By Bernie Miklasz
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Apr. 24 2008
In Saturday's NFL draft, the best play for the Rams would be to trade down, and
collect a bundle of premium picks for their No. 2 overall selection. And we
hear rumors that come mostly out of talk-radio and Internet fantasyland.
The speculation is for entertainment purposes only. Unless the Rams receive a
whopper of an offer they can't refuse, and get their hands on additional
premium picks that could reinforce the roster's soft spots, they'll hold on to
No. 2.
And then it comes down to choosing the right guy.
LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey is believed to be the top-rated player on the
Rams' draft board, but Virginia defensive end Chris Long and Ohio State
pass-rush specialist Vernon Gholston are in play. I wouldn't knock any of the
three options.
But Dorsey should be the one for several reasons. We'll explain why and try to
clear up some misconceptions:
— Dorsey is the consensus best player. According to reports, nearly two-thirds
of NFL teams have him rated as the No. 1 talent in the draft. Dorsey is a rare
defensive tackle who can wreck a running game and generate an inside pass rush.
And a dynamic interior rush opens things up for the edge rushers.
Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has said Dorsey is the finest DT
prospect he has seen in 20 years. Dorsey has been compared to future Hall of
Famer Warren Sapp. Dorsey had some injuries at LSU but played at a fierce level
even when dinged up. The Rams have cleared him medically.
"Dorsey is a tremendous player," said NFL.com's Gil Brandt, who was the top
personnel expert in the league during his distinguished tenure with the Dallas
Cowboys. "Very, very strong, and with great first-step quickness. Rams fans
shouldn't worry. This guy isn't Jimmy Kennedy. He loves playing the game. He is
relentless. He will really compete."
— Despite impressions to the contrary, the Rams have a need at defensive
tackle. LaRoi Glover is nearly 34 years old, and is in the final year of his
contract. He's more effective when kept fresh in a part-time role. Claude
Wroten has done little in the league. The other DTs, Adam Carriker and Clifton
Ryan, are developing players. There's clearly a spot here for a dominant
defensive tackle.
— Memo: Adam Carriker is versatile. The Chicken Littles who want to draft Chris
Long continue to cackle about the Rams' desperate need at DE. Sure, they need
to address that area. But Carriker, the 13th overall draft pick in 2007, made
his reputation at Nebraska at defensive end. Last season, in the Rams' final
few games, Carriker lined up at DE on about one-third of the snaps.
This sets up all sorts of possibilities — and fun — for Haslett. The Rams can
line up Dorsey and Carriker at tackle on their base defense, be strong at
tackle, and juice the pass rush by aligning linebacker Will Witherspoon at rush
end. Witherspoon was terrific in that situational role last season, notching
seven sacks, including sacks in five consecutive games. Carriker can bulk up
the line by playing right end on short-yardage and goal-line situations. With
Dorsey providing torque inside, Haslett has more combinations to work with.
— LSU players are a sound investment. I looked at the past 10 NFL drafts, and
LSU players have been money when chosen in the first two rounds. Among the 17
LSU talents chosen in the first two rounds over the past decade, there are only
a couple of disappointments — most notably wideout Michael Clayton, at Tampa
Bay. And it's too soon to tell on quarterback JaMarcus Russell (Oakland), last
year's No. 1 overall selection.
But a bunch of LSU Tigers on that list are impressive NFL players, including
Alan Faneca, Joseph Addai, LaRon Landry, Dwayne Bowe, Anthony McFarland, Corey
Webster, Kevin Faulk, Mark Roman and Andrew Whitworth. Others (Marcus Spears
and Josh Reed) have been solid, positive contributors.
Yes, the Rams made a mistake in taking LSU's Wroten in the third round in 2006,
but that's because they disregarded warning signs about his personal conduct.
Just because the Rams have erred in using prime picks on defensive tackles in
the past, that's irrelevant to Dorsey's case. He should be judged on his own
merits. Moreover, the Rams have reorganized their scouting-drafting operation.
Dorsey represents the best combination of talent, toughness and consistent
achievement at the major-college level. And he has the best chance to be great
in the NFL.
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Apr. 24 2008
In Saturday's NFL draft, the best play for the Rams would be to trade down, and
collect a bundle of premium picks for their No. 2 overall selection. And we
hear rumors that come mostly out of talk-radio and Internet fantasyland.
The speculation is for entertainment purposes only. Unless the Rams receive a
whopper of an offer they can't refuse, and get their hands on additional
premium picks that could reinforce the roster's soft spots, they'll hold on to
No. 2.
And then it comes down to choosing the right guy.
LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey is believed to be the top-rated player on the
Rams' draft board, but Virginia defensive end Chris Long and Ohio State
pass-rush specialist Vernon Gholston are in play. I wouldn't knock any of the
three options.
But Dorsey should be the one for several reasons. We'll explain why and try to
clear up some misconceptions:
— Dorsey is the consensus best player. According to reports, nearly two-thirds
of NFL teams have him rated as the No. 1 talent in the draft. Dorsey is a rare
defensive tackle who can wreck a running game and generate an inside pass rush.
And a dynamic interior rush opens things up for the edge rushers.
Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has said Dorsey is the finest DT
prospect he has seen in 20 years. Dorsey has been compared to future Hall of
Famer Warren Sapp. Dorsey had some injuries at LSU but played at a fierce level
even when dinged up. The Rams have cleared him medically.
"Dorsey is a tremendous player," said NFL.com's Gil Brandt, who was the top
personnel expert in the league during his distinguished tenure with the Dallas
Cowboys. "Very, very strong, and with great first-step quickness. Rams fans
shouldn't worry. This guy isn't Jimmy Kennedy. He loves playing the game. He is
relentless. He will really compete."
— Despite impressions to the contrary, the Rams have a need at defensive
tackle. LaRoi Glover is nearly 34 years old, and is in the final year of his
contract. He's more effective when kept fresh in a part-time role. Claude
Wroten has done little in the league. The other DTs, Adam Carriker and Clifton
Ryan, are developing players. There's clearly a spot here for a dominant
defensive tackle.
— Memo: Adam Carriker is versatile. The Chicken Littles who want to draft Chris
Long continue to cackle about the Rams' desperate need at DE. Sure, they need
to address that area. But Carriker, the 13th overall draft pick in 2007, made
his reputation at Nebraska at defensive end. Last season, in the Rams' final
few games, Carriker lined up at DE on about one-third of the snaps.
This sets up all sorts of possibilities — and fun — for Haslett. The Rams can
line up Dorsey and Carriker at tackle on their base defense, be strong at
tackle, and juice the pass rush by aligning linebacker Will Witherspoon at rush
end. Witherspoon was terrific in that situational role last season, notching
seven sacks, including sacks in five consecutive games. Carriker can bulk up
the line by playing right end on short-yardage and goal-line situations. With
Dorsey providing torque inside, Haslett has more combinations to work with.
— LSU players are a sound investment. I looked at the past 10 NFL drafts, and
LSU players have been money when chosen in the first two rounds. Among the 17
LSU talents chosen in the first two rounds over the past decade, there are only
a couple of disappointments — most notably wideout Michael Clayton, at Tampa
Bay. And it's too soon to tell on quarterback JaMarcus Russell (Oakland), last
year's No. 1 overall selection.
But a bunch of LSU Tigers on that list are impressive NFL players, including
Alan Faneca, Joseph Addai, LaRon Landry, Dwayne Bowe, Anthony McFarland, Corey
Webster, Kevin Faulk, Mark Roman and Andrew Whitworth. Others (Marcus Spears
and Josh Reed) have been solid, positive contributors.
Yes, the Rams made a mistake in taking LSU's Wroten in the third round in 2006,
but that's because they disregarded warning signs about his personal conduct.
Just because the Rams have erred in using prime picks on defensive tackles in
the past, that's irrelevant to Dorsey's case. He should be judged on his own
merits. Moreover, the Rams have reorganized their scouting-drafting operation.
Dorsey represents the best combination of talent, toughness and consistent
achievement at the major-college level. And he has the best chance to be great
in the NFL.
