The St. Louis Rams began Round 2 of the NFL Draft with three picks, including the first spot of the night. After an underwhelming but not necessarily disappointing selection of defensive tackle Michael Brockers in Round 1, the Rams were under a lot of fan and some media scrutiny. The team is in desperate need of players that can score touchdowns, so Round 2 had a lot of offensive anticipation.
The Rams didn’t disappoint. The team gave disillusioned fans what they’ve been screaming for during the last two years, a legitimate wide receiver. Since the draft choice wasn’t the highly heralded Justin Blackmon or Michael Floyd, the hype was tempered. Nevertheless, the Rams now have a potential playmaker in Brian Quinn. The Appalachian State stand-out is 6’3″ 220 lbs and will be expected to contribute significantly and immediately. Quinn is #1 on the depth chart, and hopefully, will push the other wide receivers who remain on the roster to take their play to another level.
The next choice for the Rams was at position #39. Janoris Jenkins, a cornerback from North Alabama, who was also a Florida Gator, was chosen. Jenkins signifies the final destruction of former head coach Steve Spagnulo’s Four Pillars. Check out my Tweet from last night. While the Four Pillars philosophy is respectable and desired in real life, exceptions must be made in the NFL. Sometimes, teams must draft and sign players with questionable reputations. After all, we all deserve second chances and most of us need three, four and more. Plus, all that matters in the NFL is winning a Super Bowl trophy.
With St. Louis Post Dispatch reporter Jim Thomas informing us via Twitter that Rams owner Stan Kroenke was in the War Room, Jenkins has the owner’s blessing. The 5’10″ 193 lbs rookie must prove he belongs in the NFL, both on and off the field. If he’s a bust, I won’t blame it on the Four Pillars principal. I’ll blame head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead.
The Rams were scheduled to use their final pick of Round 2 at spot number 45. Instead, the team made yet another trade. The Rams swapped spots with the Chicago Bears (50) and picked up another draft choice in Round 5.
The choice for the Rams at 50 was also a position that many have been clamoring for – a running back to compliment/back-up/take over for Steven Jackson. Iaiah Pead, 5’10″ 197 lbs and from Cincinnati, received that opportuity. Hopefully, Pead has the ability and will be used appropriately by the Rams to help Jackson and quarterback Sam Bradford score touchdowns.
The final pick of the night for the Rams was in Round 3 at spot 65. The selection was Trumaine Johnson, a 6’1″ 210 lbs corner back from Montana. Johnson was a teammate of Fisher’s son Brandon, so perhaps, this pick was a steal. Regardless, the Rams need help at corner back, and Johnson has the size to compliment free agent signee Cortland Finnegan and the previously mentioned Jenkins.
Round 2 should be classified as a success. Confirmation of that will occur during training camp and next season. Nevertheless, Snead and Fisher get the benefit of the doubt for 2012. It appears that help has arrived and a new direction is shaping up nicely in St. Louis. Let’s hope that direction only pertains to the play on the field, not the literal journey to Los Angeles.
You didn’t think I could go too many blogs without mentioning the elephant in the room, did you? As a reminder, May 1 is the deadline for the Rams to offer their Dome counter proposal to the CVC. It’s also the deadline for current season ticket holders to renew their seats. Yes. The drama continues…