SB Nation St. Louis - NFL Draft Grades: The St. Louis Rams Earn Solid Marks In 2012https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49009/stl-fave.png2012-10-26T09:30:27-05:00http://stlouis.sbnation.com/rss/stream/27625332012-10-26T09:30:27-05:002012-10-26T09:30:27-05:00Rams rookies have impressed—but which ones?
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<figcaption>Scott Heavey</figcaption>
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<p>The St. Louis Rams' rookies have made a big impact, but not like most people expected.</p> <p>There's an interesting <a target="_blank" href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2012/10/24/3547292/a-midseason-review-of-the-2012-rams-rookies">fanpost at Turf Show Times</a> this week about the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Rams</a>' rookie class of 2012, and their performance so far, and it puts a fine point on something I've only just begun to notice: They've been a big part of the Rams' success, but it hasn't come at all like I expected. Old and busted: <span>Michael Brockers</span>, <span>Brian Quick</span>. New hotness: <span>Greg Zuerlein</span> and <span>Daryl Richardson</span>?'</p>
<p>The St. Louis Rams' first overall pick, No. 14 Michael Brockers, has barely played thanks to a preseason injury, and while the Rams' quarterback-stuffing ability has been much improved in 2012 he's had little to do with it so far. Their second pick, Brian Quick, is even more raw than we anticipated; he's barely played. There's no reason to write either of them off in the next year-and-a-half, let alone <i>now</i>, but neither has asserted himself in the youth movement just yet.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Rams' most impressive rookies have been a kicker and a running back who was a pick away from being Mr. Irrelevant. Greg Zuerlein has become football's highest-profile kicker, and seems like the NFL's best bet to finally break the field goal distance record; early in the season the Rams' offense seemed almost built around him. Daryl Richardson, meanwhile, took second-rounder Isaiah Pead's job in the preseason and seems on the verge of taking Steven Jackson's job at midseason.</p>
<p>Two major successes—and Chris Givens, the Rams' best deep threat since Mike Martz was deposed, could join them before the year's out. Now imagine how they'll do once Brockers and Quick are playing consistently.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/10/26/3556834/st-louis-rams-rookies-greg-zuerleinDan Moore2012-07-24T21:23:56-05:002012-07-24T21:23:56-05:00St. Louis Rams Agree To Contract With 2nd Round Pick Janoris Jenkins
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<p><span>Janoris Jenkins</span> was thought to be one of the most physically talented players in the 2012 NFL Draft, and now the cornerback is officially a member of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a>. The club signed Jenkins to a four-year contract on Tuesday night, getting the corner wrapped up just as training camps around the league are starting to get underway. Now it's up to Jenkins to live up to his immense promise.</p>
<p>The Rams took Jenkins with the No. 39th overall pick in the second round. The corner took a long and troubled path to the NFL. Jenkins was voted a Freshman All-American as a starter on Florida in 2008. He would later go on to be named First-Team All-SEC in 2010. He was then kicked off the team for misconduct after two drug-related arrests in three months. Jenkins would catch on at North Alabama, which is where he played as a senior.</p>
<p><i>Visit </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Turf Show Times</a><i> for more on the Rams.</i></p>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/7/24/3185234/st-louis-rams-agree-to-contract-janoris-jenkinsRicky O'Donnell2012-05-11T08:17:04-05:002012-05-11T08:17:04-05:00NFL Draft Grades: How Could Michael Brockers Quiet Doubters?
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<p>The back of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a>' 2012 NFL Draft has graded out remarkably well, on the whole; people love the <span>Janoris Jenkins</span> risk, and most draft analysts are fans of at least one of <span>Brian Quick</span> and Chris Givens. Isaiah Pead has even earned some heat as <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/4/30/2988715/isaiah-pead-rams-steven-jackson">Steven Jackson's eventual replacement</a>. When they get knocked out of the high-B range in the average set of draft grades, it's usually for <span>Michael Brockers</span>, their first-round DT. What could he do to quiet the doubters?</p>
<p>Well, nobody's doubting he'll improve the Rams' godawful rush defense, which allowed 4.8 yards per carry last season, so that won't do it unless he's immediately <i>outstanding </i>at it. What it's going to take is some signs that he'll at least develop into the active pass rusher some scouts didn't see in him coming out of college.</p>
<p>If the Rams get the rush defense part I don't think they'll be too worried no matter what the scouts say. But if they manage to find another sterling pass-rusher on a line that already features <span>Chris Long</span> and <span>Robert Quinn</span>—well, that's the kind of thing that sells "Three Horsemen" t-shirts at the Edward Jones Dome.</p>
<p>More St. Louis Rams coverage from SB Nation St. Louis:</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">Speaking of the Edward Jones Dome, <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/9/3008702/st-louis-rams-stadium-taxpayer-dollars">why do the Rams expect us to help foot the bill</a>?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">The Rams' draft grades could also improve <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/10/3011465/nfl-rumors-2012-st-louis-rams-wide-receivers">if their revamped wide receiving corps shows promise</a>.</span></li>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/11/3013680/nfl-draft-grades-michael-brockersDan Moore2012-05-08T08:02:25-05:002012-05-08T08:02:25-05:00NFL Draft Grades: Brian Quick "More Athletic" Than Justin Blackmon, Better At Football Than Albert Pujols
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<p>Obviously I'm being a little hyperbolic in excerpting Greg Cosell's <a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2012/5/7/3005498/nfl-draft-results-st-louis-rams-brian-quick-scouting-report#storyjump" target="_blank">positive review</a> of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> second-rounder <span>Brian Quick</span>—<span>Justin Blackmon</span> was dinged for his athleticism in the first place, but dinging him did, in Quick's defense, just mean he was briefly considered a Top 15 pick instead of a Top 5 pick. But it's not something I'd base a set of NFL Draft grades on, no matter how arbitrary.</p>
<p>Cosell goes on to tout Quick's overall set of "raw" skills, which is certainly more enticing. This is the kind of thing it's easier to handicap in the MLB Draft, when the difference between drafting raw, highly skilled players and polished college types is in the team's ability to develop those tools goofs into actual baseball players. The NFL Draft is much more compressed, and if the Rams can't find a place for Quick to contribute early they'll have a hard time avoiding the questions that followed <span>Mardy Gilyard</span> around after his invisible rookie season. </p>
<p>More NFL Draft coverage from SB Nation St. Louis: </p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">Yes: For some reason we're already covering <a href="http://mobile.stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/8/3006768/nfl-mock-draft-2013-robert-woods-rumors">2013 NFL Mock Draft </a>season. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">We're also aggregating the<a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/4/2998492/nfl-draft-grades-st-louis-rams-2012"> St. Louis Rams' draft grades</a> right there. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">If you want a quick look at all our 2012 NFL Draft coverage, check our <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/4/30/2988072/nfl-draft-results-2012-st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams draft results</a> guide. </span></li>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/8/3006834/nfl-draft-grades-brian-quick-ramsDan Moore2012-05-07T07:30:17-05:002012-05-07T07:30:17-05:00NFL Draft Grades: St. Louis Rams' Janoris Jenkins Among Best Draft Deals
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<p>It'll be a solid year until we actually have, you know, a <i>professional football season</i> to go off, but already the 2012 NFL Draft grades are out in force. It shouldn't be too surprising—if you're into the draft, you have, I think, a natural tendency toward this sort of categorizing and recategorizing already. In any case, good news for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> fans—<span>Janoris Jenkins</span> is among the top <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012-nfl-draft/2012/5/4/2998591/2012-nfl-draft-results-picks" target="_blank">NFL Draft deals</a>, according to the national SB Nation. So, alas, is <span>David DeCastro</span>, who I was hoping the Rams would take in the first round...</p>
<p>Okay okay—I'm back. Jenkins is the classic high-risk high-reward player, a Top 10 talent who couldn't stay clean enough in college to avoid becoming a middle-of-the-second-round talent. The question, of course, is: If he couldn't keep himself "respectable" in college, who's to say he'll do it in the NFL?</p>
<p>The answer: Nobody, but it was probably worth a shot, since the Rams had three picks in the second round anyway. If he can improve as much as I did between 23 and 25, he might go from scuffling in college to living on his own in a ratty apartment, writing for a sports blog!</p>
<p>More SB Nation St. Louis analysis of the <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/4/30/2988072/nfl-draft-results-2012-st-louis-rams">2012 NFL Draft</a>, gone but not forgotten:</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">Here's a complete look at the <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/4/30/2988072/nfl-draft-results-2012-st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams' draft results</a>, with links to all our coverage from draft week and beyond. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">Meanwhile, the <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/2/2993304/2013-nfl-mock-draft-st-louis-rams">2013 NFL Mock Draft</a> season already looms for people with too much time on their hands. </span></li>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/7/3004189/nfl-draft-grades-st-louis-rams-newsDan Moore2012-05-04T08:30:39-05:002012-05-04T08:30:39-05:002013 NFL Mock Draft: Jason Smith Has One Last Chance To Protect Sam Bradford
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<p>As soon as this year's entirely-too-early 2013 NFL Mock Draft season began—hours after draft day—the possibilities for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a>' first consensus pick resolved quickly into two possibilities that will be familiar to last year's draft watchers: Offensive line or wide receiver—particularly, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78282/d-j-fluker">D.J. Fluker</a> or Robert Woods. I'm fond of the offensive line pick at the moment, because the way the Rams have acted in this year's offseason makes it clear to me that, whatever your feelings on next year's NFL Mock Draft likelihoods, they're going to give <span>Jason Smith</span> and <span>Rodger Saffold</span> just one more chance to keep <span>Sam Bradford</span> out of harm's way. </p>
<p>Smith is the bigger bust—he went No. 2 overall back in 2009—but <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/6655/rodger-saffold">Rodger Saffold</a> was the more surprising disappointment in 2011; the 2010 second-rounder was coming off a very strong rookie season when injuries and ineffectiveness held him to nine starts. </p>
<p><a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/4/21/2965368/st-louis-rams-jason-smith-contract-pay-cut">Jason Smith's massive pay cut </a>in the offseason probably earned him some slack with the fans, but it also established just how critical his situation is—he'll need to fulfill all that promise he showed at Baylor now, or he'll be doing it with some other team in 2013.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/4/2998531/2013-nfl-mock-draft-jason-smith-sam-bradfordDan Moore2012-05-04T07:30:13-05:002012-05-04T07:30:13-05:00NFL Draft Grades: Isaiah Pead Could Save St. Louis Rams' Next Draft, Too
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<p>Granted: I spent nearly all of the 2012 NFL Draft season begging the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> not to take <span>Trent Richardson</span> because I think all running backs are overrated. You my not, then, trust my NFL Draft grades, especially as they relate to <span>Isaiah Pead</span>, the running back the Rams eventually <i>did</i> take with the last of their second-round picks. But hey: Pead could save the Rams a pick when Steven Jackson finally slows down, and if he does that then the Rams' draft grade is a solid A from me, at least.</p>
<p>Here's how it could happen: Isaiah Pead needs to have a solid rookie season as Steven Jackson's change-up and <span>Sam Bradford's</span> safety valve. He needs to keep doing that as Steven Jackson declines. Then: The Rams need to <i>not</i> feel the need to spend a first-round draft pick on a running back who won't make nearly as many carries as Jeff Fisher or anyone else thinks he will, because they're satisfied with Pead's performance to date. Voila! Instant A+ from your local running back hater and NFL Draft grader.</p>
<p>More NFL Draft 2012 coverage from SB Nation St. Louis:</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">Here's a <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/4/30/2988072/nfl-draft-results-2012-st-louis-rams">complete look at the St. Louis Rams' draft</a>, with a rundown of the results and links to all our other coverage.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">The current talk of the Rams rumor mill is the idea that <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/4/30/2988715/isaiah-pead-rams-steven-jackson/in/2743219">Isaiah Pead is already their running back of the future</a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">Here's a look at <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/1/2990256/2012-nfl-draft-grades-rams/in/2743219">our quick-and-easy St. Louis Rams draft grades</a>.</span></li>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/4/2998490/nfl-draft-grades-st-louis-ramsDan Moore2012-05-02T07:01:18-05:002012-05-02T07:01:18-05:00NFL Draft Grades 2012: Janoris Jenkins Shows St. Louis Rams' Risky Side
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<p>Over at Rams Herd, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ramsherd.com/2012-articles/draft/rams-go-high-risk-high-reward-and-i-like-it.html">a concise examination</a> of the two picks most likely to influence the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">St. Louis Rams</a>' 2012 NFL Draft grades: <span>Janoris Jenkins</span> and <span>Trumaine Johnson</span>, the two high-risk cornerbacks the Rams selected, making a symbolic break with Steve Spagnuolo's "Four Pillars" theory of team conduct in favor of lots of upside. If there's one thing NFL Draft grade writers like, it's upside—it has the chance to make them look brilliant in two years, and by then, if it hasn't made them look brilliant, nobody remembers.</p>
<p>Jenkins, at least, should pay off or cash out pretty soon. His problem isn't performance-related, and if Jeff Fisher and the Rams can keep him on the field they could have two top-of-the-line cornerbacks a year after sporting the worst secondary I've ever seen. Just that—even if Johnson, the other character-issues type, busts—would be enough for me to give this particular draft risk a high A.</p>
<p>More NFL Draft 2012 coverage from SB Nation St. Louis:</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">Here's a look at the <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/4/30/2988072/nfl-draft-results-2012-st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams' draft results</a>, featuring links out to all the draft coverage we produced on the Rams' newest players.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px;">And here, if you're interested, is the inevitable template for any St. Louis Rams-based<a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/1/2990084/nfl-mock-draft-2013-rams-predictions"> 2013 NFL Mock Draft</a>.</span></li>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2012/5/2/2993312/2012-nfl-draft-grades-janoris-jenkins-ramsDan Moore