Martin, Lenon seem like solid additions
The Rams added two new players Tuesday, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Ruvell Martin and former Detroit Lions linebacker Paris Lenon.
I’m not going to pretend like I know a whole lot about about either guy, but from what I can gather, both of them seem like they could be good adds.
I agree with the general sentiment around STLtoday.com that, of the two newest Rams, Martin seems to be the most intriguing. He’s 6-4, 220 lbs., so he brings an element of size the Rams have lacked in their receiving corps for… well, as long as I can remember (and please don’t say Drew Bennett. He doesn’t count. You have to actually play in a few games to be counted). And it’s not as if he’s just some giant who can’t play football. Martin carved out 52 catches, 749 yards, and six touchdowns over the past three seasons in Green Bay while fighting for playing time among a talented group of Packers wide receivers. In a start at the end of 2006 against Chicago, he had seven catches and 118 yards.
When Martin gets comfortable in the Rams’ offensive scheme, he could be a big target for Marc Bulger and the Rams passing attack in the red zone. Were he to pan out as a viable threat in that area of the field, that skill alone would make him worth signing, given the Rams’ red zone struggles over the last few years.
Also, Jim Thomas notes that, “Martin isn’t a speedster but has developed strength over the years. He has been effective catching passes over the middle and is considered a good perimeter run blocker.” These attributes would seem to make Martin an ideal fit for the kind of smashmouth, run-first, short- and intermediate-passing attack the Rams are trying to implement. The fact that he “isn’t a speedster” appears to have contributed to his release by Green Bay, but that doesn’t bother me at all. Donnie Avery is here to stretch the field, each of the other four receivers currently on the Rams’ roster brings an element of speed. The Rams needed some beef in the group. Martin can be that guy.
I think it’d be shortchanging Martin not to also mention that he seems to be a very high character individual. All indications are that the Packers struggled hard with the decision to cut him loose, and that he was just the odd man out on a receiver depth chart with few openings. Packers fans have made comments on this site that, “he was best friends with [Green Bay quarterback] Aaron Rodgers,” and, “… it was tough to see him go.” That’s pretty high praise for someone projecting as a team’s fourth or fifth receiver. If these types of comments turn out to have merit, Martin should be a great influence on the team chemistry, if nothing else.
One more thing regarding the wide receiver position: I’m glad the Rams opted for Martin over David Tyree. Tyree had name recognition because of his one big catch in the Super Bowl a couple of years ago. But, other than that, what’s he done, really? His real value to this team would have been as a special teamer. While special teams certainly are important (just ask anyone who has watched the Rams’ not-so-special teams over the last nine years), given the Rams lack of a proven commodity at wideout (and lack of wideouts period), they really needed someone who could contribute at that position, a la Martin.
As for Lenon, it’s not hard to understand why we all have trouble getting excited about a castoff from the winless Lions squad of a year ago. However, Lenon was starting in Detroit. He’ll be a depth guy here (assuming David Vobora can hold up his end of the bargain). In addition, Lenon did post some good numbers for the Lions (161 tackles in 2007, 146 in ‘08).
Keep in mind that rebuilding teams do sometimes part with solid players in an effort to start fresh. We’ve seen that this year in St. Louis with the departure of players like Pisa Tinisamoa and Dane Looker. Lenon’s stint with the laughingstock Lions may not impress anyone, but in 2005, he started 12 games for a Green Bay Packers’ defense that ranked seventh overall.
What I’m not sure about is how much of an upgrade Lenon is over the man whose roster spot he essentially takes, the departed Chris Draft. Both Draft and Lenon have starting experience. Lenon is a little taller than Draft (6-2 to 5-11), and a little younger, too (31 years old to Draft’s 33). My guess is he’ll also come a bit cheaper.
Overall, it looks like the Rams have found two players who have a very real chance to contribute to the team’s success this year.
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If Lenon can prove to be a cheaper, marginally less talented Chris Draft then I think the thing to watch will be how soon he might take over at SLB. Don’t get me wrong, I had no problem with the David Vobora Experiment, but John Carlson treated him like Mr. Irrelevant last week. I know it was a business move first, but Sunday showed how much that move hurt the football team on the field.
I like the Martin signing. They say you can’t teach speed, but you can’t teach size, either. Hopefully this Tall Receiver doesn’t resemble the last one the Rams cut loose.
Nathan
Sometimes a fresh start can really make a difference. Remember fresh start M. Faulk? and Warner? and on and on. I hope it will be a real upscale for us. All we need from Martin is one TD per game. If each WR & RB scored just once—-SB here we come! WHY NOT???
Vobora couldn’t shed the block of an 81 year old, 87 pound, peg-legged bag lady! Our receivers looked like children trying to play against men last Sunday. These are critically important moves that must pan out if we are going to turn the season around.
Andy:
Congrats on being the Rams Fanatic Blogger!
Good write-up!
Lenon is the Bomb, you will all see. Ruvell Martin is a great pickup for two reasons. # 1. He’s physical, plays smart. # 2. He is the tallest receiver My Rams have had since 1976 Ron Jessie at 6′6. Our team just took a bigger step than many of you understand. Go Rams Go, Smack Chick Chazzz
The rams were correct to take martin over tyree. They are, like detroit, a laughingstock. But the most critical need on the team is someone who can get open and catch the ball on a consistent basis. The Oline is good, but seattle stacked 8-9 in the box because the receivers could be succesfully covered one on one. So SJax had nowhere to go. They actually needed me. While I dont have Martins size, I’m better at getting open and I have better hands. I could have been the posession/1st down/red zone receiver Bulger and Avery need so badly. It would have been the classiest and best way to use a possible HOF receiver in his twilight years. It would have been a win/win situation. Oh, well…
I’m heartened by the fact that, at least they let me go in time enough to find another team. Ike taught me that this is a business, but what they did to Draft was downright cruel.
I understand everybody must look tall to you, small chick chazz, but i’m actually 6′0, not 6′6.
You are thinking about Harold Jackson, who played with philly and the rams back in the days. then you transposed harold jackson withe , Harold Carmichael, who was the ONLY 6′6 receiver in the league in the 70’s.