NFL Draft: Running Blog – Day Three

- Greetings once again from the ContinuityX Training Center. We are preparing for the third and final day to get underway here shortly. Rounds four through seven take place today with plenty of good players still available.

- Leading off today will be Jacksonville.

- Kicking this thing off with a trade. Philadelphia leading off now. Have to think this is for a QB.

- The Eagles do indeed go QB. They end the long nightmare for USC QB Matt Barkley.

- Kansas City is now on the clock. The Chiefs actually seemed like a good fit for Barkley. But they can go any number of ways.

- Chiefs make their pick. It’s Alabama LB Nico Johnson. Tough, smart player. Was impressed with him at the Senior Bowl. Makes a lot of sense for Kansas City.

- Oakland up next.

- Tampa Bay traded up as well. They go with DT Akeem Spence from Illinois.

- Jacksonville up next.

- The Jaguars get a returner with some dynamic ability in Ace Sanders. Nice pick for them. Rams had interest there but obviously that interest waned after added Tavon Austin.

- Patriots go with TCU WR Josh Boyce.

- Arizona goes with DE Alex Okafor. Many thought he’d be a possible second rounder so maybe a good value there.

- Miami up next.

- Dolphins go with LB Jelani Jenkins of Florida.

- Buffalo goes with Nevada S Duke Williams.

- Brian Schwenke to Tennessee is a nice pick. Really solid Senior Bowl. Tennessee really loading up to run the ball again with Chris Johnson. Sign Levitre and draft Warmack and Schwenke, solid.

- Carolina drafted a big guard from Valdosta State. I can’t spell his name.

- Green Bay grabs David Bakhtiari.

- Interesting move here as the Giants move up for Syracuse QB Ryan Nassib. Lots of New York love going on with the Giants and the Cuse.

- Pittsburgh is up. Rams are two picks away.

- The Steelers make a very Steelers pick and grab Syracuse S Shamarko Thomas. Athletic, physical player who paid a pre-draft visit to St. Louis.

- Oakland is on the clock.

- The Raiders just took Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson.

- Rams are on the clock.

- The Rams find an intelligent, instinctual replacement for Robert Turner with Alabama’s Barrett Jones. Jones played all over the line for the Crimson Tide and is a nice addition at this point in the draft. He’s not the most athletic or the strongest anchor around but he finds ways to get it done. Expect him to step in as an interior swing man along the lines of the role Turner filled last year.

- Tavon Austin just stopped by the office. #HumbleBrag Some more picks went off the board.

- Thoughts on Jones?

- Bears go with Rutgers LB Khaseem Greene. Nice value for them there and a good scheme fit in Chicago.

- Just got off conference call with Barrett Jones. Impressive young man with a degree and a masters in accounting. He says he’s most comfortable at center. Will have plenty more on him later on.

- A lot of interesting picks here recently. Phillip Thomas off the board and some of the top remaining DEs available.

- Packers have doubled down at RB by grabbing UCLA’s Johnathan Franklin. Nice to pair with Eddie Lacy for them. Given Green Bay’s 10 picks today, they can do just about whatever we want.

- And San Francisco makes the inevitable pick we all expected them to make: Marcus Lattimore of South Carolina. Risk involved sure but very talented player. If he can stay healthy, it’s a potentially great long term selection.

- Detroit with a nice value in South Carolina DE Devin Taylor.

- Kansas City makes a nice pick with Sanders Commings from Georgia. Liked his versatility.

- Jacksonville takes Michigan’s Denard Robinson. Interesting choice. Tough kid.

- Seattle moves up to add to its depth at DT with Alabama’s Jesse Williams. Williams slipped because of knee issues. Good get for them.

- Seahawks again, go with CB Tharold Simon of LSU.

- Rams almost back on the clock. Still some options at a variety of positions. BPA most likely.

- The Rams get some depth at cornerback with Miami’s Brandon McGee. Needed depth at that position with few bodies on the roster.

- Rams have two picks in the sixth to cap their day coming later. Going on a hiatus until later to do conference call with him.

- Keep an eye out for some activity here shortly.

- The Rams have put a bow on their draft class by making a move back into the fifth round. They cut a deal with Houston to get back and get their running back.

- The target? Vanderbilt RB Zac Stacy.

- Stacy is 5’9, 210 pounds with a physical style that allowed him to rush for 1,1141 yards and 10 touchdowns last year for the Commodores.

- Much more to come in a little bit on Stacy but barring something shocking, it appears the Rams have completed their 2013 draft class. Waiting on final details of the trade.

- The current haul: WR Tavon Austin, LB Alec Ogletree, S T.J. McDonald, WR Stedman Bailey, OL Barrett Jones, CB Brandon McGee and RB Zac Stacy.

- That is also the final haul as the Rams gave up both sixth round picks in exchange for Houston’s fifth.

- It’s unlikely they’d trade a pick next year to get back into this draft so it seems likely the Rams are done drafting for this year. They can begin turning attention to the race that is the undrafted free agent derby right after the draft is over.

- Time to make the donuts. Thanks for reading all week.

Looking Ahead to Day Three

- Well, here we are on Saturday already. Does it still feel like a Sunday to anyone else?

- Today, the NFL Draft will cash out the final four rounds with rounds four through seven taking place today.

- The Rams have four picks today, one in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth. They traded their seventh-round choice to Buffalo in the deal to move up for Tavon Austin. That could mean the Rams are done early today if they don’t make a move back to regain a seventh.

- Through round three, the Rams have filled some needs and strengthened some positions.

Defensively, the Rams no longer have any just openly glaring holes among their starters. They could certainly stand to add some depth at linebacker, safety, defensive tackle and, especially at cornerback. But with Alec Ogletree at OLB and T.J. McDonald at S, they have to feel good about filling in some of the final puzzle pieces for that defense.

Offensively, the focus has been on adding weapons. The Rams did some one stop shopping in Morgantown, West Virginia to do just that by adding multi-dimensional wideouts Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. Now, the offense could still use a boost on the interior of the OL as well as at RB. But again, no need is just so pressing that the Rams have to desperately make a pick at any one position.

- Heading into round 4, I’ll remind everyone that the Rams take these final rounds serious. They found some really good players in these rounds last year, including Chris Givens, Greg Zuerlein and Daryl Richardson. So they’ll be looking to add players that can help, not just long term projects.

- Here’s a look at some of the best and most intriguing players still available that will almost certainly come off the board at some point:

QB: Matt Barkley, Ryan Nassib, Tyler Bray, Tyler Wilson, Landry Jones, Matt Scott
RB: Marcus Lattimore, Johnathan Franklin, Mike Gillislee, Stepfan Taylor, Zac Stacy, Joseph Randle
WR: Quinton Patton, Denard Robinson, Da’Rick Rogers, Ryan Swope, Chris Harper
TE: Dion Sims, Mychal Rivera, Chris Gragg, Nick Kasa, Levine Toilolo
OL: Barrett Jones, David Bakhtiari, Alvin Bailey, Vinston Painter, Khaled Holmes, David Quassenberry, Jordan Mills, Ricky Wagner, Reid Fragel, Chris Faulk, Oday Aboushi, Earl Watford, J.C. Tretter, Brian Schwenke, Braxston Cave
DT: Jesse Williams, Everett Dawkins, Akeem Spence, Montori Hughes, Josh Boyd, Kwame Geathers, T.J. Barnes
DE: Cornelius Washington, Alex Okafor, Lavar Edwards, John Simon, Michael Buchanan
LB: Khaseem Greene, Trevardo Williams, A.J. Klein, Chase Thomas, Sean Porter, DeVonte Holloman, Gerald Hodges
CB: B.W. Webb, Jordan Poyer, Sanders Commings
S: Shamarko Thomas, Phillip Thomas, Bacarri Rambo, Josh Evans

And that’s just a small sample size of what remains on the board. Should make for an interesting day.  

- Once again, we’ll have the live blog up and running throughout the day and give real time picks and analysis for as many of the picks as possible. Thanks for reading.

Austin and Ogletree Introduced to St. Louis

- The Rams introduced first-round picks WR Tavon Austin and OLB Alec Ogletree today at a news conference. Here’s the transcript of that press conference.

Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher, General Manager Les Snead,
WR Tavon Austin, and LB Alec Ogletree

Press Conference – April 26, 2013 

(Opening statement)

Jeff Fisher: “Good afternoon everyone, to our friends in the media and to all of our Ram employees who are here. Day Two of the draft is always exciting because we get to go upstairs and pick more players and add to our success in the draft. But secondly, and probably most importantly, it’s an opportunity for you to meet the culmination of a lot of hard work and of course, what took place last night in our two No. 1 draft choices—to my far left, Alec Ogletree, and to my immediate left, Tavon Austin. Welcome them here for us. What we’re going to do is go right to questions and see if anyone has any questions for these new Rams.”

(On what the last 24 hours have been like)

Tavon Austin: “These last 24 hours have been crazy. It’s been a dream come true since I was a kid. I’m thankful that the whole Rams staff made the jump and came and got me. I’m pretty much happy that I’m here now and ready to get to work.”

Alec Ogletree: “Basically the same for me. It was very exciting yesterday to even be a part of the draft this year. I really want to thank the Rams organization for taking a chance on me, and I’m ready to get to work, too.”

(On when the dream of reaching the NFL began)

Austin: “It started when I was seven-years-old. Everybody always has some kind of gift. I’m probably not the biggest guy in the world. I wish I was two inches taller, but I can’t (be). I always stuck with it, this is my dream. There had been times my mother would chase me down. She ran track in her days, and she used to chase me down. I always knew I always had it. It was just a matter of time, just sticking with it and making my dreams come true.”

(On when he realized he was faster than most people)

Austin: “Since I was younger, I’ve always been the type to be the fastest on the team. There have been some teams that I haven’t been the fastest, but I’ve always been one of the quickest guys on the team.”

(On if he realized he was quicker than others as a kid on a playground)

Austin: “Just being outside all day. My grandma and mom would tell me, ‘Don’t run in this house all day.’ So you’re outside, you’re having fun.”

(On if he would have played basketball in high school if he was taller)

Austin: “I played basketball for three years. I started at point guard for two, and then we had a new coach my junior year and I was like a sixth man. Pretty much, I took off my senior year, but I played basketball. Football was my gift, so I had to stay on this route.”

(On if he can dunk)

Austin: “Off a hoop. I can’t grip a ball, but I can dunk off a hoop.”

(On what it means to Austin to be able to improve the lives of his mother and grandmother)

Austin: “That’s my number one goal, to get them out of the hood. I don’t know if they want to leave Baltimore or not, but I’m definitely going to move them to a nice place outside in the county, Harford County, or something like that where it’s a gated community. Pretty much, I know they’re comfortable while I’m here working, and they’re back there just waiting for my game days on Sunday.”

(On the challenge of playing in a division with two mobile quarterbacks)

Ogletree: “I’m definitely up for the challenge. I’m very comfortable in my ability to tackle someone and run them down. I feel like when we’re in between the lines, no one’s faster than me. I feel like everyone’s the same speed, and maybe I’ll even be faster. I definitely look forward to the challenge of facing two of the great quarterbacks in the league this year.”

(On if he could run down Tavon Austin)

Ogletree: “I don’t know. We’re on the same team now, so I won’t have to.”

(On what he says to people who question his size)

Austin: “That’s something I can’t change. I just laugh at it now. Not really laugh, but I just smile and take it in and put it on my shoulders. I’ve been small my whole life. It’s not going to change. I’m 5’ 9”, but my heart plays like I’m six feet. I try to keep that mindset, keep being smart on the field, knowing when to get down, knowing when not to get down, get the first down. That’s really what it boils down to.”

(On if he’s had any contact with QB Sam Bradford since being drafted)

Austin: “As soon as I came into the building, he came in and met me and just said he was happy to meet with me. I said, ‘No, I’m happy to meet with you.’ He’s a taller quarterback. He’s a little bigger than (West Virginia quarterback) Geno (Smith). I’m just proud that I’m here and he took me in. I’m just ready to come now.”

(On if he knew he had to do to prove to the Rams that he was sincere about moving past his mistakes off the field)

Ogletree: “Basically, I just had to let them know that everything was behind me. I’m ready to seize the opportunity that they are willing to give me and like I said, I basically have to move forward.”

(On how difficult it was to wait until the end of the first round to get drafted and if he was concerned that he may not get selected in the first round)

Ogletree: “I was just looking for the opportunity to get my name called. Like I said, Coach (Fisher), they took a chance on me –that’s all I was waiting for. As far as where I got drafted, it didn’t really matter. I just wanted to be drafted.”

(On what happened after Coach Fisher called him to tell him that they were going to select him)

Ogletree: “My mom and dad, everybody was just screaming in the background. As soon as the phone rang they started going crazy. It was fun though. I can say it was worth the wait.”

(On if he had an idea all along that the Rams were interested in drafting him)

Ogletree: “They brought me in for a visit. We had a great talk and a great visit here. Like I said, I was just waiting for my name to be called, whether it was them or anybody else. I’m very thankful that the Rams did call me. I think this is a great place. They have a great team and they look like they’re trying to do something.”

(On what he has to show in order to make the Rams’ decision to take a chance on him worthwhile)

Ogletree: “I just have to come in and perform on the field and try to help this team the best way I can.”

(On what he sees when he gets the ball in space and what allows him to get into the end zone more often)

Austin: “I just go off my instincts. I try to take away a lot of angles. I’ve been doing this for a long time now, so I kind of feel a lot of things that are coming on to me. When I get the ball in my hands, the No. 1 thing is to just have fun, play the game that I always played (since) I was young, just throw and tackle. You against everybody out there, make somebody miss and that’s how I approach the game.”

(On when it became obvious to him that he wanted to play in the NFL)

Ogletree: “It’s been a dream since I was little. My mom can tell you that when I was very little, I told them that when I grew up I wanted to be in the NFL. To get the opportunity to do that, it’s a blessing and I’m just thankful.”

(On if he watched the draft growing up)

Ogletree: “I would watch the draft. I just always wanted to get the opportunity to hear my name called on TV and be a part of the NFL.”

Austin: “Pretty much the same thing. This is my dream, always been my dream. I’m glad around this time that the small wide receivers are in. A couple years ago, I probably wouldn’t be mentioned in this draft right now. I would probably be a free agent and trying to make somebody’s team just to be a gunner. I’m just thankful that the times have changed and now I’m considered one of the elite receivers right now.”

(On if he had to pinch himself when he realized that he was selected No. 8 overall)

Austin: “Yes, I definitely did. I was just sitting there with me and my family. They were taking a lot of D-linemen and O-linemen and I’m just sitting there like, ‘Man, the skill positions aren’t doing anything right now.’ When the coaches and the G.M. (General Manager Les Snead) called my name I was really happy. My family was happy for me. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.”

(On what his private workouts with the Rams were like and if he was nervous)

Austin: “When I came out here, we pretty much hit it on point. I think this was the place that I wanted to be with (Wide Receivers) Coach (Ray) Sherman and Coach (Fisher), and everybody. They took me in like I was family. Then, when they came down to Morgantown, they didn’t really show too much emotion. They kept everything quiet. I think I did a pretty good job coming in and out of my breaks and catching the ball for them. The quarterbacks were kind of smiling a lot, as far as the coaches, they weren’t giving it up at all.”

(On if he was nervous during his workouts with the Rams in Morgantown considering their quiet demeanor)

Austin: “I was a little nervous. At the end of the day I was like, ‘Am I doing good? They’re not saying anything.’ But I felt like I was OK.”

NFL Draft: Running Blog – Day Two

- Greetings from ContinuityX Training Center where we are preparing for day two of the NFL Draft. We’ll do rounds two and three tonight.

- Don’t expect as much action tonight from the Rams as they only hold picks No. 71 and 92 tonight, both third round choices.

- It doesn’t seem as though they are inclined to move up for a second rounder but if we’ve learned anything in the year plus of the Fisher/Snead regime it’s that they aren’t afraid to make moves so we can’t rule anything out at this point.

- Jacksonville will kick us off here shortly with the first pick tonight. I’m expecting many receivers, quarterbacks and cornerbacks in this second round.

- The Jags go with the best safety on the board, Johnathan Cyprien of Florida International. Nice pickup at the top of the second round for Jacksonville. Must believe they can still get a quarterback they like later on.

- The 49ers are on the clock.

- Strike, that Tennessee is on the clock. Niners start grabbing picks for next year in a trade.

- Rumor has it Titans looking for a local receiver.

- Indeed, Tennessee goes with impressive physical specimen at WR Justin Hunter of Tennessee. Nice pick for them in this spot and a nice complement for Kendall Wright.

- Wonder if that means end of Kenny Britt in Tennessee?

- Philadelphia is up next. They could go any number of ways. Will this be a QB?

- Guess not. Eagles opt for Stanford TE Zach Ertz. Another pick to bolster the offense in Philly.

- Detroit is now up. Lots of good corners there for them. Menelik Watson would also make a lot of sense.

- Lions go corner: Mississippi State’s Darius Slay goes. A little surprised he goes before Johnthan Banks but you have to think not having that extra “A” in his name hurt his stock a bit.

- Bengals are up. Many think this will be an RB, perhaps Eddie Lacy. But indications are that it’s going to be a surprise pick that is an RB but isn’t Lacy.

- San Diego has moved up to Arizona’s spot. Interesting here. Wonder which way they are leaning?

- The Chargers end the Manti Te’o watch and grab the ILB. He makes sense for the scheme. Te’o and Fluker a decent start for the Chargers. Te’o will probably enjoy being back in the nice weather. And though I am clearly not above stupid humor (see the Banks joke earlier), I’m gonna pass on any Te’o jokes here. Let’s keep it classy, Rams fans.

- Bengals have agreed to a long term contract with OT Andre Smith.

- Jets are on the clock.

- And there it is: West Virginia QB Geno Smith goes to the Jets. Mark Sanchez’s days may be numbered.

- Niners on the clock. Have to think they’ll go with a D-lineman here.

- It’s Tank Carradine for San Francisco. Nice pickup for them.

- Buffalo now on the clock. A receiver or an offensive lineman makes sense for them. Good wideouts still out there. I expect many more of them to go here shortly.

- It’s USC WR Robert Woods for the Bills. Another really nice pickup. Keenan Allen’s tumble continues.

- The Dolphins have traded WR Davone Bess to the Browns. Solid slot receiver to Cleveland. Miami out of room with Brandon Gibson, Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline in the mix.

- Oakland is up next. I’m not even going to bother to guess what the Raiders are going to do. D-line would make sense.

- The Raiders take my guy, Florida State OT Menelik Watson. Really nice get for them at this stage in the draft. His upside is off the charts.

- Tampa is up next. They need some offensive help but the value seems to lie on the defensive side of the ball right now.

- And Banks goes to Tampa. Good player, good size. Rams liked him, despite the missing A in his name. A bit surprised the Bucs added another corner, though.

- Next up is Carolina. They could use a play maker. Keenan Allen would make some sense?

- Guess not, doubling down at DT. Panthers just really bolstered the D-line with Purdue’s Kawann Short to go with first-rounder Star Lotulelei.

- Arizona is up next. Quarterback for them, perhaps?

- Cardinals add a nice piece to their defense. LSU ILB Kevin Minter was one of my favorite inside ‘backers in this draft. Nice get for them.

- Buffalo up now, they need linebacker help. Arthur Brown is still out there. Let’s see where they go.

- Bills do go with an LB. It’s Oregon’s Kiko Alonso.

- Dallas goes with San Diego State’s TE Gavin Escobar. I guess I don’t really understand the strategy.

- Pittsburgh is up. They could go running back. Is this where Lacy goes? Some really good players still available in this draft.

- Wow. An RB to the Steelers but it’s actually Michigan State’s Le’veon Bell not Lacy. Curious to see where Lacy eventually lands. Was told one concern with Lacy is that he gets nicked up a bit too often.

- Giants up next.

- No surprise here, the Giants take a defensive lineman, this time it’s Ohio State DT Johnathan Hankins. Congrats to them on a nice pick and on getting a Johnathan that spells his name the proper way.

- All in good fun. I have nothing against Johnthan Banks. Good player.

- Chicago is up next.

- The Bears go with Florida ILB Jonathan Bostic. Brown continues to drop.

- Washington is up next.

- Redskins needed help in the secondary and they get it. North Carolina State CB David Amerson goes there. Interesting choice. Amerson was once considered a top pick. But he had a rough year in 2012.

- New England back on the clock with one of the picks acquired from Minnesota last night.

- Bess signs extension with Browns.

- Patriots go with LB Jamie Collins. Great athlete. Killed it at the combine.

- The Bengals are back on the clock.

- Cincy goes with SMU DE Margus Hunt. One of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. Mountain of a man. Interesting fit in their scheme, though. He strikes me more as a 5-technique type.

- Miami picking again here.

- Told that there are medical concerns with Lacy and that’s why he is falling.

- Boise State CB Jamar Taylor goes to the Dolphins. Solid pickup.

- Niners make a deal with Green Bay to move up.

- Quick break. Back in a bit.

- OK, we are back. Some players who could have been of interest for the Rams off the board: CB Robert Alford, RB Montee Ball and S D.J Swearinger.

- Still a lot available as we head to the third round in terms of safeties, offensive linemen and running backs.

- Where will Lacy’s drop end?

- And there it is. Lacy to Green Bay. Not sure the extent of whatever medical issues he had but if it’s not too serious, that’s a nice value and a good fit.

- Seattle is up next.

- Seahawks opt for RB Christine Michael from Texas A&M.

- What a run on running backs there near end of the second.

- So now we head to the third. Here’s a quick rundown on what is left:

Safety: Shamarko Thomas, Phillip Thomas, J.J. Wilcox and more.
Guard: Larry Warford
RB: Johnathan Franklin, Marcus Lattimore, Mike Gillislee

- Let’s see how it plays out.

- Chiefs go with Cincy TE Travis Kelce to start off the third round. We are eight picks away from the Rams.

- Jacksonville up next.

- The Jags go with CB Dwayne Gratz from UConn.

- The Lions are up and they just got a mauler for their O-line. It’s UK guard Larry Warford. That’s a really nice pick for them.

- Oakland is up next.

- The Raiders go with UConn LB Sio Moore.

- Philadelphia is on the board next. Could they finally go with a QB here?

- Sorry, not Logan Ryan. It’s LSU DT Bennie Logan.

- Cleveland is up.

- The Browns go with CB Leon McFadden.

- CBs flying off the board. But Rams still have their pick of safeties should they want it.

- Rams are two picks away.

- Sorry, not trying to tip picks. I’ll wait until they show on TV before updating blog. Getting ahead of myself. Apologies.

- Arizona is up next.

- Wow, Cardinals go for it and grab LSU CB Tyrann Mathieu. They took the risk. We’ll see how it goes. No question about his talent, though.

- Tennessee is up. They go with CB Blidi-Wreh-Wilson.

- Rams get their safety. They go with USC FS T.J. McDonald.

- McDonald is the son of former 49ers DB Tim McDonald. 

- McDonald started 36 games for the Trojans. He has the versatility to play either safety spot and finished 2012 with 122 tackles, two interceptions and a sack. He had eight interceptions in his career.

- Coach Jeff Fisher takes a safety from USC. Not a shock there. McDonald likely projects as more of a big, powerful box safety rather than a cover guy at free safety. We’ll hear how the Rams view him in a bit.

- The Jets get an offensive lineman in Brian Winters. Solid addition for their interior.

- Tampa Bay goes with the first QB of the third round. It’s….NC State’s Mike Glennon.

- Dallas is up next.

- The Cowboys grabbed Baylor WR Terrance Williams.

- New Orleans up next and they go with a local product, OT Terron Armstead. The Arkansas Pine-Bluff product is from nearby Cahokia (Ill.) .

-San Diego is up next.

- Chargers end the fall for Cal WR Keenan Allen. Injury issues and more pushed him down. But could be a nice pickup if he’s healthy.

- Going to sign off for a bit. I’ll be back when the Rams get closer to being on the clock again. Lots of ways they can go with their other pick here.

- Rams are coming up soon. Indianapolis is up at 86. Rams set to go at 92.

- Some names to consider: Franklin, Lattimore, B. Jones, perhaps another safety, maybe a center field type like P. Thomas or Rambo. So many ways they can go. BPA makes a lot of sense here.

- OK. San Francisco is up at No. 88 after another trade. Lots of moving by the Niners. Not a surprise.

- Niners go with pass rusher Corey Lemonier. Another weapon for their defense.

- Rams are three away. Honestly, no real guess here. Just so many ways they can go.

- The Texans go with monster O tackle Brennan Williams.

- That makes me think, there are still some monster Williamses left, especially at DT. Brandon and Jesse.

- Rams are two picks away. Denver and New England up next.

- Broncos go with CB Kayvon Webster.

- Reminder: at this point in the draft, every board looks quite different. No such thing as a reach or a steal. It’s all about how individual teams view players.

- New England up next.

- The Patriots go with S Duron Harmon.

- Rams back up. They could go RB, WR, OG, another safety even. Lots of options.

- Rams double down on wide receiver, adding another West Virginia WR in Stedman Bailey.

- Doubled down on wideouts for the second consecutive year, but this time both Mountaineers. Bailey had some ridiculous numbers last year for the Mountaineers, and in his career really. He posted an insane 25 touchdown catches last year to go with 114 catches and 1622 yards.

- For his career, Bailey had 210 catches for 3,218 yards and 41 scores.

- Miami moves up for talented Utah State CB Will Davis.

- We are four picks away from the end of the third round and the evening.

- But alas, I must head to the conference call with Mr. Bailey so that will do it for this blog tonight. We’ll have more on McDonald and Bailey later. Thanks for following along. Back at it again tomorrow.

Looking Ahead to Day Two

- Well, it’s pretty safe to say that was an eventful first day for the Rams. For the second year in a row, the Rams made two first-round trades and made no picks at their original drafting spot.

- Last year, those moves yielded something big in the form of DT Michael Brockers. This year, it meant something fast in the form of WR Tavon Austin and LB Alec Ogletree.

- Austin fills a void of play makers with his speed and ability to change the game from so many different spots on the field. He’s a slot receiver first but by no means foremost. He’ll be used in many ways and OC Brian Schottenheimer is fired up about the possibilities.

- Ogletree brings an influx of speed and athleticism to the linebacker crew that continues to make an already talented Rams defense even better. He’ll be the WIL ‘backer from day one with Jo-Lonn Dunbar sliding over. Want an idea of how the Rams view him? Coach Jeff Fisher spent the 30th pick on an outside linebacker with similar traits in 2000 while at Tennessee. That LB was Keith Bulluck, who went on to become one of the best OLBs in the league and one of Fisher’s favorites. Ogletree will be an immediate nuisance to teams looking to run the read option, upgrade the Rams in coverage (he was once a safety) and provide even more punch to the pass rush when asked to blitz.

- Austin and Ogletree will be introduced to the St. Louis media today at 3:30 p.m.

- With those needs checked off and players in the shopping cart, the Rams enter day two with a much different look than this time a year ago. Last year, they had four second-day picks, including three in the second round. Now, after the trades of last night, they don’t hold a second round pick but do have an improved spot in the third round and an additional pick later in said round. The Rams have pick No. 71 and pick No. 92 tonight.

- Now, there will be a lot of talk about whether the Rams will move back into the second round to go get someone. It seems somewhat unlikely that it happens but let’s face it, with GM Les Snead and Fisher pulling the trigger, there’s no doubt that anything is possible.

- It was hard enough to try to project how the first round would play out with the Rams in the middle of the round, well, it’s downright impossible since there’s a whole round plus before the Rams are scheduled to make a selection tonight.

- With that in mind, here’s a general list of players that are available that will likely go in the second round tonight. This is in no order but just a guess at guys we can likely count on being gone before the Rams draft again. Look for a run on quarterbacks and, especially, cornerbacks this evening. Could be a good night for linebackers as well.

QB: Geno Smith, Matt Barkley, Ryan Nassib
RB: Eddie Lacy
WR: Keenan Allen, Justin Hunter, Robert Woods
TE: Zach Ertz
OL: Larry Warford, Menelik Watson, Terron Armstead
DL: Margus Hunt, Tank Carradine, Johnathan Hankins, Kawann Short
LB: Manti Te’o, Khaseem Greene, Arthur Brown, Kevin Minter
CB: Robert Alford, Johnthan Banks, Jamar Taylor, Darius Slay
S: Jonathan Cyprien

That’s 24 players. Of course, that’s by no means a definitive list. There are plenty of others that could go and some of those mentioned will almost certainly slip. But that’s a rough estimate of some guys that likely will go in round 2 or at least before the Rams are scheduled to pick again.

- Turning to the Rams, they still have some needs at safety and for a bigger running back. They also could very well be in the market to add another offensive lineman (specifically someone who could be a guard/center) or even a cornerback (they only have four on the roster right now). And Snead has not been shy about doubling down on positions in the past so it’s never out of the question they could add more at receiver or even linebacker at some point, though that seems more likely tomorrow.

Here’s a list of some of the names that are still available for those positions of need heading into tonight:

Safeties: Cyprien, D.J. Swearinger, Shamarko Thomas, J.J. Wilcox, Baccari Rambo, Shawn Williams, T.J. McDonald, Phillip Thomas, Duke Williams
Running Backs: Lacy, Montee Ball, Le’veon Bell, Giovani Bernard, Johnathan Franklin, Mike Gillislee, Christine Michael, Andre Ellington, Marcus Lattimore
Interior OL: Warford, Dallas Thomas, Brian Winters, Barrett Jones, Brian Schwenke, Hugh Thornton
Cornerback: Alford, Banks, Slay, Taylor, B.W. Webb, Sanders Commings, David Amerson, Logan Ryan, Dwayne Gratz, Tyrann Mathieu

And that’s just a small sample of a handful of spots the Rams could look to address. They’re going to stick to finding the best players they can so it’d be silly to rule them out from taking any position save for DE, QB, K, P and 3-4 OLBs as we head into day two.

- We’ll be back with snippets from the Austin and Ogletree press conference as well as the running blog tonight to keep you updated throughout. If we know nothing else, it’s worth noting that you should probably not leave the couch much because you just never know what Snead and Fisher have up their sleeve. Thanks for reading.

NFL Draft: Running Blog – Day One

- Greetings from ContinuityX Training Center where we are closing in on the start of the 2013 NFL Draft. Finally!

- For most of the night, we’ll provide regular updates throughout the first round with a couple of breaks to do press conferences here.

- Stay tuned for updates. Enjoy the draft, wherever you are.

- Well, here we are, it’s almost time to actually get this thing going. The broadcast has begun and the commissioner has put the Chiefs on the clock.

- Lots of speculation here. It’s going to be an OT, that much we know. Eric Fisher or Luke Joeckel, obviously. Let’s see how this plays out.

- And the first pick is Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher. What a rise for him. At the Senior Bowl there was discussion he could be there for the Rams at No. 16. It was clear after that he was going way beyond that.

- Jacksonville is on the clock. This will be interesting here. Many think they’ll got tackle also and take Joeckel but this pick is much more of a wild card. Could go with a pass rusher, maybe even a QB.

- Joeckel it is. Two picks, two offensive tackles.

- Intrigue starts now with Oakland. You just never know which way the Raiders are going to go.

- We have the first trade. Miami has moved up. Have to assume this is for yet another OT, in this case Lane Johnson.

- Not Johnson. It’s Oregon DE Dion Jordan. Not many saw that one coming. Many people believe he’s the best defensive player in the draft. Very interesting.

- Next up is Philly. Johnson now makes sense there unless they want to go with a DT.

- From the blog earlier, we discussed the value of picks and it’s obvious the price hasn’t gone off the charts. Oakland got a second round pick to move down nine spots. That’s the same price the Cowboys paid the Rams to move up eight spots last year. Doesn’t require a big move this year.

- Johnson to Philadelphia. No surprise there. They get an athletic LT who can fit into their uptempo offense.

- And with that, the biggest run on offensive tackles in the top 5 of the draft is now complete.

- Next up is Detroit. Have to think the choice comes down to DE Ezekiel Ansah or CB Dee Milliner. Ansah played for the Lions staff at the Senior Bowl and apparently liked him.

- Ansah it is. Great story, makes sense for them. And Jim Schwartz loves him some defensive linemen.

- Possible trade alert coming next. This Cleveland pick is awfully interesting. They could move down but they could also go any number of ways with their pick.

- Cleveland goes with pass rusher DE Barkevious Mingo.

- Not a huge surprise there though thought they may move back.

- Arizona up now. With the tackles gone it could be time for the first guard to go in the top 10 since Chris Naeole in 1997.

- It is indeed a guard. North Carolina G Jonathan Cooper is off the board. Excellent athlete, going to be tough to deal with for the next decade or so for the Rams.

- Bills are on the clock. This could be a hot point for the Rams if they indeed want to make a move up. The cost of moving up earlier was a second round pick. Keep an eye out here.

- The move has been made. The Rams have made a trade to move up. Have to think this is for WR Tavon Austin.

- Indeed, the Rams have landed their much-coveted weapon. Was told he was the highest rated player on the Rams board. The offense and special teams just got much better.

- Much more to come on Austin and the trade soon.

- Here are the details on the trade with Buffalo:

The Rams receive: Pick No. 8 (Austin), and move up in the third round to Buffalo’s spot there.
The Bills receive: Pick No. 16, Pick No. 46, the Rams’ third round pick and the Rams’ seventh round pick.

- So the Rams will get an earlier pick in round three and surrender their second and seventh rounders.

- The Jets are up next and sick to their stomach to see Austin in St. Louis.

- New York replaces Darrelle Revis with Alabama CB Dee Milliner.

- Tennessee is up next. Sharrif Floyd or their choice of DTs or potentially Chance Warmack. You know Mike Munchak loves him some nasty guards.

- Titans opt for the guard and land Warmack. Both guards off the board in the top 10. No surprise there.

- Here’s a better look at the Rams’ trade with Buffalo:

Rams get: Picks No. 8 and No. 71
Bills get: Picks No. 16, 46, 78 and 222

- San Diego is now on the clock. They can’t be thrilled about their options here. Maybe D.J. Fluker. They need OL help.

- Fluker it is. Wow. Nice run for the Bama guys here.

- And the offensive linemen are pretty much all gone. Good news for Florida State’s Menelik Watson, who could now go much sooner than anticipated.

- Oakland is back on the board and could get the guy many had them pegged for with the 3rd pick in Sharrif Floyd. That would be a nice coup for them since they got a second rounder to make the move.

- If you want a potential surprise, keep an eye out for Houston CB D.J. Hayden.

- Oakland goes with Hayden. The fall for Floyd continues. It will be interesting to see how the DTs go now.

- Austin on conference call now. Back in a bit.

- Jets go with Sheldon Richardson from Mizzou. The first DT in this draft is Richardson. Interesting scheme fit but a stud player.

- Carolina is up.

- Panthers go for Utah DT Star Lotulelei. Floyd’s drop continues.

- New Orleans is now up. Jarvis Jones would make sense, Floyd would make sense. But the Saints are always hard to peg. Even Texas S Kenny Vaccaro wouldn’t surprise.

- The Saints opt for Vaccaro.

- Something to think about now: If the Rams were still at 16, the options right now would include Alec Ogletree, Jarvis Jones, all WRs not named Austin and all safeties not named Vaccaro. Seems like Austin move makes even more sense in light of that.

- Buffalo is up now and all signs point to a QB, likely Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib.

- The Bills do go QB but throw a curveball. It’s Florida State’s E.J. Manuel. The league knows something. It’s why he was invited to New York. Dots connected.

- Pittsburgh up next. Jarvis Jones makes a ton of sense there but they could go WR as well.

- Jarvis Jones it is. That’s a quinessential Steelers pick.

- San Francisco has made its move. Up to 18 in a swap with Dallas. Who is this for? Notre Dame TE Tyler Eifert, maybe?

- Niners go with LSU S Eric Reid. A little surprising but another player invited to New York by the NFL. They get a replacement for DaShon Goldson.

- The Giants are up. They could go OL, DL or maybe LB here.

- They go with offensive line but not Watson. It’s Syracuse OL Justin Pugh.  Mild surprise by NFL Network’s Mike Mayock was apparently clued in.

- Up next is Chicago. Is this where Manti Te’o lands? It could very well be.

- Eifert would also make sense for Chicago. Throwing it out there but Eifert falls to 22, could the Rams find a trade partner in Atlanta?

- Wow. Another OL. But it’s Kyle Long. Wow. What a story. Congrats to Chris’ brother. Good for him.

- Cincinnati is up next. Eddie Lacy has been rumored there but who knows which way anyone is going to go in this draft at this point?

- Bengals throw a wrench in that plan, take Eifert here.

- Rams are on the clock. Look for a move down.

- Rams make a trade. Manipulating this thing. Trade with Atlanta. Details to follow.

- Here’s the breakdown of the trade:

Rams get: Pick No. 30, No. 92 and No. 198.

Falcons get: Pick No. 22.

- I believe there is a future 7th that will go to Atlanta as well but we’ll confirm later.

- Atlanta goes with Washington CB Desmond Trufant.

- Minnesota grabs Floyd. Finally. Nice value there for them.

- Indianapolis grabs DE Bjoern Werner.

- Minnesota takes CB Xavier Rhodes of Florida State.

- Lotsof options coming here for the Rams. One would think a team looking for one of these QBs might want to get to the Rams’ spot to do it. Rams could theoretically acquire another third rounder to do it depending on how far they’d have to move.

- If they stay, there are still some intriguing options. Guys like Ogletree, Cyprien, Lacy on the board. Plus other safeties and OLBs.

- Green Bay takes UCLA DE Datone Jones, a nice fit as a 5-technique for them.

- Houston is up. Probably going to take a WR. Lots of choices though.

- The Texans go with Clemson WR DeAndre Hopkins.

- Denver is up next. They could go with a DT. Sylvester Williams would make sense. A DE like Tank Carradine would make sense too.

- The Broncos bolster their D-line with Williams.

- The Patriots are up next, could look to trade down. Chatter that Minnesota wants to move up with New England to score Te’o.

- FYI, the seventh rounder that goes to Atlanta from the Rams in the 2015 draft is the one the Rams acquired from New England last year in exchange for WR Greg Salas.

- Vikings do indeed move up. It’s Te’o time.

- Rams on the clock. Lots of possibilities here. Ogletree would make sense so would someone like Cyprien or Elam. OR, another trade down, perhaps to a team in need of a QB.

- Minnesota not going Te’o. It’s Cordarrelle Patterson.

- And the Rams are on the clock. All signs pointing to Ogletree.

- It’s official, the Rams have selected LB Alec Ogletree of Georgia. The LB corps just added a dynamic athlete and for the second year in a row, the team gets a top 10 talent much later than the top 10. Like Janoris Jenkins a year ago, Ogletree fell because of some off the field issues. But his talent is undeniable. Dunbar, Laurinaitis and Ogletree is quite formidable.

- Dallas goes with Wisconsin C Travis Frederick.

- Baltimore on the clock to end the first round. Safety or LB possible.

- Ravens go with Florida S Matt Elam.

- And with that, the running blog is done running for tonight. Time to do some writing and attend some press conferences. Thanks for following along. Back tomorrow night with more.

The Ever Changing Value of Trading Picks

- For years and years, it was commonly accepted that NFL teams looking to determine the value of a pick would turn to the infamous “draft chart.” As legend has it, Jimmy Johnson created the chart by assigning value to every pick in the draft. The idea being that if you are looking to move down, you take the value of your pick then add the value of the picks you’re being offered and hope that it either comes out with a higher value on your side or at least breaking even.

- We’ll get into some of the actual raw numbers on that chart in just a moment but first I think it’s important to note that we are living in the brave new world of the NFL, a world where you don’t have to pay draft picks exorbitant amounts of money if you make a move up. Theoretically, that means that teams would be more likely to move up for players, right? Well, yes but the curveball comes in when you have a draft – like this one – where the value seems to lie not so much in having a pick at the top but the simple act of having picks, lots of picks.

- The pendulum seems to swing in a year like this where it would appear to be more beneficial to have multiple picks late in the first round through the second and third rounds. In some sense getting a quantity of quality players puts more value on picks than it does on players, so to speak.

- Taking all of that into account, the normal draft chart may no longer be the end all, be all. Teams still use it as a guidepost and it can give you a rough estimate of what you should expect in return.

- Let’s go back to last year for just a moment to illustrate how in one draft you had examples of one player be coveted in a major way and then a lesser value just a few picks later. The Rams got a draft haul with their first trade that blows away the chart in terms of value. They moved from No. 2 to No. 6 and picked up a second round pick (No. 39 overall) to go with first round picks in 2013 and 2014.

Here’s how the trade value chart would have assessed that deal:

Washington receives: No. 2 overall pick  worth a total of 2600 points.

St. Louis receives: No. 6 overall pick (1600 points), pick No. 39 (510 points), and first round picks in 2013 and 2014. Traditionally, there are a couple of ways to assign value to the future first-round picks. One, you can just go right to the middle of the round and use the 16th choice to split the difference (1,000 points) or you can just simply project the team to pick again where it did the previous year which brings a much larger margin for error. For this exercise, let’s use what we know (Washington’s 22nd pick is worth 780 points) and then use the middle of the round projection for next year and tack on another 1,000 points.  That brings the total point value acquired for last year’s No. 2 pick to 3,890 points.

- On the chart and on paper that would be a whopping 1,290 point advantage to the Rams. Now, the point of this isn’t to make a determination on who “won” the trade, that’s a discussion for a day MUCH further down the line. It’s just to illustrate the value of picks in today’s NFL.

- I know this is a bit tedious but stay with me for a bit if you can. Now, let’s look at the Rams second trade from last year.

- On draft night, the Rams moved down again, this time from 6 to 14, a total of 8 spots. Here’s how that looks on the chart.

Dallas receives: No. 6 overall pick worth a total of 1600 points.

St. Louis receives: No. 14 overall pick (1100 points) and No. 45 overall pick (450 points) for a total of 1,550 points.

- So that trade was very close to being dead even in terms of value on the chart. Yes, the Rams moved down from 45 to 50 to get a fifth rounder but that’s not the point here.

- Looking back on it, the question then becomes how did you go from getting such overwhelming value for the second pick to breaking even for the No. 6 pick. The answer is simple: the value of the player available. Robert Griffin III was one of the most exciting prospects in the whole draft and since his contract cost is so much more manageable than it used to be, it was much more palatable for them to make such a bold move. Then, by the time the sixth pick came on the board, the value of the player wasn’t quite the same. Dallas took LSU CB Morris Claiborne, a very talented and highly rated player but also a player who just inherently doesn’t have the same value as a franchise quarterback.

- Fast forward to this year and let’s take a look at this draft and how teams might value picks. Using the chart as a guideline rather than some sort of hard and fast rule, this draft clearly doesn’t have anyone at the top that is going to get a major haul of picks for any team. In fact, it seems that plenty of teams want to move down without many that want to move up. In other words, it’s a buyer’s market, at least in the earlier parts of the first round.

- Returning to the number eight, let’s use it as an example. As people discuss the possibility of trades up and down this draft, it cost a second round pick to move eight spots in last year’s draft after the top quarterbacks went off the board.

- If a team wanted to move up in similar fashion this year, that would almost certainly be the cost of the move, though maybe a fifth rounder or something in 2014 could be thrown in to seal the deal.

- It will be interesting to see the value of picks moving forward tonight as many moves are expected. We’ll know within the first trade just how teams value picks in this draft.

More on the Mock

- We just posted three final mock drafts (myself, our draft contributor Matt Feminis and 101 ESPN’s Tony Softli)  before tonight’s NFL Draft begins and they become even more irrelevant than they already are. Yes, self deprecation is necessary when it comes to these things. There’s no realistic way to be accurate and it’s not wise to hold out any hope of accuracy. So with that in mind, I wanted to offer some more general thoughts to accompany my mock draft that might answer some questions you have, that is, questions other than “Why bother?”

- First thing, there are no trades involved. Once you go down that road, it is really easy to get convoluted. Using that philosophy, it pretty much automatically removes any chance you have of being close to on target. But I prefer not to do it because there’s just no way to predict those trades. I think plenty will happen this year and perhaps the price of moving up will be lower than normal years. For example, I wouldn’t be shocked if Cleveland and Miami made a swap or the Jets or Bills moved out. Lots of teams seem to want to move down, not many up. That could mean a lesser price than normal. Remember, the Rams moved down eight spots last year and got a second rounder in return.

- You will see no quarterbacks in the mock, not because I don’t believe a quarterback will get drafted but because I don’t know that any team in its current draft position is going to take one. I think a QB or two or maybe three goes in the first round but it will be after a trade. And since there are no trades here, I didn’t plug any QBs in. The only exceptions to consider were West Virginia’s Geno Smith to the Jets at 9 or 13 and Buffalo taking Syracuse’s Ryan Nassib at 8.

- As with all drafts, there is going to be a player or two that slips unexpectedly compared to the many mock drafts. Remember, those mocks mean nothing compared to how teams view them and teams have access to much more information than anyone putting a mock together. My guess at the “faller” this year is Alabama CB Dee Milliner. I have him in the top 20 still but not in the top 10 or even the top 5 like others. I could be wrong because he makes sense for teams like Detroit, Cleveland and Miami but his injury history could scare some teams off. I think a few corners will go in round one but there will be a big run on them in rounds 2 and 3.

- From a Rams perspective, it’s even more difficult to figure which way they are going to go considering what’s in front of them and how unpredictable those 15 teams will be. In this projection, I have the Rams taking Georgia LB Alec Ogletree at 16 and WR DeAndre Hopkins at 22. The choices at both spots would be very difficult under these circumstances. First, at 16, you have your choice of the receivers other than Austin plus any safety you want plus RB Eddie Lacy plus Ogletree in this scenario. They could go any of those directions or even make a trade. They could even move up for a player there and move down from 22 to recoup picks lost for a move up (more on this in a separate post coming later).

- At 22, since I have them taking Ogletree at 16, I have the Rams making a difficult decision to add a receiver. Patterson, Hopkins and even Justin Hunter could be options there. The first choice could easily be moving down to acquire more picks but barring that, those guys plus whatever is left at safety and Lacy if he slips could get consideration. Patterson is probably the most gifted but has some more questions marks around him than Hopkins or Hunter. I opted for Hopkins on the basis of the issues surrounding Ogletree and the idea the Rams may not want to make two picks that have some inherent risk. Of course, on the other hand, it’s clear the Rams don’t fear much of anything in these decisions so they could take anyone there, really.

- Under this projection, Vaccaro and Lacy both come off the board as does Allen between the Rams’ two picks. That would likely narrow down the options should they be unable to find a trade partner.

- Bottom line is, every team in the draft has so many different ways they can go and the reality of the situation is that any and all mock drafts will be blown up early in the process either by a surprising trade, pick or both.

- Anyone else tired of all the mocks yet?

- Going to write a little something about the nature of making trades in the draft in another post set to come later and then of course, we’ll do a running blog as the draft goes on. Thanks for reading.

NFL Increases Security at Draft

- In light of recent events in Boston, the NFL announced Tuesday that there will be some beefed up security at this year’s NFL Draft in New York City. Below is the release from the league with details, including what will and won’t be allowed inside Radio City Music Hall and other information for those attending the draft.

NFL ANNOUNCES ENHANCHED SECURITY SCREENINGS AND FAN GUIDELINES FOR 2013 DRAFT AT

RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

Security measures inside and outside Radio City Music Hall will be enhanced for the 2013 NFL Draft Thursday-Saturday, the NFL announced today.

Everyone entering Radio City will be subject to security screenings, including metal detectors, pat-downs, and other special security checks.  Spectators choosing not to consent to the NFL’s security requirements will be refused admission. 

Fans with tickets are encouraged to arrive early to avoid delays and expedite entry for everyone. The NFL will open the doors to fans earlier than normal for all rounds, including Thursday night beginning at 5:30 p.m. The NFL Draft is a free event. However, seating is very limited (see below for information for access to Radio City).

The NFL, Radio City and the New York Police Department strongly recommend that spectators minimize the number and size of all items carried into the stadium. Fans are urged to bring nothing larger than a very small purse. All items carried by fans will be carefully inspected. The NFL and Radio City will not hold prohibited or excluded items for spectators (see below for list of prohibited items).

“The NFL and its clubs have operated with a very high level of security since 9/11 for all of our games and events,” said Jeffrey Miller, NFL vice president and chief security officer. “With the help of the FBI, New York Police Department, Radio City and our private security partners, we will enhance our already comprehensive plans for the safety of our fans and other attendees.”

The NFL Draft begins with Round 1 slated for 8 p.m. ET on Thursday. Fans who pick up wristbands the night before will be able to enter the venue beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET. Rounds 2 and 3 will be held on Friday beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET. Rounds 4-7 will be held on Saturday, beginning at noon ET.

PROHIBITED ITEMS IN RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

The following list is a guide only.  It is not intended to be all-inclusive.

-  Alcohol                                                                   -  Food           

-  Animals (except assistive animals)                   -  Footballs   

-  Banners that obstruct the view of others          -  Fireworks  

-  Beach Balls                                                           -  Frisbees    

-  Beverages                                                              -  Laser Lights and Pointers

-  Camcorders                                                           -  Mace / Pepper Spray

-  Containers of any type:                                       -  Noisemakers and Horns

* Aerosol Cans                                             -  Poles, Sticks

* Coolers (of any size)                                 -  Tripods

* Backpacks                                                  -  Weapons, Knives and Explosives

* Bottles                                                                                

Cameras and binoculars– Small cameras and binoculars will be allowed.  Camera cases are prohibited.  No spectator cameras with lenses longer than six inches will be permitted.  Camcorders are prohibited.

Prohibited items and items determined inappropriate for entry will be the responsibility of the fan and cannot be accepted or checked by the NFL or Radio City.

GUIDELINES FOR TICKETS TO 2013 NFL DRAFT AT RADIO CITY

Night 1 Procedures:

All persons wishing for an opportunity to attend the Draft on Thursday should obtain a wristband on the evening of Wednesday on the 50th Street side of Radio City. Wristband distribution will begin at 9 p.m. ET. Wristbands to secure a ticket for entry into the Draft on Thursday will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis to all individuals in line including those with accessibility needs. All persons wishing to attend the Draft must be present in order to receive a wristband and will be required to register and provide contact information on-site. No exceptions will be made.

Fans who receive the wristbands then may line up for entry into the Draft beginning at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday at which time they will receive their ticket indicating their seat location. Tickets will be distributed at random. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Fan entry will take place at the “Carriage Door Entrance” located on 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Night 2 Procedures:

All persons wishing to attend the Draft on Friday may obtain a wristband beginning at 10 p.m. on Thursday on the 50th Street side of Radio City Music Hall. Wristbands to secure a ticket for entry into the Draft on Friday will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis to all individuals in line including those with accessibility needs. All persons wishing to attend the Draft must be present in order to receive a wristband and will be required to register and provide contact information on-site. No exceptions will be made.

Fans who receive the wristbands then may line up for entry into the Draft beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Friday at which time they will receive their ticket indicating their seat location. Tickets will be distributed at random. Doors open at 4:10 p.m. Fan entry will take place at the “Carriage Door Entrance” located on 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Day 3 Procedures:

Entry into Day 3 of the Draft will occur on a first-come, first-serve basis when doors open at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Fan entry will take place at the “Carriage Door Entrance” located on 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.

Fisher, Snead Discuss Draft

- Rams GM Les Snead and HC Jeff Fisher took part in the annual pre-draft press conference Monday afternoon and, as expected, not much was revealed though a few breadcrumbs were dropped along the way.

- Of course, at this time of year, it’s hard to decipher what’s real and what’s not but if nothing else, Fisher and Snead were upfront and honest from the beginning about one thing: whether or not they were going to be honest. Snead went so far as to ask for forgiveness in advance if not everything said was “totally accurate” in Monday’s discussion.

- From there, Fisher and Snead answered questions about a variety of topics. We’ll cover some of that here and I’ll have more in draft previews coming tomorrow and Wednesday. Also coming Wednesday, we’ll have mock draft guesses from myself, 101 ESPN’s Tony Softli and our draft analyst Matt Feminis.

- Over the course of the next few days, most of what happens will be dotting i’s and crossing t’s. That’s because the past month has been finalizing discussions on how to stack the board, rating players and going through pre-draft visits and workouts.

- Right now, the Rams are still running through the scenarios for this year’s draft. Perhaps the toughest part of the job this year is trying to nail down how things will play out in front of them. This is the scenario game where they try to get a handle on who could be there and who will be long gone by the time they pick. It’s a difficult exercise but Fisher said he believes the team has a decent handle on it right now.

- Along with that, Fisher also discussed the possibility of some positions where the Rams do not have interest that could be helpful for them come draft night. In addition to quarterback, where Fisher joked he’d only looked at quarterbacks because they throw to receivers, he also mentioned 3-4 OLBs. The more players at those positions that come off the board before the Rams, the better.

- On the topic of trading up, Fisher acknowledged it was a possibility and went on to say that although they’d have to give up an extra pick to do so, they could recoup that pick by moving down with their other first. So, yes, breaking news: the Rams could trade up or trade down in this year’s draft.

- Either way, Snead said the Rams will definitely be taking calls and having some fun with it in the run up to the draft as well as during. There are strong indications the Rams would really like to move down from at least one of their picks this year.

- Snead agreed with the assessment that the strength of this draft is from around the 10th pick to the 50th but also made it a point to mention that every draft is full of players that can help your team.

- Off the topic of the draft for just a moment, Fisher said OT Rodger Saffold is in the building, there are no problems with him and that the first day of the offseason program began with 100 percent player attendance.

- As for taking risks on players with some off the field baggage, Snead and Fisher again re-iterated their case by case philosophy. In other words, they’ll look at the individual rather than using one hard and fast rule to take a player off their board. Fisher said there are players they have labeled as undraftable this year just like last year if those players fall below the established criteria.

- Asked about doubling down on a position like they did last year with WR and CB, Snead said it’s not an absolute because so many factors come into play but that he does like to bolster a position significantly if the value is there.

- There has been much speculation about the wide receiver position as the Rams have again made it clear they are in the market for help there. Fisher and Snead answered multiple questions about the wideout group:

Snead said he believed it is the position that is the toughest transition for a rookie in the NFL and made it pretty clear that it’s difficult to expect some kind of outstanding production from a rookie at the position.

The Rams have taken a number of visits to campus to work out receivers much like they did last year. Snead said that can be beneficial because you can see those players attempt to run your routes and work in your offensive concepts.

On that subject, Fisher poked fun at a report that placed him and Snead at Clemson today for a workout with WR DeAndre Hopkins. Fisher joked “I was just informed I am at Clemson right now.”

Fisher went on to say he sees this as a good receiver class and thinks help can be found throughout the draft.

- Asked directly what he thinks of “small” receivers, an obvious reference to West Virginia WR Tavon Austin, Fisher gave an interesting answer. He said he thinks smaller receivers can work with taller quarterbacks, the idea being that it’s easier for a taller QB to see over the defense and deliver the ball to a smaller wideout. If the QB is small and the WR is small, Fisher said, it could be a problem. In this case, it’s safe to assume QB Sam Bradford is considered tall so it wouldn’t be an issue for the Rams to add a smaller receiver.

- On the topic of running backs, Snead acknowledged the idea that they can be found later in the draft but also said that if you believe strongly in a player, you should take him when you can. He used the analogy that Adrian Peterson is a great player who went in the top 10 and certainly would be viewed as such now.

- Fisher was again asked about his philosophy on drafting offensive linemen in the first round. It’s not something he’s done much of in his career and there’s a theory that he will not ever do it. But Fisher said that’s not a hard and fast rule though he does believe if the proper work is done, players on the offensive line can be identified and quality players can be brought in throughout the draft.

- Now Snead and Fisher can return to the draft bunker and do some final tweaking and finalizing. Nothing drastic will happen in terms of the board between now and Thursday night but sometimes there are little moves that can make a difference or come close to making a difference. For example, last year the Rams made a change on their board that elevated DT Michael Brockers above DT Fletcher Cox the day of the draft. As it turned out, Cox went ahead of Brockers anyway but it could have left the Rams with an interesting discussion to revisit on draft night last year had it gone another way.

- Anyway, expect plenty more to come in the next few days and all kinds of coverage beginning Thursday night. For now, thanks for reading.