Rams new coaching staff wants a legit TE

[Joe Carcuss 0]

St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that one of the teams top priorities is to scrap the duck and chuck and add a legit, play making TE. Considering all of the decent free agents are already signed, it makes sense that they would have interest in Davis with their 1st pick. I doubt he will make it out of the top 6 so they would have to move up to get him. Any Rams homers have somemore insight on this?

[Jarvis Basnight 119]

Not a Rams fan here, but this seems simple to me.......Take best DB available in the 1st and there will still be a great receiving TE left in the 2nd.....(Lewis, Byrd).

 

They'd get a legit TE without wasting the pick in the 1st.

[football_scooter 0]

Not a Rams fan here, but this seems simple to me.......Take best DB available in the 1st and there will still be a great receiving TE left in the 2nd.....(Lewis, Byrd).

 

They'd get a legit TE without wasting the pick in the 1st.

While fundamentally I agree that there are TEs to be had later, many, experts included, would not see Vernon Davis as a "wasted pick". Hardly.

 

Everyone's all gaga over Reggie Bush's 4.3 40 time.

 

It's worth noting that Vernon Davis is considered an elite pick now because he ran a 4.40 and has the size of a TGonz. He's an above average receiver and set weight lifting records in college. He'll create mismatches wherever he lines up, and with a competent QB like Bulger throwing him the ball, he could be an instant fantasy monster in an already hi-po offense.

 

he may well be the 2nd fastest player in the draft and is should be very competent NFL TE.

 

A lot of people are pointing to the depth at the position, but let's be real here and not discount the wheels, hands and strength combo this kid has. With some training, he'll become a better blocker and could well be one of the best players to come out of the 2006 draft.

 

Davis is a junior tight end who came out early for the draft -- even though there are so many very good tight ends available, he is the best of them all and has made the right decision. He is an elite athlete with the hands, explosiveness and playing speed to make an immediate impact as a receiver and will force defensive mismatches consistently because linebackers lack the speed to cover him in tight man-to-man and he can out-muscle safeties who try to cover him. He is not as competitive or aggressive as a blocker as you'd like, but he has the athleticism and playing strength to be a good blocker when he competes hard on every block. Some teams will downgrade him due to his inconsistent blocking ability, but he has the receiving skills to make the impact of Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez early in his career. His athleticism and smarts will enable him to line up all over the field on offense to create mismatches and he will make a ton of big catches.

 

Davis is an elite athlete with the explosiveness, playing speed and hands to consistently make big plays as a receiver. Despite running upright in routes, he consistently gets in and out of cuts in a flash, bursts away from the defender to get separation and can stretch the field deep. He avoid the linebacker jam easily and explodes into his route after defeating the jam. He has the hands to reach out and pluck the ball away from his body very easily. His agility, playing speed and strength help him consistently make plays running with the ball after the catch. When he blocks aggressively he can consistently eliminate his man from the play -- he can get to the second level fast, delivers a good initial blow and when he stays after block, he eliminates his man.

 

Davis is an excellent athlete for a tight end and actually looks like a receiver running routes and running after the catch. He has elite foot quickness which combine with his anticipation of the snap to let him explode off the ball into his route. He accelerates to full speed in a flash and has the top-end playing speed to stretch the field and can get separation deep down the seam. His athleticism enables him to run very quick routes and he consistently can explode out of his cuts to get separation easily. His quick feet, agility and hand use help him to consistently fight thru the linebacker's jam easily and he can avoid in-route bumps. His excellent hands combine with his body control, coordination and concentration for him to adjust and make the great catches seem routine -- he really plucks the high pass remarkably well. He is a quick and explosive runner after the catch with the speed to make big plays. He has the natural flexibility to bend his knees and block with leverage, but more often than not, he stays upright and becomes a positional run blocker.

 

No guarentees of course, but he'd certainly not be a "wasted pick" in my opinion.

[Jarvis Basnight 119]

While fundamentally I agree that there are TEs to be had later, many, experts included, would not see Vernon Davis as a "wasted pick". Hardly.

 

Everyone's all gaga over Reggie Bush's 4.3 40 time.

 

It's worth noting that Vernon Davis is considered an elite pick now because he ran a 4.40 and has the size of a TGonz. He's an above average receiver and set weight lifting records in college. He'll create mismatches wherever he lines up, and with a competent QB like Bulger throwing him the ball, he could be an instant fantasy monster in an already hi-po offense.

 

he may well be the 2nd fastest player in the draft and is should be very competent NFL TE.

 

A lot of people are pointing to the depth at the position, but let's be real here and not discount the wheels, hands and strength combo this kid has. With some training, he'll become a better blocker and could well be one of the best players to come out of the 2006 draft.

No guarentees of course, but he'd certainly not be a "wasted pick" in my opinion.

 

 

 

Not a wasted pick IF he dropped to them at 11 but he won't. They'd have to currently move up to 5th, give away way too much of the future in draft picks, and pay a TE top 5 money. At what point is it a waste to you?

[Joe Carcuss 0]

If the Rams veiw Davis as a potential T. Gonzalez/A. Gates type TE, it would be worth it to give up next years 1st rounder to get him. Put a guy like that on the field with Holt, Bruce, and Curtis w/ Jackson in teh one back set and that offense could be damn near unstopable as long as Bulger stays healthy. Hell, Gus Forgot could even put up nice numbers with that line up!