The St. Louis Rams have had quite a precipitous fall from greatness since their high points in 1999 and 2001. Staff turnover and an unsettled ownership situation certainly have contributed to their poor results, but there is a different problem that I want to tackle today.Everyone knows about the Rams poor drafting record. Sure, they wasted the first three rounds of the draft from 2000 - 2008. Trung Candidate, Jacoby Shephard, John St. Clair, Damione Lewis, Adam Archuleta, Ryan Pickett, Tommy Polley, Brian Allen, Robert Thomas, Travis Fisher, Lamar Gordon, Eric Crouch, Jimmy Kennedy, Piso Tinoisamoa, Kevin Curtis, Steven Jackson, Anthony Hargrove, Alex Barron, Ron Bartell, O.J. Atogwe, Richie Incognito, Tye Hill, Joe Klopfenstein, Claude Wroten, Jon Alston, Dominique Byrd, Adam Carriker, Brian Leonard, Jonathon Wade, Chris Long, Donnie Avery, John Greco. What do they all have in common?
Yes, they mostly suck.
But more importantly, how many are still with the organization? There is nary a star amongst the bunch, although the Rams from the 2007 and 2008 draft still have a chance (lets hope).
What there are among that group is some solid NFL starters, far superior to what the Rams have right now, or whose retention may have created additional problems for the Rams.
Ryan Pickett: Let go to sign with the Green Bay Packers for 4 years/$14 million. Starting nose tackle in their 3-4 defense. Think the Rams could use a run stuffer in the middle at that price right now?
John St. Clair: Starting Right Tackle for the Cleveland Browns. Sure, the Browns may be the only team in the NFL with a smaller talent base than the Rams, and St. Clair isn't a starting tackle on a championship, or even playoff, team, but keeping St. Clair until he developed could have kept the Rams from taking Alex Barron, and instead had them draft Roddy White, Aaron Rodgers, Marlin Jackson, Logan Mankins, Michael Roos, Lofa Tatupu or Justin Miller, all of whom were drafted after Barron.
Damione Lewis: Currently the starting Defensive Tackle for the Carolina Panthers. Not great, but they have won three more games than the Rams, and may very well make the playoffs.
Mike Furrey: Currently on the Cleveland Browns, previously somewhat of a star for the Detroit Lions. Plays a little safety, wide receiver, special teams. All around hard nosed player. Caught 98 passes for over 1,000 yards in 2006 for the Lions.
Kevin Curtis: Allowed to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles, played extremely well as their #2 option until knee surgery this year.
Anthony Hargrove: Currently starting Defensive Tackle for the undefeated New Orleans Saints. Has been moved around from DE to DT, but was let go by the Rams for a 5th round pick to the Buffalo Bills. Retaining him and allowing him to develop could have prevented the Rams from drafting Carriker and Long, and instead we could be watching a team with Matt Ryan at Quarterback and Darrelle Revis at Cornerback, to name just the players drafted immediately after those d-line busts.
My point isn't so much that the Rams have drafted poorly, which they undoubtedly have, but instead that they have allowed a lot of talent to leave the organization, which has only compounded their poor drafting. Hell, even Kurt Warner was the NFC starter in the Super Bowl last year! The Rams need to start keeping talent, and even just starters, in their organization. It creates value, which can be traded or allowed to develop alongside other talent, something the Rams desperately need if they are to get back to the top of the NFL again.
