[snackdaddy]

Fisher's shown in the past that he can win in a tough division so it won't surprise me to see the Rams do well. I'm still not over the shock of getting rid of Bradford so it's been hard for me this offseason. I really want to warm back up to this team. I don't want that to sound like it's only about Bradford for me but somehow I felt betrayed. Doesn't help that his replacement is a guy that I wasn't much of a fan of.

Oh well, there's still time and I think it'll be different once I can actually see them play.

We're on opposite ends of the spectrum on Bradford, now I loved Sam, but I was tired of him getting injured. Now some will post you can't help that, but the hit against Cleveland was somewhat on him because he did not want to hit the ground. He was injured a ton in college and nothing changed.

I like Foles, IMO, there are things that he brings to the table that Bradford did not for example the ability to see the opportunity to take off and keep the chains moving plus I believe he's more of a natural leader where Sam did it quietly. Nothing wrong with being quiet, but for a QB IMO the team will embrace Foles style.

I get your trepidation, but if the Rams were going to trade Bradford, IMO, Foles was the best option plus they saved a ton of cap room this season.

As to the defense and believing their own hype they have to be careful they were cocky and over confident against the Giants and got their ass handed to them and Beckham totally embarrassed the secondary. IMO my fear is if the offense can't move the ball at all like against the Cardinals the defense is not good enough to withstand the offense not at the very minimum pulling their own weight.

My hope is I have more confidence in the new assignments and coaches on offense. Cignetti, Boras, Weinke & Garcia give me more hope than the last couple of years and I think you would even admit that Foles is an upgrade over HIll & Clements. Again the key is the offensive line and the health, IMO, Saffold is the linchpin and I would like him healthy over 16 games and if the others can stay healthy too I believe they will establish a continuity and get better with every game.

But again they have not played a game yet so like every avid Ram fan, I'm cautiously optimistic.

There was a lot of heated debate surrounding Bradford on forums. People chose sides, dug in and argued all the way to the end. Myself, I was a Bradford supporter, homer, mom or whatever some of those guys chose to call it. I never felt he would be an elite quarterback. I just felt he could grow as the team grew. I was thinking he could do what Joe Flacco did with the Ravens or Big Ben with the Steelers. Be a contender most years and maybe once or twice catch fire and win it all.

But that last injury pretty much sealed it for me. I was no longer in favor of bringing him back on that huge cap hit. Just too much risk for that kind of money. When the trade happened, part of me was a little sad. I thought he had some bad luck. Starting with a talent deficient team and suffering debilitating injuries. I wonder what he could do with the current team if he stayed healthy? But there's the caveat. Could he stay healthy? They did the right thing by making the trade and possibly getting a guy who's not as talented, but could stay on the field longer. Then again, who's to say he's not as talented? Time will tell.

The one thing that frustrated fans so much about Bradford was his fear of pushing the ball downfield. He tended to check down too often. I saw some film breakdown with numerous plays where he chose the underneath guy when if he just looked a little further there was a guy open. Now its possible he was grilled from day one to do that. Fisher prefers game management.

I expect Foles will be more of a gunslinger than Bradford was. Hopefully, if the run game plays at the level Fisher expects, it will open up play action and downfield opportunities. Guys like Britt and Quick are fully capable of making those big plays downfield. Maybe change up and throw an underneath crossing route to Austin and see if he can catch and run. That one play against the Colts a couple years ago was a thing of beauty. He catches the short crossing route, turns up field and goodbye. No one's gonna catch him there.

All in all, I think Foles is capable. If nothing else, he's an upgrade to what we had the last couple years. If we stuck with Bradford I believe there's a good chance we're stuck playing backups again. It was time to move on.

[moklerman]

I didn't want them to get rid of Bradford but that was just personal. I can see that the trade benefits the team but not because they got Foles. Just getting out from under Bradford's contract was enough and the draft picks were enough.

As far as Foles, I'm very skeptical. From his most recent playing time, he wasn't even as efficient as Austin Davis, Shaun Hill or Mark Sanchez. I think that after he started a year's worth of games and the league got some tape on him, they figured him out. Among his various struggles last year, his numbers when not pressured were pretty poor and overall, his situation reminds me of what happened to Davis.

Sort of snuck under the radar for a while but was eventually found out.

I don't begrudge anyone feeling it was time to move on from Bradford. Sitting on the edge of your seat every time he's on the field is no fun. I think 2013 was a year where we all were thinking hoping an injury wouldn't happen. Then in 2014, it was hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, expecting it to happen is no way to live as a fan.

Similar to Warner back in '04, a change of scenery might be best for the team and player. Personally, I'm not looking forward to the bitter-sweet feeling of watching Bradford do well for his new team. But I think the Rams did a very poor job of putting him in a position to stay healthy and to win so I'm still rooting for the guy.

[Hacksaw]

..... Davis. Sort of snuck under the radar for a while but was eventually found out.

Our biggest concern IMO. Once a team schemes against a guys strength he better be able to adjust. Same with Cig's btw. No more 1 trick ponies.

[snackdaddy]

But I think the Rams did a very poor job of putting him in a position to stay healthy and to win so I'm still rooting for the guy.

That I agree with. When they drafted him, they had no talent around him. I can't blame them for drafting him to begin with. If a QB grades out to be a franchise caliber player, you gotta take that chance. Those guys don't grow on trees. But he was put in a difficult position from the start. They're better now but he's not around to reap the benefits of that. I'll always wonder what he coulda done with this team. We'll never know. I do believe Foles is in a much better position than Sam ever was. With that defense, he won't have to get into any shootouts with the opposition. They shouldn't have to abandon the game plan by halftime because of early deficits.

[moklerman]

But I think the Rams did a very poor job of putting him in a position to stay healthy and to win so I'm still rooting for the guy.

That I agree with. When they drafted him, they had no talent around him. I can't blame them for drafting him to begin with. If a QB grades out to be a franchise caliber player, you gotta take that chance. Those guys don't grow on trees. But he was put in a difficult position from the start. They're better now but he's not around to reap the benefits of that. I'll always wonder what he coulda done with this team. We'll never know. I do believe Foles is in a much better position than Sam ever was. With that defense, he won't have to get into any shootouts with the opposition. They shouldn't have to abandon the game plan by halftime because of early deficits.

The really sad thing is, the Rams actually had a decent plan. They just failed miserably in executing it. AJ Feeley was supposed to the opening day starter in 2010 but he got hurt so Sam was forced into action. So, instead of him being brought along slowly and playing when he was ready, he had to start as a rookie.

Not only did he have to start as a rookie, his reps as a starter were abbreviated because Feeley took them for a while. I wouldn't have necessarily agreed with Bradford starting from day 1 but I think if he was going to be thrust into that situation that it would have been nice to have been getting all of the starter's reps in OTA's and training camp.

Ultimately, I think he's suffered some of the worst circumstances a first round QB's ever had to deal with. Having Fisher come in as his savior was dubious at best. Bradford was worthy of being drafted #1 IMO but a horrible fit for what the Rams had and have done since then. The Rams needed a QB but they still aren't set up to have a QB succeed.

[den-the-coach]

Ultimately, I think he's suffered some of the worst circumstances a first round QB's ever had to deal with. Having Fisher come in as his savior was dubious at best. Bradford was worthy of being drafted #1 IMO but a horrible fit for what the Rams had and have done since then. The Rams needed a QB but they still aren't set up to have a QB succeed.

Totally disagree there have been other QB's that faced far worse circumstances than Bradford, Terry Bradshaw comes to mind, he was even benched for Joe Gilliam and it was not easy for Stafford either of resent draft choices. Many of them face adversity from the outset because there is a reason teams draft that high.

I disagree about Fisher, IMO, he did try to protect Bradford, IMO, they treated Bradford like a china doll and everybody made excuses for him and that IMO was wrong. If I heard one more time that he had a different offensive coordinator whereas how many has Joe Flacco had in his career.

Anyway no reason to debate this nobody wanted Bradford to succeed more than I, but that Cleveland injury pissed me off because he tighten up and that led to the knee giving way. Granted maybe he should not have been out there, but again he had an injury history and I don't believe a QB can come back from ACL surgery on the same knee. I wish him the best just not against the Rams, but I'll be shocked if he's still in the NFL in two years and that's why he would not take the cut in pay IMHO.

[moklerman]

Bradshaw was in a tough spot too so maybe I should have qualified my statement with "since the 16 game schedule was introduced". Stafford went to a bad team but having Calvin Johnson already playing at a high level easily makes his situation better than Bradford's IMO.

Not sure what you mean by treating Bradford like a china doll. In '12 when Fisher got here, Bradford played all 16 games. I agree that they tried to shore up the line but I never criticized their approach, just their choices and results. Bradford isn't the only QB to have gotten hurt since Fisher got here so it isn't like the protection's been great.

Mainly, it's about continuity. There hasn't been any.

[den-the-coach]

Mainly, it's about continuity. There hasn't been any.

And that I concur with you there, however, I guess I grew tired of making excuses and holding my breath as you eluded to, but I was also upset he would not work with the Rams from cap perspective, tough to add pieces when your QB that has not accomplished anything is being paid more than Tom Brady.

In the end I have confidence in Foles than you, but we'll see and he certainly is not holding the Rams hostage from a salary standpoint, but I guess we'll see how it goes because God knows I'm not interested in seeing Case Keenum every take a regular season snap unless the Rams are up 40-0.

[RedAlice]

Nice to see you here pancake. For me I never had a problem with just about anyone over anywhere with the exception of a few posters here or there. In that large of a number of folks, that's a pretty good average considering what is going on lately.

I disagree. You are not nice Pancake. You are not nice.