 |
| Fox News |
Sam
Bradford (159-262-1,687, 60.7%, 14 TD, 4 INT, PR 90.9): C+
No, I am not saying Kellen Clemens is a better QB than Sam Bradford, or that anybody else but (a healthy) Bradford should start for the Rams in 2014. But all the mixed feelings about Sam come together in this just-average grade. Sam raised his game in 2013. All those numbers were on track to be career bests and had the makings of a top-10 NFL QB. There had been a lot of complaints about Bradford's red zone performance his first three seasons, but he was dynamite down there this season. He continued to show the treasured ability to rally the team from behind. But, like the front office that drafted him, Bradford is a “safe” QB. He still takes too many checkdowns. Pass rush still gets in his head more than it should. He still gets far too many passes knocked down at the line. The Rams had to run his old college no-huddle at times to get anywhere. And this year was the second of four he couldn't come close to finishing due to injuries, a problem that has dogged him for a long time. Sam Bradford ultimately has yet to be a QB who elevates his team. Yes, some parts of the team need a whole lot of elevating. But Sam's a $50 million first draft pick overall. Four years in, he shouldn't have needed an offense stacked with all-Pros. Accordingly, the Rams went into the 2013 season planning to have Bradford carry the offensive load. That started badly and became outright uncompetitive during a 1-3 start that only got righted because Zac Stacy emerged to slug things out. Yes, the plan around Bradford was bad and the execution around him was even worse. Yet, Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, Cam Newton, Nick Foles, Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, all contemporaries of Bradford, are all in the playoffs with maybe three decent receivers between them (Vernon Davis, DeSean Jackson, A.J. Green). Bradford's a maturing QB getting close to being as good as he's ever going to be. He'll be running a well-balanced offense if he can get his knee rehabbed in time. 2014 has to be Sam Bradford's year. Time to take off the kid gloves.
No, I am not saying Kellen Clemens is a better QB than Sam Bradford, or that anybody else but (a healthy) Bradford should start for the Rams in 2014. But all the mixed feelings about Sam come together in this just-average grade. Sam raised his game in 2013. All those numbers were on track to be career bests and had the makings of a top-10 NFL QB. There had been a lot of complaints about Bradford's red zone performance his first three seasons, but he was dynamite down there this season. He continued to show the treasured ability to rally the team from behind. But, like the front office that drafted him, Bradford is a “safe” QB. He still takes too many checkdowns. Pass rush still gets in his head more than it should. He still gets far too many passes knocked down at the line. The Rams had to run his old college no-huddle at times to get anywhere. And this year was the second of four he couldn't come close to finishing due to injuries, a problem that has dogged him for a long time. Sam Bradford ultimately has yet to be a QB who elevates his team. Yes, some parts of the team need a whole lot of elevating. But Sam's a $50 million first draft pick overall. Four years in, he shouldn't have needed an offense stacked with all-Pros. Accordingly, the Rams went into the 2013 season planning to have Bradford carry the offensive load. That started badly and became outright uncompetitive during a 1-3 start that only got righted because Zac Stacy emerged to slug things out. Yes, the plan around Bradford was bad and the execution around him was even worse. Yet, Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, Cam Newton, Nick Foles, Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, all contemporaries of Bradford, are all in the playoffs with maybe three decent receivers between them (Vernon Davis, DeSean Jackson, A.J. Green). Bradford's a maturing QB getting close to being as good as he's ever going to be. He'll be running a well-balanced offense if he can get his knee rehabbed in time. 2014 has to be Sam Bradford's year. Time to take off the kid gloves.
Kellen Clemens (142-242-1,673, 58.7%, 8 TD, 7 INT, PR 78.8): B
Clemens' grade is mainly for exceeding expectations. Once Bradford went out for the season, the Rams looked like they were probably going to lose 8 of their final 9 games, and that was the rosy scenario. Instead, Clemens guided them to a 4-5 finish. Kellen is no match for Sam Bradford talentwise. He's nowhere near as accurate a passer and throws too many interceptions, many of which are the dumb forced kind a QB of his experience should have learned to avoid by now. But he showed he could come in off the bench and manage the Ram offense and keep it competitive. That's the most I expect from a backup QB and most of them fail at it. Clemens, rewardingly, can go back home knowing he had a better 2013 than noted preseason critic Bernie Kosar.
Austin Davis: F
A big disappointment, Davis landed his F in August when he failed to make the roster out of training camp. He only made the roster after Bradford's injury. Austin was all-but handed the QB2 job after the '12 season but by training camp was only platooning with Clemens and eventually lost that battle. He didn't throw accurately and it looked like he had trouble reading defenses. A disappointing turn for a young QB who appeared to have a ton of potential last preseason.
Brady Quinn: F-minus
Hello, 911? I'm calling to report a stolen paycheck. I think Quinn may have injured himself signing his deal to come in after Bradford's injury. I'm not sure he even threw a pass at Rams Park.
Looking
ahead: Jeff Fisher has already declared Bradford his main man
in 2014. Clemens is a free agent I'm happy to re-sign after his 2013
performance. In fact, I'd try to lock him up early for 2014; the free
agent QB market is pretty brutal. The Rams also need to add a young
QB who can be groomed to take over for Bradford down the road. I'd
wait till day 3 of the draft. The Rams' handling of the QB position
will be one of about a dozen big stories this offseason.
-$-
No comments:
Post a Comment