2012-2016- The Fisher Era

Offseason 2015: The St. Louis Rams and WR Kenny Britt complete each other

The rumors, the speculation and the drama are finally over since the St. Louis Rams have announced that they are bringing back wide receiver Kenny Britt for the next two seasons. This was a huge concern, because the Rams had trouble scoring last season, and eliminating their No. 1 receiver didn’t seem like the best option.

The agreement works for both sides. The Rams receive a potential elite receiver at a reasonable cost. Britt, on the other hand, received a substantial increase in pay. Britt earned $1 million last season and is scheduled to earn about $7 million this upcoming season; that’s a 600-percent increase. If he performs up to expectations, he could present himself with an opportunity to receive a more lucrative contract once his current one expires. Ultimately, Britt’s performance on the field will decide his financial gain in the future.

That said, did Britt deserve that much of a bump in pay? Admittedly, the cost was a little more than what I was hoping for, but if he establishes himself as a true No. 1 receiver, he’ll be worth every penny. He needs to begin with picking up some more yards, because 748 yards in a season doesn’t scream “elite receiver.”

Newly added quarterback Nick Foles will certainly factor in this equation. Foles provides more of threat to defenses than Sam Bradford did. He is a playmaker, who is capable of throwing on the run. His mobility allows him to extend plays. Britt certainly didn’t see that kind of opportunity last season with Shaun Hill and Austin Davis taking the snaps.

Both Hill and Davis didn’t take many chances downfield and used primarily slants, screens and short passes which takes Britt out of his element. In reality, the entire receiving corps does not benefit from this type of playcalling. When Davis and Hill did take shots down the field, they weren’t usually all that accurate. We could factor in the inconsistent play of the offensive line, but this bring us to a stronger case point for Foles since he does know how to play under pressure.

What was essential in bringing back Britt was the chemistry of the entire receiving corps. All Rams receivers benefitted when Britt was starting. Britt is a guy that can stretch the field, and the receivers can benefit by becoming a threat themselves. We witnessed that when Quick had a couple of huge games before sustaining a season-ending injury.

The only concern I have with Britt is his dropped passes. Obviously when you’re on a sinking ship like the Rams last season, the desire to play hard begins to lose its luster. But some key plays could have happened if Britt just caught the ball. Britt wasn’t the only receiver that was careless, but if he wants to be paid like an elite receiver, he will need to play like one. He needs to show the younger receivers that the game isn’t over until the clock strikes zero and the whistle is blown. If Britt can become that leader, I have no doubt in my mind that the Rams have an elite receiver.

Source: Pro-sports-reference.com, Sportrac.com

You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.

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