Prospects visit Rams

[RamWraith]

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, Apr. 10 2007

For most NFL teams, draft prospects trickle in one or two at a time for
pre-draft visits from late March until mid-April. For the Rams, however,
visiting hours are condensed.

For the second consecutive year under coach Scott Linehan, basically all of the
team's pre-draft visits will take place over a two-day period. This year, 29
draft prospects descend on Rams Park today and tomorrow.

The list of 29 names, obtained by the Post-Dispatch via team, league and agent
sources, provides clues to the Rams' draft interests.

For example, defensive ends Jamaal Anderson (Arkansas) and Adam Carriker
(Nebraska) are believed to be strong candidates to be taken at No. 13 overall
by the Rams in the draft April 28-29. Both are on this week's Rams Park guest
list.

The four running backs visiting Rams Park look like legitimate candidates to
step into the No. 2 running back position behind Steven Jackson. Of the four,
Arizona's Chris Henry, Penn State's Tony Hunt and Rutgers' Brian Leonard fit
the big-back mold that Linehan seems to prefer.

The fact that eight wide receivers — more than any other position — are in for
visits shows that Linehan is serious about finding a No. 4 receiver ... and
about addressing the return game. Many of the visiting receivers, such as Chris
Davis (Florida State), Yamon Figurs (Kansas State), Jacoby Jones (Lane College)
and Ryne Robinson (Miami, Ohio), have kickoff- and punt-return experience.

Quarterback-athlete Isaiah Stanback (Washington), as well as cornerbacks
Darrell Revis (Pittsburgh) and Josh Wilson (Maryland) also have return
potential.

However, there's a danger in reading too much into pre-draft visits. Defensive
tackle is the Rams' No. 1 draft need, but neither of the top two nose tackles
in the draft — Michigan's Alan Branch and Louisville's Amobi Okoye — is in for
a visit this week.

Teams are allowed a maximum of 30 pre-draft visits, plus any local draft
prospects (they don't count against the 30). Of the 33 known players who paid
pre-draft visits last season to Rams Park, the club drafted only two. Of
course, they just happened to be the team's first- and second-round picks:
cornerback Tye Hill and tight end Joe Klopfenstein.

"To be honest, some of these (visiting players), we really, really like,"
Linehan said. "The rest of the them are a mixed bag. There's medical re-checks
that we need on some players. And there were pro-day conflicts with some where
we're really just getting more information on players."

Linehan said the only reason Hill was brought in for a visit last season was
because Linehan couldn't make it to his pro day. This season, in the case of
Okoye, the Rams didn't feel a need to bring him in. They already have scouted
Okoye at the Senior Bowl, the NFL scouting combine and at Okoye's campus pro
day. They already have interviewed him twice.

As for this year's visits, Linehan plans to meet with each player individually.
There will be a staff dinner tonight with the draft prospects. On Wednesday,
position coaches meet individually with players. Some players will have
physicals. But draft prospects aren't allowed to work out during these visits.

[txramsfan]

So, if these players are in for visits....DURING THE SPRING SEMESTER....what does that tell you about the student athlete myth?

[RAMMAN68]

So, if these players are in for visits....DURING THE SPRING SEMESTER....what does that tell you about the student athlete myth?

They are spending their "Spring Break" in the STL?

Wouldn't you?