THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: With the NFL draft now behind us, let’s focus in on the NFC West a bit. Which team in the division do you think did the most to improve itself through the draft?

JIM THOMAS
In terms of pure impact players, it’s hard to discount what San Francisco and Arizona did with their first-round picks. In Michael Crabtree the 49ers got the player who was considered the unquestioned top receiver in the draft before a foot injury and questions about his attitude caused him to slide to No. 10. If Crabtree gets his foot — and his act — together, he could be a difference maker. The Cardinals also addressed their most pressing need by getting one of the top running backs in the draft in Beanie Wells. See you later, Edgerrin James.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
I don’t really get into declaring winners and losers in a draft 24 hours after it happened. That’s for the draft pundits who have to justify their existence and paycheck. Talk to me in two years.

I’d be pleased if I could say that the Rams got the most help, but that would make me a phony. The Rams did fine, and if some of their boom-or-bust draftees pay off, then this could turn out to be a special draft. But they also took some gambles that could wash out.

You can make the case that the Arizona Cardinals, drafting 31st, got as much immediate impact in Ohio State RB Chris Wells that the Rams got at No. 2 overall with OT Jason Smith. The same is true of San Francisco which got a big-time receiver in Michael Crabtree at No. 10. And obviously, Seattle’s choice of LB Aaron Curry at No. 4 was a dynamite pick.

If I had to declare a winner, it would be a tie between San Francisco and Seattle simply because each of them smartly maneuvered to acquire an extra first-round pick in the 2010 draft. That’s intelligent team building. Again, I’m not dogging the Rams. The Rams did what was best for them. But I see no reason to be a homer by ignoring what happened elsewhere in the NFC West.

JEFF GORDON
Seattle got the guy I love, Aaron Curry, added some early O-line depth and still ended up with an extra No. 1 for next year — which could give the Seahawks added leverage retooling for 2009. To trade a No. 2 for a future No. 1, then to get back in the second round by moving later picks . . . that was smooth. And what was was Denver thinking?

KATHLEEN NELSON
Arizona did a good job of addressing needs: Beanie Wells should give them a good option at running back, and DE Cody Brown has a reputation as a good edge rusher, which the Cardinals could use.

Seattle did pretty well for itself. Aaron Curry will start right away. OL Max Unger will learn the ropes at center and guard. And somehow, GM Tim Ruskell parlayed a second-round pick this year into a first-round slot in 2010. That was pretty slick.

The 49ers chose oddly. Michael Crabtree’s talent is obvious, but they need a QB to throw to him. Perhaps Isaac Bruce can become a role model to Crabtree. RB Glen Coffee can offer some relief to the overburdened Frank Gore.

BILL COATS
I think it was Arizona, and mainly because it landed RB Beanie Wells with the 31st pick. For a team desperately in need of a quality ballcarrier, that was a real coup.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
I’m going to focus on which team helped themselves the most for the 2009 NFL season because it’s impossible to predict what will happen with players in this league 2-3-4 years down the road. To me it comes down to a decision between the Seahawks and the Rams.

Arizona’s 1st round selection of “Beanie” Wells from Ohio State, a player I really like, doesn’t make a huge impact on them right away because he’ll split carries with Tim Hightower and because they’ll throw the ball so much. Their other picks appear to be projects. The Niners landed an immediate impact player in Michael Crabtree but didn’t have a 2nd-round pick and the rest of their picks appear to be either projects (like QB Nate Davis from Ball State) or backups.

Seattle got an immediate impact player in LB Aaron Curry, plus they added OL quality with Max Unger from Oregon and some speed at WR with Deon Butler from Penn State. They addressed several key needs there and then filled with depth. Solid draft.

I’ll give the slightest of edges to the Rams because I think they picked two definite starters in the draft and the other teams seem to have only gotten one apiece. Plus they filled needs in areas of depth, though it still looks to me like they have some work to do at WR.

Jason Smith is a mauler who will be a good player right away and potentially a great one down the road. His attitude will be almost as helpful as his physical abilities. James Laurinaitis is a strong player from a program that produces outstanding linebackers and I’d be shocked if he’s not the Rams’ starting middle linebacker in Week 1 of the NFL season. Bradley Fletcher from Iowa is a nice addition to the secondary and, being a guy who watches a lot of ACC football, DT Darell Scott from Clemson is a good player who filled a need for d-line depth.

It’s close — they’re all C+/B-/B grades if you look around the net — but I think the Rams got more immediate help than their division opponents. Of course, that could be because they had more holes to fill.

TOM ACKERMAN (Sports anchor of “Total Information A.M.” on KMOX)
Overall, I thought the NFC West teams did well. The Rams filled major needs by landing Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis. Arizona should have a productive RB in Beanie Wells … if he stays healthy. As far as big catches go, the 49ers reeled in a monster in Michael Crabtree at No. 10. But the Niners failed to get a pass rusher in the draft. I thought the Seahawks hit a home run, though, by getting LB Aaron Curry, who will be a star in Seattle. They also added offensive depth (Max Unger at C) and landed a first-round pick in 2010 via trade with Denver. Well done.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: After weeks of talking about it, the NFL draft finally begins tomorrow. Rather than predicting who the St. Louis Rams will take, I’d like you to put your GM hat on. If you were running the Rams draft, who would you take with the No. 2 pick and why?

JIM THOMAS
All signs point to the Rams taking a tackle. But Aaron Curry is the best player in the draft. The Wake Forest linebacker would bring attitude, leadership and charisma to a defense lacking in all of those areas. He’d be my pick.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
I would take USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, because he’s ideal to run the West Coast offense and he displays outstanding leadership qualities. He’s an ideal fit and the Rams can’t be sure they’ll have such an attractive option at QB in the 2010 Draft. In the end, though, the Rams will decide to make one more attempt at reviving Marc Bulger. And they’ll make the safer, more pragmatic choice by grabbing Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith.

BRYAN BURWELL
I would go offensive tackle, and I’d be happy with either Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe. I want to get massive up front to dominate games. I would probably go OT in second or third round, too. I want enormous folks whose entire families are big-boned too.

JEFF GORDON
Going against conventional wisdom, I would select Aaron Curry and stick him in the middle of that defense. The Rams have a woeful linebacker corps beyond Will Witherspoon. Steve Spagnuolo is a defensive-minded coach who knows how to maximize his talent on that side of the ball. Then I would take an offensive tackle with the second pick — and I would look to move up into the first round to get a little more quality there. There is risk in doing that, since the better tackles will leave the board. But it is a risk worth taking.

KATHLEEN NELSON
Eugene Monroe: I’ll confess that I haven’t watched film, but the scouts who have seem to give Monroe the edge as a pass blocker over Jason Smith. I’m sure either will develop into an anchor for the offensive line, but the recurring image of Marc Bulger on his back or side, writhing in pain, makes me think pass protection is a more urgent need. Just don’t expect either Monroe or Smith next year to be Orlando Pace in his prime.

GERRY FRALEY
USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, in a heartbeat. The Rams are not going to win with Marc Bulger. He has taken a horrific beating and is regressing. Bulger also lacks the aura of a big-time quarterback. No need to worry about that with Sanchez. He’s good and knows it, which is not all bad when it comes to a quarterback.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Much attention has been focused on the Rams offensive needs as we near this weekend’s draft, but the fact is, the Rams have made only one offseason addition to the defense — defensive back James Butler came over from the Giants. With needs on the defensive line, LB and DB … which defensive area would you say is the greatest need for this team?

JIM THOMAS
After giving up a franchise record 2,475 yards rushing last season, the Rams need to get bigger up the middle on defense, whether it’s at defensive-tackle or middle linebacker. With that in mind, the most ideal choice in this year’s draft would be Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry. He should be able to make the transition from college outside linebacker to the middle in the NFL.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Obviously, the Rams can’t ignore a potentially top player at any defensive position. They have holes all over the place on the defensive side of the ball. But it always starts up front. That’s the one area that has the most direct influence on a football game. If you have a dominant defensive line, then you can control the line of scrimmage. Your tackles can tie up blockers and free your linebackers and DBs to make tackles. If your defensive line can whip up a consistent pass rush, it alleviates the pressure on your cornerbacks. If your D-line is rattling the quarterback, he’s going to hurry or force some throws and your DBs will be able to make some plays on the ball. The defensive front is the backbone and character of your defense, so the Rams should load up on as many D-linemen as possible.

BILL COATS
Unquestionably, it’s linebacker. Specifically, middle linebacker, with Will Witherspoon moving back outside. Aaron Curry was an OLB at Wake Forest, but he’s big enough and bright enough to make the move inside. The Rams have to get better vs. the run, and a stout MLB would be a key part of the solution.

KATHLEEN NELSON
I’d say linebacker. Three young guys on the line — Clifton Ryan, Chris Long and Adam Carriker — could continue to progress and anchor the front for awhile. Ron Bartell, O.J. Atogwe and James Butler could be solid in the secondary. Improving the linebacking corps has been ignored, except for moving Will Witherspoon and Chris Draft.

QUESTION: Rams general manager Billy Devaney has said the Rams are willing to listen to offers for the team’s No. 2 overall draft pick. Given the many needs of this team, does it make sense to trade down and accumulate more draft picks or is there a difference-maker the Rams should target with the No. 2?

JIM THOMAS

If ever there was a year to trade down, this is it for the Rams. They need bodies, lots of bodies, to fill starting spots and build up depth on the roster. The ideal situation might be if they could trade down, yet stay in the top 10 and pick up another pick or two along the way.

BERNIE MIKLASZ

It makes great sense to do so, because the Rams have so many holes to fill. But the chance of this happening is highly unlikely, because teams don’t want to move up into a much higher money slot. It costs a lot of jack to get the No. 2 overall pick signed, and there simply isn’t that much difference (this year) in the 2nd pick and, say, the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th picks. But sure, there would be some terrific players available if the Rams moved down. Too many to list here. Finding a trade partner is the issue. And I wouldn’t want the Rams to drop out of the first 10 or 12 slots in the draft.

JEFF GORDON

I’d like to see the team take Aaron Curry second overall. But the Rams could deal down and still get an offensive tackle. So, sure, that would make all the sense in the world. The Rams could get a tackle for less money, then add an additional player or two in the later rounds. Since this team needs so many things, dealing out of the No. 2 slot could be a great idea. Detroit is thinking the same thing about the No. 1 overall pick — but are there teams really looking to move up?

BRYAN BURWELL

If the Rams draft board evaluates the talent available at the top of the draft as non-Pro Bowl caliber starters not worth the price of a No.2 pick, then by all means trade down and accumulate picks. At this stage it is all about valuing potential.

ROGER HENSLEY

Yes, the Rams have many, many needs. Frankly, they have more needs than what can be fulfilled in one draft, so I’m not sure the stockpiling philosophy works here. Every year teams take chances on high draft picks and invariably many of those don’t work out. For that reason, I think when you see a surefire stud sitting there and you have a chance to nab him, you do so. I believe there is one of those in this year’s draft, and his name is Aaron Curry. It’s a new day, Rams fans, time to put the Greatest Show to bed and get back to the basics of what consistently brings the most success in the NFL – defense. And at the heart of any defense is a middle linebacker that strikes fear in the other team and serves as the glue for an entire unit. Again, I think Curry is that player. Mining a gem at offensive tackle can be a tricky business and it seems there are as many misses as hits in drafting at that position. This draft is deep there … the Rams have the talent evaluators now to do the research and find someone later in the draft who can help at offensive tackle. Start on the defensive side of the ball. Start with Curry.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Rams fans seem to be enthused about having a defensive-minded head coach taking the helm of this team. Speaking just in terms of defense, what remains to be done this offseason that will enable Steve Spagnuolo to turn around the fortunes of the Rams defense?

JIM THOMAS
So far, strong safety James Butler is the only new starter on what was one of the NFL’s worst defenses last season. Help at middle linebacker, nose tackle, and cornerback would be nice.

JEFF GORDON
There is much work to do, especially with the front seven. The Rams still must get stronger at the point of attack. The most critical need is an impact linebacker — ideally for the middle, which would allow Will Witherspoon to move outside and make better use of his pass-rushing skills. Still another linebacker would help as well. This team needs another run-stuffer to stick in the middle of the line, supporting and pushing Clifton Ryan and Adam Carriker. The Rams also need to develop another pass-rushing end to ultimately replace Leonard Little and work across from Chris Long. And this team needs more depth at cornerback, where Tye Hill and Justin King are attempting comebacks.

BILL COATS
Draft Aaron Curry and put him at MLB. Find a beefy defensive tackle for the rotation up front. Get some depth — and possibly a starter if Tye Hill disappoints — at cornerback.

KATHLEEN NELSON
The pecking order at linebacker needs to be straightened out. Spagnuolo has said that he will move Will Witherspoon outside and move Chris Draft to the middle. The latter feels a bit like Tony LaRussa’s switch of Skip Schumacher to second base. The Cardinals have declared that move a success, but the Rams will need to see how it works and adjust if necessary.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
The main thing the Rams need on defense is a super-sized linebacker, someone who can be a dominant physical presence on game day. This linebacker would be someone for the middle, ideally, but more important than the specific position he plays is whether or not the player is the kind of impact talent the team needs. Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry would fit the bill, as could several others in the draft depending on how things fall.

I’d also like to see more depth on the defensive line and perhaps another cornerback added to the mix as well, though it may not be possible to address everything before training camp.

There are a lot of good players on the Rams’ defense but as things stand right now none of those players are dominant, nobody is a star. Chris Long may develop into that kind of player, but whether it is him or not, somehow this teams needs to find “The Guy” that makes it all work the way it is supposed to.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: With Drew Bennett already cut and now Torry Holt asking for his release, how early do you see the St. Louis Rams targeting a wide receiver in this year’s draft? Are there still quality options after Michael Crabtree and Jeremy Maclin are gone, or will the Rams have to consider striking early for a quality WR?

JIM THOMAS
Let’s see what the rest of free agency brings, but there aren’t really many options left, at least younger ones. As for the draft, the problem with taking a wide receiver at No. 2 overall is that you still need an offensive tackle. If the Rams opt for a receiver at the top of the second round, Kenny Britt of Rutgers and Brian Robiskie of Ohio State are possibilities.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Barring a trade or free-agent signing, the Rams will have to make WR a priority in the draft. If they don’t go for Jeremy Maclin or Michael Crabtree in the first round — hopefully after trading down — they’ll have to take a hard look at WR in Round 2. But they can’t pass on a better player at another position. They can’t force it. Finding a taller more physical receiver might have to wait for next year’s wish list.

JEFF GORDON
Crabtree is an option, of course, but LB Aaron Curry looks like a great pick for the defensive side — and you have to believe Spags will push for him. The Rams are going to run a ground-control offense. This will be a run-first team. Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton both have nice upsides. The free-agent wide receiver pool isn’t great, but the Rams ought to at least add depth with a veteran and then pick somebody later in the draft for more depth.

KATHLEEN NELSON
I think the Rams first might try to get one of the geezer wideouts to provide a little stability. Drafting a first-rounder and throwing him immediately into the fire would be unfair to the draftee. Remember when the Rams drafted Torry Holt? Isaac Bruce was the man, and Holt had a role model from whom to learn. I wonder how Torry would have fared as the undisputed No. 1. I’d bet not as well as he did; Bruce took the pressure off Holt

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

HOLT AMONG GAME’S ELITE? I heard a ridiculous discussion on the radio last night about whether or not Torry Holt was one of the game’s “great” receivers during his time in the league. Are you kidding me? As Jim Thomas pointed out in his story today, Holt, the No. 6 overall pick in the 1999 draft, has caught more passes (817) for more yards (11,872) than any receiver in the NFL this decade. Need more perspective … Thomas provided it. Over Holt’s 10-year career, his average of 80.1 yards per game is the highest for any WR in league history. At the age of 32, Holt is 11th overall in career receptions (869) and 14th in career receiving yards (12,660). It’s guaranteed he’ll continue to build on those career numbers and move on up the list.

Anyone who looks at those numbers and doesn’t believe Torry Holt has been one of the league’s elite receivers over the last decade should just stop watching football. Right now. Turn it off. Watch rugby.

Now, with that said, it’s hard to say if the Rams would be making a mistake to cut Holt now. He is coming off his worst season ever. But generally speaking, WRs don’t necessarily deteriorate at the age-30 plateau as quickly as, say, RBs. Many WRs continue to put up decent numbers into their mid-30s. And how many of Holt’s reduced numbers in 2008 were a product of him losing a step, and how many of them were the product of a completely dysfunctional offense where the QB spent more time on his back than on his feet?

There are no easy answers here, and I believe Holt has played his last game as a Ram. But rather than celebrating his departure, I think Rams fans should celebrate all he gave this team for 10 years. Other than grumbling a bit at the end of last season as he was worked out of the offense, Holt was always a classy guy. There is no arguing the production he put up while here.

IT ALL STARTED WITH MADONNA: Long before the steroid revelations and the tearful apologies, I told you the A-Rod kingdom would fall sooner than expected … and it was because of the bad mojo he brought on himself for dating Madonna. Now, just days after saying A-Rod had a cyst on his hip that needed to be checked out, ESPN is reporting that Rodriguez needs surgery and will be out up to 10 weeks. This is the same cyst that earlier this week Yankees manager Joe Girardi said A-Rod had played with all last season. Of course, ESPN doesn’t have the news nailed down yet, and they are sourcing the story completely on something A-Rod’s brother said. So we’ll have to wait and see what’s really going on here.

I’m just thinking out loud here, but if I had a relationship with Madonna and I had a “cyst” on my hip, I’d be asking doctors to do all kinds of tests on that thing to find out exactly what it is. I’m just sayin’.

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SOMETHING TO PONDER

CAN YOU IMAGINE? So we’re sitting here in the office this morning discussing Terrell Owen’s divorce from the Dallas Cowboys. Trouble has followed T.O. everywhere he’s been, like Schleprock in the Flintstones who always walked around with the dark cloud over his head. That said, his prolific numbers keep teams coming back for more. Which team, we wondered, would take a chance on T.O. My first thought was crazy Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders … but with a young coach and young QB, that might be too much for even the Raiders. And then this was mentioned: How about the Patriots? Holy cow, can you imagine the knocking knees of DBs if you were facing a Patriots offense with T.O. lined up on one side of the field and Randy Moss on the other … and with Tom Brady throwing them the ball. Unstoppable … on the field, at least. But chances are they’d never get that far as T.O. and Moss would likely implode the Patriots before mini-camps were even completed. Still, it’s an interesting thought and Patriots coach Bill Belichick has a record of making guys buy into team first … who knows.

Regardless, according to the Dallas Morning News this morning, Terrell Owens had to go. Some interesting thoughts considering how vital he was thought to be to the Cowboys and QB Tony Romo just a short while ago.

Just curious, if Torry Holt were to be released, would any Rams fans like to see T.O. end up in St. Louis?

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

MARCH 5, 1973 — New York Yankees pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich announce that they have traded wives, kids and dogs. While Peterson eventually marries the former Susanne Kekich, Marilyn Peterson and Kekich soon part. (Source: “This Day in Baseball” by David Nemec and Scott Flatlow)