[chiguy]

Originally Posted by RamsSB99

I say we should draft three OL in the first three rounds and they might all windup setting behind our current group of OL. At least we won't be drafting for this year. Who cares that we still need DE, WR, CB, and safety help this year and beyond.

Excuse me, but how do you extrapolate this from me simply pointing out that we have a need on the offensive line? I've been arguing on various message boards for three years now about the need for a defensive end. I also have argued for at least two years that we need a WR. I don't think we need CB help (not a rookie anyway) and agree that safety is a need but don't think we'll find one of good value this year. None of this precludes us from drafting an offensive tackle too.

Now that I've dispensed with your silly hyperbole, let me once again point out where I disagree. I'll resist the desire to engage in the same kind of silliness your above quote engages in, but I can't promise anything.

Sounds logical to me to load up on OL when we have a bunch of young OL already that have upside and might be better then anyone we could draft.

Here is your problem -- you don't engage my points about our young guys. Yes, they did well as a unit for a six game stretch against weak competition two years ago. THAT IS ALL THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE THAT THEY HAVE UPSIDE. We have no idea what these guys would give us against better teams, over a full season. I don't see how operating on "faith" in some amorphous concept of "upside" -- especially when all of the young guys have had injuries other than Barron -- is using "logic" when pointing to their onfield performance isn't logical. Given quotes from our offensive staff, I'd say that they see my point rather than yours.

None of our starting OL can we say will be below average.

Barron is *maybe* average. Romberg has done nothing to suggest he is better than average. Pace isn't average, but he also hasn't really played for over two seasons and had a skill set in decline. Ditto Incognito. And everyone who has paid attention will point out that Setterstrom has work to do in the passing game. You're way overstating the abilities of our players. Yes, there is room to improve and I have hope for some of them, but NFL teams don't win by making assumptions.

We have a great young back and a pocket passer for a QB. If the O-line has even one crack, we can't exploit the talents of our two best offensive players.

None out of the draft could we say will be better in their first year.

You keep saying this, but there is no reason to believe its true. First, why wouldn't Jake Long *not* start over Alex Barron or Richie Incognito? If he's really worth a top 10 pick in the NFL draft, I think its ridiculous to say that unproven players would definitely start over him. Past that, Setterstrom started his rookie year despite being a 7th round draft pick. Who is to say that a guy we draft in the fourth or fifth round (let alone rounds one through three) wouldn't be better than him?

Obviously, the Rams wouldn't draft someone they didn't think that could compete. If they couldn't compete, even I would argue its silly to draft them. But you can't simply say, "I like our guys just 'cause so therefore no one we draft will play above them."

I would rather wait and see how this group does this year and address any if any OL concerns next year. We already signed Bell and if we resigned Steussie he would give us a good veteran backup.

This is a reasonable opinion. I just disagree. But notice I didn't turn around and make a big, unrealistic sarcastic comment about it that completely stretches your opinion beyond recognizability?

If we want to base our draft on fear that players won't play as well as they have already showed us they could play...

See, you're not even trying. I've already said I don't think a lot of these guys have proven anything.