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04.02.2009 2:07 pm

Rams minicamp offers draft prep

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THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Rams minicamps run today through Saturday. What impact, if any, will player performances at this minicamp have on the Rams draft later this month? Will the coaches be more closely evaluating areas of need during this period?

JIM THOMAS
It’s one thing to watch a player on tape; quite another to see him in person. Even though the Rams aren’t in full pads over the weekend, watching the players drill and practice in five practices over three days will help coach Steve Spagnuolo and his staff evaluate the current roster. What happens here isn’t going to change how the Rams feel about their needs at offensive tackle and wide receiver, but it could have an impact on how they feel about some positions.

BRYAN BURWELL
Between the OTA’s and this first minicamp, the Rams coaches and front office will have plenty of time to evaluate the veteran talent. This will be the first critical looks in more competitive situations and it will definitely be an evaluation process that will provide plenty of answers about what direction to go in the draft.

BILL COATS
The biggest reason the Rams are having their extra minicamp (you get three instead of the usual two if you have a new coach) now is to further evaluate on-hand personnel in advance of the draft. So, these five practices over three days will have a major impact on their approach come April 25-26.

JEFF GORDON
The new staff is doubtlessly eager to assess young receivers Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton, since they head the depth chart as we speak. Also, a guy who played hurt all last year, Adam Carriker, is an interesting player for the new staff. I’m sure he didn’t impress on tape. Offensive line coach Steve Loney is a holdover from the previous staff, so Steve Spagnuolo should already have the book on inconsistent starters Alex Barron and Jacob Bell. Overall, though, the Rams need help at almost every position. Nothing that happens at the minicamp will change that.

BONUS ROUND:
BERNIE MIKLASZ SHAREs HIS THOUGHTS ON MINICAMP
I want to see the young veterans step up and take control of this team. It’s their time to be the leaders of the new generation of Rams. Chip Rosenbloom, Billy Devaney and Steve Spagnuolo have done their share, so far, to give this franchise a needed makeover. And now it’s the players’ turn. The talented young crew featuring guys such as Steven Jackson, O.J. Atogwe, Ron Bartell, Chris Long and Jacob Bell (to name a few) have to take ownership of the locker room. The same applies to the top free-agent recruits, Jason Brown and James Butler. In particular, I’m intrigued by how all of the changes will affect Steven Jackson. Torry Holt and Orlando Pace are gone, and Leonard Little is on the downside, so to a large extent the Rams are Steven Jackson’s team now. He’s The Franchise. He’s an immense talent. He’s a good person. He has a lively personality. I’d like to see him maximize his talent and persona to emerge as the Rams’ boldest and most constructive leader.

12 comments

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I am truly excited not just about next year as I am really just hoping for improvement but for the long term future. I wish the new coaching staff good luck.

— Loren
3:09 pm April 2nd, 2009

Mr. Miklasz -

You don’t want to see Bulger (or think he can?) be the leader of the locker room?

— stlsportsfan80
5:45 pm April 2nd, 2009

Bulger is no leader. We should draft Sanchez for the future and get a left tackle at pick 35. I believe Sanchez could be a great captain for our beloved Rams.

— Don from Sac
5:59 pm April 2nd, 2009

Sanchez at 2nd pick? You gotta wake up..

— colino
6:46 pm April 2nd, 2009

Gentlemen, the Rams need a face lift, a leader and players. If you do not trade out of the second pick in the draft the Rams should take Crabtree with the pick, then pick up James Larinitous. With the addition of Crabtree you now have to respect the speed of Avery and the skills of Crabtree. Translation you can not put 8 man fronts for Steven Jackson. With the addition of Karney the Rams running game is solid. Mike Martz take notes, if you have a great fullback you can get by with a good not great offensive line, the fullback will always clean up anybody that manages to get through the line. I personally think the Rams should trade out of the pick and take Rey Maulaluga out of USC

— Lenny
7:12 pm April 2nd, 2009

Players that are adequate for their position are okay for right now. Where their are no players like WR, LB, and OT that is where we need to draft. Bulger is okay for right now. I believe if he can get over his shellshock from the last few years he will be good again, case in point - Kurt Warner. Warner was hurt and shellshocked and needed a few years on the bench to be heal and be good again. Bulger has been sacked, hit, and pressured so much, not to mention injured, that I’m surprised he can see straight. The Rams do need a developmental QB but Bulger and Frerotte are adequate for right now if their line play shapes up this year.

— chaban
7:37 pm April 2nd, 2009

Bulger is no Warner!!! Bulger doesnt have the inner drive like Warner.

— Ramsfan
8:18 pm April 2nd, 2009

I have to co-sign ‘chaban’. Maybe Bulger, “is no Warner”, but I’m hoping he and SJ, now have an improved offensive unit - that will result in more W’s and far less L’s.

Developmental QB? Man, I wish we could get Chase Daniel! Rhett Bomar, is also impressive.

In any case, we need a more than adequate performance from Bulger, this season and mentoring and assistance - next year - when the Rams, GET TEBOW!

— Rams Homer
5:40 am April 3rd, 2009

All we need is to squeeze one more year out Bulger. Next years crop of QB’s is even better than this years. Regardless of whether Bulger returns to form or not I’m not passing on the chance to get Sam Bradford or Tim Tebow. This year should be about filling in the holes on both sides of the line, LB, WR, and backup RB. Curry would be a good start, but I trust the current Rams braintrust to make the right moves on draft day.

— Da Rams!
10:52 am April 3rd, 2009

I Don’t see anyway we can go wrong with this pick whether we take Crabtree, Curry or either OT, or trade it and pick up extra picks, well theres one way of messing it up and that would be taking a QB with the 2nd pick in the draft. Next year if we still need a QB thats when we need to figure out how to move up and get the first pick which will be Bradford, cause we will not be picking in the top 10 next year. Our rams are definitely headed in the right direction but it will probably be another draft before we have enough firepower to get back in the playoffs, We gotta be patient.

— Brian
12:15 pm April 3rd, 2009

It seams it is down to Curry, Smith or Monroe at #2. Wide receiver or any other position would be a luxury this team cannot afford.
Barron will be the starter at left tackle no matter whom they pick. He is more experienced and better able to protect on the left side than any rookie tackle in this draft. Ram’s fans have a long-standing history in driving out of St. Louis good tackles; Miller, Tucker and St. Clair to name just a few.
Even J. Long had growing pains at Miami. In a perfect world Long would be playing full time at right tackle for Miami. When they need their most dominating run blocker they moved him to the right in a stacked right formation on running downs. As good as he was coming out of college pass blocking still proves to be his Achilles heal.
None of the current tackle prospects grade out better than Long in last years draft. As such I don’t think a rookie tackle will unseat Barron at left tackle. Both Monroe and J. Smith still need to show that they have better pass blocking skills than they demonstrated in college to play at left tackle. None of these prospects or Barron will ever be better than Pace so live with it.
I will leave it up to the Ram’s staff to determine whom they will pick with their 7 picks. They know a whole lot better then me and the other armchair scouts on what the most pressing needs are for this organization come draft day and beyond. So far they seem to be on the right track. Whoever they pick I will hold my judgments until the end of the season on how well they did. I think all others would be well advised to follow this advice.
As far as Frerotte is concerned he may be the best short-term solution to a bad situation at quarterback. That is assuming the team can get a deal done at all. The fact that they may not have him under contract will undoubtedly effect how much of a priority drafting a backup will be on draft day. They may have to move this oick up a round or two for a quqrterback in the draft.

— nickro
3:00 pm April 3rd, 2009

Add the recently released Plaxico Burress , and the receiver position has been addressed. Have someone assigned to coach him on firearm safety , provide him with a custom fitted Kevlar covering for his buttocks-area,put the golden horns atop his head , and we’re good. Then , bring Michael Vick in to throw him the ball , and who’s better than us .Of course , Coach Spags MAY have to soften his stance on integrity and character.

— got2golfjk
3:22 pm April 3rd, 2009