By Brett Grassmuck
Staff Writer

First there was a run on defensive linemen, then offensive linemen, then running backs, but where were all the wide receivers?

For the first time in the history of the NFL Draft, not a single wide receiver was selected in the first round, which played right into the hands of Rams coach Scott Linehan and executive vice president of player personnel Billy Devaney. They selected wide receiver Donnie Avery out of Houston with the second pick in round two, No. 33 overall.

“That was my only concern today, that there was going to be a run on those,” Linehan said. “I didn’t know the linemen were going to go the way they were. We were really hoping we would have some choices.

“(Avery’s) body of work, from his freshman year all the way to his senior year, the way he played and performed and produced, its just what you are looking for in a receiver.”

The last time the Rams had the No. 33 overall pick, they also selected a wide receiver, Isaac Bruce out of Memphis State in 1994.

“Really,” Avery said. “I guess I have to step up. I love it. I love competition and to be active and out there. I’m going to do my best to bring a championship back to St. Louis.”

Coincidentally, wide receiver became a position of need for the Rams after Bruce’s departure this offseason. With no wide receivers off the board, the Rams had the pick of the litter at No. 33, and Avery was the guy that fit the mold they were looking for.
 
He is a speed guy with the ability to get behind a defense and stretch the field, running a 4.29 40-yard-dash at his pro day.

“Scott and I and everybody involved kept saying if there is one thing we wanted to do is we wanted to get faster on both sides of the ball,” Devaney said. “We wanted to add juice to our offense and defense and this guy is a legitimate speed guy. Better than that, he is not just a pure track-guy, so to speak. This guy is a legitimate wide receiver also. He’ll come in and challenge for playing time and challenge to be our kick-off return guy.”

Linehan was also looking for more production from his wide receivers in terms of yards after the catch. Last season, the Rams ranked 28 in yards after the catch with 1,364 yards (Compared to Green Bay, who lead the league with 2,167 yards). After watching Avery on film, the Rams are convinced he will help improve that number.

“When you talk about the run after the catch, Scott mentioned that with the offense that you really do get to see him run with the ball a lot,” Devaney said. “The bubble screens, the quick screens out, he did a great job with that and he becomes a runner with the ball in his hands, he’s looking to score and he is looking for yards.”

Avery is also convinced he can help improve the Rams in terms of yards after the catch (YAC).

“I love YAC,” Avery said. “YAC is my friend.”

With incumbent wide receivers Torry Holt and Drew Bennett entrenched as the starters, Linehan said he plans to use Avery in a variety of roles, but immediately he can contribute as the Rams slot receiver.

“I don’t want to over-blow the term but it is a perfect fit, it really is, for what we needed,” Linehan said.

Avery followed the Rams through their “Greatest Show on Turf” days and is willing to do whatever he has to in order to fit into the Rams current wide receiver situation.

“I know they have great receivers there,” Avery said. “I just want to fit in, in any way possible even if I have to be a third or a fourth guy. If I have to step in and be a second guy, I am up for it.”

In his senior season at Houston, Avery caught 91 passes for 1,456 yards. He led Conference USA with 112 average receiving yards per game, also good for fourth in the nation. He also led Conference USA, and was 14th in the nation, with an average of seven catches per game.

His 346-yard outing against Rice last season marked the first time a Conference USA player gained more than 300 receiving yards in a game. Combined with kickoff returns, his 427 all-purpose yards in the Rice game is a Conference USA and Houston record.

“He stood out in the Combine as far as catching the ball,” Linehan said. “In our system, being able to stretch the field and run those vertical type routes and be crisp in and out of cuts is really important. He showed us all of that and I think this guy is really the complete package.”

He finished his four years at Houston with 3,289 yards on 210 catches, averaging 15.6 yards per catch and going for more than 100 yards in a game 11 times.  He also returned kicks for the Cougars, averaging 22.4 yards per return with 896 yards on 40 attempts.

“I’m that type of player who hates to sit on the sidelines,” Avery said. “If I’m not playing receiver, I want to be on every special team. I want to contribute as much as possible. I’m an active type of guy, physical and energetic. I like to get the crowd hyped. I want to play all the time.”

An avid fisherman, Avery spends time Galveston, Tex., fishing for catfish and trout in the Gulf of Mexico. He also enjoys spending time with his three-year-old daughter, Dionna Avery.

“I sit back with her and go to the zoo or just sit down and watch Barney all day,” Avery said. “I watch Barney, Sponge Bob, Wiggles, all of those little kids shows. I guess you can say I’m hard on the outside but soft on the inside.”