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Plays that shaped Rams' season: No. 1
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/15718/plays-that-shaped-rams-season-no-1
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- It's probably not a good thing when the No. 1 play that shaped your season two years in a row is essentially the same play. But that's the unfortunate reality for the St. Louis Rams and quarterback Sam Bradford.
Bradford spent an offseason working diligently to return to health after suffering a season-ending ACL injury against the Carolina Panthers midway through the 2013 season. And by all accounts, Bradford was coming along well in his return.
On Aug. 23, Bradford was making his second preseason start against the Cleveland Browns and had gone four-of-nine for 77 yards. Then disaster struck. ... again.
Bradford took what appeared to be a light hit from Cleveland's Armonty Bryant, who had quickly got past tackle Jake Long as Bradford threw incomplete to tight end Jared Cook. Bradford shrugged Bryant off, but the defensive lineman made contact with the quarterback's left knee.
Bradford crumpled to the ground in pain as Rams doctors and trainers rushed to his side. He limped off the field under his own power but favoring the left leg as he went to the locker room for further examination.
Despite some initial hope that the injury wasn't as severe as the torn ACL he'd suffered against Carolina, further tests revealed the worst news of all: Bradford had suffered a second season-ending torn ACL in as many seasons.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher immediately gave veteran backup Shaun Hill a vote of confidence as the starter, an arrangement that would only last one half of the team's first game against Minnesota before Hill departed with a thigh injury of his own. By the time the season was over, Hill had started half the games with Austin Davis starting the other half.
Hill and Davis finished with identical 3-5 records as the starter and both finished near the bottom of the league in total QBR among qualifying quarterbacks. There's no telling how the Rams' season would have turned out with a healthy Bradford but there's also no denying that it would have been better.
If nothing else, Bradford probably wouldn't have had the penchant for throwing as many interceptions that resulted in defensive touchdowns as Davis and Hill did. And, the Rams would have a better handle on their quarterback situation heading into the 2015 season.
Instead, the Rams enter the offseason in need of help at the position, even if Bradford again returns from a serious injury suffered on that fateful August night.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/15718/plays-that-shaped-rams-season-no-1
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- It's probably not a good thing when the No. 1 play that shaped your season two years in a row is essentially the same play. But that's the unfortunate reality for the St. Louis Rams and quarterback Sam Bradford.
Bradford spent an offseason working diligently to return to health after suffering a season-ending ACL injury against the Carolina Panthers midway through the 2013 season. And by all accounts, Bradford was coming along well in his return.
On Aug. 23, Bradford was making his second preseason start against the Cleveland Browns and had gone four-of-nine for 77 yards. Then disaster struck. ... again.
Bradford took what appeared to be a light hit from Cleveland's Armonty Bryant, who had quickly got past tackle Jake Long as Bradford threw incomplete to tight end Jared Cook. Bradford shrugged Bryant off, but the defensive lineman made contact with the quarterback's left knee.
Bradford crumpled to the ground in pain as Rams doctors and trainers rushed to his side. He limped off the field under his own power but favoring the left leg as he went to the locker room for further examination.
Despite some initial hope that the injury wasn't as severe as the torn ACL he'd suffered against Carolina, further tests revealed the worst news of all: Bradford had suffered a second season-ending torn ACL in as many seasons.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher immediately gave veteran backup Shaun Hill a vote of confidence as the starter, an arrangement that would only last one half of the team's first game against Minnesota before Hill departed with a thigh injury of his own. By the time the season was over, Hill had started half the games with Austin Davis starting the other half.
Hill and Davis finished with identical 3-5 records as the starter and both finished near the bottom of the league in total QBR among qualifying quarterbacks. There's no telling how the Rams' season would have turned out with a healthy Bradford but there's also no denying that it would have been better.
If nothing else, Bradford probably wouldn't have had the penchant for throwing as many interceptions that resulted in defensive touchdowns as Davis and Hill did. And, the Rams would have a better handle on their quarterback situation heading into the 2015 season.
Instead, the Rams enter the offseason in need of help at the position, even if Bradford again returns from a serious injury suffered on that fateful August night.
