['Hamas' Jenkins]

I type this as a man unsure of his selection. One the one hand, 2011 is shaping up to be a very good quarterback class. Additionally, 2010 offers two of the best interior DL prospects in recent NFL history, including one who is the best pure prospect that I can remember. On the other hand, the golden rule of the draft is that if you don’t have a franchise QB then you don’t pass on one.

The Rams don’t have a franchise QB. I’m not sure they have a franchise LT or a DE, either. The last two years they went the safe route and neither one of those picks is looking anything more than average (to terrible) at this juncture.

Jimmy Clausen has a lot of concerns. I’m not sure about his mental makeup, and although he has the raw physical tools, he doesn’t have jaw dropping natural gifts. He’s not Matt Stafford, but he also showed significant development in decision making, accuracy, and he comes from a pro-style offense, which makes his learning curve significantly lower than that of other QBs.

I know that if I wait to draft Blaine Gabbert or Jake Locker or Matt Barkley (2012) that I would be getting a prospect with more raw talent. What I don’t know is whether or not some of them will continue to improve (Barkley) will overcome their scheme (Gabbert) or will put their physical tools together. I also know that if I skip on a QB here, there is a chance I may not be in position to select another next year (however remote).

Ultimately, although Suh is the better player, I think Jimmy Clausen and Michael Floyd/A.J. Green/Julio Jones makes me better than Ndamukong Suh and the 2011 first rounder, especially since Suh is a power 2-gapper, not a Warren Sapp penetrator.
A Clausen in hand is worth a Locker in the bush.

The St. Louis Rams select James F. Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

And I’m not entirely sure I made the right decision.


The Shitroit Lions are on the clock.