There are a LOT of decent running backs bouncing around the NFL and free agency these days. Usually if a team is having a problem running the ball, the ball carrier is not the problem, instead it is the blocking in front of him. I think that there are a multitude of potential 1000 yard rushers in and around the league if they are put in a good situation (i.e. blocking). Never forget Jerome Bettis who this city ran out of town on a rail and replaced with Lawrence Phillips. It was obvious to anyone actually FAMILIAR with football that the problem with Bettis was not him, but the fact that he was getting tackled right when he got the ball. I think his Hall of Fame career after he “couldn’t cut it” with our lowly Rams speaks volumes to this point. By the way, Stephen Jackson is a VERY special talent. Yes he’s had injury problems and such, but the fact that he’s been able to hit 1000 yards with this O-line is incredible. The fact that Pittman, Darby, Leonard, etc. aren’t effective has a lot to do with the fact that you had to be Superman in order to gain much behind our atrocious run blocking the last few years. If we can block well, we’ll be fine.

Well now that we have a better oline I do believe that we are set at running back . As keeps getting stated upgrade anywhere else better cap move.

So is the gist of this article to say that the Rams should have drafted a RB with a high pick? Time will tell but there didn’t seem to be ANY big time RBs in there. Even Wells is a question mark. There are RBs a plenty bouncing around teh NFL and many of them are better than anything that we saw in the draft. If the Rams truly need to address this area, they will have ample oportunity to do so. But as it sits, Leonard likely will not be used as a fullback, they should have better overall run blocking, they picked up a beast of a FB and a good blocking TE. I think that is addressing the running game far more than going out and blowing a bunch of chips on the chance that you might get a diamond in the rough at RB.

Please……Steven Jackson….get a new hair style, I wish men look like
men and not women by the head. Growup men.

I agree with Bernie. I think we need to be more concerned with the lack of wide receiver depth. Strange to hear about a Rams team.

Apparently the Rams believe Avery and Burton are the next Bruce and Holt combo. I’m not convinced and if Jackson gets hurt it could be another
LOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG season

Should have drafted Rashad Jennings, instead. But, just like the 5th and 6th rounds, the Rams gambled. This time on a converted WR with little experience.

Why has no one signed free agent WR Brennan Marion out of Tulsa. He runs a sub 4.5 forty and has averaged over 29 yards a catch for the last two seasons? He was the number one receiver on the number one offense in Div 1-A, and I think he would be a low-risk, high-reward possibility for the Rams.

The Rams have plenty of holes, including RB and WR. I don’t blame them for not drafting either. You can only fill so many holes at once. SJ is a decent back, and they’ll find a back-up for him. Avery and Burton had a year to gain experience… it is time for them to step-up. they were both high draft picks.

Bottom line, there weren’t enough picks to fill all the holes this team has. Some position would still be bare today.

Now I had read several places that the Rams had interest in Iowa tailback Shonn Greene and I expected them to take him in the 3rd- until the Jets traded up to the spot ahead of the Rams to get him. It would have been a logical pick at #3 to fill a hole and it might explain why the #3 pick seems to be not as well thought out (i.e. a reach).

Guys, Keep in mind that we want this thing rebuilt for the long haul, not a quick 8-8 fix next year and then back in the crapper. You build a team from the inside out, o-line and d-line, then linebackers/safeties, then corners/WR, and finally QB / RB. We’ve got a good RB today that can handle the load of 25-30 carries a game, as long as Bulger has time to throw he’ll be serviceable. You can’t fix everything wrong with a 2-14 team in one draft.

By fixing the defense first, and not allowing the other team to score 35 points a game, will definitely help the Rams win more games. Had the Rams kept the score close, maybe they wouldn’t have gotten a high draft pick. I like Ken Darby, because he can block blitzer’s. Maybe the Rams should try Edgerrin James out. He is not good enough to be a number 1 RB, but he can back up Jackson. Then the Rams could cut Leonard, Gado, Pittman and get a value WR in the process.

Give it to Gado

I think the Rams have to look into bringing in some help at RB. This offense looks like it is being built to run the football this year so if Jackson gets injured (which is likely to happen) they will have a hard time getting a first down, let alone a touchdown. However, I hate it when teams sign old RBs who are running on empty. I would love to see them get a young power back without a lot of touches, but I don’t know where that guy is right now.

Gado was a major fumbler with the Packers so he is not very good. I wish the Rams would have addressed the WR issue better than they did in the draft. I felt the draft was a good for the Rams but I guess you just can’t fill all your needs in just 7 rounds. Burwell is right, lets see what the Rams have when the helmets go on in traning camp.

I think each of the backup will look better as the O-Line gets better. I am still drinking kool-aid. Hopefully don’t have to add vodka are needed by season end.

I’ve always said once you make it to the NFL there isn’t a big difference amongst the skilled positions such as QB, WR, and RB. It’s all about the trenches. If you have a good O-Line the QB will have more time to throw the ball which will make him and the receivers more productive and the RB will have holes to run through. If our O-Line turns out to be good-great our RB’s, especially Pittman who can hit the hole and runs down hill, will be just fine.

How about the developing “supporting cast?” The 15 UFA’s signed a day or so ago, includes some serious physiques in the way of guards and tackles. RAMS need back-ups who can come in and play when there is an injury or someone is exhausted. The UFA’s promise to supply at least two road graders, if not more, to clear a pathway for WHOEVER is running the ball. With an upgraded first string and a giant set of substitutes, I believe it is likely to be a far different story for the running backs this year. I expect Darby to start looking like a #2 back at least, and who knows what GADO or Ogbonnaya might be like under those circumstances. Pittman could show some stuff too. All in all, a very competitive situation. I feel most fans are far too fixated on the “name” players, just as last year’s coaching staff was. But this is a young man’s game for sure, so let’s extend our new guys a great big basket of belief. Make them feel wanted and they will perform better.

What about Edgerrin James, Arizona just dumped him. Probaly too much competition with Jackson, but would be an interesting one-two punch, maybe confuse a guy like Curry at Seattle and give time to development a WR corp over the next year or two.

i think with one pick in each round of the draft plus only a few good players in free agency the RAMS have done a great job of trying to improve the team.i like the players they picked up and i think the owners are are just as big a RAMS fan as i am and their trying their best to build a great team.it might take a couple of drafts but this team finally has some hope now.GO RAMS! DAVID IN EUREKA,CA.

The guy I’d go after right now is Edjerrin James. Yes, Chris Perry is available and so are others. Leonard was a bust from the beginning. A second round draft pick should be much more involved than he is. (non-factor). All of the rest are 3rd string at best, with the exception being Darby. I’d give him a second look.

The lack of quality receivers, hummm. You need someone you trust to throw to. Good Luck Bulger

Have they done enough to fix the defense? No. Have they done enough to fix the situation at QB? No. Have they done enough to fix the receiving corps? No. Have they done enough to find a decent return man for punts and kickoffs? No.

Man, can we have a little more patience????????? It is a LONG time before the season starts…….the draft was just another part of the off season…..we will be OK…..10-6 BOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

So is Brian Leonard, a high 2nd round pick, a complete washout due to injury? If there’s a chance he’s not toast, he needs to get the ball a lot to see if he’s got any value to this team for the future. And if he doesn’t, what bonehead pulled the trigger on him? Hopefully a departed member of Rams Park…character alone was not worth it, to date.

What about the EDGE. . good back up with experience just cut from AZ! let’s get him like they got Warner?? HOLLA

Unfortunately, the Rams only had 7 picks and too many holes to fill. This is going to be a 2-3 year rebuilding job. I would hate to see the Rams go into the ‘09 season expecting SJ to carry the ball 25 times per game. No use burning the rubber off the tires of an elite player when a division title is likely at least another year away. I like the idea of signing a veteran back-up to assist in carrying the workload for ‘09.

This felt like a “nuts and bolts” draft and free agency period….build the foundation from the inside out. Hopefully the Rams can add a top skill position player or two (WR,RB,or QB) in the ‘10 draft. Also, it would be nice to strike gold with one or more of these young late round picks or FAs.

Edge James is available now that The Big Dead cut him loose. Veteran, smart in passing game, can still give you 8 - 10 touches a game
Why not, it would be an upgrade as long as the price isn’t too high!!

I think Ken DARBY is an exceptional back that will excel in his 2nd year here; I must say Devaney knew what he was doing aquiring this guy.. better blocker the action Jackson already….. give him a chance people.

What about Tatum Bell? He’s fast and can catch the ball out of the backfield. That would give the Rams a viable threat and take some pressure off of Bulger and the young wideouts.

Let’s face it…the Rams were absolutely horrible at every facet of the game except punting last year. One draft cannot fix these Rams. It’s gonna take years, not A year, to fix the male sheep!! Our memories are short and selective. Remember how absolutely HORRIBLE the O-line, the D-line, the Q-back, the backfield, the linebackers, the secondary, etc, etc. Not one single bright spot from last year’s team, except the all-world punter. I think the draft picks were smart, but its lame to pick on the drafters, simply because its gonna take 3 or 4 drafts to fulfill the needs of an embarrassingly weak team.

I think that the kid the Rams picked in the 7Th rd will work out ok as a main backup. And i think we schould trade Pittman(rb)/Johnson(ss) and a 6th rd pick for Michael Bush OAK. Net I think we schould move quickly on Travis Laboy DE AZ,He’s a pass rusher and we need some help their. And maybe we could send a 2nd in 10 and a 3rd in 11 to AZ for Bolden?

The reason James wasn’t happy in Arizona was that he wants to be the lead back. Since he clearly wouldn’t be the lead back here, why does anyone think he would want to come here? He still thinks he is a stud running back, and he isn’t. He wasn’t happy as a part-timer in Arizona and he wouldn’t be happy playing behind Jackson here.

This kid is big….he runs well….and he has good hands…he could surprise ya….really….

I think we are a bit ahead of ourselves. It is tough to evaluate players of past seasons because the Rams number one offensive problem is the Oline. With or without Jackson, the Rams couldn’t get a consistent running game going in any game last season. I think if there is a substantial improvement this season to the line, then some of the reserve running back will look a whole lot better.

I agree RB is not a huge concern. If the O-line does its job, our guys should be fine. RBs are always able to be found throughout the season if needed, but for now we need to give these guys a shot to prove if they are worth a roster spot. More of a concern is picking up a true veteran WR with good hands. (I wish Curtis was still here.) If all else fails, bring back Looker - he was somewhat reliable. Next year, we STRONGLY need to consider grabbing a high round QB and RB for the future of this team. Give me a 7-9 season and I’ll be impressed this year.

Man! I was just going to read these posts - go on to the next article and keep my opinions to myself.

Then I read this SILLY/STOOOOOPID BS; from Howiet(with three sixes?, talking about SJ’s hair. What kind of IDIOT are you??!!

MEN, have worn ‘roots’(dreadlocks), since biblical times!! Ever read about Samson? What kind of Fascist mentality, are you trying to dictate? Not everyone, wants to go through life - like some kind of ’sheared sheep’!!

There are “REAL MEN”, throughout the league, who enjoy wearing their hair long. Several, just made noise in the Super Bowl. Where do you get off - trying to dictate how, “Real Men”, should wear their hair. YOU ARE JUST SILLY!!!!

Just a thought, and i didn’t read all the way down, but no one has seemed to comment that we did add Mike Karney this off season. I think back to the days when we had “The Hammer” opening holes for Marshall Faulk. That double blocking/running threat, plus an upgraded O Line with some serious speed runners on the outside should open up the running lanes a little. I think when SJ just ran over defenses last year they softened up a little…problem was, so did he. Add Karney as a jack hammer and maybe we will keep Steven from breaking down so quick…just my 2cents

All strong teams win with in the trenches. If you don’t believe me, ask the Titans, Giants, Patriots, Steelers and Vikings. Both the Vikings and Titans have questionable receives at best. I was hoping the Rams would have selected RB LeShawn McCoy out of Pitt, but I won’t argue with Laurinaitis in the second round. At this point, we’ve established that Steven Jackson will miss a couple of games every season so why not give him less of a workload and employ another talented running back? It would not only keep him fresh for an entire season, but would serve as a change of pace that would stymie opposing defenses.

I think that Spags and the front office are content with B. Leonard (seeing that he represents a second round pick)and think that he can contribute this season. Yes, he had a less-than-stellar rookie year, but the line was decimated. Let’s see what an improved O-line and healthy Jackson/Leonard can do before we go nuts.

As for our deficiencies at WR, I think that the addition of Laurent Robinson from the Falcons might be a pleasant surprise. He was the Falcons 3d round pick in 2007, has good height (6′2″) and speed (4.3 40 time). He’s a bit injury prone, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he started opposite Donnie Avery. Rome wasn’t built in a day folks. We just need to get healthy, younger and add depth………

Steven Jackson is a man and now that we have a good o-line and a smart coach you wont see him leave the field too much. Now the question is…will the rams stick to the plan of building around jackson or not. Because if they do I see a promising future…if not we will be drafting in the top 5 again next year

The Broncos just cut Selvin Young. If he is healthy I would take a look at him.

The Rams will be no better than 6-10 this year. Steven Jackson is buttery soft. They can get a running back next year. AND lets not forget a new QB. Bulger is not a leader. They will have another high draft pick next year. I don’t know about anyone else but I cant wait for the 2010 NFL Draft. Oh but Thank Thank Thank You Rams for picking a Middle Linebacker. About Damn time !!!

Pick up Selvin Young!!!

I think our Rams’ 1st 2 picks were solid in Jason Smith & James Laurinaitis. Of course, time will tell with the rest of the 09 draft. I do believe that in the upcoming season Marc Bulger MUST perform better/complete more passes/lower his INT’s, etc. If he doesn’t, I believe he will be on a very “short leash”, and possibly be shipped out/traded/released, depending on how he does.

I am sure an upgraded o-line and a battering ram FB in Mike Karney will help the running game, and hopefully take some of the pressure off Marc to move the chains. Ultimately, it comes down to execution and playing well as a team with the talent you have. And yes, I would be ECSTATIC if our beloved Rams went 10-6, but I won’t hold my breath!

Easy on signing every “name” running back that is getting cut. They’re getting cut for a reason. I don’t want a disgruntled veteran here who will be a cancer in the locker room. I’d rather have a young hungry guy who buys into the team concept and wants to run through a wall because of it.
The 7th rounder may surprise us during the year. The times that I saw Texas play and he touched the ball, typically good things happened. I’m not saying he is a good backup, but right now, I’d take him over pretty much anyone else we have as a 3rd down back. He’s big, fairly fast, good hands.
And we’re running west coast offense this year, so I think the idea is to use him split out in different formations to try to make some mismatches. He was a WR in high school and ran in an open offense at Texas.
Final words. Give the coaching staff some time to work with everyone on the roster to see what we have & how we can utilize them first before jumping to try and grab the most recently released back that another team doesn’t want anymore.