The countdown has begun for the 2010 NFL Draft and the lowly St. Louis Rams finished the 2009-2010 season with the league’s worst record at 1-15. Clearly the Rams need a lot of help—and come April, they will decide what to do with their first round draft pick. Should they take stud defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who many consider to be the best player in the draft, or should they select one of the top quarterback prospects with the goal of developing him into a franchise player? Or should the Rams look to increase their depth at another position or potentially trade down?
Vote in our poll and let us know what move you’d make if you were the decision-maker in St. Louis.
The countdown has begun for the 2010 NFL Draft and the lowly St. Louis Rams finished the 2009-2010 season with the league’s worst record at 1-15. Clearly the Rams need a lot of help—and come April, they will decide what to do with their first round draft pick. Should they take stud defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who many consider to be the best player in the draft, or should they select one of the top quarterback prospects with the goal of developing him into a franchise player? Or should the Rams look to increase their depth at another position or potentially trade down?
Vote in our poll and let us know what move you’d make if you were the decision-maker in St. Louis.
Great topic to discuss BBFG... With the NFL season in the books just about every football fan turns to being an Armchair GM while trying to figure out what player their favorite team will take in the [b}NFL Draft. At 1-15 it’s obvious the Rams need help at every position and you can make a strong case for any of the mentioned players but if I’m the general manager in St. Louis it’s Ndamukong Suh. I know the Rams are in serious need of a franchise QB but I’m not totally sold that Sam Bradford, Jimmy Claussen, Colt McCoy or Tim Tebow are franchise quarterbacks and that is why I take Suh, who is the top overall talent in the NFL draft and the “safe” choice.
The St. Louis pass rush totaled all of 25 sacks in 16 games last year (30 total in 2008) and this allowed opposing teams pick them apart through the air. Opponents averaged over 230 passing yards per game and had 22 TD passes in 2009. His presence as a pass rusher will help but what’s most important is his ability to control the line of scrimmage and swarm the football. This should help the Rams immediately improve on their 27th ranked run defense that allowed a league high 24 rushing TDs in 2009.
Obviously it’s going to take more than just Suh to turn around this defense but if you combine him with Chris Long you have a good foundation to build your defense off of for years to come.
I dont watch enough college ball to make an informed opinion on most of the QB;s other than to say Tebow will be a huge bust…this team needs help in too many places…trade down, get multiple picks for it and avoid paying #1 pick salary…
I’d also trade SJax to the Colts for a ham sandwich…
I dont watch enough college ball to make an informed opinion on most of the QB;s other than to say Tebow will be a huge bust…this team needs help in too many places…trade down, get multiple picks for it and avoid paying #1 pick salary…
I’d also trade SJax to the Colts for a ham sandwich…
If I were the Colts I would only do it Bill Polian is trying to keep kosher…
But in all honesty, like Black Tetra said, there are so many holes that they need to rebuild through the draft and sign some veterans through free agency. I 100% believe that this boy named Suh is the best football player in this draft, but is an Offensive Tackle that far of a stretch? With their best playmaker in SJax, how bout allowing him some real room to run while they try and control the clock (a la the 2008 Miami Dolphins). It’s too early to tell which LT is the best (the combine and pro days will show that), but this draft is stocked with high end tackles.
If the McNabb to Rams rumors are really true, then drafting an OT @ #1 couldn’t be that much of a stretch. Passing on Suh would be difficult but getting McNabb protection would be a higher priority imo. Okung could move to the top of their board. Always fun to speculate.
I tend to agree with Marc. There are a lot of holes to fill, but Suh will provide the greatest value in a single pick. If the Rams are dead set against taking a defensive player, then I would trade down to where I felt Clausen would still be available and use the added picks to fill more holes later in the draft.
Since my answer was too simple, and I am a fan of adding complexity…let me just add this. Having watched McCoy and Bradford battle it out for many years (first hand), I can honestly say there isn’t much disparity between the two. Personally, if I can pick up Suh in Round 1 and still pick up McCoy in Round 2, I would consider my team better than the one that took Bradford 1st and the best available defensive player in Round 2. My reasoning is simply one of value and risk. Taking Bradford over Suh would only add risk at the expense of value, and that’s just bad business…or Raider’s style.
I tend to agree with Marc. There are a lot of holes to fill, but Suh will provide the greatest value in a single pick. If the Rams are dead set against taking a defensive player, then I would trade down to where I felt Clausen would still be available and use the added picks to fill more holes later in the draft.
Since my answer was too simple, and I am a fan of adding complexity…let me just add this. Having watched McCoy and Bradford battle it out for many years (first hand), I can honestly say there isn’t much disparity between the two. Personally, if I can pick up Suh in Round 1 and still pick up McCoy in Round 2, I would consider my team better than the one that took Bradford 1st and the best available defensive player in Round 2. My reasoning is simply one of value and risk. Taking Bradford over Suh would only add risk at the expense of value, and that’s just bad business…or Raider’s style.
SS Minnow… Solid points that you bring up as to why the Rams should either use Suh with 1.01 or trade down a few picks, go defense and use the other picks from the deal to add more young talent. Also, I agree with your assessment of McCoy and Bradford and them being similar for the most part. Bradford is bigger and has a better arm but both players in my opinion are considered marginal talents. To me, neither of these guys have the leadership qualities and physical ability to take a franchise to the promise land. Yes, a lot can change through time but I wouldn’t invest the top overall pick on a QB. I mean look at the track record on teams who used 1.01 on a QB and have nothing to show for it…. JaMarcus Russell, David Carr, Tim Couch, Alex Smith.
Finally, you mentioned you have watched McCoy and Bradford for many years first hand and I was wondering who you root for in college football AND if you have been to some Red River shootouts?
Hopefully, my burnt-orange blood won’t damage the credibility of my comparing/assessing Bradford and McCoy. (lol) I HAVE been to two Red River Shootouts(2007 and 2008), and both contests were decided by the better defense that year. I missed last year’s game, but without Bradford it would have been far less enjoyable(though the outcome was to my liking). However, I was both lucky and unlucky enough to also attend this year’s Rose Bowl…that game was tough to swallow(but the beer wasn’t). Texas fans have always been hyper-critical of their stars, and we all hoped/expected to see McCoy attempt his opus and truly prove himself with a solid showing. Alabama played a great game and deserved to win, but it doesn’t take much imagination to wonder how different that game could have been.
It always pains me to see the pundits anoint the top QB prior to the draft. I think we both agree, they’re wrong more than they’re right. Objectively speaking, though, Bradford really has only two tangibles(that I ever saw) over McCoy. He’s 2 inches taller, and he has a more orthodox throwing motion. I would, however, disagree with you in saying Bradford has a stronger arm. Regardless, I think Clausen has the best chance of actually “showing up” in the NFL. I think Clausen might have fallen out of the pundits favor, due to Quinn’s poor showing. I don’t particularly like Tebow, but I must admit…I can’t wait to see who takes him and how they use him. He’s like a cross between Vince Young and Jamarcus Russell (which is almost the kiss of the death in the NFL)
