"MY" 2008 Rams

[moklerman]

At kicker, I let a couple of guys sign with other teams first. Brown might even still be available but regardless, I sign whoever is available out of Brown, Akers, Elam and Suisham. When the Rams get to where the Colts were and need a kicker to put them over the top, then I spend the big bucks.

I work with Bruce and make sure he retires a Ram. If I have to pay him the remainder of his contract, it stings since the team needs the cap space but I keep him happy and welcome the continued leadership he provides for the apparent youth movement.

I sign Trent Green to come in and push Bulger in '08. If Bulger doesn't perform at a high level and stay healthy, he's gone in '09. If he can't beat out Green, he's gone anyway. This is an open competition for '08. I possibly explore signing a young veteran as #3 to bridge a potential QBOF gap.

Left guard is a position I want to solidify so Bell might have been the guy but a replacement is found that can likely just stay healthy. Starting caliber, healthy, moderately priced. I've got too much to fix to find a superstar.

DE, again I have to go with guys who will provide minutes and depth. Not Jimmy Kennedy but not Justin Smith.

I agree with signing Saunders. I want him to get Bulger back on track and get our WR's clicking again.

Speaking of WR's, Bennett is encouraged to restructure his deal. If he doesn't I shop him and hope someone bites. If he's lobbying his buddy Bell, he can help by making his own cap number more friendly.

In the draft, I take Jake Long at #2 if he's there. Pace could be done so I get his replacement now instead of when it's a definite need. If Pace can play, I put Long somewhere else on the line.

Depending on Saunders' plan of attack, I might spend some money on a fullback. With the way the line potentially shapes up, a good fullback(rather than a warm body) can put Jackson and the running game into elite status.

The rest of the draft, I round out the defense and special teams. With the money at hand and the lack of affordable difference makers on defense, it's hard to see spending much money on that side of the ball this year.

[eldfan]

quote"In the draft, I take Jake Long at #2 if he's there. Pace could be done so I get his replacement now instead of when it's a definite need. If Pace can play, I put Long somewhere else on the line. "

I can see that. This team is going no where in 2008 might as well build the OL in the DL up.

[Will51]

i like how u say this team is goin no where, that is defanitely not a sign of a true fan, what you need to realize is that we have one hell of an O line when healthy, if our O line is healthy jackson and bulger are nothing short of spectacular, holt gets open and creates plays and our defense is not always on the field. now with bulger,holt,jackson, and a healthy O line we can for sure make it to the play offs and after seeing what the giants did we can also make it to the big dance

[txramsfan]

Originally Posted by Will51

i like how u say this team is goin no where, that is defanitely not a sign of a true fan, what you need to realize is that we have one hell of an O line when healthy, if our O line is healthy jackson and bulger are nothing short of spectacular, holt gets open and creates plays and our defense is not always on the field. now with bulger,holt,jackson, and a healthy O line we can for sure make it to the play offs and after seeing what the giants did we can also make it to the big dance

You couldn't be more wrong on your observation of moklerman. He's been around for a very long time as a Ram fan, dating way back to the L A days. Be careful when we label fans on this site.

[Will51]

Originally Posted by txramsfan

You couldn't be more wrong on your observation of moklerman. He's been around for a very long time as a Ram fan, dating way back to the L A days. Be careful when we label fans on this site.

i was talking about eld

[jkramsfan]

great points,you give alot to think about there including the part about Bulger,I get the feeling from people that they will be watching him closely this season,I guess that comes with a 60mil+ contract.

[moklerman]

We'll see if Bulger can have another pretty good year like he had in '06 but he's just so injury prone that, in my hypothetical scenario he just doesn't seem to fit. He's been given 5 years as the starter and really only proven to be inconsistent. His career 4.3 TD% isn't even top 15 among active QB's. Even in '06 when he had a pretty good year, he still wasn't providing a lot of bang for the buck. 24 TD's was good but it was only 4.1% of his passes which was very mediocre. Especially for the money he's getting. Last year, albeit a horrible year all around, it dropped to 2.9%. Even Frerotte was at 4.2% last year.

It just seems that the further removed from the Martz era that the Rams offense goes, the worse he plays. For example, in 2002, when he essentially won the starting job, he was at 5.9%. Since then, he hasn't ever really been close. This really seems like a make or break year for him.

[jkramsfan]

Originally Posted by moklerman

We'll see if Bulger can have another pretty good year like he had in '06 but he's just so injury prone that, in my hypothetical scenario he just doesn't seem to fit. He's been given 5 years as the starter and really only proven to be inconsistent. His career 4.3 TD% isn't even top 15 among active QB's. Even in '06 when he had a pretty good year, he still wasn't providing a lot of bang for the buck. 24 TD's was good but it was only 4.1% of his passes which was very mediocre. Especially for the money he's getting. Last year, albeit a horrible year all around, it dropped to 2.9%. Even Frerotte was at 4.2% last year.

It just seems that the further removed from the Martz era that the Rams offense goes, the worse he plays. For example, in 2002, when he essentially won the starting job, he was at 5.9%. Since then, he hasn't ever really been close. This really seems like a make or break year for him.

those stats tell quite a story. I didn't realize there was such a dropoff since Martz,it's not surprising but i sure see your make or break year point.

[Nick]

A few points...

-The only kickers you mentioned that actually are available are Brown and Elam. David Akers is signed with the Eagles through 2010, and Shaun Suisham is an exclusive rights free agent that signed his tender offer from Washington. So again, Brown is the best option, and the Rams signed him. I don't know why people are having such hang-ups on this move, especially after years of complaining about poor special teams play.

-I'd be fine with your plan for Bruce. Ultimately I'd rather bite the bullet and pay more than I think Bruce is worth against the cap than simply lose him altogether.

-As for Bulger, well... sorry mok, but you're "stuck" with him for longer than two years. Green's injury history make him questionable even as a back-up, let along someone to push for a starting job. Besides, Bulger just signed a six-year contract with a $12 million signing bonus and a lot of guaranteed money. Cutting him any time soon would be pretty expensive. And that's assuming he doesn't return to form, which I think he does with a capable offensive line.

-Bennett won't restructure his deal one year after signing it, and moving him would be more expensive than keeping him. So, neither of those plans of action seem incredibly feasible.

I tend to agree with or at least see valid reasoning behind the rest of your suggestions, though I'm not very sold on the idea of simply acquiring a bunch of depth players to set up a rotation at defensive end.

[Rambos]

-I'd be fine with your plan for Bruce. Ultimately I'd rather bite the bullet and pay more than I think Bruce is worth against the cap than simply lose him altogether.

For how long, if he wants to play at 39, do we still work with him?

[r8rh8rmike]

Originally Posted by Rambos

For how long, if he wants to play at 39, do we still work with him?

For how long? At the very least for the remaining length of his contract, a contract that was unselfishly reworked to help the team in a time of need. After that, who knows.

[moklerman]

-The only kickers you mentioned that actually are available are Brown and Elam.

I'll defer to you on that(perhaps you could provide a reliable source for such info?) but when I googled free agent kickers, the four I mentioned were listed as UFA's for 2008. However, my plan would still be feasible since there are kickers out there if you look. When I'm in charge, we won't be jumping the gun and overspending for a kicker on day 1 of free agency.

-As for Bulger, well... sorry mok, but you're "stuck" with him for longer than two years.

Be careful, Nick. We're in my world and I may just erase him from existence to teach you a lesson. But, you're right, it would be costly to cut him after this year but if he fails to live up to his contract again, I'll be forced to make a decision for the good of the team. I won't Kordell Stewart my fans to death and ride out Bulger's mediocrity to the bitter end just to prove I was right in giving him a ridiculous contract in the first place.

-Bennett won't restructure his deal one year after signing it, and moving him would be more expensive than keeping him. So, neither of those plans of action seem incredibly feasible.

I know he won't "want" to restructure but I think he'll like that better than the creative ways I have in mind for him to actually earn his money. I think after he runs 50 or 60 consecutive shallow slants over the middle he might enjoy playing a more conventional #2 when he restructures to a deal more in line with his production. Ultimately, I'll trade him to the Allouettes and let him ride out his contract in Canada if he wants to be a prick about it.

The team is already strapped so it won't bother me to cut loose these guys who just show up for the paycheck. It'll be rough in the beginning but we're trying to fix decades of mismanagement.

[ramsbruce]

Originally Posted by r8rh8rmike

For how long? At the very least for the remaining length of his contract, a contract that was unselfishly reworked to help the team in a time of need. After that, who knows.

Bingo!!!!!

[Nick]

Originally Posted by moklerman

I'll defer to you on that(perhaps you could provide a reliable source for such info?)

The NFLPA has salary figures for Akers through 2010. The Redskins official site confirmed Suisham signed an ERFA offer a few days ago.

Originally Posted by moklerman

However, my plan would still be feasible since there are kickers out there if you look. When I'm in charge, we won't be jumping the gun and overspending for a kicker on day 1 of free agency.

Which kickers? Bironas? He got a second round tender offer. Aaron Elling? John Carney? Neither are very reliable options, IMO.

You keep saying overspending. What's overspending? Brown's contract is $2.2 million more than what Vinatieri signed two years ago, and he received only $500K more in signing bonus than Adam did. Considering how much inflation occurs year to year with contracts, I still maintain the Brown deal is a good one when replacing Wilkins' talent with another young talent.

Originally Posted by moklerman

But, you're right, it would be costly to cut him after this year but if he fails to live up to his contract again, I'll be forced to make a decision for the good of the team.

And all I'm saying is that paying more money to rid yourself of a player is probably not for the good of the team in a salary cap system. Remember, in getting rid of him, you'd not only be paying more than he costs to keep but you'd also have to go out and pay for a replacement.

[Rambos]

For how long? At the very least for the remaining length of his contract, a contract that was unselfishly reworked to help the team in a time of need. After that, who knows.

This is the NFL. we all know that these contracts are loaded on the back end. Most player sooner are later have to rework a contract, it's business. If Bruce wanted to finish as a Ram he could have, he chose not too.