Washington Redskins Trade Up to #2 in the NFL Draft

The two most dynamic players in the NFL Draft this year are commonly considered to be Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. They are both quarterbacks and coveted commodities to have. This comes as know surprise as football has been transformed today into a sport that hinges on the quarterback position. Having a great quarterback puts you at least on the radar for the playoffs. The Indianapolis Colts made a big ripple effect on the draft when they released veteran quarterback Peyton Manning (You can read my take on where Manning should play next year here: http://fireawayblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/where-should-peyton-manning-play-next.html).

This meant that Peyton along with Luck and Griffin are the best available quarterback options. With many teams having a need in that department, phones began to ring quickly. Many of those calls were heading to St. Louis Rams. The Rams were the owners of the #2 overall pick in the draft. Everyone expects the Colts to pick Luck, but Griffin would still be available at this pick. The Rams, however, don't need another quarterback as they are already committed to Sam Bradford. This meant they could afford to trade down, but still ask a high price because so many teams wanted Griffin.

Much of the trade talk hinged on where Manning would decide to play next season. Reports are out that he quickly told the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns that he was not interested (I wasn't surprised at all). This meant they were the teams pushing hardest to get a trade agreed upon with the Rams. The Redskins apparently won the bidding war, but paid the heavy price for the #2 overall pick. In return, the Rams received the #7 overall pick in this year's draft, the Redskins' 2nd round pick in this draft, and the Redskins' 1st round picks for 2013 and 2014. So that is three 1st round picks and a second round pick. That will certainly help the Rams in their rebuilding process. You can read more about that in my blog post I wrote after they hired Jeff Fisher as head coach: http://fireawayblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/st-louis-looks-to-ram-their-way-into.html.

Now, let's consider what this means for the Redskins. They gave up a lot. There is no way around that. But they got a quarterback they believed could be a franchise quarterback in Robert Griffin III. No one can question his athleticism, but how good can he really be? I am not really sure. For that we will just have to see. But what you can expect now is the Redskins to be big players in the upcoming free agent market. They have about $40 million in cap space to use. They should look to bolster their offensive line, bring a running back (possibly resign Tim Hightower if he is healthy), and add a receiver or two for Griffin. They should also be looking to pay linebacker London Fletcher the money he wants to remain the captain of their defense. Washington may have overpaid for Griffin, but what do you expect, after all it is the Redskins. They just better hope he turns out to be the answer at quarterback.

St. Louis Looks to Ram Their Way into Prominence Once Again

Jeff Fisher says he is ready for the challenge of turning around the St. Louis Rams. Fisher appreciates what the team's ownership is trying to do and he said that "My decision was very, very simple. It was based on a shared collective vision in restoring this franchise to a place of significance. It was that vision that made my decision very, very easy." Fisher inherits a Rams team that has finished 3-13 or worse four of the past five years. However, the one other year (2010), the team finished 7-9 and was a Week 17 win away from making the playoffs.

Fisher took a break from coaching during the 2011 season after a 17 year coaching stint, the longest-tenured head coach, with the Tennessee Titans. During his time in Tennessee, the Titans won three division titles, made six playoff appearances, and fell one-yard short of forcing overtime in Super Bowl XXXIV against his new organization, the St. Louis Rams. Fisher hopes to bring the same time of success to a once proud Rams franchise.

Many people thought the Rams were a team on the rise following their turnaround in 2010, but 2011 was a total flop for the team. They finished 2-14 due in large part to a tough schedule and a number of key injuries. The most obvious one was to second-year quarterback Sam Bradford. Bradford came off a great 2010, in which he won NFL Rookie of the Year. In 2011, Bradford regressed in many experts' eyes as he threw only six touchdown passes. However, he was never fully healthy for the majority of the season due to a lingering high ankle sprain.

The first priority for Fisher is to hire his coordinators. There are reports out already that Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has agreed to the same role in Fisher's new staff. This comes as no surprise Williams and Fisher are close friends from their time together in St. Louis. As for the offensive coordinator position, Fisher has reportedly interviewed former New York Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and former Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson. It is important that Fisher hires someone who will be able to aid Bradford in his development.

Bradford isn't the only cornerstone piece the franchise is looking to build upon. Running back Steven Jackson is showing no signs of wearing down. Jackson is coming off his seventh consecutive 1,000 yard rushing season. Two of the Rams' young defensive stars are defensive end Chris Long and linebacker James Laurinaitis. Long has become one of the NFL's top pass rushers, while Laurinaitis has led the team in tackles in all three of his seasons.

Additionally, the Rams have the second overall pick in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft. While the team has many possible openings, I expect them to take USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil. The Rams could use the upgrade in protection for Bradford and help in the rushing attack. Kalil would provide both. It will be interesting to see what Fisher will do with the offseason decisions he has to make. He chose the Rams because he liked their vision. Now, it is time to see what his coaching vision will do for the team.

St. Louis Cardinals Help Inspire Rams to Upset Win

The St. Louis Rams were 0-6 entering Sunday. Rising star Sam Bradford was out of the lineup with an injury, so for the second week in a row they had to turn to A.J. Feeley at quarterback.

Feeley hadn't one a game since 2004 and playing with a team like the Rams, his odds seemed mighty slim. After all, his team was going up against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

During the pregame ceremony, the St. Louis Cardinals were recognized, and they showed off their trophy. I am sure this and a chance to watch Brees work his magic were the reasons many fans attended the game.

Feeley played a decent game, but then Steven Jackson decided to reveal some of his old self. Jackson rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns. It was his first 100 yard rushing day in three years.

Brees and the Saints were coming off a annihilation of the Indianapolis Colts last week, by the score of 62-7. However, the Rams defense stepped up their play and sacked Brees six times. The Saints didn't even score an offensive touchdown until their was ten minutes remaining in the game!

How did the Saints manage to go from scoring 62 points one week to scoring none on offense for 7/8 of their next game? I am not sure, but they better figure it out soon because next week they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who already beat the Saints once this year, by shutting down Brees and picking him off three times. As for the Rams, they should enjoy this win and focus on getting Sam Bradford healthy once again.