- Joined
- May 8, 2014
- Messages
- 39,652
Now that the roster needs are clarified post-FA figured I'd take another stab at things just focusing on the draft itself. Which is the fun part. 
As things stand right now here's how I see our needs...
Starter required: Kicker, Edge, ILB, Center, Nickelbacker/S.
Depth required: LT, WR, TE, RB.
Looking at the above it is very easy for me to get all crazy about wanting a wideout, especially in this draft. And I expect the Rams to prioritize one at some point, maybe even early. But I'm going to focus in on two things: stopping the run, and efficiently running the ball. IMO big improvement in both those areas will put this team into the playoffs.
2. Josh Uche, LB, Michigan. This dude is going to be an elite pro player IMO. He brings excellent flexibility to our new DC as well at a position where we need speed and physicality in the worst way. He can rush the passer and give our edge rotation a boost they badly need. But he also moves extremely well in space and gives the front seven a plus open field tackler whether it's against option QBs or containing speed from the backfield. In the passing game he gets depth very quickly on his drops, so would immediately be able to slide to the WILB post when required and unlike Littleton he is extremely physical for his size and can get dirty with blockers. His weakness off ball would be man coverage, however he has the right skills to be able to excel in that role if required.
2. Matt Hennessy, C, Temple. I don't care that he's typically not valued at the 57 range. I'm no scout but I have watched all the Centers in this draft and to my eye this guy fits in this range and projects extremely well to our OL as our Center of the future. He is fundamentally sound with his technique, smart and plays fast meaning he is quick to pick up stunts or get position to seal off opponents in real time, and most importantly he moves well which is crucial for our scheme. Drafting him gives Kromer a finishing piece at the pivot who will be able to start for us if Blythe struggles or is injured, and mostly finishes the OL rebuild (just LT remaining for next year unfortunately but you can't fix everything in one offseason).
3. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona St. I don't know that he'll be on the board at 84, but I suspect teams are going to snap up guys like Claypool before him so it feels to me as I look at the wideouts and where I have him slotted right now against the other positions that he fits in that late 2nd into the 3rd range. He's not exactly the ideal McVay wideout, isn't going to eat up DBs with his route tree like Kupp or light up defenses deep like Cooks, but he will add a ton of threat to our jet sweep motion and he'll help reinvigorate a screen game that looked to me like one of the worst in the league last season. I like him well enough in fact (vs the other WR options in this range) that I'd consider trading a player to move up a bit if I needed to and I say player since I prefer not to give up picks to do that.
3. Tanner Muse, S, Clemson. The Rams are going to need a plus sub option who can support in the box but also do a little dropping into coverage and adding sure tackling in space. Muse fits that nickelbacker role very well, doesn't have the freakish stuff like Chinn but is very tough and very smart and I think fits that Fangio style defense very well as a box sub.
4. Lamical Perine, RB, Florida. I had to really control myself here and accept going with a guy who fits what McVay wants vice what I want in a RB. Perine is a nice fit, he's not a guy who will dominate the carries like we'd see if we were to luck out at 52 with a pick like Taylor. Rather he's an "add him to the RB by committee" type which is where I believe the Rams are going at the position. Could have gone some different ways, but Perine had a good Senior Bowl week which is important to Snead and he's a fit.
6. Rodrigo Blankenship, PK, Georgia. I think Bass is gone by round 5, however I couldn't bring myself to use a round 4 pick on him so Blankenship is a nice alternative and he's got the raw talent for our new ST coach to refine. Rams might panic and take a kicker earlier than this, but I think addressing it here is the way to go.
7. Kevin Davidson, QB, Princeton. The QBs I want (Morgan or Gordon) are going to be off the board by this point but them's the breaks. Davidson is a nice fallback option as a smart signal caller who might have the ability to at least function as a backup at the NFL level.
Of the needs above I couldn't get the dev LT just seemed like too great a cost when I could add a player who impacts us sooner with higher likelyhood of hitting. Also TE but I'd think the Rams could attract two or three good UDFA types at the position along with the WRs they will undoubtedly hit hard among that group. IMO that extra round 2 pick and the knowledge that JRey can spell Cooks this season helps us a great deal and wanted to translate that extra pick into meaningful 2020 impact.
As things stand right now here's how I see our needs...
Starter required: Kicker, Edge, ILB, Center, Nickelbacker/S.
Depth required: LT, WR, TE, RB.
Looking at the above it is very easy for me to get all crazy about wanting a wideout, especially in this draft. And I expect the Rams to prioritize one at some point, maybe even early. But I'm going to focus in on two things: stopping the run, and efficiently running the ball. IMO big improvement in both those areas will put this team into the playoffs.
2. Josh Uche, LB, Michigan. This dude is going to be an elite pro player IMO. He brings excellent flexibility to our new DC as well at a position where we need speed and physicality in the worst way. He can rush the passer and give our edge rotation a boost they badly need. But he also moves extremely well in space and gives the front seven a plus open field tackler whether it's against option QBs or containing speed from the backfield. In the passing game he gets depth very quickly on his drops, so would immediately be able to slide to the WILB post when required and unlike Littleton he is extremely physical for his size and can get dirty with blockers. His weakness off ball would be man coverage, however he has the right skills to be able to excel in that role if required.
2. Matt Hennessy, C, Temple. I don't care that he's typically not valued at the 57 range. I'm no scout but I have watched all the Centers in this draft and to my eye this guy fits in this range and projects extremely well to our OL as our Center of the future. He is fundamentally sound with his technique, smart and plays fast meaning he is quick to pick up stunts or get position to seal off opponents in real time, and most importantly he moves well which is crucial for our scheme. Drafting him gives Kromer a finishing piece at the pivot who will be able to start for us if Blythe struggles or is injured, and mostly finishes the OL rebuild (just LT remaining for next year unfortunately but you can't fix everything in one offseason).
3. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona St. I don't know that he'll be on the board at 84, but I suspect teams are going to snap up guys like Claypool before him so it feels to me as I look at the wideouts and where I have him slotted right now against the other positions that he fits in that late 2nd into the 3rd range. He's not exactly the ideal McVay wideout, isn't going to eat up DBs with his route tree like Kupp or light up defenses deep like Cooks, but he will add a ton of threat to our jet sweep motion and he'll help reinvigorate a screen game that looked to me like one of the worst in the league last season. I like him well enough in fact (vs the other WR options in this range) that I'd consider trading a player to move up a bit if I needed to and I say player since I prefer not to give up picks to do that.
3. Tanner Muse, S, Clemson. The Rams are going to need a plus sub option who can support in the box but also do a little dropping into coverage and adding sure tackling in space. Muse fits that nickelbacker role very well, doesn't have the freakish stuff like Chinn but is very tough and very smart and I think fits that Fangio style defense very well as a box sub.
4. Lamical Perine, RB, Florida. I had to really control myself here and accept going with a guy who fits what McVay wants vice what I want in a RB. Perine is a nice fit, he's not a guy who will dominate the carries like we'd see if we were to luck out at 52 with a pick like Taylor. Rather he's an "add him to the RB by committee" type which is where I believe the Rams are going at the position. Could have gone some different ways, but Perine had a good Senior Bowl week which is important to Snead and he's a fit.
6. Rodrigo Blankenship, PK, Georgia. I think Bass is gone by round 5, however I couldn't bring myself to use a round 4 pick on him so Blankenship is a nice alternative and he's got the raw talent for our new ST coach to refine. Rams might panic and take a kicker earlier than this, but I think addressing it here is the way to go.
7. Kevin Davidson, QB, Princeton. The QBs I want (Morgan or Gordon) are going to be off the board by this point but them's the breaks. Davidson is a nice fallback option as a smart signal caller who might have the ability to at least function as a backup at the NFL level.
Of the needs above I couldn't get the dev LT just seemed like too great a cost when I could add a player who impacts us sooner with higher likelyhood of hitting. Also TE but I'd think the Rams could attract two or three good UDFA types at the position along with the WRs they will undoubtedly hit hard among that group. IMO that extra round 2 pick and the knowledge that JRey can spell Cooks this season helps us a great deal and wanted to translate that extra pick into meaningful 2020 impact.
