Surprise release of Saints G Larry Warford puts 3-time Pro Bowler on open market

[Elmgrovegnome]

I doubt the Rams could make the cap room. But he’d be an instant upgrade.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Who releases a 28yr old stud guard?

Nobody.

Is he 28? Yes.

Is he a stud? Maybe not.

A team that needs salary cap space, and just drafted a very good prospect at Guard. I know Ruiz is projected at Center but he can take over for Warford because the Saints have a good Center already

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Looks like other teams are excited about it. I trust the Rams are on top of the situation tho.

A Chiefs' page:
https://arrowheadaddict.com/2020/05/09/larry-warford-release-saints-chiefs-opportunity-free-agency/

 

[fearsomefour]

Who releases a 28yr old stud guard?

Nobody.

Is he 28? Yes.

Is he a stud? Maybe not.

A good example of why a good system match matter perhaps.
If a guy like him can excel in one system but be average in another.....why pay a big salary if the guy is a mismatch.

 

[den-the-coach]

A team that needs salary cap space, and just drafted a very good prospect at Guard. I know Ruiz is projected at Center but he can take over for Warford because the Saints have a good Center already

Yep I expect them to go with Ruiz at Guard with Erik McCoy staying at Center. Got to hand to the Saints, they draft well and never fall asleep on the Offensive Line.

 

[dieterbrock]

Saints draft was stupid. Ruiz may be a great player but it was 1 foot forward, 2 steps back.

 

[dreveles52]

It’s time Les. Make the call.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Yep I expect them to go with Ruiz at Guard with Erik McCoy staying at Center. Got to hand to the Saints, they draft well and never fall asleep on the Offensive Line.

I wish McCoy and Ruiz were on the Rams Oline

 

[Ram65]

Looks like other teams are excited about it. I trust the Rams are on top of the situation tho.

A Chiefs' page:
https://arrowheadaddict.com/2020/05/09/larry-warford-release-saints-chiefs-opportunity-free-agency/

From the article........
"If we assume that all of Veach’s bravado about being able to massage the salary cap is true, the Chiefs can certainly make this move happen. Couple that fact with the Chiefs interest in big money free agent Andrus Peat earlier this offseason (who ultimately signed for an $11.5 million per year average), and we know Kansas City can come up with the $7 million or so that Warford will command."

__________________________________________________________________________

I wondered how much money he would command. That $7Mil or so would be a lot for the Rams to come up with. As things start moving along there could be a little bit of a bidding war with teams that have the cap space.

 

[RamsFanCK]

Seems too good to be true, idk. I like the thought of him in horns in paper

 

[André]

If the Rams like him for our system they could make it happen by back-loading a contract and moving some of Donald's money around. If they don't do that they either, a) don't think he's a system fit, b) think there is something wrong with him (weight, unknown injury, etc.), or c) for some reason they think they are fine on the o-line. If the answer is c, I'm concerned. If it's a or b, I'll just trust them.

 

[BonifayRam]

I hope that Snead will pass on him ..........Rams will roll with the cadre of young interior OL'ers that they have collected.

David Edwards
Austin Corbett
Tremayne Anchrum
Chandler Brewer
Jeremiah Kolone
Cohl Cabral
Nate Trewyn
Coleman Shelton
Brian Allen

 

[Kevin]

View: https://twitter.com/nick_underhill/status/1258861123228577793?s=21

 

[Angry Ram]

Who releases a 28yr old stud guard?

Nobody.

Is he 28? Yes.

Is he a stud? Maybe not.

I honestly forgot he was still in the league. I don't know if I would call him a "stud" tho. It's easy to be duped by players that only have name recognition.

 

[SeminoleRam]

I honestly forgot he was still in the league. I don't know if I would call him a "stud" tho. It's easy to be duped by players that only have name recognition.

Agreed! I guess us Rams Fans just have to trust Coach McVay and Les Snead’s judgement on how good and how much they want Warford and if any just how much they are willing to pay!

 

[MachS]

I hope that Snead will pass on him ..........Rams will roll with the cadre of young interior OL'ers that they have collected.

David Edwards
Austin Corbett
Tremayne Anchrum
Chandler Brewer
Jeremiah Kolone
Cohl Cabral
Nate Trewyn
Coleman Shelton
Brian Allen

Pass on a 28 yr old 3 time pro bowl guard?? Because we have Austin Corbett and David Edwards??

Honestly look at that list of names you posted. Its laughable

 

[Merlin]

I wish McCoy and Ruiz were on the Rams Oline

Indeed. Saints know what they're doing. That line is getting younger and more athletic which is great news for their fans, problem for them is QB.

Outside of QB (which is where they rolled the dice this year IMO) they had what looks to be another very strong draft. Ruiz and Baun are instant upgrades and Trautman was my favorite passing game TE in the draft.

 

[MachS]

Indeed. Saints know what they're doing. That line is getting younger and more athletic which is great news for their fans, problem for them is QB.

Outside of QB (which is where they rolled the dice this year IMO) they had what looks to be another very strong draft. Ruiz and Baun are instant upgrades and Trautman was my favorite passing game TE in the draft.

We lost the Super Bowl because we got dominated up front. Then we followed it up with a bad season because we continued to get dominated up front.

At this point I just wonder what needs to happen before we finally start to invest in young, athletic, OL with legitimate talent. Not late round projects we hope can "develop." Les has PTSD from Greg Robinson is my guess. But other than him - Saffold and Hav, both 2nd rounders, have been very good pros (havs 2019 withstanding).

 

[RamsSince1969]

A Veteran Pro Bowler available at our greatest position of Need.

May not be quick if feet for the stretch outside zone but he will open up holes in the inside power game.

The irony............to get something so valuable from our newly most hated franchise. Say what you will about the 49's, but, I don't think 49 fans ever sent death threats to a players family (Didn't Big Whit mention his family got death threats from Saints fans?)

 

[oldnotdead]

This team got dominated upfront for a few reasons. Poor play by two subpar vets in Blythe and Havenstein on the right side together. Whitworth's age showing, resulting in about a 10 point drop in his grading over the previous two years. A significant number of injuries that basically decimated the o-line. A subpar coaching effort by Kromer and Dickerson who IMO are both probably on a short leash this year because they claimed guys were ready when they clearly weren't. All the vet acquisitions in 2017 and 2018 made Kromer look better than he was. When asked to coach up a bunch of rookies he failed. Their poor execution in basic fundamentals was appalling last year.

Why do I feel better about these guys now? Because they now have the experience, something that they showed a lack of last year. Because now Kromer and Dickenson will teach them from day one a new blocking scheme so they won't have to transition to on the fly something they never practiced in TC (again a huge flaw in Kromer's coaching). This o-line has the athleticism to execute an interior power gap or interior zone scheme. Blythe is perhaps the only exception and is why IMO they were allowing him to walk until Allen got sick. I expect to see the Rams become primarily a between the tackles run attack. It's why IMO it plays to the strengths of both the RB backups in Brown and Kelly.

The actual strength of Havenstein is his run blocking. Normally a RT must be good blocking on the second level for a run to be successful. Havenstein has shown he can execute those difficult blocks. They will need to protect him on passing downs with a TE.

I have to agree if the Rams are indeed moving to a power gap run attack Warford might not be a good scheme fit due to his marginal athleticism. His contract expectations might also be a problem. Having watched Shelton in college I really would love to see him get his shot. For a big man, he moves well. His flaws are basically coachable and bodybuilding related. Technique wise he came in above average in that area. His weight gain is probably related to his strengthening regime which is where he really needed to focus. He can play both OG positions as well as center. He's actually a better option than Edwards who tends to play too upright due to his height.

Tremayne Anchrum IMO looks more like a center than an OG. He has the arm length you would like in a center as well as the quickness and smoothness in his movements. It will be interesting if they transition him to center. His physical metrics scream center, and his general athleticism would serve him well at that position. So when people say they didn't draft a center, they, in fact, might have drafted a developmental (2+ yrs) center. Trewyn might not be working out for them. Either way, both guys probably make the PS this year.