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Monday, April 27, 2020

Did Karl Mecklenburg Play "All Seven Positions of the Front Seven"?

LOOKING BACK
By John Turney
The answer is no. He did not play seven positions in the front seven.


The correct answer is he played more like 14 (or perhaps one more) spots because 3-4 defenses and 4-3 defenses, especially in that era are different enough to consider the defensive ends and 'backers as different positions and the Broncos played the 3-4 early in his career and later he played in a 4-3 and all along they used the nickel defense, which has alignments of the 4-3 defense for the defensive line.
Here are screenshots of what he played—
Nose (1)
Nose tackle in a 5-man line Bear front
LILB in 3-4 (2)
Left inside linebacker in a 3-4 
 RILB in 3-4 (3)
Right inside linebacker in 3-4

 MLB in 4-3 (4)  
Middle linebacker in a 4-3
LDT in nickel (5) 
Left defensive tackle in nickel
 RDT in nickel (6)


ROLB in 3-4 (7)
Right Outside linebacker in a 3-4
 LOLB in 3-4 (8)
Left outside linebacker in a 3-4
 RDE in nickel (9)
Right defensive end in 40 nickel
  LDE in nickel (10)
Left defensive end in nickel
RILB in nickel (11)
Right inside linebacker in nickel
LIB in nickel (12)
Left inside linebacker in nickel

RDE in 4-3 (13)
RDE in 4-3
 LDE in 3-4 (14)
Right defensive end in 3-4
Obviously, in football, there are caveats to everything. When Mecklenburg played the defensive line, usually it was in nickel (or dime). He was not generally a base lineman so there is some gimmickry here. For all intents and purposes, he was an inside linebacker in base and a defensive end in nickel.

Much of the left- and right- designations are really strong and weak so the offense dictates where Mecklenburg would be based on where they lined their tight end, or where the three-receiver side would be. So, again, there is some serendipity going on as well.

But, still, The "Snow Goose" or "Albino Rhino" did play everywhere along the front but he only places we cannot show is a 3-4 left defensive end, a 4-3 left defensive end, and as far as we know he never played outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense, just the middle or 'Mike' spot. Not the Will or Sam.

So, yes, Mecklenburg was versatile, but when you look at the bulk of his career, he was a linebacker in base and a rusher in nickel. What makes him unique is that he was an inside linebacker in base whereas most linebackers who rush a lot are like Andre Tippett or Von Miller, outside linebackers in base and defensive ends in nickel.

Also, some suggest the "seven positions" or 14-15 whatever it ends up being is enough for a Hall of Fame pass. We disagree. If he's to get into the Hall of Fame, it must be on how effective he was as a base linebacker and as a lineman in nickel—like everyone else.

The versatility is a "nugget" if you will, an "intangible" and it's a positive one, but it, alone, is a small part of his story. He just spent too little time at some of those positions to matter to his career as a whole.

He should be judged on how good a player he was, not on how versatile he was. The versatility should only matter to the extent it improved his effectiveness. To us, it's simply not a stand-alone thing.

For other players who, for example, may have played both safety positions equally and also were a nickel in slot and linebacker in nickel at times and that was part of the "calling card" if you will . . . then fine, if they spent enough time at each spot to matter, then sure.

In the future, there could be plenty of such players up for the Hall of Fame given how some defensive backs are playing so many positions, safety, linebacker, and slot. But again, it should only matter then if they spend significant time at each. Not if it's a once-in-a-while thing.

But in the meantime, he should be celebrated as one of the most versatile players ever as a separate achievement and honor because even with the caveats and stipulations it was a unique and worthy accomplishment.

Well done, Mr. Mecklenburg.

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Who is Canzman and Is He Credible About New Uniforms?

LOOKING AHEAD
By John Turney
In February an anonymous poster named Canzman on Chris Creamer's Sportslogo.net chat board (the best site for information on any sports logos) posted that seven teams were going to change uniforms to one degree or another. Six of these changes have been announced. The lagger is the Los Angeles Rams.

First, however, is a quick discussion that aired on KOA about the same time this—
Okay. So, (1) Chargers uniforms were going to be "awesome" (2) Browns "nailed it in" (3) Bucs are "what you'd expect (3) Rams uniforms are "awful" and "worse than their logo.

Now to this Canzman who has been called "reliable by other posters for what that's worth.

Here are his relevant posts and the dates—

2/25/2020
NFL 2020 Changes
canzman replied to FormerLurker's topic in Sports Logo News

I cannot state where I got my info, but confirmed 7 teams making changes for 2020: Browns Buccaneers Chargers Colts (very minor) Falcons Patriots Rams These are changes to primary homes and aways and not just a change to an alternate. All the Broncos talk can stop... they are not making any changes for the 2020 season.

2/25/2020
NFL 2020 Changes
canzman replied to FormerLurker's topic in Sports Logo News

All I will say is the Chargers in a major overhaul, not a revert. What I saw was only uniforms for all teams. Never saw any of the helmets so not sure what any team is doing with them at this point.

2/25/2020
NFL 2020 Changes
canzman replied to FormerLurker's topic in Sports Logo News

Chargers, Pats, Browns, Bucs, Colts. I liked... Rams and Falcons not so much

2/25/2020
NFL 2020 Changes
canzman replied to FormerLurker's topic in Sports Logo News

I have no idea what the teams time tables are for release. Where I work we are officially licensed with the NFL so we see things here before the general public, but we aren't given advance notice to when teams plan official releases. We find that out just like everyone else once the team decides to put that info out.

sunday (4/19/2020) at 04:31 PM  8,659 replies 11
Patriots Unveil New Uniforms
canzman replied to Wentz2Jeffery's topic in Sports Logo News

To piggy back on this I would say what the Chargers will release tomorrow in not a classic look but I like it. I might be in the minority but I think it looks good. We will see what others think soon enough. As Infrared said not all Classic is good and not all modern is bad. Case in point I think most would agree that the "Classic" Steeler bumble bee was not a good look. Everything is a matter of personal taste and opinion. All design is new at some point and what sticks is what goes town.

Tuesday (4/21/2020) at 04:31 PM  8,659 replies 11
Los Angeles NFL Brands Discussion
canzman replied to OnWis97's topic in Sports Logo News

So everything starts to blur after a while seeing all these changes and such and it has been since February when I last saw the files, but if memory serves here are a few details on the Rams. 1. There is a gradient but I honestly can't remember if it was the jersey similar to Atlanta or if it was just the numbers. Sorry again it has been a while. 2. The light or away uniform is not white, and no it isn't yellow either.

Los Angeles NFL Brands Discussion
canzman replied to OnWis97's topic in Sports Logo News

As I stated way back when I first dropped all the teams that would have changes I was not a fan of what the Falcons or the Rams did.

Tuesday (4/21/2020) at 04:31 PM  8,659 replies 11
canzman

Los Angeles NFL Brands Discussion
canzman replied to OnWis97's topic in Sports Logo News

The files I saw for all the teams back in February did not show any helmets.

 Tuesday at 04:30 PM  8,659 replies 1
Los Angeles NFL Brands Discussion
canzman replied to OnWis97's topic in Sports Logo News

I didn't say the numbers were definately gradient. I said I couldn't remember if it was the numbers or the Jersey but that there was a gradient.

Tuesday (4/21/2020) at 05:09 PM  8,659 replies 2

Los Angeles NFL Brands Discussion
canzman replied to OnWis97's topic in Sports Logo News

The NFL rulebook states that the home team gets to decide which jersey it will wear, and because most home teams choose to wear darker uniforms with their primary team colors on it at home, it is standard for the away teams to wear white or gray on the road so that the two teams can be easily distinguished by the players, referees, and fans. Thus, teams must have "away" colors, which are generally white or gray with the primary team colors only being used to mark the numbers on the front and back of the jersey.


First, he was right about seven teams making changes. Only four were known at the time. Even Paul Lukas who runs Uniwatch.com, the all-time home run king in uniform study didn't know about the Chargers, Patriots, and Colts.

Second, canzman was right about Chargers being an “overhaul, not a revert”.  Third, he was right about the Colts changes being minor.

Then he gave his opinion as to the changes—He liked the Chargers, Pats, Browns, Bucs, Colts. He did not like the Rams and Falcons.

Based on our taking the temperature of the fans and gaging what the KOA announcer said about his source's opinions these takes are in line with public sentiment.

Chargers and Browns and Bucs were well-receiver, the Colts was so minor no one was moved one way or another. There were some rumblings about the Patriots.
The Falcons were panned by the uniform following community and many Falcons fans, especially the red/black gradient uniform and the "ATL" on the front. The gradient being called "clownish".


So, if canzman was accurate about so many things is he wrong about the uniforms?

We have two witnesses, apparently that the Rams uniforms we disappointing. One said "awful" and one said he "didn't like them". Canzman said the Rams road uniforms were not "white" and also were not "yellow" (Sol). he also said (but could not remember where) there was a gradient either on the numerals or the uniform.

If he's right, and we don't know one way or another, the only color they could be if they are not white or yellow is bone, one of the Rams new official colors.
What is 'bone'? It's grey. 

It will be interesting to see if this canzman is seven for seven in his predictions. As we know, on the Internet, anyone can post anything. The only way to gauge credibility is to see what they post and later go back and check the validity of their earlier posts. That, we did.

He seems credible. But, as with our speculation with the so-called helmet leak we cannot be sure until we are sure—when the uniforms and helmet comes out. Until then it is fun to play detective since the Rams are the last to release their new designs.
Perhaps they are gunshy after getting blasted by fans and the media for the "penis" Ram head secondary logo and the "Charger-looking" primary logo and that accounts for the delay.
Rams hats with primary logo go great with the Chargers color rush uniforms
There is even a conspiracy going around on Rams boards that the Rams are making changes to the uniforms because of the fans reactions to the logos, that they are going back to a classic look because they cannot take the heat of the potentially ugly ("awful", "worse than the logo") unis. 
Graphic mistaking Rams new logo with the Chargers
We don't buy that for several reasons but it's likely the Rams are waiting it out for some reason. A more likely one is they didn't want to be blown out of the water by the Chargers uniforms which were critically acclaimed. And the Chargers knew it. 
The Chargers even trolled the Rams in their rollout video, stating "Taking inspiration from the subtle curvature of the bolt, we analyzed the ratios underpinning the logo in an effort to craft . . . Nah, who cares, all you need to know is we took the best and made it better." The Rams spent time in their rollout video talking about the Fibonacci sequence in their new logo and Ram horn.
It is obvious that this has not been a good month for Kevin Demoff or perhaps the Nike design team that helped or created the uniforms or the design firm that helped or created the logo/wordmark set. Maybe they just wanted to delay to let the fans cool off. 
Perhaps it's time to man up and release the uniforms for good or for ill this week. It's time to have the integrity of even Larry the Cable Guy and "Git-R-Done". Waiting is a weasel move.

Friday, April 24, 2020

Did ESPN Leak the New Rams Helmet?

LOOKING AHEAD
By John Turney
We've covered the Rams unis/logo situation and we apologize for that, but we have to add to those posts tonight. On ESPN's draft coverage a shot of what looks like a Rams helmet showed up on the screen.

Although the Rams uniform announcement is yet to be announced (the logo was announced on March 23rd) this seems more accurate that most leaks. There is no way it could be a playful prank directed by the Rams CEO Kevin Demoff because he would never participate in any kind of troll of Rams fans. No, not him.

Anyway. Here is a breakdown of a few points of interest in a screenshot of the helmet that appeared on ESPN—

Also, there was a second CGI helmet that was less detailed but did have the new primary logo on the front bumper. This helmet is Ram Royal but is not a gradient, but is the wider, less tight classic Rams horn—
Let's review:
Helmet = Rams Royal  ✔  (consistent with logo colors)
Horn = Sol  ✔  (consistent with logo colors)
Horn = Looks like it begins white  ✔  (consistent with logo horn)
Horn = looks like it may end in Sunset ✔  (consistent with logo horn)
Horn = Fibonacci Sequence  ✔  (consistent with logo horn)
Helmet = Has rear bumper with new wordmark  ✔ (consistent with new wordmark)
Helmet =  Has front bumper with new logo  ✔ (consistent with new primary logo)
Helmet = Odd finish, not easily faked  ✔  (rumors of a matte finish, but this kind of iridescence-looking
Helmet = Perhaps a Heritage Blue mask  ✔  (hard to tell, but may be darker shade of blue than shell)
This appeared on ESPN, not some blog  ✔  (had to be approved by NFL)

If you look, the back bumper has this wordmark
Here is the primary Ram logo announced a month ago—

Here are the official Rams colors—
And here are the similarities with what we see in the possible leak of the new helmet—

The Fibonacci sequence horn which the Rams made a big deal about is present in both. Both begin white and then it seems to gradually change to Sol then maybe to light orange or Sunset.

Again, we cannot be 100% sure, we are certainly willing to admit error if we are are not seeing things correctly or if this is simply a temporary stand-in helmet for television, but it does seem like a legit-type accidental leak of a Ram helmet that meets a lot of the criteria. And at first, we didn't notice the white in the front of the horn, then we looked closer and the gradient became a bit more noticeable.

However, with the graphic/peel filter or whatever is in front of the helmet it is impossible to tell with any certainly so there gradient may not be there, it may just be a Sol (yellow) horn on a royal helmet. Other views of a CGI helmet looked to NOT have a gradient horn, so there is that data point which suggests we may be seeing things that are not there in the above and below screenshots.

Try this, with the helmet reversed it is kind of a coincidence that the purported glare from some Twitter naysayers coincides with the logo. But it may just be a coincidence. Or the whole thing may be an ESPN mockup of a helmet based on limited information (they had to show something) and they did the best they could with limited data.

So, gradient horn or not we're not going to go "all in" on that. It's just too hard to tell and there is some sort of "peel filter" or graphic over the botton half of the helmet that obscures the design as well as a "Rams" graphic over that. But, it's clearly not the usual/traditionally shaped Rams horn, it's the new "Fibonacci" ratio horn, of that we're sure.

Time will tell if this is the real helmet or not, but this does seem like a fairly plausible leak with a plausible representation of the new Rams helmet.

Thoughts?

In the meantime, here are a couple more clear shots—

Reviewing the St. Louis-Era Rams Number One Draft Picks

LOOKING BACK
By John Turney
To analyze the St. Louis Rams top picks we do have to grandfather in the 1992-94 Los Angeles Rams #1 picks because they and their "residual value" are relevant to the St. Louis era. And likewise, the St. Louis picks (the later ones) and their residuals have meaning to the more recent Rams drafts.

"Residual value" is what a pick brings in value when they are traded away, either a player or a pick or picks. Sometimes it's high, more often it's not.
1992

Rams take Sean Gilbert, a 6-5, 315, 4.8 forty defensive tackle. He's All-Rookie in 1992 and All-Pro in 1993. Takes a step back in 1994, as did many on the team, and played right defensive end in the base defense in 1995 and move inside in passing situations. contract issues and fit cause him to be traded to Washington for a 1996 #1 draft pick. The #1 Pick is Lawrence Phillips.
1993

Jerome Bettis is the pick. He's All-Pro and All-Rookie in 1993 and a Pro Bowler in 1994. In 1995, he has moments but also does not shine either, and feels misused in a Rich Brooks offense. He's asked to play fullback in 1996, says he accepts, but Rams change their minds and trade him for to the Steelers for a #2 pick and a swap of a #3 and #4.

The #2 pick became Ernie Conwell who was tried at the fullback position the Rams wanted (a lead blocker for Lawrence Phillips). However, Conwell failed there and was moved back to his college position of tight end and was a solid NFL player at that spot.
1994
Wayne Gandy is taken #1 and starts as a rookie. College & Pro Football Newsweekly name him All-Rookie. He played steady and solidly but not spectacularly. He was lost to free agency prior to the 1999 season. He played 10 more seasons in the NFL.

1995

The newly relocated Rams take Kevin Carter, a 6-5, 275, 4.7 defensive end who starts as a rookie and is All-Rookie by Football News and College & Pro Football Newsweekly. He is a very good end, even great in 1998-1999. In 1999 he's All-Pro, leads the NFL in sacks and is named the Defensive Player of the Year by the Dallas Morning News as the Rams win the Super Bowl.

In 2000 Carter has back issues and is accused by Mike Martz of not giving full effort and is quoes as saying "Kevin Carter will not ever play another down for the St. Louis Rams". After the season he is traded for a #1 pick (29th overall). That pick became Ryan Pickett (see '2001' later in this post). Carter goes into have eight more solid seasons in the NFL.
1996

Lawrence Phillips is chosen by the Rams with the pick obtained in theSean GIlbert deal. Only one Rams scout vehemently opposed the selection due to Phillips' questionable character—Dave Razzano. The Rams took him anyway and he was cut midway through his second season. So, not only a bust, not nothing in salvage value either.

In 1996 the Rams had their own First-round pick and took Eddie Kennison. He played three years (he was All-Rookie in 1996) and then traded for a 2nd round pick in 1999. That pick became Dre Bly who was a fine nickel back for the Rams for a few years.
1997

Orlando Pace was the Rams pick (after a trade-up with the Jets) and he had a Hall of Fame career with the Rams.
1998

The Rams took Grant Wistrom (6-4½, 260, 4.67) and he played six years for the Rams then he left via free agency (to Seattle) in 2004.
1999
Torry Holt was the top pick in 1999.  He was All-Rookie and All-Pro had has a near-HOF career for the St. Louis Rams and will likely be inducted one day.
2000
After three excellent relatively long-term, productive picks the Rams chose Trung Canidate in 2000. He was traded for a 2003 4th round pick ( Dejuan Groce—a cornerback out of Nebraska) and running back David Loverne.
2001
The Rams had First-round picks three picks in 2001. One they received for Trent Green and another for Kevin Carter and their own. For Green, they got Damione Lewis (6-3, 290, 4.91) a three-technique style defensive tackle who was supposed to be the Rams 'Warren Sapp' in their new Tampa-2 defense they were going to employ under new defensive coordinator Lovie Smith who had just joined the Rams after serving under Tony Dungy for years.

With their own pick, they took Adam Archuleta (All-Rookie) who was to be their 'John Lynch'. And with the pick they received for Kevin Carter, they took Ryan "Grease" Pickett (6-2, 309, 4.98) who was the "Dooger McFarland" nose tackle-type.

Archuleta and Pickett had their moments, Lewis less so. All three left via free agency in 2006 and the rams signed a few free agents so the compensation picks they received was minimal, two seventh rounders in 2006. Pickett was solid for several more years in the NFL. Lewis and Archuleta were only fair players.
2002
The Rams needed a middle linebacker to recreate the style of defense they needed and thought Robert Thomas of UCLA was that guy. He wasn't. In 2005 they traded him to the Packers for cornerback Chris Johnson (who instantly became one of the fastest Rams ever). But he didn't last long, though he did run back a kick for a touchdown. But, nonetheless, the production was minimal and the residual value was also minimal.

Thomas ended up playing three years with the Raiders, one as a starter.
2003

Two years after taking two defensive tackles in the first round the Rams took another, Jimmy Kennedy (6-4, 323, 5.20), in 2003. It was supposedly a "best available" player thing. There was some confusion in the draft with the Vikings not getting their pick in and as a result, it was theorized Kennedy kept falling. Kennedy was projected to go much higher than the Rams pick and he was sitting there, even though the Rams had other needs.

In 2007 the Rams dumped him for a 6th round pick and Kennedy was on five different rosters over the next five years. The "residual value" is hard to figure but here goes:  The 6th rounder was couple with another 6th rounder and the Rams got back a 5th and a 7th that became guard Roy Schuening from Oregon State and linebacker Chris Chamberlain who the Rams top core special teams player for several seasons. Schuening never made the team.
2004 
Steven Jackson was a great pick in 2004. He played his guts out for nine years on poor teams then was released and signed with the Falcons and finished up as a Patriot.
2005
The Rams needed a tackle to pair with Orlando Pace and Alex Barron was their man. Barron was named by Football Outsiders as an All-Rookie tackle but overall he was often a penalty machine and eventually had to move to left tackle to replace Pace who left for the Bears.

Most in the Rams though Barron loved basketball more than football and was a "paycheck" player. After the 2009 season, the Rams traded Barron to Dallas for Bobby Carpenter. Carpenter didn't make the Rams team but did play 35 more games in the NFL with the Lions, Dolphins, and Patriots but the Rams coaches could not seem to find a role for him.
2006


Tye Hill was the Rams pick and they got a little 'kicker' because they traded down they got an extra 3rd rounder who turned out to be defensive tackle Claude Wroten (not that he added much).

Hill played three years (was a rookie starter and was All-Rookie), was hurt for two of them and Rams GM Bill Devaney traded him to Atlanta for a 7th round pick with which the Rams took George Selvie who played one year for the Rams and had a six-year NFL career, starting two seasons with Dallas.
2007

The Rams drafted another defensive tackle in 2007—Adam Carriker. he was a lineman without a real position in a 4-3 defense. He played mostly at nose tackle but a 6-6 was too tall (according to usually NFL PQs (physical qualities) and it was said that he had very small feet for a man that tall and that cost him leverage.

Regardless, in 2010 he was traded to Washington, a 3-4 base defense team and it fit Carriker better. There he had two good years then got hurt.

For Carriker, the Rams basically netted a 7th round pick according to the NFL Draft chart, based on all the plusses and minus involved, but it is more complicated than that.

It goes like this: The Rams sent Carriker and a 5th (163rd) and a 7th (208th) to Washington for a higher 5th (the 135th) and a 7th (the 211th). With the 211th the Rams selected cornerback Marquis Johnson (played 5 games for the Rams over two seasons).

The Rams traded the 135th for a 5th (#149) and a 6th (#189) which became defensive ends Hall Davis and Eugene Sims respectively.

So, in essence, for Carriker the Rams got Sims. Sims beat out Selvie and Hall Davis and then went on to be a really good fourth defensive end for the Rams who also played defensive tackle in nickel situations before Aaron Donald showed up. he game the Rams seven good seasons.

No, he didn't have big numbers, but he spelled the starters, and made lots of "plays per snap" over the years, meaning there was not a huge drop off when he was in the game which is all you can ask of a backup.
2008

Chris Long  (6-3, 272, 4.72) was the top pick in 2008 was named All-Rookie and gave the Rams eight seasons but the last-two were injury-marred and led to his release after the 2015 season. He was especially good from 2010-2013 though he never made a Pro Bowl he was certainly of that quality those four seasons.

He played three more in the NFL, one with the Patriots and two as a nickel rusher for the Eagles winning a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots and Eagles.
2009

Jason Smith was the number two overall pick in 2009. Prior to the 2009 draft a Washington scout told us "He's awesome". I guess awesome does not mean what we thought it meant. To be fair he had concussion issues, but it was more than that. he was drafted to be a left tackle but as a rookie the second-round pick, Rodger Saffold beat him out as the left tackle and after that he was always injured.

In 2012 the Rams got some salvage value by trading him to the Jets for Wayne Hunter. Smith played 29 games for the Rams and 16 for the Jets. Hunter played 14 games for the Rams with four starts.
2010

With the number one overall pick, the Rams took Sam Bradford. He was All-Rookie and the Offensive Rookie of the Year and set some rookie passing records and took a 1-15 team to 7-9 and if a few passes that were dropped could have been caught the Rams would have won a weak division with an 8-8 record. Then, in 2001, the wheels came off. Bradford had a high ankle sprain and the team was again in the basement.

In 2012-13 (when he was hurt mid-season) Bradford, with little help on the offensive line, at running back and at receiver was 10-12-1, 487/813 (60%), 5389 yards for 35 TDs and 17 INTs for an 85.3 passer rating.

In fact, in his last 14 for the Rams, he was more effective than Kurt Warner and Jared Goff at one point though we have not updated the numbers.

But there was the season-ending knee injury in 2013 and another one in the preseason in 2014 and at that point, the Rams could not invest any more time. In 2015 they traded him to the Eagles for Nick Foles, a #2 pick and a #4 pick while giving back a #5 pick. There was also a conditional pick based on playing time that never came into play.

Les Snead valued Foles at a #2 pick so with the #4 and #5 almost canceling each other out in the draft value chart and the Eagles #2 pick the "residual value" for Bradford was a low #1 pick. That was confirmed a year later when the Eagles sent Bradford to the Vikings for a 1st rounder.

However, what the Rams did with what they got was different. Foles was not effective as a Ram. For whatever reason, he wasn't. And they used the Second-rounder as part of the package they sent to Tennessee for Jared Goff.

With the fourth they received from Philly they took ) Andrew Donnal. The Eagles traded the fifth-rounder away.
2011

Robert Quinn (6-4, 265, 4.70) was the Rams pick in 2011 and he gave them seven years but like Chris Long he had a couple of injury issues (2015-16). when the Rams switched to a 3-4 defense in 2017 Quinn played fairly well as a WILL backer (and a DE in nickel) but he wasn't a long-term fit so they traded him and a 6th rounder in 2018 to Miami for Rams get Miami’s 2018 4th and 6th round picks.

With those picks, the Rams essentially netted Brian Allen & Obo Okoronkwo. It is more complicated than that—it's like the Carriker deal, but trust us. The "net-net" is Allen and Obo.
2012

The RGIII deal. The Rams traded down twice and got picks in 2013 and 2014 and we'll cover it because draft capital is draft capital. And the RGIII deal is still paying the Rams dividends but it is not paying off like it could have. There was some really bad lick involved.

Okay, so. The Rams traded their pick to the Washington, then traded down again to the Cowboys. Then in the second round dealt down again.

So, the first-round pick was defensive tackle Michael Brockers who was a big man (6-5, 322, 5.18). From Washington, they got the extra second-rounder which they used to take Janoris Jenkins. The got a 2nd in the Dallas deal then parlayed that into a 2nd and a 5th which turned out to be Isaiah Pead and Rokevious Watkins.

Pead had talent, but was emotional, missed home and never worked out for the Rams. Neither did Watkins. Brockers and Jenkins did (both All-Rookie in 2012).  In 2014 he tore an ACL and came back to play a couple of games for the Rams in 2015 but was released soon after. he bounced from the Steelers to the Dolphins over the next year and he was finally released in October of 2016. Less than a month later Pead was invlioved in a one-car accident in which he lost control of his vehicle and suffered serious injuries including the loss of a leg.

Brockers has been a solid player for eight years and they nearly lost him to the Ravens (which would have netted a compensatory pick) but him failing a physical sent him back to the Rams. He's been a 'blue' run-stuffer nearly every year in the NFL.

Jenkins had a couple of top years but was a gambler type of corner. Like Marcus Peters is now. He left via free agency and the net compensation for him was a 3rd rounder (#100) which was sent to Tennessee for part of the Goff deal.
2013

With the Rams own pick they took Tavon Austin but they had to pay to move up to get him (a #2 and a 7th and a swap of 3rds). Austin was All-Rookie but even so that 2nd rounder would have been useful to the Rams, the swap of 3rds and the loss of the 7th cannot have been a big deal but the Rams wanted a "weapon".

Austin had value but it was pretty high to take a gadget player. His best value was a returner but it seemed he had more long returns called back than actually stuck for long gainers.

The rams traded him to the Cowboys for a 2018 6th round pick (#192) which became guard Jamil Denby.

With the pick they got from Washington in the RGIII deal they traded down a couple of times and then got the man they wanted—Alec Ogletree (also All-Rookie). In those 'trade downs' they added a 3rd rounder (Stedman Bailey) and a 6th rounder. The Rams traded that 6th plus their own for a 5th and took running back Zac Stacy (Rams got 17 starts, 1355 yards 9 TDs).

And to complete that string in 2014 the Rams dealt him to the Jets for a 2015 7th rounder which they used for inside linebacker Bryce Hager who has given the Rams 4 solid years of special teams play and started the 2019 season as one of the regular inside linebackers before being felled by an injury.

As far as Bailey, that was another bout of bad luck. After developing into a decent slot receiver Bailey was suspended in the middle of the 2015 for violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy and less than a month after the suspension Bailey suffered and survived two gunshot wounds to the head from a pair of unknown attackers who pulled alongside a car he was riding in and riddled the car with gunshots. Bailey's career was over.

2014

Greg Robinson was the final first-rounder of the RGIII deal the Rams had to spend. Robinson was another left tackle bust, just five years after Jason Smith. Robinson was another 'awesome' prospect but just couldn't get it together.

The Rams gave him three years and dealt him to the Lions for their sixth-round selection (194th). The Rams then split that sixth into two sevenths one of which became edge linebacker Justin Lawler.

The other 6th was part of other trades (Brandin Cooks and Marcus Peters) that included ancillary picks to make the draft value chart work and then those were dealt and redealt that those resulted in three more linebackers—Micah Kiser, Trevon Young, and Traven Howard. Though really Young and Howard are more of the bounty than Kiser.

Robinson played for Detroit for a year and was still starting for Cleveland in 2019 but not playing well. We suppose he can still recharge and get it together but it would seem the odds are against it.

Also in 2014 the Rams, with their own pick, took freakish Aaron Donald (6-1, 285, 4.68). That selection speaks for itself.
2015

Todd Gurley was the pick and he gave the Rams five years, helped then get to the Super Bowl and was just released after a subpar 2019 season and signed with the Falcons. Gurley was All-Rookie and later an All-Pro and NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
2016

Jared Goff was the first pick of the new Los Angeles era and he was expensive in terms of draft capital. The Rams traded their first- (5th) and third-round (100th) selections in 2017, as well as their first-, two seconds-, and third-round selection in 2016 (15th, 43rd, 45th, and 76th) to Tennessee in exchange for Tennessee's first-, fourth-, and sixth-round selection in 2016 (1st, 113th, and 177th).

he had a so-so rookie year, and was dynamite in 2017 and though 3/4 of 2018 but started to regress some but did get Rams to the 2018 Super Bowl, but the regression continued through 2019.

Clearly, the Rams are counting on him to play liked he did in his first 27 games under McVay.

2017
No first-round pick (went for Goff)

2018
No first-round pick (went for Brandin Cooks)

Cooks helped the Rams for two seasons (2018 especially) and then was traded to the Saints for a 2020 second-round pick that the Rams used to select Florida wide receiver Van Jefferson. So, the use of the 2018 first-rounder goes on as long as Jefferson is on the roster.

2019

No first-round pick (went to Falcons in trade-down).

However, the Rams then traded down again, getting more picks from the Patriots and even more from the Chiefs. Later, the Rams at Patriots did two more swaps one swapping thirds (Rams moving up) for the prices of dropping from the 4th to the 5th. And then the Patriots taking two 5th rounders for a 4th and a 7th which is typical draft value chart stuff.

So, in this case, the "net-net" for the Rams 1st round is a #2 pick, two #3 picks a 4th and a 7th which turned out to be Taylor Rapp, David Long, Bobby Evans, Greg Gaines, and Nick Scott.

2020
No first-round pick (Went for Jalen Ramsey)

2021
No first-round pick (Will go for Jalen Ramsey)

2022
Scheduled for a First-round pick

So, all told, the early picks the Rams got some productions for their top picks and even got some residual value when things did not work out. But starting in 2000 things went South fast.

Their 2000 pick, Trung Canidate, brought a 4th round pick.

Their 2001 picks, all varying levels of disappointments all left via free agency.

Robert Thomas brought a backup cornerback. Jimmy Kennedy brought a 6th round pick. Alex Barron brought Bobby Carpenter who never played for the Rams. For Ty Hill, the Rams received a 7th round pick. Adam Carriker yielded a 7th rounder.

Jason Smith brought Wayne Hunter. Sam Bradford was the exception, bringing in essentially two #2s (net value a late 1st rounder).

Robert Quinn brought a net 4th round pick. Alec Ogletree also was worth a net 4th rounder. Tavon Austin brought a 6th round selection as did Greg Robinson. Todd Gurley was cut.

On the positive side of the balance sheet, they have sure-fire Hall of Famer Aaron Donald. They have a franchise quarterback with upside in Jared Goff. They still have a solid five-technique in Michael Brockers.

They got a lot of mileage out of Steven Jackson, Torry Holt, and a HOF career from Orlando Pace.

Overall, however, there are more minuses than pluses, so they do have the 1999 Super Bowl win and the 2001 super Bowl loss, but it has been a struggling franchise in most of the years since with the exceptions of 2017-19 and perhaps 2003-04.