RAMS (player concerns)

[laram0]

With all the injuries from last season what are the real player concerns for our team?

Here are some of my thoughts not in any particular order.

1. O-Line- (not so sure) Would always accept more depth though.
2. D-Line- (need more depth and a good pass rushing DE)
3. WR- (current group is getting up there in age.)
4. Secondary?
5. Kicker- (Wilkins had a bad year, is he done?)
6. LB- ( if we lose Chillar who takes his place?)
7. Back-up QB- (definitely need an upgrade)

[StLouisSam]

I think you are dead on - o-line is a huge worry for me cuz Orlando Pace gets hurt every year and now reminds me of Tony Boselli

[RamOfDenmark]

Originally Posted by laram0

With all the injuries from last season what are the real player concerns for our team?

Here are some of my thoughts not in any particular order.

1. O-Line- (not so sure) Would always accept more depth though.
2. D-Line- (need more depth and a good pass rushing DE)
3. WR- (current group is getting up there in age.)
4. Secondary?
5. Kicker- (Wilkins had a bad year, is he done?)
6. LB- ( if we lose Chillar who takes his place?)
7. Back-up QB- (definitely need an upgrade)

D-line is the #1 priority in my opinion. We need a bluechip DE who can do it all, we really have almost nothing at DE now. Little is old and did not look effective at all last year, and who else do we have? DE is the 2nd most important position on a football team and we need a big big upgrade there. Need on a scale from 1-10: 10! A lot of us wanted improvement here last year instead of Brian Leonard but alas, Linehan had other plans and that's why our need is now huge.

O-line. I think we have some potentially good young guys, if they can stay healthy. We could pick up another player preferably a tackle (Barron is not developing the way he should be and with Pace's injuries we need insurance) - someone who can play either tackle position would be ideal.

WR: we can still somewhat get it done with what we have (our lack of speed is hurting though), now is the time to get a developmental guy with speed who can gradually take over more playing time - I hate saying this again but if we had Curtis this area wouldn't be such a need. We don't need to panic, but if we don't get someone this year we'll be panicking over this position soon as Ike and Torry are getting older.

A SS would be very nice. Atogwe should have the FS spot locked, we just need another guy to play beside him. A quality SS who can play the run especially and deliver big hits would really help this D. We need Adam Archuleta in his early career without the coverage liabilities.

Let's grab Long (the DE, not the T) with our 1st rounder! I'll be so pissed if Miami take him. He only has to make it past ONE team and he'll be ours.

[Mooselini]

Originally Posted by laram0

With all the injuries from last season what are the real player concerns for our team?

Here are some of my thoughts not in any particular order.

1. O-Line- (not so sure) Would always accept more depth though.
2. D-Line- (need more depth and a good pass rushing DE)
3. WR- (current group is getting up there in age.)
4. Secondary?
5. Kicker- (Wilkins had a bad year, is he done?)
6. LB- ( if we lose Chillar who takes his place?)
7. Back-up QB- (definitely need an upgrade)

Hmm, Oline, we do need more depth at. Because our O-line gets nailed every year with a bad injury. Time to have a good back up squad to take place.

D-Line, we need good players period. Our D-line certainly isn't young, or all that good. =/

WR - I say if we are capable of keeping Bruce, just get a speed receiver.

Secondary - Maybe 1 new Cornerback and 1 New Safety to play next to Atogwe

Kicker - Keep Wilkins for one more season

LB - Free agency could possibly give us an ok player.

terrell Suggs/Lance Briggs.. if we dont make a move for one of these guys, i will be dissapointed

[RedArcher7]

You're putting too much money in a linebacker kid. You can't have a superstar at every position. If we do make a run at either of those I'll be pissed backer isn't an issue.

[Chris58]

Originally Posted by Mooselini

Hmm, Oline, we do need more depth at. Because our O-line gets nailed every year with a bad injury. Time to have a good back up squad to take place.

D-Line, we need good players period. Our D-line certainly isn't young, or all that good. =/

WR - I say if we are capable of keeping Bruce, just get a speed receiver.

Secondary - Maybe 1 new Cornerback and 1 New Safety to play next to Atogwe

Kicker - Keep Wilkins for one more season

LB - Free agency could possibly give us an ok player.

I think you're correct with the OL/DL thoughts. Though I still think we have a WR solution in Stanley. He's a burner so if he could develop under Holt/Bruce we may not need to invest $$$ on a FA or in the draft. Also, Hagans showed pretty well in preseason. It should be able to translate into the regular season.

We could get well in the secondary on the draft's late first or early 2nd day. I keep thinking Jerome Carter is going to step up into that SS he was supposed to become. And, it seems that the organization is still committed to Chavous for 2008.

Wilkins has another year in his toe. Don't waste resources this year in another kicker unless it's a walk-on preseason audition or Wilkins decides to hang them up.

We definitely need to bring in some LB help and find a QB to develop to replace Bulger in 2-3 seasons.

I think we should atleast look at suggs, IF Pisa Can Stay Healthy I wouldn't Care, Also there is the Issue Of Bringing Back Brandon Chillar. Either way i think we need to address the LB Position Somehow.

[Keenum]

For the offense, we will ride or die with the offensive line.
They looked decent as the year went on, but nowhere near as good as they should have been. Pace is getting hurt way too much, hopefully this year was his last time.
The offense on paper is one of those can should be able to score a lot, but the key is the O-line.

[Goldenfleece]

I'd rate defensive line as a higher priority than offensive line at this point. According to NFL.com, we had 31 sacks last season:
10 by linebackers (including 7 by Witherspoon)
6 by defensive backs (including 4 by Chavous)
10 by interior linemen (including 6 by Glover)
5 by defensive ends

Corey Chavous had more sacks than any defensive end on the roster! He had almost as many sacks as all of our defensive ends combined. Glover is no spring chicken, but those two contributed nearly a third of our sacks this year. That's kind of scary.

I agree with pretty much everything on the list, though. We need a safety who can start for us within the next year or two. The receiver corps no longer looks like the strength it once did, and it's hard to tell what we really have on the offensive line except that we know we don't have a tackle waiting in the wings to replace OP. If Chillar leaves, I think Chris Draft would take his place. He's competent, but that would leave us very thin on depth.

Remember In 2001 when we Blew Up Our D and Started over?? Well we Need to Do Something Similar to that. Maybe not cut everybody, but I can think of these that will have a FUTURE With The rams. Future as in 5-6 years from now.
Will Witherspoon
Oj Atogwe
Adam Carriker
Tye Hill
Brandon Chillar
John Wade
Clifton Ryan
Tim Mcgarigke
Jerome Carter

ETC>>> im sure theres more that im not remembering.

[RAMFANRAIDERHATER]

Although I won't be terribly disappointed if we take the best available O-lineman, OR a D-lineman, I think if this season didn't teach Linehan anything, he's deaf, dumb, and/or blind. (I know a lot of you guys think that anyway...LOL)

But I think we absolutely, positively need to add depth on the offensive line, especially at both ends. One, Pace is showing signs of the inevitable downhill slid including nagging and season-ending injuries. Once it starts, it usually never gets better. Two, Barron is blowing it, big-time. The kid had the chance to step up and become the next great Ram OT and he's not getting it done. Such a shame. Time to move on and start grooming a young stud(s) at OT. If we get hit with injuries again next year and we're not better prepared, heads should roll.

Next, before we think about any skill position, we have to address our ability, or I should say; "inability", to pass rush with our front four. We suck. ...and we have sucked for years. I honestly believe that if we can fix just those two areas, we'll improve dramatically next year. Not that we don't need a speedy deep threat, or a SS, but if I were to prioritize our needs, O-line is #1, D-line (DE) would be #2.

Protect your QB and provide running lanes, rush the passer without blitzing and weaknesses at other positions won't seem so, .......weak. Solidify the lines and we're back in the thick of things.

wasnt it a couple Years ago when we were in the the top 10 in sacks?? i think it was 06.. but that was then this is now. we need pass rushers.. lets go get them!

[Bar-bq]

Originally Posted by PHAT-MONEY

I think we should atleast look at suggs, IF Pisa Can Stay Healthy I wouldn't Care, Also there is the Issue Of Bringing Back Brandon Chillar. Either way i think we need to address the LB Position Somehow.

Look, I really can't say I wholeheartedly agree, here.

I think re-signing Chillar is priority. None of the other free agents available really fit the mould of a true SAM linebacker, aside from Dansby. He'll be tagged, according to reports. Therefore, why create yourself another need?

Suggs, definately is one of the BPA in Free Agency this offseason, but to be effective as a pass rush specialist, he needs to have a consistently strong line in front of him. That's why a FA LB is more of a luxury when placed against the needs of our DL.

[chiguy]

Originally Posted by PHAT-MONEY

wasnt it a couple Years ago when we were in the the top 10 in sacks?? i think it was 06.. but that was then this is now. we need pass rushers.. lets go get them!

Easier said than done. Pass rushers are hard to come by and expensive. We shouldn't be so desperate to sign one that we put ourselves in a position of not fixing any other problems.