Devaney deserves credit for improving St. Louis Rams roster
Ripping the front office has become great fun for beleaguered Rams fans. And in many cases, the criticism is warranted.
But let’s give personnel chief Billy Devaney some props. As Scott Linehan liked to stress, NFL rosters are evolving all the time, and Devaney has made moves during this woeful season that has improved the talent level. Consider these four additions:
*CB Jason Craft, a 10-year veteran signed Sept. 24 as a free agent, has been a reliable member of the secondary. He’s been a solid nickel back and generally effective when he fills in on the outside.
*RB Kenneth Darby, signed off Atlanta’s practice squad Oct. 14, has established himself as an adept receiver and a good pass blocker. He could be the team’s No. 3 running back next season.
*TE Daniel Fells, plucked from Tampa Bay’s practice squad Oct. 6, has the best hands among the current tight ends on the roster (Randy McMichael is on injured reserve). Fells also is a willing blocker. He’s just 25 and could develop into a solid No. 2.
*Gary Stills, a free-agent pickup Sept. 2, has been a beast on special teams. Despite playing on a troublesome knee, his 15 special-teams tackles are a team high.
We haven’t seen enough yet to truly judge them, but CB Quincy Butler, T Anthony Davis and LB Larry Grant are young players that appear to have some potential, too.
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Notes & quotes:
*The Rams practiced outdoors Friday to give the players’ legs a break, Jim Haslett explained. “Some guys, their legs are tired from being on the (artificial) turf all the time, so we decided to go outside,” he said.
*All 53 players on the active roster are healthy enough to suit up Sunday, Haslett reported, a rare luxury so late in the season.
*A contingent of special-needs students from Barnwell Middle School in St. Charles were guests at practice Friday.
All for now . . .
Darby,Stills,Fells and Craft.Mmm… sounds like Crosby,Stills,Young and Nash.No, but serious let’s give credit to Devaney.He has proven to have an eye for talent.It’s been a long time since the organization has had a player personnel guy like him.Soon to be GM, Devaney will have his work cut out for this upcoming offseason.
Now all Devaney needs to do after becoming the GM is hire a head coach, build a scouting department, cut loose half the team, strike gold in free agency and the draft, and then maybe in a few years we’ll have a decent team here…
Then the lease on the Ed will expire and the Rams will pack up and leave town…
Devaney appears to have taken the bull by the horns and has gathered up some real good unknowns that are hungry to paly this game. Jim Haslett needs the chance to guide this team for the immediate future.. the wins havnt been there but you can see a great improvement in this team and I believe he can turn things around, the assistance couches are already contracted thru 2009. Front office absentee lawyers need to stay in Calif and let some football people run this team, then when winning starts over their evening cocktails they can slap eash other on the back for a job well done.
He really seems to know what he is doing but even he can’t find any talent on this team! The comments comming out of Rams park remind me of the ones that were said back when we had the worst QB that I’ve ever seen on a football field. Rich Brooks used to say that Tony Banks was having good games ( when he was stinking up the place) just like Haslet is saying that Bulger and Richie I. are playing well now.
Devaney needs to see that the Rams get bigger up the middle, priorites are OT, Center, DT, ML all big and athletic. Start in the middle and work his way out.
Yes he has done a fine job. Props to the man who has staffed this team to bring it to the impressive record it has. Maybe we could bring in TJ Rubley or Dieter Brock at QB.
Devaney has done a decent job if those guys can contribute next year. The Rams will have to turn over the bulk of their roster much like the Dolphins and Falcons last year. Sentiment aside, Holt, Pace, and Little must go if their cap hit is less than their salary. The Rams cant afford to pay premium prices for part time players.
Yeah, those are some real world-beaters there - Craft, Darby, Fells and Stills…….yes, Rams are definitely on the road to recovery.
Keep up the great work Devaney - that SuperBowl is just around the corner
Holt, Pace, and Little are not the problem on the roster.. It’s the ones playing beside them that makes them look incredable bad. (ex)Last year first rd draft pick(carricker) was on the field last week a great deal of time and didn’t record one single stat the entire game.. inexcusable as a professional… There are way to many players on the team giving dismal effort and no one has stepped forward.
Bill……thanks for the props! If it wasn’t for my awesome upgrades we would not have won a game this year! I hope my awesomeness has not cost us the first pick of the draft. That would be unawesome. I even signed some of those kids from Barnwell Middle School’s short bus. I just can’t stop upgrading!!! Anyhoo, I just wanted to tell you that I thought Burwell was the biggest fannie kisser but you are certainly an upgrade at that spot!