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Devaney, Scouting Staff Ready For Phase Two

by r8rh8rmike

Devaney, Scouting Staff Ready for Phase Two
Friday, December 18, 2009

By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

Less than 24 hours after he was named Rams General Manager on Christmas Eve of last year, Billy Devaney found himself asking for some divine intervention.

Armed with the arduous task of rebuilding the Rams by bringing in a new coaching staff, starting a roster makeover and generally changing the complexion of the Russell Training Center, Devaney knew he would need some help from somewhere.

So it was that on Christmas morning, Devaney went for his usual run, a course he has mapped out that he regularly runs near his home. Along his normal path, Devaney encountered one of the priests at Our Lady of the Pillar church in Ladue, the church where Devaney and his family had attended mass only hours before.

Stopping to chat, Devaney made it a point to ask the priest for a little help in his new endeavor.

�I said �Hey, I have got a favor to ask. I just got this job with the Rams, I need a lot of help, can you keep me in your prayers?�� Devaney said, laughing at the memory. �He said �Yeah, I saw that, that�s you, huh?� I said �This is a big one, man. You have got to keep me in your prayers.��

Less than a week from today, Devaney will have hit the one-year mark as the top decision maker in the Rams hierarchy but there�s no doubting that year two will come with less stress than the first one.

It would almost have to.

THE PROCESS

Building a football team doesn�t happen overnight. And though it�s become popular to believe that a major turnaround can happen in a single year, that�s really more of a myth than anything.

While a team�s record can certainly dramatically improve in a single year, it takes years of building something with commitment and continuity to get it right.

Soon after taking the job, Devaney went on a whirlwind tour along with the rest of his staff that included the hiring of a new coaching staff, evaluating current Rams to make decisions on their future with the team, scouring the free agent market, scouting college players, signing free agents and going through the 2009 NFL Draft.

It was a hectic time for Devaney but it also could someday be looked at as a turning point for the franchise.

Having that year to get the scouting staff he wants in place, form a pro personnel department and get everyone on the same page should make attacking the 2010 offseason an easy transition.

�That�s one of the many advantages is stability and that is what we are trying to establish,� Devaney said. �I think going into this year, we�ll be light years ahead of where we were last year. We haven�t changed the structure at all. These guys are veteran guys so it was an easy transition for them. It�s an easy system...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-12-19-2009, 03:54 PM
Here's how Devaney sees football

by RamWraith

By Bernie Miklasz
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Dec. 18 2008

Bobby Beathard helped build Super Bowl champions in Miami and Washington. He
was one of the great general managers in modern NFL history, even though his
last job, in San Diego, ended poorly.

Billy Devaney was with Beathard in Washington and San Diego, witnessing the
good and the bad. He was a super scout for a brilliant Redskins team that won
three Super Bowls and 19 postseason games. The San Diego experience wasn't a
success, but Devaney learned from the mistakes.

I asked Devaney about Beathard's influence, and the most important lesson he
learned from his mentor.

"It's a team effort," Devaney said. "It's not about one person. It's players,
coaches, scouts, management, everyone in the building. You have to build
something together.

"Organizations win."

Organizations lose, too.

And with the Rams skidding with a 5-25 record over the last two seasons,
someone must step into the leadership void to create a new football
organization. Someone must take the lead role in changing the culture, changing
the direction.

Devaney, the Rams' executive VP of personnel, is in line for a promotion when
Rams owners Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez restructure the team's front
office after the season.

Devaney will head the search for the next coach, with Jim Haslett among the
candidates. He already coordinates the team's draft. And he will supervise free
agency.

Devaney hasn't been informed of the owners' plans for him. He does not want to
be presumptuous. He's sensitive to the perception that he's the GM in waiting
at Rams Park. Devaney emphasized that he's interested in doing one thing only:
contributing to a organization-wide effort to transform the Rams.

But if Devaney is asked to take over the football side, what can we expect?

In two separate interviews this week, Devaney articulated a vision for the
future.

Devaney wanted to make one thing clear: "We have a lot of good players," he
said. "We have components in place to build around. When I talk about
improving, it shouldn't be taken as an indictment of the 53-man roster."

Here are some of Devaney's key philosophies:

� Beef up the scouting department. He believes the Rams have a good staff of
college scouts. But he'd like to see more manpower dedicated to the pro
personnel department.

� Beef up the roster. "The team needs to get bigger, physically," Devaney said.
"The team needs to be tougher, physically and mentally. This is a tough, nasty
...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-12-18-2008, 04:28 AM
Rams In Unfamiliar Spot: Middle Of Draft

by r8rh8rmike

Rams in unfamiliar spot: middle of draft

BY JIM THOMAS
Thursday, January 6, 2011 12:20 am

No matter where the Rams finish in the standings, this always is a busy time and exciting time for general manager Billy Devaney and the personnel department. Even so, after coming so close to a division title and a playoff berth, the season's sudden end was a jolt to the system.

"I sit up in my office and I look out on the practice field, and I'm thinking at this time last week we're geeked up, we're playing, we're practicing, guys are joking around," Devaney said Wednesday.

And now?

"It's awful coming in," he said. "It's quiet. The building's quiet. The silence is deafening."

But with the Rams' offseason now underway, the good news is that at least Devaney doesn't have to worry about picking No. 1 or No. 2 as has been the case the past three drafts.

"It's great, because you're not going to ask me every day who we're taking," Devaney teased. "Who we're thinking about. Because we don't have any idea."

Actually, Devaney already has a little bit of an idea even this early in the pre-draft process. (Not that he's telling.) The Rams held their first round of draft meetings last month, well before the regular season ended.

"About 3-4 weeks ago, we put our tentative (draft) board up and started the process," Devaney said. "We're lining up East-West and Senior Bowl (college all-star game) trips. I mean, it is full go. That is the beauty of this thing. There isn't any down time. You just go."

That's true even with the uncertainty of the NFL labor situation. Those in the personnel department are proceeding full speed ahead; that's the only way they can approach it.

"We go over every draftable player right now by position and what needs to be done (in evaluating that player) between now and the draft," Devaney said. "What concerns there are. We have all sorts of symbols. The guy may have a medical concern. Maybe a character concern. Maybe a learning concern. Work ethic.

"Whatever questions that the scouts have picked up. 'Is this guy a bad character guy or did he just mess up a little bit? Is it something that we really need to dig into?' We started that process. Not necessarily putting grades on 'em, but it gives us a plan (as to) what we need to find out about these guys."

Just like every other NFL team, the draft list isn't complete because underclassmen still have time to declare for the draft.

"The juniors (and third-year sophomores) as they come out now, we have tapes being sent out to our scouts at home," Devaney said. "We haven't done a lot of work on the juniors until they declare."

Devaney and the scouting staff also...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-01-06-2011, 09:27 PM
Bill Devaney - Preliminary Evaluation

by AvengerRam_old

I've seen a few posts in which Devaney has been included in the category of "inept front office." I think he's more accurately described as part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. Here's how I see him:

The Draft
It is always difficult to evaluate a draft this early, but I think the initial reviews have to be positive overall. Chris Long is playing hard, despite the team's problems, and he shows a great deal of promise. The selection of Donnie Avery was widely criticized, but his play has turned a lot of people around. Greco is just starting to get a chance and looks like he could be a valuable asset in the future. Justin King looked promising before he was hurt. Vobora and Chamberlain are good special teams/depth guys. In my opinion, so far so good.

Free Agency
With the ownership transition and Coach Line%@# on the hot seat, the Rams were a tough sell for free agents last offseason. Josh Brown was a great signing which will pay dividends for years. Jacob Bell has been a major disappointment, but I don't see how you can fault Devaney for failing to foresee his weight loss. I think you can critique Devaney for not making more of an effort to bolster the linebacking corps in FA, though there were not too many candidates.

Trade Market
Hindsight is 20/20 here, and some will argue that the Rams should have traded for Kris Jenkins, who has had a great year in NY. The price paid by the Jets (a 3rd and 5th round selection) was affordable, but don't discount the fact that it also cost them a 4 year, $32M contract (with $20M guaranteed) - all for a guy who is 29 and has had a history of injuries.

Retention of Players
Despite a disappointing season, I fully support the decision to sign Steven Jackson to a long-term deal. With his age and productivity (when healthy), this was a no-brainer. Hopefully, he'll make it his mission to get in the best shape of his life and play 16 games next year. If he does, I'll put pretty good money on Jackson being in the top 3 in yards from scrimmage. Devaney faces some big tests in this department soon (Atogwe, Bartell, Incognito, Adeyanju). It will be interesting to see how these negotiations go, particularly in a post-Zymunt Front Office.

All in all, I think Devaney has demonstrated the ability to be an effective GM. I see no reason to throw him out with the bath water.
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-12-10-2008, 09:23 AM
Rams' GM Discusses Reasons For His Optimism

by r8rh8rmike

Rams' GM discusses reasons for his optimism

BY JIM THOMAS
Sunday, August 1, 2010

General manager Billy Devaney has seen the preseason prognostications and wisecracks. He knows what the record was in 2009. And '08. And '07. And like most Rams players, he wants to do something about it.

"The only way I can say it is the players are (ticked) off still from last year," Devaney said. "You want to say forget last year, and last year's over. But let me tell you, this isn't any fun. I know it isn't any fun for our players or anybody in this building to hear all the time: worst team in the NFL, 1-15, lowly St. Louis Rams.

"If that doesn't (tick) you off, or get you motivated in the offseason, then we have the wrong kind of guy. There's a lot of motivated people here to get this thing going and start winning football games."

Other than the selection of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford with the No. 1 overall draft pick, it was an offseason devoid of big-name acquisitions for St. Louis. Nonetheless, Devaney feels there is no comparison between the 2010 Rams and coach Steve Spagnuolo's inaugural Rams squad of 2009.

"It thought we had a great offseason," Devaney said. "The intensity and the participation of the players in the offseason program was outstanding. Even though we were in shorts and T-shirts, you could just see in Year Two how much more comfortable our players were in the system.

"We looked faster than you would expect. At this time last year, we were installing playbooks for the first time � the wheels were grinding. So the thing that jumped out in the spring � the whole tempo, everything, looked much faster and quicker."

Whether this is truly the case, or simply misguided optimism, remains to be seen. But with Rams training camp now in full gear, we're about to find out.

In a pre-camp interview with the Post-Dispatch, Devaney discussed the state of the roster, the impact of the pending franchise sale, and more:

PD: How would you characterize the offseason in terms of personnel acquisitions?

DEVANEY: "Knock on wood, I think it's going to turn out to be a pretty darn good draft. I know people say why didn't we jump out and sign a big marquee-type free agent? That was never part of the plan. I think the guys that we added are going to be 'fits' and the right fits here. And to be honest, just the way free agency worked this year � the available free agents � there weren't that many names out there to begin with."

PD: Did the pending franchise sale lead to any financial constraints in going after players?

DEVANEY: "None whatsoever. We were allowed to put our plan in place, and we weren't restricted at all. Not one bit. Not once did we go to ownership and say, 'hey, we'd really like...
- Channel: RAMS NATION TALK
-08-01-2010, 09:21 AM

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