2011 NFL Draft: Daniel Thomas to Visit St. Louis Rams Along with 2 Other Backs

According to a report from The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Rams will host three running back prospects from the 2011 draft class. The three making their visits to St. Louis are Hawaii running back Alex Green, Kansas State's Daniel Thomas and Stevan Ridley of LSU. 

The Rams will host the three backs on Tuesday and Wednesday at Rams Park.

Anytime a team brings in multiple players that play the same position you have to believe they are showing their cards. What makes the news interesting is the Rams' current starter Steven Jackson is one of the NFL's best. 

Green led the Division 1 ranks with 7.12 yards-per-carry and was one of the more impressive players at this year's East-West Shrine Game. Green runs very well behind his pads and has a knack for exploding through contact. He has all of the tools to be a productive back in the NFL.

Thomas, 24, will be a bit older than the other backs in this class. He worries you with his straight up running style. Thomas uses his vision to find the running lanes well, but he gets knocked around more than you would like from a guy his size due to his running style. 

The least well-known of the three backs is LSU's Stevan Ridley. He's another powerful guy, but you have to think he will not develop into anything more than a special teams player at the next level. He doesn't excel in any aspect of the game and he was taken off the field in passing situations during his time at LSU.

The move seems to indicate that the Rams are really worried about the wear and tear on Jackson. It would make sense if the Rams were bringing in speedy running backs like Noel Devine to be a compliment for Jackson, but the players who are visiting are all big, powerful backs.   

Should the team draft a guy who can mature into an every down back or would it make more sense to bring in a speedy back who could complement Jackson and be a home run threat?