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OFFSEASON PLANS & SPECULATIONS PLUS SOME MOCK DRAFTS
BY BAMARAMFAN (March 15)

PART I. IN THE NEWS! RECENT FREE AGENCY MOVES

1. THE RAMS PLAN. Yes, there is a plan being put into action.

* Preserve the OL for 3 years.

*  Replace backup DE with a guy who could start on some teams, and has started in the past (ie. Moran).

* Look at other needs, ie, CB.

This is phase II of free agency. Most teams have shot their wad (so to speak) on all the big signings early. (Phase I) Now agents and players are realizing they better get somewhere fast, because after the draft, the clubs will be looking at rookies, not FA.

Phase III, of course, comes when after June 1, when vets are released to sign the rookies.

2. ON SIGNING MORAN. Moran left the Bills when the Rams upped the signing bonus to $600k. I wonder what it was before, say maybe $400k? And the Bills wouldn't match it? Talk about cheap. You can't get a second round pick to sign for a $600k bonus these days. Maybe not even a high 3rd rounder.

Ladies and gentleman, its called knowing how to play the game. Armey and Ziggy just got a great value in a replacement for Jay Williams, by all accounts. And a guy who wants to come and WIN. And he is here for 2 years, not to bad .And he protects against a {large gasp here} Kevin Carter holdout! Either this year or next, they have him in place "just in case".

I'm not certain I would want to play chess with Mr. Armey.

II. IMPROVEMENT? Which players will go on to better things next year (assuming they stay on the roster)?

OL: Obviously Tucker and McCollum will HAVE to be better. Spikes will also be better, and may sub at times. Nutten...I hope so!

QB: Warner, maybe, but was at such a high level all year, its hard to say how.

WRS: Holt will be better. I was uncertain about him going into the playoffs. I think the week off helped him. Az I'm not sure about. If he catches 75 balls a day from all angles every day in the off season,  then yes, he will be better. Bruce can't get any better.

As far as drafting WR---if it is a lower round pick, they it could be someone like Wayne Chrebet (who was an undrafted FA). He is in the Proehl mold---a good possession receiver, but not many YAC. So they are out there, you just gotta find them.

RB: Faulk, no. Holcombe as a FB, yes. He probably won't see much TB duty next year. Shades of Kenny King of the old Oakland Raiders.

TE  IMO they do need one more TE for development and special teams. With Jeff being the long snapper,  they could use someone else to come in on the outside for kicks, and a bowling ball on kickoffs. Since there are not a lot of big name TE out there, a lower round pick will probably fit the bill. Look for an Armey special in rd 5 or beyond.

III. SOME MOCK DRAFTS. Welcome to BAMA'S NFL DRAFT PREVIEW (Y2K !!!!) This is being written in the  second week of March, so it will not include any trades and wheeling  and dealing after that. I am also assuming that there are no extra  picks for the Rams from a Trent Green or other trade.  If one does  occur, then I may update this, time permitting.

The one constant for the 2000 draft is a lot of talented Wide Receivers (WR) and Running Backs (RB) are available.  As some teams try to mimic the Rams offense, look for them to take these positions.

Linebacker (LB) and Defensive Line (DL) talent appears to be about average. 

The Offensive Line (OL) talent is also average, except for Center (C), which is below average.

The weak positions for this draft are Safety (S), Cornerbacks (CB), Fullbacks (FB), Tight Ends (TE) and last, Quarterbacks (QB). 

Don't be surprised if zero QB's are taken in the first round!! (you heard it here first).

Without going through a team-by-team scenario for each round, I tried to focus in on the positions the Rams need (my opinion, of course) and which players would be available for each round at that position, given their rankings. In each one I tried to cover the D early, the OL and RB in the middle rounds, and the WR and fill-ins for other spots late.

Here's the bonus. I came up with not an ultimate draft list...but a set of FOUR draft lists. Yes four!!! In each case, the assumption from the first round pick drives the picks in the succeeding rounds. Also, I excluded the Rams 2nd 6th round pick on the assumption that they could use that pick to  trade up at some point.

Of course, the Rams might not take any of these guys, or maybe some from each draft.  Who knows? All I know is, I will recognize a few more names come draft day.

DRAFT ONE. HIGH HOPES. The first set of picks is what I call the "Wishful Thinking" draft. Not that it couldn't happen, it just takes a few lucky things to have  it happen.

Round 1   CB Ahmad Plummer, Ohio State. (5-11 190 4.49) Most experts have him going several picks higher to the niners or vikes.  Well, those teams need so many players that Plummer can easily slip through. Plus two other CBs are out there, Anderson and O'Neal.  A good pick that takes Taje Allen's spot, and provides future insurance over the possible loss of Lyght or McCleon.

Round 2  OT Adrian Klemm, Hawaii. (6-3 292 5.0)  Once again, Klemm could go earlier in the 2nd rd.  A run on WR and RB would have to happen to get him all the way to #62, but then again, an OL doesn't provide the impact that a WR or RB does.  So I hope Klemm falls this far, because he also played TE, which makes that little tackle eligible play still work at the goal line.

Round 3 RB Doug Chapman, Marshall.  (5-10 215, 4.55)  If you are looking for an underrated RB who could fill in for Faulk, look no farther.  He seems to have enough talent, and will be overlooked because of the smaller school status of Marshall.

Round 4 DT-DE Robert Brannon, Iowa State. (6-3 309 5.20)  A guy who can play at either end or tackle, fills the spot left by Jay Williams, or fills in for Agnew.

Round 5 A. OLB Ian Gold, Michigan.  (6-0 220 4.55) Gold has had some injury problems in the past, but comes from the solid Michigan defense.  A step-in for the Clemons position, though a bit small. Is very aggressive.  May not last this long, but might due to his size and injuries.

Round 5 B. WR Quinton Spotwood, Syracuse.  (5-11 189 4.55) Spotwood is coming off a hurt knee his junior year and the lack of a top QB his senior year.  He can also return punts.  With all the WR talent, he can drop this far. With all the WR that Syracuse puts out, Spotwood should fit right in as a #4 or #3 WR for the Rams.

Round 6  C/G Seneca Gray, Kentucky State.  A versatile player who can be taught to man the inside positions, giving some flexibility to the Rams. From a small program, so he may need some polishing.

Round 7 A. S David Graham, USC.  Another hopeful for the Rams defensive backfield.

Round 7 B. DT Ernest Grant, Arkansas-Pine Bluff. (6-5 296 4.93) Another inside player from a small school that can be a sleeper.

DRAFT TWO. MORE REALISTIC. The second set of picks is my "Very Well Could Be"  approach.

Round 1 DT Chris Hovan, Boston College. (6-2 295 4.98)  Hovan has been projected as high as #18 or as low as out of the first round.  Some experts have him going to the Rams.  I agree that the Rams will take him if he is there.  Explosive and plays with intensity.  Will fit right in on the DL, and maybe push Agnew by the end of the year.

Round 2  CB Mario Edwards, Florida State (6-0 183 4.47)  Probably the last in the top group of CBs to be taken, the talent level drops to 4th rd status after that.  So Edwards is still a good choice to replace Allen and play special teams. Probably needs a year to be able to get past the dime spot.

Round 3  OT Jonathan Gray, Texas Tech. (6-4 338 5.85)  Just a big ol' Texas boy with the body to throw around.  Good strength, but needs some refinement, something Hanifan can provide.  Good OL insurance, and maybe yet another answer at left or right tackle in a few years.

Round 4  LB Marcus, Washington Auburn. (6-3 241 4.7) A guy making the transition from DE to LB.  Will need some work, and can fill in as a reserve next year.

Round 5 A. FB-RB Mike Green, Houston. (5-11 253 4.76)  A player who can hopefully help the short yardage game, and provide backup to Holcombe. He is listed as a FB, but has played some tail back in the past, but probably not in the pros

Round 5 B.  S Lamar Chapman, Kansas State.  Another guy who can play safety and has played CB in the past.  A special team prospect for now, but can round out the defensive backfield.

Round 6  DE/DT Leif Larson, Texas El Paso. (6-4 300 5.09) The strongest guy at the combine (45 bench presses!) gained him some notice, but playing for the smaller school will put him hopefully this low.  An intriguing guy, who is from Norway.  Given foreign born players lack of success in the NFL, he is a bit of an unknown, potential wise. But you gotta like big strong guys.

Round 7 A. TE Steve Brominski, Syracuse.  OK, if you don't like Williams, how about his replacement?  He also suffered through a senior season without a good QB, so he doesn't have the best receiving stats.  But he has size and played on turf in college.

Round 7 B. WR Leroy Hodge, Texas A&M.  (6-0 215 4.58) Don't know much about him, but the Rams need a fill-in at WR and a potential special teamer.

DRAFT THREE. EVEN MORE REALISTIC. Now for what I call, "The Most Likely  Scenario" draft.  Of course, it starts with a different first round  pick.

Round 1  LB Keith Bulluck, Syracuse. (6-3 232 4.53)  If Plummer and Hovan aren't available, Bulluck probably will be.  An intense player, who likes to wear band-aids visible on his face during the game, he can make the plays, has good size, and could fill in at either OLB or ILB.  He might be good in a nickel or dime package due to his speed and desire.  A good pick up for the Rams, he will push Styles, and a good backup for Jones.

Round 2  DT Steve Warren, Nebraska. (6-0 307 5.06)) A big middle run stopper kind of guy. Just what a lot of you are pushing for.  A much needed backup for Agnew.  Used to playing all those running game offenses of the Big 12.

Round 3  OT/OG Bobby Williams, Arkansas (6-3 322 5.27)  Has the size and the moves, needs some work on motivation.  Another big interior body for Hanifan to work with.

Round 4  RB Derrick Foster, Texas A&M Kingsville. (5-11 201 4.45)  A sleeper from a small school.  Good combo of size and speed, but a question about how he will do stepping up from a small school to the NFL.  A back up to Faulk that can do more things than Watson and Holcombe.

Round 5 A. TE-FB Mondriel Fulcher, Miami FL.  (6-3 253 4.91) A potential H Back player because he played both fullback and tight end.  He will  probably also see lots of special team action. Runs well and has good hands.

Round 5 B. WR Chris Daniels, Purdue. (6-3 217 4.82)   Anyone who caught a bunch of balls from Brees can't be all that bad. A learner for the #4 WR spot for the Rams.

Round 6 CB David Byrd, Syracuse.  (5-11 202 4.5) A guy who hasn't lived up to potential due to injuries, he is worth the risk here because he is fast and plays on turf.  May or may not push Allen, but the speed will help on special teams.  A track history helps with the speed.

Round 7 A. OG/OT Josh Rawlings, Minnesota.  A prospect who has played some at both positions.  Probably needs work.

Round 7 B. DE Rameel Conner, Illinois. ( 6-3 276 5.00) OK, a homer pick for training camp.  But they need someone as a prospect for DE. He may not be eligible for the draft.

DRAFT FOUR. NEARLY PESSIMISTIC. So, what's left?  The "Well, All the Guys We Really Wanted Were Gone Draft". But it still has its moments and players.

Round 1  CB Lewis Sanders,  Maryland (6-0 200 4.45)  Good size, speed and height.  Not as good a pick as Plummer, but still a CB that should replace Allen by the end of the season. He has some experts drooling, others lukewarm.

Round 2  LB Barrett Green, West Virginia. (6-0 217 4.60) A LB who has played both inside and outside.  The Rams need a guy with that kind of versatility. Again, not as good as Bulluck, but not bad either. He is projected as a weak side LB.  Is very aggressive against the run. Needs to add weight.

Round 3  DT Kendrick Clancy, Mississippi.  (6-0 272 5.1)  A player who will follow in D'Marco Farr's footsteps.  Quickness and penetration are the keys to his game.

Round 4  OT Michael Thompson, Tennessee State (6-4 287 5.1)  An all around good prospect, who needs some coaching after coming from a small school. Will probably last this long due to lack of press clippings and film for scouts.

Round 5 A.  WR James Williams, Marshall.  (5-10 180 4.55) Follows in Moss's footsteps, and caught Pennington's passes.  Should be decent enough to stay with the Rams.  Will get looks as scouts view Pennington's film.

Round 5 B.  RB Marlion Jackson, Saginaw Valley State. (6-1 242 4.64) A small school reach here, will probably not go higher because of it. Once again, someone to hopefully spell Faulk in the backfield, with a little more size to work with.

Round 6 CB/FS Tony Scott, NC State. (5-10 193 4.56) A player who can be used at both defensive backfield spots.  Will have to put out on special teams to play much, but a not too bad pick here.

Round 7 A. DE Aaron Humphrey, Texas.  ( 6-2 254 5.10) A potential backup, but a guy used to the running game.  Could take Jay William's spot.

Round 7 B. CB Ian McIntosh, Syracuse.  A smaller player with speed. Started as an offensive player, was moved to CB before his junior year.  Cover skills still needs work. Will probably need to be a special teamer to stick. Ratings