Davis visits Rams

[Nick]

Highly regarded safety from Georgia visits
By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch
Friday, Apr. 15 2005

Friday was the last day for pre-draft visits, and the Rams went out with a
bang. Headlining a group of four players who visited Rams Park was safety
Thomas Davis of Georgia.

Davis has the size of a weakside linebacker (6-1, 230) with the quickness of
some cornerbacks. He's the best safety in this year's draft pool, and the Rams
might just stop the draft and hold a parade if he's still available at No. 19
overall in the first round. Trouble is, most mock drafts don't have him getting
by New Orleans at No. 16, three picks before St. Louis.

Because of his size, and style of play at Georgia, some NFL teams have him
projected as a linebacker in the pros.

"Just given what a team needs, I'll be willing to go anywhere, play anything,"
Davis said at the NFL Scouting Combine.

He proved that several years ago at Randolph-Clay High in Shellman, Ga.,
handling his team's punting and kicking chores.

"I hit a couple extra points," Davis said. "I think I've got the school record
down there. It wasn't very many."

In college, Davis hit more than a few running backs and receivers. He's a big
hitter, and a good blitzer who plays with reckless abandon. Sometimes that
results in Davis over-pursuing a play. Despite his hitting ability, some
observers feel he could use more time in the weight room to build up his
strength.

At Georgia, Davis played strongside linebacker in '02, and then switched to
free safety in '03 and '04. Although his job title was free safety, he played
more like a strong safety, with a lot of run-stuffing responsibilities. Davis
freely admits his pass coverage needs polishing.

"I feel like the coverage will be a question because a lot of the times at
Georgia, I was mainly used coming down in the box," Davis said. "Or basically,
we were just playing zone. We weren't playing a lot of man at Georgia. ... But
I feel like I'll show teams that I'm capable of doing it. I have the speed to
go out and cover."

Davis ran a surprisingly slow time - for him - of 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard
dash at the combine, but was down in the 4.4s at his pro day at Georgia.

Also playing pre-draft visits Friday to Rams Park were cornerback Fabian
Washington of Nebraska; quarterback Adrian McPherson of Florida State; and
tight end Jerome Collins of Notre Dame.

McPherson is an interesting story. He was dismissed from FSU's team following
the 2002 season for his involvement in the cashing of a stolen check. In July
2003, McPherson pleaded no contest to gambling and theft charges and was
sentenced to 30 months of probation. He ended up playing Arena League football
for the Indiana Firebirds but is now eligible for the NFL draft.

Otis, Connolly also visit

Columbia (N.Y.) quarterback Jim Otis (CBC High), and Southeast Missouri State
offensive guard Dan Connolly (Marquette High) paid pre-draft visits Thursday to
Rams Park.

Also meeting with the team Thursday were wide receiver Vincent Jackson of
Northern Colorado and linebacker Sarth Benoit of Southern Connecticut State.

No offer for Looker

Friday was the deadline for restricted free agents to get an offer from another
team. The deadline came and went without an offer for Rams wide receiver Dane
Looker, so he will sign the one-year, $656,000 tender offer from the club.

[Yodude]

Sometimes that results in Davis over-pursuing a play...

Well, I guess he'll fit right in then, won't he?

[UtterBlitz]

Overpursuing is a popular thing.

Although his job title was free safety, he played more like a strong safety, with a lot of run-stuffing responsibilities. Davis freely admits his pass coverage needs polishing.

As is pass coverage skills that need polishing.

I have to wonder what this defense is going to perform like this year. We have still have Marmie, which gives me no confidence. There have been quite a few new players added and the potential position changes for Pisa and Arch will certainly change things, but will it be for the better?

[UtterBlitz]

Friday was the deadline for restricted free agents to get an offer from another team. The deadline came and went without an offer for Rams wide receiver Dane Looker, so he will sign the one-year, $656,000 tender offer from the club.

We get to keep Looker.