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Gordon: Bailey's ban increases pressure on Rams staff
• By Jeff Gordon
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_83dd25ce-d791-5e55-8248-5b59ea998cf8.html
Rams receiver Stedman Bailey finally showed some promise late in his rookie season. He ran crisp routes, got open for fill-in quarterback Kellen Clemens and caught 15 passes in his last five games.
His competence stood out in a receiving corps populated by underachieving prospects. Bailey appeared likely to earn a primary role in the passing game this season.
His progress helped convince coach Jeff Fisher he didn't have to take still another receiver in the NFL Draft.
But the Rams are still the Rams, so naturally Bailey earned a four-game NFL suspension for using banned performance-enhancing drugs.
His ban throws the spotlight on Rams receivers coach Ray Sherman and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Can they work around Bailey's absence by coaxing better performance from all those still-developing wide receivers on the roster?
Let's look at that various projects:
Tavon Austin: Knucklehead teammates diminished his impact last season by taking mindless penalties while he raced downfield for would-be touchdowns. Then an ankle injury cost him the last three games of his rookie campaign. Then there was the question of his usage; the Rams targeted him with passes five times or fewer in seven of his 13 games. That is light offensive duty for the eighth overall pick in the 2013 draft. His maturation and the return of Sam Bradford should help him double last year's totals of 40 receptions for 418 yards. But will the coaches make sure he takes that step?
Kenny Britt: Fisher likes what he has seen so far from Britt, another of the ex-Titans he has brought to St. Louis as a free agent. Back in 2010, Britt caught 42 passes for 775 yards and nine touchdowns. Back in 2010, he looked like a potential breakout player in the NFL. But right now he looks like a reclamation projection. This may be his last chance to make his mark and earn another big contract. What will he do with it?
Chris Givens: He claims to be a new man this season after bearing down with his offseason training. That sounds good, because few players have been more frustrating than Givens the past two seasons. The Rams have targeted him 164 times and gained just 76 receptions. Poor route-running, missed reads and dropped passes have marred his career. He has the speed to stretch the field and loosen up defenses. What will he do with it?
Brian Quick: The 33rd overall draft pick in 2013 has been targeted just 64 times in his career. He has just 29 receptions. The coaching staff praises his work ethic and his run-blocking skills, but given Bailey's demise the Rams need him to ACTUALLY CATCH PASSES this season. He arrived in the NFL as a raw prospect and the thus far the Rams have failed to coach him up. If he washes out of the league, his failure will leave a permanent mark on this coaching regime.
Austin Pettis: He has made modest progress in three years, catching 27, 30 and 38 passes. He isn't a big play threat, but he did catch 25 passes for first downs last season. In Bailey's absence he could become a go-to guy for Bradford in third-down scenarios. Pettis may have the most to gain from this PED beef.
T.J. Moe: An Achilles tendon injury ended his bid to make the Patriots last season as an undrafted player. Now the former Mizzou star tries again with his hometown team. Bailey's screw-up could improve his chances of earning the last WR slot if he shows well this summer, especially on special teams.
Bailey could still have a bright career in the NFL after overcoming this mistake. Ideally, though, the Rams will shuffle him to the back of their playing rotation this season by creating better alternatives through their offseason and preseason work.
Is it humanly possible to grow your own receivers at the NFL level? We believe so. Most other teams have done it. Now the Rams must do it too.
Their hope of contending in the difficult NFC West depends on it.
• By Jeff Gordon
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_83dd25ce-d791-5e55-8248-5b59ea998cf8.html
Rams receiver Stedman Bailey finally showed some promise late in his rookie season. He ran crisp routes, got open for fill-in quarterback Kellen Clemens and caught 15 passes in his last five games.
His competence stood out in a receiving corps populated by underachieving prospects. Bailey appeared likely to earn a primary role in the passing game this season.
His progress helped convince coach Jeff Fisher he didn't have to take still another receiver in the NFL Draft.
But the Rams are still the Rams, so naturally Bailey earned a four-game NFL suspension for using banned performance-enhancing drugs.
His ban throws the spotlight on Rams receivers coach Ray Sherman and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Can they work around Bailey's absence by coaxing better performance from all those still-developing wide receivers on the roster?
Let's look at that various projects:
Tavon Austin: Knucklehead teammates diminished his impact last season by taking mindless penalties while he raced downfield for would-be touchdowns. Then an ankle injury cost him the last three games of his rookie campaign. Then there was the question of his usage; the Rams targeted him with passes five times or fewer in seven of his 13 games. That is light offensive duty for the eighth overall pick in the 2013 draft. His maturation and the return of Sam Bradford should help him double last year's totals of 40 receptions for 418 yards. But will the coaches make sure he takes that step?
Kenny Britt: Fisher likes what he has seen so far from Britt, another of the ex-Titans he has brought to St. Louis as a free agent. Back in 2010, Britt caught 42 passes for 775 yards and nine touchdowns. Back in 2010, he looked like a potential breakout player in the NFL. But right now he looks like a reclamation projection. This may be his last chance to make his mark and earn another big contract. What will he do with it?
Chris Givens: He claims to be a new man this season after bearing down with his offseason training. That sounds good, because few players have been more frustrating than Givens the past two seasons. The Rams have targeted him 164 times and gained just 76 receptions. Poor route-running, missed reads and dropped passes have marred his career. He has the speed to stretch the field and loosen up defenses. What will he do with it?
Brian Quick: The 33rd overall draft pick in 2013 has been targeted just 64 times in his career. He has just 29 receptions. The coaching staff praises his work ethic and his run-blocking skills, but given Bailey's demise the Rams need him to ACTUALLY CATCH PASSES this season. He arrived in the NFL as a raw prospect and the thus far the Rams have failed to coach him up. If he washes out of the league, his failure will leave a permanent mark on this coaching regime.
Austin Pettis: He has made modest progress in three years, catching 27, 30 and 38 passes. He isn't a big play threat, but he did catch 25 passes for first downs last season. In Bailey's absence he could become a go-to guy for Bradford in third-down scenarios. Pettis may have the most to gain from this PED beef.
T.J. Moe: An Achilles tendon injury ended his bid to make the Patriots last season as an undrafted player. Now the former Mizzou star tries again with his hometown team. Bailey's screw-up could improve his chances of earning the last WR slot if he shows well this summer, especially on special teams.
Bailey could still have a bright career in the NFL after overcoming this mistake. Ideally, though, the Rams will shuffle him to the back of their playing rotation this season by creating better alternatives through their offseason and preseason work.
Is it humanly possible to grow your own receivers at the NFL level? We believe so. Most other teams have done it. Now the Rams must do it too.
Their hope of contending in the difficult NFC West depends on it.
