For the Rams fans…

We had Rams VP of personnel Billy Devaney on our Team 1380 radio show on Friday, and he was generous in providing answers to our questions.

A synopsis of the interview, and please excuse my typos, as I am multitasking here (live radio and blogging do not mix):

* Veteran free agent CB David Macklin was signed to be an inside slot CB on the nickel.

* Wants to take a CB in the draft but likes second-year Jonathan Wade and think he can compete for starting job.

* Free-agent WR Reche Caldwell — between Rams and Redskins; decision should come soon.

* Caldwell has no guarantee of a job here; he was told he’d have to win a WR spot as the third or fourth WR.

* Still want to take an OL in the draft; don’t know if it’ll be early or late. Noted success of some some fifth-round or later picks.

* Rams delegation has visited with DE Chris Long, OT Jake Long, DE Vernon Gholston. Devaney says these visits have “reconfirmed everything we thought about these guys.” Said they really liked them as people. Feel good about all o’ them.

* Rams will visit LSU next week (DT Glenn Dorsey) and then go to SoCal to see DE Sedric Ellis. They’re excited to see Dorsey; love his personality — but of course teams have questions about Dorsey’s old stress-fracture injury. Devaney agreed it is “scary to use a high pick on a DT.” Why? Because so many have to change defensive systems when they enter the pros…. he cited Dwayne Robertson (Jets bust) as an example.  

* Disagreed that Chris Long is just a try-hard, effort, high-motor guy only. Says he has real talent and will get sacks and you can win championships with him. Compared him to Patrick Kerney but touted Long’s athletic ability.

* Will meet with RB Darren McFadden — need every option covered…. not thinking about taking a RB right away, but he’s an impact player and they want to do their due dilligence on all of the top prospects. (which is smart).

* Expect to field calls before draft, and on day of draft, for teams looking to move up that No. 2 pick. (will listen).

* Says that as important as No. 2 overall pick is, the Rams need to really hit on that No. 33 overall, and the third rounder. (all of them, really).

* Gholston: most explosive defensive talent from a pass rush standpoint… has the “one dimension that every team craves, an explosive pass rusher.” Adds, however, that Gholston, while respectable against the run, wouldn’t be as strong against the run as Chris Long.

* Sports Illustrated compared Chris Long to Lawrence Taylor… Devaney used the old Lloyd Bentsen line (on Dan Quayle). Says he knows LT, his Redskins teams competed against LT, and Chris Long is no LT.

(Sidebar: the Rams really do like Chris Long; our Jim Thomas, Rams beatwriter, thinks the Rams like C. Long the best at this stage).

* OT Jake Long … says he is not as athletic as Joe Thomas, who was a top five pick last season… but points out that Thomas was an A+ athlete… says J. Long is a B+ and that’s plenty good enough, especially since he’s so intense and competitive.

* All top prospects will be brought into Rams Park for visits.

* Devaney says had the authority to re-sign LB Brandon Chillar if he (and Scott Linehan) had wanted to make the case. “Jay (Zygmunt) would make it happen.” Devaney believes Culberson can be a starting player — very productive for as little as he played. 

–B