- Joined
- Dec 20, 2012
- Messages
- 577
Shane Gray provides special Rams commentaries on 101sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ShaneGmoSTLRams.
Last season, the St. Louis Rams posted 18.7 points per game and bettered their 2011 output by more than six points per contest, but the improved final numbers were only good for 25th in the league.
In today’s NFL – an NFL with an ever-increasing offensive emphasis due to rules changes and a plethora of other factors – it may be tougher than ever to win without fielding an offense that consistently produces points at a proficient level.
With that understood, it was of little surprise to hear the Rams’ front office continually stress one predominant priority leading up to the recent draft and free-agency period : the need to add explosive playmakers. As we witnessed in the days thereafter, St. Louis did just that.
In free agency, the Rams reunited head coach Jeff Fisher with gifted former Tennessee Titans hybrid tight end Jared Cook. In Cook, the Rams added a target with arguably the best blend of size, speed, athleticism and big-play potential of any tight end in the league.
In the draft, the club aggressively traded up to select the rookie class’ most athletically explosive offensive talent – West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin. No other offensive weapon in the draft owned Austin’s multi-faceted combination of track-star speed, cat-like quickness and ankle-breaking elusiveness.
All in all, what the Rams did in the offseason to continue revamping and reformulating the passing game was no small feat. This was a makeover – as touched on in the camp and preseason preview – that was extreme. It was a continuation of a reconstruction that began in 2012 with the draft selections of receivers Chris Givens and Brian Quick. It was one implemented, according to Fisher, to help quarterback Sam Bradford and his offense ascend.
“I’ve said this all the time, the better the people that are surrounding him (Bradford) are, the better chance he has of taking another step,” Fisher said. “I think we’ve done everything we can to this point doing that with (Jared) Cook and the young receivers from last year … Austin (Pettis) is improving, so it’s a good group around him.”
According to the aforementioned Quick, this is a special group.
(Hope you will enjoy the full piece here):
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.101sports.com/2013/07/26/bradford-and-quick-expecting-more-explosiveness-from-rams-passing-game/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.101sports.com/2013/07/26/bra ... sing-game/</a>
Last season, the St. Louis Rams posted 18.7 points per game and bettered their 2011 output by more than six points per contest, but the improved final numbers were only good for 25th in the league.
In today’s NFL – an NFL with an ever-increasing offensive emphasis due to rules changes and a plethora of other factors – it may be tougher than ever to win without fielding an offense that consistently produces points at a proficient level.
With that understood, it was of little surprise to hear the Rams’ front office continually stress one predominant priority leading up to the recent draft and free-agency period : the need to add explosive playmakers. As we witnessed in the days thereafter, St. Louis did just that.
In free agency, the Rams reunited head coach Jeff Fisher with gifted former Tennessee Titans hybrid tight end Jared Cook. In Cook, the Rams added a target with arguably the best blend of size, speed, athleticism and big-play potential of any tight end in the league.
In the draft, the club aggressively traded up to select the rookie class’ most athletically explosive offensive talent – West Virginia wide receiver Tavon Austin. No other offensive weapon in the draft owned Austin’s multi-faceted combination of track-star speed, cat-like quickness and ankle-breaking elusiveness.
All in all, what the Rams did in the offseason to continue revamping and reformulating the passing game was no small feat. This was a makeover – as touched on in the camp and preseason preview – that was extreme. It was a continuation of a reconstruction that began in 2012 with the draft selections of receivers Chris Givens and Brian Quick. It was one implemented, according to Fisher, to help quarterback Sam Bradford and his offense ascend.
“I’ve said this all the time, the better the people that are surrounding him (Bradford) are, the better chance he has of taking another step,” Fisher said. “I think we’ve done everything we can to this point doing that with (Jared) Cook and the young receivers from last year … Austin (Pettis) is improving, so it’s a good group around him.”
According to the aforementioned Quick, this is a special group.
(Hope you will enjoy the full piece here):
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.101sports.com/2013/07/26/bradford-and-quick-expecting-more-explosiveness-from-rams-passing-game/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.101sports.com/2013/07/26/bra ... sing-game/</a>
