I remember, a few years ago, when there were two defensive players who were potential draft choices for the Rams. One had the measureables and a pedigree, the other showed flashes of brilliance and was too light, too short. I liked him because I liked the intangible stuff he brought as a football player. I wasn't active on the board then - had taken a long break from posting.
The Rams drafted the guy who was too short. When he shined in camp, I felt like snarking away, reminding the people now praising him, "Yeah, but he's too short." When he played well into the season, I thought to say, "He really didn't do that - the other guy tripped," or, "He just got lucky with the matchup," and of course reminding the former scoffers, "He can't really play well - after all, ya gotta remember: he's too short."
The objections to Aaron Donald because of his measureables were so vehement that my rubbing it in afterward seemed justified. Probably better, looking back, that I kept my mouth shut.
I didn't expect much from Greg Robinson. I was disappointed that the Rams (Martz) drafted him, but got about what I expected from him as a player.
What about Chop? I see potential, athleticism, and a willingness to play. His head and heart are in it. But he's still raw, still growing (barely out of his teens) and will probably be drafted early by somebody because of his potential.
If the Rams see his head, heart, athleticism and potential as outshining his mixed bag meaureables and take a swing at him on that basis, then I gotta trust them.
