The team I'd watch closely on draft day...

[PhilipNelsonFan]

The St. Louis Rams.

Currently, this team is an also-ran in a weak division where Seattle is king. They have the potential to go from last place to second place without doing too much...where the draft comes in. A strong one will put them in good position to challenge Seattle (as a Seahawks supporter I don't believe they will) and keep them relevant.

Currently, they have the second overall pick and I think it's almost set in stone that they'll take an offensive tackle with it to pair with Alex Barron and relieve Orlando Pace when he retires. This draft is chock full of good OT prospects: Jake Long, Sam Baker, Gosder Cherilus, Ryan Clady, and Jeff Otah are all projected first-rounders.

Now, the order of the OTs is hardly set in stone and likely to fluctuate, but I see a lot of potential for STL to make a big trade and move down in the draft, possibly to the Raiders or the Ravens. Such a trade could probably net them some very good picks (another 3rd and 5th rounder at the minimum, if I had to guess) and allow them to fill some needs (G, CB, S, backup QB) that would make them pretty competitive. This team has some definite talent on it; they're just not crazy deep and they've suffered a lot of injuries. Some of the key players (Pace, La'Roi Glover, Bulger) are also getting pretty old.

If they were able to come away with, say, Ryan Clady, James Hardy, Trae Williams, and Xavier Adibi in the first three rounds, I'd say they're setting themselves up for success.

[studcrackers]

bulgers not that old, he'll be 31 in the offseason

but yea the rams had a crapload of injuries this past season and if healthy id bet they could give the seahawks a run for there money, of course i also think the 'hawks have been one of the luckier teams this past season.

i think also in the nfc west the cardinals ended the season decently, but when have they ever surpassed expectations?

[bigboy1234]

Much more likely that they pick Gholston or C. Long with the 2nd overall pick than an OT. But hey thats just one mans opinion.

[El Turco]

i really dont see them picking up OT in early rounds.

[bigboy1234]

I wouldn't necessarily say that. I actually hope the Rams pick an OT with their 2nd round pick because one with a first round grade is sure to fall there. I wouldn't be surprised if the Rams took Jake either, I just think it would be stupid. Perfect situation is McFadden falling to #2 and some other team falling in love with him and the Rams killing them in a trade. But other than that I want C. Long or Gholston at #2.

[A.J.]

i see the rams taking DE jake long with the 2nd overall pick...but if they trade down to (lets just say) the 5th pick, i see them taking LT Jake Long

[The_Child_Prodigy]

I want Jake Long but for everyone out there WE WONT BE MOVING TO TAKE AN OLINE MAN. I think it will come down to which Long goes first. If it is Jake than we take Chris. If its Chris we move down and take Gholston or Phillips.

Carriker and Ryan had 4 sacks between them. Glover had 6 but he is done very shortly. We need a DE.

But I still want Jake Long. SJax would be unstoppable.

[Monkeyfeng06]

either way, it's long.

[The_Child_Prodigy]

either way, it's long.

Hopefully. But from most fans perspective they want to trade down for Gholston or Phillips. But I really think Jake Long is the best choice. Steven Jackson agrees with me.

It all depends oh Linehan and what he thinks of everyone.

[Icness]

I like PNF's perspective--it doesn't matter so much in what order they come, but they absolutely have to address the T, DE, and CB positions prominently this summer. Sooner or later they're going to have to replace Isaac Bruce (and Torry Holt too) and this draft is very deep in middle-round WR talent.

IMO Jake Long is the easy choice at #2, but if they can move down into the 5-8 range and get Clady or Gholston that is all the better.

[The_Child_Prodigy]

I like PNF's perspective--it doesn't matter so much in what order they come, but they absolutely have to address the T, DE, and CB positions prominently this summer. Sooner or later they're going to have to replace Isaac Bruce (and Torry Holt too) and this draft is very deep in middle-round WR talent.

IMO Jake Long is the easy choice at #2, but if they can move down into the 5-8 range and get Clady or Gholston that is all the better.

Well the thinking for most of us rams fans is either take Chris Long and draft Gosder Chelrious(sp?) in theh2nd. Him and Pace are almost identical and size and Pace probably has 2 years left in him so he can teach Chelrious some stuff. Him and Barron will have our tackles set for a while.

The other possibility is taking Jake Long and then taking the best availabe WR within reason or the BPA overall.

Then the last thing is trade 2 to around the 5-10 range and pick up extra picks. Hopefully a 2nd but probably a third and a 5th. Draft Gholston or Phillips then get Chelrious and the BPA.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Much more likely that they pick Gholston or C. Long with the 2nd overall pick than an OT. But hey thats just one mans opinion.

That all makes sense. I'm going off the most blatant of assumptions, but I'm also of the believe that offensive line is the most important position in football.

Either way, though...just look at what they can do! Jake Long or Chris Long or Vernon Gholston. My, what a tough choice. Either way, they're coming out of here with an absolute stud.

I noticed that the Chiefs hold the 5th overall pick, and they can probably get a king's ransom in a deal (a 2nd, a 3rd, a 5th, and possibly a 3rd in 2009) to swap picks. They could also really force the Chiefs' hand: Jared Allen is a free agent and their offensive line needs an overhaul. If the Chiefs really value Jake Long, then St. Louis has a ton of bargaining power. St. Louis, bad as they're made out to be, can pick the best available player at their draft position with almost no heed for position.

Then, if they do that, they can take one of those 2nd-rounders, trade down in the draft, and pick up, say, another 3rd-rounder and a 7th-rounder. Couple that with the 5th-rounder (IIRC) that they received from CIN in the Ryan Fitzpatrick deal...there's a lot of ways they can go with this one.

[The_Child_Prodigy]

^^^^^^^^

Yeah but remember we have idiots running the show. Wayne Shaw and Scott Linehan and we fired Softli who was the only good person at drafting on our team and he landed us Carriker and Clifton Ryan who is a great starter in the 6th.

I know theres talk the Dolphins want to do that.

Jake Long should still be the pick. Steven Jackson could tear it up with him on the left with Richie.

[bigboy1234]

Why should Jake Long be the pick? Jake Long is far from a franchise LT, he's no Joe Thomas.

You could arguably get a OT thats just as good as J. Long in the 2nd, although Long is a safer choice.

Where is Jake Long going to play next year? As far as I know Alex Barron and Orlando Pace will be playing in St. Louis next year, and probably the year after that.

I also believe Leonard Little has a big payday coming up and may get cut. And Little along with Hall are both in their 30's.

Chris>Jake

But I think Parcells may pick Chris with the first pick, he just seems like he might be a Parcells guy.

Again, just one mans opinion, but I definitely agree idiots do run the Rams.

[OAKTREE NYK1]

Signs are going to point heavily for Chris Long to become a Miami Dolphin next year. Strong bloodlines, Parcells type of player, and you cant forget that Al Groh and Bill have a long history together. Chris Long is my pick to go #1. He is the ideal player that Bill needs to build this pathetic excuse for a defense.

[The_Child_Prodigy]

Why should Jake Long be the pick? Jake Long is far from a franchise LT, he's no Joe Thomas.

You could arguably get a OT thats just as good as J. Long in the 2nd, although Long is a safer choice.

Where is Jake Long going to play next year? As far as I know Alex Barron and Orlando Pace will be playing in St. Louis next year, and probably the year after that.

I also believe Leonard Little has a big payday coming up and may get cut. And Little along with Hall are both in their 30's.

Chris>Jake

But I think Parcells may pick Chris with the first pick, he just seems like he might be a Parcells guy.

Again, just one mans opinion, but I definitely agree idiots do run the Rams.

Pace is always injured. I don't want to select an OL but its the right thing. We recycle OLs like milk cartons. SJax needs some help.

If SJax plays well we win. game over. HE cant when noone is helping block him.

Long can be very solid and well worth that 2nd overall pick. Gholston is a one dimensional speed rusher and we would have to trade way down to get Phillips.

We don't play the right defense for Dorsey and have no need for McFadden.

Jake should be the pick.

[Icness]

Jake Long is indeed no Joe Thomas--they're almost diametric opposites, in fact. Thomas is a pass-blocking specialist who relies on great technique, good footwork, and leverage as much as brute strength. Jake Long is not close as a pass blocker but he might be the best run-blocking T to enter the draft in a long time. He's a physical mauler who relies heavily on just power and his size advantage. That's not to say that Thomas is a slouch at run blocking, he's pretty good at it, but where he stands out is in pass protection. Long is going to struggle with speed rushers and undersized DEs at the next level, but his ability to seal the corner, get to the second level and locate LBs in space on the run, he does that better than Thomas. Kind of reminisicent of a younger Chris Samuels.

child prodigy: everything you said I agree with except labeling Gholston one-dimensional. He's a lot better than that. Mark Anderson is one-dimensional, KGB is one-dimensional. Gholston is more like Kyle Vandenbosch or a bulkier, less explosive Patrick Kerney.

bigboy--good call on the DE situation, I think Little will be a casualty next summer (2009), but he'll be back in 08. I know the plan is to move Carriker back outside and to get a more run-stuffing oriented guy in at the DT spot next to Clifton Ryan. Dorsey would be perfect, but don't hold your breath bro
As for Pace, he'll give it a go next year but he's got a great deal of mileage on him and he's never been the hardest of workers, even back to when I played against him in HS. He can probably tough out 2008 on natural talent and reputation but to think he'll be anything more than about 75% of his old self after about Week 10 is probably extremely optimistic. I'll talk to his agent at the Senior Bowl and see what I can get out of him.

Shameless "IC" flashback tangent:
Orlando Pace went to Sandusky HS and started every game as varsity tackle when he was in 8th grade. That HS also had an opposite DT/OT who got a full ride to Ball State and started every game but his first two at BSU and had a few cups of coffee in training camps and practice squads. Yet in the year we had in common (my senior year was their frosh year), neither guy made All-Conference even though Pace was obvioulsy awesome at that young age. The two guys who made All-Conferece: Brian Demarco, an NFL starter, and Mike Vrabel's older brother, who had a nice career and won rings at Mount Union.

God, I'm old!

[The_Child_Prodigy]

Pretty cool Pace went to your school Icness. Do you remember how big he was or looked?

From the tapes and games I have watched Gholston is almost a pure speed pass rusher and is average at best at run stuffing.

What do you see the rams doing with there picks. And how do you see Gosder Chelrius(sp) turning out?

Thanks

[Icness]

Pretty cool Pace went to your school Icness. Do you remember how big he was or looked?

From the tapes and games I have watched Gholston is almost a pure speed pass rusher and is average at best at run stuffing.

What do you see the rams doing with there picks. And how do you see Gosder Chelrius(sp) turning out?

Thanks

He went to our main rival, but it is indeed cool. As a freshman he was 6'4" and 275 and did not look fat at all.

I think the Rams are addressing T, DL, and CB with their first three picks. You don't take a CB at #2, or really in the top 10, so they'll take one of the Longs or Dorsey. Second round will be the real interesting one to me, because they need an impact player there too.

I think Cherilus has a decent chance to be a decent player. He's probably better at RT in the NFL and I think he needs to be in a man blocking scheme or one that limits his in-space exposure to be successful. I'll say this for him: he is one guy who really needs to have a good Senior Bowl week, to answer questions about his tenacity and ability to handle all types of rushers. Depending on how well he does there and at other postseason stuff, he could be in the 12-15 range or fall into the middle of Round 2. And if he falls, there are valid reasons that would make me very hesitant to pull the trigger on taking him. The current mock in my formulation has him going to Seattle in the mid-20s.