If I had to describe Steven Jackson to someone who never saw him play.. This is the clip I would show youtu.be/UK2A7cd5Wy8 #Warrior #Heart

— seattlerams (@seattlerams) March 14, 2013

Steven Jackson is no longer a Ram. The next time he crashes through a crowd of would-be tacklers, the paint he trades with those unlucky defenders will no longer be flecked with blue and gold. The next time he posterizes an A-gap rusher, the quarterback he protects will no longer be Sam Bradford. 

The next time the lights dim in the Edward Jones Dome and the Rams players line up to race out of the tunnel, the dreadlocked beast wearing #39 will no longer be leading the charge. 

While the pre-draft offseason is always a kindler of hopes and optimism, the losses of Steven Jackson and (to a slightly lesser extent) Danny Amendola leave huge craters that must be filled. Both were emblematic of the Rams, personnifying the team's heart as well as its flaws. Neither scored enough, neither won enough, but neither ever left anything on the field. 

It's difficult to encapsulate the legacy that he leaves behind here in Saint Louis, but it's fair to say that the Rams will have a significantly different identity when they step on the field in 2013. Perhaps Sam Bradford will manage a breakthrough with more offensive weight placed on his shoulders. Or, perhaps the young offense will fail to gel and cede  the team's full identity to Jeff Fisher's cadre of punishers on defense. 

Until Bradford and the offense rise or fall in his absence, Jackson's legacy in St Louis won't be fully defined. But Mike Sando might have come closest so far: 

Jackson represented what was right with a too frequently dysfunctional Rams culture over most of the past decade. He also provided a high-profile link to a painful era in Rams history. Every victory he enjoyed came in the context of the pain that had come before.

Now, Jackson has the opportunity to pile on victories with a loaded offense in Atlanta. Each victory he enjoys there, perhaps even a championship, will be measured here in St Louis by the context of what comes next for the Rams. 

There’s a new chef in town.

By acquiring former Titan TE Jared Cook on the first day of free agency, the Rams may have very well signed the most versatile and able-bodied weapon available.  Les Snead has stressed getting weapons for Sam Bradford, but he also mentioned that the only way to measure production is on the field.  New Patriot Danny Amendola and new Seahawk Percy Harvin have loads of talent, but how many games will they actually play? In Cook, the Rams acquired both raw ability and durability.

Rams fans desperately yearn for the glory days of the Greatest Show on Turf and its high-octane offense, but there is a new recipe cooking in the mound city.  In a league dependent on creating offensive mismatches, Cook will bring some much-needed flavor. Perhaps this improving offense will not have to depend on the leg of Greg Zuerlein to generate points.  There aren’t many linebackers who can keep up with Cook’s 4.49 speed, and there aren’t many defensive backs who want to tackle his 6’5”, 240+ lb. frame.   I’m not saying Cook is the red zone threat that we desperately need, but he will definitely help Sam and the rest of the offense get there. 

Not that anyone reads it, but we have a brief writer's guide here at RamsHerd. Right at the top, it says:

We aren’t a magazine or a newspaper, but we can follow a basic journalistic code:

• be unique
• check your facts
• check your spelling
• and don’t rip people off.

That was my attempt at setting some kind of standard to stave off the worst of online bloggerly behavior, and to let the (mostly) young and (mostly) inexperienced writers that volunteer their fingers here know that I actually expect something of the old code from them.

Honestly, I feel like I shouldn't even have to say stuff like this. But let's face it, the internet has succeeded in almost totally destroying the believability of the written word.

Oh, as a publishing engine, it can't be topped. More people can publish more words in less time than at any time in human history. (That isn't a compliment, internet.) But as a "knowledge engine," it both sucks and blows.

As online readers, we are surrounded by verbal garbage, as commentary and veiled advertisement supplant fact-gathering and reporting as the primary function of media. Increasingly, our job as readers isn't to consume, it's to reject. We have to weigh on a constant basis the credibility of each source that provides each bit  of new information. And our own credibility is judged on a constant basis with each utterance, each post, each tweet and retweet. 

This is the central conflict that fueled my colleague Paul's diatribe yesterday on Twitter and "the death of journalism." It's an enduringly valid point, especially in the fact-starved run-up to the NFL Draft. 

But we, as a site, got a key part of it wrong. 

I have written several articles about the wide receivers available in the draft.  In each, I have suggested that several of the options will be available for the Rams in the second round at pick 46.  That suggestion was made without a review of the other teams drafting and was primarily based on the esoteric idea that a specific player has a specific value (mid 2^nd round pick).  In reality, need often skews the previously suggested “value” of a player.  Therefore, I decided to look at the draft order and see how many wide receivers might disappear before pick 46. 

To my utter amazement and surprise, I forgot about the Jets.  If there is any team that needs a wide receiver more than the Rams, it is the Jets.  They have already failed at drafting a quarterback early in the draft, and this crop of QBs fails to impress.  I would give away my first born if they draft a quarterback at pick 9.  I also feel secure is stating the Jets will take one wide receiver with either pick 9 or pick 39.  One down.

Miami needs a wide receiver, but I have difficulty believing they will take one with pick 12.  If Cordarelle Patterson is available, they might stretch for him at 12.  If they go defense with pick 12, then I say Miami is a 2-1 pick to take a wide receiver in the second round at pick 42.  Two down.

The Rams come up at Pick 16 and 22.  We all know that they could go wide receiver.  At the same time, they are just as likely to go with a safety, a tackle, a guard or a tight end based on the best player available theory.  Between pick 16 and 22 are Dallas, the Giants, Chicago, and Cincinnati.  I don’t see them taking a wide receiver. 

Forgetting any specific team, I have to believe that one of the very good teams between pick 22 and 32 will take Tavon Austin.  He is simply too talented for a team with a legit number 1 receiver to pass up.    In particular, I am looking at New England coveting Tavon Austin.  Three Down.

Round 2

Round 2 is even more disconcerting as a Rams fan.  Jacksonville could use a receiver, but they already have Cecil Shorts, Justin Blackmon and many other needs.  Kansas City just traded away the 34^th pick to San Francisco.  They have very few needs and they have a ton of picks.  I seem them going with a BPA pick, and that could very well be DeAndre Hopkins and/or Justin Hunter.  However, for now, I will assume they take another position.

The Rams are safe with Philadelphia, Detroit, Cincinnati and Arizona at picks 35 through 38.  We also already addressed the Jets at pick 39 above.  After 39, things get interesting.  Tennessee, Buffalo, Miami, Tampa Bay, Carolina and San Diego all could theoretically take a wide receiver.  Miami was accounted for above.  Tampa Bay just invested big money in Vincent Jackson, but one is never enough.  San Diego picked up the oft injured Danario Alexander last year and actually used him.  Clearly, they should look for depth. Buffalo has Steve Johnson as their number 1: enough said.  Carolina has an elderly Steve Smith and little else.  I feel safe in saying that two will disappear at picks 40 through 45.  Five Down. 

In reality, things never go according to the draft order.  If the Rams do not take a wide receiver with picks 16 and 22, then any team behind them has to know they will take one with pick 46.  Given, the chance of a trade up, San Francisco as a wild card, and other team needs, I will suggest that 6 wide receivers could be gone by the time the Rams pick at 46.

Take away your favorite 6 and see what is left.  On my list, I am left with Da’Rick Rogers, Markus Wheaton, and Terrance Williams.  Are you comfortable with those options?

Jim Thomas just reported that Steven Jackson has elected to test free agency, saying goodbye to a guaranteed $7 million from the Rams in hopes of one more contract as a starting RB ... and to potentially increase his chances of a deep playoff run. 

The open question is which contending team might look at this veteran RB and see him as "the missing piece," particularly in a passer-dominated league. Thomas brings up the Atlanta Falcons right away, as they desperately need to upgrade over Michael Turner, but mentions them only as one of several likely suitors. 

The RamsHerd writers weigh in on Jackson's value: where do you see him playing in 2013? (If not in St Louis, will you root for him there?) 

With the 39^th pick of the 2012 NFL Draft and the recent acquisition of Titus Young (now released), there is no question that Jeff Fisher will take a chance on players who have “character concerns.”  Gone are the four pillars and in comes the talent.  Janoris Jenkins had several issues entering the draft but Les Snead and Fisher did their homework and the Rams were rewarded with a sensational rookie year.

There is no doubt in my mind that Snead and company are targeting impact players that might be overlooked by some scouts because of “character concerns” and I plan to analyze these types of players in my “Red Flag Player Profiles” and how they might contribute to the Rams successes in the future.  Feel free to tweet me any suggestions @micheros_ and I’d gladly check those players out.

First off in the series is the “Honey Badger”, Tyrann Mathieu. 

The Crime

On October 19, 2011, Mathieu was suspended for one game, along with two other teammates for violating LSU’s drug policy.  Strike one for Mathieu, although he was able to remain sober (at least not get caught) the remainder of the season earning the Chuck Bednarik Award, as well as propel LSU into the National Championship game.  Mathieu also gained serious consideration for the Heisman Trophy award and seemed primed for a big 2012 season.

August 10, 2012, LSU Head Coach Les Miles announced that Mathieu would be dismissed from the football team due to a violation of team rules.  Miles would not clarify the reason for dismissal but reports said they were a result of repeated drug test failures. 

Uh-Oh, strike two Honey Badger.  To save face, Mathieu entered a drug rehab program in Houston, Texas a week later.  He also expressed interest in returning to the program in 2013.  Sounds good Tyrann, too bad this is a production based business with most of the “producing” done on the field.

Things look good for Mathieu as he was able to enroll in classes for the fall semester, but he was later arrested on October 25, 2012 for possession of marijuana.  Strike three and you are a player with “character concerns,” someone that NFL teams are wary off adding to their teams.

If you read my prior article on wide receivers in the draft, you know that I believe an upgrade at WR is more important than an upgrade at any other position.  I am also a firm believer that you can’t judge a wide receiver on numbers alone).  Nevertheless, the numbers are not irrelevant.  Scouts look at the numbers to double check their findings from film review.  Thus, here are the numbers from the combine for the best wide receivers in the draft.

* Combine record

I have this list in order, based on my opinion.  While I have Austin as the 3rd best wide receiver, I don’t believe he is the 3rd best for the Rams.  I readily acknowledge his skills and potential impact in the NFL.  At the same time, I don’t believe he will have that impact on the Rams.  We need a number 1 wide receiver before we can get a luxury “joker” type wide receiver.  A joker is a guy who has something unique about him that causes matchup problems.  Tavon Austin has unique speed and quickness, but what good is that if he is the guy the other team double teams.  I also see potential health and durability problems if the undersized “joker” is your number 1.  5’8, 174 pounds may work in college, but it won’t last long as a number 1 option in the NFL. 

I really wanted to see Keenan Allen run at the combine.  Now, we will only know pro-day numbers, and it is always difficult to compare numbers from a pro-day to the combine.  Keenan Allen stated in an interview that he is shooting for a 4.40 forty time.  I have to believe he will get that at the pro-day.  I hope we also get a vertical result and 20-yard shuttle time. 

I still believe Keenan Allen is the best wide receiver over all, at this time, in the draft.  Patterson may turn out to be better in the long wrong, but that is a “may”.  Given his surprise “knee” issue at the combine, I have concerns whether the Rams can draft Keenan Allen at 16.  A PCL knee problem that occurred in October should have been resolved by now.  I suspect the PCL “tweak” is really a control issue by the agent.  He wanted his client to perform only in a situation where the player has control.  If true, that bothers me.  A true competitor should want to prove his worth at all times.  True competitors compete, they don’t hide. The combine is awesome because the NFL controls the variables, and the numbers are comparable. I will wait for the pro day to see how this “knee” issue resolves and to see the results before I state a final opinion on Keenan Allen.

The primary issue for most Rams fans will be whether Keenan Allen is that much better than the options that will be available at pick 46.  Furthermore, what about the other options at pick 16 and 22 (the best TE, a starting offensive tackle, a stud guard, or a starting safety).  Arguments over this pick are fair. Please let me know your thoughts.