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St. Louis Rams' trade for wide receiver much-needed step in team's extreme makeover
By Jeff Gordon
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH ONLINE SPORTS COLUMNIST
10/21/2009
Maybe rookie receiver Brandon Gibson will help the Rams win some games this season, maybe he won’t.
But he is exactly the sort of player this organization needs to add at as many positions as possible as its extreme makeover continues.
Gibson and a fifth-round pick came to the Rams from the Philadelphia Eagles right before the NFL trade deadline, in exchange for linebacker Will Witherspoon.
Fans hate to see classy veterans like Witherspoon leave town. But when an NFL team craters as the Rams have – losing 33 of 38 games and counting – extensive change is needed.
A mere renovation of this roster won’t cut it. Owners Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez realized that after last season’s disastrous 2-14 finish.
The extensive change began after last season with the front office overhaul, the hiring of coach Steve Spagnuolo and the removal of franchise cornerstones like Torry Holt and Orlando Pace.
That process continued this summer with the exit of players like Tye Hill, Joe Klopfenstein and Chris Draft. The departure of Witherspoon was just another step in the rebuilding program.
This wasn’t an easy decision to make. The Rams’ defensive front seven developed nicely this season, becoming the strength of the team.
Witherspoon moved to weakside linebacker this season, a position he seemed well-suited for. This shift allowed James Laurinaitis to settle in at middle linebacker.
For an otherwise inexperienced linebacker corps (Laurinaitis, David Vobora, Chris Chamberlain, Larry Grant), he provided valuable leadership. But the midseason addition of veteran linebacker Paris Lenon changed the dynamics.
The injury-riddled Eagles desperately needed a middle linebacker. The injury-riddled Rams desperately needed help at wide receiver.
So Rams GM Billy Devaney made the move.
Gibson fits the profile of what the Rams need right now. He played well for the Eagles during the preseason and turned heads in practice. But Philly has lots of receivers, even with ex-Ram Kevin Curtis injured, so Gibson got stuck on the lower rungs of the depth chart.
"I feel like I learned a lot in my time in Philly," Gibson told the Burlington County Times. "Just spending time with DeSean (Jackson) and Donovan (McNabb) and everybody. I think I got a lot better. I had a great time and learned a lot, and now it's time to go to St. Louis and put it to use."
Even with Donnie Avery recovering nicely from his bruised hip, the Rams are woefully thin at receiver. Newcomer Danny Amendola has helped immensely as a kick return and slot receiver, but this team still must develop more weapons in the passing game.
Losing younger receiver Laurent Robinson and rookie Brooks Foster to season-ending injuries hurt the Rams. Newcomer Ruvell Martin got hurt, too, forcing the team to bring back Tim Carter – a journeyman who failed to make this team during the preseason.
Gibson was productive at Washington State, where he owns the school record for receiving yards. His draft stock plunged when he popped a hamstring muscle at the Senior Bowl, preventing him from running the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Just making the Eagles roster was an achievement, given the team’s depth at that position. His experience in that offensive system will make his transition to the Rams easier, since former Philly aide Pat Shurmur runs a similar offense here.
In the near term, the Rams need another receiver capable of occupying the opposing secondary. The Rams must improve their passing attack, stretch defenses with more downfield strikes and open up room for running back Steven Jackson.
For the long haul, the Rams need to accumulate as much young talent as possible at every position. Roster spot by roster spot, Devaney must overhaul the depth chart to get younger, hungrier and more talented.
Expect more changes through this season. Expect steady change during the offseason, when the Rams will jettison additional veterans and add younger talent through all means possible. The fifth-round pick gained in this deal in just one more chip Devaney can spend.
This Rams regime doesn’t plan on spending several years on this rebuilding process. With the franchise for sale, it doesn’t have that sort of time.
This front office and this coaching staff must make progress every day. The Gibson deal, however minor, helps the organization do just that.
By Jeff Gordon
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH ONLINE SPORTS COLUMNIST
10/21/2009
Maybe rookie receiver Brandon Gibson will help the Rams win some games this season, maybe he won’t.
But he is exactly the sort of player this organization needs to add at as many positions as possible as its extreme makeover continues.
Gibson and a fifth-round pick came to the Rams from the Philadelphia Eagles right before the NFL trade deadline, in exchange for linebacker Will Witherspoon.
Fans hate to see classy veterans like Witherspoon leave town. But when an NFL team craters as the Rams have – losing 33 of 38 games and counting – extensive change is needed.
A mere renovation of this roster won’t cut it. Owners Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez realized that after last season’s disastrous 2-14 finish.
The extensive change began after last season with the front office overhaul, the hiring of coach Steve Spagnuolo and the removal of franchise cornerstones like Torry Holt and Orlando Pace.
That process continued this summer with the exit of players like Tye Hill, Joe Klopfenstein and Chris Draft. The departure of Witherspoon was just another step in the rebuilding program.
This wasn’t an easy decision to make. The Rams’ defensive front seven developed nicely this season, becoming the strength of the team.
Witherspoon moved to weakside linebacker this season, a position he seemed well-suited for. This shift allowed James Laurinaitis to settle in at middle linebacker.
For an otherwise inexperienced linebacker corps (Laurinaitis, David Vobora, Chris Chamberlain, Larry Grant), he provided valuable leadership. But the midseason addition of veteran linebacker Paris Lenon changed the dynamics.
The injury-riddled Eagles desperately needed a middle linebacker. The injury-riddled Rams desperately needed help at wide receiver.
So Rams GM Billy Devaney made the move.
Gibson fits the profile of what the Rams need right now. He played well for the Eagles during the preseason and turned heads in practice. But Philly has lots of receivers, even with ex-Ram Kevin Curtis injured, so Gibson got stuck on the lower rungs of the depth chart.
"I feel like I learned a lot in my time in Philly," Gibson told the Burlington County Times. "Just spending time with DeSean (Jackson) and Donovan (McNabb) and everybody. I think I got a lot better. I had a great time and learned a lot, and now it's time to go to St. Louis and put it to use."
Even with Donnie Avery recovering nicely from his bruised hip, the Rams are woefully thin at receiver. Newcomer Danny Amendola has helped immensely as a kick return and slot receiver, but this team still must develop more weapons in the passing game.
Losing younger receiver Laurent Robinson and rookie Brooks Foster to season-ending injuries hurt the Rams. Newcomer Ruvell Martin got hurt, too, forcing the team to bring back Tim Carter – a journeyman who failed to make this team during the preseason.
Gibson was productive at Washington State, where he owns the school record for receiving yards. His draft stock plunged when he popped a hamstring muscle at the Senior Bowl, preventing him from running the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Just making the Eagles roster was an achievement, given the team’s depth at that position. His experience in that offensive system will make his transition to the Rams easier, since former Philly aide Pat Shurmur runs a similar offense here.
In the near term, the Rams need another receiver capable of occupying the opposing secondary. The Rams must improve their passing attack, stretch defenses with more downfield strikes and open up room for running back Steven Jackson.
For the long haul, the Rams need to accumulate as much young talent as possible at every position. Roster spot by roster spot, Devaney must overhaul the depth chart to get younger, hungrier and more talented.
Expect more changes through this season. Expect steady change during the offseason, when the Rams will jettison additional veterans and add younger talent through all means possible. The fifth-round pick gained in this deal in just one more chip Devaney can spend.
This Rams regime doesn’t plan on spending several years on this rebuilding process. With the franchise for sale, it doesn’t have that sort of time.
This front office and this coaching staff must make progress every day. The Gibson deal, however minor, helps the organization do just that.
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