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St. Louis Rams
I liked the Rams draft more because they have a clear plan and stuck to it in the draft.
The Rams drafted with a specific purpose in mind. They want to be a power-running football team and play great defense behind that. Their entire draft followed that plan.
They drafted running back Todd Gurley (I thought he was a top-three prospect in the draft) and match him with Tre Mason, who I thought was the best back in last year's class. So they're set there. The selection of Gurley was clearly a pick where their plan and their draft board matched up. Their pick of quarterback Sean Mannion in the third round fits their plan; I think Mannion can only play in a system where the run game is the foundation relying heavily on play action. Then four of their first seven picks were offensive linemen who were all similar.
Rob Haverstein of Wisconsin might not have been a second-round pick on every team's board, but he fits what the Rams want to do. He is a a road-grading right tackle in the run game. If that’s the style you’re going to play, then he’s your guy.
Jamon Brown, at 323 pounds, was a tackle at Louisville but he'll play guard in the NFL. Iowa tackle Andrew Donnal, a 313-pound fourth-round pick, can play guard too. In the sixth round the Rams took Fresno State guard Cody Wichmann, who is not an athlete but a 315-pound mauler. He fits what they want to do.
The Rams told you in their draft how they want to play football. That's why I don't get into the criticisms like, "There were better players on the board!" Not to the Rams there weren't; their picks fit the exact style they want to play.
St. Louis Rams
I liked the Rams draft more because they have a clear plan and stuck to it in the draft.
The Rams drafted with a specific purpose in mind. They want to be a power-running football team and play great defense behind that. Their entire draft followed that plan.
They drafted running back Todd Gurley (I thought he was a top-three prospect in the draft) and match him with Tre Mason, who I thought was the best back in last year's class. So they're set there. The selection of Gurley was clearly a pick where their plan and their draft board matched up. Their pick of quarterback Sean Mannion in the third round fits their plan; I think Mannion can only play in a system where the run game is the foundation relying heavily on play action. Then four of their first seven picks were offensive linemen who were all similar.
Rob Haverstein of Wisconsin might not have been a second-round pick on every team's board, but he fits what the Rams want to do. He is a a road-grading right tackle in the run game. If that’s the style you’re going to play, then he’s your guy.
Jamon Brown, at 323 pounds, was a tackle at Louisville but he'll play guard in the NFL. Iowa tackle Andrew Donnal, a 313-pound fourth-round pick, can play guard too. In the sixth round the Rams took Fresno State guard Cody Wichmann, who is not an athlete but a 315-pound mauler. He fits what they want to do.
The Rams told you in their draft how they want to play football. That's why I don't get into the criticisms like, "There were better players on the board!" Not to the Rams there weren't; their picks fit the exact style they want to play.
