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Rams keeping draft options open
Share | .StoryDiscussionRams keeping draft options open
BY JIM THOMAS • jthomas@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8197 St. Louis Post-Dispatch | Posted: Saturday, February 26, 2011 12:25 am | No Comments Posted
INDIANAPOLIS • The hue and cry from outside the walls of Rams Park is that quarterback Sam Bradford needs to be surrounded by better offensive talent, particularly at the wide receiver position, in 2011.
"I keep getting asked, 'You've got to find weapons for Sam,'" general manager Billy Devaney said Friday at the NFL scouting combine.
OK, he gets it. But Devaney wants to stay true to the team's draft board. And in the first round, neither of the top two wide receivers may be around — A.J. Green of Georgia and Julio Jones of Alabama..
"If it winds up we take a pass rusher with the first pick, a DB with the second pick, I guarantee you Bradford will be the biggest one cheering on Sunday if our defense is playing really, really good," Devaney said.
Adding weapons, he added, "is huge. But there are other parts of the team as well."
Jones and Green both turned pro early, so the Rams are still getting up to speed in their analysis.
"So far they look like big-time guys," Devaney said. "We'll see what they look like out here. They are underclassmen so we need to spend more time with them. We didn't see them during the season in person so this will be fun to watch them out here run around and spend time with them in the spring. Right now on tape they look pretty damn impressive."
Is he a good tipper?
After picking Bradford last year, Devaney and coach Steve Spagnuolo have been peppered with questions by reporters at this year's combine on the process of choosing a quarterback early in the draft.
"Especially with the first pick, you exhaust everything," Devaney said. "Every little nugget that you can find on the guy — good or bad. I remember (Pat) Shurmur and I went down to Pensacola (Fla.) and had dinner with Sam at this restaurant."
Bradford did his pre-draft training in Pensacola.
"While we were sitting there I went over and talked to the owner about Sam," Devaney continued. "I asked him what kind of guy he was, how does he mingle with people, how does he act when people ask him for his autograph? How does he act with the waiters — your help here? So the point is, we checked every possible person that we could that knew anything about Sam Bradford."
Atogwe update
Former Rams safety Oshiomogho Atgowe, who was released by the Rams last week, continues to draw interest around the NFL, but with the lockout looming he doesn't appear close to signing anywhere.
Buffalo may bring him in next week after the Bills return from the combine. Dallas and Denver are also interested but Dallas in particular isn't expected to bring in any free agents for visits until there is a new collective bargaining agreement.
Williams talks to Rams
University of Nebraska offensive guard Keith Williams played his high school football at McCluer North, about 15 minutes from Rams Park. Williams said Friday he talked to Rams offensive line coach Steve Loney before the combine and again Thursday night at the combine.
The Rams need help on the interior of their offensive line and Williams, who is noted for his run blocking, could be a late-round option. Williams, who was a three-year starter for the Cornhuskers, measured in at 6-5, 318 pounds.
Williams hoped to post more than 30 repetitions Friday in the 225-pound bench press; he had been doing 35 reps in pre-combine workouts. But he cramped up Friday and had to pull up after a modest 23 reps.
Share | .StoryDiscussionRams keeping draft options open
BY JIM THOMAS • jthomas@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8197 St. Louis Post-Dispatch | Posted: Saturday, February 26, 2011 12:25 am | No Comments Posted
INDIANAPOLIS • The hue and cry from outside the walls of Rams Park is that quarterback Sam Bradford needs to be surrounded by better offensive talent, particularly at the wide receiver position, in 2011.
"I keep getting asked, 'You've got to find weapons for Sam,'" general manager Billy Devaney said Friday at the NFL scouting combine.
OK, he gets it. But Devaney wants to stay true to the team's draft board. And in the first round, neither of the top two wide receivers may be around — A.J. Green of Georgia and Julio Jones of Alabama..
"If it winds up we take a pass rusher with the first pick, a DB with the second pick, I guarantee you Bradford will be the biggest one cheering on Sunday if our defense is playing really, really good," Devaney said.
Adding weapons, he added, "is huge. But there are other parts of the team as well."
Jones and Green both turned pro early, so the Rams are still getting up to speed in their analysis.
"So far they look like big-time guys," Devaney said. "We'll see what they look like out here. They are underclassmen so we need to spend more time with them. We didn't see them during the season in person so this will be fun to watch them out here run around and spend time with them in the spring. Right now on tape they look pretty damn impressive."
Is he a good tipper?
After picking Bradford last year, Devaney and coach Steve Spagnuolo have been peppered with questions by reporters at this year's combine on the process of choosing a quarterback early in the draft.
"Especially with the first pick, you exhaust everything," Devaney said. "Every little nugget that you can find on the guy — good or bad. I remember (Pat) Shurmur and I went down to Pensacola (Fla.) and had dinner with Sam at this restaurant."
Bradford did his pre-draft training in Pensacola.
"While we were sitting there I went over and talked to the owner about Sam," Devaney continued. "I asked him what kind of guy he was, how does he mingle with people, how does he act when people ask him for his autograph? How does he act with the waiters — your help here? So the point is, we checked every possible person that we could that knew anything about Sam Bradford."
Atogwe update
Former Rams safety Oshiomogho Atgowe, who was released by the Rams last week, continues to draw interest around the NFL, but with the lockout looming he doesn't appear close to signing anywhere.
Buffalo may bring him in next week after the Bills return from the combine. Dallas and Denver are also interested but Dallas in particular isn't expected to bring in any free agents for visits until there is a new collective bargaining agreement.
Williams talks to Rams
University of Nebraska offensive guard Keith Williams played his high school football at McCluer North, about 15 minutes from Rams Park. Williams said Friday he talked to Rams offensive line coach Steve Loney before the combine and again Thursday night at the combine.
The Rams need help on the interior of their offensive line and Williams, who is noted for his run blocking, could be a late-round option. Williams, who was a three-year starter for the Cornhuskers, measured in at 6-5, 318 pounds.
Williams hoped to post more than 30 repetitions Friday in the 225-pound bench press; he had been doing 35 reps in pre-combine workouts. But he cramped up Friday and had to pull up after a modest 23 reps.