Rams: 10 Players Who Are "On the Bubble"

With a new regime comes a new face lift, and at this point the St. Louis Rams are completely out of butt fat and have been shot up with enough Botox to put even the most artificial Hollywood stars to shame.


After a historically inept five-year stretch between 2007 and 2011, resulting in a combined 15-65 record, there's no doubt that the team must get it right this time around, hence the hiring of an experienced coach like Jeff Fisher.


With a veteran coach, the Rams figure they'll be a consistent .500 team at worst, which is still light-years ahead of the current team and will certainly be enough to appease a starving fanbase that was positively thrilled with the team's 7-9 losing record in 2010.


But in order to complete that satisfying step from hopelessness to mediocrity, the front office must identify the dead weight and eliminate it.


Over the next month and beyond, expect multiple cuts and restructured contracts as Fisher begins to mold the team in his own image.


Think of Fisher as the surgeon while the Rams are the overweight patient getting lard sucked out before swimsuit season (which comes much quicker than we ever expect).


There are some obvious cuts waiting to happen, such as the blocking-specialist tight end who can't block (Billy Bajema). But there are also a number of borderline players who will force the coaches to make some difficult decisions.


This article will focus on those "on the bubble" players and decide who's worth keeping and who needs to hit the road.




Ron Bartell, Cornerback


Ron Bartell has arguably been the Rams' best defensive player over the last five or six years, which is why the team felt he was worth a four-year, $25 million contract in 2009.


However, Bartell missed basically the entire 2011 season with a fractured neck which he obtained in Week 1 against Philadelphia.


Bartell has supposedly been cleared to play again, but even before the neck injury, he was already in a constant battle with various injuries, resulting in 19 missed starts over the last three seasons.


While Bartell certainly has a lot to offer on the field, it might not be financially feasible to pay him the $6.2 million that he's due in 2012, especially since he'll not likely stay healthy for all 16 games.


It would be ideal to keep Bartell and sign free agent Cortland Finnegan, but if the team can afford only one of the two corners, then it has to be Finnegan.


Verdict: Simple... If the team signs Finnegan, then Bartell is gone. But if the team doesn't, then Bartell stays.




Jacob Bell, Left Guard


The Rams signed Jacob Bell away from the Tennessee Titans in 2008 as a high-priced free agent, but he has been nothing but a disappointment in a Rams uniform.


Unfortunately for Rams fans, Bell has a history with Fisher from their time together in Tennessee from 2004 to 2007, which could result in Fisher showing some sympathy towards Bell and his struggles.


However, Bell is now a free agent and won't be nearly as pricey as he was in the recent past, which will probably be the only reason that he's brought back in 2012.


Verdict: If Fisher feels he can force Bell to elevate his game, then the Rams will re-sign him to a contract that will be merely a fraction of the $36 million contract he signed in 2008.




Jason Brown, Center


Jason Brown had a phenomenal 2009 season with the Rams after signing a $37.5 million contract with the team as a free agent.

However, his level of performance was merely adequate in 2010 and then simply awful in 2011.


Brown is a bit of a mystery. He was great for Baltimore to start his career and was solid during his first year in St. Louis, so it's hard to determine if the problem is actually with Brown, or rather the unqualified coaching staff he played under.


Bell, Brown and Jason Smith are the three most problematic offensive linemen on the roster, but since there are no capable replacements waiting on deck, it's probably unrealistic to expect the team to let go of all three.


If just one of the three remains with the team in 2012, then it will probably be Brown, simply because he's the only one capable of staying healthy.


Verdict: Brown missed two games in 2011 due to injury, but he was able to start 64 consecutive games between 2007 and 2010. So if the Rams are going to keep one of their under-performing linemen, then it might as well be the only one capable of staying on the field. Not to mention, he's probably the one most likely to revive his game.




Fred Robbins, Defensive Tackle


Defensive tackle Fred Robbins came over in 2010 as a free agent and was a terrific addition who single-handedly helped the defense grow by leaps and bounds.

However, Robbins experienced a decrease in production in 2011 and his chances of rebounding in 2012 are slim due to the fact that he'll turn 35 years old in March.


Robbins had a special connection with former head coach Steve Spagnuolo stemming from their shared history together with the New York Giants, but that favoritism vanished as soon as Spagnuolo walked out the door.


Fisher has no special bond with Robbins and will only retain him if he's deemed worthy, which is a hard case to argue considering the $3.75 million he'll make in 2012.


Fisher's defense-minded philosophy will likely call for a new defensive tackle, as he values that position greatly, but there's a chance Robbins will retire before Fisher has a chance to cut him.


Verdict: Now that Spagnuolo is gone, Robbins will likely retire.




Jason Smith, Right Tackle


Former No. 2 overall pick Jason Smith is running out of opportunities to live up to his lofty draft status.


Unfortunately, Smith has been the victim of multiple concussions, which is spreading doubt that he'll ever be capable of a lengthy career in the NFL.


Even without the concussions, Smith has still been a major disappointment on the field, which could hurt his chances in 2012 considering the team will save millions in cap space by cutting him.


There's a chance Smith can revive his career at left guard not unlike Robert Gallery during his time in Oakland, but since Smith is due $10 million next year, it's probably too expensive to even consider that experiment.


Verdict: There's a chance the team will bring Smith back if he's willing to restructure his enormous $61.7 million contract, but the team will ultimately cut him if he refuses.




A.J. Feeley, Quarterback


A.J. Feeley was signed in 2010 as a likely backup quarterback, but since there was no guarantee that Sam Bradford would be drafted or even be ready to start Week 1, Feeley was partially treated as a starter.


Since starting games was in the realm of possibility, the Rams were forced to reflect that in Feeley's contract, which is why they inked him to a two-year deal worth $6 million. It was a bit pricey considering he had only started two games since 2004 at the time.


Now that Feeley is a free agent and Bradford is locked in as the starter, the team could probably bring him back at a reduced rate.


However, Feeley was considered a valuable backup due to his familiarity with Pat Shurmur's offensive scheme. But now that Shurmur is long gone as the team's offensive coordinator, there is really no reason to keep Feeley.


Third-string quarterback Kellen Clemens had an admirable game against San Francisco during the team's 2011 finale and is six years younger than the 34-year-old Feeley.


Coincidentally, Clemens played the first five years of his career with the New York Jets under offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who is now the Rams' new coordinator.


Verdict: Clemens flashed some potential in 2011 and is very familiar with Schottenheimer's scheme, which makes him the perfect backup. There is no reason to re-sign Feeley.




Mike Hoomanawanui, Tight End


Mike Hoomanawanui was the team's fifth-round draft pick in 2010 and flashed plenty of potential during his rookie season.


Right from the start, even during the preseason, it was obvious that Hoomanawanui (Illini Mike) and Bradford had some chemistry together in the passing game, but he was unable to compile a respectable rookie season after missing eight games due to a high ankle sprain.


While his injury-plagued rookie season was alarming, people still held out hope that he'd bounce back in 2011 and continue to grow as an offensive weapon.


However, it became painfully clear that his rookie injury was not an isolated incident after he again missed eight games in 2011.


Even while healthy, he still only had seven catches for 83 yards in eight games.


The Rams could use a weapon like Hoomanawanui on the field, but he clearly does not have a body capable of absorbing a regular beating.


Verdict: There's basically no chance that Hoomanawanui can stay healthy for 16 games. And while his potential is alluring, it would be foolish to waste the roster spot. He will likely be cut at some point, either in the upcoming months or during training camp.




James Hall, Defensive End


In 2010, Chris Long was the defensive lineman who received the most praise, but it was actually James Hall who led the team in sacks that year with 10.5.


While Hall still managed to stay relevant in 2011 with six sacks and 50 tackles, it's fair to say that he experienced an overall decline.


Hall still has something to offer, but with 2011 first-round pick Robert Quinn ready to replace him as the full-time starter at right defensive end, it doesn't make a lot of sense to keep the 35-year-old Hall.


Also, Hall is due $2.75 million in 2012, so his departure would save the team some money, which could go towards a younger and more productive free agent.


Verdict: There's a chance Hall will retire due to his age, but if he decides to play, then he'll likely force the team to cut him in order to save money.




Josh Brown, Kicker


Some teams take their kicker for granted, so they go out an find a new one only to find that the replacement is not as reliable, which results in them playing musical chairs with the position until they can finally find the right guy.


For that reason, it might be wise for the Rams to stick with an experienced veteran like Josh Brown who, at his worst, is still somewhat reliable.


However, Brown made only 75 percent of his field goals in 2011 and his longest was just a modest 49-yard kick.


Brown has not been a total disaster, but he is hardly reliable enough to justify the $14.2 million contract he signed in 2008.


Verdict: Brown is entering the final year of his contract, so the team might wait it out for one more year. However, he is set to make $2.7 million in 2012. And with his accuracy beginning to come into question, the Rams could get equal production for a quarter of the price.




Austin Pettis, Wide Receiver


Austin Pettis was the Rams' third-round draft pick in 2011 out of Boise State, but he was basically a ghost throughout his rookie year.
The team was weak at the receiver position, which gave Pettis every opportunity in the world to show his stuff, but he still managed to produce only 27 catches and 256 yards.


Assuming the team enters 2012 with Brandon Lloyd, Justin Blackmon (or any other drafted receiver), Danny Amendola, Greg Salas, Danario Alexander and Dominique Curry (special teams), that doesn't leave a lot of room on the roster for Pettis, who was a questionable draft pick to begin with.


Not to mention, Pettis was suspended for four games for using steroids. The suspension caused him to miss the final two games of the 2011 season and will force him to miss the first two games of 2012, which makes it that much easier to cut him.


Verdict: Expect Pettis to make it to training camp. However, he'll be cut before the season begins.

Sneak Peak at the Rams Wide Receiver Position in 2011

The signing of Mike Sims-Walker has not only excited a fanbase that was desperate for news of a big signing, but it also shakes up the wide receiver position for the Rams in 2011.

The Rams were very desperate at the position during the 2010 season after their top two receivers (Mark Clayton, Donnie Avery) were sidelined with season-ending knee injuries.

Some assumed that the Rams would instantly improve at the position after the return of Clayton and Avery, as well as the addition of their third and fourth round draft picks Austin Pettis (Boise St.) and Greg Salas (Hawaii).

However, no one can predict if Clayton and Avery will be able to play at the same level that they were at prior to their injuries and rookies are just too unpredictable, especially mid-round draft pick rookies.

Also, Clayton is a free-agent and has not been re-signed as of yet, although the Rams are reportedly negotiating a deal with him.

But with the addition of Sims-Walker, along with the other receivers, the Rams have an intense training camp battle in the makings, possibly one of the most intense camp battles in the NFL.

Danny Amendola, No.1 Slot Receiver

Amendola was the top receiver for the Rams in 2010 with 85 receptions and 689 yards and the chemistry between him and Sam Bradford was undeniable.

With the injuries to Donnie Avery and Mark Clayton, Amendola was the only quality receiver remaining on the team. Some of the other receivers had good games occasionally, but lacked consistency.

But Amendola’s quality was not enough— team’s were able to stick double coverage on him and he did not have the size to make a difference downfield on deep routes, although he was stellar on short and intermediate routes.

Amendola will return in 2011 in a Wes Welker type role under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ offense, which is certainly a role he can excel at. He’ll be an important weapon in the 2011 offense.

Mike Sims-Walker, No.1 Wide Out

The Rams could possibly catch a break with the development of young receivers Brandon Gibson and Danario Alexander, but until they show that they can consistently perform, then Sims-Walker will instantly be the most talented receiver on the team, especially on the outside.

Sims-Walker only has only played three seasons in his career, with 2009 being the only season that really stands out, but that was enough to show that he is a talented receiver.

Remember, in Jacksonville he had an average quarterback throwing to him in David Garrard. There also were not any other receivers to take the attention away from him. Mike Thomas and tight end Marcedes Lewis did not burst onto the scenes until last year.

Sims-Walker will provide a level of talent at the positiono that the Rams have not seen in recent years. Also, at the age of 26, it’s possible that he has not peaked yet, meaning he could potentially be talented enough to be a No.1 wide receiver.

Donnie Avery, No.2 Slot Receiver

Donnie Avery is not a pure slot receiver like Amendola, as we’ve seen him run plenty of routes on the outside in the past.

It’s unclear how McDaniels will choose to utilize Avery, or if he has recovered all of his speed after rehabbing his knee injury from 2010, but his quickness would be beneficial in the slot against slow linebackers.

But even though his role is not cemented as of yet, it will be interesting to see if he can live up to his second-round draft status and have a break out year.

Avery has not had a chance to play with a quarterback like Sam Bradford, so we’ll see if Marc Bulger and the terrible Rams offense were holding him back all along.

Brandon Gibson, No.2 Wide Out

You can make an argument for Danario Alexander, or perhaps the two rookie receivers Pettis and Salas, but the Rams will likely stick to the more experienced Brandon Gibson until someone else dethrones him by earning playing time.

Of course it’s also possible that Gibson will surprise us all, because after all he was the second leading wide receiver with 620 yards and 53 catches.

Actually, he already is surprising people—there hasn’t been enough time for Sims-Walker to get settled in, but as of now, Gibson is supposedly the unquestioned top receiver so far in training camp.  

While his stats were not too impressive, it’s also easy to forget that he lacked playing time in the beginning of the season, and it was also only his second season after entering the NFL as an undrafted free-agent with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009.

He’ll get competition, but for now, it’s his job to lose.

Backup Receivers

Danario Alexander

There’s a chance that second-year player Danario Alexander could earn himself a starting job in 2011, but he still has a few hills to climb before that will happen.

Alexander impressed fans during his NFL debut last October against the San Diego Chargers in St. Louis—he had four catches for 72 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown reception. He also had a 45-yard catches against the Denver Broncos in Week 11, as well as a 46-yard catch during Week 16 against the San Francisco 49er’s.

His 6’5” 220 pound frame could be put to great use by Sam Bradford and the offense, but he needs to do something well other than the long ball.

For the most part, Alexander was not a major threat to opposing teams because the long ball was the only route he was able to run.

If Alexander wants to be a starter, then he needs to become a weapon on short and intermediate routes, as well as the long routes.

Alexander also has a lengthy history with knee injuries, which is another factor working against him. It’s something the coaching staff will carefully watch.  

Austin Pettis

Pettis was the Rams third round pick last April and he’ll bring a fairly wide skill set to the group if development pans out.

The Rams struggled with dropped passes in 2010, so that is something they wanted to fix. Forget speed, size and other traits, the Rams just wanted to find someone capable of hanging on to the ball no matter what, because they are confident that Bradford can hit his targets.

That’s exactly what Pettis was drafted for—his sure hands. Although, he also brings decent size at 6'3" and 209 pounds.

Pettis was also drafted because he at the tools to play each wide receiver position, which greatly increases the chance of him earning playing time.

Expect him to see the field in 2011 and expect his playing to increase towards the end of the season, but don’t expect any major contributions, at least not yet.

Greg Salas

Salas and Pettis are very similar prospects who were drafted for almost the exact same reasons.

Like Pettis, Salas has decent size at 6’1” and 210 pounds, but he lacks dangerous speed. However, he has dependable hands and is capable of playing each wide receiver position.

It’s clear that the Rams drafted guys like Pettis and Salas because they feel they don’t need an elite receiver to excel.

They feel that they can get by with just surrounding Bradford with multiple targets that are reliable, but not overwhelming, which is basically the same strategy that has been used recently by the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots.

Mardy Gilyard

Despite being only a fourth round pick in 2010, fans still had a lot of high expectations for Mardy Gilyard last season, especially since he was such an electric player in college at Cincinnati.

However, Gilyard barely saw the field last year after he struggled to learn the playbook and he only recorded six catches for a modest 63 yards all season long.

Gilyard has mostly been an afterthought, but recent training camp reports have suggested that he’s showing up ready to play, so there’s a chance that he can turn it around.

However, it’s still early in training camp, so there’s time for things to change. Also, there’s a lot of competition at the position this year, so nothing is going to be guaranteed for Gilyard, no matter how regenerated he is.

Gilyard is ineligible for the practice squad, so it's do-or-die time for him this preseason. 

Dominique Curry

Dominique Curry joined the Rams in 2010 as an undrafted rookie with promising potential.

His size (6’2” 224 pounds) and strength makes the coaching staff hopeful that he’ll be able to contribute at some point in his career.

Actually, he was already contributing as a rookie, just not as a receiver—he was a valuable asset on special teams throughout the preseason and for part of the regular season.

His season was cut short after Week 3 in 2010 due to a torn ACL , which is particularly unfortunate because the Rams had multiple wide receivers go down with injuries in 2010, so he would have been given a chance to show off his skills as a receiver.

The Rams will try to make room on the roster for Curry, they would love to have him on special teams if nothing else, but the most likely scenario is a trip to the practice squad.     

Which Rams Rookie Is Most Likely to Contribute the Most in 2011?

After the 2009 NFL draft, the hope was that offensive tackle Jason Smith would live up to his $33 million contract as soon as possible by becoming the most productive rookie for the Rams, who spent the No.2 overall pick of the draft on him.

Instead, Smith was sidelined for eight games due to his struggles with a concussion.

The 35th pick of the 2009 draft, linebacker James Laurinaitis, was the one who eventually stepped up and contributed the most as a rookie.

In 2010, No.1 overall pick Sam Bradford took every snap of the season for the team at quarterback, and he did a phenomenal job in the process. Also, Rodger Saffold, who was the No.33 overall pick, started all 16 games as the left-tackle.

The Rams selected eight new players throughout the seven rounds of the 2011 NFL draft, so which of those players will be the one to step up for the team during the upcoming season?

Here is the list of the newly drafted players, who are ranked in order of their likeliness to be the most productive rookie by percentage.

Lance Kendricks TE (Round 2, No. 47 Overall)
Top Rookie Probability: 28%

"Tight End" describes Kendricks' roster spot, as he'll be much more than a tight end for the Rams. His versatility will allow him to line up as a wide receiver, catch passes out of the backfield, as well as out of the traditional tight end position. His size and speed also make him an overall more talented player than the other two receivers drafted (Austin Pettis, Greg Salas), and since the Rams are desperate for offensive weapons, Kendricks is practically guaranteed playing time.

Robert Quinn DE (Round 1, No.14 Overall) 
Top Rookie Probability: 26%

Obviously the fans would love to see the flashy first round pick as the next superstar for the team, especially as a rookie, but there are several things that may prevent that. Defensive end Robert Quinn could very well be the best rookie of 2011 given that he's an extremely talented athlete. However, Quinn will have to beat out veteran James Hall for the starting position, and he'll also be competing with second-year player George Selvie for playing time. Also, Quinn has been out of football since 2009 due to being suspended by the NCAA in 2010.

Austin Pettis WR (Round 3, No.78 Overall)
Top Rookie Probability: 15%

Austin Pettis plays a position that was very weak for the Rams last season, but with Donnie Avery and Mark Clayton returning from injury, Pettis will find himself in the middle of a fierce training camp battle. If he doesn't grasp the offense immediately, then he will lose playing time to a receiver that does. However, Pettis is a big receiver with sure hands, which is exactly what the Rams have been looking for. If Pettis is on the field, then Sam Bradford will get him the ball.

Jermale Hines S (Round 5, No.158)
Top Rookie Probability: 11%

Jermale Hines has several factors working in his favor that could make him into a very pleasant surprise for the Rams. The team just lost safety O.J. Atogwe to the Redskins, which leaves a void in the secondary. That gives a player like Hines a great opportunity to make an impact as a rookie, but his luck doesn't end there. Given that he weighs around 220 pounds, there has been speculation that he could possibly play outside-linebacker, which is a position that's certainly a need for the Rams. However, Hines is a raw player and it may take time to develop him at either position.

Greg Salas WR (Round 4, No.112)
Top Rookie Probability: 10%

Greg Salas and Hines are practically equal as far as their likelihood of being the team's top rookie in 2011. Like Hines, Salas has some things working in his favor, but it's mostly going to be an uphill battle. The Rams are weak at receiver, and Salas is a big red-zone target with solid hands. There is no doubt that the coaching staff wants a reliable receiver like Salas out on the field, but he'll be competing against Danny Amendola, Danario Alexander, Donnie Avery, Mark Clayton, Brandon Gibson, Austin Pettis, Dominique Curry and Mardy Gilyard. It's never easy for a fourth round talent to beat out multiple players for playing time.

Jabara Williams LB (Round 7, No.228)
Top Rookie Probability: 5%

Jabara Williams, like any seventh round pick, will struggle to make the team. If he does make the team, then the Rams will certainly expect him to contribute on special teams, but given Williams' position he has a better shot at contributing than the other seventh round picks. The Rams have very little talent at outside-linebacker other than veteran Na'il Diggs, so it wouldn't be outrageous if Williams earned pretty regular playing time at some point in the season.

Mikail Baker CB (Round 7, No.216) 
Top Rookie Probability: 3%

The Rams already have their starting cornerbacks (Bradley Fletcher, Ron Bartell), so Mikail Baker will not be getting regular playing time on defense unless a severe case of the injury bug hits Rams Park. Something that gives Baker a shot at playing time is his experience with returning kicks. General Manager Billy Devaney does not seem overly excited about Baker's return skills, so they didn't draft Baker for that role, but if the regular kick returner gets injured then Baker could find himself contributing in the return game.

Jonathan Nelson CB (Round 7, No.229)
Top Rookie Probability: 2%

The Rams drafted Jonathan Nelson to contribute on special teams and provide some depth at cornerback. He won't see regular playing time on defense, but anythings possible. Perhaps after years of development he can become a player capable of starting, but he won't do it as a rookie.