[dieterbrock]

We need a "like" button. Great post Max

[moklerman]

One game sums up Bradford for me. It was the 2012 game in SF that ended in a tie.

In many respects he looked great, making some amazing throws. He was super accurate. And he wasn't the reason the Rams didn't win that game.

But there was something missing that kept him from being special. After he made that great throw to Amendola in OT that should have won the game, Bradford seemed to get down. He took a horrible sack from Aldon Smith that was the closest thing to Jim Everett's phantom sack against the Niners many years ago.

I think Bradford has amazing arm talent. And he's a smart high character guy. Those are his only positive attribute, though they are important ones.

Unfortunately, he has some prohibitively bad attributes. He's extremely fragile. And he's a linear athlete, who can't avoid people either in the pocket or outside the pocket. He doesn't inspire teammates to play like they know they are gonna win the game because they have #8 back there.

To me, Bradford is similar to Alex Smith but only much more injury prone. IMHO, getting Foles and a 2nd rounder for Bradford was a shockingly good trade for the Rams. Foles doesn't have Bradford's arm talent but he is at least as good or better everywhere else.

We'll see about Foles. It won't surprise me at all if Rams fans are ready to see what Mannion can do before long. From what I've seen and read, his decision-making and mechanics leave a lot to be desired and that will be magnified on an offense that isn't as far along as the one in Philly.

I'm not really sure why you evaluate Bradford the way you did though. He has "amazing" arm talent, he's smart and he's a high character guy. But that's "all"(!?!).

Naw, there really isn't anything to complain about Bradford's game on the field. As it's always been, Bradford's health is all there is to criticize him about. And that's a biggie. But there's really no basis to try and tear down the other parts of his game, especially his leadership ability. Your overtime game example for example. I just don't agree that Bradford should be criticized because he couldn't throw two 80 yard TD's to win the game. After that game-winner got called back Bradford was 7/10, 74 yards. The very next possession Bradford led the Rams into 49ers territory. Mixing up runs and passes, they get to the 49ers 41 on a 10 yard pass from Bradford. Instead of continuing with what had been successful, they run 3 straight times, opting for a LONG FG attempt instead of being aggressive.

That's more about Fisher/Schottenheimer than it is about Bradford not being inspiring enough. A QB can't be inspiring when the coach takes the ball out of his hands...until it's obvious the Rams HAVE to pass and they inevitably give up a sack.

[max]

One game sums up Bradford for me. It was the 2012 game in SF that ended in a tie.

In many respects he looked great, making some amazing throws. He was super accurate. And he wasn't the reason the Rams didn't win that game.

But there was something missing that kept him from being special. After he made that great throw to Amendola in OT that should have won the game, Bradford seemed to get down. He took a horrible sack from Aldon Smith that was the closest thing to Jim Everett's phantom sack against the Niners many years ago.

I think Bradford has amazing arm talent. And he's a smart high character guy. Those are his only positive attribute, though they are important ones.

Unfortunately, he has some prohibitively bad attributes. He's extremely fragile. And he's a linear athlete, who can't avoid people either in the pocket or outside the pocket. He doesn't inspire teammates to play like they know they are gonna win the game because they have #8 back there.

To me, Bradford is similar to Alex Smith but only much more injury prone. IMHO, getting Foles and a 2nd rounder for Bradford was a shockingly good trade for the Rams. Foles doesn't have Bradford's arm talent but he is at least as good or better everywhere else.

We'll see about Foles. It won't surprise me at all if Rams fans are ready to see what Mannion can do before long. From what I've seen and read, his decision-making and mechanics leave a lot to be desired and that will be magnified on an offense that isn't as far along as the one in Philly.

I'm not really sure why you evaluate Bradford the way you did though. He has "amazing" arm talent, he's smart and he's a high character guy. But that's "all"(!?!).

Naw, there really isn't anything to complain about Bradford's game on the field. As it's always been, Bradford's health is all there is to criticize him about. And that's a biggie. But there's really no basis to try and tear down the other parts of his game, especially his leadership ability. Your overtime game example for example. I just don't agree that Bradford should be criticized because he couldn't throw two 80 yard TD's to win the game. After that game-winner got called back Bradford was 7/10, 74 yards. The very next possession Bradford led the Rams into 49ers territory. Mixing up runs and passes, they get to the 49ers 41 on a 10 yard pass from Bradford. Instead of continuing with what had been successful, they run 3 straight times, opting for a LONG FG attempt instead of being aggressive.

That's more about Fisher/Schottenheimer than it is about Bradford not being inspiring enough. A QB can't be inspiring when the coach takes the ball out of his hands...until it's obvious the Rams HAVE to pass and they inevitably give up a sack.

I was a huge Bradford backer during the 2010 draft. And I was sky high on him after his rookie season.
But I've seen enough since then to believe he wasn't cut out to play in the NFL.

[moklerman]

One game sums up Bradford for me. It was the 2012 game in SF that ended in a tie.

In many respects he looked great, making some amazing throws. He was super accurate. And he wasn't the reason the Rams didn't win that game.

But there was something missing that kept him from being special. After he made that great throw to Amendola in OT that should have won the game, Bradford seemed to get down. He took a horrible sack from Aldon Smith that was the closest thing to Jim Everett's phantom sack against the Niners many years ago.

I think Bradford has amazing arm talent. And he's a smart high character guy. Those are his only positive attribute, though they are important ones.

Unfortunately, he has some prohibitively bad attributes. He's extremely fragile. And he's a linear athlete, who can't avoid people either in the pocket or outside the pocket. He doesn't inspire teammates to play like they know they are gonna win the game because they have #8 back there.

To me, Bradford is similar to Alex Smith but only much more injury prone. IMHO, getting Foles and a 2nd rounder for Bradford was a shockingly good trade for the Rams. Foles doesn't have Bradford's arm talent but he is at least as good or better everywhere else.

We'll see about Foles. It won't surprise me at all if Rams fans are ready to see what Mannion can do before long. From what I've seen and read, his decision-making and mechanics leave a lot to be desired and that will be magnified on an offense that isn't as far along as the one in Philly.

I'm not really sure why you evaluate Bradford the way you did though. He has "amazing" arm talent, he's smart and he's a high character guy. But that's "all"(!?!).

Naw, there really isn't anything to complain about Bradford's game on the field. As it's always been, Bradford's health is all there is to criticize him about. And that's a biggie. But there's really no basis to try and tear down the other parts of his game, especially his leadership ability. Your overtime game example for example. I just don't agree that Bradford should be criticized because he couldn't throw two 80 yard TD's to win the game. After that game-winner got called back Bradford was 7/10, 74 yards. The very next possession Bradford led the Rams into 49ers territory. Mixing up runs and passes, they get to the 49ers 41 on a 10 yard pass from Bradford. Instead of continuing with what had been successful, they run 3 straight times, opting for a LONG FG attempt instead of being aggressive.

That's more about Fisher/Schottenheimer than it is about Bradford not being inspiring enough. A QB can't be inspiring when the coach takes the ball out of his hands...until it's obvious the Rams HAVE to pass and they inevitably give up a sack.

I was a huge Bradford backer during the 2010 draft. And I was sky high on him after his rookie season.
But I've seen enough since then to believe he wasn't cut out to play in the NFL.

You could be right. I've never seen two freak injuries in a row like that lead to good things but I thought Alex Smith and Matt Stafford would never regularly start either. Hopefully for Bradford's sake I'm wrong again.

[bubbaramfan]

I like Bradford and wish him well in Philly. If he stayed healthy, I think he could have led the Rams to the playoff. I do have one knock on him though. He was too quick to check down to the short receiver. A lot of that had to do with a lousy OL, but too many times there was an open receiver downfield and he didn't see him. If Bradford had not had two torn ACL's, I don't think Foles would be a comparable talent. But that's not the case. SB is damaged goods, and one hit away from retirement. Bradford could end up leading Philly to a SB, I would stil think rams made the right choice trading him.

[max]

I like Bradford and wish him well in Philly. If he stayed healthy, I think he could have led the Rams to the playoff. I do have one knock on him though. He was too quick to check down to the short receiver. A lot of that had to do with a lousy OL, but too many times there was an open receiver downfield and he didn't see him. If Bradford had not had two torn ACL's, I don't think Foles would be a comparable talent. But that's not the case. SB is damaged goods, and one hit away from retirement. Bradford could end up leading Philly to a SB, I would stil think rams made the right choice trading him.

Nice post!

I agree wholeheartedly. I am still broken-hearted about what could have been with Bradford.

[Elvis]

There are just so many factors with Bradford: His coaches, teammates, injuries, but still one of those factors is Sam Bradford himself. Kurt Warner has criticized his mentality and aggressiveness as a QB. Though that certainly doesn't settle the issue, i think it's a legitimate possibility: that part of what's gone wrong in Bradford's career is Sam Bradford.

I'm very interested to see how he does this year. If he can get and stay healthy, things are pretty well lined up for him to show what he can be...

[max]

There are just so many factors with Bradford: His coaches, teammates, injuries, but still one of those factors is Sam Bradford himself. Kurt Warner has criticized his mentality and aggressiveness as a QB. Though that certainly doesn't settle the issue, i think it's a legitimate possibility: that part of what's gone wrong in Bradford's career is Sam Bradford.

I'm very interested to see how he does this year. If he can get and stay healthy, things are pretty well lined up for him to show what he can be...

That was a great and subtle observation, E.

I had said earlier that something was missing with Bradford. It's hard to put your finger on it. But, man, he just looks like the ultimate tease to me. Maybe we just didn't give Shurmur enough credit for hiding Bradford's flaws.

Now I hear out of Philly that Sam may not start the season. Reportedly, he isn't using his lower body well, he is throwing with all arm right now. It's quite possible that Sanchez starts the season, and how unsettling would that be for a team paying Bradford a boatload of money?

I could be way off here, but it's possible that he never really gets it back physically to play NFL football. If not, there will always be a lingering feeling that Bradford would have been great if he could only have stayed healthy. I will always have my doubts if he doesn't.

But most importantly, what Rams fan isn't relieved not to have to worry about when Bradford is going to be ready to play?

[moklerman]

Now I hear out of Philly that Sam may not start the season. Reportedly, he isn't using his lower body well, he is throwing with all arm right now.

Where did you hear this? I've been lurking at bleedinggreen and haven't heard it at all. One guy reported that Bradford was limping after practice but he was alone in that observation and was refuted by others. Other than that, mostly glowing reports on just how "next level" his arm is compared to the other QB's.

[Elvis]

Think it's from here: