Tag Archives: Sam Bradford
Out of the ashes: The St. Louis Rams
As the players sun themselves in Cancun, the offseason for the St. Louis Rams is wide open. While those players order margaritas, new arrivals Jeff Fisher at head coach and general manager Les Snead are in the war room, juggling their options for April’s draft as well as shopping lists in the free agency market. Rams Nation exhaled deeply after the regular season and immediately turned to the front office, demanding to know what is next. The front office responded by bringing in a highly sought after head coach Fisher, whom then wooed Snead away from 13 years with the Atlanta Falcons, and the two in concert have a lot of resources and seem dedicated to bringing about desperately needed positive change to the Rams franchise.
Let’s start with free agency. Free agency for the Rams starts with the fact that they are $40 million under the cap; so Fisher and Snead have money to play with. It also begins with resigning Brandon Lloyd, who proved to be a valuable commodity for the Rams offense;Bradford’s favorite and most productive target when Bradford was healthy and throwing the ball. Other possibilities at WR include Vincent Jackson from the San Diego Chargers and DeSean Jackson from the Philadelphia Eagles; both are game changers but also both have ‘Den Mothers’ who would like to keep them – but then again , note that $40 million to play with.
In keeping with the Rams’ needs, Carl Nicks, OG for the Saints is potentially up for grabs at an expensive price tag – one the Saints may not be able to maintain after they signed OG Jahri Evans to a huge deal in 2010 – chances are they can’t keep both. Also out there is Demetrius Bell from Buffalo at OT who despite an injury last season could come back healthy and potentially be a blind side threat reducer. Both are players that again are not wanted to be let go by their current squads but given the restraints of salary caps and NFL regulations, as well as the Rams wealth in this area, the possibilities do exist.
And now for the draft. The Rams with the 2nd pick of the draft have a lot to play with – much depending on the results from the 2012 NFL Combine. Many believe that it would be foolish for the Rams to not trade that pick away, most likely to the Cleveland Browns for their No. 4 and No. 22 picks. Going back to the combine, and given a for gone conclusion that Andrew Luck will go first overall to the Indianapolis Colts, there are many teams – like The Browns – that would trade up for a chance at Heisman winner Robert Griffin III. As ESPN Draft Analyst Todd McShay put it:
“I would do it,” McShay said of the Browns trading their two first-round picks. “I wouldn’t do it for any other position, but I would do it for quarterback.”
If the Browns were to do this that leaves the Rams wit the easy ability to pick up USC LT Matt Kalil or Oklahoma WR Justin Blackmon with the 4th pick and then virtually have their way with the 22nd pick – perhaps Louisiana State CB Morris Claiborne if he is still available.
Bottom line is that both Snead and Fisher have already stated that they believe in Bradford at QB, despite last season. Which opens up this years draft and offseason as a playground for the Rams; if Fisher can tame the talent about to come in, the Rams could easily change the face of an emerging NFC West.
Brent Bakeman is an NFL writer for The Penalty Flag. He can be contacted at BBakeman@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com
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The Fractured St. Louis Rams: What’s Next?
It is odd that the day after the St. Louis Rams closed out a 2-14 season losing to the NFC West Champion San Francisco 49ers, the Rams would find themselves as possibly the hottest prospect for the future in the NFL.
The Rams and their broken ways have secured them the 2nd pick in the 2012 NFL Draft; a very valuable commodity that they can turn into multiple 1st round picks with a trade to any number of teams seeking to fill a specific high-caliber spot with a top pick, while garnering the Rams much-needed valued roster reloads. On top of this the Rams have cleaned house, getting rid of their head coach Steve Spagnuolo and GM Billy Devaney. The next coach of the Rams, a coach they are so far aiming high for – names such as Jeff Fisher and John Gruden are being danced around – will have about $10 million under the salary cap to play with on the free agency market.
The Rams will be bringing back team leader RB Big Steve Jackson as well as the season wounded prodigy of last season Sam Bradford at QB, and with the potential flurry of top picks can add targets for Sam, and an improved line for Big Steve.
Let there be no doubt that from the NFL coaches mindset this could simply be a sweet gig. If the Rams bring in a coach, big name, experienced coach, that coach would land in a position of talent wealth – the talent in place as well as the talent they have the capability of landing. If properly managed this could be a serious boon for the Rams and that is not just being optimistic but rather realistic. Provided the Rams step up to the plate and place someone in charge who is dedicated and capable of success, the Rams can realistically be in the hunt by 2014 if not 2013.
The needs are apparent, Big Steve as well as Bradford need protection, and Big Steve is not getting any younger though is still going to rule for a number of years to come. This season the Rams had more than six different blocking combinations up front. Cadillac Williams’ position on the team has been questionable, despite moments of semi-brilliance, the Rams could look at investing in the future at the RB position. The defense is solid up front, despite ranking so low in rush defense they have a formidable D-line when healthy and solid linebacker corps. The secondary needs help big time, particularly at Corner, the Rams burned through 12 players in that position.
Though the 2011 season is in the books, players on flights to Cabo, and not much to happily reflect upon in the hearts of Rams fans, the future should be bright.
Brent Bakeman is an NFL team writer for The Penalty Flag. He can be contacted at BBakeman@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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‘With the 1st Pick of the 2012 NFL Draft the Rams Select…’
So the Indianapolis Colts have shown marbles and are on a two game win streak, beating the AFC South leading Texans and perhaps taking them out of the No. 1 draft choice position, a spot belonging to the St. Louis Rams, Indianapolis Colts, or Minnesota Vikings.
The only competing the Rams have done on the field this season is for that valued pick; performing far below expectations and finding a way to lose. The next two weeks have the Rams facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have clinched a wild card spot and will not be starting QB Roethlisberger, and division opponent San Francisco 49ers, who have clinched the NFC West. Despite the absence of Roethlisberger and the likelihood that the 49ers will sit many of their stars, given the Rams injuries and play of late there is a solid chance that the Rams lose their final two games of the 2011 season.
So at 2-14 on the season the Rams will at best – or worst depending on how you look at it – end up tied with the Colts and Vikings for the coveted No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Except, that through the mishmash of ranking computation, taking into account points for and points against, division wins, etc. the Rams are sandwiched between the Vikings with the No. 3 pick and the Colts with the No. 1 pick – if the draft were held today.
As far as the Vikings, they have the handicap, or edge, again depending on how you look at it, over the Rams as far as conference victories and so without a Rams win the Vikings will not have a shot at that No. 1 pick. With the Colts, they are currently in line for the potentially franchise altering and Peyton Manning turmoil creating pick. Despite the three teams having the same records this is again due to factoring in points for points against as well as conference wins; however it should be noted that the Colt’s are on a proverbial roll, having unexpectedly won their last two games compared to the Rams losing their last five and the Vikings losing their last six.
The Rams, as discussed, have two games that they at least on paper should lose – and again witnessing their play and heart on the field, as well as a scroll-like injury report REALLY should lose. The Colts in their final game are facing a questionable and beatable Jacksonville Jaguar squad, while the Vikings are at the Washington Redskins and then have the Chicago Bears at home. Not epic teams but potentially a victory with one of them, particularly Chicago.
Suffice it to say St. Louis finds itself in the favorable, yet inglorious position of securing the No. 1 pick of the 2012 Draft. And many still contend that adding Stanford’s Andrew Luck – or any other top QB would not be in the Rams best interests; the Rams Nation is not ready to give up on Sam Bradford. But to secure that top pick – a spot many teams are drooling over, could definitely make for a very valuable bargaining chip to pick up other 1st rounders in greater need.
Brent Bakeman is an NFL team writer for The Penalty Flag. He can be contacted at bbakeman@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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Rams Will Fire Spagnuolo After the Season
The expectations were high for the St. Louis Rams and second year quarterback Sam Bradford, but things have not gone as planned dropping to 2-12 in the 2011 NFL season.
Jason La Canfora of NFL Network said on Monday that his sources indicate the Rams will “blow things up” after the season. That would mean Spags and Josh McDaniels would be shown the door.
Gregg Rosenthal, of Pro Football Talk said “That’s not a surprise. It may not even be “fair.” But times are depressing in St. Louis and owner Stan Kroenke may want to make his own hire after taking a majority share of the team last year. Kroenke will need to sell hope to ticket buyers.
Consider this quote from Spagnuolo:
“I was standing there in the third quarter, so proud of this football team,” Spagnuolo said. “I probably shouldn’t have [thought] that. I might have jinxed myself because there was the swing there where it was a little bit disappointing. . . . There’s a never-say-die, and a fight in this football team. God bless ‘em for that.”
We like Spagnuolo. We could see him having success later in his career. But that’s the type of quote you hear from a coach that is on his way out the door.
Spagnuolo began his NFL coaching career in the Philadelphia Eagles organization in 1999, serving as linebackers and defensive backs coach. He remained there for eight years, learning Jim Johnson’s defensive philosophy.
In January 2007, he was hired as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, under Head Coach Tom Coughlin.
He spent two years in New York, and was the architect of the aggressive defensive strategy against the New England Patriots (the highest scoring offensive team in NFL history) in Super Bowl XLII, which was instrumental in the close victory by the Giants. Following the Super Bowl win and a great deal of praise, Spagnoulo’s name was widely circulated for open head coach positions around the NFL.
On February 7, 2008, he took his name out of consideration for the head coaching position of the Washington Redskins, citing the fact that he did not feel ready to be a head coach.People speculated that he did not like the fact that the coordinators were already installed, but he stated he had no problems with them. The same day, the New York Giants made Spagnuolo one of the highest-paid defensive coordinators in the NFL with a new three-year contract, worth roughly $2 million a year.
Following another successful season in 2008, most notably the upset Super Bowl XLII victory over the New England Patriots, Spagnuolo’s name came up as a replacement for numerous head coaching vacancies once again, including those for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Detroit Lions, but Spagnuolo decided to join with the St. Louis Rams, taking over their head coaching vacancy with a 4-year, $11.5 million contract.Spagnuolo has had very little success with the Rams with a 10 wins 35 loss record. Spagnuolo has hired Josh McDaniels and Ken Flajole to be the Rams’ offensive and defensive coordinators respectively.
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Sam Bradford: 1 And Done?
The angel atop the St. Louis Rams’ Christmas Tree of failure has got to be the devastation in the quarterback position. The starter Sam Bradford is out with a high ankle sprain, his backup A.J. Feeley has a broken thumb, and now the guy that will possibly be leading the team Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks is 3rd string Tom Brandstater. Seattle by the way has already crushed the Rams in St. Louis and Brandstater, who you’ve never heard of, has never played in a game for the Rams.
The main player here is Bradford, the talented QB coming off a stellar rookie season has suffered through sacks, injuries, a marginal receiving corps resulting in a horrid 2nd season as a pro. The injuries have left Sam out of a number of games, and injuries to his receivers have given him fewer targets in the games he has played in. None the less he ranks 32nd in the league for TD’s and has a QB rating of 72.4. A lot of excuses can be made for this hangover from his rookie season as the Rams offensive line has had their injuries and have not been doing Sam any protection favors. There are also some key losses to Rams receivers like the big loss of Danny Amendola. But the fact is that when on the field Sam has not been as sharp as last season and has far from lived up to expectations. That goes for the rest of the team as well as demonstrated in last weeks inability to score against the NFC West leading 49ers.
The hope would be that Bradford hasn’t eased up, thinking that with his success of last season maybe 2011 would be easy. Perhaps he was better prepared for his rookie season and felt that type of work wouldn’t be necessary to maintain play at that level. Rams fans everywhere need Sam to realize that this is more than a six month a year job.
Brent Bakeman is an NFL team writer for The Penalty Flag. He can be contacted at bbakeman@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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