Lott's Fingertip
Footballguy
I wouldn't mind seeing Hanna TE to the Rams instead of a kicker... still some good WR value out there, but there is only so much room for rookie WRs on the roster... Polk and Gray still out there at RB.
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Rams (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Bob Magaw
- Start date
cstu
Footballguy
How do you not take Trent Robinson instead?
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lyon812
Footballguy
Or even Chris Polk, as we could certainly afford to add another RB.
Team ROFLCOPTERS
Footballguy
I actually think that was smart in hindsight. they knew they were replacing their current kicker. They got the best kicker in college. If they let him go to UDFA they would have to compete with at least 20 teams. Now they released their kicker and saved 2 million dollars in cap hit freeing up some more cash to get one year out of FA LB like Rocky MacIntosh or take a chance on Haynesworth. The only really dumb move was trading out of 45 when they pinpointed the LB's they wanted. It looks worse considering nobody expected the guy they got with the additional 5th to be drafted.
Bob Magaw
Footballguy
i agree with this, really wish they could have gotten kendricks or david... though again, that might have meant not getting peay, ANOTHER longstanding neglected need which desperately needed addressing... maybe quick would have been there later, but hard to tell... it just takes one team to snipe your target (LBs case in point), there is no MONOboard that all teams use, so ultimately, we will probably never have the answer to that question...if brockers helps stuff the run and shows promise in his developmental arc as a pass rusher, if jenkins helps stop the bleeding in the secondary, quick contributes on some level and doesn't look like a massive jerome simpson-type prospect that does basically nothing for a few years (though in fairness, he flashed when given the chance in his third year, so perhaps he should have gotten a chance sooner?) & peay provides a viable change of pace option for jackson (possibly extending his career on the bonus plan), this will be a very successful draft... if the 3rd round CB can be a functional nickle CB, that is gravy...as to the K, if the rams offense and defense is improved, they could be in some closer games, and a great young kicker could mean the difference between winning or losing 2-3 times a year...* jenkins island?off field issues aside (fisher/snead decided the talent/need intersection warranted the risk), jenkins sounds like he has a high football IQ, and comes off as thoughtful in this interivew... http://www.austinchronicle.com/blogs/sports/2012-04-23/the-nfl-beat-jenkins-island/** in defense of jenkins (a non-shrill/hysterical pre-draft article)...http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2012/04/in-defense-of-janoris-jenkins.html*** from a rams mssg board..."Here's what I see...1. Michael Brockers - a big strong, young, ready to play run stuffer who needs to work on pash rush skills. He is naturally big and strong...not necessarily from weights. He helps solidfy the defense against the run immediately. (My View...Long and Quinn get double digit sacks?)2a. Brian Quick - a big strong WR that can get downfield use his body and size to create mismatches. (My View...people love sleeper picks...well...here's your sleeper. Are Snead, Fisher and Sherman right? At times like this, I miss Joel Bushbaum...the best).2b. Janoris Jenkins - A top 10 talent with marajuana issues. Keep this guy clean as long as you can, knowing that you could lose him for games. But...when he plays, he'll lock down coverage, support the run...(My View....Jenkins will run through a taser to do it!).2c. Austin Pead - Lightning quick runner who can run tough but works best in space and on the edge. Great receiving option in the slot for 4 and 5 WR sets. (My View...Drafting Pead is like drafting 0.5 receiver. I fell we drafted 3 WR's not 2. Plus you got an awesome option to line both Pead and Jackson up in the backfield. Pead makes people miss! I'm liking this pick the more I think of it.).3. Trumain Johnson - A big tough hard hitting CB that will one day play safety for the Rams. (My View...solid pick up to now make our secondary and area of strength with Finnegan, Fletcher, Jenkins and Johnson...gentlemen and women...we now have a hard hitting secondary).4. Chris Givens - We need a flyer, someone to really stretch the field with speed and has shown the ability to get open deep. (My view...the perfect compliment to Quick. And note difference from Devaney here...Snead compliments his picks with each other...Devaney drafts the same guy ---> Salas and PEDtis).5. Rokevious Watkins - Ok...he's slow and has a weight issue. But he is a road grader for the run (Fisher influence) and they will kick his #### into shape. Will be playing this year and will start when injuries show up. (My View...who...what...what is it? Well, he has the letters ok in his first name...so...I'm ok).6. Greg Zuerlein – A commitment to Josh Brown’s replacement with cap savings. (My View…a step in out with the old, in with the new…Fisher bringing in “his” guys).7. Daryl Richardson – A young developmental guy. Will complete for 3rd RB spot on roster and play special teams. (My View…a total revamp of the backfield and round out the types of backs we have in the stable)Overall – Fisher is placing his stamp all over this team. He has made the team tougher, rougher, play with attitude…that’s why I think you see some guys with a bit of "roughness" in them. And that’s fine with me.The Rams are going to be a team whether you beat them or lose to them, come Monday morning you know you played in a extremely physical game.Get ready for some personal fouls!Our defense is vastly improved...the DL and Secondary are in great shape for the future...DL especially something we've been clamouring for...We have what we need to start developing a "diverse" running game...something we have been clamouring for...We have guys who can return kicks and actually did it in college....something we have been clamouring for...We have brought in both big/athletic and fast/athletic WR's to compliment each other vs. drafting the same players to give you 5 of a kind...problem was no one told Devaney we weren't paying poker.We improved 4 units...DL, Secondary, WR and RB. Throw in one beefy OLman. We need to improve LB's and OL some more but not a bad deal.I love the draft...and I love the fact that we are going to have one bad (edit out
) defense!"
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Bob Magaw
Footballguy
don banks - SI (on the pivotal day two draft)
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/don_banks/04/27/2012.nfl.draft.second.day.snaps/index.html
Rams begin recovery on bountiful second day of draft
"I suppose when you're the St. Louis Rams, coming off the soul-deadening debacle that was last season's 2-14 humiliation, you can't help but fill some holes and meet some needs in the opening rounds of the draft. Just by turning in your selections. But as it turns out, the Rams have played the draft game a whole lot better in the Jeff Fisher era than they did their actual games last season.
I like what I'm seeing so far from St. Louis and new general manager Les Snead on draft weekend. The Rams have been in near constant motion in this year's draft, dropping down from No. 2 to sixth, and ultimately to 14th in the first round, and then moving down again from 45th to 50th with the third and final of their second-round picks. All along the way, they kept stockpiling players, and taking steps in a bid to become one of the NFL's turnaround teams in 2012.
I'm not quite ready to pass judgment on how far cellar-dwelling St. Louis might ascend in the suddenly rugged NFC West, but the Rams are rapidly picking up the pieces after hitting rock bottom in the final season of Steve Spagnuolo's coaching tenure. The haul for Friday night was impressive in a cumulative sense: Appalachian State receiver Brian Quick, a tall, rangy possession receiver at No. 33, with the first pick of the second round; gifted but baggage-laden North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins at No. 39; and versatile Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead at No. 50, a much-needed situational runner to pair with lead rusher Steven Jackson.
Near the top of the third round, at No. 65, the Rams doubled down on the talented but character-challenged cornerback set, selecting Montana's Trumaine Johnson.
For the Rams, the centerpiece selection of the night came when they rolled the dice and took Jenkins with the middle of their three second-rounders. The story of the ex-Florida Gator cornerback is well-known at this point: arrested three times at Florida, he left Gainesville with a string of incidents trailing him, including a bar fight and two marijuana possession charges. Jenkins has four children by three different women, with the kids all age 3 and under. It's a challenging personal history for the Rams to deal with, to say the least.
But that's where Fisher's experience might well prove valuable. He was, of course, the head coach in Tennessee when the Titans drafted talented but troubled West Virginia cornerback Adam "Pacman'' Jones in 2005's first round. The Jones era didn't wind up being worth the trouble in Tennessee, but the Rams' second-round investment in Jenkins means the stakes won't be as high for a Fisher-led team this time.
Not that Jenkins himself is buying the Pacman comparison. Asked about it during his first interview with the Rams media on Friday, Jenkins scoffed: "I mean, no, because I never shot up a strip club or nothing like that.''
The bottom line in St. Louis is that the Rams are in mass acquisition phase this weekend, and my quick read is that they're getting both quantity and quality. I like a team in loading up mode come draft time, and consider what the Rams turned their original No. 2 overall pick into from early March on: LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers at No. 14, plus two extra first-round picks; and two extra second-round picks. And with the five picks they've made in the first three rounds, the Rams have every right to expect three or four rookie starters, with a key contributor in Pead. That's the kind of draft class, or at least the start of one, that can wind up laying a cornerstone of sustained success for a struggling franchise.
After a lost 2011 from start to finish, the turnaround in St. Louis may have just begun."
* not sure about 3-4 rookie starters...
brockers & jenkins are locks... not as sure about quick, but it would be a disappointment if he isn't starting by next year... pead won't start, but fills very important role, jury out on if he could succeed jackson, eventually emerging as more than a situational back... trumaine johnson, if he becomes the nickle at some point, is almost like a starter, the way the league is rapidly moving in the direction of a pass heavy league...
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/don_banks/04/27/2012.nfl.draft.second.day.snaps/index.html
Rams begin recovery on bountiful second day of draft
"I suppose when you're the St. Louis Rams, coming off the soul-deadening debacle that was last season's 2-14 humiliation, you can't help but fill some holes and meet some needs in the opening rounds of the draft. Just by turning in your selections. But as it turns out, the Rams have played the draft game a whole lot better in the Jeff Fisher era than they did their actual games last season.
I like what I'm seeing so far from St. Louis and new general manager Les Snead on draft weekend. The Rams have been in near constant motion in this year's draft, dropping down from No. 2 to sixth, and ultimately to 14th in the first round, and then moving down again from 45th to 50th with the third and final of their second-round picks. All along the way, they kept stockpiling players, and taking steps in a bid to become one of the NFL's turnaround teams in 2012.
I'm not quite ready to pass judgment on how far cellar-dwelling St. Louis might ascend in the suddenly rugged NFC West, but the Rams are rapidly picking up the pieces after hitting rock bottom in the final season of Steve Spagnuolo's coaching tenure. The haul for Friday night was impressive in a cumulative sense: Appalachian State receiver Brian Quick, a tall, rangy possession receiver at No. 33, with the first pick of the second round; gifted but baggage-laden North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins at No. 39; and versatile Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead at No. 50, a much-needed situational runner to pair with lead rusher Steven Jackson.
Near the top of the third round, at No. 65, the Rams doubled down on the talented but character-challenged cornerback set, selecting Montana's Trumaine Johnson.
For the Rams, the centerpiece selection of the night came when they rolled the dice and took Jenkins with the middle of their three second-rounders. The story of the ex-Florida Gator cornerback is well-known at this point: arrested three times at Florida, he left Gainesville with a string of incidents trailing him, including a bar fight and two marijuana possession charges. Jenkins has four children by three different women, with the kids all age 3 and under. It's a challenging personal history for the Rams to deal with, to say the least.
But that's where Fisher's experience might well prove valuable. He was, of course, the head coach in Tennessee when the Titans drafted talented but troubled West Virginia cornerback Adam "Pacman'' Jones in 2005's first round. The Jones era didn't wind up being worth the trouble in Tennessee, but the Rams' second-round investment in Jenkins means the stakes won't be as high for a Fisher-led team this time.
Not that Jenkins himself is buying the Pacman comparison. Asked about it during his first interview with the Rams media on Friday, Jenkins scoffed: "I mean, no, because I never shot up a strip club or nothing like that.''
The bottom line in St. Louis is that the Rams are in mass acquisition phase this weekend, and my quick read is that they're getting both quantity and quality. I like a team in loading up mode come draft time, and consider what the Rams turned their original No. 2 overall pick into from early March on: LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers at No. 14, plus two extra first-round picks; and two extra second-round picks. And with the five picks they've made in the first three rounds, the Rams have every right to expect three or four rookie starters, with a key contributor in Pead. That's the kind of draft class, or at least the start of one, that can wind up laying a cornerstone of sustained success for a struggling franchise.
After a lost 2011 from start to finish, the turnaround in St. Louis may have just begun."
* not sure about 3-4 rookie starters...
brockers & jenkins are locks... not as sure about quick, but it would be a disappointment if he isn't starting by next year... pead won't start, but fills very important role, jury out on if he could succeed jackson, eventually emerging as more than a situational back... trumaine johnson, if he becomes the nickle at some point, is almost like a starter, the way the league is rapidly moving in the direction of a pass heavy league...
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lyon812
Footballguy
Yeah, you're right on both counts. After thinking about it, the kicker move does make sense and save a boatload of money. Kicker/punter's just one of the positions that seems like a much lower priority at times, especially when you forget Brown's struggles and salary (as I did).
Bob Magaw
Footballguy
local journalist miklasz's take on first two days of the draft...
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/bernie-quick-hits-on-rounds/article_dbed9f1a-90db-11e1-b66d-0019bb30f31a.html
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/bernie-quick-hits-on-rounds/article_dbed9f1a-90db-11e1-b66d-0019bb30f31a.html
Faust
MVP
Faust
MVP
Bob Magaw
Footballguy
http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Quick-Working-to-Catch-Up-Fast/3051b02d-4110-4f53-b84d-20dab54edd29
Quick Working to Catch Up Fast
Posted May 25, 2012
By Nick Wagoner
Nearly 30 minutes after Wednesday’s Organized Team Activity, rookie wide receiver Brian Quick remained on the practice field tirelessly running routes and catching passes from quarterback Sam Bradford.
Quick and veteran Brandon Gibson took turns catching passes with Bradford and Gibson helping get the rookie up to speed after he missed a pair of OTAs last week because of a mandatory rookie event in Los Angeles.
Getting Quick up to speed as fast as possible ranks as one of the top priorities for a Rams team that is in serious need of play makers on the outside. After using the first pick of the second round, No. 33 overall, on Quick in last month’s NFL Draft, the expectation is already in place that he’ll be able to make a difference sooner than later.
“We expect him to play and be a big part of our offense,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “We don't think about it any other way than that. That's why we drafted him, and we expect him to do it. It's a long time between now and the opener, so we feel like he's got a chance to continue to develop and become more comfortable with what we're doing.”
Every extra route the Appalachian State graduate can steal with Bradford on the practice field or with receivers coach Ray Sherman in the film room will be vital to his development.
Although Quick comes to the Rams from a small school, the realities of the NFL and his draft position don’t come as paragons of patience.
“I am excited about playing but like I said, we are going to take it one step at a time,” Quick said. “Who knows what is going to happen? I hope for the best. I hope I get to play but I’ll have the right attitude about it and I’m going to do all we can to help us win games.”
FINDING FOOTBALL
One of the most commonly used adjectives to describe Quick in the buildup to the draft was “raw.” That was usually followed up by other descriptors that included words like upside, potential and promise.
In other words, Quick was widely regarded as a player with all of the physical tools, intelligence and desire to become a big time receiver at the NFL level. Inherent in those descriptions, though, was the implication that it would take him a while to reach that vast potential.
Quick doesn’t necessarily like to view his career arc that way because he has every intention of making a difference right away. But he does allow that he’s really only scratching the surface of his football ceiling.
“I’ll be able to take it how far I want it to go,” Quick said. “At the end of the day, you still have to come out here and work just like the other guys do. If you look at other guys that have been successful, I try to follow in their footsteps.”
Of course, to understand why Quick is really only starting to feel comfortable in the game, you have to understand where he comes from.
Growing up in Columbia, S.C., Quick was all about basketball. He always enjoyed the idea of football in his mind but he didn’t really have the body to reconcile what his brain was telling him.
Finally, in the summer between his sophomore and junior year at Ridge View High, Quick hit a long awaited growth spurt. His interest in football was piqued and after he hit another small growth spurt the following summer, he had suddenly grown to an imposing 6’3 and some change.
Armed with the body to hold up to the rigors of football, Quick opted to play football for the first time since Little League as a senior. He finished with 885 yards and 11 touchdowns and drew the attention of Appalachian State.
“I just felt like it was for me,” Quick said. “I was always smaller than everybody else growing up then I had my growth spurt my 10th grade year and I always wanted to play. I just felt like this was the sport for me and I made the best of it.”
Quick went on to set every major record in Appalachian State history for receiving, posting 202 receptions for 3,418 yards and 31 touchdowns in four seasons. To have such a talented player at his small school, even one with the rich tradition of the Mountaineers, was a stroke of great fortune for coach Jerry Moore.
“I will never forget the tape,” Moore said. “I was thinking here is a guy that wasn’t highly recruited and it’s unbelievable. He did all the little things that fine receivers do. He had great work habits.”
Quick’s success left him poised to be the highest drafted Mountaineer in school history. The only question was how high could he climb?
A DAY TO REMEMBER
Entering the draft season, the consensus among the pundits and wannabe pundits was that a few receivers had set themselves apart from the pack. That group included Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon, Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd and Baylor’s Kendall Wright.
After that trio was a cluster of wideouts ranging from the athletic freaks such as Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill to powerful guys like South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery to speedy and smooth players like Illinois’ A.J. Jenkins.
A solid performance at the Senior Bowl moved Quick into some of those conversations but in the eyes of the talking heads, his name still hadn’t quite risen to the level of that second group.
That’s not how the teams viewed him, though. To the NFL talent evaluators, the guys actually doing the drafting, Quick had all of the tools you could possibly want in a future No. 1 wideout. He had size, he had speed, he had hands, he had desire, the only question was how he’d be able to adjust to the higher level of competition.
New Rams general manager Les Snead had actually had his eye on Quick long before coming to St. Louis. He’d seen Quick in person four times and again at the Scouting Combine and was impressed each time. Quick had also taken a pre-draft visit to St. Louis and felt comfortable immediately.
The week before the NFL Draft, a Rams contingent including Snead, Fisher, Sherman, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and backup quarterbacks Kellen Clemens and Tom Brandstater boarded a private plane to go see five wide receiver prospects in the span of two days.
The whirlwind trip took them to see Blackmon, Wright, Floyd, Jenkins and Quick. All of those names were leaked to the media except one: Quick. He had made such an impression on every member of the Rams contingent that the contingent only clued Bradford in on just how impressive Quick was.
“They all came back raving about Quick,” Bradford said. “They said he might have had...actually I know they said he had the best workout of any of the receivers that they worked out. I was extremely excited to see him when he got here last week and he had the opportunity to get on the field. It was pretty exciting just to see him out there moving.”
Working in the 80-yard Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility at Appalachian State, the workout consisted only of Clemens throwing and Quick running and catching. Snead, Fisher and Brandstater watched intently as Sherman put Quick through the paces.
Before Quick even began working out, something had already jumped out to Brandstater.
“To me, what struck me more than other guy was that he was just so excited to be there,” Brandstater said. “He was happy to work, he had a great attitude and you could just tell from the get go that he loves football and wants to get better.”
The workout started with what Clemens calls a “bad ball” drill meant to test Quick’s hands and get him warmed up and to see how he does catching balls that aren’t thrown perfectly.
After the warm-up, Sherman put him through a script asking Quick to run 15 to 20 routes spread out over short, intermediate and long distances. Despite not running anything close to a full NFL route tree in college, Quick showed the athletic ability to adapt quickly and get in and out of breaks in smooth fashion.
Quick caught nearly every pass thrown his way, including a pair of balls Clemens said he misfired and thought no receiver let alone a draft prospect would be able to track down.
“You saw a very, very quality wide receiver,” Clemens said. “He was a very good player with all of his stats at App State and he really impressed us with what he did at the workout and then you are just left salivating at what he could be. I mean, the upside is, well the sky is the limit for that kid.”
In some ways, the workout also tested Quick’s conditioning but Clemens said the Rams actually had to get Quick to back off a little because he was so enthusiastic about getting back to the line and running the next route.
For as striking as the physical talents were, Clemens and the Rams came away equally struck by Quick’s hunger for the game, an unteachable trait they believe will help him reach his vast potential.
“He’s an impressive young man,” Clemens said. “He could have a very, very good career in this league. You want to see a guy that has some ability but even more important has the hunger to take it to the next level and be an elite player. In throwing to him and getting to know him in that short hour and a half, two hours, it was fairly clear to see this kid was hungry and excited. He didn’t have any ego which you run into sometimes especially at that position.”
As the Rams party departed to head back to St. Louis, the group came away with a unanimous opinion that Quick had the goods to fit the bill as the receiver that could become Bradford’s primary target.
Likewise, Quick came away with the feeling that the workout was more than just good exercise but a day he’ll remember forever as the day that changed his life.
“That got me excited,” Quick said. “You’ve got to live life to the fullest and then you get an opportunity where they took the time to come to you, that was something big for me. So I wanted to show them what I had and I wanted to be there with those guys. I loved the coaching staff when I came on the visit. I felt something. This was what I wanted to be a part of.”
LEARNING ON THE GO
When the first round of the NFL Draft came to a close on April 26, Fisher, Snead and the Rams scouting department had a little celebration. The receiver they had ranked just a hair below Blackmon had fallen to the second round.
The Rams had the first pick of that round and needed almost no time to pull the trigger. Quick was their man and they turned in the card without hesitation.
Quick arrived in St. Louis with his rookie teammates on May 10 for the rookie minicamp. He had a solid showing that weekend as Fisher noted his progress from day one to day two.
Last week, Quick participated in the first Organized Team Activity on May 15 but then departed for the Rookie Premiere Event, costing him the second two OTAs of the week.
Upon his return, Quick wasted no time getting back in the meeting rooms and watching film to ensure he hadn’t fallen too far behind.
For now, Quick’s focus is on a little bit of everything but by his own admission, it’s route running that he’s putting an emphasis on sharpening.
“It’s different,” Quick said. “It was very basic where I was at. Now it’s coming in and out of breaks, double moves, sometimes triple moves. You have got to practice those things. It’s not hard; you just have to work at it. You have the athletic ability to do it but you have got to be disciplined in those routes and listen to the coaches and what they try to tell you so you can be successful.”
Coming from an offense that essentially asked Quick to just find openings in the defense and catch the ball, Schottenheimer’s offense is far more advanced than anything Quick has done before.
Missing two offseason practices certainly won’t make or break Quick’s development in his rookie season but he acknowledged that he didn’t enjoy missing the time. By Friday’s practice, he believed he was already caught up on what he missed.
“I’m a rookie so I have a lot to learn,” Quick said. “I am good at learning. I know everything I can so far. I am learning every day. These guys come out here and already know it. We go into the meeting rooms and I learn it and then I come out here and I’m on it. It’s a learning process for me.”
The sooner the better.
“We wouldn't have taken him at the spot where we took him were we not convinced that he was one of those guys that could learn fast and help us very early in the season,” Fisher said.
Quick Working to Catch Up Fast
Posted May 25, 2012
By Nick Wagoner
Nearly 30 minutes after Wednesday’s Organized Team Activity, rookie wide receiver Brian Quick remained on the practice field tirelessly running routes and catching passes from quarterback Sam Bradford.
Quick and veteran Brandon Gibson took turns catching passes with Bradford and Gibson helping get the rookie up to speed after he missed a pair of OTAs last week because of a mandatory rookie event in Los Angeles.
Getting Quick up to speed as fast as possible ranks as one of the top priorities for a Rams team that is in serious need of play makers on the outside. After using the first pick of the second round, No. 33 overall, on Quick in last month’s NFL Draft, the expectation is already in place that he’ll be able to make a difference sooner than later.
“We expect him to play and be a big part of our offense,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “We don't think about it any other way than that. That's why we drafted him, and we expect him to do it. It's a long time between now and the opener, so we feel like he's got a chance to continue to develop and become more comfortable with what we're doing.”
Every extra route the Appalachian State graduate can steal with Bradford on the practice field or with receivers coach Ray Sherman in the film room will be vital to his development.
Although Quick comes to the Rams from a small school, the realities of the NFL and his draft position don’t come as paragons of patience.
“I am excited about playing but like I said, we are going to take it one step at a time,” Quick said. “Who knows what is going to happen? I hope for the best. I hope I get to play but I’ll have the right attitude about it and I’m going to do all we can to help us win games.”
FINDING FOOTBALL
One of the most commonly used adjectives to describe Quick in the buildup to the draft was “raw.” That was usually followed up by other descriptors that included words like upside, potential and promise.
In other words, Quick was widely regarded as a player with all of the physical tools, intelligence and desire to become a big time receiver at the NFL level. Inherent in those descriptions, though, was the implication that it would take him a while to reach that vast potential.
Quick doesn’t necessarily like to view his career arc that way because he has every intention of making a difference right away. But he does allow that he’s really only scratching the surface of his football ceiling.
“I’ll be able to take it how far I want it to go,” Quick said. “At the end of the day, you still have to come out here and work just like the other guys do. If you look at other guys that have been successful, I try to follow in their footsteps.”
Of course, to understand why Quick is really only starting to feel comfortable in the game, you have to understand where he comes from.
Growing up in Columbia, S.C., Quick was all about basketball. He always enjoyed the idea of football in his mind but he didn’t really have the body to reconcile what his brain was telling him.
Finally, in the summer between his sophomore and junior year at Ridge View High, Quick hit a long awaited growth spurt. His interest in football was piqued and after he hit another small growth spurt the following summer, he had suddenly grown to an imposing 6’3 and some change.
Armed with the body to hold up to the rigors of football, Quick opted to play football for the first time since Little League as a senior. He finished with 885 yards and 11 touchdowns and drew the attention of Appalachian State.
“I just felt like it was for me,” Quick said. “I was always smaller than everybody else growing up then I had my growth spurt my 10th grade year and I always wanted to play. I just felt like this was the sport for me and I made the best of it.”
Quick went on to set every major record in Appalachian State history for receiving, posting 202 receptions for 3,418 yards and 31 touchdowns in four seasons. To have such a talented player at his small school, even one with the rich tradition of the Mountaineers, was a stroke of great fortune for coach Jerry Moore.
“I will never forget the tape,” Moore said. “I was thinking here is a guy that wasn’t highly recruited and it’s unbelievable. He did all the little things that fine receivers do. He had great work habits.”
Quick’s success left him poised to be the highest drafted Mountaineer in school history. The only question was how high could he climb?
A DAY TO REMEMBER
Entering the draft season, the consensus among the pundits and wannabe pundits was that a few receivers had set themselves apart from the pack. That group included Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon, Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd and Baylor’s Kendall Wright.
After that trio was a cluster of wideouts ranging from the athletic freaks such as Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill to powerful guys like South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery to speedy and smooth players like Illinois’ A.J. Jenkins.
A solid performance at the Senior Bowl moved Quick into some of those conversations but in the eyes of the talking heads, his name still hadn’t quite risen to the level of that second group.
That’s not how the teams viewed him, though. To the NFL talent evaluators, the guys actually doing the drafting, Quick had all of the tools you could possibly want in a future No. 1 wideout. He had size, he had speed, he had hands, he had desire, the only question was how he’d be able to adjust to the higher level of competition.
New Rams general manager Les Snead had actually had his eye on Quick long before coming to St. Louis. He’d seen Quick in person four times and again at the Scouting Combine and was impressed each time. Quick had also taken a pre-draft visit to St. Louis and felt comfortable immediately.
The week before the NFL Draft, a Rams contingent including Snead, Fisher, Sherman, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and backup quarterbacks Kellen Clemens and Tom Brandstater boarded a private plane to go see five wide receiver prospects in the span of two days.
The whirlwind trip took them to see Blackmon, Wright, Floyd, Jenkins and Quick. All of those names were leaked to the media except one: Quick. He had made such an impression on every member of the Rams contingent that the contingent only clued Bradford in on just how impressive Quick was.
“They all came back raving about Quick,” Bradford said. “They said he might have had...actually I know they said he had the best workout of any of the receivers that they worked out. I was extremely excited to see him when he got here last week and he had the opportunity to get on the field. It was pretty exciting just to see him out there moving.”
Working in the 80-yard Sofield Family Indoor Practice Facility at Appalachian State, the workout consisted only of Clemens throwing and Quick running and catching. Snead, Fisher and Brandstater watched intently as Sherman put Quick through the paces.
Before Quick even began working out, something had already jumped out to Brandstater.
“To me, what struck me more than other guy was that he was just so excited to be there,” Brandstater said. “He was happy to work, he had a great attitude and you could just tell from the get go that he loves football and wants to get better.”
The workout started with what Clemens calls a “bad ball” drill meant to test Quick’s hands and get him warmed up and to see how he does catching balls that aren’t thrown perfectly.
After the warm-up, Sherman put him through a script asking Quick to run 15 to 20 routes spread out over short, intermediate and long distances. Despite not running anything close to a full NFL route tree in college, Quick showed the athletic ability to adapt quickly and get in and out of breaks in smooth fashion.
Quick caught nearly every pass thrown his way, including a pair of balls Clemens said he misfired and thought no receiver let alone a draft prospect would be able to track down.
“You saw a very, very quality wide receiver,” Clemens said. “He was a very good player with all of his stats at App State and he really impressed us with what he did at the workout and then you are just left salivating at what he could be. I mean, the upside is, well the sky is the limit for that kid.”
In some ways, the workout also tested Quick’s conditioning but Clemens said the Rams actually had to get Quick to back off a little because he was so enthusiastic about getting back to the line and running the next route.
For as striking as the physical talents were, Clemens and the Rams came away equally struck by Quick’s hunger for the game, an unteachable trait they believe will help him reach his vast potential.
“He’s an impressive young man,” Clemens said. “He could have a very, very good career in this league. You want to see a guy that has some ability but even more important has the hunger to take it to the next level and be an elite player. In throwing to him and getting to know him in that short hour and a half, two hours, it was fairly clear to see this kid was hungry and excited. He didn’t have any ego which you run into sometimes especially at that position.”
As the Rams party departed to head back to St. Louis, the group came away with a unanimous opinion that Quick had the goods to fit the bill as the receiver that could become Bradford’s primary target.
Likewise, Quick came away with the feeling that the workout was more than just good exercise but a day he’ll remember forever as the day that changed his life.
“That got me excited,” Quick said. “You’ve got to live life to the fullest and then you get an opportunity where they took the time to come to you, that was something big for me. So I wanted to show them what I had and I wanted to be there with those guys. I loved the coaching staff when I came on the visit. I felt something. This was what I wanted to be a part of.”
LEARNING ON THE GO
When the first round of the NFL Draft came to a close on April 26, Fisher, Snead and the Rams scouting department had a little celebration. The receiver they had ranked just a hair below Blackmon had fallen to the second round.
The Rams had the first pick of that round and needed almost no time to pull the trigger. Quick was their man and they turned in the card without hesitation.
Quick arrived in St. Louis with his rookie teammates on May 10 for the rookie minicamp. He had a solid showing that weekend as Fisher noted his progress from day one to day two.
Last week, Quick participated in the first Organized Team Activity on May 15 but then departed for the Rookie Premiere Event, costing him the second two OTAs of the week.
Upon his return, Quick wasted no time getting back in the meeting rooms and watching film to ensure he hadn’t fallen too far behind.
For now, Quick’s focus is on a little bit of everything but by his own admission, it’s route running that he’s putting an emphasis on sharpening.
“It’s different,” Quick said. “It was very basic where I was at. Now it’s coming in and out of breaks, double moves, sometimes triple moves. You have got to practice those things. It’s not hard; you just have to work at it. You have the athletic ability to do it but you have got to be disciplined in those routes and listen to the coaches and what they try to tell you so you can be successful.”
Coming from an offense that essentially asked Quick to just find openings in the defense and catch the ball, Schottenheimer’s offense is far more advanced than anything Quick has done before.
Missing two offseason practices certainly won’t make or break Quick’s development in his rookie season but he acknowledged that he didn’t enjoy missing the time. By Friday’s practice, he believed he was already caught up on what he missed.
“I’m a rookie so I have a lot to learn,” Quick said. “I am good at learning. I know everything I can so far. I am learning every day. These guys come out here and already know it. We go into the meeting rooms and I learn it and then I come out here and I’m on it. It’s a learning process for me.”
The sooner the better.
“We wouldn't have taken him at the spot where we took him were we not convinced that he was one of those guys that could learn fast and help us very early in the season,” Fisher said.
Bob Magaw
Footballguy
http://www.foxsportsmidwest.com/05/25/12/Jenkins-upside-is-worth-the-gamble-to-Ra/landing_rams.html?blockID=735408&feedID=3586
Jenkins' upside is worth the gamble to Rams
Andrew Astleford
May 25, 2012
ST. LOUIS – Janoris Jenkins keeps working. He’s on the side of a practice field with five other defensive backs after a recent organized team activity at Rams Park. He chops his feet in place, each repetition a chance to show his new squad he’s more reward than risk.
Soon Jenkins swings his hips, his dark-blue shorts flapping with each movement. He turns his torso in the direction of gestures from Dennard Wilson, the man responsible for the St. Louis Rams’ defensive quality control.
Jenkins moves with a command about him, more than five minutes after most of his teammates have entered the locker room at the ContinuityX Training Center. The display shows the potential coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead see in his mobility: A dynamic cornerback who can lock down top wide receivers within a division that includes Doug Baldwin, Michael Crabtree and Larry Fitzgerald.
“We’ve got plans in place,” Fisher said after Jenkins was taken 39th overall, “and we’re excited about his future here.”
But Jenkins’ promise comes with a caveat. It’s a caution of which Rams leadership is well aware. There’s a history of character issues with the 5-foot-10, 193-pound rookie from Pahokee, Fla.: Police in Gainesville, Fla., tased and arrested him after he was involved in a street fight in May 2009. He was arrested twice for marijuana possession and kicked off Florida’s team in April 2011. He has fathered four kids with three women. He was forced to salvage his career at Division II North Alabama last fall.
To the Rams, Jenkins’ upside is worth their gamble. He’s a first-round talent who must show that he can make the most of his opportunity by staying clean.
Snead and Fisher have a stake in Jenkins’ performance too. If the man who has drawn comparisons to Adam “Pacman” Jones succeeds, he’ll be lauded as a steal in the pair’s first draft together.
But if Jenkins struggles on or off the field, one of the Rams’ most controversial picks since Lawrence Phillips will be a critical miss for a franchise trying to build a winning foundation. Jenkins’ NFL future depends on his ability to manage the present.
“I’m going to play with a chip on my shoulder no matter what,” Jenkins said the day after he was drafted. “My past is my past. I put it behind me, and I’m going to come out week-in and week-out and compete to the best of my ability.”
***
Part of Jenkins includes risk. It was something Chris Willis, Jenkins’ secondary coach at North Alabama, understood when the player arrived on campus last summer.
Willis knew about Jenkins’ ability – he had 121 tackles with eight interceptions in three seasons at Florida – but he was unsure how Jenkins would carry himself when the former first-team All-SEC cornerback took the field. Willis knew Jenkins would have more skill than most who lined up against him, but could the player be selfless?
With time, Willis learned Jenkins was serious about earning trust. Jenkins’ work ethic lapsed in some early practices, but for the most part, Willis saw someone who stayed focused. The coaching staff at North Alabama made Jenkins sign a code of conduct that included demands like attending a high percentage of his classes, and Willis said Jenkins joined a student government group.
“I think he understands what’s at stake now,” Willis says. “There’s a lot to lose here. It’s on him. It’s yet to be determined. If he can keep the right people around him, I think he’s going to be fine.”
There were a few telling moments that convinced Willis that Jenkins would be fine at North Alabama.
In the home opener against Central Oklahoma last September, Willis watched Jenkins huddle and motivate the secondary on the sideline in a key sequence. Willis wanted to see how Jenkins would respond during adversity. It was the first time Willis thought, “It isn’t all about him.”
Sixteen days later, during halftime against Abilene (Texas) Christian at Cowboys Stadium, coaches talked about adjustments to be made for the third quarter. Jenkins looked up and said, “Let’s make sure, Coach. If we play this coverage, this is how we’re going to do it, right?” Willis knew Jenkins understood the coverage schemes, but the coach was convinced Jenkins spoke so other defenders would listen closer.
“I just think everyone deserves chances,” Willis says. “If it doesn’t work out with the Rams organization, if he falters and screws up and gets arrested, then maybe you don’t give him another chance. He’s at the highest level he’ll ever make.”
Some are skeptical that Jenkins will keep out of trouble in the NFL, though. Willis says he never received negative reports during Jenkins’ time in Florence, Ala., but the coach is aware of his former player’s history. Before the NFL Draft, Jenkins denied rumors that he used marijuana after leaving Florida.
If he’s responsible in St. Louis, Jenkins could become a valuable addition.
“Maybe he’s got a different side,” Willis says. “But he didn’t show that toward me.”
***
Part of Jenkins includes reward. It’s heard in the praise from Fisher and Rams players during OTAs this week, and it’s seen when Jenkins practices with St. Louis’ top defensive unit.
Those around him say he has agile feet, quality speed (he ran a 4.46 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine) and he’s willing to learn from veterans. His new teammates have begun to understand why some projected him to be a mid-first round pick if not for his off-the-field concerns.
Jenkins’ selection shows that the Rams are willing to overlook those issues to add depth at cornerback. Aggressive veteran Cortland Finnegan, a Pro Bowl selection from the 2008 season, was signed as a free agent in March. And former Montana star Trumaine Johnson, another player with character questions, was taken 65th overall.
“I think anyone who’s not the first pick has something to prove, especially with him,” Finnegan says of Jenkins. “A lot of people knock him for this, that and a third. But he’s a great guy, a great kid. He has so much more to learn, but he’s like a sponge. He wants to learn. I think he has a lot to prove in a lot of different areas. I think football is his outlet, and I think he’s going to prove to a lot of different people that he can stay out of trouble.”
Jenkins has a chance to make an impact if he does. The Rams used the draft to add young energy at cornerback, much in the same way they retooled their defensive line in recent years with top college talent.
Jenkins’ selection is a sign that Fisher trusts his staff to manage the promising defensive back until he develops into the player they envision him to be. Fisher has bristled at comparisons between Jenkins and “Pacman” Jones. But fact is, a slip by Jenkins will reflect poorly on the coach and Snead after they spoke about placing an emphasis on character when evaluating prospects.
Still, if Jenkins shows maturity – if he shows that his sordid behavior is indeed part of his past – the payoff could be large for a secondary that gave up an average of 206.3 yards passing per game last season.
This spring has taken on a theme of new attitude at Rams Park. There’s little doubt that Jenkins offers an edge with a personality that made him a boom-or-bust possibility in the draft.
“As long as you’re confident at corner,” Rams cornerback Bradley Fletcher says, “you can play well.”
***
When watching Jenkins on the practice field, it’s hard not to wonder what he means for the Rams’ future. He’ll either be a symbol of a failed leap of faith or a reminder of the savvy shown by Snead and Fisher during a draft that could be remembered as the start of a recovery.
That’s the intrigue of Jenkins’ controversy. He arrives at a time when his franchise is trying to shed a losing image formed over the past five seasons, and he’s part of a more aggressive vision under Fisher.
Still, there’s a fine boundary between risk and reward, and Jenkins alone will determine what his legacy will be. Yes, his issues at Florida and the questions that came with the start of his career at North Alabama are part of his record, but draft day also meant a new beginning for him.
“He can be as good as he wants to be,” says Scott Wright, an NFL Draft analyst for DraftCountdown.com. “As long as he does what he needs to do off the field, he’s going to be a great player in the NFL, and that’s going to be a steal. But that’s a big ‘if,’ because there is a track record of instances there. It’s not one thing, it’s not two things – it’s a long list. That’s why he was still available where he was.”
But at Rams Park, that list is mostly irrelevant. He represents cautious promise. He’s not Janoris Jenkins, the man who squandered a chance to finish his career in the Southeastern Conference. He’s not Janoris Jenkins, the man who cost himself prestige and a larger paycheck by making juvenile decisions that led to him falling out of the first round.
No, he’s potential at Rams Park. He’s someone with a fresh start. He’s someone who can build again. He’s someone, if he’s wise, who will create with the platform given to him in his second football life.
“On the field, I’m going to put in some good work,” Jenkins says. “Come out and work hard and learn from Cortland. And hopefully go from there.”
It’s a start. It’s a chance as well.
Jenkins' upside is worth the gamble to Rams
Andrew Astleford
May 25, 2012
ST. LOUIS – Janoris Jenkins keeps working. He’s on the side of a practice field with five other defensive backs after a recent organized team activity at Rams Park. He chops his feet in place, each repetition a chance to show his new squad he’s more reward than risk.
Soon Jenkins swings his hips, his dark-blue shorts flapping with each movement. He turns his torso in the direction of gestures from Dennard Wilson, the man responsible for the St. Louis Rams’ defensive quality control.
Jenkins moves with a command about him, more than five minutes after most of his teammates have entered the locker room at the ContinuityX Training Center. The display shows the potential coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead see in his mobility: A dynamic cornerback who can lock down top wide receivers within a division that includes Doug Baldwin, Michael Crabtree and Larry Fitzgerald.
“We’ve got plans in place,” Fisher said after Jenkins was taken 39th overall, “and we’re excited about his future here.”
But Jenkins’ promise comes with a caveat. It’s a caution of which Rams leadership is well aware. There’s a history of character issues with the 5-foot-10, 193-pound rookie from Pahokee, Fla.: Police in Gainesville, Fla., tased and arrested him after he was involved in a street fight in May 2009. He was arrested twice for marijuana possession and kicked off Florida’s team in April 2011. He has fathered four kids with three women. He was forced to salvage his career at Division II North Alabama last fall.
To the Rams, Jenkins’ upside is worth their gamble. He’s a first-round talent who must show that he can make the most of his opportunity by staying clean.
Snead and Fisher have a stake in Jenkins’ performance too. If the man who has drawn comparisons to Adam “Pacman” Jones succeeds, he’ll be lauded as a steal in the pair’s first draft together.
But if Jenkins struggles on or off the field, one of the Rams’ most controversial picks since Lawrence Phillips will be a critical miss for a franchise trying to build a winning foundation. Jenkins’ NFL future depends on his ability to manage the present.
“I’m going to play with a chip on my shoulder no matter what,” Jenkins said the day after he was drafted. “My past is my past. I put it behind me, and I’m going to come out week-in and week-out and compete to the best of my ability.”
***
Part of Jenkins includes risk. It was something Chris Willis, Jenkins’ secondary coach at North Alabama, understood when the player arrived on campus last summer.
Willis knew about Jenkins’ ability – he had 121 tackles with eight interceptions in three seasons at Florida – but he was unsure how Jenkins would carry himself when the former first-team All-SEC cornerback took the field. Willis knew Jenkins would have more skill than most who lined up against him, but could the player be selfless?
With time, Willis learned Jenkins was serious about earning trust. Jenkins’ work ethic lapsed in some early practices, but for the most part, Willis saw someone who stayed focused. The coaching staff at North Alabama made Jenkins sign a code of conduct that included demands like attending a high percentage of his classes, and Willis said Jenkins joined a student government group.
“I think he understands what’s at stake now,” Willis says. “There’s a lot to lose here. It’s on him. It’s yet to be determined. If he can keep the right people around him, I think he’s going to be fine.”
There were a few telling moments that convinced Willis that Jenkins would be fine at North Alabama.
In the home opener against Central Oklahoma last September, Willis watched Jenkins huddle and motivate the secondary on the sideline in a key sequence. Willis wanted to see how Jenkins would respond during adversity. It was the first time Willis thought, “It isn’t all about him.”
Sixteen days later, during halftime against Abilene (Texas) Christian at Cowboys Stadium, coaches talked about adjustments to be made for the third quarter. Jenkins looked up and said, “Let’s make sure, Coach. If we play this coverage, this is how we’re going to do it, right?” Willis knew Jenkins understood the coverage schemes, but the coach was convinced Jenkins spoke so other defenders would listen closer.
“I just think everyone deserves chances,” Willis says. “If it doesn’t work out with the Rams organization, if he falters and screws up and gets arrested, then maybe you don’t give him another chance. He’s at the highest level he’ll ever make.”
Some are skeptical that Jenkins will keep out of trouble in the NFL, though. Willis says he never received negative reports during Jenkins’ time in Florence, Ala., but the coach is aware of his former player’s history. Before the NFL Draft, Jenkins denied rumors that he used marijuana after leaving Florida.
If he’s responsible in St. Louis, Jenkins could become a valuable addition.
“Maybe he’s got a different side,” Willis says. “But he didn’t show that toward me.”
***
Part of Jenkins includes reward. It’s heard in the praise from Fisher and Rams players during OTAs this week, and it’s seen when Jenkins practices with St. Louis’ top defensive unit.
Those around him say he has agile feet, quality speed (he ran a 4.46 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine) and he’s willing to learn from veterans. His new teammates have begun to understand why some projected him to be a mid-first round pick if not for his off-the-field concerns.
Jenkins’ selection shows that the Rams are willing to overlook those issues to add depth at cornerback. Aggressive veteran Cortland Finnegan, a Pro Bowl selection from the 2008 season, was signed as a free agent in March. And former Montana star Trumaine Johnson, another player with character questions, was taken 65th overall.
“I think anyone who’s not the first pick has something to prove, especially with him,” Finnegan says of Jenkins. “A lot of people knock him for this, that and a third. But he’s a great guy, a great kid. He has so much more to learn, but he’s like a sponge. He wants to learn. I think he has a lot to prove in a lot of different areas. I think football is his outlet, and I think he’s going to prove to a lot of different people that he can stay out of trouble.”
Jenkins has a chance to make an impact if he does. The Rams used the draft to add young energy at cornerback, much in the same way they retooled their defensive line in recent years with top college talent.
Jenkins’ selection is a sign that Fisher trusts his staff to manage the promising defensive back until he develops into the player they envision him to be. Fisher has bristled at comparisons between Jenkins and “Pacman” Jones. But fact is, a slip by Jenkins will reflect poorly on the coach and Snead after they spoke about placing an emphasis on character when evaluating prospects.
Still, if Jenkins shows maturity – if he shows that his sordid behavior is indeed part of his past – the payoff could be large for a secondary that gave up an average of 206.3 yards passing per game last season.
This spring has taken on a theme of new attitude at Rams Park. There’s little doubt that Jenkins offers an edge with a personality that made him a boom-or-bust possibility in the draft.
“As long as you’re confident at corner,” Rams cornerback Bradley Fletcher says, “you can play well.”
***
When watching Jenkins on the practice field, it’s hard not to wonder what he means for the Rams’ future. He’ll either be a symbol of a failed leap of faith or a reminder of the savvy shown by Snead and Fisher during a draft that could be remembered as the start of a recovery.
That’s the intrigue of Jenkins’ controversy. He arrives at a time when his franchise is trying to shed a losing image formed over the past five seasons, and he’s part of a more aggressive vision under Fisher.
Still, there’s a fine boundary between risk and reward, and Jenkins alone will determine what his legacy will be. Yes, his issues at Florida and the questions that came with the start of his career at North Alabama are part of his record, but draft day also meant a new beginning for him.
“He can be as good as he wants to be,” says Scott Wright, an NFL Draft analyst for DraftCountdown.com. “As long as he does what he needs to do off the field, he’s going to be a great player in the NFL, and that’s going to be a steal. But that’s a big ‘if,’ because there is a track record of instances there. It’s not one thing, it’s not two things – it’s a long list. That’s why he was still available where he was.”
But at Rams Park, that list is mostly irrelevant. He represents cautious promise. He’s not Janoris Jenkins, the man who squandered a chance to finish his career in the Southeastern Conference. He’s not Janoris Jenkins, the man who cost himself prestige and a larger paycheck by making juvenile decisions that led to him falling out of the first round.
No, he’s potential at Rams Park. He’s someone with a fresh start. He’s someone who can build again. He’s someone, if he’s wise, who will create with the platform given to him in his second football life.
“On the field, I’m going to put in some good work,” Jenkins says. “Come out and work hard and learn from Cortland. And hopefully go from there.”
It’s a start. It’s a chance as well.
Bob Magaw
Footballguy
an in depth article on first round pick michael brockers...
http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2012/5/30/3048506/the-playbook-projector-michael-brockers-and-power
http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2012/5/30/3048506/the-playbook-projector-michael-brockers-and-power
Faust
MVP
Faust
MVP
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Question for you Rams fans:
Would you have preferred that the club drafted RG3 and traded Bradford?
Would you have preferred that the club drafted RG3 and traded Bradford?
ItsOnlytheRiver
Footballguy
I think if you took a poll the majority would have said "yes". But the reality is that that scenario wasn't really possible. Bradford's contract was the last before the rookie pay scale was enacted. It's an albatross that would have been a mess to move even if you did find a taker. Plus, I'm sure the value wouldn't have been there.I don't really think anyone knows who the real Sam Bradford is, he played poorly last season for sure, but there were enough negative factors going on around him out of his control that you can probably write it off and hope the new regime has a better understanding of how to get the best out of him - and hopefully that best is very good.
Last edited by a moderator:
Lott's Fingertip
Footballguy
Absolutely not.I'm cool on Bradford this year due to young WRs, new offense (again), and a tough schedule, but I think he really comes on strong in 2013. Last year was worthless in terms of evaluating him due to the whole situation and his injury.
bulger2holt
Footballguy
People don't realize how much talent the Rams have amassed these past couple years. I think they will surprise a lot of people this year. They have the makings of a top 10 defense and if their o-line holds up and gives Sam time, their O will be respectable. 8-8 or 9-7 isn't far fetched.
Bob Magaw
Footballguy
i agree...i'd rather have RG3 than bradford...but that isn't the the question...it is unclear what he could have fetched in a trade, as the rams wouldn't exactly be shopping him from a position of strength coming off last years debacle...be that as it may, by keeping bradford, they parlayed RG3 (and the second trade which netted DAL 1st and 2nd for claiborne... the option of doubling down on the first round trade down precluded if they take RG3) into three 1sts and two 2nds worth of premium picks... which, so far, has turned into DT brockers, CB jenkins, RB pead, & 2013/2014 firsts... i'd rather have that combo... my recollection is in the trade thread, there seemed to be a consensus among the general, not-necessarily rams fans that the rams made the right move... for the record, i do think bradford has the kind of talent and ability to be an eventual top 10 QB, IF health permits, and he is surrounded and supported by better OL and skill position pieces to the puzzle... they now have the draft capital to get that done quickly in the next few years (and maybe some more trade downs
, the fisher/snead regime have already proven a willingness to take risks)... the scale of the WAS trade made it very appealing (i think there doesn't have to be a loser in the trade, RG3 could justify it if he leads WAS to playoffs/super bowl in the future, but the redskins were closer to being competitive, rams had more holes, different strategies and tactics for roster architecting could be in order based on respective team's composition and state)... i think it was the most high picks changing hands since the herschel walker trade...
Faust
MVP
Faust
MVP
Faust
MVP
bulger2holt
Footballguy
Jeff Fisher and The Rams Are Making Things Nasty in St. Louis
Alex Dunlap, Rosterwatch.com
http://rosterwatch.com/?p=3701
It was rumored this Spring, via (now deleted) tweets that new Rams HC Jeff Fisher introduced himself to St. Louis by gratuitously crop dusting a local bar establishment. We at RW have friends, who will not be named here, in the 314′s service industry. But the nastiness that Coach Mustache may or may not leave behind in the form of nitrogen and airborne colon bacteria pales in comparison to how disgusting things got for the Rams on draft weekend in 2012.
Jeff Fisher knows you need nastiness along the defensive line and in the defensive backfield to win division crowns in silent but deadly fashion. Opposing WRs will be walking into an absolute bar fight in the Rams’ defensive backfield against a maniac in Cortland Finnegan and rookie CBs Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson (who we will get to in a minute.) The Rams started out their draft along the defensive line, though, drafting the absolute perfect interior compliment to the dynamic duo of Chris Long and James Lauranitis in DT Michael Brockers.
I mean, look at that man. My God. The first thing you notice when standing next to Michael Brockers (outside of his pure immense presence) is the length of his arms. They look like 35” long octopus tentacles with big mitts on the end. He can play at both the 3 and the 5-technique, which makes him scheme-flexible within the multiple looks that Fisher likes to give. He was double teamed in college with a much higher frequency than Fletcher Cox. Brockers is a menace against the run, has strong hands like Casey Hampton, and plays extremely violently in short areas. He has one of the most powerful and explosive shoulder punch moves that I have seen, because he places the initial jolt of power to the opponent’s chest almost like a forklift technique, then attaches to the blocker on his play- side shoulder and drives. This is very disruptive to running lanes. Brockers’ reach makes him impossible to get proper positioning on in the run game, but he does not represent the threat as a disruptor in the passing game that Fletcher Cox or Dontari Poe have the potential to. The good news is, the Rams need exactly what Brockers brings. A long-armed rock who can get penetration, allowing Lauranitis to “spill” out and up, and giving Chris Long the option to play his conversion rush to the opposing offensive tackle’s weakness. Brockers’ initial explosion and space eating ability for gap responsibility were unrivaled in this draft, and he is a scary man.
Brian Quick is going to be an NFL wide receiver who makes his living much the same way Brandon Marshall does. It will be in yards-after-catch and in imposing himself physically in end-zone corner fades. Quick is more “slim” like A.J. Green, and even looks a little like him, but he lacks the same acceleration as an over the top burner. Quick has a natural big-play “flash” to him, though, and it’s hard to quantify. The best way I can say it is that he is often airborne. A stark difference, and terrific developmental #1 WR prospect to integrate in with the possession-type receivers the Rams have shown an affinity for drafting in recent history.
The Rams got the best cornerback in the 2012 NFL draft in the second round. Janoris Jenkins. Click here if you would like to hear how he told me he plans on defending NFL WRs such as A.J. Green and Julio Jones, having given them fits in college. I know Janoris, and love his mental acumen for the game. His gait, cuts, and movements in small areas are reminiscent of someone frantically fighting their way out of a burning Porta-Potty, yet in a brilliantly smooth and naturally technical manner. He is my pick for defensive rookie of the year.
I loved watching film on RB Isaiah Pead more than any prospect in this draft, period, and had him ranked as my #2 RB overall in my final rankings submission for Mel Kiper‘s Global Exchange at PlayTheDraft.com. Pead is an insanely instinctive runner. You hear analysts calling games on television who talk about a running back’s “vision” every time they make a nice run. The adjective is overused so much that I hate saying it; But he has crazy vision. He needs to in Cincy’s wide-open offense. He has great hands, and is a legitimate but not instinctual pass-blocker. He has a rare ability to casually flow laterally behind the line of scrimmage as a ball carrier, and cut the instant the seam develops. He is the epitome of a one-cut runner.
Fisher deployed yet another barking spider in a moment of third round thievery, drafting Montana CB Trumaine Johnson. Johnson, like many of the Rams’ bargain basement picks, was a bit of a character concern. I believe that Jenkins and Johnson may be the only two CBs to be drafted in the same year by the same team who were both tasered during college by law enforcement officials. Johnson is a big corner, very tall and extremely long, but only one word comes to your mind while watching film. Physical. And Nasty. So, two words. Plus, when I asked Mike Mayock who the most-underrated players were, period, in this draft, Trumaine Johnson was the first name he mentioned citing the off the field issues as a possible deterrent for some teams. Are we sensing a pattern here?
I feel like the Rams got yet another steal in Round four, selecting Wake Forest WR Chris Givens, who I had rated as a late-second round talent. Givens was an overly productive player at Wake Forest who displayed dazzling moves in space and made a living in yards-after-catch outside the hash marks. He was reportedly an enigmatic presence during his time at Wake Forest, and several scouts indicated he was “diva” type of player. Watching film, this reported attitude does seem to translate to his play on the field. There are certain routes you can tell he simply doesn’t like to run. He goes half speed over the middle and gets alligator arms when he hears footsteps. He is a dynamic weapon on the perimeter, though, and the production is hard to overlook with as valuable as playmaking slot receivers in this league have become. He is faster on the field than he is on the track and is deceptively powerful making cuts.
I have never been a Rams fan per se, but after this draft, I am fast-becoming one. I am glad to have a new reason for enjoying the NFC West afternoon games that can be known to make a grown man drift off to La-Z-Boy snooze land on occasion.
Don't sleep on the Rams this year. They have major talent all over the field.
Alex Dunlap, Rosterwatch.com
http://rosterwatch.com/?p=3701
It was rumored this Spring, via (now deleted) tweets that new Rams HC Jeff Fisher introduced himself to St. Louis by gratuitously crop dusting a local bar establishment. We at RW have friends, who will not be named here, in the 314′s service industry. But the nastiness that Coach Mustache may or may not leave behind in the form of nitrogen and airborne colon bacteria pales in comparison to how disgusting things got for the Rams on draft weekend in 2012.
Jeff Fisher knows you need nastiness along the defensive line and in the defensive backfield to win division crowns in silent but deadly fashion. Opposing WRs will be walking into an absolute bar fight in the Rams’ defensive backfield against a maniac in Cortland Finnegan and rookie CBs Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson (who we will get to in a minute.) The Rams started out their draft along the defensive line, though, drafting the absolute perfect interior compliment to the dynamic duo of Chris Long and James Lauranitis in DT Michael Brockers.
I mean, look at that man. My God. The first thing you notice when standing next to Michael Brockers (outside of his pure immense presence) is the length of his arms. They look like 35” long octopus tentacles with big mitts on the end. He can play at both the 3 and the 5-technique, which makes him scheme-flexible within the multiple looks that Fisher likes to give. He was double teamed in college with a much higher frequency than Fletcher Cox. Brockers is a menace against the run, has strong hands like Casey Hampton, and plays extremely violently in short areas. He has one of the most powerful and explosive shoulder punch moves that I have seen, because he places the initial jolt of power to the opponent’s chest almost like a forklift technique, then attaches to the blocker on his play- side shoulder and drives. This is very disruptive to running lanes. Brockers’ reach makes him impossible to get proper positioning on in the run game, but he does not represent the threat as a disruptor in the passing game that Fletcher Cox or Dontari Poe have the potential to. The good news is, the Rams need exactly what Brockers brings. A long-armed rock who can get penetration, allowing Lauranitis to “spill” out and up, and giving Chris Long the option to play his conversion rush to the opposing offensive tackle’s weakness. Brockers’ initial explosion and space eating ability for gap responsibility were unrivaled in this draft, and he is a scary man.
Brian Quick is going to be an NFL wide receiver who makes his living much the same way Brandon Marshall does. It will be in yards-after-catch and in imposing himself physically in end-zone corner fades. Quick is more “slim” like A.J. Green, and even looks a little like him, but he lacks the same acceleration as an over the top burner. Quick has a natural big-play “flash” to him, though, and it’s hard to quantify. The best way I can say it is that he is often airborne. A stark difference, and terrific developmental #1 WR prospect to integrate in with the possession-type receivers the Rams have shown an affinity for drafting in recent history.
The Rams got the best cornerback in the 2012 NFL draft in the second round. Janoris Jenkins. Click here if you would like to hear how he told me he plans on defending NFL WRs such as A.J. Green and Julio Jones, having given them fits in college. I know Janoris, and love his mental acumen for the game. His gait, cuts, and movements in small areas are reminiscent of someone frantically fighting their way out of a burning Porta-Potty, yet in a brilliantly smooth and naturally technical manner. He is my pick for defensive rookie of the year.
I loved watching film on RB Isaiah Pead more than any prospect in this draft, period, and had him ranked as my #2 RB overall in my final rankings submission for Mel Kiper‘s Global Exchange at PlayTheDraft.com. Pead is an insanely instinctive runner. You hear analysts calling games on television who talk about a running back’s “vision” every time they make a nice run. The adjective is overused so much that I hate saying it; But he has crazy vision. He needs to in Cincy’s wide-open offense. He has great hands, and is a legitimate but not instinctual pass-blocker. He has a rare ability to casually flow laterally behind the line of scrimmage as a ball carrier, and cut the instant the seam develops. He is the epitome of a one-cut runner.
Fisher deployed yet another barking spider in a moment of third round thievery, drafting Montana CB Trumaine Johnson. Johnson, like many of the Rams’ bargain basement picks, was a bit of a character concern. I believe that Jenkins and Johnson may be the only two CBs to be drafted in the same year by the same team who were both tasered during college by law enforcement officials. Johnson is a big corner, very tall and extremely long, but only one word comes to your mind while watching film. Physical. And Nasty. So, two words. Plus, when I asked Mike Mayock who the most-underrated players were, period, in this draft, Trumaine Johnson was the first name he mentioned citing the off the field issues as a possible deterrent for some teams. Are we sensing a pattern here?
I feel like the Rams got yet another steal in Round four, selecting Wake Forest WR Chris Givens, who I had rated as a late-second round talent. Givens was an overly productive player at Wake Forest who displayed dazzling moves in space and made a living in yards-after-catch outside the hash marks. He was reportedly an enigmatic presence during his time at Wake Forest, and several scouts indicated he was “diva” type of player. Watching film, this reported attitude does seem to translate to his play on the field. There are certain routes you can tell he simply doesn’t like to run. He goes half speed over the middle and gets alligator arms when he hears footsteps. He is a dynamic weapon on the perimeter, though, and the production is hard to overlook with as valuable as playmaking slot receivers in this league have become. He is faster on the field than he is on the track and is deceptively powerful making cuts.
I have never been a Rams fan per se, but after this draft, I am fast-becoming one. I am glad to have a new reason for enjoying the NFC West afternoon games that can be known to make a grown man drift off to La-Z-Boy snooze land on occasion.
Don't sleep on the Rams this year. They have major talent all over the field.
jurb26
Footballguy
I really like what St. L did on the defensive side this offseason and in the draft. On offense however, I'm not all that impressed. St. L could he vastly improved on D if Jrnkins plays to his potential. That is a huge if though.
bulger2holt
Footballguy
LT Saffold has beefed up. He added 15 lbs of muscle. RT Smith is healthy. Rams added one of the best OL coaches in the league too. Also added pro bowl center Wells. The o-line should be better. Rookie WR's Quick and Givens and rookie RB Pead will help right away. Quick looks the part. Looks like a faster more athletic Brandon Marshall. TE Kendricks has all the talent in the world. He just had rookie jitters, plus no off season hurt him. WR Salas looked great before the injury. He's 100% now. Amendola is healthy. He is a player. Look for Bradford to take a major step forward this year. He was throwing the ball great last year before the high ankle sprain. The Rams have loads of talent all over the field.
Faust
MVP
bulger2holt
Footballguy
Video of all Bradford's throws 15+ yards in 2011. Pretty impressive. if only his WR's and TE's could catch
Lott's Fingertip
Footballguy
Great video, I'm about 10 minutes into it and see some great accuracy. When the receiver is open, Bradford hits him... when the receiver is blanketed, Bradford still hits him. Give this man some weapons and he is going to produce. I figured him to be a buy low if the price is right, but now I see him as a guy to go after.
bulger2holt
Footballguy
+100
Garrett
Footballguy
If I was building a NFL team, I would take Bradford over Stafford any day.
bulger2holt
Footballguy
couldn't go wrong with either. Love to see Sam with a true #1 like Mega. Quick has the tools, but time will tell. But I was real impressed with Stafford too. I think Sam is more accurate, but Stafford has better pocket awareness and a stronger arm. They will both be stars.
Packer fan here, but I'm a fan of the entire NFL. Sorry to intrude, but I'm surprised to not see a mention of Josh Gordon on here. I would be excited to see the Rams select him. On the Audible they were comparing his upside to a Calvin Johnson or at least a better version of D. Alexander without the knee problems. I know that's alot of Kool-Aid to drink, but the Rams are one of the places I would really like to see him go to. Quick to me seems like a solid WR that could benefit from another big presence, and Gordon is faster.
This is all contingent on Gordon being in shape and out of trouble.
This is all contingent on Gordon being in shape and out of trouble.
bulger2holt
Footballguy
Wish I knew more about him
Faust
MVP
bulger2holt
Footballguy
Kendricks is going to have a big year.
Faust
MVP
Sam Bradford, Brian Schottenheimer speeding up Rams offense
By Albert Breer
Reporter, NFL.com and NFL Network
By Albert Breer
Reporter, NFL.com and NFL Network
Faust
MVP
Bob Magaw
Footballguy
RamView by Mike Franke
http://www.nflfans.com/rams2/article.php?story=201208190912552
RamView, August 18, 2012, Preseason Game #2: Rams 31, Chiefs 17, by Mike Franke
The Governor's Cup is safe in St. Louis for another year, and the Rams turn their preseason around with solid play on both sides of the ball in a not-that-close win over the Chiefs. Preseason itself may not matter, but it's still a relief to see some good things trending up with the Rams.
Position by position:
* QB: Excellent outing for Sam Bradford, 6-9-102 for 2 TDs and a passer rating of 144.4 in a little over a quarter's work. Bradford was sharp from the opening play, a 35-yard corner route to Danny Amendola. He had “good stuff,” to borrow a baseball phrase, throwing with zing and putting every pass right on target. Just as importantly, he led the Ram offense into the end zone twice, hitting Lance Kendricks in stride for a 23-yard TD and hitting Amendola for an 8-yard TD on a fade route, a pass that's given Bradford trouble so far in his early career. He moved the offense with nice tempo and found ways to exploit mismatches and take advantage of the defense that show the progress he's making at QB. Kellen Clemens (8-10-50, 87.5 PR) led the Rams on a short TD drive after halftime, but his biggest play was a 22-yard 3rd-and-long scramble that kept a FG drive alive before halftime. Who knew he could do that, or complete 80% of his pass attempts in an NFL game? Another solid outing. Austin Davis (5-7-70, 103.3 PR) also led the Rams on a TD drive and continues to impress. He moved well in the pocket and threw decisively. No scouting report said anything very good about his arm, but he puts good velocity on his short and medium passes. He needs to throw with more touch sometimes, but he'll figure that out in time. Tom Brandstater (2-3-19) even got some late-game action to round out a highly-positive night for the QB group.
* RB: Steven Jackson (7-49) was also sharp from his first touch, an 18-yard run up the middle. He also got the Rams out of a deep hole with a 14-yard run around right end and polished off his night with a 9-yard run where he carried a 315-pound Chief lineman for about half the distance. Tantalizing prospect seeing Jackson get blocking and running room he didn't get often last season. Isaiah Pead (6-minus 5) didn't get that luxury, entering the game behind the Rams' 2nd-string line but going against the Chiefs' starters. I'm not sure I've ever seen a player have negative yardage rushing AND receiving (2-minus 3). The game plan had him running into a terrible matchup his whole time out there, and the run that really hurt him, a NINE-yard loss right into Tamba Hali and others collapsing the left side of the line back into him, was really a play he should have cut back. But what did he hear all week – about how he did too much east-and-west running in the Colts game. So no improv for Pead this week, but he did score a TD with an impressive leap from a yard out that appeared to clear a Chief DB's head. See? When there's no hole, just jump over everybody. The Rams' most exciting rookie tonight was the last one they drafted, Daryl Richardson (8-35), who looked quicker, more decisive and more effective than Pead. He accelerates very quickly, moves well in traffic, and finds the hole and hits it without needing it to be very big. Richardson weaved and skipped through the Chief defense several times for nice gains, and scored a 4-yard TD on a draw play with more good, decisive downhill running. Richardson's so quick, there's already excitement when he gets the ball, and right now, he looks like a better candidate for change-of-pace RB than Pead. Keep in mind, though, that he's running against 2nd- and 3rd-stringers. Calvin Middleton (3-13) looks like a better RB prospect than Chase Reynolds (4-7), but Reynolds showed well tonight on special teams.
* Receivers: With Brandon Gibson still out, Danny Amendola (3-58) wasn't just the #1 wide receiver by title; the Rams used him like a #1, throwing a deep corner route to him on the opening play, and going to him with a fade route from the goal line, a play where Amendola made an impressive catch while falling back and despite having a defender draped all over him for an obvious DPI. No quick slants, no 3-yard buttonhooks; Amendola played the role of the feature WR this week, and pulled it off. I know, I know, it's August, but Lance Kendricks (2-34) continues to look damn impressive, beating LB Jovan Belcher with ease on a post route for a 23-yard TD to open the scoring and converting a 3rd-and-9 with an 11-yard catch out of the backfield. Bradford looks for Kendricks and the two are working together well. Kendricks' work in the weight room in the offseason really shows, too, and he continues to throw some dominant blocks out there. Mike McNeill (3-41) flashed in front of his hometown crowd, with 19- and 14-yard catches over the middle from Davis that set up Richardson's TD. I'd call McNeill a lock for TE4, but with Mike Hoomanawanui pretty much MIA, he may be able to shoot higher. Brian Quick (3-20) did drop a deflected pass from Clemens but did solid work in the big-possession-receiver role before leaving the game with a possible back injury. Showed good hands, went strong after the ball and set up a TD with a 4th-down catch at the goal line in the 3rd. Unless Brandon Gibson ever gets back in action, I suspect we're looking at Amendola, Quick and Steve Smith (1-10) as the opening day starters.
* Offensive line: The starting unit actually looked quite good. Barry Richardson and Harvey Dahl wiped out the left side of the Chiefs line on Jackson's opening run. Richardson got Jackson the corner for his end run for 14, and Jackson's last run was through a hole made by a strong block by Dahl on one side and a good pull-block by Quinn Ojinnaka on the other. This line looks really strong run-blocking so far, with Richardson looking like a real mauler, and Bradford wasn't touched tonight in pass rush. The o-line deserves a good grade. But there are caveats. Richardson was pancaked twice in pass protection, including on the TD pass to Kendricks. Fortunately, Bradford got the ball out quickly both times. Not to find the cloud around the silver lining, but you're not going to keep Bradford protected with the right tackle on the ground. Ojinnaka was more assignment-sound than he was last week, but it was still his miss that let Derrick Johnson through to submarine Jackson for a loss on a 3rd-and-short handoff. And Ojinnaka was completely outmatched by Tamba Hali after he moved to LT in the 2nd quarter. Doesn't look like he belongs out on the edge at all. But if the Rams do need a 3rd tackle this season, they'll have Jason Smith to fall back on. Smith's pass-blocking looked good enough, but I didn't see anything to make me think he's taking his old job back from Richardson very quickly. In fact, the Rams seemed happy trying to run (and failing) behind the clearly overmatched Ojinnaka than trying to run behind Smith at all. Sue me, but I found that telling. Rodger Saffold seemed solid enough except for a red zone false start, and Brit Miller had to hold after getting beaten trying to block for Bradford on a rollout, and didn't even do that all that well. But the Rams ran for 122 and allowed just two sacks, and one of those was Davis fumbling a sloppy play-fake. (The other was a jailbreak on Brandstater where every Ram 3rd-string lineman got beaten). You have to say they had a good game. But there's also clearly room for improvement.
* Defensive line/LB: We'll take a performance like this from the defense every week, thank you very much. Chief RBs averaged just 3 yards a carry and the Rams scored five sacks. Jo-Lonn Dunbar knifed through to blow up a 3rd-down sweep for a loss and force a punt. Robert Quinn drew double-teams almost the whole time he was in but still sacked Matt Cassel in the 2nd for a huge loss with an inside charge. Chris Long could have been a bigger pass-rush factor with Quinn drawing all the double-teams, but he did knock down a pass, as did James Laurinaitis. Both those knockdowns were close to being interceptions. Michael Brockers held strong against the run until banging heads with Peyton Hillis and leaving the game woozy. Fingers crossed this does not present a concussion problem for the Rams' first-round draft pick. Eugene Sims dominated for a series after the starters left, harrying Brandon Albert into a hold and a face mask on back-to-back plays, and Albert should have gotten a false start right after the other two infractions. Josh Hull opened the second half with a run-stuff, followed by an interception by, yes, Matt Conrath. Jermelle Cudjo continued his strong roster push by blowing up a sweep for a big loss and following it with what I would have scored a half-sack with William Hayes. Scott Smith got a coverage sack of Ricky Stanzi in the 3rd, and with the Chiefs going for it on 4th down afterward, several Rams chased Stanzi out of the pocket and all over the field until Justin Cole got to him and forced a fumble Rocky McIntosh recovered, the Rams forcing a 20-yard loss on 4th-and-1. McIntosh wasn't done. He finished a 3-and-out in the 4th blitzing in untouched for a sack, and forced a fumble deep in K.C. territory. Criminy, would you look at all the impact players by linebackers this week! A couple of items to clean up: Peyton Hillis' TD run was much too easy. He about walked in over left tackle, with Laurinaitis and another LB strewn on the ground after failed dives. All the double-teaming frustrated Quinn into taking really wide routes to the QB, which opened a huge lane for Cassel to scramble for 11 in the 1st. We didn't see the individual flashes of dominance we saw last week, but instead saw 11 men playing as a team. And the very improved results.
* Secondary: The Rams' corners got off to a strong start. Cortland Finnegan stuffed a pass to Tony Moeaki for 1 yard on K.C.'s first play, then Janoris Jenkins stripped Jonathan Baldwin for a fumble recovered by Craig Dahl. Trumaine Johnson was beaten by Kevin Boss for 20 to set up a late-first half Chiefs FG, but he more than made up for that in the 2nd half, starting off with his deflection of a pass for Terrance Copper two plays into the third, a ricochet which turned into an interception for... Matt Conrath. Hey, just like they practice it. That set up a TD, and Johnson was strong in run support and in coverage throughout the half. Safety play improved a lot over last week. Quintin Mikell didn't blow nearly as many plays. Craig Dahl didn't get beaten for anything big and made several solid tackles. Rodney McLeod recovered a fumble and popped again on special teams; that's how you make a roster, which I'm pretty convinced he's going to do. One of the things Steve Spagnuolo's defenses did well was cover the tight end, but that seemed to emerge as a problem tonight, with Boss beating various Rams 4 times for 62 yards, including an especially-painful 17-yard catch on 3rd-and-15. A little disappointing: they've certainly had to defend their share of passes to tight ends in camp. A minor problem tonight, but it could become a major one.
* Special teams: The legend of Greg Zuerlein continues to grow, as he hit from 52 just before halftime. Johnny Hekker was just ok punting. He “pinned” the Chiefs at the 15 with a punt from midfield and caught another good bounce with a no-hangtime punt from his end zone and got 50 out of it. Jerome Murphy made a nice play to shut down a Javier Arenas punt return for no gain, while Rodney McLeod, Brit Miller and Chase Reynolds made plays in kick coverage. Not much happening on returns at all this week. Jenkins was forced to make fair catches. Pead made a stupid effort to go east and west on one 2nd-half punt return and was lucky to get the two yards he did get (and had to run sixty yards to get them). Keep an eye on Sammy Brown on punt blocks – he got close enough a couple of times to make it interesting.
* Coaching/discipline: I first need to make sure to mention the very vanilla game plans by the Rams (and Chiefs) on both sides of the ball after failing to do so last week. Not that Brian Schottenheimer didn't do some interesting things. Using Amendola like a bigger #1 wideout was intriguing, and successful.
Schottenheimer's doing a good job keeping the tight end involved in the passing game. And misdirection has been effective in getting receivers wide open on those rollout screens that never seem to work here. Couple of nice gainers tonight on those. No, there weren't many deep balls, fewer than last week, even, but the offense is working.
Didn't notice much blitzing tonight, either, which seems sure to be different come September. Did notice the Rams go to a 3-4 look just once, with Brockers on the nose, which appeared to confuse the Chiefs into taking a timeout. One thing that's stood out so far about Jeff Fisher's defense is its tackling. There haven't been very many missed tackles. When the Rams tackle someone, they stay tackled. Keep that up. What else stood out tonight: 5 sacks, 4 turnovers, 21 points off of turnovers. Sure sounds like a Jeff Fisher defense to me.
* Waiver bait: Greg Salas has only two catches for 7 yards in two games. His stock is falling faster than Facebook's. Could be worse – RB Nick Schwieger has yet to enter a game. Garrett Lindholm missed a 50-yard FG late in the game and didn't show all that strong a leg kicking it. Danario Alexander unfortunately seems to be running out of time to make an impression somewhere other than the trainers' table. Kendric Burney showed excellent trailing technique while getting scorched by one Jeremy Horne for Kansas City's longest play of the night, a 38-yard TD.
* Upon further review: Not many complaints for “Matt” Nicks and crew from my seat. No one seems to be calling offensive line holding this summer (which seems to be benefiting Barry Richardson and could be something to watch for). Josh Gordy probably got away with DPI on a deep TD pass attempt to Jonathan Baldwin in the 2nd. I didn't think McNeill was touched down on his 19-yard catch; I assume he didn't think so, either, since he got back up and ran. Maybe his foot got clipped. The crew went 1-for-2 on challenges. Romeo Crennel challenged Amendola's TD catch. The crew not only got that call right, they also got the obvious DPI. Pretty easy call, actually. Jeff Fisher successfully challenged Nate Eachus' fumble in the 4th, which was a much harder call. I didn't even get that one right after the first replay. Though it's probably because the Rams won, I'd take the job Nicks' crew did tonight most weeks of the regular season.
* Cheers: Very light crowd, 30,000 at best, not helped by last week's poor performance or the Cardinals game ending about a half hour before kickoff. We still raised a good ruckus on 3rd downs, though, enough to even surprise the announcers on the TV broadcast a bit. I was very happy with a couple of improvements inside the Dome. The “Rams Rules” and the stupid clapping video before kickoffs are history, and it looks like all the aisles in the upper deck have been re-painted and polished. So for at least one glorious night, my shoes weren't welded to the floor by some three-week-old spilled soda from a high-school game. The NFL this year is allowing stadiums to show the same replay footage the referee sees while he's under the hood reviewing a play. The video crew blew that on the first challenge, but we got excellent looks at the late fumble challenge that the Rams won. The league should give a raise to the person who pushed this idea.
* Who’s next?: The Rams return to the scene of one of their biggest crimes of last season next Saturday – Dallas, where they made Demarco Murray the all-time Cowboys record-holder for yards in a single game with 253. That game exposed (in part) the run defense of the Rams' safeties, weakside LB and Robert Quinn, making next weekend a valuable progress report. We'll also get a key preview of the season for both teams in the Rams corners vs. the Cowboy wideouts. Jason Witten's spleen injury (ouch) gives the Cowboy offense a much different look and feel. It's up to the Rams to make Tony Romo really feel the absence of his favorite receiver. On offense, Barry Richardson vs. Demarcus Ware sounds like a matchup to be avoided at all costs, but whoever plays RT this season will have to block Jared Allen, Julius Peppers, Brian Orakpo, Mario Williams, Cameron Wake, Aldon Smith, Chris Clemons, Calais Campbell...there aren't any weeks off in the NFL. With one good game and one dog of a game under their belt, the Rams need to show execution similar to tonight's to prove they're continuing to make progress. It'll be harder for the Rams because Jeff Fisher doesn't use his starters as much in the third preseason game as other coaches, but it shouldn't be hard to see.
http://www.nflfans.com/rams2/article.php?story=201208190912552
RamView, August 18, 2012, Preseason Game #2: Rams 31, Chiefs 17, by Mike Franke
The Governor's Cup is safe in St. Louis for another year, and the Rams turn their preseason around with solid play on both sides of the ball in a not-that-close win over the Chiefs. Preseason itself may not matter, but it's still a relief to see some good things trending up with the Rams.
Position by position:
* QB: Excellent outing for Sam Bradford, 6-9-102 for 2 TDs and a passer rating of 144.4 in a little over a quarter's work. Bradford was sharp from the opening play, a 35-yard corner route to Danny Amendola. He had “good stuff,” to borrow a baseball phrase, throwing with zing and putting every pass right on target. Just as importantly, he led the Ram offense into the end zone twice, hitting Lance Kendricks in stride for a 23-yard TD and hitting Amendola for an 8-yard TD on a fade route, a pass that's given Bradford trouble so far in his early career. He moved the offense with nice tempo and found ways to exploit mismatches and take advantage of the defense that show the progress he's making at QB. Kellen Clemens (8-10-50, 87.5 PR) led the Rams on a short TD drive after halftime, but his biggest play was a 22-yard 3rd-and-long scramble that kept a FG drive alive before halftime. Who knew he could do that, or complete 80% of his pass attempts in an NFL game? Another solid outing. Austin Davis (5-7-70, 103.3 PR) also led the Rams on a TD drive and continues to impress. He moved well in the pocket and threw decisively. No scouting report said anything very good about his arm, but he puts good velocity on his short and medium passes. He needs to throw with more touch sometimes, but he'll figure that out in time. Tom Brandstater (2-3-19) even got some late-game action to round out a highly-positive night for the QB group.
* RB: Steven Jackson (7-49) was also sharp from his first touch, an 18-yard run up the middle. He also got the Rams out of a deep hole with a 14-yard run around right end and polished off his night with a 9-yard run where he carried a 315-pound Chief lineman for about half the distance. Tantalizing prospect seeing Jackson get blocking and running room he didn't get often last season. Isaiah Pead (6-minus 5) didn't get that luxury, entering the game behind the Rams' 2nd-string line but going against the Chiefs' starters. I'm not sure I've ever seen a player have negative yardage rushing AND receiving (2-minus 3). The game plan had him running into a terrible matchup his whole time out there, and the run that really hurt him, a NINE-yard loss right into Tamba Hali and others collapsing the left side of the line back into him, was really a play he should have cut back. But what did he hear all week – about how he did too much east-and-west running in the Colts game. So no improv for Pead this week, but he did score a TD with an impressive leap from a yard out that appeared to clear a Chief DB's head. See? When there's no hole, just jump over everybody. The Rams' most exciting rookie tonight was the last one they drafted, Daryl Richardson (8-35), who looked quicker, more decisive and more effective than Pead. He accelerates very quickly, moves well in traffic, and finds the hole and hits it without needing it to be very big. Richardson weaved and skipped through the Chief defense several times for nice gains, and scored a 4-yard TD on a draw play with more good, decisive downhill running. Richardson's so quick, there's already excitement when he gets the ball, and right now, he looks like a better candidate for change-of-pace RB than Pead. Keep in mind, though, that he's running against 2nd- and 3rd-stringers. Calvin Middleton (3-13) looks like a better RB prospect than Chase Reynolds (4-7), but Reynolds showed well tonight on special teams.
* Receivers: With Brandon Gibson still out, Danny Amendola (3-58) wasn't just the #1 wide receiver by title; the Rams used him like a #1, throwing a deep corner route to him on the opening play, and going to him with a fade route from the goal line, a play where Amendola made an impressive catch while falling back and despite having a defender draped all over him for an obvious DPI. No quick slants, no 3-yard buttonhooks; Amendola played the role of the feature WR this week, and pulled it off. I know, I know, it's August, but Lance Kendricks (2-34) continues to look damn impressive, beating LB Jovan Belcher with ease on a post route for a 23-yard TD to open the scoring and converting a 3rd-and-9 with an 11-yard catch out of the backfield. Bradford looks for Kendricks and the two are working together well. Kendricks' work in the weight room in the offseason really shows, too, and he continues to throw some dominant blocks out there. Mike McNeill (3-41) flashed in front of his hometown crowd, with 19- and 14-yard catches over the middle from Davis that set up Richardson's TD. I'd call McNeill a lock for TE4, but with Mike Hoomanawanui pretty much MIA, he may be able to shoot higher. Brian Quick (3-20) did drop a deflected pass from Clemens but did solid work in the big-possession-receiver role before leaving the game with a possible back injury. Showed good hands, went strong after the ball and set up a TD with a 4th-down catch at the goal line in the 3rd. Unless Brandon Gibson ever gets back in action, I suspect we're looking at Amendola, Quick and Steve Smith (1-10) as the opening day starters.
* Offensive line: The starting unit actually looked quite good. Barry Richardson and Harvey Dahl wiped out the left side of the Chiefs line on Jackson's opening run. Richardson got Jackson the corner for his end run for 14, and Jackson's last run was through a hole made by a strong block by Dahl on one side and a good pull-block by Quinn Ojinnaka on the other. This line looks really strong run-blocking so far, with Richardson looking like a real mauler, and Bradford wasn't touched tonight in pass rush. The o-line deserves a good grade. But there are caveats. Richardson was pancaked twice in pass protection, including on the TD pass to Kendricks. Fortunately, Bradford got the ball out quickly both times. Not to find the cloud around the silver lining, but you're not going to keep Bradford protected with the right tackle on the ground. Ojinnaka was more assignment-sound than he was last week, but it was still his miss that let Derrick Johnson through to submarine Jackson for a loss on a 3rd-and-short handoff. And Ojinnaka was completely outmatched by Tamba Hali after he moved to LT in the 2nd quarter. Doesn't look like he belongs out on the edge at all. But if the Rams do need a 3rd tackle this season, they'll have Jason Smith to fall back on. Smith's pass-blocking looked good enough, but I didn't see anything to make me think he's taking his old job back from Richardson very quickly. In fact, the Rams seemed happy trying to run (and failing) behind the clearly overmatched Ojinnaka than trying to run behind Smith at all. Sue me, but I found that telling. Rodger Saffold seemed solid enough except for a red zone false start, and Brit Miller had to hold after getting beaten trying to block for Bradford on a rollout, and didn't even do that all that well. But the Rams ran for 122 and allowed just two sacks, and one of those was Davis fumbling a sloppy play-fake. (The other was a jailbreak on Brandstater where every Ram 3rd-string lineman got beaten). You have to say they had a good game. But there's also clearly room for improvement.
* Defensive line/LB: We'll take a performance like this from the defense every week, thank you very much. Chief RBs averaged just 3 yards a carry and the Rams scored five sacks. Jo-Lonn Dunbar knifed through to blow up a 3rd-down sweep for a loss and force a punt. Robert Quinn drew double-teams almost the whole time he was in but still sacked Matt Cassel in the 2nd for a huge loss with an inside charge. Chris Long could have been a bigger pass-rush factor with Quinn drawing all the double-teams, but he did knock down a pass, as did James Laurinaitis. Both those knockdowns were close to being interceptions. Michael Brockers held strong against the run until banging heads with Peyton Hillis and leaving the game woozy. Fingers crossed this does not present a concussion problem for the Rams' first-round draft pick. Eugene Sims dominated for a series after the starters left, harrying Brandon Albert into a hold and a face mask on back-to-back plays, and Albert should have gotten a false start right after the other two infractions. Josh Hull opened the second half with a run-stuff, followed by an interception by, yes, Matt Conrath. Jermelle Cudjo continued his strong roster push by blowing up a sweep for a big loss and following it with what I would have scored a half-sack with William Hayes. Scott Smith got a coverage sack of Ricky Stanzi in the 3rd, and with the Chiefs going for it on 4th down afterward, several Rams chased Stanzi out of the pocket and all over the field until Justin Cole got to him and forced a fumble Rocky McIntosh recovered, the Rams forcing a 20-yard loss on 4th-and-1. McIntosh wasn't done. He finished a 3-and-out in the 4th blitzing in untouched for a sack, and forced a fumble deep in K.C. territory. Criminy, would you look at all the impact players by linebackers this week! A couple of items to clean up: Peyton Hillis' TD run was much too easy. He about walked in over left tackle, with Laurinaitis and another LB strewn on the ground after failed dives. All the double-teaming frustrated Quinn into taking really wide routes to the QB, which opened a huge lane for Cassel to scramble for 11 in the 1st. We didn't see the individual flashes of dominance we saw last week, but instead saw 11 men playing as a team. And the very improved results.
* Secondary: The Rams' corners got off to a strong start. Cortland Finnegan stuffed a pass to Tony Moeaki for 1 yard on K.C.'s first play, then Janoris Jenkins stripped Jonathan Baldwin for a fumble recovered by Craig Dahl. Trumaine Johnson was beaten by Kevin Boss for 20 to set up a late-first half Chiefs FG, but he more than made up for that in the 2nd half, starting off with his deflection of a pass for Terrance Copper two plays into the third, a ricochet which turned into an interception for... Matt Conrath. Hey, just like they practice it. That set up a TD, and Johnson was strong in run support and in coverage throughout the half. Safety play improved a lot over last week. Quintin Mikell didn't blow nearly as many plays. Craig Dahl didn't get beaten for anything big and made several solid tackles. Rodney McLeod recovered a fumble and popped again on special teams; that's how you make a roster, which I'm pretty convinced he's going to do. One of the things Steve Spagnuolo's defenses did well was cover the tight end, but that seemed to emerge as a problem tonight, with Boss beating various Rams 4 times for 62 yards, including an especially-painful 17-yard catch on 3rd-and-15. A little disappointing: they've certainly had to defend their share of passes to tight ends in camp. A minor problem tonight, but it could become a major one.
* Special teams: The legend of Greg Zuerlein continues to grow, as he hit from 52 just before halftime. Johnny Hekker was just ok punting. He “pinned” the Chiefs at the 15 with a punt from midfield and caught another good bounce with a no-hangtime punt from his end zone and got 50 out of it. Jerome Murphy made a nice play to shut down a Javier Arenas punt return for no gain, while Rodney McLeod, Brit Miller and Chase Reynolds made plays in kick coverage. Not much happening on returns at all this week. Jenkins was forced to make fair catches. Pead made a stupid effort to go east and west on one 2nd-half punt return and was lucky to get the two yards he did get (and had to run sixty yards to get them). Keep an eye on Sammy Brown on punt blocks – he got close enough a couple of times to make it interesting.
* Coaching/discipline: I first need to make sure to mention the very vanilla game plans by the Rams (and Chiefs) on both sides of the ball after failing to do so last week. Not that Brian Schottenheimer didn't do some interesting things. Using Amendola like a bigger #1 wideout was intriguing, and successful.
Schottenheimer's doing a good job keeping the tight end involved in the passing game. And misdirection has been effective in getting receivers wide open on those rollout screens that never seem to work here. Couple of nice gainers tonight on those. No, there weren't many deep balls, fewer than last week, even, but the offense is working.
Didn't notice much blitzing tonight, either, which seems sure to be different come September. Did notice the Rams go to a 3-4 look just once, with Brockers on the nose, which appeared to confuse the Chiefs into taking a timeout. One thing that's stood out so far about Jeff Fisher's defense is its tackling. There haven't been very many missed tackles. When the Rams tackle someone, they stay tackled. Keep that up. What else stood out tonight: 5 sacks, 4 turnovers, 21 points off of turnovers. Sure sounds like a Jeff Fisher defense to me.
* Waiver bait: Greg Salas has only two catches for 7 yards in two games. His stock is falling faster than Facebook's. Could be worse – RB Nick Schwieger has yet to enter a game. Garrett Lindholm missed a 50-yard FG late in the game and didn't show all that strong a leg kicking it. Danario Alexander unfortunately seems to be running out of time to make an impression somewhere other than the trainers' table. Kendric Burney showed excellent trailing technique while getting scorched by one Jeremy Horne for Kansas City's longest play of the night, a 38-yard TD.
* Upon further review: Not many complaints for “Matt” Nicks and crew from my seat. No one seems to be calling offensive line holding this summer (which seems to be benefiting Barry Richardson and could be something to watch for). Josh Gordy probably got away with DPI on a deep TD pass attempt to Jonathan Baldwin in the 2nd. I didn't think McNeill was touched down on his 19-yard catch; I assume he didn't think so, either, since he got back up and ran. Maybe his foot got clipped. The crew went 1-for-2 on challenges. Romeo Crennel challenged Amendola's TD catch. The crew not only got that call right, they also got the obvious DPI. Pretty easy call, actually. Jeff Fisher successfully challenged Nate Eachus' fumble in the 4th, which was a much harder call. I didn't even get that one right after the first replay. Though it's probably because the Rams won, I'd take the job Nicks' crew did tonight most weeks of the regular season.
* Cheers: Very light crowd, 30,000 at best, not helped by last week's poor performance or the Cardinals game ending about a half hour before kickoff. We still raised a good ruckus on 3rd downs, though, enough to even surprise the announcers on the TV broadcast a bit. I was very happy with a couple of improvements inside the Dome. The “Rams Rules” and the stupid clapping video before kickoffs are history, and it looks like all the aisles in the upper deck have been re-painted and polished. So for at least one glorious night, my shoes weren't welded to the floor by some three-week-old spilled soda from a high-school game. The NFL this year is allowing stadiums to show the same replay footage the referee sees while he's under the hood reviewing a play. The video crew blew that on the first challenge, but we got excellent looks at the late fumble challenge that the Rams won. The league should give a raise to the person who pushed this idea.
* Who’s next?: The Rams return to the scene of one of their biggest crimes of last season next Saturday – Dallas, where they made Demarco Murray the all-time Cowboys record-holder for yards in a single game with 253. That game exposed (in part) the run defense of the Rams' safeties, weakside LB and Robert Quinn, making next weekend a valuable progress report. We'll also get a key preview of the season for both teams in the Rams corners vs. the Cowboy wideouts. Jason Witten's spleen injury (ouch) gives the Cowboy offense a much different look and feel. It's up to the Rams to make Tony Romo really feel the absence of his favorite receiver. On offense, Barry Richardson vs. Demarcus Ware sounds like a matchup to be avoided at all costs, but whoever plays RT this season will have to block Jared Allen, Julius Peppers, Brian Orakpo, Mario Williams, Cameron Wake, Aldon Smith, Chris Clemons, Calais Campbell...there aren't any weeks off in the NFL. With one good game and one dog of a game under their belt, the Rams need to show execution similar to tonight's to prove they're continuing to make progress. It'll be harder for the Rams because Jeff Fisher doesn't use his starters as much in the third preseason game as other coaches, but it shouldn't be hard to see.
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
Good effort today. The team is coming along nicely, and you have a helluva coach! 
Raider Nation
Devil's Advocate
I was pretty pissed for selfish reasons. A Rams win would have knocked 86 people out of my survivor pool.
What can you do. They fought hard.The lack of quality O-linemen and WRs is so very odd. It's almost like an NFL policy that a team must improve those when they draft a top QB. Fisher got love for his offensive line in TEN as did Munchak. It's kind of curious that both have nothing to hang their hat on now.
bulger2holt
Footballguy
Bradford was under pressure nearly every pass, while Stafford could each a sandwich back there. Very disappointed in Quinn and Long today.
That's a great video.Alot of very talented QBs have become shell shocked and pretty much ended their careers. I don't see it in Bradford yet, but it's a concern.
The Rams should have offered Lloyd some $ and kept him. Do you see the catch at 28:10 or so? There's a bunch around that time that are so impressive.
The year before Mark Clayton was sooo good with Bradford.
If Bradford is going to make some castoff look good and develop a rapport with him, why can't they keep the guy? No theatrics, just sign the WR for a few years and then no one worries.
They don't make progress.
Steve Smith has ridiculous hands and if someone can be slow and make a living at WR in the NFL it's him. Maybe maybe maybe he's the surprise this year. (In the clayton vein) He's definitely not the same WR he was with the Gmen but those hands are still there.
Amendola I like some and at least he's hanging around.
Fisher did not have many good WRs in TEN and his best was a too small too slow fourth round draft pick. Britt was the first first rounder they took and Fisher was there a long time before Britt. Fisher wasn't the GM and they had a couple if not three while he was there. Still, Fisher's presence isn't reassuring as far as WRs go.
There's a thread here about Cincy WR Hawkins. He was cut by the Rams last year or year before.
All that's out there is Jordan Shipley and he's so curious. Supposedly he's healthy and all yet the Bucs cut him and the Gmen supposedly liked what they saw but didn't offer him a contract. Something doesn't smell right.
It's a shame we don't often hear of these trades during the season that make each team better and ...salary cap has really been a negative for us fantasy folks wanting to daydream about trades in the NFL.
All that's out there is Jordan Shipley and he's so curious. Supposedly he's healthy and all yet the Bucs cut him and the Gmen supposedly liked what they saw but didn't offer him a contract. Something doesn't smell right.
It's a shame we don't often hear of these trades during the season that make each team better and ...salary cap has really been a negative for us fantasy folks wanting to daydream about trades in the NFL.
Team ROFLCOPTERS
Footballguy
He's only played in what, 27 games? His rookie year was one of the best the NFl has seen. He had a good game yesterday despite two of his best OL's going down on a line that was already missing two NFl quality starters. Nevermind their top attempt to get Brdford a WR not even suiting up.
