They just couldn't listen to me. If you haven't heard, with the second overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft the St Louis Rams selected Chris Long of Virginia. Anyone who read this blog or who has just read the title of this entry knows that I was against this pick. I wanted Glenn Dorsey but there is nothing anyone can do about that now.
The amazing thing to me is, the Rams had two picks today and Chris Long was by far the best. I don't just mean skill wise, obiviously a the second overall pick is going to be better than the second pick of the second round but the Rams used their no. 34 in a way that just baffles me.
They picked Donnie Avery out of Houston. One word came to mind when I heard this pick, "who!" There is no doubt that the Rams needed a wide receiver, the release of the great Isaac Bruce settled that but ESPN's analysis of the Avery pick says everything that needs to be said.
"This is a substantial reach in our opinion," said ESPN's analysis.
The analysis goes on to talk about how undersized Avery is and how he is not comfortable going over the middle. I just don't understand what Shaw and his cronies were thinking.
Now, back to Long. I've given him a lot of crap in the last couple of months but I do really hope he works out. There is no question he has talent, I just hope it is enought to survive in the pros. So, I suppose I will end this entry with a different ending than my previous entries. Good luck to Chris Long.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Judgement Day is Upon Us
Alright, here we go. The 2008 NFL draft is mere hours away and it is almost time to find out if my Rams will do the right thing, and draft Glenn Dorsey, or do the wrong thing and draft Chris Long. Or, maybe they'll just be inanely stupid and do something like draft Darren Mcfadden or Matt Ryan.
I won't say anything else about who I want them to pick, I've talked enough about my feelings about Long and Dorsey. Of course, I was just joking about Mcffaden and Ryan (I hope !!!!). I'm just here to report what I've heard.
All my sources (stlouistoday.com, espn.com, nfl.com...) seem to have the Rams leaning toward Dorsey but that Long is not out of the picture. This tells me one thing, Rams president of football operations John Shaw has been reading my blog. I would like to say to Mr. Shaw, thank you for coming to my site and taking my advice, I just wish you'd done it sooner and the Trung Canidate tradgedy could have been avoided.
Alright, I'm back in reality. At this point it is just a wait and see game to see who they will take but I will say this one final time because it just wouldn't be this blog if I didn't. St Louis Rams, please do not draft Chris Long.
I won't say anything else about who I want them to pick, I've talked enough about my feelings about Long and Dorsey. Of course, I was just joking about Mcffaden and Ryan (I hope !!!!). I'm just here to report what I've heard.
All my sources (stlouistoday.com, espn.com, nfl.com...) seem to have the Rams leaning toward Dorsey but that Long is not out of the picture. This tells me one thing, Rams president of football operations John Shaw has been reading my blog. I would like to say to Mr. Shaw, thank you for coming to my site and taking my advice, I just wish you'd done it sooner and the Trung Canidate tradgedy could have been avoided.
Alright, I'm back in reality. At this point it is just a wait and see game to see who they will take but I will say this one final time because it just wouldn't be this blog if I didn't. St Louis Rams, please do not draft Chris Long.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Atogwe needs to stay
As I sit here, still crushed by the loss of Isaac Bruce (I may cry when I first see him in a 49ers uni) I can't help but think there is one guy who the Rams might lose that could be worse.
Free safety O.J. Atogwe is a restricted free-agent and there are a lot of teams interested. Atogwe was the best player the Rams had on defense last year, he even led the NFC in interceptions.
It would be the ultimate display of stupidity to let him go, but i wouldn't be surprised if they did it. The worst part is, they have the money. They let Bruce go and they just restructured Little's contract in order to pay him less, it makes sense to offer a big deal to O.J. and wrap him up for years to come but, of course, Shaw is no expert when it comes to making sense.
The fact is, the worst mistake the Rams could make this offseason would be to let Atogwe go, that and drafting Chris Long.
Free safety O.J. Atogwe is a restricted free-agent and there are a lot of teams interested. Atogwe was the best player the Rams had on defense last year, he even led the NFC in interceptions.
It would be the ultimate display of stupidity to let him go, but i wouldn't be surprised if they did it. The worst part is, they have the money. They let Bruce go and they just restructured Little's contract in order to pay him less, it makes sense to offer a big deal to O.J. and wrap him up for years to come but, of course, Shaw is no expert when it comes to making sense.
The fact is, the worst mistake the Rams could make this offseason would be to let Atogwe go, that and drafting Chris Long.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I'm back and so is Trent Green
After almost two weeks and a plethora of lost points from professor Klein for not updating, I'm back. But, more importantly, so is Trent Green (with the Rams that is) and I'm a little worried.
Green has the potential to be a solid backup. The problem is that he is old and injury prone, so I don't know what makes him that different from Gus Freotte. Green was better in his prime than Gus was at any point in his career, but he hasn't been healthy in close to four years.
The biggest problem is that there is a good chance that Green will see playing time this year, and quite possibly a lot of it. I'm quickly losing faith in Bulger's ability to stay healthy and even though I think he still has a few good years in him, the team may need to start looking to the future.
I know I posted a few weeks ago that Bulger can still play, and I think he can but it is not a bad idea to try and pick up a young back-up that they can start grooming as Bulger's replacement.
Well, that's all for this week and as always, please don't draft Chris Long.
Green has the potential to be a solid backup. The problem is that he is old and injury prone, so I don't know what makes him that different from Gus Freotte. Green was better in his prime than Gus was at any point in his career, but he hasn't been healthy in close to four years.
The biggest problem is that there is a good chance that Green will see playing time this year, and quite possibly a lot of it. I'm quickly losing faith in Bulger's ability to stay healthy and even though I think he still has a few good years in him, the team may need to start looking to the future.
I know I posted a few weeks ago that Bulger can still play, and I think he can but it is not a bad idea to try and pick up a young back-up that they can start grooming as Bulger's replacement.
Well, that's all for this week and as always, please don't draft Chris Long.
Friday, February 29, 2008
You Always Remember Your First
The Rams have cut my all-time favorite player. The Rams have cut Isaac Bruce.
Torry may have become the bigger name, Torry may have been the no. 1 receiver on the team since he came into the league, but Bruce was my favorite. It is a Bruce jersey that I don every Sunday. The first St Louis Rams jersey I ever owned ( I do own a Los Angeles Rams Jerome Bettis jersey). A jersey that I received when I was twelve from my now deceased grandmother. It was when I received that jersey that I declared him my "all-time favorite player."
It is still possible that Bruce could be re-signed but no one seems particularly optimistic. I just really hope that no one else signs him. If I see Ike Bruce wearing another teams uniform next year I might just cry.
Torry may have become the bigger name, Torry may have been the no. 1 receiver on the team since he came into the league, but Bruce was my favorite. It is a Bruce jersey that I don every Sunday. The first St Louis Rams jersey I ever owned ( I do own a Los Angeles Rams Jerome Bettis jersey). A jersey that I received when I was twelve from my now deceased grandmother. It was when I received that jersey that I declared him my "all-time favorite player."
It is still possible that Bruce could be re-signed but no one seems particularly optimistic. I just really hope that no one else signs him. If I see Ike Bruce wearing another teams uniform next year I might just cry.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Bulger Can Still Play
All this talk of needing to find a replacement for Bulger needs to stop. He had one bad, injury plagued season. His career is not over, he can come back and be better than ever next year.
That said, the Rams could probably do with a solid backup. Gus "I don't know how to spell his last name" Ferroute was just cut and rumor has it that Al Saunders is interested former 'skins backup Todd Collins.
I have no problem with Collins, I don't believe he can maintain the greatness that everyone saw in his small, starting stint last year in D.C., but he works well as a backup. Also, while he may be in the same age range as Frerrougt, he has not taken the same beating that Frerrote has had in the NFL.
Back to Bulger, he will, most likely, be fine. Not only, was he injured for a good part of last year but so was most of his line as well as his running back. With a healthy team around him, he can be just as productive of a quarterback as he was two years ago.
Oh, and one more thing, please don't draft Chris Long.
That said, the Rams could probably do with a solid backup. Gus "I don't know how to spell his last name" Ferroute was just cut and rumor has it that Al Saunders is interested former 'skins backup Todd Collins.
I have no problem with Collins, I don't believe he can maintain the greatness that everyone saw in his small, starting stint last year in D.C., but he works well as a backup. Also, while he may be in the same age range as Frerrougt, he has not taken the same beating that Frerrote has had in the NFL.
Back to Bulger, he will, most likely, be fine. Not only, was he injured for a good part of last year but so was most of his line as well as his running back. With a healthy team around him, he can be just as productive of a quarterback as he was two years ago.
Oh, and one more thing, please don't draft Chris Long.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Linehan Narrows it Down to Four
A recent column in the St Louis Post-Dispatch stated that there are four final candidates for the second overall pick that the Ram's have in this years NFL draft. Two of the four are Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey, if you look two blogs back you can see my opinions on them. The other two are running back Darren Mcfadden and tackle Jake Long out of Michigan.
If they take Mcfadden then there is no other term to use for Shaw and crew other than "insane." Mcfadden is an amazing talent and he is well worth the number two pick in the draft but, I just don't know what the Rams need with two amazing talents who are well worth the number two draft pick at the running back position.
As for Jake Long, I would not be crushed if they took him but as any regular readers know, he is not my first choice. They really could use help on the o-line. Orlando Pace can't seem to stay healthy anymore and there aren't really any other stand out talents. Barron is still young and he may or may not work out.
And before I go, as always, please don't draft Chris Long
If they take Mcfadden then there is no other term to use for Shaw and crew other than "insane." Mcfadden is an amazing talent and he is well worth the number two pick in the draft but, I just don't know what the Rams need with two amazing talents who are well worth the number two draft pick at the running back position.
As for Jake Long, I would not be crushed if they took him but as any regular readers know, he is not my first choice. They really could use help on the o-line. Orlando Pace can't seem to stay healthy anymore and there aren't really any other stand out talents. Barron is still young and he may or may not work out.
And before I go, as always, please don't draft Chris Long
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Al Saunders is Back and All is Right with the World
Okay, I know this is old news but, I am just thrilled about the hiring of Al Saunders. To anyone who doesn't know, he used to be the receivers coach for the Rams and he was one of the architects of the greatest show on turf. He has been with the Redskins the last couple of years as their offensive coordinator.
I really hope he can get Linehan to be less cautious with the offense. It's not that I don't like Linehan, anyone who is not Mike Martz is okay in my book, it's just that he needs to learn that when you get the ball with two minutes left in the first half with good field postition and a three point lead that running the clock out is not your only option. This team still has a lot of weapons and they need someone who knows how to use them. I think Saunders is that guy.
That all said, if Linehan doesn't get it done this year, then I have no problem with him being let go. And if Linehan is let go, then, I think, Saunders will be the perfect guy to step into the head coach position.
Finally, I'm going to end this in the same way that I plan to end this blog, the way I plan to end every blog I write before the draft. With a plea to the Rams. Please don't draft Chris Long.
I really hope he can get Linehan to be less cautious with the offense. It's not that I don't like Linehan, anyone who is not Mike Martz is okay in my book, it's just that he needs to learn that when you get the ball with two minutes left in the first half with good field postition and a three point lead that running the clock out is not your only option. This team still has a lot of weapons and they need someone who knows how to use them. I think Saunders is that guy.
That all said, if Linehan doesn't get it done this year, then I have no problem with him being let go. And if Linehan is let go, then, I think, Saunders will be the perfect guy to step into the head coach position.
Finally, I'm going to end this in the same way that I plan to end this blog, the way I plan to end every blog I write before the draft. With a plea to the Rams. Please don't draft Chris Long.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Rams, Please Don't Draft Chris Long
The title says it all. I really don't want my Rams to draft Chris Long. I know he is supposed to be the greatest end to ever play the game but I just don't see it. He plays for an average team in an average conference. I'm not saying he won't be a talented player, to the contrary I think he will probably be a perennial pro-bowler but the Rams have the second overall pick and it just seems to me that a pick like that should be reserved for someone special whose performance will stun audiences for years to come. And I don't thing Long is that guy. Also, in the back of my head, I just worry that he is getting too much credit because of who his father is. I'm not saying that's definitely the case, it just worries me.
So, who would I pick? Glenn Dorsey. He's the best defensive player for a team who plays in the toughest conference in college football, sorry Pac-10 and Big-10 but you're competing for no. 2. He played against the best competition week in and week out and continually put up big numbers.
Honestly, I wouldn't be upset if they traded the pick. If the Cowboys want Darren Mcfadden and are willing to give up something worthwhile to get him, then I have no problem (yes, I know, I'm sure that John Shaw is anxiously reading this blog in hopes that I give my approval on this scenario). All I really care about is that they don't draft Chris Long.
So, who would I pick? Glenn Dorsey. He's the best defensive player for a team who plays in the toughest conference in college football, sorry Pac-10 and Big-10 but you're competing for no. 2. He played against the best competition week in and week out and continually put up big numbers.
Honestly, I wouldn't be upset if they traded the pick. If the Cowboys want Darren Mcfadden and are willing to give up something worthwhile to get him, then I have no problem (yes, I know, I'm sure that John Shaw is anxiously reading this blog in hopes that I give my approval on this scenario). All I really care about is that they don't draft Chris Long.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
What to Write?
I don’t know what to write about. I have to write this blog for a class, but what to write? Rando Caarlson’s “Blogging for Dummies” says that “You should write about something that you are interested in and something that you can write about with passion on a regular basis.” But what are the interests of a large, doughy geek? What are my interests?
My interests include snowboarding, golf, Firefly, writing, onions, Futurama, Stephen Colbert, Jack Daniels, rock climbing, The Muppets, Boston punk rock, junk removal, Guitar Hero, Watchmen, annoying Alex, Scrubs, Tetris and fishing, to name a few. But, I don’t think that I could write about any of those things with any passion on a weekly basis.
As a matter of fact, there is only one thing that I really could write about with any passion. But, for a guy, it’s something that is so clichéd and so unoriginal. I wish I could write about my love of the arts or how to beer batter different kinds of food but I just don't have it in me. So, with that said, from here on out this space will be reserved for news and my opinions on all things related to the greatest football team in the world, The St Louis Rams.
My interests include snowboarding, golf, Firefly, writing, onions, Futurama, Stephen Colbert, Jack Daniels, rock climbing, The Muppets, Boston punk rock, junk removal, Guitar Hero, Watchmen, annoying Alex, Scrubs, Tetris and fishing, to name a few. But, I don’t think that I could write about any of those things with any passion on a weekly basis.
As a matter of fact, there is only one thing that I really could write about with any passion. But, for a guy, it’s something that is so clichéd and so unoriginal. I wish I could write about my love of the arts or how to beer batter different kinds of food but I just don't have it in me. So, with that said, from here on out this space will be reserved for news and my opinions on all things related to the greatest football team in the world, The St Louis Rams.
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