Will Sam Bradford haunt the Rams on Draft Night?
PostPosted:9 years 2 months ago
Will Sam Bradford haunt the Rams on Draft Night?
By STEVE RIVERA - April 5, 2016 0 205
Sam Bradford, QB Rams
Aug 8, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) on the sideline in the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
This should have been solved six years ago. Almost to the day of this years’ draft, 6 years and 6 days to be exact, the Rams had selected Sam Bradford from Oklahoma with the 1st overall pick. History should have written itself, and in some ways it still is.
Haven’t Rams fans been here before? Maybe not this exact place, but it looks awfully familiar.
For the now Los Angeles Rams, WAY to familiar.
On April 28, 2016, Commissioner Roger Goodell will step to the microphone in Chicago, and announce a pick; the 15th most likely, MAYBE the 6th, maybe even higher. Who that pick is has become the matter of considerable conjecture.
Everyone, myself included, has said that if it is not a quarterback, that it is all but organizational malfeasance of the highest order if that pick is anything but a quarterback.
Perhaps malfeasance is a stretch. But if the Rams are somewhat shy of making a bold move up the board, or are reluctant to make the always feared “reach” for second or third round talent anywhere but in those rounds, the damage may be done on a season not yet begun.
More reasonable, the person not seen, but maybe felt in the Rams war room on draft night may be Sam Bradford himself.
Bad picks in the NFL Draft, especially at quarterback, tend to have a lasting effect. For some, it becomes habitual. Look at Cleveland, or the Jets. The Los Angeles Rams can look up the coast to Oakland, or down Interstate 5 to San Diego at the damage wrought by the likes of JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf respectively. Of late, Johnny Manziel is likely washed up, and the jury is still out on Geno Smith in New York.
Those can be large and looming specters. Like a bad penny that shows up in your pocket when you don’t have enough to pay the bill.
It is reasonable that GM Les Snead is in no hurry to rush up the draft board with a quarterback that by every metric, is likely not of the ‘elite’ definition of quarterback.
In defense of Les Snead and the Rams’, Sam Bradford had all the tangibles of a #1 overall pick, though maybe not ‘elite’.
And while Goff and Wentz are likely too rich for the Rams, trading away tangible future first round picks for two prospects that don’t bring the same cache of last years two two picks, Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota is likely weighing heavy on Snead and Fisher.
The real pressure, and likely bigger question, is if forsaking those two to other teams picking ahead of the Rams, what to do with the 15th pick if Lynch is still there, or is only a pick or two away?
Lest we forget that a wide receiver and help in the defensive backfield are still high on their list. Maybe even in the first round?
Rams' Jeff Fisher and Les Snead
May 8, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher (left) talks with general manager Les Snead during rookie minicamp at Rams Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
As much as Lynch might be a good fit, is he a gamble not to be passed up on? Or is the pick one where the more defensive centric Les Snead and Jeff Fisher take the best talent available on the board, and that is likely a defensive player.
The 2016 NFL Draft is a target rich environment on the defensive side of the ball.
Maybe the Rams could learn to love Connor Cook, while keeping their fingers crossed with the affable Case Keenum, and higher priced back up Nick Foles.
The two things the Los Angeles Rams should avoid are being gun shy, and becoming deep in backup quarterbacks, especially if one is already your named starter.
Yes, Sam Bradford will have an unwanted presence on draft night. A stark reminder that a forgettable pick at quarterback is one thing, but that cultivating clipboard holders is another.
The Rams haven’t just been here before, they’ve taken up residency.
Read more at http://cover32.com/2016/04/05/will-sam- ... vACI8dX.99
By STEVE RIVERA - April 5, 2016 0 205
Sam Bradford, QB Rams
Aug 8, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) on the sideline in the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
This should have been solved six years ago. Almost to the day of this years’ draft, 6 years and 6 days to be exact, the Rams had selected Sam Bradford from Oklahoma with the 1st overall pick. History should have written itself, and in some ways it still is.
Haven’t Rams fans been here before? Maybe not this exact place, but it looks awfully familiar.
For the now Los Angeles Rams, WAY to familiar.
On April 28, 2016, Commissioner Roger Goodell will step to the microphone in Chicago, and announce a pick; the 15th most likely, MAYBE the 6th, maybe even higher. Who that pick is has become the matter of considerable conjecture.
Everyone, myself included, has said that if it is not a quarterback, that it is all but organizational malfeasance of the highest order if that pick is anything but a quarterback.
Perhaps malfeasance is a stretch. But if the Rams are somewhat shy of making a bold move up the board, or are reluctant to make the always feared “reach” for second or third round talent anywhere but in those rounds, the damage may be done on a season not yet begun.
More reasonable, the person not seen, but maybe felt in the Rams war room on draft night may be Sam Bradford himself.
Bad picks in the NFL Draft, especially at quarterback, tend to have a lasting effect. For some, it becomes habitual. Look at Cleveland, or the Jets. The Los Angeles Rams can look up the coast to Oakland, or down Interstate 5 to San Diego at the damage wrought by the likes of JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf respectively. Of late, Johnny Manziel is likely washed up, and the jury is still out on Geno Smith in New York.
Those can be large and looming specters. Like a bad penny that shows up in your pocket when you don’t have enough to pay the bill.
It is reasonable that GM Les Snead is in no hurry to rush up the draft board with a quarterback that by every metric, is likely not of the ‘elite’ definition of quarterback.
In defense of Les Snead and the Rams’, Sam Bradford had all the tangibles of a #1 overall pick, though maybe not ‘elite’.
And while Goff and Wentz are likely too rich for the Rams, trading away tangible future first round picks for two prospects that don’t bring the same cache of last years two two picks, Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota is likely weighing heavy on Snead and Fisher.
The real pressure, and likely bigger question, is if forsaking those two to other teams picking ahead of the Rams, what to do with the 15th pick if Lynch is still there, or is only a pick or two away?
Lest we forget that a wide receiver and help in the defensive backfield are still high on their list. Maybe even in the first round?
Rams' Jeff Fisher and Les Snead
May 8, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher (left) talks with general manager Les Snead during rookie minicamp at Rams Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
As much as Lynch might be a good fit, is he a gamble not to be passed up on? Or is the pick one where the more defensive centric Les Snead and Jeff Fisher take the best talent available on the board, and that is likely a defensive player.
The 2016 NFL Draft is a target rich environment on the defensive side of the ball.
Maybe the Rams could learn to love Connor Cook, while keeping their fingers crossed with the affable Case Keenum, and higher priced back up Nick Foles.
The two things the Los Angeles Rams should avoid are being gun shy, and becoming deep in backup quarterbacks, especially if one is already your named starter.
Yes, Sam Bradford will have an unwanted presence on draft night. A stark reminder that a forgettable pick at quarterback is one thing, but that cultivating clipboard holders is another.
The Rams haven’t just been here before, they’ve taken up residency.
Read more at http://cover32.com/2016/04/05/will-sam- ... vACI8dX.99