Big Name Linemen Get Invitations ..

[MauiRam]

STLtoday - Big-name linemen get invitations

linemen get invitations
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Monday, Mar. 24 2008

Chris Long is coming to St. Louis in April. But Long, the defensive end from
the University of Virginia, will have company. Defensive end Vernon Gholston
(Ohio State), defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey (LSU) and offensive tackle Jake
Long (Michigan) will join Virginia's Long in paying pre-draft visits to Rams
Park on April 13.

NFL teams are allowed to bring in up to 30 college players for pre-draft
visits. In his previous two seasons with the Rams, coach Scott Linehan brought
in all 30 prospects at the same time in mid-April.

But with the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft — the team's highest draft
position since trading up to the No. 1 spot for Orlando Pace in 1997 — Linehan
and the Rams want to spend more time with some of the top draft prospects.

Once those four players have completed their visits, 26 other prospects,
Arkansas running back Darren McFadden among them, will be brought into Rams
Park on April 15.

The pre-draft visits are one of the final steps in the evaluation process
leading up to the draft (scheduled this year for April 26-27). NFL teams aren't
allowed to work out prospects during the pre-draft visits but can meet with
them and have them undergo medical examinations.

Additionally, Linehan said the Rams may set up private workouts for potential
draft candidates. These workouts usually take place at the prospect's college
campus.

Last year, a Rams delegation attended a private workout for Ohio State wide
receiver-return man Ted Ginn Jr. in Columbus. We'll never know if the Rams
would have taken Ginn at No. 13 overall because he was taken four slots earlier
by Miami. The Rams ended up taking Nebraska defensive lineman Adam Carriker.

Once again, Linehan has tried to get as much first-hand information as possible
on the top draft prospects. Over the past two weeks, he personally has attended
pro days (or campus workouts) for both Longs.

The Rams sent large delegations to both workouts, and had dinner with Jake Long
prior to his workout in Ann Arbor, Mich. There was no dinner with Chris Long in
Charlottesville, Va., but several Rams officials had breakfast with Chris
Long's father _ Hall of Famer Howie Long _ prior to Chris' workout. Several
Rams officials then met with Chris after his workout.

"We put him on the (grease) board," Linehan said. "Spent quite a bit of time
with him on his understanding of (Virginia's) defense."

When it comes to pro days, Linehan said he usually gets more out of meeting
with the player and his coaches, than the actual workout.

"The workout's fine," Linehan said. "You get to see them do their stuff — the
change of direction (skills), and all that. But it's more about getting to know
a little bit more about the player from a personal side.

"The thing I get the most out of is the chance to meet with their head coach;
meet with their position coach; meet with their trainers, weight coaches; and
just kind of find out what kind of guys they are. ... You find out little
nuggets about guys that maybe you didn't know."

For what it's worth, Linehan did not attend Gholston's pro day earlier this
month at Ohio State. Nor is he scheduled to attend McFadden's Arkansas pro day
Tuesday or Dorsey's LSU pro day on Wednesday.

Nonetheless, the Rams attended Gholston's workout, and are expected to have
delegations at the pro days for McFadden and Dorsey as well. Defensive
coordinator Jim Haslett, for example, is scheduled to attend Dorsey's workout.

Dorsey did not work out at the NFL scouting combine in February, so his workout
Wednesday will be critical in dispelling concerns about a past stress fracture
in his right leg.

"I'm not even sure how much Dorsey is going to do in his workout because of his
injury rumors," Linehan said.

If Dorsey's healthy, he could shoot to the top of the Rams' draft board. Right
now, that's a big if.

"We really like him a lot," Linehan said. "We've got to make sure on a lot of
stuff on him. ... I think you've got to see him work out."

jthomas@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8197

[Rambos]

For what it's worth, Linehan did not attend Gholston's pro day earlier this
month at Ohio State. Nor is he scheduled to attend McFadden's Arkansas pro day
Tuesday or Dorsey's LSU pro day on Wednesday.

It's Long or Long, which is fine by me.

[AvengerRam]

"I'm not even sure how much Dorsey is going to do in his workout because of his injury rumors," Linehan said.

How would rumors keep someone from working out?

[RedArcher7]

How would rumors keep someone from working out?

The George Bush of coaching...

[txramsfan]

These invitations were about as earth shattering as Paris Hilton getting invited to the newest hip joint in LA....

Good. Of course they are going to invite these guys. Also, McFadden isn't in the mix so that should be a good sign that the Rams are thinking with the correct head.

[MauiRam]

How would rumors keep someone from working out?

Well ... because unlike ordinary rumors, these are extremely powerful rumors ..

[TekeRam]

These invitations were about as earth shattering as Paris Hilton getting invited to the newest hip joint in LA....

Good. Of course they are going to invite these guys. Also, McFadden isn't in the mix so that should be a good sign that the Rams are thinking with the correct head.

Not part of the four, but he's coming none the less.

Once those four players have completed their visits, 26 other prospects, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden among them, will be brought into Rams Park on April 15.

Obviously it's just due diligence, not because they actually might take him, right? Right?

[RedArcher7]

Obviously it's just due diligence, not because they actually might take him, right? Right?

Gotta cover everyone.

[RealRam]

Chris Long is coming to St. Louis...

I like the sound of that 1st sentence. Let's make it real, not just for a 'visit'.

[Mooselini]

I like the sound of that 1st sentence. Let's make it real, not just for a 'visit'.

We all know he's going to be ours if he's available.

According to the fox sports mock, we're taking Gholston if Long isnt there, which isnt anything to cry about. I'd be happy, as long as we address DE with #2.

[keith m. klink]

LET'S NOT LET HIM LEAVE ST. LOUIS WITHOUT A CONTRACT !! hheeeeeeee

[RealRam]

We all know he [C. Long] is going to be ours if he's available.

Agreed, Moose. Can't go wrong with the quality of Long & Gholston.

Sometimes it's hard for me to choose between these two DL. Vernon seems destined to be a spooky DE at 6-4, 270 (projected size once he reaches physical maturity). Powerful pursuit type.

Chris, on the other hand, 6-4, 275 may not be as quick as VG but brings a ton of talent and effort.

Decisions, decisions. But as you said, if Long is there, he will most likely enter the NFL with the Rams.