T - minus

**RamWraith** · #1 (**permalink**) -12-07-2004

15 days until training camp opens...

2 months or 62 days until kick off

AND COUNTING

**RamWraith** · #2 (**permalink**) -12-07-2004

I also believe we can sign the big guy any time after July 15th. 3 days. I can smell the brats cooking!!

**txramsfan** · #3 (**permalink**) -13-07-2004

Oh yea, Pace will be back. Just like last year. Orlando Pace isn't the issue this year. It really wasn't last year. This year, the issue is to develop the TE and FB to the system. I'll admit, I missed this last year. I don't think the Rams are taking these two positions lightly this year.

Also, getting the D Line up to speed ASAP is critical on the defensive side of the ball. Our strength on D is our LB's and Secondary. This D Line is the key to success. We will go as far as our D Line plays.

*Yodude* · #4 (**permalink**) -13-07-2004

Quote:

Oh yea, Pace will be back. Just like last year. Orlando Pace isn't the issue this year. It really wasn't last year. This year, the issue is to develop the TE and FB to the system. I'll admit, I missed this last year. I don't think the Rams are taking these two positions lightly this year.

What's this?

Tx seeming to get legitimately excited about the offense.

I like it!

**HUbison** · #5 (**permalink**) -13-07-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by txramsfan

Oh yea, Pace will be back. Just like last year. Orlando Pace isn't the issue this year. It really wasn't last year. This year, the issue is to develop the TE and FB to the system. I'll admit, I missed this last year. I don't think the Rams are taking these two positions lightly this year.

Also, getting the D Line up to speed ASAP is critical on the defensive side of the ball. Our strength on D is our LB's and Secondary. This D Line is the key to success. We will go as far as our D Line plays.

I've said it before, I'll say it again...by the end of the season, we will be talking about our D-line as our strength. Specifically, our run stopping will be exponentially improved. Then (after we win the SB) our question marks, in descending order, will be 1) is Little going to jail, 2) is Aeneas gonna retire, & 3) can we sign Polley.

*radjohns* · #6 (**permalink**) -13-07-2004

I see nothing that suggests that the rams are serious about improving at FB or TE. Martz has said that Harris just has to be an "adequate" blocker and Goodspeed, while an upgrade over Nead, Natkin et al certainly does not look like the answer. Although, after one year in the system one would hope that he figures things out. Sure, Martz has talked about Jensen being a great blocker, but I'm not convinced that taking a TE in the 7th round is a sign that the rams aren't taking this position lightly.

Similarly, I see no reason to believe that the D-line will be an area of strength by seasons' end. If Pickett stays healthy he should be better than last season and that will be a big help. Kennedy can't be worse than last season and that too will be good news, but I'll be shocked if the D-line is an area of strength. Lewis is mediocre whether he is injured or healthy. Jackson is good off the bench, but he is not a force vs. the run. Moran is terrible, I hope that he gets cut. Little will be strong in passing situations, but has not shown much vs. the run. The rest of the unit is comprised of journeymen and unproven young guys. I just can't see this being a unit of strength.

**HUbison** · #7 (**permalink**) -13-07-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by radjohns

Similarly, I see no reason to believe that the D-line will be an area of strength by seasons' end. If Pickett stays healthy he should be better than last season and that will be a big help. Kennedy can't be worse than last season and that too will be good news, but I'll be shocked if the D-line is an area of strength. Lewis is mediocre whether he is injured or healthy. Jackson is good off the bench, but he is not a force vs. the run. Moran is terrible, I hope that he gets cut. Little will be strong in passing situations, but has not shown much vs. the run. The rest of the unit is comprised of journeymen and unproven young guys. I just can't see this being a unit of strength.

Don't get me wrong. A strong D-line hinges entirely upon health, but assuming they stay healthy, this could be, by the end of the season, one of the best interior lines in the league. When his ankles have allowed him to, Pickett has been an outstanding run-stuffer. He certainly has been better than some are willing to give him credit for. I think (feel, believe, hypothesize, opinionated guess) that Kennedy has become adjusted to life in the NFL. I just don't think he was mentally ready for the transition last year. Couple this with the fact that they are both playing at more comfortable weights should prove to provide noticeable improvements in run defense. As far as Lewis, no I'm not sold on him yet either, but he too has the ability to play significantly better than he has. We know what to expect from Little (top-tier pass rush, decent run stop), Tyoka (stability) and Moran (nothing), but Flowers, Fisher, & certainly Hargrove all offer decent upside.

If I'm wrong, I'll be the first to admit it, but this D-line excites me. It may take a fair portion of the season to do it, but they will establish themselves as one of the better lines in the league.

*radjohns* · #8 (**permalink**) -13-07-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUbison

If I'm wrong, I'll be the first to admit it, but this D-line excites me. It may take a fair portion of the season to do it, but they will establish themselves as one of the better lines in the league.

Of course, I hope that you are correct.

*serkicker32* · #9 (**permalink**) -13-07-2004

as a note on 7th round tight ends Eric Johnson of the ***** was a 7th round pick an he has became a pretty good starter for them, so I would not doubt that Erik Jenson could become an effective blocker if used correctly.

*radjohns* · #10 (**permalink**) -14-07-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by serkicker32

as a note on 7th round tight ends Eric Johnson of the ***** was a 7th round pick an he has became a pretty good starter for them, so I would not doubt that Erik Jenson could become an effective blocker if used correctly.

No question, late rounders can be a success in the NFL. However, I don't understand how someone can say that the rams are taking the TE/FB positions seriously. Certainly, taking this area seriously doesn't mean addressing it in the 7th round of the draft, re-signing one of the worst players on the rams offense last season (manumaleuna) and then converting an UFA RB to FB and say that he only has to an "adequate" blocker. Like I said, I see no sign of the rams taking the TE/FB positions seriously this year. Seems to me that they are taking it as lightly as ever.

**evil disco man** · #11 (**permalink**) -14-07-2004

I'm tired of being excited about the D-Line every year. They possess all the potential in the world, but for one excuse or another have not shown up. Leonard Little has been the only consistent playmaker on the line that consists of three (four if you count Erik Flowers) first-rounders. It's time for them to put up or be gone.

*majorram* · #12 (**permalink**) -14-07-2004

I agree EDM, it's time for these guys to start to shine, how many first rounders do we have!!!!!!!! :smile:

steve

**Nick** · #13 (**permalink**) -14-07-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by radjohns

No question, late rounders can be a success in the NFL. However, I don't understand how someone can say that the rams are taking the TE/FB positions seriously. Certainly, taking this area seriously doesn't mean addressing it in the 7th round of the draft, re-signing one of the worst players on the rams offense last season (manumaleuna) and then converting an UFA RB to FB and say that he only has to an "adequate" blocker. Like I said, I see no sign of the rams taking the TE/FB positions seriously this year. Seems to me that they are taking it as lightly as ever.

I tend to agree, at least in terms of this team not focusing in on either of those two problem areas. Not only was Jensen a seventh round pick -- one of the last picks in the draft itself -- but he only has one year as a starter in college.

I would have liked to have seen the Rams go after Mike Karney as a possible answer for our fullback problems. Karney seems to be a terrific blocker and might have filled the void left by the Hammer's move to Arizona.

I was very impressed with and wouldn't change a thing about the Rams first day draft tactics. However, I might have tried to make a move on Karney in the fourth round and passed on Chillar if only because we already had decent depth at linebacker. I hope Chillar makes me regret saying that by proving himself, but I would have valued TE or FB as a bigger need than LB at that point.

I'm not convinced there was a Day Two tight end that we should have drafted instead of someone else, but I think we could have been more aggressive in pursuing a veteran free agent tight end or perhaps trying to make a trade happen.

**HUbison** · #14 (**permalink**) -14-07-2004

Speaking of FBs, does anyone know how much weight Arlen has put on since getting the draft day notice that he's moving to fullback?

**HUbison** · #15 (**permalink**) -14-07-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by serkicker32

as a note on 7th round tight ends Eric Johnson of the ***** was a 7th round pick an he has became a pretty good starter for them, so I would not doubt that Erik Jenson could become an effective blocker if used correctly.

some other 6th or 7th rounders to note:
Itula Mili 6th
Frank Wycheck 6th
Mark Chmura 6th
Byron Chamberlain 7th
Jay Riemersma 7th
Jed Weaver 7th
Billy Miller 7th
Shannon Sharpe 7th

All of which have outperformed our current TE cast.