How are we supposed to develop WRs with a Vet?

[BarronWade]

Okay here is a list of our receivers and there NFL experience:

Nate Jones (1 year) Who?
Brooks Foster (Rookie)
Travis Brown (1 year) Who?
Chad Lucus (1 year) Who?
Derek Stanley (2 years)
Keenan Burton (2 years)
Donnie Avery (2 years)
Laurent Jackson (3 years)
Horace Grant (1 year) Who?

THis is all according to stlouisrams.com

Okay i know we all know we lack experience in the WR department and we are tired of hearing it. But i got a question. How are we supposed to develop young WRs if we dont have that veteran experience in there?

I know we have coaches to help the players develop but IMO young WRs need that veteran that will help them improve. Avery and Burton had a year with Holt but is that enough?

We have 5 developmental WRs (the others i dont know who they are) and are we supposed to just keep starting them an hope they progress on there own?


This is not a thread about feeling bad about the WRs core or about if we should trade for Boldin or anything like that. It is about the question in the title.

[schut39]

Maybe we will pick up a free agent veteran receiver such as Amani Toomer or someone else.

[general counsel]

Fair point, but personally, i think you are overvaluing the vet receivers influence and undervaluing the importance of good position coaching. I am not sure how much of a positive influence holt was last year by the way. There is no evidence to suggest that he welcomed avery with open arms or did anything positive for him, certainly not in the way that ike tutored holt early on.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[RamsInfiniti]

Forget a vet, they need to learn the hard way ...

It's a new system, and bringing a vet in, the vet may have to learn the system ...

[C-Mob 71]

I think you answered your question right after you asked it. If coaches can't develop their players then what is the point of paying them? I think "veteran leadership" can be overrated by us fans. Sure they may put some input in here and there, but really I think the coaches can handle the bulk of the work. Speaking of coaches, who is our wide receiver coach now that Henry is gone? Where's he from and what kind of experience does he have? The development of our young receivers rests in his hands.

[evil disco man]

Fair point, but personally, i think you are overvaluing the vet receivers influence and undervaluing the importance of good position coaching. I am not sure how much of a positive influence holt was last year by the way. There is no evidence to suggest that he welcomed avery with open arms or did anything positive for him, certainly not in the way that ike tutored holt early on.

Ditto that.

Also, these guys have the opportunity to grow and learn together. I imagine the competition and camaraderie between them will be even more heated without a #1 vet receiver looking down on them.

Speaking of coaches, who is our wide receiver coach now that Henry is gone? Where's he from and what kind of experience does he have?

Some background info on our WR coach:

Charlie Baggett has been hired as wide receivers coach on Steve Spagnuolo’s Rams staff. Baggett, who turned 55 on Wednesday, has spent the past two seasons coaching wide receivers at the University of Washington. In the NFL, he has had coaching stints coaching wide receivers for Miami (2005-06), Minnesota (2000-04), Green Bay (1999), and the Houston Oilers (1993-94) and in nine of his 10 seasons coaching wide receivers in the NFL, Baggett has had at least one 1,000-yard receiver.

[Fortuninerhater]

Okay here is a list of our receivers and there NFL experience:

Nate Jones (1 year) Who?
Brooks Foster (Rookie)
Travis Brown (1 year) Who?
Chad Lucus (1 year) Who?
Derek Stanley (2 years)
Keenan Burton (2 years)
Donnie Avery (2 years)
Laurent Jackson (3 years)
Horace Grant (1 year) Who?

THis is all according to stlouisrams.com

Okay i know we all know we lack experience in the WR department and we are tired of hearing it. But i got a question. How are we supposed to develop young WRs if we dont have that veteran experience in there?

I know we have coaches to help the players develop but IMO young WRs need that veteran that will help them improve. Avery and Burton had a year with Holt but is that enough?

We have 5 developmental WRs (the others i dont know who they are) and are we supposed to just keep starting them an hope they progress on there own?


This is not a thread about feeling bad about the WRs core or about if we should trade for Boldin or anything like that. It is about the question in the title.

For the second time, the Rams don't have a receiver by the last name of Jackson. The man you refer to is Laurent Robinson.

[LA Rammer]

For the second time, the Rams don't have a receiver by the last name of Jackson. The man you refer to is Laurent Robinson.

Sure they do! Laurent Jackson you remember, He went to school with Laurent Robinson and now they are on the same team.

[blood85]

You guys can put me in, I'm 38 and a veteran.

[general counsel]

Blood, we are very tight under the salary cap. Given your well known demands for 10 million in life insurance to get you out on the field, i am not sure we can afford you. One shot after a catch over the middle and it might be all over for you!

Ramming speed to all

general counsel

[Ramblin` Ram]

ive seen Blood run...theres no one quicker than him in the history of the NFL over the 1st yard..the second yard he`s bent over coughing and spluttering and pleading for gatorade but thats another matter....

[laram0]

Sure they do! Laurent Jackson you remember, He went to school with Laurent Robinson and now they are on the same team.

Actually they went to different schools together.

I agree with GC concerning Torry Holt and his influence or lack thereof on our rookies last season. As it stands now even bringing in a veteran isn't going to help much as far as actual play on the field. Our entire offense is being changed (Shurmur) so all the players are under the learning curve.

In my opinion a veteran WR would help teach the new kids how to be a professional off the field and how to deal with any adversity within the team.
However does that veteran have to be a WR? Couldn't it be a veteran that plays a different position? EX: Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson, Leonard Little etc....?

[Warner4prez]

Okay here is a list of our receivers and there NFL experience:


Horace Grant (1 year) Who?

THis is all according to stlouisrams.com

Horace Grant was a Forward for 4 different NBA championship teams spanning the 90's. Three rings with the Chicago Bulls and 1 with the Lakers. He chimes in at 6'10'' and 245lbs. Could be a legit end zone threat at WR. Nice work Rams!

[Mooselini]

I really don't know about the veteran now. Really, I want Harrison. But, who knows, we don't need a big name receiver in this system because the running game will be utilized a lot more than receiving anyways. I think we are fine with the players we have now. Just gotta coach them right.

[renrawtruk]

Henry Ellard.