THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Hindsight is always 20/20 … but perhaps not so much with the 2009 NFL draft class. If you could go back in time and reselect the Rams No. 2 overall pick, who would you have selected based on the first-half performance of the rookies this season?

JIM THOMAS
I was intrigued by the prospect of LB Aaron Curry, but have no problem with OT Jason Smith. But James Laurinaitis has worked out fine at LB as a second-round pick. And I wonder if Sanchez truly is a franchise-type quarterback.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Well, I’ll be consistent and stay with what I said at the time: QB Mark Sanchez. I didn’t have a problem with the choice of OT Jason Smith. I believe Smith will be a terrific offensive tackle in the NFL and anchor the offensive line for a long time. But Billy Devaney and Steve Spagnuolo can’t fully implement their program until they install a quarterback who will be their long-term starter. Sanchez was the ideal fit for a West Coast offense. He’s certainly had some struggles during his rookie season, but that doesn’t mean much if you pay attention to history. Many Hall of Fame quarterbacks came out of the gate slowly as young NFL starters. The Rams could have used this season as a way to slowly ease a rookie QB into the offense to get him some work and experience. Instead, if they draft a QB in 2010, which is something we can expect, 2010 will be a developmental season for the rookie QB. In other words, the Rams will have wasted a year in beginning the inevitable process. And for those pining for Keith Null: internally he is not viewed as a long-term answer at QB for the Rams. Sorry.

JEFF GORDON
If the Rams had taken LB Aaron Curry, they probably wouldn’t have taken James Laurinaitis. But Curry’s early returns for Seattle were awesome. He looks like a home-run hitter on the defensive side, a game-changer. The Rams could have landed a tackle in the second round and possibly come out ahead. Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford have promise at QB, but both would be losing game after game here — and perhaps developing bad habits.

KATHLEEN NELSON
“Based on first-half performance?” Percy Harvin looks like a good pick. He’s made an immediate impact in the offense and on special teams with the Vikings; two kickoff returns for TDs, 369 receiving yards, 3 TD catches. Maybe it helps to have Brett Favre throwing to you, though. I’m not dissing Jason Smith, though. I think he could grow into an anchor on the offensive line. He just hasn’t been as fast out of the blocks or as visible as Harvin.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: With the injuries mounting quickly at key positions, who must step up for the Rams right away for them to have any chance against San Francisco this weekend?

JIM THOMAS
The Rams absolutely, positively have to get their passing game going. That means Donnie Avery must step up, and Kyle Boller, too. On defense, it’s up to the front seven to keep Frank Gore’s replacement, Glen Coffee, from beating them on the ground.

BILL COATS
Here they are, in alphabetical order: Donnie Avery, Ron Bartell, Kyle Boller, Josh Brown, Keenan Burton, Craig Dahl, Steven Jackson, Donnie Jones, James Laurinaitis, Leonard Little, Chris Long and Randy McMichael. Seriously . . . the Rams will need to get solid outings from all their most vital performers. Their margin for error is razor-thin.

KATHLEEN NELSON
Keenan Burton. The 49ers will be keying on Steven Jackson, so a receiver will need to make a few plays to keep the defense honest. Burton has just six receptions and to this point has contributed less than the other 2008 draft choice, Donnie Avery. A big game from either would help loosen the 49ers’ defense, though.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
There is no one person who needs to step up, at least in my mind, but there is a unit that needs to step up: the offensive line. The best chance the Rams have at winning this weekend in San Francisco is controlling the line of scrimmage and pounding the Niners with their best player, Steven Jackson. If they can’t run the ball — and do so with authority — the Rams won’t win.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: There wasn’t a whole lot to like about Sunday’s game in Seattle. One bright spot, however, was the play of rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis, who was credited with 14 tackles. What’s your long- term prognosis on Laurinaitis? Have the Rams found the player to man the middle of the defense for years to come?

JIM THOMAS
Laurinaitis certainly looks like a keeper, but one game doesn’t make a career. And for all the good things he did in run defense against Seattle, he made a couple of costly mistakes in pass coverage. If he wants to be an effective every down player in the NFL, Laurinaitis must learn to play the pass as well as the run.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
There’s been a tendency among some STL media members to all but nominate Laurinaitis for enshrinement to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but obviously he has the potential to be a very good MLB in the NFL. He has the athleticism. He’s instinctive. He’s tough. He works hard to be a student of the game. That said, he doesn’t have top-end speed, and his methodical change-of-direction will get him left behind on some plays. Obviously, his pass coverage skills need work; that’s a rookie thing. He will come along. He’s a nice fit for what Steve Spagnuolo is trying to do with his defense. He should be a fixture. In a few years we’ll know whether the Rams made the right call in taking Laurinaitis over USC’s Rey Maualuga.

JEFF GORDON
At the least, he will be a very solid middle linebacker for years to come. He just has a knack for being around the ball in run support.
His days in the Big Ten didn’t prepare him for pass coverage, but that should come. But . . . will he ever but a real game changer, ala Aaron Curry? That remains to be seen.

BILL COATS
Laurinaitis certainly looks like the real deal. He’s a true middle linebacker, something the Rams have lacked for quite a while. He has a nose for the ball, and perhaps just as important, he’s a smart, confident guy who’s not at all intimidated by the responsibility of making the defensive calls.

KATHLEEN NELSON
He’s off to a good start statistically, with 14 tackles and a fumble recovery. But, really, will anyone care if the unit continues to get steamrolled? Even on a 20-yard run, someone eventually makes the tackle, unless the play ends up in the endzone. So, the stats are moot if the defense as a whole doesn’t play better.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Many believe the third preseason game to be the most important of these exhibition matches as most starters don’t play much in the fourth and final game. The Rams obviously have a number of areas they are still trying to shore up. With that in mind, who is one player you will be watching very closely tomorrow night and why is that player’s performance vital to the success of this year’s Rams?

BERNIE MIKLASZ
I want to see how the defensive tackles play. I can’t single out one guy; all of them are on the spot as far as I’m concerned. This team will be virtual waxpaper against the run unless, and until, it can find DTs who are big enough, wide enough, strong enough, and tough enough to win the interior battles. The Rams have some solid (or better) linebackers. But the Rams LBs will get mauled, just like last year, if the defensive line (and especially the tackles) can’t stop the stampede of blockers. Atlanta absolutely bullied these people in the second preseason game; let’s see if they can put up some resistance in Cincinnati.

BILL COATS
I’ll be keeping an eye on Tye Hill. He’s trying to come back from two injury-shortened seasons and also hoping to prove that the Rams didn’t make a mistake when they drafted him in the first round in 2006. If Hill falters, the Rams will have to make a major secondary adjustment, and that certainly won’t help a rebuilding defense.

JEFF GORDON
I am watching two players: Jason Smith and Chris Long. As second overall picks, they must become difference makers for this team. So far that hasn’t happened. It’s early for Smith, but his inability to run block with any consistency last week was disappointing. We all understand it will take time to develop pass blocking skills at this level, but he ought to run block right out of the box. As for Long, he needs to become a Pro Bowl defensive end ASAP. So far he has just been solid.

BRYAN BURWELL
I will be eyeballing rookie MLB James Laurinaitis and comparing and contrasting him with Cincy rookie MLB Rey Maualuga. Which one looks like the sort of disciplined playmaker that could be a defensive star for the next six years?

KATHLEEN NELSON
Samkon Gado, and by extension the rest of the backs competing to back up Steven Jackson. Gado looked great at Lindenwood and in the first game, and the coaching staff used him as fullback to increase his versatility and usefulness to the team. He was unremarkable last week, though. Either he or one of the other hopefuls has a chance to take ownership of the role.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Tye Hill. I loved him as a playmaker coming out of college but he hasn’t developed into anywhere near the same thing at the NFL level. The team needs another corner to emerge opposite Ron Bartell and I’m sure they’d also like to get something of substance out of a player they spent a first-round pick on. I realize injuries have affected him and playing injured while “out on the island” is a bit of a problem for sure. That said, it’s time. He appears to have the confidence corners need and now he needs to show that he’s got the skill and durability required to be a starter in this league.

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: With the St. Louis Rams’ second pick (35th overall and No. 3 in Round 2), the team selected Ohio State LB James Laurinaitis. What are you thoughts on this selection?

JIM THOMAS
When North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks went off the board late in the first round, the team’s hopes of landing a wideout in Round 2 were scuttled. Although not a thumper, Laurinaitis is a nice consolation prize for a defense that needs all the help it can get.

BILL COATS
Very good pick. He’s a legitimate three-down linebacker, as opposed to USC’s Maualuga, and will fill a major need at middle linebacker.

BRYAN BURWELL
This second pick couldn’t have worked out any better for the Rams. At least on paper, Laurinaitis is exactly what they need.

JEFF GORDON
The Rams went two-for-two on Day One of the draft. Adding MLB James Laurinaitis adds heft to a defense clearly lacking it last season. He should emerge as a more forceful alternative to Chris Draft, thus making it easier to keep Will Witherspoon outside. He is better in coverage than Rey Maualuga, so he was a better choice than the former USC star. He is a solid character guy, he fills a glaring need — really, what’s not to like about this guy?

KATHLEEN NELSON
I like the pick. Linebacker was one of the most glaring needs, and he can be a visible force right away. Plus, he’s a character guy, winning the first Lowe’s Senior CLASS award. Plus, like Jason Smith, Laurinaitis wants to be a Ram.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Offensive tackle or linebacker? Linebacker or offensive tackle? The debate rages on about the No. 2 overall pick. But the Rams have many, many needs to address in this draft: offensive and defensive line, wide receiver, linebacker, backup QB and RB, defensive back … the list goes on. Which side of the ball do you think the Rams will have invested in most heavily come the end of next weekend’s NFL draft?

JIM THOMAS
The Rams have so many needs, it really depends on who’s available at each pick that is a good value (highly rated) in each particular round. For example, say the Rams take an offensive tackle in the first round. What they do in the second round might depend on whether wide receiver Hakeem Nicks, defensive tackle Ziggy Hood, edge rusher Larry English or even Ohio State middle linebacker James Laurinaitis is available. But on balance, if the Rams are serious about a drafting a quarterback and a backup running back, there shold be a tilt towards offense.

BRYAN BURWELL
When you end up drafting in the No. 2 slot in the first round in back-to-back seasons that means you have huge holes all over your roster. But despite Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive background, I won’t be surprised if his GM Billy Devaney goes slightly towards filling in the most holes on offense. The Rams need starters on the offensive line, immediate help at WR, a useful RB to spell Steven Jackson, QB for the future … and did I already say how badly they need more big and talented offensive linemen?

JEFF GORDON
Over the course of the draft, the Rams may end up with a bigger offensive investment. They have to add at least one tackle. Receiver is a glaring need. They could use a better No. 2 running back and another quarterback. On defense, they need a middle linebacker, a beefy defensive tackle, depth at cornerback and perhaps a developmental pass-rushing end. But the Rams put the franchise tag on O.J. Atogwe, spent heavily to keep Ron Bartell and filled their safety void in free agency.

BILL COATS
It’ll be close, but I think the Rams’ draft will lean toward offense. They need significant help on the line, at wide receiver and running back, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they took a quarterback in the later rounds.

KATHLEEN NELSON
I think the correct answer is “line,” on both sides of the ball. But since that’s not a choice, I’ll go with offense. The Rams are more likely to use the first pick on an offensive lineman, and there are so many good wide receivers in the draft, one is likely to be the “best player available” by the time they pick in the second round.