A waste draft class for the Rams

By Raul Colon

St. Louis came into the 2010 NFL Draft looking for a high ticket offensive item and all indications points towards a successful mission. Still, the draft can’t be called a complete success mainly because they failed to upgrade the roster with top shelf talent at several key positions.

No running back to alleviate starter Steven Jackson was found nor did a fast perimeter receiver. This could have been a franchise turning type of draft for the embattle Rams. Now that will happen only if several late picks performs above their projections.

With the release of Marc Bulger there were little question which direction the team was headed coming into Thursday. St. Louis wasted little time in making Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford the number one overall pick of the draft. The 2008 Heisman Trophy winner is a solid signal caller with good pro upside. But there are huge questions surrounding him.

Beside the health issues, Bradford main problem could be the style of offense he played in Norman. Spread systems quarterbacks had trouble adjusting to the pro game, just ask 49ers Alex Smith. They tend to struggle with the speed and complexities of the game. He should become a good starter but not immediately. He is not Matt Ryan or even Joe Flacco, his learning curve is that much higher.

The team could have selected a top end WR in the second round, after all, there were a plethora of fast wide outs still on the board. Instead they went and took another offensive tackle early and in the process made one of the draft biggest reaches. Indiana’s OT Rodger Saffold (#33) is an athletic lineman with some pop but he lacks the speed and agility of USC’s Charles Brown, who was still on the board as were Maryland’s Bruce Campbell and Selvish Capers out of West Virginia, both superior prospects. He is a marginal pass blocker, at best, and has questionable desire.

They hit it with third round pick CB Jerome Murphy (#65) out of South Florida. Defensive back was an area of need coming into the draft as the team’s two starting corners (Ron Bartell and Bradley Fletcher) are average starters without shutdown capabilities. Murphy is an underrated prospect who lacks discipline. But he has all the talent to be a game changer, including a no-non sense attitude.

The Rams finally selected a WR in the fourth round. Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard (#99) is a good route running, although he has not played in a pro-style system, with great hands and intangibles. Unfortunately for St. Louis, he is not a difference maker. He lacks the speed (4.54) and agility to make something happen in the second level. In brief, he would be a solid complementary pass catcher in a club full with them.

Tight end was not a need area but they still took one in the fifth round. Michael Hoomanawanui (#132) was the Rams’ biggest reach. The Illinois product was viewed my most scouts as a priority free agent, at best. He lacks the speed, agility and strength to be a regular contributor in the NFL. The other selection in the round, DE Hall Davis (#149) was another reach. He has talent not that much to overcome a huge the learning curve.

Sixth rounder Fendi Onobun (#170) has be considered a waste pick. He has not hands and suspect instincts. A bad all around selection. So is Eugene Sims (#189), a big and slow defensive end out of West Texas A&M who has not chance of making the opening day roster.

The best late round selection was South Florida’s DE/OLB George Selvie (#226). The slim former Bulls defensive demon has the explosiveness and agility to one day become a part time starter in the league. CB Marquis Johnson (#211) out of Alabama and Penn State LB Josh Hull (#254) are long shots to make the team. Neither has the set of skills required to made contributions in the near future.

Grade: Overall, this can be considered a bad draft. They hit on their first pick but the rest are either reaches or developmental players with a lot to grow.