You are the owner. How do you rebuild?

[Davis_Mike]

Yeah, Id be willing to spend and spend s'more of scouting and talent evaluation. But I wouldn't draft a single player I hadn't spoken to personally and signed off on. Ryan Leaf comes to mind. Charles Rogers too. But there would be men in positions to say "Shut up Smitty! This guy you're gushing over is not good enough."

I would not want anyone in my organization that I don't trust. But Im not qualified to evaluate talent at the professional level.

I agree with signing off on players you bring in. I just wouldn't be part of the initial evaluation process. I would leave that to the guys that get paid to do it. But I would make sure the players are a fit personality wise for the organization.

 

[geezer]

I think I would higher several retired O and D lineman to scout just that group. Give them the expense accounts to travel get to know these kids and concentrate my early round draft picks on lineman. Good offensive and defensive lines make a lot of so called skill players look great.

 

[Clayton]

I think I would higher several retired O and D lineman to scout just that group. Give them the expense accounts to travel get to know these kids and concentrate my early round draft picks on lineman. Good offensive and defensive lines make a lot of so called skill players look great.

Yeah, but if you just draft linemen then you end up like the Rams

 

[geezer]

Yeah, but if you just draft linemen then you end up like the Rams

The Rams are hard to figure, all those high picks and all that talent and still they struggle. I keep thinking they will right the ship and take off and everyone will wonder where did they come from. Not having a stable QB position has not helped. I know almost nothing about Davis.

 

[4down20]

I'd trade my first round picks for multiple picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. I do not believe the cost differences between the rounds really justifies the talent differences.

I would then focus on drafting my lines, personally I'd start with my DL line first, but not with extreme bias over the OL. I would start in the center of both lines and work my way out. For defense, I would start in the center with big guys who eat space and stop the run, thus forcing opposing offenses to look towards the edges. I'd put smaller/faster guys on the ends(compared to other teams).

For OL, I'd do something similar, but I'd focus on the right side first. Why? Because everyone else focuses on the left for pass, so I could get bargains on the right and be a run first team.

Skill players would be fill in players, with a priority on defense. Even though I'd be a run first team, RB would be about the last place I'll draft/spend money on. Good blocking will make all RB's look like studs and vice versa.

As for existing staff - I can't paint with a broad brush here. I'd totally be a Jerry Jones type, but I would make sure I found a coach with similiar philsophy so we wouldn't be butting heads. With the right staff, I shouldn't need to add much input. I want them to fill the identity I want to see in the team. When it comes to things like scouting and such, I'll let them handle that.

As far as players - I'm trading off the stars for draft picks or for multiple medium type players who are cheaper. Again, I do not believe the money justifies the talent. It's not fantasy football. But obviously I want to spend up to the cap limit, I just don't want to do it on only a few players.

I'd trade the ones who become veterans and can get paid more elsewhere off and I wouldn't hold a grudge about it. I'd be extra nice in trying to hook those players up with the best situation possible for them.

I will not take a single player who has character issues, unless they have proven to have put it past them. And even then they would be on a short leash. I want the guy who may not have the most talent in the world, but puts in the work load needed. I think this is the biggest thing.

But maybe I'm dreaming.

 

[broncosmitty]

Yeah, but if you just draft linemen then you end up like the Rams

Bradford and Austin.

I don't think Id be an easy sell on a first round QB. Atleast not in the first few seasons. Once a player is established as underperforming, it's very hard to shake the title. And shake the performance. Harrington played behind terrible lines, didn't last long. Stafford missed a huge chunk of his early years, thanks to getting crushed on account of poor lines.

RBs that can hit holes are a dime a dozen. Just have to find the ones who can hold on to the ball. Which seems harder than it should be.

 

[broncosmitty]

I agree with signing off on players you bring in. I just wouldn't be part of the initial evaluation process. I would leave that to the guys that get paid to do it. But I would make sure the players are a fit personality wise for the organization.

The personality of a player and of the lockeroom is vital IMO. Not that everyone needs to be friends, but there has to be respect. And it has to be mutual. Doesn't take much of a ripple to tear a team apart if its full of knuckleheads.

 

[geezer]

Nothing wrong with dreaming. If I were the owner, I would likely be hands off as far as the players are concerned but would be hands on with the cheerleaders. (till I got arrested) I would pay enough to get some real talent there. Its a crime what some teams pay those girls and that's why you get some who the camera's avoid.

 

[Clayton]

Bradford and Austin.

Long, Quinn, Brockers, Carriker, Donald, Jason Smith, Greg Robinson, Alex Barron, Rodger Saffold all top 33 picks in the past 10 years. Effectively 9 1st-ish round picks on trench guys.

 

[geezer]

Long, Quinn, Brockers, Carriker, Donald, Jason Smith, Greg Robinson, Alex Barron, Rodger Saffold all top 33 picks in the past 10 years. Effectively 9 1st-ish round picks on trench guys.

That's what is stunning. All that talent! I don't follow the Rams closely but I do expect them to get it together at some point in time.

 

[Davis_Mike]

Yep, a lot of wasted picks by the Rams front office by the last 2 GMs. The Cardinals were in that boat with our last regime after Denny Green left.

 

[Clayton]

Yep, a lot of wasted picks by the Rams front office by the last 2 GMs. The Cardinals were in that boat with our last regime after Denny Green left.

Cardinals seem like a 'BPA regardless' type of team. Lions are also in that category.

There is certainly an argument for just not reaching and eventually the talent will come through

 

[broncosmitty]

Long, Quinn, Brockers, Carriker, Donald, Jason Smith, Greg Robinson, Alex Barron, Rodger Saffold all top 33 picks in the past 10 years. Effectively 9 1st-ish round picks on trench guys.

Im obviously not as in tune to STL's ins and outs, but to me, missing on a QB and a playmaking receiver hurts far more than any lineman. (Hard to hit on a pass catcher without a decent passer)A big guy that was drafted too high can still fill a role. Defensively a lineman that doesn't pan out can often be a useful(but overpaid) rotational player for years.

A bad quarterback can only hurt a team. And Ive seen my share of highly drafted poor quarterbacks first hand.

I've always felt there are moderate signal calling options available every year in Free Agency. Guys that can get you by while others are developing until a long term solution is ready or available. So often there are QBs taken in the first that seem to have very little chance of ever being a real starting option. (Christian Ponder comes to mind.)

Id also make sure I have a reliable kicker. If I have a reliable kicker, Id do whatever I can, within reason to make him want to spend his entire career in one place.

 

[broncosmitty]

Cardinals seem like a 'BPA regardless' type of team. Lions are also in that category.

There is certainly an argument for just not reaching and eventually the talent will come through

The fan base was once in agreement and full support of BPA. Not reaching is one thing. Taking the same position over and over can hurt. (Rogers, Williams, Williams.). Then again, go away from BPA, no CJ.

There is a middle ground with BPA and staying within it seems like a tricky thing to do. (Reif played fullback, floating lineman, blocking TE as a rookie. BPA or not, he seemed unnecissary and has been somewhat a disappointment. Ansah seemed like a venture outside of BPA to a degree. Schwartz got his man in his last draft. Ebron, well, who knows?)

 

[SonnyCID]

I'd find a great football mind and communicator with a clear vision of what he needs to build a successful team, make him president, essentially give him a blank check and gtfo of the way.

Do some PR stuff, fish and make sure the prez is doing his job.

And go partying with Kraft, Irsay and JJ.

 

[Podunkparte]

-Tank one year for a top QB prospect. Likely if you're new, this isnt needed
-Hire an offensive minded head coach
-Draft an offensive nucleus around the QB prospect
-Run the 3-4 if not already in 3-4.

While defense is more important, its less of an immediate priority. The adage of offense wins games, defense wins championships mostly holds up. A team without an offense is just going to get their defense gassed. Work on the defense in year 2 and year 3.

I think I would go in the opposite direction. Since defense wins championships, start building that young talented defense first. Let them come together and learn to be dominant. That way, since offense wins games, you have your defense set as you're still collecting better draft picks (not yet winning games) for your key offensive positions. Once the offense comes together to win you games, your defense is even better and wiser and you can go for the championship part.

I also would put a huge emphasis on building the lines before the skill positions. A great QB is nothing with a terrible offensive line.

 

[Davis_Mike]

Cardinals seem like a 'BPA regardless' type of team. Lions are also in that category.

There is certainly an argument for just not reaching and eventually the talent will come through

The new regime with Keim/Arians definitely is BPA within reason. They will take the BPA, but if there is a player that is ranked close to the BPA on the board that fills a need when they pick, they will likely trade down to grab that player and accumulate picks.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

1st off, every NFL team has good players...If a team has 3+ losing seasons in a row...the team can take on a losing culture and become more accepting of it because everyone is still getting paid...well.

I start @ the GM level...Pres. etc. are not really making many decisions that effect the on the field play...I want someone from a winning organization that has worked his way up from the scouting level if possible.

HC...I want somebody with an OFC background, or a DEF background that will hire a progressive OC and let him have the keys to the car on that side of the ball.

Players...you can't get rid of everyone, but I would get rid of vets that did not display a real desire to win. Next...I have to build up the trench players and get the best that I can find, obviously a QB that will not lose games for me will suffice until I can get a true player at that position.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Get John Elway to run the show. Then sign Peyton Manning.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Get John Elway to run the show. Then sign Peyton Manning.

Actually you do have to give Elway some credit because there was considerable doubt as to whether Manning would still be able to play at a high level if at all.

He's proven to be gutsy, but the real challenge for Elway will be after Manning hangs it up...then you'll find out what kind a GM he is.