With the 14th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams selected University of North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn.
I was not a fan of the potential Quinn to Houston selection, but I do like Robert Quinn in the 4-3 defense. Quinn's a good pass rusher when his hand is on the ground. It's that burst, with his hand down, that makes him special. His speed makes him Dwight Freeney like as opposed to an average guy standing up. It's a different skill set that I did not think Quinn had.
There has to be concerns about his brain tumor which requires a bi-annual MRI to ensure it is still benign. In fact, there were teams whose team doctors did not clear Quinn which led to him being excluded from draft boards. There also has to be concerns about his run defense which is suspect. However, Steve Spagnuolo, like Jim Schwartz before him, loves to collect defensive linemen and the Rams now have a defensive end who can be special. It was a clear cut best available player pick which happens to suit a coach's style, so it's a very good pick for the Rams.
Filed under: