http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/1225 Recent articles about Alex Barron en-us At long last, Football has returned. On Friday the Rams open up with their first full contact practice in preparation for the 2008 season. As those of us amerced in Rams fandom have become accustomed over the past few years, a plethora of question marks are hanging over the blue and gold as camp opens. Before the Rams marketplace opens, I offer up my advice on whose stock you should buy, and whose will start falling faster then the Dow Jones. Alex Barron: Buy The Rams 05 first rounder has been disappointing to this point. (you see what I did there, that was a false start.) Barron has struggled to make the most of his size and athleticism to the extent that the Rams brass was expecting when they made him the 19th overall pick. His accumulation of penalties has at times been maddening. However, one thing Barron has yet to really have is real competition at right tackle. Well arrived it has in 3rd round selection John Greco. Greco is expected to push Barron for the starting job from the beginning, and maybe the fact that #70 will have to look over his shoulder for the first time in his NFL career will light a spark in the typically placid Florida State alum. Barron is approaching the end of his rookie contract, so the time to step up is now. I feel like the loss of job security could be just what he needs to light that fire and help him turn the corner. Otherwise Greco will take over responsibility on the right side, and Barron will have to find somewhere else to jump offside's. Dante Hall: Sell In the not too distant past, Hall was feared league wide as the "human joystick" however; a season plagued by injuries has greatly diminished Hall's effectiveness as a return man. For the first time in a while, the Rams have a few viable options in the kick return game, options that don't turn 30 this season as Hall will. Rookies Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, and veterans Marques Hagans and Derek Stanley, are all in the mix. In a year in which the Rams receiving core will be shaped for the next few seasons, it makes sense for the team to go young and stay young. With Tory Holt posturing for a Carolina end to his career once his Rams contract is up, it becomes that much more important to groom the young players that may have to step up to fill the void in the mot so distant future. Youth is the name of the game now, and Hall is no longer the weapon he once was. Look for him to be a cut around Labor day. Chris Long: Buy I have already grown tired of the panning of the pick by Rams fans that were in love with Glen Dorcy. Take your could of should haves and move to Western Missouri if you are that sold on Dorcy. Long got his deal done in time to not miss a snap of training camp and he continues to say all the right things. Look for him to step in from the start and assert himself as a leader on and off the field. The Rams d-line is slowly improving, and a healthy Adam Kariker next to him won't hurt a bit. I expect good things out of the combo of Long Kariker and Ryan. And while we are on the subject of Clifton Ryan look for him to explode this season. He showed flashes last year, and I look for him to be a force inside. Mark Setterstrom: Sell Setterstrom was a guy I loved coming out of the draft, but he has shown thus far that he can't stay healthy. The biggest red flag for me is his short-lived move to center earlier this off-season. What this says to me is that either, (a) the Rams staff is incompetent, wasting time working Setterstrom at center before moving him back to guard, (not out of the question) or (b) Setterstrom wasn't impressing and the coaches were looking for a spark out of Setterstrom. Regardless the competition inside the ram's line should be tuff, with Jacob bell expected to hold down the left guard spot, there will be a few guys duking it out for the right side position. Early word is that the coaches like Roy Schuening quite a bit, and I was sort of impressed by the work put in by Brandon Gorin last season, doing an adequate job starting at right tackle just days after being signed off the street. Unfortunately, I feel like Settrstrom will have to be looking for employment elsewhere come September. Randy McMichael: Buy All signs point towards a significantly increased role for McMichael in the offence this year. (Short of falling asleep on the bus and missing the game, his role couldn't be decreased much more) McMichael was very recently one of the top tite ends in football, and with the arrival of Al Saunders in St. Louis, good things should be happening in the passing game where McMichael is concerned. Look for a bigger impact to be made by 2006 2nd round pick Joe Klopfenstein as well. (if not he is in danger of being moved next off-season) A couple more names to watch: Tim McGarigle, loved this guy coming out of Northwestern, could be time for him to step up and prove that he deserved to be kept after spending most of last year's camp hurt Jonathan Wade, the corner position is starting to get crowded with young guys in St. Louis, Wade is going to have to show something in Wisconsin if he is going to hold on to his current gig That's all for now, Friday marks my first opportunity to be proven completely wrong. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:15:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294676 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/294676 A look at the Rams' offensive line prospects for 2008 and its recovery from the disaster of 2007. Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:41:55 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/273667 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/273667 This in depth analysis of the offensive line includes the projected starters for the upcoming season, statistics and injuries from the past season, an overview of players on the line and an outlook for the 2008 season. Fri, 09 May 2008 11:32:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265198 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/265198 2005 had its share of stars in the 1st round but also had a handful of busts check to see where your teams pick did............. 1. Alex Smith, quarterback, 49ers: When the first overall pick is competing three years later with Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan for the starting job, that's by definition a BUST. 2. Ronnie Brown, running back, Dolphins: After a so-so first year, Brown has been solid. A torn ACL derailed his opportunity to have a strong third year. Though he hasn't lived up to the billing of the No. 2 overall pick, we're not yet ready to call him a bust. (But we could be after 2008.) 3. Braylon Edwards, receiver, Browns: Edward is becoming one of the best receivers in the league. Clearly, not a bust. 4. Cedric Benson, running back, Bears: He's been a disappointment on the field, and his arrest conjures memories of past incidents in college. Without question, he's a BUST. 5. Cadillac Williams, running back, Buccaneers: Williams made a huge splash as a rookie, but can't stay healthy. After rupturing a patellar tendon in 2007, he might not play again. If he does, he might never be the same. Based on his top-five selection, he's a BUST. 6. Pacman Jones, cornerback, Titans: BUST 7. Troy Williamson, receiver, Vikings: We once tried to throw Williamson a compliment, but he dropped that, too. BUST. 8. Antrel Rolle, cornerback, Cardinals: When a cornerback might be shifted to safety at only age 25, it's not because he's a great cornerback. BUST. 9. Carlos Rogers, cornerback, Redskins: He's on the path to being declared a bust. We'll give him one more year. 10. Mike Williams, receiver, Lions: Maybe he wouldn't have been a BUST if the Lions had made him an offensive lineman. 11. DeMarcus Ware, linebacker, Cowboys: A 2006 Pro Bowl + a 2007 Pro Bowl = not a bust. 12. Shawne Merriman, linebacker, Chargers: He could still be a bust if he gets suspended again for steroids (or blown up on a regular basis by a pint-sized running back); for now, though, Merriman is clearly not a bust. 13. Jammal Brown, tackle, Saints: The Pro Bowler in 2006 slipped a bit last year, and the Saints were rumored to be shopping him. Still, he's not a bust. 14. Thomas Davis, safety/linebacker, Panthers: He's not spectacular, but he started 16 games in 2007. Not a bust. 15. Derrick Johnson, linebacker, Chiefs: Johnson made a splash as a rookie and hasn't taken it quite to the next level in two years since, but he's not a bust. 16. Travis Johnson, defensive tackle, Texans: When the biggest hit of your career is one that you unknowingly put on a quarterback's head with your knee, you might be a redneck. And a BUST. 17. David Pollack, linebacker, Bengals: Though he was on his way to becoming a great player, a neck injury ended his career early in his second season. Unfortunately, he must be declared a BUST. 18. Erasmus James, defensive end, Vikings: Knee problems have slowed his development, but barring injury to Jared Allen and Ray Edwards (and maybe Brian Robison), James won't be a starter in his fourth season. BUST. 19. Alex Barron, offensive tackle, Rams: The Rams wouldn't have been dreaming of Jake Long sliding to No. 2 if they thought that Barron was the long-term solution on the left side, or the right. BUST. 20. Marcus Spears, defensive end, Cowboys: Yeah, he has been a three-year starter. But he was rumored to be on the trading block earlier this year, and his impact hasn't reflected his stature as one of the top 20 players in the draft. BUST. 21. Matt Jones, receiver, Jaguars: This much-hyped quarterback-turned-receiver isn't very good, and doesn't seem to care. The Jags would have been wise to let him play quarterback — for another team. BUST. 22. Mark Clayton, receiver, Ravens: The thinking in NFL circles is that a player destined to be a high-end receiver performs like one by his third NFL season. For his third season, Clayton had 49 catches for 531 yards, and no touchdowns. BUST. 23. Fabian Washington, cornerback, Raiders: Being traded for a fourth-round pick after only three seasons automatically qualifies him for BUST status. 24. Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, Packers: He has looked good when he's gotten a chance to play, but the jury is out on whether he's a bust. Get back to us in a year. 25. Jason Campbell, quarterback, Redskins: Campbell is on his way to becoming a solid starter, and could evolve into one of the better signal-callers in the conference. Not a bust. 26. Chris Spencer, center, Seahawks: If he'd been taken higher, Spencer might qualify for strong consideration as a bust. But he started every game in 2005, and the Seahawks have gotten decent value out of him. Close, but not a bust. 27. Roddy White, receiver, Falcons: White was on his way to being a bust after his first two years. He broke out in 2007, which coincidentally was his first season without catching one-hoppers from Mike Vick. Not a bust. 28. Luis Castillo, defensive tackle, Chargers: Solid defensive linemen despite some injuries. Not a bust. 29. Marlin Jackson, defensive back, Colts: Steady but unspectacular Tampa Two corner. He might be another Jason David in a defense that requires him to cover wideouts down the field. But his performance allowed the Colts let guys like David walk away. Not a bust. 30. Heath Miller, tight end, Virginia: The Steelers arguably reached on a guy who wasn't healthy in the months leading up to the draft. They ended up with a solid tight end. Not a bust. 31. Mike Patterson, defensive tackle, Eagles: The Philly chapter of PFT Planet will revolt if we were to call Patterson a bust. Not a bust. 32. Logan Mankins, offensive lineman, Patriots: Solid contributor on the offensive line. Besides, we can't call anyone who paid $7,500 for the privilege of punching a guy in the crotch a bust. Thu, 08 May 2008 07:30:49 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264689 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264689 Now that the Rams' season is over, we can examine which players didn't quite live up to expectations. Release them, trade them, do whatever, but these guys should no longer be suiting up in the blue-and-gold. Mr. Trump, if you would: "You're fired!" Sun, 06 Jan 2008 10:06:10 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/61562 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/61562