Let me start by saying that I don’t know how the St. Louis Rams’ draft went. Neither do you.
It seems like this team was in need of virtually everything, so it was really hard for the Rams to mess this thing up. So the question is priority. Did the Rams have their draft priorities in place for this year’s draft? It was too easy especially in the first round.
The NFL Draft is the most-watched non-game event in sports. The experts have come out of the woodwork. They watch tape, talk to scouts, go to workouts.
Give me a break. Most – including many locally who have prided themselves on being in tune with the draft – would not know a good football player if they were tackled by one. There are a handful that get it. The report cards and most of the so-called evaluation of the draft is flawed. To grade a team on a player they took would be inaccurate. It would be better to grade them on how they addressed their needs and the priority in how it was done.
As for the Rams, they knew they needed help at the tackle spot. The mere fact that Adam Goldberg was penciled in at right tackle told you all you needed to know. Thank goodness for pencils. Jason Smith is not Orlando Pace but he will have to do. As for the other areas of need, the Rams were OK. I know some thought that Mark Sanchez, the quarterback out of USC, would have been a good pick, but how?
The Rams need players who can play now. Had they taken Sanchez over offensive line help would have given Sanchez the chance to play early and the chance to get killed sooner, for Mark Bulger would have been on the injured reserve list by the second week of the season.
It’s the middle rounds that make your football team. The sooner those players can contribute, the sooner you have a chance to win and it’s time for the Rams to start winning or at least competing.
Final grade on this draft? check with me in 2012. The Rams should take a page from the St. Louis Blues, who had high draft picks and dealt with a salary cap, and yet remained patient. The Blues made the playoffs a year before I thought they would. Now, if only the Rams could be a pleasant surprise.
Home cooking
The St. Louis Cardinals have gotten off to a hot start, especially at home. Despite the loss of pitcher Chris Carpenter and a bullpen that is still trying to round into shape, the team is finding ways to win.
How Tony La Russa finds a way to keep everyone sharp is why he is one of the best of all time. Seldom have his bench players failed to do something to help this team when called upon. While the defense has struggled from time to time, the pitching has been able to pitch around the mistake.
This should be all about the Cardinals, Cubs and maybe Cincinnati in the National League Central. All have good pitching, plenty of offense and good managers in La Russa, Lou Piniella and Dusty Baker. The National League Central could prove to be the best division in baseball.
