldn't be a #1 pick.I don't want either of them
They're accurate on Terrell and I'd rather not have a CB that's 5'9" in his cleats
Ponds doesn't seem to be a fit as our preference appears to be a slot CB with size.
methomas50
Starter
He's got Igbinosun too high I think, I'd take Muhammad before him, who he has in that lower group. Also I think Johnson is better than 8th in this corner group in his overall game, however these guys are going to shuffle significantly as the 40 times roll in because there's a lot of depth with different strengths. I have no idea what Johnson runs, but five years from now I'll be surprised if he's not a top 3 corner from this class.
Also Johnson had a strong Senior Bowl week. Only concern I had with him that week is it felt like he was dipping out a bit in the drills. There's more reps for some of the others, which I think is a nod to them. Though maybe that's just the editing of the vids I watched on a couple of the days. I didn't have time to tune into the live feeds on every day.
Also Johnson had a strong Senior Bowl week. Only concern I had with him that week is it felt like he was dipping out a bit in the drills. There's more reps for some of the others, which I think is a nod to them. Though maybe that's just the editing of the vids I watched on a couple of the days. I didn't have time to tune into the live feeds on every day.
Way I see this class, generally speaking as it pertains to the corners in this draft from a Rams perspective...
We need an outside the hash corner. So the slot dudes, or the "OMG he's so flexible" traits are not what I value this year.
Has to be strong enough to hold up vs Shanahan's underneath pass bullshit, i.e. capable of sticky play with open field tackling. I think this is a very high priority for our defense.
Being able to hold his own on a top draw, at least enough to allow for some additional aggression in calls is very desirable. So if not a dominant corner at the top, then someone who can hold his own in the early pattern without giving up separation.
Merlin's top five from the Rams fit perspective:
1. Delane. I think this dude goes top ten though, unfortunately.
2. Cisse. Plugs in day one for us and meets all those needs.
3. Abney. I have a hard time ranking between him and Cisse, but give Cisse the edge because of his presence vs the run.
4. Johnson. Another excellent fit for this defense who plugs in and snuffs out SF's bullshite, plus some natural ball skills.
5. Ponds. I want to put him lower due to his size as I am over smaller corners. But his game tape is so consistent.
Note... McCoy I do not like the ACL. The insanely twitchy type plus ACL scares me off him. If the Rams don't care about that then Ponds gets bumped out of the top 5 and McCoy would slot in at the very top with Delane. But personally I'd steer clear of the boom/bust side because there's other fit options I like.
We need an outside the hash corner. So the slot dudes, or the "OMG he's so flexible" traits are not what I value this year. Has to be strong enough to hold up vs Shanahan's underneath pass bullshit, i.e. capable of sticky play with open field tackling. I think this is a very high priority for our defense. Being able to hold his own on a top draw, at least enough to allow for some additional aggression in calls is very desirable. So if not a dominant corner at the top, then someone who can hold his own in the early pattern without giving up separation.Merlin's top five from the Rams fit perspective:
1. Delane. I think this dude goes top ten though, unfortunately.
2. Cisse. Plugs in day one for us and meets all those needs.
3. Abney. I have a hard time ranking between him and Cisse, but give Cisse the edge because of his presence vs the run.
4. Johnson. Another excellent fit for this defense who plugs in and snuffs out SF's bullshite, plus some natural ball skills.
5. Ponds. I want to put him lower due to his size as I am over smaller corners. But his game tape is so consistent.
Note... McCoy I do not like the ACL. The insanely twitchy type plus ACL scares me off him. If the Rams don't care about that then Ponds gets bumped out of the top 5 and McCoy would slot in at the very top with Delane. But personally I'd steer clear of the boom/bust side because there's other fit options I like.
I’m curious - would your wish list ranking change at all if the Rams signed a top corner in FA like Dean, Watson, etc. ?Way I see this class, generally speaking as it pertains to the corners in this draft from a Rams perspective...
Merlin's top five from the Rams fit perspective:
1. Delane. I think this dude goes top ten though, unfortunately.
2. Cisse. Plugs in day one for us and meets all those needs.
3. Abney. I have a hard time ranking between him and Cisse, but give Cisse the edge because of his presence vs the run.
4. Johnson. Another excellent fit for this defense who plugs in and snuffs out SF's bullshite, plus some natural ball skills.
5. Ponds. I want to put him lower due to his size as I am over smaller corners. But his game tape is so consistent.
Note... McCoy I do not like the ACL. The insanely twitchy type plus ACL scares me off him. If the Rams don't care about that then Ponds gets bumped out of the top 5 and McCoy would slot in at the very top with Delane. But personally I'd steer clear of the boom/bust side because there's other fit options I like.
No, but we are not privy to things like "will Lake be the slot?" If they plan to move Lake back, or use him in more nickel SS type roles in a pairing with the ILB (which I suspect may happen at some point) then it would change what they're looking for because that slot role comes open.
And slots generally can be found later than the outside hash types. Particularly the field side types with wheels and length, because that's harder to do than play the short boundary or in the slot.
But basically if they go get Dean, then I think they will want a pairing for the other spot outside the hash, so probably will be one of those five or one of a small group after them to ensure it's filled. We need both sides because this is a total overhaul of the room.
If Ponds was a couple inches taller he'd be higher but I'm tired of midgets so I really don't want him. I have McCoy and Hood 2 and 3 then Cisse and Abney 4 and 5.Way I see this class, generally speaking as it pertains to the corners in this draft from a Rams perspective...
Merlin's top five from the Rams fit perspective:
1. Delane. I think this dude goes top ten though, unfortunately.
2. Cisse. Plugs in day one for us and meets all those needs.
3. Abney. I have a hard time ranking between him and Cisse, but give Cisse the edge because of his presence vs the run.
4. Johnson. Another excellent fit for this defense who plugs in and snuffs out SF's bullshite, plus some natural ball skills.
5. Ponds. I want to put him lower due to his size as I am over smaller corners. But his game tape is so consistent.
Note... McCoy I do not like the ACL. The insanely twitchy type plus ACL scares me off him. If the Rams don't care about that then Ponds gets bumped out of the top 5 and McCoy would slot in at the very top with Delane. But personally I'd steer clear of the boom/bust side because there's other fit options I like.
Ponds may be a great option to circle back and take later on. Then use him as a slot. Teams have trended to bigger slot defenders to juice the run defense, which is why we use Lake there, but Ponds would be nice to see on the depth chart in that role.
I'd imagine McCoy plans to test at the combine. If he checks out I just can't pass up on him.Way I see this class, generally speaking as it pertains to the corners in this draft from a Rams perspective...
Merlin's top five from the Rams fit perspective:
1. Delane. I think this dude goes top ten though, unfortunately.
2. Cisse. Plugs in day one for us and meets all those needs.
3. Abney. I have a hard time ranking between him and Cisse, but give Cisse the edge because of his presence vs the run.
4. Johnson. Another excellent fit for this defense who plugs in and snuffs out SF's bullshite, plus some natural ball skills.
5. Ponds. I want to put him lower due to his size as I am over smaller corners. But his game tape is so consistent.
Note... McCoy I do not like the ACL. The insanely twitchy type plus ACL scares me off him. If the Rams don't care about that then Ponds gets bumped out of the top 5 and McCoy would slot in at the very top with Delane. But personally I'd steer clear of the boom/bust side because there's other fit options I like.
Yeah I get that. Rams may agree too. They probably do in fact.
But if NFL teams are fully happy on his medicals and not even remotely concerned about the ACL then he probably doesn't get to 13. Which for me personally would be a bit of a relief. I just don't want to get bit by a boom/bust pick this year.
Yeah I'm personally hoping that he tests "good" and doesn't blow the combine away. If his medicals check out, that probably puts him right at 13. I think a lot of teams are going to see him as "small" and that'll keep him out of the top 10. Corners who go that high are usually physical marvels. Like Ramsey, Surtain, Gardner, etc. Heck, even Devon Witherspoon is 6'0, despite being a little below the desired weight.
Love this player as a late round option. Not just because he's a navy kid.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7jx7HLub0o
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7jx7HLub0o