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| USA Today |
Sam Bradford (0-0-0, NaN completion %,
0 TD, 0 INT, NaN passer rating): F
I used to think the Rams were better
off for having drafted Sam Bradford over Ndamukong Suh in 2010, even
though Bradford himself wasn’t the reason they were better off. I’m
not as sure any more, not when Bradford has missed about half his
career, including the last 26 games, due to durability problems that
have vexed him all his football life and were well-known heading into
to the 2010 draft. The Rams took him anyway and it’s only paid off
for Bradford’s bank account. The Rams went all-in on the balky
Bradford in 2014 and both he and they busted before even making the
regular season. They may be all-in again in 2015, making it or
breaking based on how well Bradford china holds up. The results so
far have not been encouraging.
Austin Davis (180-284-2,001, 63.4%, 12
TD, 9 INT, 85.1 passer rating): C-
Had some gutty games against
bad-to-average defenses but got overwhelmed by good ones. Made a
number of clutch plays, showed mobility and did a good job spreading
the ball around. Remember when Jon Gruden called him young Drew
Brees? Played without fear but also turned the ball over too often.
Has a long way to go in his ability to read the field. Didn't show
the pre-snap recognition to get off quick passes. Lack of arm
strength, accuracy and field vision cost the Rams some deep-ball
opportunities. Eventually lost his composure too much under pressure
and made too many big mistakes. This was still satisfactory for what
was basically a rookie season for Davis. I would have let him finish
out the season.
Shaun Hill (145-229-1,657, 63.3%, 8 TD,
7 INT, 83.9 passer rating): C-
Mixed some bursts of competent
game-manager QB play with a stupid inability to throw passes away
successfully. Lack of deep arm denied the Rams several TD
opportunities late in the season and probably a couple of wins. Some
of his passes look like he’s shot putted them or thrown them end
over end. After Davis got benched for losing games with turnovers,
Hill lost them at least two games by… committing pivotal turnovers.
He’s fine for what he was supposed to be, a veteran backup game
manager QB. He was never meant to be a full-time starter. Eventually
it showed.
Looking ahead: The Rams' QB situation
is intriguing for a number of reasons. Jeff Fisher said at his
postseason press conference that they'll bring a QB “from outside
the building” to compete with Bradford. Well, if Sam's around. He
and his agent have not shown much receptiveness toward renegotiating
his bloated contract. And, though the Rams have tendered restricted
free agent Davis, Fisher has been pretty stubborn about keeping only
2 QBs on the active roster. If that's to be Bradford and Mr. Outside,
that doesn't look great for Davis, and even worse, I suspect, for
unrestricted free agent Hill. I could live with a Bradford/Davis
depth chart, and I'm rooting for Davis to prove himself a viable plan
B, but the Rams may have to roster a more long-term viable plan B
than Davis instead.
If they can find one. This is a really
bad year to need a QB unless Daniel Jeremiah's (NFL.com) mock draft
miracle scenario unfolds and Marcus Mariota falls to #10. After
Mariota and likely #1 overall pick Jameis Winston, there's little
draft depth at the position. Pundits are starting to suggest the Rams
trade up, but they don't have the ammo for it after trading for Mark
Barron last year, and it would be pretty stupid to fleece ourselves
of a lot of draft picks three years after fleecing the Redskins. The
free agent market, where most experts rank Mark Sanchez as the top QB
available, doesn't look any more helpful.
RamView's move: Obviously, if Mariota
fell to 10, I would draft him in a heartbeat. Short of that, I would
keep three QBs on the roster: Bradford (who I'm sure will be IR'ed by
October anyway), Davis and a rookie, either Brett Hundley in the 2nd
round or Garrett Grayson in the 3rd. Rookie free agent sleeper: Hutson Mason, Georgia.
Shoot the moon: Ryan Mallett's the only
UFA QB I'd have any interest in. He's still young, has all the
physical tools, has been around Tom Brady and good QB coaching all
his career, and hasn't failed out of a starting job yet, which I
can't say for Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, Blaine Gabbert or
arguably Brian Hoyer. He's at least as good a gamble as it is to
stick with Bradford this year. Alternatively, if the Eagles make a big draft night move to get Mariota before the Rams can, the Rams should immediately get them on the horn and make a deal for Nick Foles.
Rams prediction: The Rams will keep two
QBs: Bradford and Hundley. New QB coach Chris Weinke has worked with
several prominent mobile QBs; it's almost like they're planning to
get one. Plus, we know where Hundley went to college, right?
-$-
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