- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Despite holes on O-line, Fisher says it's not time to panic
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_f190098b-2ef4-5289-ba7b-276bd72d91d8.html
PHOENIX • The help wanted sign remains out on the offensive line, Rams coach Jeff Fisher makes no bones about that.
“Yeah, there’s still some spots available, if you will,” he said, smiling.
Namely, starting center, guard, and right tackle. A mere 60 percent of the starting line.
“It’s not one of those things that we’re gonna panic about,” Fisher said Wednesday at the NFC coaches breakfast.
OK. Panic may be a little strong in late March. So how about mild concern?
“This draft in particular is outstanding as far as the offensive line is concerned,” Fisher said. “There’s still several free agents out there that we’re in discussions with. ... Once we get back from the meetings, things tend to pick up again. So we may have another visit or two.”
The owners’ meetings concluded Wednesday, so let’s re-set the table on the offensive line. At last check, free-agent center Stefen Wisniewski was still in the “possible” category in terms of a visit to St. Louis. The former Oakland Raider made visits to Tampa Bay and Seattle early in free agency but remains unsigned.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been linked to him as well, and according to the Chicago Tribune, the Bears also. The Tribune reported that Wisniewski is seeking $4 million a year.
At guard, former Atlanta Falcon Justin Blalock was considering a visit to St. Louis as well, but as is the case with Wisniewski, that visit has yet to materialize. Blalock paid an early free-agent visit to Detroit but remains unsigned.
And then there’s Joe Barksdale. As Fisher confirmed, Barksdale aimed high in terms of a potential contract at the start of free agency. He then got married and remains on his honeymoon. Tennessee is the only other team known to have expressed interest, but Barksdale has yet to make any visits.
“I was a little surprised at their asking price initially,” Fisher stated bluntly.
(There has been some speculation that it was around $7 million a year.)
“I think things have settled down a little bit, so we’d love to have Joe,” Fisher continued. “Joe played well at times. He had some outstanding games. Had some difficult matchups as well. But Joe knows us, and Joe knows Coach (Paul) Boudreau. And it makes sense to get Joe back. We’d like to have him back; there’s been discussions.”
Boudreau is the team’s offensive line coach.
In terms of free-agent contract negotiations, once the owners’ meetings come and go, almost all of the leverage is with the team. Money starts drying up across the league, and teams turn almost all of their attention to the draft.
Even with their pressing needs on the offensive line, that’s true to a degree with the Rams. The team has committed $18.5 million in 2015 salary cap room in re-signing wide receiver Kenny Britt and tight end Lance Kendricks, and signing outside free agents defensive tackle Nick Fairley, outside linebacker Akeem Ayers and guard-tackle Garrett Reynolds.
That leaves the Rams with a shade over $11 million in salary cap room, which doesn’t include expenditures for the draft and practice squad. So financially, the Rams may simply not have enough room to sign Barksdale, Blalock and Wisniewski.
Keep in mind, too, that the team has paid defensive Robert Quinn his $10.2 million roster bonus. That means they can no longer convert it to signing bonus, which would have been an accounting method to free up additional cap space in 2015. That window has closed.
With just five weeks before the draft, it’s almost a certainty that the asking prices of Barksdale, Blalock and Wisniewski have gone down. That’s usually the main reason starting-caliber players are still unsigned this time of year.
“Well, it’s either money or ideal fit,” Fisher said. “Because there’s some players out there that still have value at a number of positions.”
But if the Rams either can’t afford or miss out on one or two of those offensive line free agents, there will be more pressure on them to come up with blockers in the draft who can contribute immediately.
Depth was added last week when they signed former Detroit and Atlanta offensive lineman Reynolds to a two-year, $2.2 million contract.
“Garrett played some right tackle in a few games at Detroit (in 2014),” Fisher said. “I thought he played pretty well. He’s a big, strong physical guard or right tackle. He’s one of those guys that just brings you good depth.”
Boudreau was Reynolds’ position coach for part of his time with Atlanta. And offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti was on North Carolina’s staff when Reynolds was there playing his college ball.
With 27 NFL regular-season starts, Reynolds also brings much-needed experience to the line. Left guard Rodger Saffold (60 starts) and left tackle Greg Robinson (12) are the only other offensive linemen currently under contract who have started a regular-season game in the NFL.
If Wisniewski ends up elsewhere, and the Rams fail to land a veteran center in free agency, 2013 draft pick Barrett Jones could suddenly find himself in a starting role after injuries derailed his first two NFL seasons.
“Barrett showed in a brief appearance that he can play,” Fisher said, referring to last year’s game at Kansas City, where he replaced an injured Scott Wells. “We have confidence in Demetrius Rhaney that he can come in and compete at the spot as well.”
Rhaney, drafted late in the seventh round in 2014, missed the entire season following a training camp knee injury.
The only other members of the offensive line are guard Travis Bond, guard Brandon Washington and tackle Steven Baker.
COACH HIRED
The Rams have hired Jeff Imamura as a defensive assistant. He was most recently at Minot State on the college level but previously worked on the Minnesota Vikings staff. Imamura is an extra body on the staff; he’s not replacing anyone.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_f190098b-2ef4-5289-ba7b-276bd72d91d8.html
PHOENIX • The help wanted sign remains out on the offensive line, Rams coach Jeff Fisher makes no bones about that.
“Yeah, there’s still some spots available, if you will,” he said, smiling.
Namely, starting center, guard, and right tackle. A mere 60 percent of the starting line.
“It’s not one of those things that we’re gonna panic about,” Fisher said Wednesday at the NFC coaches breakfast.
OK. Panic may be a little strong in late March. So how about mild concern?
“This draft in particular is outstanding as far as the offensive line is concerned,” Fisher said. “There’s still several free agents out there that we’re in discussions with. ... Once we get back from the meetings, things tend to pick up again. So we may have another visit or two.”
The owners’ meetings concluded Wednesday, so let’s re-set the table on the offensive line. At last check, free-agent center Stefen Wisniewski was still in the “possible” category in terms of a visit to St. Louis. The former Oakland Raider made visits to Tampa Bay and Seattle early in free agency but remains unsigned.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been linked to him as well, and according to the Chicago Tribune, the Bears also. The Tribune reported that Wisniewski is seeking $4 million a year.
At guard, former Atlanta Falcon Justin Blalock was considering a visit to St. Louis as well, but as is the case with Wisniewski, that visit has yet to materialize. Blalock paid an early free-agent visit to Detroit but remains unsigned.
And then there’s Joe Barksdale. As Fisher confirmed, Barksdale aimed high in terms of a potential contract at the start of free agency. He then got married and remains on his honeymoon. Tennessee is the only other team known to have expressed interest, but Barksdale has yet to make any visits.
“I was a little surprised at their asking price initially,” Fisher stated bluntly.
(There has been some speculation that it was around $7 million a year.)
“I think things have settled down a little bit, so we’d love to have Joe,” Fisher continued. “Joe played well at times. He had some outstanding games. Had some difficult matchups as well. But Joe knows us, and Joe knows Coach (Paul) Boudreau. And it makes sense to get Joe back. We’d like to have him back; there’s been discussions.”
Boudreau is the team’s offensive line coach.
In terms of free-agent contract negotiations, once the owners’ meetings come and go, almost all of the leverage is with the team. Money starts drying up across the league, and teams turn almost all of their attention to the draft.
Even with their pressing needs on the offensive line, that’s true to a degree with the Rams. The team has committed $18.5 million in 2015 salary cap room in re-signing wide receiver Kenny Britt and tight end Lance Kendricks, and signing outside free agents defensive tackle Nick Fairley, outside linebacker Akeem Ayers and guard-tackle Garrett Reynolds.
That leaves the Rams with a shade over $11 million in salary cap room, which doesn’t include expenditures for the draft and practice squad. So financially, the Rams may simply not have enough room to sign Barksdale, Blalock and Wisniewski.
Keep in mind, too, that the team has paid defensive Robert Quinn his $10.2 million roster bonus. That means they can no longer convert it to signing bonus, which would have been an accounting method to free up additional cap space in 2015. That window has closed.
With just five weeks before the draft, it’s almost a certainty that the asking prices of Barksdale, Blalock and Wisniewski have gone down. That’s usually the main reason starting-caliber players are still unsigned this time of year.
“Well, it’s either money or ideal fit,” Fisher said. “Because there’s some players out there that still have value at a number of positions.”
But if the Rams either can’t afford or miss out on one or two of those offensive line free agents, there will be more pressure on them to come up with blockers in the draft who can contribute immediately.
Depth was added last week when they signed former Detroit and Atlanta offensive lineman Reynolds to a two-year, $2.2 million contract.
“Garrett played some right tackle in a few games at Detroit (in 2014),” Fisher said. “I thought he played pretty well. He’s a big, strong physical guard or right tackle. He’s one of those guys that just brings you good depth.”
Boudreau was Reynolds’ position coach for part of his time with Atlanta. And offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti was on North Carolina’s staff when Reynolds was there playing his college ball.
With 27 NFL regular-season starts, Reynolds also brings much-needed experience to the line. Left guard Rodger Saffold (60 starts) and left tackle Greg Robinson (12) are the only other offensive linemen currently under contract who have started a regular-season game in the NFL.
If Wisniewski ends up elsewhere, and the Rams fail to land a veteran center in free agency, 2013 draft pick Barrett Jones could suddenly find himself in a starting role after injuries derailed his first two NFL seasons.
“Barrett showed in a brief appearance that he can play,” Fisher said, referring to last year’s game at Kansas City, where he replaced an injured Scott Wells. “We have confidence in Demetrius Rhaney that he can come in and compete at the spot as well.”
Rhaney, drafted late in the seventh round in 2014, missed the entire season following a training camp knee injury.
The only other members of the offensive line are guard Travis Bond, guard Brandon Washington and tackle Steven Baker.
COACH HIRED
The Rams have hired Jeff Imamura as a defensive assistant. He was most recently at Minot State on the college level but previously worked on the Minnesota Vikings staff. Imamura is an extra body on the staff; he’s not replacing anyone.
