Carriker, Willis Likely to Start
St. Louis Rams' Carriker and San Francisco 49ers Willis Top Rookies
Talented rookies enter the camps of the San Francisco 49ers and the St. Louis Rams as there are many starting positions up for grabs in both camps.
St. Louis Rams
Coming into this years draft the Rams needed to get more stout on both lines. After getting manhandled at the point of attack last year, St. Louis selected players to change the outcome of a lot of games. The Rams drafted three defensive linemen, Adam Carriker, Ryan Clifton and Keith Jackson. The versatile Carriker is already expected to log major minutes as a starter on the defensive line. Ryan Clifton and Keith Jackson will add depth making up for the departure of Jimmy Kennedy.
Running back Brian Leonard will get on the field at a lot of different positions due to his versatility. He will be primarily used as Steven Jackson’s replacement, ready to spell him when he needs a break. Ken Shackleford will learn behind three proven veterans at tackle, while the raw but speedy Jonathan Wade will get on the field as a nickel as he works on his technique and overall coverage skills. Dustin Fry will try to hang on to a roster spot; he may want to try a move to a guard position. The Rams are known for developing wide receivers and Derek Stanley has an impressive skill set. Derek won’t be forced to play right away, and if he can get on Tory Holt’s good side, there is a possibility that he could blossom into a surprise by his third season.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers showed signs of a team on the cusp of the playoffs last season. The intent of this draft was to raise the talent level on this young and improving team. Whose position will Patrick Willis take? It looks to be Derek Smith’s as Willis has that sideline to sideline speed that brings comparisons to Ray Lewis to mind. Joe Staley is little raw and needs to work on his strength, good thing there is experienced players ahead of him; next year Joe will be a starter. Another high impact rookie is lightning quick wide receiver Jason Hill. Jason has impressive hands and moves with grace as he has proven to be a deep threat while in college.
Defensive linemen Ray McDonald, Jay Moore and Joe Cohen will provide youthful exuberance and depth to the talented defense front. Moore may press for serious playing time at one of the end positions. Dashon Goldson is a very athletic player that may not be fast enough to play the corner, but his athletic ability should make the transition to safety a smooth one. Tarell Brown will have to impress in camp to stick on the roster because of the free agency move the 49ers made to improve the secondary. Clayton Thomas is on thin ice as San Francisco is very pleas with their rotation of running backs; Frank Gore, Michael Robinson and Maurice Hicks.
