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Rams notes: Rams opted to stand pat with picks
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_587f337c-5d8c-5d3f-b718-eea78fa0fa80.html
The big surprise of the 2014 first-round for the Rams was that there were no surprises. Specifically no trades.
But it’s not as if the Rams didn’t try. After picking Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald at No. 13 overall, coach Jeff Fisher said the Rams tried to move back into the first round to grab Notre Dame offensive tackle/guard Zack Martin.
Most observers felt Martin wouldn’t get past the New York Giants at No. 12 overall. But the Giants threw a curve ball by selecting LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham at that spot.
True, the Rams took Auburn offensive tackle/guard Greg Robinson at No. 2 overall, but they felt highly enough of Martin to make a run after him.
Fisher and general manager Les Snead said Martin, Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, and Donald were all in play for the team at No. 13 overall – and all three were available. But Donald, obviously, was their first choice of the three.
But any hopes of landing Martin ended when Dallas grabbed him at No. 16 overall.
The Rams were talking to Baltimore at No. 17 overall about moving up for Martin.
“It would’ve been pricey but worth it,” Fisher said. “That was a good pick by the Cowboys.”
TRADE WINDS
When it came to trading out of the No. 2 pick, there wasn’t much action for the Rams.
“There were a few calls,” Snead said. “Buffalo (went) up to get their guy — Sammy (Watkins) — so they were probably the one team that was the most motivated. But we felt like Greg (Robinson) was a piece of the puzzle that was going to help us, help control that line of scrimmage because in our division you’ve got to be physical.”
So the Rams held at No. 2 and took Robinson. Buffalo moved up from No. 9 overall with Cleveland at No. 4 to take Watkins, the gifted wide receiver from Clemson.
In terms of trade calls at No. 13, Snead said, “A couple teams called but we were set on the pick. We were jacked (Donald) was there, so it was: we’re really not doing anything, we’re done.”
Some mocks had Donald going as high as No. 7 overall to Tampa Bay.
COMING UP
Both cornerback and safety are big needs for the Rams, and after going offensive tackle-defensive tackle in the first round, the team certainly will look that way today in rounds two and three of the draft.
Much of the top-flight talent in the secondary was cleared off the shelf in Round 1 Thursday. All told, nine defensive backs were chosen in the top 32, easily the most players taken at any position on Day 1.
(Tied for second, with five first-rounders apiece, were linebacker and offensive line.)
In the secondary, five cornerbacks and four safeties were taken. But a couple of possibilities remain at safety, with both players from Florida State: Terrence Brooks and LeMarcus Joyner.
Joyner actually could fill needs at both free safety and nickel back, because that’s what he played for the Seminoles. Some scouts view Joyner as a poor man’s Honey Badger, aka Tyrann Mathieu of Arizona.
Like Mathieu, Joyner is small for the free safety position at 5-8, 184. But he has good quickness, instincts, and was one of the leaders of the Florida State defense. Brooks, 5-11, 198, ran a 4.42 in the 40 and is a rangy free safety. He also was considered one of the defensive leaders for the BCS national champions.
At corner, Lindenwood University’s Pierre Desir could be in play as well as Nebraska’s Stanley Jean-Baptiste, and Utah’s Keith McGill.
The Rams could still be looking for help at offensive guard and wide receiver on Day 2, and could begin to scan the list of potential quarterbacks. Only three quarterbacks went on Day 1: Craig Bortles, Johnny Manziel, and Teddy Bridgewater.
So there’s still a lot to choose from there, including Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo. Alabama’s A.J. McCarron, and Georgia’s Aaron Murray. The Rams held private workouts for McCarron and Murray last week.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_587f337c-5d8c-5d3f-b718-eea78fa0fa80.html
The big surprise of the 2014 first-round for the Rams was that there were no surprises. Specifically no trades.
But it’s not as if the Rams didn’t try. After picking Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald at No. 13 overall, coach Jeff Fisher said the Rams tried to move back into the first round to grab Notre Dame offensive tackle/guard Zack Martin.
Most observers felt Martin wouldn’t get past the New York Giants at No. 12 overall. But the Giants threw a curve ball by selecting LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham at that spot.
True, the Rams took Auburn offensive tackle/guard Greg Robinson at No. 2 overall, but they felt highly enough of Martin to make a run after him.
Fisher and general manager Les Snead said Martin, Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, and Donald were all in play for the team at No. 13 overall – and all three were available. But Donald, obviously, was their first choice of the three.
But any hopes of landing Martin ended when Dallas grabbed him at No. 16 overall.
The Rams were talking to Baltimore at No. 17 overall about moving up for Martin.
“It would’ve been pricey but worth it,” Fisher said. “That was a good pick by the Cowboys.”
TRADE WINDS
When it came to trading out of the No. 2 pick, there wasn’t much action for the Rams.
“There were a few calls,” Snead said. “Buffalo (went) up to get their guy — Sammy (Watkins) — so they were probably the one team that was the most motivated. But we felt like Greg (Robinson) was a piece of the puzzle that was going to help us, help control that line of scrimmage because in our division you’ve got to be physical.”
So the Rams held at No. 2 and took Robinson. Buffalo moved up from No. 9 overall with Cleveland at No. 4 to take Watkins, the gifted wide receiver from Clemson.
In terms of trade calls at No. 13, Snead said, “A couple teams called but we were set on the pick. We were jacked (Donald) was there, so it was: we’re really not doing anything, we’re done.”
Some mocks had Donald going as high as No. 7 overall to Tampa Bay.
COMING UP
Both cornerback and safety are big needs for the Rams, and after going offensive tackle-defensive tackle in the first round, the team certainly will look that way today in rounds two and three of the draft.
Much of the top-flight talent in the secondary was cleared off the shelf in Round 1 Thursday. All told, nine defensive backs were chosen in the top 32, easily the most players taken at any position on Day 1.
(Tied for second, with five first-rounders apiece, were linebacker and offensive line.)
In the secondary, five cornerbacks and four safeties were taken. But a couple of possibilities remain at safety, with both players from Florida State: Terrence Brooks and LeMarcus Joyner.
Joyner actually could fill needs at both free safety and nickel back, because that’s what he played for the Seminoles. Some scouts view Joyner as a poor man’s Honey Badger, aka Tyrann Mathieu of Arizona.
Like Mathieu, Joyner is small for the free safety position at 5-8, 184. But he has good quickness, instincts, and was one of the leaders of the Florida State defense. Brooks, 5-11, 198, ran a 4.42 in the 40 and is a rangy free safety. He also was considered one of the defensive leaders for the BCS national champions.
At corner, Lindenwood University’s Pierre Desir could be in play as well as Nebraska’s Stanley Jean-Baptiste, and Utah’s Keith McGill.
The Rams could still be looking for help at offensive guard and wide receiver on Day 2, and could begin to scan the list of potential quarterbacks. Only three quarterbacks went on Day 1: Craig Bortles, Johnny Manziel, and Teddy Bridgewater.
So there’s still a lot to choose from there, including Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo. Alabama’s A.J. McCarron, and Georgia’s Aaron Murray. The Rams held private workouts for McCarron and Murray last week.