2011 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 2, Pick 47

Our annual 2011 NFL Mock Draft, with picks made by each of SB Nation’s NFL team bloggers, is in full swing. The latest pick in to the podium: the St. Louis Rams, at No. 47 overall.

Ryan Van Bibber of TurfShowTimes.com explains the choice, and our own Dan Kadar reacts to it, after the jump. Make sure you’re grading this pick for the Rams, and checking out Turf Show Times for all of your Rams needs.

Ryan Van Bibber explains: I swear this mock draft was not just an easy give to our fans on the Illinois side of the river, with two Illinois players in two rounds. Still, after watching Leshoure rip Missouri last season, even our fans on the other side of the river should be pleased with this pick. GM Billy Devaney has been looking for a backup/complement to Steven Jackson for a long time, even admitting to the media on April 12 that he had so far “failed” in that task.

Leshoure is a little different tact for that plan than many thought just a month or so ago, when it was assumed that a speedy, slender third-down runner was the best option. But why take the ball out of Jackson’s hands on third-down? Years of abuse have added up, and Jackson’s talent is wasted pushing him between the tackles. Jackson is the best so-called third-down back the Rams are going get... and they already have him. Leshoure will take over many of the first- and second-down carries, or the between the tackles stuff. Jackson will be used more and more as a receiver, lined up outside and in the slot sometimes. Opposing defenses will struggle to match the Rams offense with both backs on the field.

It’s hard to pass on a receiver here, but Leshoure will have more of an impact, giving the offense a new dimension by allowing them to expand Jackson’s role in 2011 (if there is a 2011 season) than a receiver not named Julio Jones... and the draft isn’t over after two rounds, anyway.

Dan Kadar reacts: The only reason I don’t like this pick is because Jon Baldwin is still out there. It’s hard to see a second running back behind Jackson making a larger impact than a possible No. 1 wide receiver. By the time the Rams would pick again (pick 78), it’s hard to imagine the talent at wide receiver being as high. At running back, though, there should be several options in the third and fourth rounds. Namely, Delone Carter (Syracuse), Daniel Thomas (Kansas State) and Bilal Powell (Louisville) come to mind.

Leshoure would be a fine player for the Rams, if they chose to pick him. Baldwin might be a better one. [Mikel Leshoure Scouting Report]