Rams' needs at defensive back

Rams' needs at defensive back - from St. Louis P.D.
- Jim Thomas
04/10/2005

The addition of what coach Mike Martz calls "The Michaels" has helped: free-agent pickups Michael Hawthorne and Michael Stone. But safety remains the thinnest position on the Rams depth chart.

With Pisa Tinoisamoa staying at linebacker, Adam Archuleta is the only safety from last year's squad currently on the roster. Archuleta is coming off a subpar season in which he ended the year with a herniated disc in his back. There's no guarantee the back will hold up over a full season in 2005.

Hawthorne and Stone, meanwhile, are converted cornerbacks with not much NFL safety experience. Stone, in fact, doesn't have much NFL experience, period, other than special teams. He has only seven tackles on defense since entering the NFL in 2001. Although both players should contribute in '05, it would be optimistic to expect either to be an impact starter.

So the Rams need a safety - maybe two - in this draft. Trouble is, Georgia's Thomas Davis figures to be gone when the Rams pick at No. 19 overall. Taking Oklahoma's Brodney Pool in the first round would be a reach; then again, Pool almost certainly will be gone by the time St. Louis picks in Round 2.

Rams general manager Charley Armey says he has a couple of draft "sleepers" at the safety position. Anything would help at this point.

Quote:

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Rams general manager Charley Armey says he has a couple of draft "sleepers" at the safety position.

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Hm, this should keep the speculation fires burning for a little while.

Hopefully, whoever they are, they will have better attitudes, if not better landscaping skills, than shivers.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

I'm just glad to hear that its at least on the radar!

I heard the Rams are interested in the following Safeties:

Marviel Underwood - San Diego St
5'10 1/4" 197 lbs 4.38

Kurt Campbell - Albany
6" 1 1/4" 227 lbs 4.46

Andre Maddox - NC State
6'0 1/4" 206 lbs 4.46

Wonder if these arwe his safety sleepers?

I would bet Maddox is on the list. I remember hearing news about the Rams liking him a long time ago.