What Draft Pick Did You Want To Work Out...

[ArkyRamsFan]

@Loyal Just hurt me ... Seriously.

I know it was not his intention but I'm kind of sad right now ... Seriously.

My 1st thought was ... Great Thread! ... I love Rams' history. Figure most responders would think about players from the past decade or so (really agree with @CGI_Ram about Ogletree). I thought to go back a little further; and immediately thought of Damione Lewis.

So I pulled-up the Rams' all-time draft choices to see if I was missing someone I'd like to mention.

DON"T DO THAT! SERIOUSLY!!! Don't repeat the mistake I just made.

All the disappointing selections. SO MANY players drafted by the Rams between #30-#100 overall, who turned-out to be no more than average to below-average NFL players. It's disappointing to see how few draft choices actually work-out.

With the Draft just a few days away, this is a time for optimism. Embrace it. Don't look back. Seriously.

Your eyes have seen too much, grasshopper. Time to retire to the cave and question the wisdom of opening that fateful door...
Let us know what you come up with...

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[FrantikRam]

I would love to hear Les go through their decision making process on Greg Robinson. Because I have to think there were warning signs with him. There had to be moments where you question what you're doing then willfully ignore those healthy doubts in your head.

But so many people had us taking him. I agree there were probably red flags though.

That pick....man. I think that was the pick that effectively prevented us from being good until McVay arrived. A franchise destroying miss

 

[fanotodd]

I thought Alec Ogletree was set to break out after a really solid 2016 being 25yrs old that season. He had 136 tackles and two INT’s that year.

But he plateaued.

I’m glad this came up. Thank you, CGI. OTree was an OLB when he came up. He followed an impressive rookie season with an outstanding start in year two. He got injured and couldn’t finish the season. Too bad, really, because he was well on his way to a pro bowl.

He was an incredible athlete. He was big, strong, and could run like a deer. He routinely chased down plays and made tackles—all day long. Often, he ran past laurenitis en route to making a play. He covered sideline to sideline.
…then they jettisoned laurenitis and moved OTree to MLB.
Career over.
He didn’t have the properties to play that position.

 

[Merlin]

But so many people had us taking him. I agree there were probably red flags though.

That's what I mean. I'll bet Les has some serious stories with what they heard about Robinson. You know that was the case because Les is plugged in with Auburn.

So I agree with the sentiment that a lot of it was Fish. But I'd love to hear that story over a cold one, bet it's a good one.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Your eyes have seen too much, grasshopper. Time to retire to the cave and question the wisdom of opening that fateful door...
Let us know what you come up with...

~ArkyRamsFan~

But I don’t want to go live in a cave!

As a compromise, could I just move to New Jersey?

 

[1maGoh]

But so many people had us taking him. I agree there were probably red flags though.

That pick....man. I think that was the pick that effectively prevented us from being good until McVay arrived. A franchise destroying miss

I'm not a scout and I don't watch college football at all, so I try not to draw any hard lines in the sand about players in the draft (especially as I get older and realize how much I don't know). That being said, any time all of a players Strengths are generic and an their weaknesses are position specific that's the clue. I think there's only been 3 players like that I've noticed: Greg Robinson, Cordarelle Patterson, and Trey Lance. When the list of why they'll be successful starts and stops with some combination of fast, strong, elite agility, or big... the key takeaway is the guy can't play football but he can dominate guys that aren't NFL caliber. 3 players out 15 entire drafts doesn't make this super utilitarian knowledge, but it's worked out all 3 times so far.

 

[fanotodd]

Before GRob and Jason Smith there was another disappointing 1st rd tackle taken.

Mr False Start; Alex Barron.

In those days we should have just terminated all of our scouting and drafting personnel and sub contracted that function out to a team like the Steelers.

Holy shiite! I completely forgot about, “I can’t count to two” Alex Barron. My lord, you would think at some point you just wouldn’t move until the guy next to you moved first.

 

[Memphis Ram]

All of them.
But, especially, WR Milton Wynn and UDFA Tegray Scales. I just knew that the Rams had found the steals of those draft classes.

 

[fanotodd]

The tavon austin pick basically killed the fisher era in its second season. Two picks for a WR in a draft rich in WRs—and every single WR picked after TA in the first round had a better career—most are still playing!

 

[Loyal]

"Loyal, you bastid!" ~ @ROD-BOT

 

[HitStick]

Not really a draft pick, but I really thought Steve Spagnuolo was going to do for us, what McVay eventually did for us. I had really high hopes for that guy.

 

[Merlin]

<insert Jimmy Johnson talking about drafting stupid players here>

 

[nighttrain]

<insert Jimmy Johnson talking about drafting stupid players here>

• Intelligence – “Hit me in the head with a hammer the next time I take a dumb guy. I want smart players. They get better and better and better. My first four picks with the Dallas Cowboys (were) all Academic All-Americans.” He later added, “The same problem with players getting in trouble on social media are knuckleheads. I don’t see smart players getting in trouble on social media. It’s usually the knuckleheads.”

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I would love to hear Les go through their decision making process on Greg Robinson. Because I have to think there were warning signs with him. There had to be moments where you question what you're doing then willfully ignore those healthy doubts in your head.

I didn’t see any of the OLTts as slam dunks that year. I was hoping for Matthews. He was the safest OLT in the top of that draft and it seemed certain that the Rams were taking one. Lewan has a nice career but his threatening to rape a rape victim if she talked was too much of a red flag for me.

Greg Robinson was the typical Snead falling in love with great athleticism, despite not being the best football player. It’s a flawed system.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I can’t name one. There were far too many bad picks over the years.

My biggest disappointment was not being more successful after the RGIII draft pick haul. That trade had the potential to set the Rams up nicely for several years.

 

[Merlin]

I can’t name one. There were far too many bad picks over the years.

My biggest disappointment was not being more successful after the RGIII draft pick haul. That trade had the potential to set the Rams up nicely for several years.

Post-Dickerson trade was the same. Bad front offices can get pick windfalls and it still doesn't matter, they will inevitably fuck them up.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

But I don’t want to go live in a cave!

As a compromise, could I just move to New Jersey?

You have chosen New Jersey? You have chosen poorly, Grasshopper. Ask yourself why would anyone desire to live in Jersey? You shall carry the burning cauldron with your forearms until you make wiser choices.....

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[XXXIVwin]

I would love to hear Les go through their decision making process on Greg Robinson. Because I have to think there were warning signs with him. There had to be moments where you question what you're doing then willfully ignore those healthy doubts in your head.

I still remember Les describing GRob as a "dancing Grizzly bear." They were just so enamored with his strength and athleticism.

I remember the warning signs of "technique needs work" and "hand placement is an issue." Also he was thought to be an elite run blocker, but "pass protection needs refinement."

I don't think they realized he was a dumb as a rock. And had issues with maturity and motivation.

I think it's fair to place some of the blame on Fisher. He definitely was open to drafting "reclamation projects" that were athletically gifted but had character issues.

Frankly, if McVay were coach, I bet the Rams would have passed on GRob.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I still remember Les describing GRob as a "dancing Grizzly bear." They were just so enamored with his strength and athleticism.

I remember the warning signs of "technique needs work" and "hand placement is an issue." Also he was thought to be an elite run blocker, but "pass protection needs refinement."

I don't think they realized he was a dumb as a rock. And had issues with maturity and motivation.

I think it's fair to place some of the blame on Fisher. He definitely was open to drafting "reclamation projects" that were athletically gifted but had character issues.

Frankly, if McVay were coach, I bet the Rams would have passed on GRob.

Yeah Robinson was such an idiot. I know they told him to drop a few pounds and he eventually thought doing that with weed was the way to go. Then he follows up with trying to transport even more drugs....What a dumb ass.

 

[Ramrasta]

Tavon is high on the list but he has permanently cured me of ever advocating for the undersized speed guys.