After all was said and done, it was Virginia DE Chris Long’s “intangibles” that made him the Rams’ top pick over LSU DT Glenn Dorsey, the team’s top-ranked player on its draft board and, by all accounts, the preferred choice of defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. Long’s impressive bloodlines, (he’s the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long), relentless playing style and leadership skills were ultimately too hard to resist. The Rams are confident Long can become an immediate pass-rushing force (14 sacks his senior year) as the starting right end replacing James Hall, who was released after the season but later re-signed. Long is also versatile enough to be flipped with DLE Leonard Little on occasion and play inside as well as outside in 3-4 schemes, which the Rams employed with greater frequency as the 2007 season wore on. There were other more highly regarded receivers on the board when the Rams made Houston’s Donnie Avery the first WR taken in the draft early in the second round. But the Rams think Avery has the blazing speed and, more importantly, the yards-after-catch ability to become the team’s No. 3 receiver behind Torry Holt and Drew Bennett. In the third round, the Rams went to work on fortifying their offensive line with the selection of Toledo OT John Greco, who has a good shot at becoming the primary reserve behind Orlando Pace and Alex Barron but also could see action at guard. Fourth-round CB Justin King has excellent speed (4.3 40-time) and leaping ability, but he is viewed as a project whose major role figures to be on special teams. Keep an eye on fellow fourth-round pick Keenan Burton, a good-sized pass catcher who could be a factor both as a receiver and return specialist, provided he can avoid the injury problems that plagued him in college. Fifth-round pick Roy Schuening played both guard and tackle at Oregon State and probably will be used more as a guard. Seventh-round pick Chris Chamberlain, who was considered Tulsa’s best pure athlete, adds depth at outside linebacker, where starting WLB Pisa Tinoisamoa has had problems staying healthy the past couple of seasons. Idaho’s David Vobora, this year’s “Mr. Irrelevant” as the last pick in the draft, could provide depth at linebacker and help on special teams.
