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| AP / mlive.com |
RamView hasn't had the kindest things
to say about quarterback Shaun Hill over the years. Namely: he's a
"hack"; he throws a football like he's trying to launch a
shot put; he telegraphs his throws; his passes have hang time and are
challenged to cut through a modest headwind; and he has a noodle arm
to make Steve Walsh look like John Elway. But, the Rams had to fill a
roster hole at QB2 after losing Kellen Clemens to San Diego, and in
signing Hill, they've upgraded at the position.
Hill, 34 years old, 6'3" 220, has
a .500 lifetime record, thanks in part to his mesmerizing sway over
the Rams. Not only has he never lost to the Rams, in 2008, he led the
49ers to a 35-0 victory over St. Louis, and 2 years later, led the
Lions over the Rams in an even more humiliating 44-6 fiasco. Most of
Hill's career action has been in that 2008-2010 timeframe; he's only
thrown 16 passes the past three seasons (completing 12). His numbers
add up, though. His career passer rating (85.9) is better than Sam
Bradford's (QB controversy!!). He's completed 61.9% of his career
passes (62.8 in 9 games in 2008, 61.8 in 11 games in 2010). The
number of Hill's I, and I'm guessing Jeff Fisher, like best is that
he has a nearly 2:1 career TD:INT ration (41:23). That's a huge
advantage over Clemens, who's been more in the 1:1 range. And though,
hell no, Hill doesn't have a big arm, Clemens' arm strength
advantage is trumped by Hill's accuracy and ability to avoid INTs.
Hill's been an effective game manager and an accurate short passer
who'll kill a defense with checkdowns and underneath stuff if you
give him time.
The main caveat about Hill is that he's
coming off offseason foot surgery for the second straight season and
isn't a lock to participate in OTAs. But, unless he'd have difficulty
with Brian Schottenheimer's system, which no one anywhere expects,
the Rams have landed one of the better backup QBs in the league and
still have a QB aboard good enough to keep the offense afloat if
(when?) Bradford gets hurt again.
-$-
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