NFC West: Corey Chavous
The St. Louis Rams' quarterback has also been busy working on his second career as an NFL quality-control coach.
Jeff Curry/US PresswireRams quarterback Sam Bradford has taken on some coaching duties during the lockout.Those duties included drawing up plays on cards, the same work an entry-level assistant would undertake for the scout team in regular practices. Because quarterbacks' playbooks are the most complex of all, Bradford was in better position to serve in a coaching capacity.
"He would call out a play and he would also break it down and explain it to all the other guys and the young guys who were there for the first time," guard Jacob Bell said by phone following the first session Monday.
Removing coaches from the practice-field equation makes it tougher for players to know for sure whether they're executing techniques correctly. That is particularly true for the Rams' offensive players as they adjust to a new coordinator, Josh McDaniels.
Players do have playbooks in their possession, however, and the books designed for quarterbacks contain much of the information needed for teaching. Two former Rams players, Torry Holt and Corey Chavous, are serving as coaches during daily sessions scheduled to run through Thursday.
"It's really cool to have them," Bell said. "They are coaching figures out there. Everybody is really working together."
Players have hired personal trainers to help with agility and conditioning drills.
Each day begins with weight-lifting sessions, followed by 45 minutes of agility work and about 80 minutes of practice. Players do not wear helmets or much padding. The non-contact sessions include seven-on-seven work. Players also practice breaking the huddle and calling plays at the line of scrimmage.
A few other notes related to these practices:
- Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch lists 23 of an estimated 30 players attending the workouts. The breakdown included all three quarterbacks, five offensive linemen, four receivers, four tight ends, five linebackers and two defensive backs. Coats listed no running backs or defensive linemen, but noted that additional players were expected to attend over the next few days.
- Two of the team's eight draft choices -- tight end Lance Kendricks and receiver Greg Salas -- were listed among those attending. I wondered whether some agents were advising their clients to exercise caution, but Carl Carey, who represents Rams first-round pick Robert Quinn, said he had not tried to steer Quinn either way. Carey also said he wasn't aware of these specific workouts.
- While having more players attend speaks well for team chemistry, whether or not a specific player was there for a specific day reveals little. Quinn said during the draft that Bradford, James Laurinaitis and Chris Long were already making him feel welcome.
- Bradford's participation is obviously more significant. Bell: "He's really doing it big. They are really breaking down and dissecting the plays, going over them, had the cards drawn up, looked pretty good out there."
- Receiver Donnie Avery is looking "really good out there" after missing last season with a knee injury, Bell said.
It's tough to say whether these workout sessions will make a significant difference on the field once the season finally does begin. Strong attendance can only be a good thing, however.
"It says we're committed to winning and having a good season," Bell said. "On the other hand, it shows we're sick of sitting around and waiting for this thing to end."
Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis has the details, including these two nuggets:
- Roughly 70 percent of the roster, including quarterback Sam Bradford and 2011 draft choices, are expected to lift weights and practice;
- Former players Torry Holt and Corey Chavous will serve as coaches.
Getting so many players together in the St. Louis area reflects well on the leadership St. Louis has assembled. It's not like these workouts are in San Diego or Miami Beach or even Arizona.
The potential for injuries stands as a concern. Players are competitive. Some will practice harder than others. Players might not have access to professional training resources.
It must be tough for the Rams' real coaches to know players are practicing without their supervision. Coaches -- particularly head coaches -- like to control every detail. The lockout makes them helpless.
US PresswirePittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward and LaMarr Woodley are all playing in Super Bowl XLV, but could they have ended up in the NFC West coming out of college?They've been in big games before, and frequently, thanks largely to shrewd drafting.
This is the Steelers' third Super Bowl appearance in the last six seasons.
The team made available James Farrior, Flozell Adams, Hines Ward, Brett Keisel, Ben Roethlisberger and LaMarr Woodley during its initial media session Monday -- just the opportunity I needed to produce an item corresponding to the one titled, "Draft hindsight: Aaron Rodgers and beyond".
The idea: to examine a Super Bowl team's featured players -- in this case, the ones made available Monday -- with an emphasis on draft status and the decisions NFC West teams made in the same rounds. Not every team held a choice in every featured round.
The Arizona Cardinals had a shot at Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but they came out OK.
Here goes ...
1997 Draft: James Farrior, LB, Virginia
Round: First (eighth overall, by the New York Jets)
NFC West spin: Farrior is a two-time Pro Bowl choice, but the NFC West offers no apologies for passing over him. Orlando Pace and Walter Jones became perennial Pro Bowl tackles. Jones became the best player in Seahawks history, in my view. Shawn Springs made one Pro Bowl trip and picked off 33 passes during a 13-year career. The Cardinals had no shot at Farrior. They chose Tommy Knight one pick later. He started 54 games in six NFL seasons. Rumor says the 49ers selected a quarterback in the first round of this draft.
First-round selections in the division:
- Rams (first overall): Pace, T, Ohio State
- Seahawks (third overall): Springs, CB, Ohio State
- Seahawks (sixth overall): Jones, T, Florida State
- Cardinals (ninth overall): Knight, CB, Iowa
- 49ers (26th overall): Jim Druckenmiller, QB, Virginia Tech
Round: Second (38th overall, by Dallas)
NFC West spin: Adams became a five-time Pro Bowl choice with Dallas. His career appeared finished, or close to it, until injuries led the Steelers to call on him this season. Arizona passed on Adams twice. Safety Corey Chavous, chosen five spots before Adams, went to a Pro Bowl with Minnesota. He was a productive player for roughly a decade. Tackle Anthony Clement, chosen two spots before Adams, started more than 100 games for three teams.
Second-round selections in the division:
- Cardinals (33rd overall): Corey Chavous, SS, Vanderbilt
- Cardinals (36th overall): Anthony Clement, T, Louisiana-Lafayette
- Rams (37th overall): Robert Holcombe, FB, Illinois
- Seahawks (47th overall): Todd Weiner, T, Kansas State
- 49ers (58th overall): Jeremy Newberry, C, California
Round: Third (92nd overall, by Pittsburgh)
NFC West spin: The Rams and Seahawks found Pro Bowl-caliber players when they passed over Ward in the third round. Seattle gave up on Ahman Green prematurely, however, after coach Mike Holmgren grew weary of early fumble problems. The 49ers missed on tackle Chris Ruhman three choices before Ward went to Pittsburgh. Ruhman played in six games with the 49ers, starting none. He played in 11 NFL games with two starts overall. The 49ers passed on Ward even though Jerry Rice had suffered a devastating knee injury in the 1997 opener.
Third-round selections in the division:
- Rams (65th overall): Leonard Little, DE, Tennessee
- Seahawks (76th overall): Ahman Green, RB, Nebraska
- 49ers (89th overall): Chris Ruhman, T, Texas A&M
Round: Seventh (242nd overall, by Pittsburgh)
NFC West spin: The 49ers drafted longtime starting guard and center Eric Heitmann three spots before the Steelers found Keisel. Pittsburgh could use Heitmann this week after the Steelers' starting center, Maurkice Pouncey, suffered a severely sprained ankle during the AFC Championship Game. Keisel became a Pro Bowl choice for the first time this season, distinguishing him from 2002 NFC West seventh-rounders. The Rams found their mainstay snapper in this draft. Keisel was gone when the 49ers found guard Kyle Kosier, who started 29 games for them and remains a starter with Dallas.
Seventh-round selections in the division:
- Cardinals (223rd overall): Mike Banks, TE, Iowa State
- Seahawks (232nd overall): Jeff Kelly, QB, Southern Mississippi
- 49ers (239th overall): Heitmann, C, Stanford
- Rams (243rd overall): Chris Massey, LS, Marshall
- 49ers (248th overall): Kyle Kosier, G, Arizona State
- 49ers (256th overall): Teddy Gaines, DB, Tennessee
Round: First (11th overall, by Pittsburgh)
NFC West spin: The Cardinals passed over Roethlisberger and came away with a potential Hall of Fame receiver. No complaints there, even though quarterbacks are more valuable than receivers. None of the other NFC West teams had a shot at Roethlisberger. Seattle and St. Louis were set at quarterback, anyway.
First-round selections in the division:
- Cardinals (third overall): Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh
- Seahawks (23rd overall): Marcus Tubbs, DT, Texas
- Rams (24th overall): Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State
- 49ers (31st overall): Rashaun Woods, WR, Oklahoma State
Round: Second (46th overall, by Pittsburgh)
NFC West spin: The Cardinals could certainly use Woodley now, and badly, but they had already invested millions in the position heading into the 2007 draft. Free-agent additions Chike Okeafor and Bertrand Berry had combined for 14.5 sacks during the 2006 season. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they haven't gotten enough from their second-round investment in Alan Branch.
Second-round selections in the division:
- Cardinals (33rd overall): Branch, DL, Michigan
- Rams (52nd overall): Brian Leonard, FB, Rutgers
- Seahawks (55th overall): Josh Wilson, CB, Maryland
OK, all done, and just in time. ESPN.com teammates Mike Reiss, Kevin Seifert and I are heading out to the Packers' media session next. Seifert is driving and he doesn't wait for anyone. Gotta jam.
Enjoy it while you can, gentlemen.
Take a look at the St. Louis Rams' captains from 2008: Marc Bulger, Tory Holt, Will Witherspoon, Corey Chavous and Todd Johnson.
Gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.
The Arizona Cardinals' captains two seasons ago? Kurt Warner, Reggie Wells, Karlos Dansby, Sean Morey and Aaron Francisco. Gone, all of them.
The Seattle Seahawks (Matt Hasselbeck, Lofa Tatupu) and San Francisco 49ers (Patrick Willis, Eric Heitmann) each still employ two of their captains from 2008. But Seattle has parted with four others: Walter Jones, Deon Grant, D.D. Lewis and Lance Laury. The 49ers have waved goodbye to 2008 captains Michael Robinson (now a Seahawk) and Walt Harris.
How many of the 2010 team captains, listed below, will remain with their teams in two seasons?
Arizona Cardinals
Offense: Larry Fitzgerald, Lyle Sendlein
Defense: Adrian Wilson, Darnell Dockett
Special teams: Ben Graham, Jason Wright
St. Louis Rams
Offense: Steven Jackson
Defense: Oshiomogho Atogwe
Week 1 at-large: Chris Massey, James Hall
San Francisco 49ers
Offense: Eric Heitmann, Vernon Davis, Alex Smith
Defense: Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, Justin Smith
Note: Coach Mike Singletary names captains for the 49ers. He added Alex Smith to the list this year and said the quarterback had earned the distinction.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have not yet voted on captains.
Update: Matt Hasselbeck (offense), Lofa Tatupu (defense) and Roy Lewis (special teams) are 2010 captains for Seattle.
"With Tebow, the throwing motion, he had to change it. Go back to the Georgia game this year, ball got stripped from behind and that is because of where he brings the ball from. Brings it down below his waist, not even at his waist, and that allows him to get some torque, but that delivery will let safeties jump all over him in the middle of the field.
"I think he has got a strong enough arm. The best thing he does is throw the deep ball. He throws that with touch and accuracy. That is the hard part. He has got that down. He has the arm strength to throw intermediate passes. He has to speed up his clock mentally. When you watch him on tape, there are too many passing windows that are open that he does not necessarily see right away. It takes him a little bit longer. To me, that is why he got hurt at Kentucky. They were in a man-zone blitz concept. On the man side, he sees the route open up, but he holds it. The line has a problem on the side. They are not coming with pressure on and he gets knocked out. That is how he ended up getting a concussion, holding the ball too long. He is going to have to speed up his clock mentally."
Veteran safeties are often good resources on quarterbacks because they study them so closely. You can now go back to not thinking about Tim Tebow.
Retirement from the NFL has left Chavous time to launch a Web site focusing on draft-related analysis. Chavous also played in the NFC West recently enough -- with the Rams in 2008 -- to have a feel for Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart. He shared Leinart-related thoughts with XTRA910 radio in Phoenix recently.
"He can do everything you need to do," Chavous said. "He can throw on the run. He is pretty accurate and has gotten stronger over the years in terms of being able to drive the ball on deep comebacks, which isn’t a high part of the system you guys run out there. I feel he can execute offensively. He has guys who can run after the catch. I think he always did a good job of being able to show touch and those things are important down the field when you have weapons like [Steve] Breaston and as [Early] Doucet develops as well. You are going to have to be able to throw fade stops and routes really that Kurt Warner was able to throw in small windows effectively. I think he can do that. He is accurate enough to be successful there."
Leinart threw high too many times last season, I thought. That can happen when a quarterback is overanxious. Leinart hasn't played much recently. Adrenalin might have been an issue when he did get into games. Leinart is a bit of a wild card. He led an impressive go-ahead drive at Tennessee in the only full game he played last season, but there were other times during the season when the offense went nowhere with him under center. The Cardinals even put Warner back in the game at Chicago.
Despite record, Rams made right changes
The natural question is whether the organization went too far in pushing out higher-priced veterans.
I suspected they might have gone too far when they released linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa. I also thought they might have been premature in parting with Orlando Pace despite the tackle's steep salary and history of injuries.
The reality, though, is that the Rams got it right.
They have gone from being a bad, old team with significant salary-cap problems to being a bad, young team with a much brighter salary-cap future.
The younger players finding their way this season have a chance to help the team in the future. That wasn't the case in 2008, when losing got old, literally.
The Rams have the third-youngest roster in the league. They had the third-oldest last season. Their offense has moved the ball much better than I would have anticipated. A glaring lack of playmakers has turned the red zone into a dead zone, preventing the Rams from scoring enough points to compete on the scoreboard. But I think it's safe to say the Rams have the most promising young offensive line in the NFC West.
This team needs to find playmakers in the draft, plain and simple.
Kicking the Seahawks when they're down?
Kraig writes via Facebook: Sando, you pity the Rams, but you ridicule the Seahawks. You're a believer in the new 49er formula, although not always its execution. The Cards are an enigma, but undeniably talented. Interesting. But kicking the Seahawks when they're down is starting to stand out. What gives?
Mike Sando: Expectations frame the analysis. The Rams were a 2-14 team rebuilding. They parted with Torry Holt, Orlando Pace, Drew Bennett, Trent Green, Anthony Becht, Corey Chavous, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Brian Leonard, Gary Stills, Jason Craft, Ricky Manning, Fakhir Brown, La'Roi Glover, Dane Looker, Travis Minor, Dante Hall, Nick Leckey, Brett Romberg, Chris Draft and others. This was a total roster overhaul. I thought the Rams might have gone too far with a couple of these moves, but once the moves were made, the expectations were set accordingly.
With a new head coach and a younger roster, the Rams were going to struggle for a while. I thought 0-7 was likely and said so on the blog. The fact that the Rams are 0-6 is bad, but not a shock. It's Year 1 of a total rebuild. The Seahawks did not see themselves in the same light. Holding them to the same standard as the Rams would have been a bigger insult to the Seahawks than holding them accountable as I have tried to do.
Seattle thought injuries were pretty much to blame for a 4-12 record. The team thought Walter Jones would be fine this season. The team thought depth at tackle would be fine after re-signing Ray Willis. I thought the team needed to do more to shore up the position. Sean Locklear had missed a few games in the past, Willis has had knee issues and Jones was coming off surgery at age 35. I questioned whether the team could stay healthy in predicting a 7-9 record when schedules came out, upgrading the outlook slightly when Matt Hasselbeck seemed to pass a few injury-related milestones.
The outlook for Seattle darkens when we consider advanced ages for some of these injured players. Jones and Patrick Kerney are into their 30s. Both needed to play at a high level for Seattle to succeed. The fact that both are dealing with injury problems should surprise nobody. It was entirely predictable even if there was a chance both might beat the odds.
I think it's an even worse sign for Seattle if we start judging them with the same standards applied to the Rams. It's not that bad.
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
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Campfires: Coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't afraid to make first-round draft choices earn their starting jobs. He benched Matt Leinart coming out of camp last season, then made talented rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie wait until near midseason before becoming a full-time starter. The trend could continue this summer as rookie first-round choice Beanie Wells practices with the Cardinals for the first time.
Wells projects as the long-term replacement for Edgerrin James at running back, but Ohio State's late graduation prevented him from participating in minicamps and organized team activities. That means the adjustment period for Wells could take a little longer. Expect Tim Hightower to enter camp as the tentative starter.
Meanwhile, the situation at tight end remains a mystery. Arizona is carrying six tight ends on its roster, one behind the league high. Ben Patrick, the player coaches have tried to develop as a player versatile enough to help as a receiver and blocker, faces a four-game suspension to start the season. That could open the door for Anthony Becht, Leonard Pope or Stephen Spach to seize the starting job. I don't see a clear favorite, particularly with Patrick serving a suspension and Spach coming off knee surgery.
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| Jeff Mills/Icon SMI | |
| Will Beanie Wells be able to avoid the injuries that plagued him in college? |
Camp will be a downer if ... Wells doesn't immediately prove he can avoid the long list of injuries that affected him in college. Arizona needs a more dynamic runner to run its offense the way Whisenhunt and offensive line coach/running game coordinator Russ Grimm want to run it. Wells has the physical ability to provide that missing element. Can he stay on the field and will he fight through some of the ailments that await every running back in the NFL?
The preferred scenario would include Wells breaking a few long runs during the preseason, setting up the play-action passing game that worked so well for Arizona when the team showed more balance in the playoffs last season.
Camp will be a success if ... the reconfigured coaching staff takes control of the team and helps Arizona build on the momentum from its Super Bowl season.Whisenhunt has stressed continuity during the first two years of his tenure. He kept the same five starters on the offensive line even though right guard Deuce Lutui had penalty problems and center Lyle Sendlein sometimes struggled while playing through a shoulder injury. While the approach worked, continuity wasn't an option for the coaching staff once the Chiefs hired offensive coordinator Todd Haley head coach.
Whisenhunt's decision to fire quarterbacks coach Jeff Rutledge and defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast shook up the staff considerably more.
Warner will miss the rapport he enjoyed with Haley. The two appeared inseparable at times and the relationship seemed to benefit Warner on the field. Can the newly configured staff fill the void or otherwise find ways to keep Warner and the offense rolling?
Money men: Key players Karlos Dansby, Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett want lucrative long-term deals.
Franchise player rules will force Dansby to wait, and he should be content "settling" for a one-year franchise deal worth nearly $9.7 million. The volatile Dockett has also committed to letting his play do the talking, a good sign for the team.
While Boldin put aside his concerns to produce last season, his situation bears monitoring. Another year without a new contract probably equates to a higher frustration level. Boldin, generally the consummate pro, might have a harder time dealing with the situation -- particularly if the team fails to meet expectations.
San Francisco 49ers
Training camp site: 49ers headquarters (Santa Clara, Calif.)
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| Kyle Terada/US Presswire | |
| Can Shaun Hill distinguish himself to claim the starting QB job? |
Campfires: The 49ers have quite a few position battles for a team that finished strong and feels good about its chances for contending within the division.
The quarterback race will rightfully command the most attention. Coach Mike Singletary said the players will know whether Shaun Hill or Alex Smith should be the starter, at which point Singletary will merely affirm what they know. That means Smith's status as the No. 1 overall draft choice in 2005 will not afford him any advantage in the competition. Hill's 7-3 record as the 49ers' starter over the last two seasons gives him the edge.
On defense, Dashon Goldson would have to flop or suffer another injury for the older and less athletic Mark Roman to take back his job at free safety. Dre Bly has the edge over Tarell Brown at right corner. Kentwan Balmer, the 49ers' first-round choice in 2008, could push for a starting job at left defensive end.
Camp will be a downer if ... both quarterbacks flounder and veteran Damon Huard appears to be the best option. Unlikely? Perhaps. But the scenario isn't as laughable as it should be. Neither Hill nor Smith distinguished himself during the competition a year ago. Even if Mike Martz was playing favorites when he installed J.T. O'Sullivan as the starter, the fact remains that O'Sullivan enjoyed the strongest preseason of the three.The new offensive system should better suit Hill in particular, and the 49ers have declared this quarterback race a two-man affair, ruling out Huard as a contender. Still, after years of backing up Trent Green, Tom Brady and Dan Marino, Huard wound up starting three of the first five games in Kansas City last season when the unaccomplished Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen were his primary competitors.
Camp will be a success if ... Hill validates his 7-3 record as the 49ers' starter, right tackle Marvel Smith makes it through training camp healthy and the push toward a full-time 3-4 defense validates Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson as promising pass-rushers.Hitting on all three of those might be asking a bit much, but getting two of them right might be enough, particularly if the 49ers feel good about the quarterback situation.
On the receiving end: It's a little surprising to see the 49ers emerge with their deepest group of receivers in years after committing to Singletary's smashmouth approach. The change to Singletary and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye was all about making smarter use of the players general manager Scot McCloughan and former coach Mike Nolan had acquired in recent years.
That meant -- and still means -- forging an identity in the ground game. Yet, while receivers Michael Crabtree, Isaac Bruce, Brandon Jones and Josh Morgan will not be battling Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin for Pro Bowl berths this season, they do give the 49ers better potential than they've enjoyed recently.
Singletary's smashmouth roots should not and likely will not dissuade the 49ers from making frequent use of those receivers.
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| Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire | |
| The Seahawks must get Matt Hasselbeck through training camp unscathed. |
Training camp site: Seahawks headquarters (Renton, Wash.)
Campfires: The Seahawks weren't going to pretend that first-round choice Aaron Curry would have to prove himself in camp to earn a starting job. They put the fourth overall choice in the lineup from the beginning. No suspense there.
Most positions in Seattle appear settled. The situation at receiver should produce intrigue with Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and rookie burner Deon Butler fighting to get on the field with T.J. Houshmandzadeh and tight end John Carlson. Injuries will probably help sort out the situation. Burleson is returning from ACL surgery. Branch is entering his first full season since undergoing his own ACL procedure.
Don't be surprised if rookie second-round choice Max Unger pushes for playing time somewhere in the interior of the offensive line. He projects as the long-term starter at center if Chris Spencer plays out his contract and leaves following this season. If S
pencer holds the job, Unger figures to find his way onto the field in one of the guard spots, perhaps this year.
Camp will be a downer if ... quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's back injury flares up at any point along the way. Hasselbeck and the Seahawks say the quarterback has long since overcome the problems that helped limit him to seven starts last season. They didn't know the extent of the problem a year ago when they assured fans that Hasselbeck would be fine for the regular season. The issue is under control now, they say, but the very nature of back injuries should raise at least some concern heading into a pivotal season for the organization.
Camp will be a success if ... Hasselbeck, left tackle Walter Jones and defensive end Patrick Kerney put to rest concerns about their long-term health. Beyond the obvious injury storylines, this camp becomes a success for Seattle if Curry validates coach Jim Mora's opinion that the linebacker's pass-rushing abilities are indeed far stronger than anticipated on draft day.
Seattle badly needs to restore its pass rush to better compete against the Cardinals' passing game in a broader effort to overtake Arizona in the division. Kerney is the key, but the Seahawks are also counting on pressure from other sources: Brandon Mebane, Cory Redding, Lawrence Jackson, Darryl Tapp and possibly Leroy Hill. Significant pass-rush help from Curry would offset Julian Peterson's departure while making it easier for the Seahawks to justify having drafted a linebacker fourth overall.
Learning curve: By all accounts, the two years Mora spent in the background watching Mike Holmgren operate should leave him better prepared to handle his second head-coaching job. The way Holmgren handled everything from players to the media differed quite a bit from the more freewheeling approach Mora displayed with the Falcons.
Lessons learned? Yes, but it will be interesting to see how the Seahawks' leadership -- operating without Holmgren for the first time since 1998 -- will respond under pressure if things go wrong early.
St. Louis Rams
Training camp site: Rams Park (Earth City, Mo.)
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| G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images) | |
| Will Marc Bulger be able to regain his old form behind a revamped offensive line? |
Campfires: The Rams need to figure out what they have at receiver, linebacker and left cornerback after overhauling their roster.
Torry Holt, Orlando Pace, Drew Bennett, Trent Green, Anthony Becht, Corey Chavous, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Brian Leonard, Gary Stills, Jason Craft, Ricky Manning, Fakhir Brown, La'Roi Glover, Dane Looker, Travis Minor, Dante Hall, Nick Leckey and Brett Romberg were among the former starters and role players cast aside in the makeover.
None was irreplaceable. Getting rid of them was the easy part. Identifying and developing adequate replacements will take time.
Camp will be a downer if ... top draft choices Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis aren't ready to contribute right away. Coach Steve Spagnuolo has taken it slowly with both rookies, but he likely will not have that luxury once the regular season gets going. Smith and Laurinaitis probably must play and play well for the Rams to avoid trouble.
Laurinaitis' development is critical because the Rams appear so thin at linebacker after releasing Tinoisamoa. Even if Laurinaitis plays well, the Rams' depth at linebacker could betray them.
Camp will be a success if ... quarterback Marc Bulger finds comfort behind an upgraded offensive line. Bulger can be a highly accurate passer when opposing defensive linemen aren't pounding the confidence out of him. The player who topped 4,300 yards passing with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions three years ago hasn't resembled even remotely the scared soul seen under center for the Rams too often over the last two seasons.
The Rams' should start to regain some swagger on the line with 320-pounder Jason Brown taking over at center and the personably intense Smith at tackle. Right guard Richie Incognito won't be the only starter with some snarl, in other words. That should help provide improved protection for Bulger and leadership for the offense.
Fantasy spin: Running back Steven Jackson should not hurt for opportunities now that the Rams have landed a 320-pound center (Brown, free agent from the Ravens) and a 258-pound fullback (Mike Karney, late of the Saints). The Rams will try to develop their young receivers, but rarely should any of them represent a more formidable option than Jackson. And if he gets some luck with injuries, look out.
Cash-flow issues and the Rams' roster moves
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom's attempts to find a buyer for the franchise comes while "cash flow for the family is a problem" -- which invites scrutiny upon the team's decision to part with so many older, higher-priced players.
Every new coaching staff wants to reshape its roster. The Rams needed to get younger whether or not cash flow was a problem for ownership. Most of the players the Rams released were arguably scheduled to earn more than they proved to be worth. Salary-cap concerns were another factor. Still, cash-flow issues could have influenced some decisions.
The Rams saved $26.85 million in 2009 cash outlays by releasing the following seven players:
- Torry Holt: $7.9M in salary and bonus
- Orlando Pace: $6M in salary and bonus
- Drew Bennett: $3.8M in salary and bonus
- Pisa Tinoisamoa: $3.25M in salary
- Trent Green: $2.9M in salary and bonus
- Corey Chavous: $2.0M in salary
- Anthony Becht: $1M in salary
These are gross savings. Net savings are less. The Rams released Green, for example, but a contract for his replacement, Kyle Boller, cost $1.5 million in salary and bonus.
Bennett needed to go. Time appeared to run out for Green and Chavous. Holt's salary was inflated. I think the Rams would have been more talented keeping Pace, Tinoisamoa and probably even Becht. Those players found homes on winning teams. Pace commanded as much in 2009 money from the Bears as the Rams would have paid him.
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Len Pasquarelli's column about teams needing to clear the air with jilted quarterbacks brought to mind a part of the game Matt Hasselbeck mentioned to John Boyle of the Everett Herald:
"I experienced kind of a high-low in 2001. I got traded and talked to the coaching staff and they said, 'Hey, we want you to come be our starting quarterback.' And then during training camp, they go and sign Trent Dilfer, who had just won a Super Bowl. I think I learned a lot through that experience and through other experiences like that."
Quarterback commitments can indeed be fickle. Matt Leinart and Alex Smith have learned that the hard way. The Cardinals' decision to bench Leinart didn't need much explaining, in my view, because Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner was the alternative.
The quarterback question I would have in St. Louis is how quickly the Rams might turn away from Marc Bulger if he were to struggle.
General manager Billy Devaney and the new coaching staff have not hesitated to push out established players, from Torry Holt to Orlando Pace to Drew Bennett to Corey Chavous to Pisa Tinoisamoa and others. Bulger probably wasn't going anywhere this offseason for a few reasons:
- Bulger remained the Rams' most viable option.
- The team invested heavily in Bulger before the 2007 season.
- The team had too many other needs to draft a quarterback second overall.
- Releasing Bulger would have carried negative salary-cap ramifications.
Kyle Boller, Brock Berlin and Keith Null are the alternatives to Bulger. If all goes to plan, the Rams will run the ball effectively, putting Bulger in better position to avoid punishment. Bulger will become comfortable again while re-establishing his career.
All bets are off if the season does not go to plan. The people who identified Bulger as the Rams' franchise quarterback no longer remain in positions of authority within the organization. That could make him more vulnerable than the typical franchise quarterback.
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Rams' offseason roster makeover has left them with three players claiming Pro Bowl pedigrees.
By my count, no team in the league has fewer players with Pro Bowl experience. I have the Lions and Dolphins also with three apiece.
A quick look at NFC West players with Pro Bowl experience:
- 49ers (10): punter Andy Lee, running back Frank Gore, cornerback Nate Clements, cornerback Walt Harris, safety Michael Lewis, linebacker Takeo Spikes, linebacker Patrick Willis, tackle Marvel Smith, long snapper Brian Jennings and receiver Isaac Bruce.
- Cardinals (8): kicker Neil Rackers, receiver Larry Fitzgerald, quarterback Kurt Warner, strong safety Adrian Wilson, receiver Anquan Boldin, special-teamer Sean Morey, defensive lineman Darnell Dockett and defensive lineman Bertrand Berry.
- Seahawks (8): quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, kicker Olindo Mare, cornerback Marcus Trufant, linebacker Lofa Tatupu, guard Mike Wahle, tackle Walter Jones, receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and defensive end Patrick Kerney.
- Rams (3): quarterback Marc Bulger, running back Steven Jackson and defensive end Leonard Little.
Several players' Pro Bowl experiences are fading memories. Gary Stills, Dante Hall, La'Roi Glover, Torry Holt, Orlando Pace, Trent Green and Corey Chavous weren't likely to achieve Pro Bowl status again had they remained with the Rams.
My safest NFC West bets for Pro Bowl status this season: Fitzgerald, Willis and Boldin, probably. Some of the others have injury concerns. Warner could be a safe bet if he makes it through a full season for the fourth time in his career and second time in a row. Jones is a safe bet if he bounces back from knee surgery as well as the Seahawks expect him to do. Jackson could put up big numbers for the Rams this season. Who else?
The Rams' Oshiomogho Atogwe, Josh Brown and Donnie Jones have Pro Bowl potential. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Karlos Dansby could break through for the Cardinals. The 49ers' Gore is always a threat. Niners center Eric Heitmann might have a chance if the 49ers' rushing game puts up big numbers and the team wins more games. Who else?
Do any NFC West rookies have a chance in your view?
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
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The Rams weren't an 8-8 team seeking a few tweaks to regain their footing. They needed a franchise overhaul after posting a 5-27 record over the past two seasons.
That overhaul has continued with Brian Leonard's trade to the Bengals on Thursday and Pisa Tinoisamoa's release Friday.
Changing over a roster means adding new players in key positions. Adding new players means losing existing ones, and the Rams have parted with quite a few this offseason.
The chart shows notable Rams players to leave the roster since general manager Billy Devaney spearheaded Steve Spagnuolo's hiring as head coach.
Some of the changes were difficult to miss. The releases of Torry Holt and Orlando Pace come to mind. Other changes have come via attrition. In this case, the Rams have decided against re-signing numerous unrestricted free agents. It's significant to note that quite a few of them remain unsigned.
The Rams could always re-sign a free agent or two as they set their roster for training camp. In most cases, however, the team appears eager to move on without them.
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
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Rams kicker Josh Brown joined an increasingly exclusive club when he turned 30 years old Wednesday.
The milestone birthday increased to six the number of Rams players in their 30s (Marc Bulger, Todd Johnson, Chris Draft, Leonard Little and James Hall are the only others).
The Rams have released or not re-signed 14 players in their 30s since last season: Gary Stills, Dante Hall, Jason Craft, Fakhir Brown, Cory Withrow, Dane Looker, La'Roi Glover, Brandon Gorin, Torry Holt, Anthony Becht, Orlando Pace, Drew Bennett, Trent Green and Corey Chavous. The team parted with Dan Kreider and Eddie Kennison, also in their 30s, during the 2008 season.
The teams with the most players in their 30s: Saints 20, Patriots 17, Broncos 15, Browns 15, Redskins 15, Steelers 14 and Lions 14. The Cardinals have 13, the 49ers 12 and the Seahawks 10. The league average is 10.5.
Comings and goings: Rams since the Super Bowl
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
A quick look at 53-man rosters from Feb. 1, date of Super Bowl XLIII, provides a reference point for seeing how NFC West teams have changed so far this offseason.
I'll continue with St. Louis.
Gone from the Rams' 53-man roster and injured reserve list in the 58 days since the Super Bowl (18):
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| Kevin Terrell/Getty Images | |
| Orlando Pace was drafted by the Rams in 1997. |
Offense
Orlando Pace, T
Torry Holt, WR
Dante' Hall, WR
Drew Bennett, WR
Dane Looker, WR
Travis Minor, RB
Anthony Becht, TE
Cory Withrow, C
Nick Leckey, C
Brandon Gorin, OL
Rob Petitti, OL
Defense
Corey Chavous, SS
Jason Craft, CB
Fakhir Brown, CB
La'Roi Glover, DT
Special teams
Gary Stills, LB
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.
