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by Kendrick Marshall Kendrick MarshallContributor
Contributor Written on January 22, 2010
With the first pick in the 2010 NFL Draft the St. Louis Rams should select someone other than Nebraska stud defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh.
I know everyone will want the Rams to draft Suh with the No. 1 overall pick when the NFL Draft rolls around. But they should pass. Before you tell me I am crazy, think about one thing: When was the last time any defensive player selected at the top of the draft was an instant difference maker in dramatically improving his team the following season?
It does not happen very often. Let's take the last two drafts as a small case study. Last April, many Atlanta Falcons fans wanted the team to draft LSU all-world defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey with the third overall pick. Instead, Atlanta selected Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan.
Dorsey fell to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 5. The Falcons made the playoffs in Ryan's rookie season, while Dorsey and Kansas City suffered another losing campaign.
The Chiefs continued their struggles in 2009 and Dorsey has not even been heard of as it relates to being an impact player the pundits thought he would coming out of college. Dorsey, who was a terror in the SEC, has only recorded two sacks in two seasons.
Although the Falcons will not be making a trip to the playoffs this year, Ryan did help the franchise attain consecutive winning seasons for the first time ever.
Dan Snyder and the Washington Redskins threw $100 million at then free-agent inside lineman Albert Haynesworth believing he was the missing piece. It turned out that the missing piece was Sherman Lewis, who was called in midway through the season to help the putrid Jim Zorn-led offense.
Going back to the 2009 NFL Draft, the Rams selected Virgina defensive end and son of network analyst Howie Long, Chris Long with the No. 2 pick. Long has had a much better start to his career than Dorsey—garnering nine sacks in two years—but the Rams are selecting at the top of the draft again.
Suh is going to be a great player one day. I think. But the Rams need playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, and they need a bunch of them. Steven Jackson is the only real threat St. Louis has. However, the team is short at wide receiver and a quarterback. It can't be good when Kyle Boller, Keith Null and Mike Rielly are options at the most important position in the game.
When Donny Avery is your best wide receiver, not even Suh throwing around offensive lineman can save you.
Jimmy Clausen, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy are out there. Trade down and gather more picks.
The NFL is an offensive league. All the rules are catered toward curbing defensive play. Defensive backs can't touch receivers past five yards and linemen are not allowed to breathe on quarterbacks these days.
Suh is a player you grab when he becomes a free-agent or when your team is in a position to make a run for a postseason or Super Bowl berth. Not now when the Rams need to fill tons of needs. The Rams need about a dozen Suh's. Just one from Nebraska won't do.
Contributor Written on January 22, 2010
With the first pick in the 2010 NFL Draft the St. Louis Rams should select someone other than Nebraska stud defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh.
I know everyone will want the Rams to draft Suh with the No. 1 overall pick when the NFL Draft rolls around. But they should pass. Before you tell me I am crazy, think about one thing: When was the last time any defensive player selected at the top of the draft was an instant difference maker in dramatically improving his team the following season?
It does not happen very often. Let's take the last two drafts as a small case study. Last April, many Atlanta Falcons fans wanted the team to draft LSU all-world defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey with the third overall pick. Instead, Atlanta selected Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan.
Dorsey fell to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 5. The Falcons made the playoffs in Ryan's rookie season, while Dorsey and Kansas City suffered another losing campaign.
The Chiefs continued their struggles in 2009 and Dorsey has not even been heard of as it relates to being an impact player the pundits thought he would coming out of college. Dorsey, who was a terror in the SEC, has only recorded two sacks in two seasons.
Although the Falcons will not be making a trip to the playoffs this year, Ryan did help the franchise attain consecutive winning seasons for the first time ever.
Dan Snyder and the Washington Redskins threw $100 million at then free-agent inside lineman Albert Haynesworth believing he was the missing piece. It turned out that the missing piece was Sherman Lewis, who was called in midway through the season to help the putrid Jim Zorn-led offense.
Going back to the 2009 NFL Draft, the Rams selected Virgina defensive end and son of network analyst Howie Long, Chris Long with the No. 2 pick. Long has had a much better start to his career than Dorsey—garnering nine sacks in two years—but the Rams are selecting at the top of the draft again.
Suh is going to be a great player one day. I think. But the Rams need playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, and they need a bunch of them. Steven Jackson is the only real threat St. Louis has. However, the team is short at wide receiver and a quarterback. It can't be good when Kyle Boller, Keith Null and Mike Rielly are options at the most important position in the game.
When Donny Avery is your best wide receiver, not even Suh throwing around offensive lineman can save you.
Jimmy Clausen, Sam Bradford, and Colt McCoy are out there. Trade down and gather more picks.
The NFL is an offensive league. All the rules are catered toward curbing defensive play. Defensive backs can't touch receivers past five yards and linemen are not allowed to breathe on quarterbacks these days.
Suh is a player you grab when he becomes a free-agent or when your team is in a position to make a run for a postseason or Super Bowl berth. Not now when the Rams need to fill tons of needs. The Rams need about a dozen Suh's. Just one from Nebraska won't do.
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