With the 189th pick in the NFL Draft, the Rams select Eugene Sims, DE, West Texas A&M

[Nick]

Another DE, discuss!

[Warner4prez]

I was literally unable to find anything of substance about this guy. Anyone else?

[SFCRamFan]

Who? Details anyone?

[RebelYell]

Eugene is a 2005 graduate of Mises High School in Mount Olive, MS where he starred in both football and track. Sims did not have the grades to be highly recruited despite his obvious athletic prowess and enrolled for two years in junior college before making a mark At West Texas A&M these past two seasons. His second year of JUCO ball he showed future promise when he recorded 51 tackles, five QB sacks three tackled for losses and one forced fumble. He was rewarded at season's end with an appearance in the MACJC All-Star game. Sims moved to the defensive line in 2006 after being a nine-game starter for the Bobcats at strong safety in 2005. In 2008, as a junior transfer at West Texas, Eugene was recognized as Lone Star Conference Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year, after registering 56 tackles, 13 TFLs, and 10 sacks. In 2009, he tallied 19 solos, 37 assists, 13.5 TFLs, 7 sacks, 5 PBUs, 5 hurries, 3 FFs, 4 blocked kicks and a safety.

Eugene really stood out in the practices prior to the DII Cactus Bowl on 1/9/10, and put himself on everyone's radar screens.
Strengths
Long, lean, and mean, with lots of upside. A true game changer at the DII level who can block a kick or force a fumble. Closes well to the QB. Fearsome pass rusher in college.
Weaknesses
Undisciplined and will need loads of technique work. LOC issues. Must get bigger and stronger, and work on his footwork.

[general counsel]

Nick or Av, please enlighten us on the results of the film study you did on this guy!

Looks like a lot of upside. Likely nothing, but again, i have no problem with the swing for the fences approach at this point in the draft. I wonder if we would have taken dwyer if he made it one more pick to us.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[Nick]

Some previous news items about how he finished out the season...

01/08/2010 - CACTUS BOWL: Sims, a 6-6, 235, native of Mt. Olive, Miss., was honored as an AFCA (American Football Coaches Association), as well as a Don Hansen's Football Gazette first-team all-America. The LSC South Defensive Lineman of the Year for a second-straight season, his season sack total stands at a 7.0 sacks for minus-57 yards. Sims, who finished seventh among LSC sack leaders, enjoyed possibly the best game of his collegiate career against #10-Texas A&M-Kingsville, when he made a career-high 11 tackles (3 solo, 8 assists), registered 3.5 TFLs for minus-17 yards (including 2.5 QB sacks), had two QB hurries and forced a fumble. He followed that outing with a six tackle outing (including 1.5 QB sacks for minus-13 yards and 2.5 TFLs for minus 15 yards) at #23-Midwestern State and added a sack for minus-14 yards against Eastern New Mexico. The Buffs leading tackler among down linemen, the Mt. Olive, Miss., native had season totals of 56 tackles (19 solo, 37 assists), 13.5 TFLs (for minus-89 yards), 7.0 sacks (for minus-57 yards), five QB hurries, five PBUs, four blocked kicks, three forced fumbles and one safety. - West Texas AM football

12/28/2009 - 2009 AP LITTLE ALL-AMERICA THIRD TEAM: DL - Eugene Sims, senior, West Texas A&M, has been selected Third Team Little All-American (Division II, III & NAIA) for the 2009 college football season as voted on by the Associated Press. - AP Sports

12/15/2009 - 2009 AFCA DIVISION II COACHES' ALL-AMERICA TEAM: DL Eugene Sims 6-6 235 Sr. West Texas A&M Don Carthel Mt. Olive, Miss. (Mize), has been named AFCA Division II Coaches' All-American for the 2009 college football season as selected by the American Football Coaches Association. A native of Mt. Olive, Miss., Sims (6-6, 235, Sr-3L), Sims was the Buffs' leading tackler among down linemen, recording 56 total tackles (19 solo, 37 assists). He also had a team-high 13.5 tackles for minus-89 yards in losses, as well as 7.0 sacks for minus-57 yards, five pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, four blocked kicks, three forced fumbles and one safety. Earlier this season, Sims was named Lone Star Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year for a second-consecutive season, as well as being a first-team all-LSC South Division selection. Sims becomes the seventh Buffalo to have garnered AFCA all-America recognition. Previous selections were Stan Carroway (WR, 1986), Mark Bounds (P, 1990), Brian Hurley (1994, OT), Pat McCoy (OL, 2005), Brandon Swain (2007, DE) and Jared Brock (2008, LB). 2008 AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team. - West Texas A&M football

11/19/2009 - LONE STAR CONFERENCE SOUTH DIVISION DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR: Eugene Sims, West Texas A&M, has been selected Defensive Lineman for the 2009 college football season in voting by the South Division coaches. West Texas A&M, who finished the 2009 regular season with a 6-5 mark and will represent the league in the Kanza Bowl on December 5, had nine players represented on the first and second-team Lone Star Conference all-South Division squads. - West Texas A&M football

[Nick]

It's entirely possible that, in the process of doing some research on Keith Null last year, they came across this guy at West Texas A&M as well and kept him on the radar. I don't know anything about him, but at this point in the draft, you're taking chances on guys who you think may be able to contribute even at small levels, and maybe you get lucky.

[RebelYell]

Sounds like the last two could have been free agent signings.

[Nick]

Perhaps, but the advantage of spending a pick on them is that they can't test the market and sign elsewhere.

[general counsel]

Maybe Rebel, but there is no way to know that unless someone can predict the future (ie what other teams will do) If the rams liked them, why not grab them now. Its quite obvious to me that the rams dont see players on the board that they otherwise believe can make an impact, regardless of need. i LOVE the swing for the fences approach at this point.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[Alec22]

4 blocked kicks, sounds like they're looking for him to be a solid SP player.

[Rammed]

I like it, taking chances on athletic guys in later rounds, so you can boost SP

They will get quicker on the fiels then say a 2-3 starter with average numbers on whatever position who gets a camp chance at their position.

[RebelYell]

I'm not bashing the pick, just saying. The reality is that anyone you take in the 6th or 7th round could have been a free agent. You are getting to the point where all you have is risk and the way to get around that is pick guys with heart, physical tools and hope they develop. If they don't have the heart / physical tools, they don't have a chance to develop.

Since Sims ran track, I'd love to know his 40x.

edit: I'm hoping the Rams sign multiple free agents. The Rams need to steal a few players that turn into decent backups or starters.

[AvengerRam]

I'd bet that 25-50% of the picks at this point are players who, if passed on, wouldn't be taken by another team.

[RebelYell]

I was just looking at the grades by Walter Football. Still saying they would have taken Clausen over Bradford.

For Sims they say the pick is out of left field and give it a C grade. If you don't know who the guy is, how do you grade him?