What if it works?

[AvengerRam]

Last year, the performance of the Rams DT corps was about as bad as one could imagine. Jimmy Kennedy failed to establish himself as a NT. L'Roi Glover played too many downs and was not effective against the run. Claude Wroten's career got off to a slow start. Jason Fisk added nothing significant to the rotation. In all, the run defense was horrid - allowing 4.9 yards per carry and way too many big runs.

Free agency and the trading block did not offer any real solutions to this problem. No true run stuffing interior linemen were available - unless you count the overpriced and overweight Kris Jenkins. Nobody was offering Casey Hampton, Kevin Williams or Jamal Williams.

So, out of necessity, the Rams are relying on a crop of four players, three of whom are rookies, to develop into a solid corp of DTs. Adam Carriker seems to be the real deal, but he has not played a down. Wroten has promise, but needs to show it on the field. Clifton Ryan and Keith Jackson are wild cards, but showed some good qualities in college.

Any Rams fan with a shred of logic has to be a bit worried about the prospect of these young guys being relied upon to fix the run defense.

But what if it works?

If you look at true success stories in the NFL, a common element always seems to be the willingness to give young players a chance to develop. When they do, a team can find itself with a nucleus of players who can help a team sustain success.

Maybe, in terms of pure odds, obtaining players like Kris Jenkins, Grady Jackson or Sam Adams is more likely to lead to short-term success. But, even in the best case scenario, those players are expensive stop-gaps.

Four players. If at least two of them become what we hope they will, the Rams could really have something here.

[r8rh8rmike]

Anything is possible, but if the plan is to rely on three rookies and Wroten, we could be in for some serious growing pains at the tackle position during the process of getting to the point where it works. I'd feel much more comfortable with at least one more solid veteran being added to the mix. For now, I'll just have to trust the coaching staff and hope for the best.

[bigtiger737]

If you look at true success stories in the NFL, a common element always seems to be the willingness to give young players a chance to develop. When they do, a team can find itself with a nucleus of players who can help a team sustain success.

In some cases, it's by no means the stepping stone. Besides we have done nothing but use this philosophy and it has given us 31st in the league against the run. I think alot of rookies actually become busts because of too much of the NFL to quick. Which is why I think we should go for Jenkins. Carriker has not played Alexander and Gore. I love glover I think he's a great player buut he's not what we need right now we need a monster and the only monster for sale is Jenkins

[Goldenfleece]

Originally Posted by r8rh8rmike

Anything is possible, but if the plan is to rely on three rookies and Wroten, we could be in for some serious growing pains at the tackle position during the process of getting to the point where it works. I'd feel much more comfortable with at least one more solid veteran being added to the mix. For now, I'll just have to trust the coaching staff and hope for the best.

I agree. Even if every one of these guys was a future Pro Bowler, we wouldn't necessarily see even average play from them this year. That's not to say that this isn't for the best in the long run, but we're going to have to be ready for some ups and downs especially if something should happen to Carriker, and Jackson or Ryan is forced into the starting lineup.

[39thebeast]

it is a good thing to see that were are trying to fix Martz's mess from d line down. Last year we went for older DT's now were going younger and i think that is better way to go for the future and the present

[RealRam]

Originally Posted by R8rh8rmike

...I'd feel much more comfortable with at least one more solid veteran being added to the mix. For now, I'll just have to trust the coaching staff and hope for the best.

Ditto. Right now Glover is the go to man for all veteran DT skills, including leadership. Let's see who else we can find to add experience -- other than Jenkins that is (unless some breaking news comes up in our favor).

I'm still rooting for Clifton Ryan to seize the opportunity that Kennedy has opened.


Yes, it just might work.

[Varg6]

Well wouldn't it be nice to have a wonder-like-Warner for defense? Preferrably for Defensive Tackle? I'd love to see Carriker succeed from day one, and by the looks of it (he's just monstrous) he can certainly do so.

[Richbert88]

Carriker sure looks and "acts" the part of a major piece. Hope & wishing is brought on by desperation. I don't hope nor wish, I truly can not see how this situation isn't better NOW.

Barring injury, we are. Three rookies, a second year player and Glover. I'll take that. JK <whose name should no longer be spoken> was truly that bad. Not "just" because of his ineffective play, but because of his inability to take coaching, sacrafice for the team to his ROLE, and his attitude.

And, as has been stated before, Carriker is coming in with better strength and hand to hand ability, as well as more coachability.....from the start! The three rookies without experience are a step up from JK simply because of his negatives. They don't need to be real good or average, they just need to be better than him, and I find it hard to believe that they won't be.

Go Rams!

[general counsel]

i have no issue with the fundemental premise or title of the thread. I would point out that exactly the same thing could have been said if jimmy kennedy, in a contract year, had stepped up his play, especially playing without a broken hand all year.

I think we all know that if we get solid play from our defensive tackles, we will be dramatically improved on defense. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to come to that conclusion. However, with all the information previously posted on this board and elsewhere on the difficulties of rookies contributing at the position, we are now relying on three of them to be our run stuffers.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[helorm341]

So are all you guys who are saying you don't want rookies to start, that you want Carriker to sit his first year? WHile I agree that most rookies won't match the hype their ffirst year I do think that some can.(i DONT agree that it would hinder their development, this isn't baseball) Linehan has been talking about Carriker like a giddy school girl. I want ot see Carriker out ther this year.

[BIG-BLUE]

I keep reading post about rookies starting being a bad thing. Every player is a rookie when they make their jump into the NFL, some grasp it & some don't. So what we have a group of young hungry rookies @ the DT position, I see this as a good thing since the free agent market & trades really don't have anything to be excited about I would rather bring in a group of hungry rookies in that will listen & learn the coaches system & have some very intense battles in training camp.

[HUbison]

Originally Posted by helorm

all you guys who are saying you don't want rookies to start

Originally Posted by Blue

I keep reading post about rookies starting being a bad thing

I don't think anyone is saying anything along these lines. Personally, I'm all for Carriker from Day 1. What bothers me is the complete lack of veteran leadership at the NT position. There are 3 rookies with no one to lean on. As AV said, to anyone with a shred of logic, that is going to be a little worrisome.

Some will say no leadership is better than Kennedy's leadership. Fine, it's open to speculation. However, what's not open is the fact that nobody on this roster has played 4-3 NT in the NFL. A little worrisome. I'm willing to trust Linehan, but still a little worrisome.

Originally Posted by AV

But what if it works?

I'll be a happy man.

[VegasRam]

Bottom line, our resurgent O-line last yaer had three rookies - Bromberg, Incognito (playing two positions), and Setterstrom.

So "What if it works?" becomes "Why can't it work?"

[Rambos]

Bottom line, our resurgent O-line last yaer had three rookies - Bromberg, Incognito (playing two positions), and Setterstrom.

Cog was not a rookie, he is in his third year...

What if works? What choice did we have? Kennedy is not an NT he moved over and gave it a shot and stunk. To move him back to DT does not make sense with Glover and Wrote there.

In camp if the rookies are not getting it done we can bring in a vet to play as well as Kennedy has. If by preseason we still have not brought in a vet, we will get too see these guys in preseason and either start to panic or say the coaching staff knows more then we can possible speculate on the subject.

I have not personally seen Wroten since last year, I’m sure he has worked very hard on his strength and will be much improved in year two much like Cog did last year. The reports from the OTA’s are he looks like the player they thought he would be.

I’m still thinking we will not have a true NT this year and line up with two DT and have a more aggressive and active front four.

[general counsel]

I love the guys on this board, i just wish sometimes people would read a little more carefully before they criticize. I havent seen one person say that they want carriker to sit so that kennedy can play. not one.

however, there is a BIG difference between a highly regarded rookie like carriker and 5th and 7th round picks contributing at the defensive tackle position as rookies. Is it impossible? no. However, is it likely, based on the history of the entire nfl. A resounding no. Its a LOT more likely that a guy who played with a broken hand all year in his first year at the position improves than that a fifth and seventh round pick at the dt position contribute as rookies. I dont see anyway around that conclusion. Everyone else is entitled to disagree, i would just love to see people provide me with a few examples of 5th and 7th round defensive tackles picks that contributed as rookies. Keeping in mind that there are dozens of such selections every year, the fact that people that know more than me can come up with a couple of examples isnt likely to be statistically significant.

I have yet to see someone respond to my argument regarding our backup plan in the event carriker gets hurt. I would love to see someone tell me that they would rather have clifton ryan as their starter rather than a healthy kennedy. These guys play in rotation. We have no depth at all.

ramming speed to all

general counsel