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2007 COLLEGE DRAFT REPORT CARD

by Jay Goldberg

I liked the Rams draft.  They got very good value with Wade, Fry and Jackson.  As far as college street free agents go, a free safety with the potential to stick would have been nice, however, Kirkland may be able to make the transition.

Carricker is a freak of an athlete.  At close to 300 pounds he ran a short shuttle that running backs would be proud of.  While the Rams will start him off at nose tackle, long term he will fit in best at defensive end.  Why use a player with his combination of strength and quickness to engage blockers?  He would be a monster playing opposite Little.  He can rush the passer and stop the run.  The fact that Carricker is being used at defensive tackle, however, doesn't surprise me.  I am in a sophisticated (and tons of fun) fantasy football league.  We have our college draft before the NFL draft.  It makes watching the draft a blast.  Every league has one manager who just doesn't quite get it.  In our league it's Joey Prof.  Late in our draft we can always count on Joe to grab the top rated defensive tackle in the draft as his list of prospects dwindle.  This is a player who won't get many sacks and whose tackle stats are interchangeable with many other defensive tackles who will be available during the preseason draft.   In other words, a wasted pick.  Last year we added a new feature - the first defensive player selected in the draft becomes a franchise player who doesn't count against your year end protects for the following season.  In round four this year, Joey selected Carricker as his franchise defensive player, so the Rams moving him to defensive tackle was to be expected based on the Prof selecting him.  Leonard was the best power running back in the draft.  He also has good speed for a big back and is an excellent receiver.  While he can play fullback, he is a west coast fullback more than a blocking fullback.  He should be Jackson's top backup this year.  I normally do not liker a team drafting a player who will be a backup in round two, however, with no free safety jumping out at this spot in the draft I cannot find fault with this pick.   Wade was a great pick in round three.  He is a converted receiver who will only get better.  I had a second round grade on him and was very impressed with him during Senior Bowl practices.  Wade is more fast than quick, so if used as a nickel early in his career he may struggle some.  However, when he wins the starting job, he will be playing his best position and will be very good NFL cornerback.  Fry is the futurama at center for the Rams (sorry, I had to use that pun).  He is a strong kid who is better blocking for the run than the pass.  Ryan was an underrated prospect heading into the draft.  He plays the run very well and in time could allow the Rams to move Carricker outside to end.  Shackleford only started full time one year but has the size, strength, and skills to land on the Rams' development and protect against other teams trying to steal him.  He needs work but could be a contributor down the line.  Jackson was a great grab in round seven.  I love situations where a player is labeled as an effort-guy who is limited athletically, and then has a nice workout.  Jackson is strong, fast for his size and quick.  He also makes plays.  Look for him to become a part of the Rams' rotation at defensive tackle in the next couple of years.  Stanley is a fast wide receiver who was a terrific Division II player but lacks the size to be anything more than a #5 NFL receiver.  To do that he will have to win the kickoff return job which could be tough with Dante Hall now in town.  Look for Staley to be on the Rams' development squad if they keep him around.

As far as college street free agents go, Buches is a tight end with good measureables, some good college moments, but faces a tough task to make the team with the tight ends ahead of him on the roster.  Culberson is a former safety who will be a good special teams player because he goes all out and is a hard hitter.  He has an outside chance to stick as a versatile backup.  Strong safety Kirkland may be the most interesting college street free agent in the Rams' camp.  Kirkland is very quick and was a tackle-hound in college.  He could be a top special teams player and could make the team, especially if he shows he can play free safety as well as strong safety.  Lau was purely a blocking fullback in college who showed he is a tough runner who can catch the ball well at the East West Shrine Game.  He surprised me with his performance in that game and is certainly worth a look in camp.  Quarterback Tate also had his good moments in that game.  If he were taller he would have gone on day two in the draft.  He has the tools to be an effective backup NFL quarterback.  Look for him to land on the Rams' practice squad.  Vinnett is another player (Staley was the other) who is an excellent football player but may be too small for the NFL.  Vinnett is extremely fast, very athletic, quick, has good coverage skills and very strong for his size.  Unfortunately, cornerbacks under 5'8" are hard to find in the NFL.  Still he could be fun to watch in preseason, especially if he gets a pick.

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PLAYER WHO COULD HAVE A BETTER NFL CAREER THAN PLAYERS SELECTED AHEAD OF HIM in the DRAFT

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PLAYER WHO COULD HAVE A BETTER NFL CAREER THAN PLAYERS SELECTED AHEAD OF HIM in the DRAFT

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