With the 2011 regular season freshly over it is time to go back and evaluate every team’s draft classes based on performance this year. I will use a formula to grade each pick and calculuate a final grade for each team. The Rams are up on this chilly Friday.
ROUND 1 – graded from a 0-5 scale
ROUND 2 – graded from a 0-4 scale
ROUND 3 – graded from a 0-3 scale
ROUND 4 – graded from a 0-2 scale
ROUND 5 – graded from a 0-1 scale
ROUND 6 & 7 – no scale, point awarded if player was productive
*I reserve the right to award a bonus point to any player who outperformed their draft position.*
FINAL GRADING SCALE
90-100 – A
80-89 - B
70-79 - C
60 – 69 - D
0-59 - F
2011 Draft Class
Round 1: Robert Quinn DE, UNC – 23 Tackles, 5 Sacks
Analysis: It took Quinn a few weeks to shake off the rust of not having played football for over a year, but he was able to accumulate 5 sacks, and double digit tackles.
Grade: 3.5/5
Round 2: Lance Kendricks TE, Wisconsin - 28 Rec, 352 Receiving Yds, O TDs
Analysis: Kendricks was supposed to form a bond with Bradford this year but it never really happened. He did lead all rookie tight ends in receiving yards, but he couldn’t find the endzone.
Grade: 2.5/4
Round 3: Austin Pettis WR, Boise St. - 27 Rec, 256 Receiving Yds, O TDs
Analysis: Pettis saw time in the slot after White Chocolate Danny Amendola and Greg Salas were lost to injury. He caught a few balls, and worked a little as a returner.
Grade: 1.75/3
Round 4: Greg Salas WR, Hawaii - 27 Rec, 264 Receiving Yds, O TDs
Analysis: Salas replaced White Chocolate Amendola after he was hurt, and overcame a disastorous Monday Night debut to eventually put up decent numbers before getting hurt himself.
Grade: 1.5/2
Round 5: Jermale Hines S, Ohio St. - 3 Tackles
Analysis: Hines made his three tackles for the Colts as he was cut by the team that drafted him.
Grade: 0/1
Round 7: Mikail Baker DB, Baylor – Cut
Analysis: Cut by the Rams
Grade: 0/0
Round 7: Jabara Williams LB, Stephen F. Austin St. – Cut
Analysis: Now plays for Chicago.
Grade: 0/0
Round 7: Jonathan Nelson DB, Oklahoma – 9 Tackles, 1 INT
Analysis: Could have been worth a fraction of a point if he didn’t now play for the Panthers.
Grade: 0/0
TOTAL SCORE 9.25/15
FINAL GRADE: 61% D-
Analysis: The Rams got a little out of this draft class in year one, but it didn’t come close to the expectations. Quinn should develop into an upper tier pass rusher but he was still very rusty his first year back to football. Lance Kendricks didn’t click with Sam Bradford this season but that could have been due to Bradford being hurt and missing time. Salas and Pettis are both guys who will compete for the slot receiver position next season but what this team really needed was a big physical wideout. The Rams got nothing out of their later picks and actually cut all of them. A bad start for a class with limited upside.
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