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Shane Gray provides special Rams commentaries on 101sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ShaneGmoSTLRams.
The St. Louis Rams completed the 2013 NFL draft this past weekend and – for a second consecutive season – it appears that St. Louis general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher were wildly successful in selecting prospects who will fortify the roster of the Rams.
Briefly, the following things stood out to me regarding the Rams’ draft:
-St. Louis got more athletic:
The Rams got noticeably more athletic for the second straight draft. In particular, the Rams attained more speed and athleticism at wide receiver, outside linebacker and safety.
Specifically, St. Louis picked up three of the more athletic players in the draft at their respective positions: receiver Tavon Austin, linebacker Alec Ogletree and safety T.J. McDonald.
Austin, who went to the Rams at No. 8 following a bold and aggressive move up from No. 16, has been clocked in the 4.28 40 range and finished first in the NFL combine’s shuttle drill, a measure of short-area quickness and explosion. In short – no pun intended regarding the almost 5-9 receiver/returner/ball-carrier – Austin has both top-end speed and elite quickness, a rarified combination.
In the 6-2, 245-pound Ogletree, the Rams obtained an outside linebacker who possesses the speed and agility to keep up with inter-division quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick. Ogletree is an exciting athlete who adds additional playmaking ability to an already explosive defense.
Finally, St. Louis added the 6-3 McDonald, a versatile player who lined up against slot receivers, played solid deep coverage and added physical run support at USC. McDonald, who boasts a 40-inch vertical leap and 4.5 40 speed, will be a towering, physically imposing presence in the defensive backfield. For teams trying to go deep on the Rams, try getting a jump ball over McDonald. That will be a tall task, literally.
McDonald will likely team with Darian Stewart to give the Rams a younger, more athletic pair of starting safeties in 2013 as compared to recent editions of the secondary.
-Addition of Ogletree sets stage for front seven to become elite:
(Hope you all enjoy the full piece.)
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.101sports.com/2013/05/03/rams-draft-review-six-keys-regarding-st-louis-rookie-class/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.101sports.com/2013/05/03/ram ... kie-class/</a>
(Thanks to all for taking a moment to read the piece. Hope you enjoy it.)
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.101sports.com/2013/05/03/rams-draft-review-six-keys-regarding-st-louis-rookie-class/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.101sports.com/2013/05/03/ram ... kie-class/</a>
The St. Louis Rams completed the 2013 NFL draft this past weekend and – for a second consecutive season – it appears that St. Louis general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher were wildly successful in selecting prospects who will fortify the roster of the Rams.
Briefly, the following things stood out to me regarding the Rams’ draft:
-St. Louis got more athletic:
The Rams got noticeably more athletic for the second straight draft. In particular, the Rams attained more speed and athleticism at wide receiver, outside linebacker and safety.
Specifically, St. Louis picked up three of the more athletic players in the draft at their respective positions: receiver Tavon Austin, linebacker Alec Ogletree and safety T.J. McDonald.
Austin, who went to the Rams at No. 8 following a bold and aggressive move up from No. 16, has been clocked in the 4.28 40 range and finished first in the NFL combine’s shuttle drill, a measure of short-area quickness and explosion. In short – no pun intended regarding the almost 5-9 receiver/returner/ball-carrier – Austin has both top-end speed and elite quickness, a rarified combination.
In the 6-2, 245-pound Ogletree, the Rams obtained an outside linebacker who possesses the speed and agility to keep up with inter-division quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick. Ogletree is an exciting athlete who adds additional playmaking ability to an already explosive defense.
Finally, St. Louis added the 6-3 McDonald, a versatile player who lined up against slot receivers, played solid deep coverage and added physical run support at USC. McDonald, who boasts a 40-inch vertical leap and 4.5 40 speed, will be a towering, physically imposing presence in the defensive backfield. For teams trying to go deep on the Rams, try getting a jump ball over McDonald. That will be a tall task, literally.
McDonald will likely team with Darian Stewart to give the Rams a younger, more athletic pair of starting safeties in 2013 as compared to recent editions of the secondary.
-Addition of Ogletree sets stage for front seven to become elite:
(Hope you all enjoy the full piece.)
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.101sports.com/2013/05/03/rams-draft-review-six-keys-regarding-st-louis-rookie-class/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.101sports.com/2013/05/03/ram ... kie-class/</a>
(Thanks to all for taking a moment to read the piece. Hope you enjoy it.)
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.101sports.com/2013/05/03/rams-draft-review-six-keys-regarding-st-louis-rookie-class/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.101sports.com/2013/05/03/ram ... kie-class/</a>
