Sam Bradford getting ran out of bounds in that Carolina game last year isn’t a distant memory. The quarterback tore his knee apart and missed the rest of the 2013 season. The Rams inserted Kellen Clemens into the action and recovered to finish 7-9 but the bigger problem was the stop in the progression of Bradford as a quarterback in this league. After a solid rookie season, an injury plagued sophomore campaign and an even better look under the new eye of head coach Jeff Fisher in 2012, Bradford was going to take center stage in 2013. The offense was tuned up and had added tight end Jared Cook and rookie Tavon Austin. The spread offense was being tested by the offense. Then the first few games fell flat. The offense couldn’t operate in a pass heavy attack. Darryl Richardson had trouble as the starting quarterback. An up and down first half to the season culminated in Bradford’s knee injury. He was putting together quite the season. 14 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions and an improved red zone rating and completion percentage. Without a true #1 receiver and with the second year regression of young receiver Chris Givens, Bradford still found ways to be successful. This doesn’t fit into the narrative in St. Louis. Fans want him gone. They think the Rams can’t win with him. Here’s what they forget.
The Rams drafted poorly for several seasons. The head coaching was flawed(Spags) or bad(Scott Linehan). The offensive coordinators came and went. The offense had a band aide assembled offensive line. Penalties were the team’s top flavor on Sunday’s. Bradford was blamed for ALL of this in his first four seasons. People forget how effective he was up until his leg injury last November.
On Saturday, Bradford took the field for the first time. It was a preseason game, so the excitement levels must be maintained. Preseason games in football are like spring training in Florida. Good things may happen but the level of importance can shift and the connection to real play is hard to attain. However, Bradford needed this. He needed to get on a field and throw. Move around the pocket. Test out new receiver Kenny Britt, a man as big as Cook and more nimble in his still young age. Austin, Givens and Brian Quick were a year older now in their football careers. This was important. Sam faced the Packers #1 defense and after a struggle in his first series, the second series took off. Bradford led the team down the field and made a key pass to Quick across the middle to extend the drive and threw a touchdown pass to Lance Kendricks. Bradford finished 9-12 for 101 yards. He played a total of two series, and the two resembled night and day as far as performance was concerned.
When asked how the first team offense played, Bradford had this to say. “I thought it went well today. We wanted to come out and execute, put together two nice drives. Obviously, penalties hurt us and the missed the throw on the first drive, but we came back and put together a nice drive, scored a touchdown. So, I thought it was a good day.”
Getting on the field in live action was the right medicine for Bradford as well. “It felt good. It was nothing new, I’ve been here before. I think for everyone else it’s probably a bigger deal for me to get back out on the field. But it was nice to get out there in a live game, feel the pass rush, get the ball out of my hand, and go out there and execute the way that we did, I thought it was good.”
Next week will be a true test. When it comes to NFL preseasons, the third game is when the starters play the most. A fan can expect a full half of Sam Bradford at least against the Cleveland Browns. That will be a test for the knee as well as the offense cutting down on the penalties and putting together consecutive drives. The need for this passing attack to improve is vital to the success of this team in 2014. If the passing game can complete big plays, the running game for Zac Stacy opens up. One feeds off the other in this game. Bradford doesn’t have to win an MVP in 2014. He simply has to stay healthy, limit the mistakes, continue to improve in the red zone and make those big time passes. He isn’t going to be Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. That much is known. He can still be a very good quarterback and someone who can lead a team to the playoffs. Look at Joe Flacco. He was called a game managing minimal passer until he got white hot in 2012-13 and led the Ravens to the promised land. Bradford can do the same thing here. The Rams have the defense to manhandle teams. The offense finally must show up.
With all due respect to Stacy and Britt, that hope begins and ends with Sam Bradford. I believe in him and always have. He needed time for a team to gather around him that was able to shoulder part of the load. Now is the time for other head coaches and defensive coordinators across the league to fear Bradford and this offense. That must happen or else 2014 will be another average season.
Thanks for reading.
(Quotes courtesy of the St. Louis Rams)
Photo Credit-Zimbio
