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I think the Rams should have chosen either RB Anothy Dixon or RB Dwyer before the two TE's they took. I'm disappointed that we didn't get a decent RB to back up Jackson. I think either of these 2 RB's have better upside then either of the TE's.
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
And if we sign Westbrook? -
Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
Fans also thought the Rams should have drafted Dorin Dickerson (a seventh round pick) as early as round 4, Everson Griffen, as early as 33 (myself included), and that we should pick up Danario Alexander in the fifth (he went undrafted..). The point is, we donn't have a clue what we're talking about. I wanted Dwyer but there is a reason all 32 teams passed on him 6 times each. Apparently he wasn't that impressive and he had medical issues. Dixon was simply not viewed that high apprently.
Not trying to be a jerk, im just explaining the logic.Comment
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
Westbrook coming in for a physical makes drafting a back up for SJ a mute point. DV had to have this scheduled before the draft. What a difference that would make. it would keep SJ fresh for the 4th and an expert in the backfield for Shurmurs offense to help the progression of Sam.Comment
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
If we land Westbrook, I'll be ecstatic, and yes, will make drafting a RB moot. He still wants to play for a few years and behind Jax, he'll be able to do so. Imagine, he might be active for his first 16 game season in who knows when!I believe!:ram:Comment
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
Anthony Dixon went in the fourth round, before the Rams had taken any TE in this draft.@EssexRam_Comment
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
I dislike Dwyer. If you watched him at all you'd know he's unable to make cuts. He's a bull between the tackles but it is all based upon miss-direction. To make a cut means he almost comes to a complete stop. That's why he'll fail in the NFL just like Ron Dayne did.
The Rams picked up Alex Henderson the RB out of Northern Arizona. If you can, watch him play a little. Very fast, has the size you want in the NFL and is great at making 1 cut and going (the Denver running style). Love the free agent pickup.
I'd MUCH rather have Henderson than Dwyer.Comment
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
I just watched a youtube vid of Henderson and its pretty promising to be honest@EssexRam_Comment
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
Dwyer also had some pretty significant medical issues that pushed him down the draft as well. I think we made the right choice by passing on him at this juncture.Comment
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
I get the feeling the Rams were dead set on Jahvid Best at #33, so when Detroit swooped in and took him they went BPA in Saffold. They probably decided from that point on there was no RB they liked to compliment SJ and be a dynamic playmaker, so they could easily dip into the free agent pool and get a guy like Westbrook who knows the system and catches passes efficiently.Comment
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
I have serious doubts the Rams wouls have drafted Best instead of Saffold. Given how they drafted, I don't think runningback with concussion history would have graded out at 33. Best would most likely not have been a Ram IMO. I like Saffold better anyway.Originally posted by Bald_81 View Post
Runningbacks are a dime a dozen and a great offensive line can make any runningback look at least decent and pretty good ones look great. Saffold was good value and a great pick, not flashy, but classy
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
The Lions traded back into the first round at #30 for a reason. Were the Colts or Saints really options to take Best? No. The Rams were, and they probably recognized our interest in him and traded back in to make sure they got him. Our offense definitely needs a RB who can run precise routes and catch balls naturally and Best definitely fit that mold and more. He's an explosive, shifty, break your ankles type of RB who would've been a great compliment to SJ's power running style. Furthermore, he was also great at catching passes over his shoulder and seemed very natural (almost like a WR), so yeah I think we would've taken him and when he was gone we went BPA with Saffold.Originally posted by Bralidore(RAMMODE) View PostI have serious doubts the Rams wouls have drafted Best instead of Saffold. Given how they drafted, I don't think runningback with concussion history would have graded out at 33. Best would most likely not have been a Ram IMO. I like Saffold better anyway.
Runningbacks are a dime a dozen and a great offensive line can make any runningback look at least decent and pretty good ones look great. Saffold was good value and a great pick, not flashy, but classy
Another thing, you say a RB with a concussion history (which is inaccurate, BTW) doesn't grade out at #33. Well, the Rams seemed comfortable drafting a QB with shoulder concerns at #1, I'm sure if Best passed every test possible they would've been fine taking him at the top of the second. We'll never know, however, because we weren't presented with that opportunity.Comment
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
Hmm, Best doesn't have a concussion history? I'd say Best wouldn't make the cut (though would have probably been considered) was because of his position, injuries, and the other options on the board. I said how i felt about runningbacks. I doubt the Rams told the Lions they were targeting Best, so maybe the Lions felt the Rams were targeting Best and gave up a pick to hop up a few spots to make sure. I just think Saffold was the pick regardless of Best. But its irrelevant now.Originally posted by Bald_81 View PostComment
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
Id say that two concussions in as many weeks is enough of a concussion history to count it as a concussion history!@EssexRam_Comment
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Re: Could of had Dixon or Dwyer
The only disagreement I have is about O-lines making any back look good. Statistics show that if given the option teams should draft backs over O-line because ypc go up nearly .5 a carry the next year.Comment
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The last few drafts seem to be slim on highly drafted RBs, with maybe one cracking the top 15.
While this year looks to be no different, the quality and productivity of this bunch could cause a team that is already good to go that way earlier than expected. There looks to be six or seven backs who will go from late round one to mid round two
The Giants certainly will be looking for a starting back, with David Wilson highly questionable with neck surgery clouding his career.
Would they go for one 12th overall? Sesm a deal down first might be done first.
The Jets pick 18th, and also need a running back, as does Miami, picking 19th.
With the pick they got from Indy, Cleveland may well draft Trent Richardson's replacement, or they could wait till their own 2nd, just a few selections later.
Is Dallas sure they have THE guy there?
That would be a bit of a risk though, because some playoff clubs could really use a back.
Even Seattle and the Niners, with good backs in place, teams that rely on the running ga,e a lot, could be looking at this bunch as early as the first round.
The Saints need a top back still, and the Ravens might need to start looking for Rice's replacement.
Early in round two, Jacksonville seems sure to take a RB to replce Jones-Drew, who was picked around that spot. If Cleveland hasn't taken a RB yet, they will almost certainly get one early in round two.
If they still have a second rounder, the Falsons may look to get Steven Jackson's replacement there.
It could get really interesting once a RB or two comes off the board, and interesting till t hen to see how they stack up rank wise.-01-10-2014, 02:15 PM -
Okay IMO Bulger can only play if there are great players around him so i think we should go Sanchez. But obviously Bulger's contract puts us into a situation that we cant take a big contract QB. So we are a probably going to try to protect him so he wont get injured.
However Bulger is not our franchise player Action Jackson is. Spags said Action Jackson is going to be the centerpiece of the offense. So that means he will probably get 30-40 rushes per game. His health has definitely been an issue. We have been horrible without him. If i'm not mistaken we havn't won a game with out Action Jackson in the last 2 years. So that means we need Steven Jackson!
So one way to to keep Jackson healthy is to take a RB that could be a reliable back-up. I dont think Brian Leonard is the guy (yea IMO he is a bust even thou he is from Rutgers and can leap over people). Pittman is a possibility of a back-up but i think we need a back up that is reliable that can block, run fast, and catch the ball.
Some people are saying Devin Moore or Ian Johnson (change of pace backs) but the way we are building this line it looks like we will look to power run the ball with the bigger guys like a steven Jackson.
So here is a guy we look for Rashad Jennings out of Liberty in the 3rd. THis guy is big 6-1 231 pounds. But the thing that makes him good is that he has good hands, very durable, also a very good blocker, and most importantly he is pretty fast.
So do you think a 3rd round RB (like Rashad Jennings)would help Action Jackson. Also do you think we need a back-up RB for S-Jax in the draft?-04-16-2009, 03:13 PM -
Posted July 02, 2010 @ 10:08 a.m. ET
By Dan Arkush
Needless to say, the Rams have concerns galore coming off a one-win season, and one of the biggest, our sources agree, is the continued lack of a decent complementary running back behind workhorse Steven Jackson. Since selecting Jackson in the first round in 2004, the Rams have drafted only two running backs — Brian Leonard in the second round in '07 and Chris Ogbonnaya in the final round last year. Leonard never panned out and was traded to the Bengals last year, while Ogbonnaya is one of only two veterans currently on the roster — third-year pro Kenneth Darby, who has been ordinary at best, is the other — in the mix to back up Jackson this season after the Rams failed to draft any RB reinforcements this season.
Said one team source: "Spags (Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo) said it was no big deal (not drafting a RB), but Jackson is coming off (April 15) back surgery, and you just never know when running backs might hit that wall. It's been two years now that they've had to run Jackson to death, and it just seems very puzzling that they haven't made more of an effort to find a decent backup."
The way we hear it, the best backup option at present could be rookie free agent Keith Toston out of Oklahoma State. "I think he's better right now than either Darby or Ogbonnaya," the source said of Toston, whose style is considered very similar to that of Jackson. The Rams have contemplated signing former Eagles star Brian Westbrook, going as far as to bring him in for a physical exam in April. Westbrook would seem to be a no-brainer addition if he were healthy enough, but we hear the two concussions he suffered last season, in addition to a problematic left knee that might not react well to the Rams' playing surface, continue to make him a long shot to be wearing a St. Louis uniform in 2010 — or any team's uniform, for that matter.
Well Dan, thanks for stating the obvious, but I doubt Spags and Billy are losing any sleep over acquiring a solid backup for Jackson. Six days from now the Rams will attend Unga's pro day, and if they are underwhelmed by Harvey's performance, then they can turn to the waiver wire and have their pick of any rbs which are released during camp and preseason. If we had to go through the season with our current rbs, there'd be cause for concern. However, that's not the case, and given the way Billy D. and Spags have aggressively turned over the roster they inherited and subsequently infused the team with new talent, I'll not lose any sleep over this either ..-07-02-2010, 11:14 AM -
If the Rams pick the right back it'll be a smaller guy in the third or later. Someone who can block, fill slots as a receiver and be the number two halfback. Possibly be a return option in addition to Amendola. Although I wouldn't be against Ryan Mathews if he fell to the second (highly doubtful). It would have to be a change of pass back because that's the only way the Rams can get value. Jhavid Best, Dexter McCluster types. Get a guy to come in and do the Reggie Bush thang.
Sorry if this is another dull concept, but I'm getting too excited for draft time and just need to vent some bulls**t.
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05.06.2010 2:12 pm
Where would Rams be without SJ39?
By Roger Hensley
THE WATERCOOLER
QUESTION: As Jim Thomas mentioned in his Wednesday story about Steven Jackson’s back surgery, back injuries can be very tricky. Coming off a 1-15 season already, how deep could the Rams fortunes fall if Jackson’s injury becomes something chronic? Would the team likely be looking at the No. 1 pick again in the next draft?
JIM THOMAS
Well, it’s hard to fall any farther than 1-15, but there really is no current answer on the roster if something should happen to Jackson. And the thought of Sam Bradford trying to operate as an NFL rookie quarterback minus Jackson is scary.
BILL COATS
The Rams without Jackson would be about as effective as a rifle without ammunition – particularly because they still haven’t found a suitable backup at running back. And, sure, if Jackson isn’t a viable option, the Rams certainly could be looking for a running back in the first round in 2011, if they haven’t addressed that issue before then.
JEFF GORDON
If Jackson is at all diminished, yes, this team could be right back at the top of the draft. Good teams have at least two quality backs. More teams are using a tag team of some sort. The Rams have no depth there at this point – and this is a run-based offense. Even if Brian Westbrook comes here, the Rams need to find an exciting young RB to groom. Their poor depth at RB last season proved devastating.
BRYAN BURWELL
The Rams without Steven Jackson are a disaster waiting to happen. That would put this team in a horrible circumstance of basically putting rookie No.1 draft pick Sam Bradford on a high wire with no safety net.-05-07-2010, 06:39 PM
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