Rams firmly ensconced in draft propaganda

By Steve Reynolds  |   Sunday, April 22, 2007  |  Comments( 5 )

St. Louis Rams
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Rams head coach Scott Linehan is a master of understatement.

Concerning the possibilities for the Rams' first-round pick, Linehan has released many statements in the weeks leading up to the draft. He has said so much that, in effect, he's actually said nothing. Nothing you could figure out without your Ovaltine secret decoder ring anyway.

Cloak and dagger strategy or mere typical head coach double-speak?

You make the call:

Quote: "If we didn't have a draft, I would feel very good about it, being competitive (next season)."

Translation: The quote could just mean that Linehan is confident in his squad, but the fact that he specifically mentions the draft is telling.

Linehan is putting the word out that the draft is not of critical import for finding immediate starters. Therefore, they're willing to be flexible with their first-round pick. This could mean that the Rams wish to trade (i.e. pick exchange for Carolina's Kris Jenkins, trade down, etc.) their first pick because they believe that none of the players they truly covet will be on the board at 13.

Like last year (trading down with Denver), Linehan may be looking to grab someone later in the first round anyway and figures he may as well get something for it. Regardless, look for the Rams to use their entire allotment of selection time as they field offers.

Quote: "I promise you, if a player like (WR) Ted Ginn or any other player creates field position, or changes the scoreboard and makes it a 14-point lead for the Rams, our run defense is going to get a lot better ... Because the team we're playing is going to be throwing. To me that's a logical way of looking at it."

Translation: A meaning within a meaning, in that the Rams may go for offense in the first round. After all, it is logical to believe that a highly productive offense will assist the run defense by keeping the opposition on the bench and forcing them to throw when they do see the field (a notable example being the Rams' 1999 season).

However, this is a mere byproduct of an efficient offense, not a blueprint for rectifying a problematic run defense, and Linehan is well aware of this.

Beside the fact that no head coach would be crazy enough to sincerely believe that the way to bolster a poor run 'D' is to spend your first-round pick on offense, right? Unless he is planning on adopting the moniker "Mad" Scott Linehan and unveiling his new "Max Z" offense, in which case Rams fans will promptly throw themselves in front of the nearest bus.

Quote: Referring to Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr., "I can tell you this, he's a high consideration for us."

Translation: St. Louis will pick Ginn. Or, Linehan is using reverse psychology by getting the word out that they're really interested, so a team that picks after the Rams that covets Ginn will get nervous and move up to nab him, thus leaving more defensive prospects on the table for Linehan. Or he's using double-reverse psychology, being blatantly obvious about intentions so other teams will think it's a smoke screen and leave Ginn available for the Rams to grab at 13.

Giving away your draft intentions to the press is obviously counterproductive, and no head coach would willingly do so. However, the smart ones know how to use the media as a conduit to get subtle messages across, plant ideas in other teams' mindsets, or blatantly disseminate misinformation.

Last year's supposed interest in Jay Cutler ultimately led to a trade that landed St. Louis Claude Wroten in addition to the player it coveted all along, Tye Hill. The Broncos trade was a slight-of-hand, underappreciated masterstroke by Linehan. Can the information the Rams are releasing before this draft really be trusted? Is this season's interest in Ginn genuine?

Scott Linehan would certainly like you to believe so.

**You can e-mail Steve Reynolds at sreynolds@realfootball365.com.

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CommentsComments: 5  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Gerry		08:58 AM
04/23/2007
The whole Ginn thing has to be more propaganda. The Rams better not pick an offensive player with serious defensive holes. It's ...
No.2
William Coy		06:28 PM
04/23/2007
Any fan remotely knowledgeable about the NFL draft knows that each head coach relys on Mel Kiper for decisions on players. There ...
No.3
Ej		07:03 PM
04/24/2007
Coach Scott Linehan is as much as a dud as his old boss Nick Saban.These two fools are the best at playing mind games with the ...
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