- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
No pouting for Davis after demotion by Rams
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_9c6a316d-820e-5e04-99f0-a7b73651466e.html
Austin Davis' eight-week run as the Rams' starting quarterback is over, and there's no guarantee when he'll be back or if he'll be back in the starting lineup. In the NFL, you never know when or if that next opportunity will present itself.
And that's exactly why Davis won't be sulking after learning he was being benched in favor of veteran Shaun Hill for Sunday's noon kickoff against Denver at the Edward Jones Dome.
"I've always said that it's not about me," Davis told reporters Wednesday. "But I don't really have time to feel sorry for myself because we play Denver Sunday, and you're still one play way.
"So it's a different role. It's a different position. Hopefully what I've done, I've gained some respect in this locker room. I'm gonna continue to be the same guy, just a different role."
But in the overall picture, the role hasn't changed for Davis. He's always been an underdog as an NFL quarterback. Undrafted out of Southern Mississippi in 2012, cut from the Rams' roster at the end of the 2013 preseason, working as a volunteer high school coach about 13 months ago at Westminster Christian Academy in suburban St. Louis.
His locker stall at Rams Park remains tucked between the linebackers and offensive linemen _ not with the quarterbacks across the room.
As tough as it was to see coach Jeff Fisher walk into the quarterback room with the news of his demotion, Davis understands why the decision was made.
"I think you're graded on wins and losses," Davis said. "We didn't get as many as we wanted to."
The Rams were 3-5 with Davis at quarterback, playing a brutally tough schedule. Those eight teams Davis started against currently have a record of 45-28. Tampa Bay, which marked Davis' first NFL start on Sept. 14, is the only team among the group with a losing record at 1-8.
"This is a good football team," Davis said. "I just wish I could've played better at times and we could've played better offensively. The quarterback's the leader of that. So I take a lot of that on my shoulders and a lot of that responsibility. I think that'll serve me well later."
Davis has no hard feelings towards Hill _ far from it.
"The reason that I was able to do what I did earlier this year was because of Shaun's support for me," Davis said. "I owe it to him to show him that same kind of support and same kind of respect, and be a great teammate. And be prepared. Nothing really changes as far as preparation goes and being ready to step in. When we started the season I was No. 2, so I just go back to that role."
Even with his recent slump, Davis' overall numbers weren't terrible: He has completed 180 of 284 passes for 2001 yards, a 63.4% completion rate, with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. His passer rating is 85.1, which ranks 23rd in the league.
Again, the worst part was not simply the turnovers, but the fact that four interceptions and two sack fumbles were returned for TDs by the opposition.
Davis described his recent play as: "Inconsistent. Just up and down, and I could sense it and feel it at times. So I've just got to find a way to play more consistent and not turn the ball over in critical situations.
"And at the end of the day, you've got to find a way to win. That's how we're all graded, and that's how we're all judged."
Davis comes away from his half-season stint as a starter with an even greater appreciation of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL _ and the elite players in general _ for their ability to play at a high level week after week.
"I've learned a lot but I think the thing that's difficult is to bring it every week, and stay confident every week when your body's tired and it's not new, it's not fresh," Davis said. "To be able to focus and to keep bringing it is something that in a 16-game season you have to take it one game at a time.
"That's cliche' and kind of coach-speak if you will, but it's true. You have to approach it that way. And you can't turn the ball over. Teams in this league that win, the quarterback doesn't turn the ball over and they make big plays at the end.
"There were a lot of games where we had the football at the end with a chance to go down and win it. Some we did, and some we didn't. I would've like to have done it more often."
