Saint Louis Rams Forecast
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Saint Louis Rams (6-10)
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(11) Ernie Sims, OLB. Florida State
(46) Leonard Pope, TE. Georgia
(77) David Pittman, CB. Northwestern State
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The Rams need help on defense to become a complete team. This has been the case for many years now. The team has issues both along the defensive front and in the defensive backfield. The Rams have not had an elite cover corner since the early years with Adam Achuleta. Their roster is filled with average talent at the position, and a finding a premier coverage guy would offer the defense coordinator a lot of flexibility. Along the defensive front, a dynamic play at either defensive end or defensive tackle would make a ton of sense. Offensively, the team has very few needs. Finding a potential project case at quarterback in the late rounds might be worth the gamble in an effort to try to find a long-term option to replace Bulger. The team does lack a pass catching tight end. Brandon Manumaleuna is an excellent blocker, but lacks receiving skill.
(11) Ernie Sims, OLB. Florida State
Looking to improve the defense, Ernie Sims offer an upgrade both in the pass and rush defenses for the Rams. Undersized at 5'11"/231, Sims makes up for his lack of size with his big-hitting ability. He hits as hard as anyone his size in the game, period. At 4.50, Sims has the speed to survey the field sideline-to-sideline. He has tremendous instincts and has seen his draft stock do nothing but rise since the end of the football season last fall. A top notch athlete, Sims would be a fixture in the linebacking corp of the Rams for many years to come.
(46) Leonard Pope, TE. Georgia
Brandon Manumaleuna is not the ideal pass-catching tight end. The Rams could add a new dimension to their already potent passing attack by adding a pass catching specialist. Finding a guy like Leonard Pope would be ideal. Pope has first-round talent, presenting excellent value while filling a team need all the same. Pope is oversized at 6'8"/258. He is also a tremendous jumper who can get a jump ball over any defensive player in the NFL. His 4.62 speed allows him to stretch the field, even in single-coverage on a safety. His route-running needs work, and his blockig is suspect; but, Pope would be a steal at this point. He would take pressure off of Bulger, and give the offense another potent option to Torry Holt and Issac Bruce in the passing game.
(77) David Pittman, CB. Northwestern State
The Rams would prefer to add an elite coverage cornerback to their defense in this draft. Having been given no good value in either round one or round two, the Rams must address this need before the end of day one. In a position to be willing to take a calculated gamble on a player, the Rams could potentially hit a home run with David Pittman. Hailging from Northwestern State, David Pittman has first-round abilities and is suffering from small school syndrome only. At 5'11"/182, Pittman could stand to bulk up to become NFL ready, but Pittman's skills are already there. His 4.42 speed is excellent, and he simply excels in coverage. His head coach, who also directed Bills' Pro Bowler Terrence McGee, has claimed Pittman to be the best cornerback he has ever seen.
(*) Tye Hill, CB. Clemson
Tye Hill is fast. His 4.30 timing was the fastest among all prospects at the combine. His 5'10" height is only average, leaving some scouts unwillingto place him among the top prospects. However, his height is passable by NFL standards. His coverage abilities, on the other hand, are very solid. He has fluid hips and has a knack for breaking up passes. He is a leaper that can go up and break away jump balls with receivers much taller than himself. Should he get fooled by a receiver, film study shows that he has a burst like no one in that draft in terms of closing speed. All signs point to Tye Hill being that elite cover corner capable of playing with any receiver in the league on an island.
Saint Louis Rams (6-10)
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(11) Ernie Sims, OLB. Florida State
(46) Leonard Pope, TE. Georgia
(77) David Pittman, CB. Northwestern State
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The Rams need help on defense to become a complete team. This has been the case for many years now. The team has issues both along the defensive front and in the defensive backfield. The Rams have not had an elite cover corner since the early years with Adam Achuleta. Their roster is filled with average talent at the position, and a finding a premier coverage guy would offer the defense coordinator a lot of flexibility. Along the defensive front, a dynamic play at either defensive end or defensive tackle would make a ton of sense. Offensively, the team has very few needs. Finding a potential project case at quarterback in the late rounds might be worth the gamble in an effort to try to find a long-term option to replace Bulger. The team does lack a pass catching tight end. Brandon Manumaleuna is an excellent blocker, but lacks receiving skill.
Ernie Sims is an incredible athlete
(11) Ernie Sims, OLB. Florida State
Looking to improve the defense, Ernie Sims offer an upgrade both in the pass and rush defenses for the Rams. Undersized at 5'11"/231, Sims makes up for his lack of size with his big-hitting ability. He hits as hard as anyone his size in the game, period. At 4.50, Sims has the speed to survey the field sideline-to-sideline. He has tremendous instincts and has seen his draft stock do nothing but rise since the end of the football season last fall. A top notch athlete, Sims would be a fixture in the linebacking corp of the Rams for many years to come.
Leonard Pope is a lethal weapon in the passing game
(46) Leonard Pope, TE. Georgia
Brandon Manumaleuna is not the ideal pass-catching tight end. The Rams could add a new dimension to their already potent passing attack by adding a pass catching specialist. Finding a guy like Leonard Pope would be ideal. Pope has first-round talent, presenting excellent value while filling a team need all the same. Pope is oversized at 6'8"/258. He is also a tremendous jumper who can get a jump ball over any defensive player in the NFL. His 4.62 speed allows him to stretch the field, even in single-coverage on a safety. His route-running needs work, and his blockig is suspect; but, Pope would be a steal at this point. He would take pressure off of Bulger, and give the offense another potent option to Torry Holt and Issac Bruce in the passing game.
(77) David Pittman, CB. Northwestern State
The Rams would prefer to add an elite coverage cornerback to their defense in this draft. Having been given no good value in either round one or round two, the Rams must address this need before the end of day one. In a position to be willing to take a calculated gamble on a player, the Rams could potentially hit a home run with David Pittman. Hailging from Northwestern State, David Pittman has first-round abilities and is suffering from small school syndrome only. At 5'11"/182, Pittman could stand to bulk up to become NFL ready, but Pittman's skills are already there. His 4.42 speed is excellent, and he simply excels in coverage. His head coach, who also directed Bills' Pro Bowler Terrence McGee, has claimed Pittman to be the best cornerback he has ever seen.
Needing a cover guy in the secondary, Tye Hill
is as good as it gets in this draft class
(*) Tye Hill, CB. Clemson
Tye Hill is fast. His 4.30 timing was the fastest among all prospects at the combine. His 5'10" height is only average, leaving some scouts unwillingto place him among the top prospects. However, his height is passable by NFL standards. His coverage abilities, on the other hand, are very solid. He has fluid hips and has a knack for breaking up passes. He is a leaper that can go up and break away jump balls with receivers much taller than himself. Should he get fooled by a receiver, film study shows that he has a burst like no one in that draft in terms of closing speed. All signs point to Tye Hill being that elite cover corner capable of playing with any receiver in the league on an island.