Every year should be a "zero margin for error" approach. However we know that even the best teams strike out once in awhile. Under Devaney I felt the Rams took the "safest" approach and were often content with guys they felt could start and play and didn't have huge bust potential (except J. Smith ended up doing that regardless) nor did they go after "boom" players who may have had some type of baggage or risk but could be special. I understood the approach at the time. They were trying to rid a roster of fading players and guys who were almost off the street who were currently on the Rams roster (look at how few Devaney players let go even found other jobs in the NFL).
Snead/Fisher has shown the willingness to swing for the fences more and have in some early predictable draft results to show for it. Overall they have added a few of the elusive playmakers, some promising players, and some players who will end up being decent NFL players. I thought they got the better of the RG III trade but this year they have the capital to add (without trades) 3-4 impact players that can not only fill in holes/needs but also put them over the top as a complete football team.
From the Draft strategy standpoint this is going to be tricky. IF they are in love with ONE particular player (e.g. Robinson/Watkins/Clowney/Mathews) they simply keep the #2 pick, pick their guy and move on to who and what to do at #13. IF they have 2-3 guys equally rated at the top, they need to find a willing partner to trade and keep them in that projected area to come out with one of the guys they want. The point is, if they love ONE player and think he can be a superstar, just take him and move forward. If there is a cluster you may not get the bounty RG III provided but you can get one player, still have #13 and likely pick up a late 1st or early 2nd just to move down 2-4 spots. Either way they are going to end up with 3 high picks and 4 picks in the top 75 on a very solid and deep draft. Snead has to counter getting too "cute" with trades with getting good value in any trades as well as available players.
Regarding actual positions. I see a team that needs 2 OL, and a CB, Safety. What makes this draft interesting is that by having, or acquiring 1-2 additional top 75-100 picks you can not only fill those needs but can deviate in certain rounds to get a true BPA not at the above position, and know the draft is deep enough to come back and get a solid player from the need area in the next round.
For me this is the year and the draft that we as fans, and obviously the Rams as an organization, need to put together a complete, young, developing team that can compete (and win) in a tough West division, while taking care of business vs. teams outside that division. It may be a slight exaggeration but to me this is a make or break draft in achieving that. You won't have this level, nor number of quality picks next year.
