The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

[r8rh8rmike]

12.08.2009 1:23 pm
Do Rams have future No. 1 WR on roster?
By Roger Hensley


THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Do you see any of the current Rams wide receivers developing into a No. 1 guy someday, or is this corps comprised of guys more suited for No. 2 or No. 3 roles?

JIM THOMAS
Don’t see it. Donnie Avery shows flashes, but can’t stay healthy, and needs to be more consistent catching the ball and getting open. Brandon Gibson’s production has dipped markedly since his first-game splash. Danny Amendola isn’t big enough to be anything more than a slot receiver in the NFL. Ruvell Martin? He can’t get on the field. Laurent Robinson — remember him? — looked like he was on pace for a big year before suffering his season-ending ankle and leg injuries in Week 3.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
They’re all secondary receivers; 3s. I suppose Avery has a shot at being a legit No. 2, but his lack of durability makes him more suitable for the slot. And there is nothing wrong with that; Avery could be a dynamic performer as a slot receiver. With the changes in the NFL passing game, there’s more of a premium on big, physical receivers and the Rams don’t have one. This is the league’s worst group of receivers, and it won’t be fixed until the Rams either (A) sign a top free agent wideout; (B) hit the jackpot by drafting a legit No. 1.

JEFF GORDON
We’ve seen Isaac Bruce. We’ve seen Torry Holt. We know what a No. 1 receiver looks like here in St. Louis. There isn’t a real No. 1 in this group. Perhaps Brandon Gibson can be a No. 2 someday. Perhaps Donnie Avery can use his speed to become a nice slot receiver. Maybe the injured Laurent Robinson can come back as a possession guy. Maybe Danny Amendola can be an extra slot guy to go with his kick returning. But that’s it. (All of this assumes that the Rams will someday run a legitimate passing game. In this timid scheme, the Rams have plenty.)

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
No, none of these guys are No. 1’s. Not even close. Avery and Robinson strike me as being the same player. They’re both speed guys who can stretch the field but neither has the size or hands to be a No. 1. Gibson looks like he could be a decent possession receiver as a No. 3 or No 4. They need someone who combines the elements of size, speed and hands and none of the players on the current roster fit that bill.

[ManofGod]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

Been saying the same thing for months, and for all those guys in love with Avery, please read Thomas's comments. With that being said, there is not FA wide recievers that I can see us having a chance of grabbing in the offseason, so I do not see any end in sight for our WR issues. The frustrating thing is you see teams like the Dolphins make it to the playoffs with a bunch of WR's that remind us of what we see in ST. Louis and still score 20+ points against superior teams. Just confusing.

[NJ Ramsfan1]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

We were spoiled for years with Holt and Bruce. What's more, our secondary recievers- Curtis, McDonald, Furrey etc. all were productive. This current group is certainly a huge step down.

I agree with most of what these writers are saying but I DO NOT believe these guys are terrible. I think if healthy, they are serviceable players who you can win with if (and that's a big "IF") everything else is working fine. Problem is, these receivers aren't difference makers. We have no legit #1, and that is a problem. You need that one guy who scares an opponent, and we don't have him. We're not gonna' get him either- at least not with a 1st round pick; too many needs elsewhere.

I agree with everyone's assessment on Avery- a potentially real good slot guy but not a #1 receiver.

[RamsInfiniti]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

1. Many teams in this league are very successful without a quote, unquote #1 receiver
2. Gibson's production has dropped off the past two games because he has had Kyle Boller throwing to him. Gibson has certain intangibles about him that make him stand out. He runs great routes, it was highlighted many times against the Bears, he goes out and snatches the ball out of the air, and he generates YAC.
3. Laurent Robinson is NOT a possession receiver in the slightest. He runs sub 4.40 40, almost has a 40 inch vertical leap, is 6-2, and caught everything thrown his way until he went down. Just look at that fade route he went up and got in the end zone to see what he can do. This guy has significant legit potential.
4. Amendola is a pure slot Wes Welker type and should be put into a solid role as such. He can cause some damage.
5. Avery is a gamebreaker ALA Desean Jackson. Jackson isn't the #1 in Philly, he's just a playmaker. There is no #1 in Philly.
6. Burton was improving rapidly when he went down. Martin was an established playmaker in limited time in G.B.

How these so-called experts can generate any real analysis as to where these guys figure in on a depth chart after 12 games is mind boggling to me. They are all learning a new system, and none have had a consistent QB throwing the ball their way.

We've got six receivers right there. I don't see the need to go out and spend anything to get anymore.

[Torry Holt]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

If I was the receiver coach I'd give that analysis to my receivers. They are all young, we really don't know how they will perform in few years. Robinson has all tools you want in a good WR, Avery doesn't perform consistently but he scores TDs and make big plays. With a better run defense and a QB we can have a really good team in few years...

[r8rh8rmike]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

Laurent Robinson is NOT a possession receiver in the slightest. He runs sub 4.40 40, almost has a 40 inch vertical leap, is 6-2, and caught everything thrown his way until he went down. Just look at that fade route he went up and got in the end zone to see what he can do. This guy has significant legit potential.

I agree. Loads of potential and very possibly a "#1" caliber guy. I don't know how the "experts" can simply dismiss him after a few games. Games in which he excelled on a horrible offense.

[molar_pistol]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

i like gibson and robinson on the outside with avery and amendola playing slot. none of these guys are torry holt or isaac bruce, but they can get the job done.

[Dwight Frye]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

Yeah, what Infiniti said .. exactly. ;)

[BEER]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

1. Many teams in this league are very successful without a quote, unquote #1 receiver
2. Gibson's production has dropped off the past two games because he has had Kyle Boller throwing to him. Gibson has certain intangibles about him that make him stand out. He runs great routes, it was highlighted many times against the Bears, he goes out and snatches the ball out of the air, and he generates YAC.
3. Laurent Robinson is NOT a possession receiver in the slightest. He runs sub 4.40 40, almost has a 40 inch vertical leap, is 6-2, and caught everything thrown his way until he went down. Just look at that fade route he went up and got in the end zone to see what he can do. This guy has significant legit potential.
4. Amendola is a pure slot Wes Welker type and should be put into a solid role as such. He can cause some damage.
5. Avery is a gamebreaker ALA Desean Jackson. Jackson isn't the #1 in Philly, he's just a playmaker. There is no #1 in Philly.
6. Burton was improving rapidly when he went down. Martin was an established playmaker in limited time in G.B.

How these so-called experts can generate any real analysis as to where these guys figure in on a depth chart after 12 games is mind boggling to me. They are all learning a new system, and none have had a consistent QB throwing the ball their way.

We've got six receivers right there. I don't see the need to go out and spend anything to get anymore.

You got it right on all but Avery and Jackson. Avery is not close at
this point in there football lives as Jackson. I cant see anybody comparing the two. Other then speed.
O, and Jackson can stay healthy.

[RockinRam]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

Robinson as #1, Gibson as #2, Avery/Burton/Amendola rotating at the slot?

And Foster rotating at the 4th and 5th spot?

[01d 0rd3r]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

O, and Jackson can stay healthy.

Avery doesnt drop the ball before he gets to the endzone and starts celebrating and therefore ruin my fantasy team for the week. I LOST BY 1 POINT.

Ok end rant, sorry still mad at him for doing that last year.

[RamsInfiniti]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

You got it right on all but Avery and Jackson. Avery is not close at
this point in there football lives as Jackson. I cant see anybody comparing the two. Other then speed.
O, and Jackson can stay healthy.

I am comparing the two, they are comparable players. Jackson has the luxury of playing on a good team, with a fairly high powered offense. Switch the teams, and the numbers would flip flop ...

Avery missed the first two games of his career, played in every one since ...

Jackson just missed a game ...

[codeman123]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

The rams need to get a physical wide receiver who can go over the middle. Everyone sees the potential, but we need more than that. Watching games against basically every team we have played, you see receivers making plays on the ball while being covered, and all year I havn't seen a Ram do that. I don't see Vincent Jackson coming here (how nice would that be) but we need another receiver capable of adding another dimension. This could even be the acquisition of a good TE but something more needs to added. No QB will have success in our offense. Our offensive line has improved enough to add playmakers on that side of the ball. Being content with group of receivers is asinine.

[Nick]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

The question doesn't necessarily have to be, "Are any of these guys a #1 receiver?" As RamsInfiniti pointed out, other teams in this league have been successful without having a true #1 type receiver.

That being said, in order to get along and succeed without a true top guy, I think the receivers you do have at least have to be consistent and reliable and capable enough of making plays that defenses at least have to consider them.

With this unit, we just don't have that. Perhaps whenever everyone gets healthy going into next season, but even with Robinson and Avery earlier in the year, the passing game was a bit stagnant. I'd like to think that, between Robinson, Avery, Gibson, Burton, Foster, etc, we have enough bodies to get something done through the air. But the unit's failures this season probably put a ceiling on how optimistic you can be in the future.

If you're the Rams, I don't think you're in a position to find a handful of depth guys and just cross your fingers that at least one of them breaks out and becomes a playmaker. You've actively got to go out and add a playmaker; then, if one of your depth guys emerges as well, then be thankful for having an additional weapon. But I don't agree with the mentality some fans have that this group will be acceptable down the road; I think if you bank on that, and pass up other opportunities to add talent to this position, then the offense isn't going to make many steps forward. Even when a couple guys return from injury, it's hard to make the case that there's a unit on a 1-11 team that couldn't use an upgrade.

[bruce4life]

Re: The Watercooler: Do The Rams Have Future No. 1 WR On Roster?

All yound capable Number 2/3 guys but none of them stand out ya know.... I think you must bring in either another veteran someone like a Chris Chambers or try and grab lets say Meachem or Colston from the Saints in a deal...

I would love to get Golden tate or Williams out of USC