How USC QB Matt Barkley Saved NFL’s Rams

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Matt Barkley has it good in Southern California as the quarterback at USC, where he will be a star senior next fall and the Heisman Trophy front runner. But Barkley is the big man on campus in the minds of the St. Louis Rams as well.

That’s right, the Rams – who traded the second overall selection in the 2012 NFL draft for a second-round pick and three first-rounders, including this year’s No. 6 overall selection and first-rounders in 2013 and 2014.

And that all happened because Barkley won’t be in the green room on April 26th in New York City’s Radio City Music Hall.

In short, Barkley’s decision provided a seismic shift in the future of the St. Louis Rams, which is trying to overhaul its roster and put talent around franchise quarterback Sam Bradford – something it no doubt can do with the haul of picks that it acquired from the desperate Washington Redskins.

Barkley set it all into motion by shocking the football world by deciding to return to USC for his senior season.

Let’s look at the domino effect of Barkley’s decision:

Andrew Luck was always going first overall to the Indianapolis Colts but, if Barkley had been in the draft, Griffin III likely would have gone to the Cleveland Browns and Barkley to the Redskins.

We can safely assume that Indianapolis still would draft Luck in a draft that includes Barkley, while St. Louis would have kept the second overall pick and drafted for a need other than QB. The Browns at No. 4 then would have grabbed Robert Griffin III – sorry, Colt McCoy – leaving Barkley for the Redskins at No. 6.

After all, Barkley was just as highly regarded as Griffin before each announced their decisions for next season and the Rams and Minnesota Vikings would have had no leverage for trades with each committed to quarterbacks (Bradford and Christian Ponder, respectively) and two franchise quarterbacks on the board.

Yes, a team like the Miami Dolphins could have still traded up to nab either RGIII or Barkley, but the ‘Phins could have traded with either the Rams, Vikings or Tampa Buccaneers to land Barkley and pitted the three against each other to drive the trade price down.

It appears now that the Rams could end up with Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon, who many believed the franchise wanted all along, to give Bradford a game-changer on the outside. If the Rams end up with Blackmon, they will have essentially been handed a second-round pick (No. 39 overall) and two future first rounders (possibly in the top 16 as the Redskins have only made the playoffs three times since 1992) for nothing all because Barkley decided to remain a Trojan.

Considering how talent-depleted the Rams franchise is at the moment, St. Louis should be able to select three immediate starters with those picks that, with good scouting and luck, will become future Pro Bowlers.

You can bet all this isn’t lost on first-year head coach Jeff Fisher, a proud USC alum and former Trojan defensive back.

After missing the playoffs every year since 2004, the St. Louis Rams may have finally found their franchise savior – it just happens to be someone that will almost certainly never play for them.

http://www.lostlettermen.com/4-10-2012- ... ouis-rams/

 

[ramsince62]

Matt Barkley has it good in Southern California as the quarterback at USC, where he will be a star senior next fall and the Heisman Trophy front runner. But Barkley is the big man on campus in the minds of the St. Louis Rams as well.

That’s right, the Rams – who traded the second overall selection in the 2012 NFL draft for a second-round pick and three first-rounders, including this year’s No. 6 overall selection and first-rounders in 2013 and 2014.

And that all happened because Barkley won’t be in the green room on April 26th in New York City’s Radio City Music Hall.

In short, Barkley’s decision provided a seismic shift in the future of the St. Louis Rams, which is trying to overhaul its roster and put talent around franchise quarterback Sam Bradford – something it no doubt can do with the haul of picks that it acquired from the desperate Washington Redskins.

Barkley set it all into motion by shocking the football world by deciding to return to USC for his senior season.

Let’s look at the domino effect of Barkley’s decision:

Andrew Luck was always going first overall to the Indianapolis Colts but, if Barkley had been in the draft, Griffin III likely would have gone to the Cleveland Browns and Barkley to the Redskins.

We can safely assume that Indianapolis still would draft Luck in a draft that includes Barkley, while St. Louis would have kept the second overall pick and drafted for a need other than QB. The Browns at No. 4 then would have grabbed Robert Griffin III – sorry, Colt McCoy – leaving Barkley for the Redskins at No. 6.

After all, Barkley was just as highly regarded as Griffin before each announced their decisions for next season and the Rams and Minnesota Vikings would have had no leverage for trades with each committed to quarterbacks (Bradford and Christian Ponder, respectively) and two franchise quarterbacks on the board.

Yes, a team like the Miami Dolphins could have still traded up to nab either RGIII or Barkley, but the ‘Phins could have traded with either the Rams, Vikings or Tampa Buccaneers to land Barkley and pitted the three against each other to drive the trade price down.

It appears now that the Rams could end up with Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon, who many believed the franchise wanted all along, to give Bradford a game-changer on the outside. If the Rams end up with Blackmon, they will have essentially been handed a second-round pick (No. 39 overall) and two future first rounders (possibly in the top 16 as the Redskins have only made the playoffs three times since 1992) for nothing all because Barkley decided to remain a Trojan.

Considering how talent-depleted the Rams franchise is at the moment, St. Louis should be able to select three immediate starters with those picks that, with good scouting and luck, will become future Pro Bowlers.

You can bet all this isn’t lost on first-year head coach Jeff Fisher, a proud USC alum and former Trojan defensive back.

After missing the playoffs every year since 2004, the St. Louis Rams may have finally found their franchise savior – it just happens to be someone that will almost certainly never play for them.

http://www.lostlettermen.com/4-10-2012- ... ouis-rams/

X, you know I can't pass this one up, right?

Good stuff, I'm delighted to learn of this (latest) USC connection, ironic, no? Watch out some of this might rub off on you......nah. :roll:

 

[iBruce]

Ya, that's pretty interesting. Let's hope that 'Skins trade will be as good as we all hope it is.

 

[Ramhusker]

Yes, here's to RGIII falling on his face for two seasons in Washington. I hate to wish ill will to anyone but a slow start is ok right?

 

[paceram]

And, there is a small possibility that Matt Barkley might positively effect the Rams draft next year as well! What if he is available at the Redskins #1 pick (which, now belongs to the Rams) or Rams pick (Rams will be much better this coming season so I don't expect this to happen!)? I am guessing that the Rams could get a major coup for Barkley in a trade similar or possibly even better than the trade they received from the Redskins. I don't really expect the Redskins to get the top pick in 2013 but with a new QB (and as good as he is and he will be good he will still be a Rookie) and with the tough division that they play in it won't surprise me to see the Redskins picking pretty high in next year's draft.

 

[RamFan503]

Yeah... even 24 might have to sing the Trojan fight song as a thanks to Barkley. :lmao:

I certainly was happy to hear when Barkley announced he was returning to the men of Troy.

 

[ramsince62]

Yeah... even 24 might have to sing the Trojan fight song as a thanks to Barkley. :lmao:

I certainly was happy to hear when Barkley announced he was returning to the men of Troy.

lus1: :good1: