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http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_ee569df9-5fa3-57f5-8f68-96b4f1f296b1.html
Quarterback Sam Bradford has taken plenty of blame over the years as the Rams stacked up losing seasons on his watch. Some of it was more deserved than others.
But the most ridiculous complaint about Bradford is that he has failed despite the tremendous offensive weapons surrounding him.
Tipsheet is a big fan of Bill Barnwell, who analyzes the NFL for ESPN's Grantland vehicle. But Tipsheet begs to differ with Barnwell on this point:
It’s harder to make the case that the Rams haven’t done enough to surround Bradford with talent. Since drafting Bradford with the first pick of the 2010 draft, the Rams have invested heavily in weapons for him at wide receiver. In fact, using the Chase Stuart Draft Value Chart, the Rams have spent more draft capital on wide receivers than anybody else in football. St. Louis has spent a first-rounder (Tavon Austin), a second-rounder (Brian Quick, using the first pick of the second round), two third-rounders (Austin Pettis, Stedman Bailey), and three fourth-rounders (Greg Salas, Mardy Gilyard, Chris Givens) on wideouts over the past four years. And that doesn’t even include the fifth-round pick they traded for Brandon Lloyd in 2011 or their heavy investments at tight end, where they spent a second-round pick on Lance Kendricks before giving downfield target Jared Cook a massive deal in free agency. Bradford’s best receiver, after all of that, was undrafted free agent Danny Amendola. Not a single one of those receivers — who fit all kinds of makes and models — have lived up to their draft expectations. St. Louis is instead giving serious consideration to the idea of starting Titans castoff Kenny Britt at wideout this season. If three coaches and nearly a dozen receivers aren’t making things better in St. Louis, at what point is it the quarterback’s fault?
Here's when: When one of these receivers or tight ends who failed with Bradford breaks out for another team.
Experts find it hard to believe that the Rams could have made that many personnel and coaching mistakes. Tipsheet finds it very easy to believe after watching this team play.
Salas got his shot elsewhere and did nothing. Gilyard got his shot elsewhere and did nothing.
If Bradford was their problem, then surely they would have excelled once somebody else started throwing them passes.
As for all these other would-be Pro Bowlers, let's survey the field:
• Givens made some big plays as a rookie, then struggled with an ankle injury much of last season. He tried to step up his offseason conditioning this summer, but he has fallen down on the depth chart.
• Austin dropped a bunch of passes when Bradford was healthy last season and seldom got separation on downfield routes. (Experts liked to blame this on the play-calling offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.) Then scatter-armed Kellen Clemens replaced Bradford. Then Austin got hurt.
• Cook dropped a bunch of passes when Bradford was healthy. He could become a huge downfield threat this season if he learns to run his routes with conviction and IF HE CATCHES THE BALL.
• Kendricks drooped a bunch of passes as a rookie. He also suffered a broken finger last season and fell behind Cook in the passing game. He could be a decent threat this season on mid-range passes IF HE CATCHES THE BALL.
• Quick was a massive draft bust in his first two seasons. Shaun Hill targeted him on one deep route in the preseason opener and Quick couldn't get clear. But he is having a decent camp, so perhaps he is finally ready to emerge.
• Bailey emerged as a very nice route-runner late last season. He has dazzled in training camp. But he will open the season by serving a four-game PED suspension.
• Pettis had a terrible first camp and later earned a four-game PED suspension. Since then he has evolved into a decent possession receiver.
And, yes, Britt is easily the best Rams receiver in training camp. Is this Bradford's fault?
Or could it be, maybe, just maybe, some of the other receivers REEK OF MEDIOCRITY?
Just because these guys were high draft picks and/or got some big money doesn't mean they are good football players. Maybe, just maybe, the Rams have done a terrible job drafting and coaching young receivers.
(BTW, Bradford helped receivers who were just spare guys elsewhere — Amendola and Brandon Gibson — put up numbers in St. Louis and get big money elsewhere as free agents.)
For the record, Tipsheet believes Bradford will have a solid season. The Rams will run the ball for nice chunks behind a sturdy offensive line and put him in lots of favorable down-and-distance scenarios. He should do some damage with play-action passes.
Britt and (eventually) Bailey will upgrade the receiving corps and both Austin and Cook should make more big plays IF Bradford can stay healthy.
Will Bradford justify his mind-boggling rookie contract? No. But maybe he will quit taking the fall for the various failed personnel men, head coaches, offensive coordinators and young receivers who have stumbled in and out of Rams Park.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_ee569df9-5fa3-57f5-8f68-96b4f1f296b1.html
Quarterback Sam Bradford has taken plenty of blame over the years as the Rams stacked up losing seasons on his watch. Some of it was more deserved than others.
But the most ridiculous complaint about Bradford is that he has failed despite the tremendous offensive weapons surrounding him.
Tipsheet is a big fan of Bill Barnwell, who analyzes the NFL for ESPN's Grantland vehicle. But Tipsheet begs to differ with Barnwell on this point:
It’s harder to make the case that the Rams haven’t done enough to surround Bradford with talent. Since drafting Bradford with the first pick of the 2010 draft, the Rams have invested heavily in weapons for him at wide receiver. In fact, using the Chase Stuart Draft Value Chart, the Rams have spent more draft capital on wide receivers than anybody else in football. St. Louis has spent a first-rounder (Tavon Austin), a second-rounder (Brian Quick, using the first pick of the second round), two third-rounders (Austin Pettis, Stedman Bailey), and three fourth-rounders (Greg Salas, Mardy Gilyard, Chris Givens) on wideouts over the past four years. And that doesn’t even include the fifth-round pick they traded for Brandon Lloyd in 2011 or their heavy investments at tight end, where they spent a second-round pick on Lance Kendricks before giving downfield target Jared Cook a massive deal in free agency. Bradford’s best receiver, after all of that, was undrafted free agent Danny Amendola. Not a single one of those receivers — who fit all kinds of makes and models — have lived up to their draft expectations. St. Louis is instead giving serious consideration to the idea of starting Titans castoff Kenny Britt at wideout this season. If three coaches and nearly a dozen receivers aren’t making things better in St. Louis, at what point is it the quarterback’s fault?
Here's when: When one of these receivers or tight ends who failed with Bradford breaks out for another team.
Experts find it hard to believe that the Rams could have made that many personnel and coaching mistakes. Tipsheet finds it very easy to believe after watching this team play.
Salas got his shot elsewhere and did nothing. Gilyard got his shot elsewhere and did nothing.
If Bradford was their problem, then surely they would have excelled once somebody else started throwing them passes.
As for all these other would-be Pro Bowlers, let's survey the field:
• Givens made some big plays as a rookie, then struggled with an ankle injury much of last season. He tried to step up his offseason conditioning this summer, but he has fallen down on the depth chart.
• Austin dropped a bunch of passes when Bradford was healthy last season and seldom got separation on downfield routes. (Experts liked to blame this on the play-calling offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.) Then scatter-armed Kellen Clemens replaced Bradford. Then Austin got hurt.
• Cook dropped a bunch of passes when Bradford was healthy. He could become a huge downfield threat this season if he learns to run his routes with conviction and IF HE CATCHES THE BALL.
• Kendricks drooped a bunch of passes as a rookie. He also suffered a broken finger last season and fell behind Cook in the passing game. He could be a decent threat this season on mid-range passes IF HE CATCHES THE BALL.
• Quick was a massive draft bust in his first two seasons. Shaun Hill targeted him on one deep route in the preseason opener and Quick couldn't get clear. But he is having a decent camp, so perhaps he is finally ready to emerge.
• Bailey emerged as a very nice route-runner late last season. He has dazzled in training camp. But he will open the season by serving a four-game PED suspension.
• Pettis had a terrible first camp and later earned a four-game PED suspension. Since then he has evolved into a decent possession receiver.
And, yes, Britt is easily the best Rams receiver in training camp. Is this Bradford's fault?
Or could it be, maybe, just maybe, some of the other receivers REEK OF MEDIOCRITY?
Just because these guys were high draft picks and/or got some big money doesn't mean they are good football players. Maybe, just maybe, the Rams have done a terrible job drafting and coaching young receivers.
(BTW, Bradford helped receivers who were just spare guys elsewhere — Amendola and Brandon Gibson — put up numbers in St. Louis and get big money elsewhere as free agents.)
For the record, Tipsheet believes Bradford will have a solid season. The Rams will run the ball for nice chunks behind a sturdy offensive line and put him in lots of favorable down-and-distance scenarios. He should do some damage with play-action passes.
Britt and (eventually) Bailey will upgrade the receiving corps and both Austin and Cook should make more big plays IF Bradford can stay healthy.
Will Bradford justify his mind-boggling rookie contract? No. But maybe he will quit taking the fall for the various failed personnel men, head coaches, offensive coordinators and young receivers who have stumbled in and out of Rams Park.
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_ee569df9-5fa3-57f5-8f68-96b4f1f296b1.html
