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- Jan 15, 2013
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With the depth of this draft I think there may be multiple teams looking to trade down and not many looking to trade up. The Rams may have better luck moving down from 13 if they decide to. If the Rams are stuck at 2 (there are much worse places to be stuck) their choice boils down to 3 picks in my estimation.
Matthews, Watkins or Clowney.
Matthews is game day ready week one and can play T or G. He can provide a massive upgrade at LG if Long is good to go and provide great T depth to both left and right tackle spots. He can also be viewed as the LT of the future and or replace Barksdale after this season if he leaves. Very few concerns with Matthews, provides an immediate upgrade and long term stability.
Watkins would potentially give the Rams something no one in the division really has anymore....a true dominant receiver. Fitz is in decline Boldin is one dimensional (it is a good dimension). The closest thing in the West to me is Davis but he tends to disappear in big games. I think Watkins is pretty much week 1 ready as well. Being able to place Watkins, Cook and Austin in the same formation could create mismatches everywhere. The Rams D is close to being at the same level of their West rivals Watkins would give the Rams the ability to attack those teams in a way they cannot attack others.
Clowney is the physical freak. It is both bad, telling and exciting when a guy can sit at the top of the draft board and have people ask if he tries. I think visions of a Clowney/Watt pairing have him going number one. That brings me to how the Rams would use him. I could see a situation where he employed all over. He certainly stands to get stronger in the NFL and should hold up well vs the run. Subbing for either Quinn or Long on first down, moving inside with Hayes on passing downs or even moving to OLB on some downs if he can turn and run with TE. You need to neutralize a TE? Clowney. Kap and Wilson would certainly double check before taking off on the run. A passrush with Quinn/Hayes/Clowney/Long could be something to behold. Fearsomefour reborn (Hayes can play the role of Lundy). A front seven with Quinn, Long, Clowney, Ogletree....amazing speed and athleticism. Add in depth at DE and very good talent that would become second thoughts game planning (Brockers, JL, Dunbar, Langford) and the D could be very special very fast.
I see good and compelling cases for all three.
Matthews, Watkins or Clowney.
Matthews is game day ready week one and can play T or G. He can provide a massive upgrade at LG if Long is good to go and provide great T depth to both left and right tackle spots. He can also be viewed as the LT of the future and or replace Barksdale after this season if he leaves. Very few concerns with Matthews, provides an immediate upgrade and long term stability.
Watkins would potentially give the Rams something no one in the division really has anymore....a true dominant receiver. Fitz is in decline Boldin is one dimensional (it is a good dimension). The closest thing in the West to me is Davis but he tends to disappear in big games. I think Watkins is pretty much week 1 ready as well. Being able to place Watkins, Cook and Austin in the same formation could create mismatches everywhere. The Rams D is close to being at the same level of their West rivals Watkins would give the Rams the ability to attack those teams in a way they cannot attack others.
Clowney is the physical freak. It is both bad, telling and exciting when a guy can sit at the top of the draft board and have people ask if he tries. I think visions of a Clowney/Watt pairing have him going number one. That brings me to how the Rams would use him. I could see a situation where he employed all over. He certainly stands to get stronger in the NFL and should hold up well vs the run. Subbing for either Quinn or Long on first down, moving inside with Hayes on passing downs or even moving to OLB on some downs if he can turn and run with TE. You need to neutralize a TE? Clowney. Kap and Wilson would certainly double check before taking off on the run. A passrush with Quinn/Hayes/Clowney/Long could be something to behold. Fearsomefour reborn (Hayes can play the role of Lundy). A front seven with Quinn, Long, Clowney, Ogletree....amazing speed and athleticism. Add in depth at DE and very good talent that would become second thoughts game planning (Brockers, JL, Dunbar, Langford) and the D could be very special very fast.
I see good and compelling cases for all three.
