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At a time when many league observers are trying to figure out what the Miami Dolphins will do with the first pick in a draft with no clear-cut player worthy of the accolade, it’ll be interesting to see what the St. Louis Rams do with the second overall pick.
Per Adam Schefter of NFL Network, the Rams apparently are focusing on Michigan tackle Jake Long and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey.
Schefter says that the Rams had extensive meetings with Long prior to his Pro Day workout last week, and that Dorsey will be visiting with the Rams next month in St. Louis.
With the Miami Dolphins apparently poised to select defensive end Chris Long (if they can’t trade down), the Rams likely will have their pick of either player.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
With all the talk of Dorsey dropping, I can’t imagine the Rams going for him over an equal/better player in Ellis (or so I hear, on draft boards throughout the league) when Long, free of question marks, will be available and fills a need.
I’m not sure who they’re trying to psyche out with the smokescreen, but it’s a little silly to me.
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March 19th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
gobearsgo -
If healthy, and only the doctors will know the reports, Dorsey is the better talent. Ellis isn’t the pass rusher that Dorsey is, as Dorsey, IMO, steps and splits better, while Ellis, I think, is more of a drive and explode guy. I think Dorsey is the better 2-gapper in the 4-3 as well, as he plays at a more consistent level and stacks well. Ellis closes the gap a bit as he leverages better, and hence why he’s a better NT.
That said, health is an issue with Dorsey, so we’ll have to wait and see. But, IMO, when healthy, Glenn Dorsey is arguably the only elite talent in this draft.
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March 19th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Dorsey is still a dominant player. All of this trash talking is normal for a player heading towards the draft. He can murder people in a 4-3. I imagine Jake Long is the choice, and Dorsey is the backup plan if Miami takes the Jake instead of the Chris.
I do disagree with Florio in that I believe Chris Long is a clear cut good bet for number one overall.
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March 19th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I don’t understand why Jake Long isn’t mentioned more as the first-overall pick to Miami. That’s a strong, safe pick for a team that needs an overhaul. Seems like the Rams would be better off taking whichever Long is left over.
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March 19th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Whenever teams start “inviting” players in, don’t pay them any attention. History shows these invites are used to con the media into reporting Team X’s interest in Player Y.
I also agree with RonInCharlotte & Florio regarding Chris Long for two reasons:
1) Parcells loves drafting guys with pedigre (see Bobby Carpenter…gulp)
2) Parcells’ buddy Al Groh has given the Dolphins every piece of information possible regarding Long. In the ‘05 draft, the Cowboys traded up (ahead of NE) to grab another Virginia DE, Chris Canty, based on intel from Groh.
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March 19th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Ellis is better than Dorsey. I think Dorsey has bust written all over him, being the more hyped of the 2. Ellis works harder, is smarter, and dominated top competition at the senior bowl. Chris Long is the stud of the draft, and Jake is going to be solid as hell too.
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March 19th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Hype doesn’t always equal “BUST” Manning, Elway and Marino all lived up to the hype…Joe Thomas is so far…Hype means nothing.
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March 19th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Pre-draft hype pushes a lot of guys higher in the draft than they ought to be. And all “busts” have pre-draft hype. No one ever says, “wow, that 7th round Montique Sharpe really was a bust.”
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March 19th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
toonsterwu - I agree Dorsey is a heck of a player. I don’t agree that the Rams will target him. They need help on both lines, but they need more help at DE than DT, so if Chris Long is available, they’ll take him over Dorsey. If he isn’t, I can’t imagine them overlooking Jake Long, based on their needs.
Dorsey is an elite talent, I believe, but a top-2 pick must be a player who can make an immediate impact. Dorsey, unless he has a great Pro Day, has question marks about that. So for a team with a top-2 pick, he’s not the ideal candidate. I think whoever gets him will get a heck of a bargain, but it won’t be in the top 3, could be out of the top 5.
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March 20th, 2008 at 3:51 am
S-M-O-K-E-S-C-R-E-E-N
all the way
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March 20th, 2008 at 5:42 am
A great DT is a powerful thing. Remember that Tommy Harris/Vince Wilfork draft? The Bears and Patriots are happpppppppppppppy, and set at those positions. The same might be the case for Ellis and Dorsey, with Dorsey maaybe having a slight edge. The Dolphins would be smart to pounce on one of them, or Long.
Trading would be smart too, to fill up lots of positions and not devote so much $ to one person when rebuilding needs to take place. There are probably not many more qualified to attempt the difficult endeavor than Bill Parcels. Hopefully, for the Dolphins’ sake, the right decisions are made.
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March 20th, 2008 at 7:29 am
This reminds me of the marijuana allegations Warren Sapp endured prior to his rookie season. A lot of talk with no smoking gun.
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March 20th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
They need an OT way more then Dorsey. I’m betting this is just a ploy by the Rams.
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March 20th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
The only problem with Dorsey can be summed up this simple question: If he already has this many problems, how’s he gonna hold up playing twice as many games every season?
Ellis is almost as good with none of the injuries.
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