- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Rams free-agent preview: Running back
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16494/rams-free-agent-preview-running-back-2
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The free-agent market is scheduled to open March 10, and teams can begin negotiations with those poised to hit the market beginning March 7. We'll count down to that with a position-by-position look at what the St. Louis Rams have in place, who is set to hit the market, what they might need, and who might fit the bill.
Under contract: Tre Mason, Zac Stacy, Benny Cunningham, Isaiah Pead, Trey Watts
Pending free agents: Chase Reynolds (exclusive rights)
What's needed: Really, the only thing that's needed here is for the Rams to find improvement with the players already on the roster. They have invested quite a bit of draft capital in this position, taking a running back in the draft in three consecutive years. It would appear that they found their primary ball carrier in Mason last year, though a year ago the same was being said of Stacy. Mason offers the Rams their most explosive option but will need to improve in pass protection to stay on the field for all three downs. Stacy could still be a useful change of pace, but the Rams clearly favored Cunningham as the complement to Mason as the season went on. Rams coach Jeff Fisher has again been clear about his desire to be a power-running team, and one could argue that the Rams might want to add even more at the position, but certainly not at the expense of more pressing needs like the offensive line.
Possible fits: There are some intriguing names that look to hit the market, including San Francisco's Frank Gore, Buffalo's C.J. Spiller, San Diego's Ryan Mathews, Dallas' DeMarco Murray, and New Orleans' Mark Ingram. Also, former Fisher favorite Chris Johnson has already been released and is available. But it seems unlikely the Rams will look to invest in any of the high-priced options. From that group, Murray figures to cash in the most, and though he would allow the Rams to really juice up the run game they want to have, they are unlikely to dive into that pool. Much will be made of the possibility of Minnesota parting ways with Adrian Peterson. Should that happen, the Rams should at least take a look given his considerable talent, but again, they don't figure to be in position to spend big money on a running back with promising younger and cheaper options already on the roster.
Verdict: Considering the Rams' recent penchant of adding a back every offseason since Fisher arrived, we can't categorically rule out the chance of them doing it again. And it's possible the team will look to save some money by releasing Pead, who is coming back from injury and has disappointed when healthy. That said, the guess here is that the Rams will tender Reynolds, who is a key piece on special teams and not going anywhere, and stand pat with the quartet of Mason, Cunningham, Stacy, and Watts. If they do add a back this offseason, the draft (or undrafted free agent) route is more likely.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16494/rams-free-agent-preview-running-back-2
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The free-agent market is scheduled to open March 10, and teams can begin negotiations with those poised to hit the market beginning March 7. We'll count down to that with a position-by-position look at what the St. Louis Rams have in place, who is set to hit the market, what they might need, and who might fit the bill.
Under contract: Tre Mason, Zac Stacy, Benny Cunningham, Isaiah Pead, Trey Watts
Pending free agents: Chase Reynolds (exclusive rights)
What's needed: Really, the only thing that's needed here is for the Rams to find improvement with the players already on the roster. They have invested quite a bit of draft capital in this position, taking a running back in the draft in three consecutive years. It would appear that they found their primary ball carrier in Mason last year, though a year ago the same was being said of Stacy. Mason offers the Rams their most explosive option but will need to improve in pass protection to stay on the field for all three downs. Stacy could still be a useful change of pace, but the Rams clearly favored Cunningham as the complement to Mason as the season went on. Rams coach Jeff Fisher has again been clear about his desire to be a power-running team, and one could argue that the Rams might want to add even more at the position, but certainly not at the expense of more pressing needs like the offensive line.
Possible fits: There are some intriguing names that look to hit the market, including San Francisco's Frank Gore, Buffalo's C.J. Spiller, San Diego's Ryan Mathews, Dallas' DeMarco Murray, and New Orleans' Mark Ingram. Also, former Fisher favorite Chris Johnson has already been released and is available. But it seems unlikely the Rams will look to invest in any of the high-priced options. From that group, Murray figures to cash in the most, and though he would allow the Rams to really juice up the run game they want to have, they are unlikely to dive into that pool. Much will be made of the possibility of Minnesota parting ways with Adrian Peterson. Should that happen, the Rams should at least take a look given his considerable talent, but again, they don't figure to be in position to spend big money on a running back with promising younger and cheaper options already on the roster.
Verdict: Considering the Rams' recent penchant of adding a back every offseason since Fisher arrived, we can't categorically rule out the chance of them doing it again. And it's possible the team will look to save some money by releasing Pead, who is coming back from injury and has disappointed when healthy. That said, the guess here is that the Rams will tender Reynolds, who is a key piece on special teams and not going anywhere, and stand pat with the quartet of Mason, Cunningham, Stacy, and Watts. If they do add a back this offseason, the draft (or undrafted free agent) route is more likely.
