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COMMENTARY | St. Louis Rams starting quarterback Sam Bradford suffered a torn left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the team’s 30-15 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, October 20. The injury almost certainly crushes the Rams’ playoff hopes.
The team drafted Bradford to be the franchise quarterback. He was meant to be the face of the Rams as they returned to prominence in the NFL. Unfortunately, the team has struggled to protect Bradford throughout his first three years in the league. He’s also dealt with three different offensive systems and a lack of receiving options during his short career. In short, the odds have been against Bradford from the moment the Rams drafted him first overall in 2010.
Things were supposed to be different for the Rams this season. General manager Les Snead drafted playmaker Tavon Austin in the first round of the 2013 draft and signed dynamic receiving tight end Jared Cook. Snead also brought in former Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long to protect Bradford’s blindside.
It took some time, but the Rams offense started to come together in recent games. Zac Stacy emerged as the Rams’ top running back, and Bradford’s protection continued to improve as the season moved forward. Everything was looking up until Bradford scrambled toward the sidelines late in the fourth quarter against the Panthers. His injury is both devastating to the team’s chances for success this season and a concern for the Rams’ future at the quarterback position.
The Rams must find a way to salvage their campaign with their field general out for the final nine games. Kellen Clemens will take over as the starting quarterback, and Snead will bring someone in to back him up. Clemens is serviceable as a backup, but there’s a reason why he’s never been a starter in the NFL. He’s inconsistent and often inaccurate with his passes.
If the Rams are going to be successful, they will need to rely on head coach Jeff Fisher’s formula from his Tennessee days: a strong running game and an aggressive defense. The problem is that both of those areas have been weaknesses for the Rams this season. The normally reliable defense has often failed to pressure opposing quarterbacks while giving receivers too much open space. The Rams’ power-running game has shown some flashes in recent weeks, but it has been less than ideal overall. The team must improve in these areas if it’s going to be competitive for the rest of 2013.
The injury will also have a long-term effect on the Rams’ future. The team was expected to focus on the offensive line early in the 2014 draft, but Bradford’s injury will likely force the team to rethink that strategy. Bradford has two years and over $30 million in cap hits left on his contract. However, his $14.015 million base salary for 2014 isn’t guaranteed. That means the Rams can release him and save quite a bit of money.
The Rams could decide to use one of their first round picks on a quarterback in the upcoming draft, which would actually be much more affordable than keeping Bradford long-term. The 2014 draft is one of the deepest in years, and it would allow the current front office to start again with its own guy. If that’s the case, then Bradford has played his last game for the St. Louis Rams.
Snead and Fisher have a critical decision to make. Do they keep Bradford, pay his huge salary, and hope that he fully recovers from the ACL tear? Or do they cut ties with Bradford and start all over again? Things are going to be interesting at Rams Park during the 2014 offseason.
Derek Ciapala has been following the Rams since childhood and is the managing editor of Rams Talk. You can follow him on Facebook or on Twitter @TalkRams.
(Article originally published on Yahoo! Sports)
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COMMENTARY | St. Louis Rams starting quarterback Sam Bradford suffered a torn left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the team’s 30-15 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, October 20. The injury almost certainly crushes the Rams’ playoff hopes.
The team drafted Bradford to be the franchise quarterback. He was meant to be the face of the Rams as they returned to prominence in the NFL. Unfortunately, the team has struggled to protect Bradford throughout his first three years in the league. He’s also dealt with three different offensive systems and a lack of receiving options during his short career. In short, the odds have been against Bradford from the moment the Rams drafted him first overall in 2010.
Things were supposed to be different for the Rams this season. General manager Les Snead drafted playmaker Tavon Austin in the first round of the 2013 draft and signed dynamic receiving tight end Jared Cook. Snead also brought in former Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long to protect Bradford’s blindside.
It took some time, but the Rams offense started to come together in recent games. Zac Stacy emerged as the Rams’ top running back, and Bradford’s protection continued to improve as the season moved forward. Everything was looking up until Bradford scrambled toward the sidelines late in the fourth quarter against the Panthers. His injury is both devastating to the team’s chances for success this season and a concern for the Rams’ future at the quarterback position.
The Rams must find a way to salvage their campaign with their field general out for the final nine games. Kellen Clemens will take over as the starting quarterback, and Snead will bring someone in to back him up. Clemens is serviceable as a backup, but there’s a reason why he’s never been a starter in the NFL. He’s inconsistent and often inaccurate with his passes.
If the Rams are going to be successful, they will need to rely on head coach Jeff Fisher’s formula from his Tennessee days: a strong running game and an aggressive defense. The problem is that both of those areas have been weaknesses for the Rams this season. The normally reliable defense has often failed to pressure opposing quarterbacks while giving receivers too much open space. The Rams’ power-running game has shown some flashes in recent weeks, but it has been less than ideal overall. The team must improve in these areas if it’s going to be competitive for the rest of 2013.
The injury will also have a long-term effect on the Rams’ future. The team was expected to focus on the offensive line early in the 2014 draft, but Bradford’s injury will likely force the team to rethink that strategy. Bradford has two years and over $30 million in cap hits left on his contract. However, his $14.015 million base salary for 2014 isn’t guaranteed. That means the Rams can release him and save quite a bit of money.
The Rams could decide to use one of their first round picks on a quarterback in the upcoming draft, which would actually be much more affordable than keeping Bradford long-term. The 2014 draft is one of the deepest in years, and it would allow the current front office to start again with its own guy. If that’s the case, then Bradford has played his last game for the St. Louis Rams.
Snead and Fisher have a critical decision to make. Do they keep Bradford, pay his huge salary, and hope that he fully recovers from the ACL tear? Or do they cut ties with Bradford and start all over again? Things are going to be interesting at Rams Park during the 2014 offseason.
Derek Ciapala has been following the Rams since childhood and is the managing editor of Rams Talk. You can follow him on Facebook or on Twitter @TalkRams.
(Article originally published on Yahoo! Sports)
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