Bradford answers questions like a potential first overall pick
by Ryan Van Bibber on Feb 27, 2010 5:19 PM CST
in 2010 NFL Draft
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PrintTake it for what it's worth, but one of the St. Louis Rams potential first overall draft picks answered some questions in his press avail today at the Combine. No, literally, he answered questions. Ok, so the A to the Q wasn't the real story. It was the contract between Bradford's interview and Clausen's. Where Clausen underwhelmed, Bradford handled to the media with poise, looking like a possible first pick in the draft is expected to look with cameras in his face.
Here's Rob Rang on Bradford's interview:
...there was no doubt that the former Heisman winner owned the media room with a confidence and ease that will be very attractive to teams.
Impressive with a microphone, of course, is just one of the big tests for Bradford, the biggest being his health. It's worth noting that Rang wasn't the only one satisfied with the OU passers presence on the stand.
As far his health goes, Bradford got a good review, saying his shoulder "checked out really well" at the Combine. In the same presser he said that he's at 85% as far as his shoulder recovery goes.
And finally, last Bradford bit of the day, CBS' Pete Prisco says this about who the Rams should draft with the first overall pick:
When was the last Super Bowl you came away from thinking that a defensive tackle decided the game?
Now you know why the St. Louis Rams have no choice but to take a quarterback with the first overall pick in the April draft.
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It's all downhill from here.
Just remember, you read it at TST first.
You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.
You can flip that pencil to a pen
Although it’s not the pick I would probably make, I reaffirm what I suggested in the mock: the Rams are going to take Sam Bradford with the #1 overall pick.
You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.
by 3k on Feb 27, 2010 5:26 PM CST up reply actions
I hear ya!
IMHO, When it’s all said and done with his shoulder being cleared. The Rams will take him. It’s just a no brainer.
The name's Rams, St. Louis Rams.
I REALLY hope we don't go that route,
at this point at least. So far, watching the QB’s throw in drills I like Snead, tho he has some decision making issues; 20/20, TD/INT. Still, I’m along for the ride and can’t wait to see who we draft and pick up in FA. Like most on here, I have confidence in our DM’s [decision maker’s] as proven last year, w/their limited amount of time to work as a unit.
by RamsFan1979 on Feb 28, 2010 12:46 PM CST up reply actions
when DT comes they'll get plenty of hype too
and then there’ll be all kinds of other misdirection. though i still think your prediction is right,3k.
Turf Show Times
by Ryan Van Bibber on Feb 27, 2010 7:53 PM CST up reply actions
Well that's an easy question to answer...,
The last time was when the Bucs beat the helpless Raiders. There defense was built around Warren Sapp, not Trent Dilfer or anyone on offense.
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
by RamsMan83 on Feb 27, 2010 5:38 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Just have to pardon Mr. Prisco and his over-simplistic mentality
by General Pug on Feb 27, 2010 10:44 PM CST up reply actions
Wasn't the last superbowl decided by a corner?
Who jumped the route to seal the deal?
Or was that decided by a QB who threw the pick?
Obviously it’s a QB driven league. But that’s really an over-simplification. Maybe then we could further say every game is and always has been decided by the one player who touches the ball on every play.
by CoachConnors on Feb 27, 2010 11:44 PM CST up reply actions
And that's a stupid analogy anyway...
I can think of at least 4 super bowls in the last 10 years that were decided by a kicker. Does that mean we take a kicker first overall?! This guy is a moron and should be banned from ever giving his opinion again.
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
by RamsMan83 on Feb 27, 2010 5:40 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Well he makes some good points
So I don’t think he’s a moron. But you’re right, and I was about to say it, that was the wrong conclusion to draw from that question. The only thing one can conclude is the importance of the QB position. I, too, have a feeling we go QB, but it won’t be because how anyone feels after coming away from a Superbowl. This guy should be able to represent his train of thought more in context of his reasoning than some generic analogy. But that’s his supervisors problem.
I hope that if we take Bradford, that we are just as sure of his being healthy and able to contribute in the way a #1 draft pick overall should and not because of the pressure of keeping his job more than another year or 2. That wouldn’t be the best thing for the Rams. The best thing for us is to stick to a plan that maximizes all of our resources, present and future, to build a contender and make football fun to watch here again.
They're all just looking for something to say to justify their job.
Most of it is pure baloney. Is Bradford one of the possibilities for the Rams? Sure. So is Suh, and also McCoy and Clausen.
This one isnt as much baloney as Shefter
This was about something the players actually did (versus what reporters are assuming front offices are doing or not doing) in front of a large audience (not just the reporter), and thus if he was bullshitting, he would have gotten called out on it by his peers in the rooms.
What it comes down to is Clausen failed where Bradford passed – acting like a #1 pick in front of the media. We all know how overbearing the media will be if (and IMO when) Bradford goes #1; being able to shoulder than burden (and burden that shoulder…) will be just as crucial as anything he does on the field. The reason Stafford gets a passing grade for his 2009 season is because he acted like a #1 pick. Need an opposite to juxtapose? JaMarcus Bust-ell.
You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.
by 3k on Feb 27, 2010 6:43 PM CST up reply actions
When was the last time...
…a team gave 70 mill to a guy who hasn’t really played in a year and a half, based quite literally on a single workout, over a guy who has been balling out of his mind for two years, is at the combine and will surely have a pro day? I hope someone has a good example of this. I think it borders insanity. Not because we don’t need a QB, but because even if Bradford had played it would have been hard to say he was the best player in CFB last season. I hear ya 3k, and your mock will probably be spot on(and I’ll still say I wish we’d gone with Suh), but I will be happy with this pick if I know that it was because the RAMS wanted the guy, not because of all the media jibirish.
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
by TrojanRam on Feb 27, 2010 6:27 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Maybe they do want him
I didn’t mean to suggest in the mock or since that the only reason the Rams might take Bradford #1 is because of the media hype, but just that it goes hand in hand with the draft.
You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.
by 3k on Feb 27, 2010 6:44 PM CST up reply actions
I think we all know you're better than that
I think you clarified your reasoning very well. I think most of us would agree, our heads see Bradford, but our hearts see Suh.
I think that's a good way to put it
and it’s a good way to define my position too.
You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.
by 3k on Feb 27, 2010 7:08 PM CST up reply actions
No of course!
You did clarify it. I just don’t want it to be a case of:“ok, we’ve got Suh rated higher on our board, but Bradford’s close enough to him to take so that we avoid the media heat.”
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
by TrojanRam on Feb 27, 2010 7:06 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
the arguments about the direction of the franchise make sense here
it’s a QB’s league and new team leadership means new QBs…unless that guy is already in place, and even then. it’s a really traditional way of looking at things, but it still holds true in most cases. The offense needs a direction and they won’t get that w/out a QB. I think in any other year, i.e. with a cap, the team would have more options. But they can’t afford to trade draft picks and there’s nobody available elsewhere. If they had a lower pick in the first round, they could take Dez Bryant (or whatever WR emerges as an equivalent, if) and give themselves a solid playmaker and hold pat a season with a stopgap like Bulger.
Suh might well be a better pick in terms of drafting the best talent available…and he’s safe…and he fills a need, but like someone said it’s a difference of one guy being a 10 at his position, DT, and one guy being an 8.5 or a 9 at the QB position. I don’t see how you can go forward with rebuilding a team without the most important piece of the foundation in place. Remember, the Rams are getting major leeway in the rebuilding process, but nobody in their right mind is going to give this team any more than two years to get competitive again, not when they want a new stadium and to start being profitable again.
Turf Show Times
by Ryan Van Bibber on Feb 27, 2010 8:02 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
wow
Van my man the ram fan you just shattered my entire universe with that thought. I’ve been in the Suh camp without hesitation unless a trade deal was struck. It is going to be interesting to see what the rams do.
by keeperskillz24 on Feb 27, 2010 8:57 PM CST up reply actions
What the Heck did this dummy beat writer say
SuperBowls have been decided by qb’s?
Oh, yes, that is right – Peyton manning int……return……td.
Last year, lb…….int………return………td.
Kickers
lb …..Mike Jones versus Tennessee
Baltimore Ravens
Oh, NY Giants’ Michael Strahan…….
SO, I guess if including almost all positions is reality, then why make a friggin’ dummy statement.
Rams better trade down if they want a qb. Otherwise, McCoy or Berry or Okung. Suh has already had 2 knee operations I found out about last week. I don’t like players who have had certain injuries. This is just me though.
Yeah he was injured, redshirt injury
and nothing since. In fact, nothing prior also. He’s nothing like other players who have been drafted w/obvious history of injuries. He didn’t miss any games due to injury either, so the media is making something of nothing.
by RamsFan1979 on Feb 28, 2010 12:56 PM CST up reply actions
Terrible arguement
There’s no way in hell the Colts make the Superbowl without Peyton Manning. Why is it so hard to sink in guys. We can’t keep passing up QBs. If we pass Bradford and he turns into the next Peyton Manning. Who cares if we have the next Warren Sapp?
Manning > Sapp
The name's Rams, St. Louis Rams.
How did the Cards make it ?
Made it to the SB and went deep into the playoffs with an old, injured, undrafted and tired QB? It’s a tough argument to belive that the Rams HAVE to draft a QB that falls in the so-so range with this draft. The Rams could have almost any QB in the league that already has a few years success and maybe a SB win, by just forking over #120mil with $60mil guaranteed. Isn’t that better than giving a rookie $100+mil with $50mil guaranteed? A team doesn’t have to have Manning to win the Super Bowl. I think—go with the guys we got-they are at least as good as any QB in the draft, for $90mil less that we can thend spend on the Defense.
What QB do you have in mind that the Rams could get?
I’m not aware of any teams with a successful QB who are letting him walk.
Coming up
I don’t know who might become available before the season starts, but for $120mil we could get anybody who could get out of their contract. McNabb maybe, I know we could have gotten Farve, Maybe Manning (didn’t he just re-sign with the Colts?) Its all just a matter of money and draft pics. To get a QB from the draft with the 1st, we lose Suh or McCoy.
You can't ever tell-
What would McNabb have done for an extra 40mil guaranteed on his contract? I’m not sure, but didn’t he tender at about 60? Farve went for a lot less. Manning re-signed (reportedly) about 80-95? I’m certainly not positive about those numbers as the media just hinted-nobody but them knows for sure. If we had of cared, we could have out-tendered the Cards and got Warner last year. I would rather have McNabb for $90mil than Bradford for $100mil+
quarterbacks
sure as hell help you get their though. And Suh did play a full season and looks pretty sharp and obviously he played hard and nothing went wrong with his knee. The question with bradford and his shoulder i think he’s good to go I mean Brett favre had a operation at 40 and made it to the nfc championship game (look at the diffrence a qb made their). As of right now I’m still 50/50 on Bradford and Suh
by keeperskillz24 on Feb 27, 2010 11:40 PM CST reply actions
With all due respect
I think this is stupid. I’ve been hearing Bradford do interviews for 2 weeks. Lots of them. At the Superbowl, on Jim Rome, doing radio commericals. He is obviously practiced at the art of public speaking. So freaking what.
Exactly
Just like corrupt politicians that you can’t trust as far as you can throw ’em.
Team success is what it is about – not some baby faced, non-wisdomed greedy wannabe player who, in a nutshell, is to be blossomed as the “poster face” of a franchise? Please Rams, don’t be retards. Take McCoy, Okung or Berry in that first slot. I say McCoy over Suh because Suh has already had two knee operations. McCoy has been solid much longer and more consistent. I like McCoy now that I know of the knee operations!
can't wait for that highly anticipated
Keith Null vs. Sam Bradford training camp QB competition! Hard Knocks lookoverhere!
by mooseknuckles41 on Feb 28, 2010 1:14 AM CST reply actions
Reilly and Null
Reilly’s mechanics and savy can beat out Null, and will put Bulger to the test (Assuming Bulger doesn’t retire, which I don’t think he will) Any drafted QB ie..Bradford will still be 3rd because his skills are not that good especially at an NFL level. The battle will be between Reilly and Bulger, plus the FA that will be brought in. I feel that McCoy will be our first pick. Just a feeling—
The only thing
that makes me jump up and down more than making a 3rd and long is STUFFIN the other team with 3 and outs. I love defense! So G for sure.
it's sad to think-
but Null is our incumbent QB. Give the guy his due. ;)
I think the only way in hell Bulger comes back is if he’s cut and renegotiates to mentor a rookie. But Tampa might pay him more to do that.
by mooseknuckles41 on Feb 28, 2010 2:55 PM CST up reply actions
Yes-Null should have his due for sure-
It’s just that Reilly came in so late that he was not going to touch the ball come hell or high water. Reilly has such a high upside. He was unfortunate to have been drafted by a team that already had their 1st and 2nd QB written in stone, then was sent to another team with almost the same situation. The Rams got him at the perfect time as he has seen other camps and teams and gleened a great deal of info on NFL QB savy.
Plenty of people have already said this, but
When was the last Super Bowl you came away from thinking that a defensive tackle decided the game?
It’d be the Giants beating the Pats two years ago with a defense that happened to be coordinated by our current head coach. There is no question in anyone’s mind that the defensive line won that Superbowl for the Giants.
+100000000
"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." - Vince Lombardi
Read his quote again, he didn't say
‘When was the last time the defense won a Super Bowl’, he said ‘When was the last time a defensive tackle won a Super Bowl…There’s a big differance between one defensive tackle doing it all by himself and the ‘WHOLE’ defensive team doing it.
Also, for those of you who may not have seen Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford’s Official 5 minute Highlight Reel you can see it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w-gL0PSvNk&feature=fvw
I played it several times myself to see if he always played from the shotgun position, well the answer is no, not always. He also plays under center which is a good thing.
Go Rams!
"We can't run. We can't pass. We can't stop the run. We can't stop the pass. We can't kick. Other than that, we're just not a very good football team right now." --- Bruce Coslett, New York Jets Head Coach circa 1990s
I see something different-
This is not a highlight reel for Bradford, but a highlight reel for receivers that are wide open 90% of the time against some pretty mediocre coverage. It was just a toss and catch film. How many times did he have to go through a progression? How many times did he have to check down? How many times did he have to recover from a successful Blitz? I’d rather like to see Bradford pull off the tough ones than just toss the ball.
How many times does any college QB have to do any of those things?
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid.
- John Wayne
Sometimes I lose sight-
-of the reason that these advertisements for a player is made. Of course it is not going to show anything decremental to his cause. I’m just a guy that goes to the movies and then picks apart the technical merits and schemes used by the producer. And believe me, Bugs Bunny ain’t that easy to pick apart!!
I must confess that
the Clausen highlight reel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGHzJo8Bc5k
looks much better than Bradford’s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w-gL0PSvNk&feature=fvw
who would you rather draft
jimmy clausen draws comparisons to warner and phillip rivers.
or
sam bradford compares to as eli manning
who has better qb chargers or giants?
thats easy draft clausen. i honestly dont know people say he has no upside and has reached his ceiling. i dont think so. he has a lot to work on (footwork) and the stats he put up on a west coast offense only means he can get better. ive been saying clausen is a top 5 pick since he was a freshman.
Excuse Me?
Did you really just say Clausen draws comparisons to Kurt Warner and Phillip Rivers?? I’m going to pretend like you didn’t write this and kindly ask the admin to erase your post.
On this team, we are all united in a common goal: to keep my job.
-- Lou Holtz
Jimmy Clausen
couldn’t carry Kurt Warner’s jock. Don’t even try to make such a ridiculous comparison. Other than the fact they are both male humans, there is no comparison.
How do you know Clausen is a male human?
I’m not so sure. Sorry, that’s the USC in me talking.
In all seriousness, I think Bradford is better, but Clausen is more NFL ready.
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
bradford is the best in the draft
at the QB position and we need a QB of the future and he is a beast im a big ou fan and have watched his whole career he is a pimp
I heard that
Clausen draws comparisons to Jesus while Bradford is more like A.J. Feely.
QB's are not that important, they just carry the team to Super Bowls.
Ok first off…The people that are saying a QB isn’t the most important position on a football team are idiots and should go play with thier leggos and drool somewhere. Look at the reason these teams went to the Super Bowl in the first place! Only one team in the past ten years has won a Super bowl without having a good to great QB? One, the Ravens and Trent actually made some huge plays with his arm in that game. A QB touches the ball on every offensive play, totals more yardage through the air than any other player on the field, directs the offense and in most cases, the blame falls solely on him when the entire team underperforms. The days of defense and a pounding running game are over, “old timers”. Guys like Warner, Brady, Manning, Farve, Brees and Big Ben are the new (in in some cases old) way get to and possibly win a Super Bowl. Last time I checked 4,300 yards takes the cake for production and they have all thrown for at least that. I am going to get the idiot who says well it’s the WR’s or RB’s that are good and they made the QB. It’s funny that Larry Fitzgerald was not all that good with McCowan at QB and once Cutler left the Bears Marshal and Royal fell off of the face of the earth. With that said, a ton of QB’s have been found in lower slots than the first overall. Trade the number one if possible and get more pics. We need a lot of help. The QB crop next year seems to be better, draft DL mid first (there is a lot of depth in this years draft), WR, TE, OL, LB maybe a late QB with potential and do this all in the “best available player” order. Damn! Is it really that simple? Also don’t listen the media, YOU are paid to know football and football players. Who knows there may be a Brady, Warner, Romo or Montana sitting in the fourth round. If not the team will improve and become a much more enticing place for our third overall pic in the NFL draft next year.
Thanks!
Of course the trouble with that...
is it leaves you wide open to the “injure the QB” strategy often employed by teams in the playoffs. (See the Saints as this years example). Baltimore also used it when they won the SB (having Siragusa sit on the opponents QB)
So...
Bradford is the top QB prospect. But I have trouble understanding how people can so easily declare him as such.
I mean, playing on the juggernaut that has been OU the last few seasons, Bradford has been playing excusively in blowout games. Consider that the 2008 Oklahoma Sooners went 12-2. They had only 2 games decided by 10 points… and lost both !!! (Texas 35-45 and Florida 14-24). Their 12 wins were by an average score of 56-23.
How will Bradford perform when he has to play on more level playing field where his teammates don’t outclass the opposition ? Can he lead a 4th quarter rally ?
At least Jimmy Clausen knows what it is to play through difficulties…
For a comparison, check out the 1999 Michigan team (led by Tom Brady…).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_Michigan_Wolverines_football_team
A 10-2 team that had 9 tight games (winning 7 of them). Sure the Pats waited til the 6th round and were very lucky to get him, but at least they knew their QB wasn’t going to self-destruct in tight games.
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