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Looking Ahead

An interesting thread forecasts a Ram-Tough future for our squad:

St. Louis Rams Todd Lyght talks to the media after it was announced that he would be one of six Rams selected to start in the Pro Bowl, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1999 at Rams park in St. Louis.(AP Photo/Tom Gannam) - Dec 22 5:45 PM EST

Jeff posted on 12/23 12:47 PM

Starter quality vs depth quality

I know most of us would like to the see the Rams aquire a star DT, SS, TE, LB and CB. In the age of the salary cap that can only happen 1 of 2 ways.

1) You have to sacrifice star players at other positions (Warner, Faulk, Bruce, Pace, Carter, Wistrom, Lyle, Lyght, Holt, Farr). I just do not see that happening.

2) You deplete the quality of your depth to the point that the back-ups can not produce (look at ATL, NYJ, DEN, SF, DAL, etc).

In today's game you have to reach a fine balance between the quality of starters and backups.

This is one reason why you rarely ever see a team that has a great defense and offense. This is actually one of the most talented teams that I have seen in the NFL in a long time. One of the things that makes this team so good is the quality of depth that this team has.

I find it funny when fans from other teams and the media goes on how the Rams have been very lucky with injuries this year. Well, Green missed the entire year, Conwell missed almost the whole year, Lyle has missed about half the year, Lee missed about 1/4 of the year, McCleon, Lyght, Faulk, Farr, Carter, Grut, Nutten, Az and Holcombe have all missed either a game or half a game.

It just shows you that there is not much of a drop-off from our starters and backups. THAT IS HOW YOU WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

JamesJM posted on 12/23 1:20 PM Reply

You omit a 3rd option.....

Finding just such a player currently on the roster. As we start to look to fill what we think are gaps, we have to place as much emphasis on the Rams roster as on others.

There is no weakness on this team sufficient to warrant creating another one in the hopes of rectifying it.

It's the PERFECT situation to be in......you can take the players you currently have acquired by Draft, Free Agency, whatever, and obviously have faith in, and continue to develop them into the type of players that not only have talent, but understand what the Rams are trying to do, knows the players lined up beside them, etc. Continuity! Perhaps not the best individual players, but certainly the best team.

It would appear to me the Rams could not possibly be in a better position for 2, 3, 4, 5, years down the road. - JamesJM

ZN posted on 12/23 1:43 PM Reply

You CAN have both!

I agree it is a fine balance and I agree that the Rams are well situated to beat the cap and free agency.

Like you say the trick is having quality depth gotten from the draft in the right positions.

Look. Let's say that the Rams draft a real good DT prospect in the 3rd round. He would not be an immediate starter. Maybe a year, or two, from starting, MEANWHILE Ray Agnew is what?? an eleven year veteran? You either have a guy on the bench READY behind him...OR you then have NO ONE when Agnew is gone.

I'm saying 2 things similar to what you say but with a slightly different emphasis.

One is that it CAN be done. It is a matter of shrewd player acquisition in the draft and in the street & rookie free agent markets AND great long-term coaching.

The other is that is HAS TO be done. Cause otherwise you end up with a situation like this--->

two, three, four years down the road you have no one behind-->
Lyght
Lyle
Jones
Collins
Farr
Agnew
Timmerman
Bruce

You seem to think that wanting...IN FACT not WANTING but NEEDING quality depth at CB, SS, LB, DT, OC & OT, is impossible. WHY? You seem to think they must start IMMEDIATELY.

No no no! Au contraire!

The way to improve those positions is to have a long-term strategy.

Which in fact is precisely how the Rams work.

Waiting in the wings.,..they NOW have Bly, Coady, Little, Spikes, & Hodgins. And that is just from ONE draft!

Yes ... in the era of free agency you CAN have good to excellent to great players at every single position...and you can have that kind of quality long-term.

The trick to doing it is to have your personnel policies be like the Rams personnel acquisition policies.

Every team you list--- ATL, NYJ, DEN, SF, & Dal...are LOUSY AT DRAFTING!! Their personnel acquisition practices and policies STINK! Every single one of those teams ALSO sold themselves out long-term for short-term gain...plus made stupid decisions on top of not drafting well.

The Rams are better in every phase of personnel acquisition than any of those teams.

And LIKE Jacksonville----IMO---the Rams WILL (soon, a year or two) have BOTH a great offense and defense.

Cause fact is...if most teams CANT have both then the REAL advantage will go to the teams that DO have both!! And that is why the Rams will have a long solid run...IMO. .

Jeff posted on 12/23 1:52 PM Reply

Zach,

Actually you and I agree.

I also feel that you always need to draft and pickup UDFAs, not only for depth, but to develop future starters (Bly, Coady, Spikes, Fletcher, etc).

My main point was that some on this board were suggesting that we need to add star quality starters to the team RIGHT NOW. And I do not agree with this.

1) I like our overall starters (except for SS, but I like Coady).

2) We do need to draft for future starters, along as they do not take up considerable cap room today.

3) We DO NOT NEED to bring in any more high priced UFAs. I like the players on our team. Let's keep them signed and develop players for the future to replace them when they are done.

In essence, I think you and I agree on this, we are just expressing it differently.