Rams-Florida Connection?

[Guest]

Excerpt from Devaney's Draft Discussion:

Larry, ft lauderdale , florida
1:34 PM CT
"Hi i have been a rams fan for 35 yrs . i am happy with any thing you do , just keep doing smart things. Can you get more florida players please ?"

General Manager Billy Devaney, Stlouisrams.com
"Larry, you may be happy when the draft is over."


NBC Sports
Posted by Michael David Smith
February 25, 2010

"There's a surprising name among the contingent of coaches, scouts and executives the St. Louis Rams brought to this week's Scouting Combine: Former South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt... Leavitt will be helping the Rams evaluate this year's draft prospects."



I may have gone completely crazy from all this draft gossip and with all the waiting... dear god...the waiting... but it seems to me the Rams are taking a special interest in Florida players. Quite possibly South Florida players. Just thought it was an interesting correlation. Make of it what you will.

[molar_pistol]

Re: Rams-Florida Connection?

as far as u of florida guys go this year i like cunningham a lot if he falls to the third, very interesting comment by devaney though.

[RockinRam]

Re: Rams-Florida Connection?

I think the only players we would take from Florida are:

Jermaine Cunningham (DE)

Riley Cooper(WR)

[Goldenfleece]

Re: Rams-Florida Connection?

Or:

Carlos Dunlap (DE)

Maurkice Pouncey (G/C)

Aaron Hernandez (TE)


Dunlap or Pouncey could be good value at the top of the second, and Hernandez would fill a need in the mid-rounds. And that's just the players specifically from University of Florida. The list could include a couple dozen players if we are talking about the state of Florida, as opposed to the school.

[msha]

Re: Rams-Florida Connection?

ya maybe jimmy graham or jason fox from miami, george selvie or jpp (if he drops) from usf, or dekoda watson from fsu

[Ventesette]

Re: Rams-Florida Connection?

They are mostly talking about U of South Florida. Here is an article about their pro-day.

Pierre-Paul’s reputation grows at South Florida Pro Day
Posted: April 8th, 2010 | Gil Brandt | Tags: 2010 Pro Days, Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
When it comes to first-round prospects, pro days usually serve to solidify what scouts already know. There has been so much talk, so much tape, combine evaluations, meetings, that pro days are generally just one small sample of years of evaluation.
But in the case of someone like South Florida DE Jason Pierre-Paul, who has played just one season in a major college program, a pro day workout such as the one he attended at South Florida on March 30 becomes even more important. Pierre-Paul’s experience at the Division I level is limited to just eight games, but his long body (his arms measure at 34 3/8 inches) and impressive skill set have most forecasters picking him to go in the early first round.
My sources tell me that Pierre-Paul (6-foot-4 5/5, 266 pounds) worked out in front of representatives from all 32 teams outdoors on grass along with 14 teammates at South Florida’s pro day.
While Pierre-Paul kept his 40 times, short shuttle, three-cone drill and bench press numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine, he did post an impressive 31.5-inch vertical jump and a 9-foot, 9-inch broad jump. Afterwards, he did position workouts with coaches from the Bengals, Saints, and Panthers.
Other notable South Florida players that worked out:
DE George Selvie (6-4 5/8, 253) ran a 4.90-second 40-yard dash with the wind and a 4.99 against the wind. He did position drills and kept the rest of his numbers from the combine.
ILB Kion Wilson (6-foot 1/4, 235) ran a 4.84 40 with the wind and a 4.93 against the wind. He ran a 4.51-second short shuttle and a 7.47-second three-cone drill. He kept the rest of his numbers from the combine and did position workouts with Joe Baker, the linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
WR Carlton Mitchell (6-2 3/4, 212) ran a 4.46 40 with the wind and 4.53 against and a 4.42-second short shuttle while keeping the rest of his numbers from the combine. Mitchell reportedly had an excellent workout that may have helped to elevate him into the third round of the draft.
CB/KR Jerome Murphy (6-foot 1/4, 196) ran a 4.51 40-yard dash with the wind, but pulled his hamstring in the process. Murphy stood on the rest of his numbers from the combine.
S Nate Allen (6-foot 3/8, 205) could not run the 40-yard dash due to a right quadriceps strain. He was able to do some other drills, including a 34.5-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot, 6-inch broad jump, 4.30 short shuttle and 6.96 three-cone drill.
– Gil Brandt

from nfl.com

[PeoriaRam]

Re: Rams-Florida Connection?

Wouldn't our character kick preclude drafting South Florida players?