By John Turney
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Back in the day, there was a term used for a trade that involved multiple picks. In 1974, the Rams received a boatload of picks for John Hadl when they shipped him, mid-season, to the Green Bay Packers. The line in some papers was that it was a "Lawrence Welk Trade" meaning ah one, ah two, ah one, two three." That referred to the five picks the Rams got, a two firsts, two seconds and a third ovfer the next couple of years.
However, the first time we can find it in print was several years after the trade, suggesting it was something discussed but not published in papers, or maybe a late nickname for it. Folklore is funny that way. Though there may have been talk about Mel Blount being part of the driving force of the 1978 rules changes in the NFL that changed the way defenses could cover, the term "Mel Blount Rule" didn't appear in print until a decade later but is now cited all the time.
We remember when Monte Jackson was traded to the Oakland Raiders in 1978 and the gams getting a first, second and third-round pick for him. We've heard that referred to as "ah one, ah two, a three."
Today, according to major media reports, the Rams were involved in yet another one of these 1-2-3 deals, only this time it goes the other way, sending a trio of picks plus former first-round pick Jared Verse to the Cleveland Browns for future Hall-of-Famer Myles Garrett.
So, the question is (in terms of Welk) what is Verse's value? A first at least, making it "ah one, ah two, a three, ah one." However, given Verse's skill set, on the open market he'd have commanded a first and a second (if not more), so we're going with that ... the full 1,2,1,2,3.
As for the substance of the deal, Garrett has been a 4-3 end his entire career and goes to the Rams, who are a base 3-4 team. However, with teams in nickel/dime so much these days, it is fair to say Garrett has been in a 4-2-5 as much as anything. The thing the Rams run most often in passing downs is a 4-1-6. So, as for passing downs, his role won't change.
However, teams may copy the Rams and use more 13 personnel this year, which will dictate to the Rams that they need to be in base more often, a 3-4 or maybe even a 6-1. With the Rams' pass rush, it would make sense to try to run on the Rams' defense until they can prove they can stop it and that is the weakness of Chris Shula's defense—stuffing runners.
But it is fair to suggest that Garrett, at some point will be asked to cover a hook zone and have to cover a back or tight end at times and that is not his forte. The Rams obviously feel it won't be an issue. Garrett is elite athlete, smart and can pull that off once in a while.
Till then, though, we will have to wait and see what tweaks are put in the Rams' scheme to accommodate the best defensive player in the NFL.
As far as the Browns, they made a good deal. Verrse is a young star and they get three other picks. It will give them scheme flexibility as well since Verse can be an OLBer in a 3-4 or a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme, which is all dependent on what new Browns defensive coordinator, Mike Rutenberg wants to do.
