Feb 22, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; St. Louis Rams general manager Les Snead speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Besides the loud and boisterous cheers from the NBA playoffs, it’s a subdued and eerie feeling before the NFL draft. A lot like the calm before the storm. General managers and head coaches are preparing war room campsites and subliminal messages are seeping through wires and phone lines.

A mock draft here, a mock draft there, it’s all about to come to end. Rams’ fans across the nation have their preferences of what players they wish to see in blue and gold. You would think the ongoing debate between the ultra athletic Cordarrelle Patterson and the swiss army knife Tavon Austin was a presidential election. What about the gifted, but troublesome Alec Ogletree? Some have said he’s Rolando Mcclain 2.0. This regime has proven that they take a hard look at talent and weigh the good with the bad. Perhaps they take a flyer on the roaming outside linebacker.

The most glaring need is safety. Kenny Vaccaro? Matt Elam? Jonathan Cyprien? They all could be at play with the Rams second first round selection(22). However, what about offensive line help? Everyone is quick to point out the need at left guard, but the organization never got the chance to see what Rokevious Watkins could actually do because of an early season ending injury. Quite frankly, I’m more worried about center and right guard. Scott Wells never played at full strength and his missed a large portion of the season. Not to mention he’s 32 years old in a division where he has to face the brutal D-line of the rival Seahawks and 49ers. The same goes for Harvey Dahl as he’s rehabbing from a torn bicep. Maybe Chance Warmack or Jonathan Cooper will entice the Rams.

Sure, along with dream scenarios, nightmare scenarios also come into the fold. Two offensive lineman in round one? No Austin or WR selected at 16 or 22? What about the bruising, but fleet-footed Eddie Lacy? I haven’t heard much support if the St. Louis decide to go this route. Even after only one year under the helm, has the trifecta of Kevin Demoff, Les Snead and Jeff Fisher let down a spirited group of Rams’ fan thus far?

Looks like they’ve struck gold in last year’s draft pending Brian Quick and Isaiah Pead. Michael Brockers and Janoris Jenkins have the makings of perennial Pro Bowl players. Chris Givens is the best WR on the roster as of now, and who would’ve thought a 7th round scatback from Abilene Christian College would rush for 475 yards? This is not the same regime who selected countless future bust, boneheaded players and flat out duds.

Out of the eight picks in the 2011 NFL draft, only three remain on the Rams’ roster (Robert Quinn, Lance Kendricks, Austin Pettis). Out of 11 selections from the 2010 NFL draft, three remain as well, Sam Bradford, Roger Saffold and Josh Hull. From the seven picks in the 2009 NFL draft, only one remain on the roster, James Laurinaitis. And the 2008 NFL draft? Only the all-pro Chris Long is left standing out of eight picks. This organization is no longer ran by the likes of flamed out coordinators such as Scott Linehan or Steve Spagnuolo.

Regardless of which directions the Rams go tonight, a draft class can only truly be measured three to four years down the line. Trust that Snead and Fisher have a plan, trust that they are molding the Rams into a formidable franchise for years to come and know that this heralded group of leaders are here to stay.

#StayCalmAndSneadOn

October 21, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Daryl Richardson (26) carries the ball as Green Bay Packers strong safety Charles Woodson (21) defends during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

In regards of the “Tuck Rule” change, it was a long time coming, but I’m sure the Raiders aren’t thinking better late that never.

The controversial rule change that has taken the league by storm is banning “crown-of-the-helmet hits outside of the tackle box.” So, basically NFL officials are saying players cannot lean forward with their helmets in the open field to take on defenders.

From Pop Warner all the way to college football, players are taught to lower their pads to either protect themselves from punishing blows or to dish out the blow.

And by players, I specifically mean running backs.

When something is embedded into your mind, into your DNA, how can you erase instincts? Altering a quarterbacks’ throwing mechanics should in no form or fashion fall into comparison of  instincts. Changing when to release the ball, the cadence of a drop back and the overall form is seen as a manual change, not mental. This almost compares to the NBA’s decision to ban flopping. “Flopping” was defined as fooling the referee to make the improper call. It increased the difficult of officiating. All in all, a smart move by the association.

Well, how are NFL referees to judge a running back lowering his shoulders and not the crown-of-the-helmet? Now, I’m no expert in anatomy, but I believe your head and neck is attached to your shoulders. Take the time to lower your shoulders without your head and neck and see if that is possible.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has stood for pro health and safety since he has took over the reigns, but prohibiting players from lowering their shoulders only makes them more open and accessible to big hits from 6’3″ 250 pound, ultra-athletic linebackers.

This rule change unfairly targets big, bruising backs whose style of play is to physically punish defenders. However, all running backs lower their shoulders that inevitably causes them to drop their heads. Although, what about shifty tailbacks who elude defenders and avoid contact? Could they gain an advantage from this ruling?

With Steven Jackson taking his talents to Atlanta, the Rams are left with Isaiah Pead (5’1o” 197 lbs) and Daryl Richardson (5’10″ 196 lbs). St. Louis does have a big-bodied RB in Terrance Ganaway who is listed at 6’1″ and 240lbs, but I believe Pead will open the regular season as the Rams starting running back.

Pead and Richardson are both seen as elusive runners who make defenders miss in the open field, so maybe the Rams were on to something letting Jackson go. Not to mention head coach Jeff Fisher has been translating the rule change at the annual NFL football meetings.

I probably reached a little bit with that one.

As this controversial rule change spreads across the NFL, free agent RB Brandon Jacobs summed up in a tweet the majority of sentiments from running backs in the league:

Get your daughters ready, because they’ll be playing football soon!!!!!

Oct 14, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Detroit Lions secondaries coach Tim Walton (in red) during the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Lions defeated the Eagles 26-23 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

In a league filled with old faces in new places or better known as recycled coaches, the St. Louis Rams are treading new waters as the hire Lions’ defensive back coach Tim Walton.

I was on board of the initial hiring of Rob Ryan, but the two hard-nosed personalities and defensive schemes in Ryan and HC Jeff Fisher wasn’t the ideal match. Former Browns’ defensive coordinator Dick Jauron and Vikings’ special assistant to the head coach/linebackers Mike Singletary would have been attention-grabbers, but they reside the bin of recycled coaches.

This move make sense on so many levels. Walton is technically a product of the Fisher Coaching Tree. He worked under Lions’ HC Jim Schwartz who was Fisher’s former defensive coordinator in Tennessee. Walton has never really left Fisher’s side, well sort of. He also worked along side Rams assistant secondary coach in Brandon Fisher in 2011 in Motown. Walton was on Fisher’s radar last season, but he opted to stay with the Lions with a new title of defensive backs/third-down package coach. Walton ensures familiarity with the scheme and the coaching staff.

Before Walton’s jump to the NFL, he spent 14 seasons in the college ranks coaching at Miami, Louisiana State, and Memphis. At Miami and Memphis, he was the defensive coordinator in 2008 and 2007 respectively.

And Walton’s specialty? Defensive backs. For a team that had one combined interception between their starting safeties, the Rams could use someone to develop playmakers in the secondary. Walton coached nine players that were drafted in the first or second round. That list includes Kenny Phillips (a free agent), LaRon Landry, Antrel Rolle, Brandon Meriweather, Corey Webster, Kelly Jennings and Idrees Bashir. He also coached Devin Hester who was a CB for Miami, but now he’s a WR for Chicago.

In most cases when a coordinator or coach leaves for another team, players follow. When the Rams hired Steve Spagnuolo, Fredd Robbins  and Quintin Mikell followed, and Cortland Finnegan and William Hayes followed Fisher in his hiring. So does that mean Rams’ will pursue Lions’ free agents?

Maybe so. With a need at safety, there is Louis Delmas,  and why not pursue linebackers Justin Durant or DeAndre Levy to pair next to James Laurinaitis and Jo-Lonn Dunbar? Just a thought.

While Walton was at Detroit, the Lions finished tied for third in the NFL in 2011 with 34 takeaways. In 2012, a drastic drop to 17 was due to a slew of injuries in the secondary, but the Lions managed to have the 14-ranked passing defense, ironically one spot ahead of the Rams.

Fisher will still have his paws all over the defense. Even without a defensive coordinator this past season, the committee approach led the Rams to a top-15 unit. Walton’s teaching of takeaways will not only bolster the defense, but also magnify Fisher’s ability to change this organization into a perennial  contender.