Rams News Recap For April 23

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RamBill

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Daunting Schedule Awaits Rams in 2014 –PD
After a soft opening, the Rams must face playoff-caliber teams week after week after week. Making it to December in on piece will be difficult.

2014 NFL Schedule: Rams Among Teams Who Got Hosed –NFL.com
We knew the opponents for every NFL team way back in January. Every opponent is determined by a strict, simple formula, so it’s hard to say any team was unfairly treated when it comes to determining what teams they face.

Gordon’s Tipsheet: Once Again Rams Face Brutal Schedule
The Rams better get off to a good start this season because the middle of their schedule is savage.

Rams Have a Shot at a Good Start –PFT
In our Week 17 analysis, we mentioned the need for the Rams and Cardinals to stand up to the NFC West’s power duo of Seattle and San Francisco if they are to compete for playoff spots.

At First Glance, the Rams’ 2014 Schedule Looks Brutal –FSMW
The 2014 NFL schedule won’t make it easy for the St. Louis Rams to snap their streak of consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance.

St. Louis Rams Schedule Analysis –Wagoner
Breakdown: Once again, the St. Louis Rams have what looks to be one of the most difficult schedules in the NFL.

Rams Regular-Season 2014 Schedule

Gordon: Rams Must Reassess Their Work With Receivers
The most important pre-draft scouting Rams do this spring might occur right there in their own practice facility.

What to Expect from Rams’ 2014 Schedule –Wagoner
The NFL will announce the 2014 schedule for the St. Louis Rams and the league’s 31 other teams Wednesday night.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Yet to Meet with the Rams –NFL.com
Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix reportedly has met with seven teams, but not with the team that he perhaps is most associated with in this draft.

NFL Draft 2014: Are We There Yet? –PD
In most years, the NFL draft would’ve come and gone by now. At worst, such as last year, it would be scheduled for this week.

Rang’s Potential Trade-ups and Trade-downs to Watch –Video

Rams GM Les Snead Talks NFL Draft –FSMW
This usually would be the busiest week of the year for Les Snead. But because the 2014 NFL Draft won’t begin until May 8 — 17 days and counting — Monday was a meeting-free day for the Rams’ GM.

Morning Ram-blings: Kiper’s Top 100 –Wagoner
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released his list of the top 100 prospects Insider on Tuesday.

Free Agency Thoughts: St. Louis Rams –OvertheCap.com
A relatively quiet offseason for the Rams who likely would have been even less active has the Raiders not backed out of the Rodger Saffold contract due to him failing their team physical.

Venturi: Rams Hold the Key to the NFL Draft –Radio Interview

Nick Wagoner’s Rams Buzz: Secondary Help –Video

Rams Rumors, News and Notes from Twitter: April 22
 

RamBill

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Morning Ram-blings: Top 32 of past 5 drafts
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/7758/morning-ram-blings-top-32-of-past-5-drafts

It's always an interesting exercise to go back and look at how the many draft analysts and experts ranked prospects when they were coming out of college.

On Wednesday, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay did just that but with a twist: He ranked his top 32 prospects of the past four drafts and then sprinkled in his top prospects from this year. It was an enjoyable read if for no other reason than it gives you an idea of how some of the top players in this class stack up with top players of recent vintage.

In other words, it sheds some light on the relative strength of this year's class compared to the past four. In McShay's mind, there are four players worthy of landing in the top 32 of the past five drafts. He also includes a pair of St. Louis Rams in his rankings.

Quarterback Sam Bradford is McShay's fourth-ranked player of the past five years, coming out with a grade of 98 that puts him only behind Andrew Luck among signal-callers. A bit further down the list, at No. 18, is Rams defensive end Robert Quinn.

Bradford hasn't lived up to that lofty ranking yet, though McShay believes Bradford is still capable of reaching the potential that once had him as McShay's top prospect in the 2010 draft.

Quinn burst on the scene last year and is absolutely living up to the ranking McShay afforded him when he entered the draft in 2011. More impressive, that ranking was difficult given that Quinn didn't play the previous season at North Carolina, which made his evaluation tough.

As for this year's top prospects, McShay sees Jadeveon Clowney, Greg Robinson, Khalil Mack and Sammy Watkins as worthy of landing in the rankings. With two picks in the first 13, the Rams would do well to come away with one of those guys who stack up so favorably in the big picture of the past five years.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Wednesday's Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. ... In the Ram-blings, we began the day with a look at Mel Kiper Jr.'s top 100 players in this year's class. ... In this week's NFL Buzz, we looked at the Rams' pressing need for help in the secondary. ... Wednesday's prospect profile took a deeper look at Nevada offensive lineman Joel Bitonio. ... Next, we previewed the schedule release with four things to watch in anticipation of the schedule release. ... Finally, the schedule was released and we offered instant analysis on the Rams' 2014 slate.

Elsewhere:

At stltoday.com, Jim Thomas looks at the efforts of receiver Chris Givens to jumpstart his career.

Jeff Gordon ponders whether the Rams are doing the right things in developing their receiver corps.

Overthecap.com assesses the Rams' work in free agency.

Rams general manager Les Snead joins NFL Network's Rich Eisen on his podcast.

Stlouisrams.com takes a look at Auburn's Robinson.
 

RamBill

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Rams Rumors, News and Notes from Twitter: April 23


***Chris Burke @ChrisBurke_SI

Jake Matthews is better than Lewan right now, and Greg Robinson definitely could be better than Lewan by the end of this year.

***CollegeFootball 24/7 @NFL_CFB

Gamecocks coordinator said Clowney had to be pulled from practice field at times so offense could get work done

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has met w/ 7 teams, not safety-needy #Rams.

***Evan Silva @evansilva
Rams current Offensive Line:
LT Jake Long (torn ACL/MCL)
LG ?????
C Scott Wells (33yo, oft-injured)
RG Rodger Saffold
RT Joe Barksdale
***Gil Brandt ?@Gil_Brandt
My opinion of Sam Bradford? Good player, can’t stay healthy. Rams could insure selves in draft.
***ProFootballTalk ?@ProFootballTalk
Bills hosting Sammy Watkins, adding fuel to the fire of trade-up talk

***Adam Schefter ?@AdamSchefter
Big change: Sunday night flex scheduling that used to start in week 11 now will kick off in week 5, per NFL.

***Jim Thomas @jthom1

The 3 p.m. start at Edward Jones Dome for Aug. 16 preseason game vs. Green Bay makes it first afternoon game in 20 preseasons in St. Louis.

Baseball Cardinals play at 6:15 p.m. at home vs. San Diego that day; Rams decided on earlier start to give fans a chance to see both games..

Browns replace Bernie Kosar as preseason analyst w Solomon Wilcots. (per @TonyGross) #Kellen Clemens’ best friend

Lindenwood CB Pierre Desir (Francis Howell Central HS) working out for Cleveland, per National Football Post.

***Howard Balzer @HBalzer721

NY outlets report Giants schedule; will play at St. Louis Sun. Dec. 21.

Rams announce dates, times for preseason games: Aug. 8 Saints 7 pm; Aug. 16 Packers 3 pm; Aug. 23 at Browns 7 pm; Aug. 28 at Dolphins 6 pm

***Pat Kirwan @PatKirwanCBS

Spent 1/2 hour talking draftQB’s with Jon Gruden-Arm talent he likes Carr, he thinks Manziel can succeed in NFL. Likes Aaron Murray from Georgia.

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