St. Louis Rams Game Changer: Sam Bradford

by Ryan Van Bibber on Apr 30, 2010 8:03 PM CDT

Sponsored Post: This post is presented by Sprint. Bringing you the first wireless 4G network from a national carrier. Only on the Now Network.

When the St. Louis Rams made Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, it officially marked the beginning of a new era at Rams Park. Bradford has yet to become the game changer on the field that the Rams and their fans are hoping he will be, but without a doubt he's changed the direction of the franchise.

The Rams are big question mark right now. Years of neglect led to poor drafts, bad free agency decisions and an aging group of veterans incapable of carrying the team on their shoulders anymore without the supporting players they needed. Last April, with a new front office and coaching staff finally installed, the Rams finally seemed to take a great leap forward with their draft. They got an anchor for the offensive line in Jason Smith, a middle linebacker to bolster the backbone of their defense, a tough young cornerback and a what looks to be a dedicated starting defensive tackle. It was a lot considering the outcome of previous drafts, but still a long, long way from rebuilding the team.

This year, the Rams had to take a risk at the top of the draft. In a league more and more devoted to the pass, the Rams lacked the most essential ingredient for an offense and a team, a quarterback. Drafting a QB and making him the highest paid player in the league entails plenty of risk, but franchises in the depths of despair don't have many other options.

Bradford has a long way before he's a game changer on the field. Still, he's already changed the direction of the Rams.

For more photos of today's rookie minicamp, including WR Mardy Gilyard, OT Roger Saffold, et al, click on the photo above.

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Is that?

Pile of dust standing behind Bradford a coach or a senior citizen who has to get that close to see him. jking

GO RAMS!!!

by LaughenRam on Apr 30, 2010 8:34 PM CDT reply actions

I sure hope Sam gets a chance to change things on the field from Day 1.

Sanchez did pretty darn good starting last year for the Jets. And, Sam has got, what on paper at least, looks like a solid offensive line and FB to block for him. Sam should be a lot more nimble than Bulger too. Unless we get behind a couple TD’s, opponents also can’t entirely focus on the passer with a RB like Jackson in there. I’m gonna feel a little ill if we have open the season at home against a division rival with AJ Feeley or Keith Null at the helm.

by RamChop on Apr 30, 2010 8:41 PM CDT reply actions

The Jets made the playoffs IN SPITE of Sanchez. He's awful. Not sure what you saw.

I can take a beating ... I'm a Rams fan.

by Midasknight on Apr 30, 2010 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Yea he was aweful

Good thing he had a great O-line, the top defense and running game in the NFL or else he would actually have to do something to help the team. That trade was kind of stupid for the Jets last year. Kellen Clemens or Eric Ainge could have done just as good as Sanchez.

Onubon > Gates

by Carneros on Apr 30, 2010 11:57 PM CDT up reply actions

He's a rook, tho

you guys know it takes a couple years. I thought he looked pretty good in a couple of games. The Raiders D was alright and they tore them apart 38-0 or 30-0, something awful like that. That was the last game Leon Washington played in, where he did his best Joe Theismann impersonation and broke both his tibia and fibula. Gnarly, dude.

by CoachConnors on May 1, 2010 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Why don't you sign in as your other screen name.

The House of Spears reigns supreme

by Eric Nagel on May 1, 2010 12:32 AM CDT up reply actions

word is getting around, ed....

you knew you couldn’t pull it off forever.

by CoachConnors on May 1, 2010 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions

you may not like it but I don't think its a terrible idea.

Let the O-Line get a few games together under their belts before we throw Bradford right in. I think it would help the O-Line gel and then throw Bradford in the mix.

Smith played well last year but he was still out for a number of games. I would feel more comfortable if he had made it through a full season, along with more game time at LT.

I also do not want to see AJ or Null, but I think it is the right move at least for a few games. What do we have to lose? another game or two?

by ramsrule on Apr 30, 2010 9:01 PM CDT reply actions

I agree

I would like Bradford to sit for a few games (anywhere from 4 – 8 depending on his development). Let him have a chance to see ho opposing D’s are scheming against the Rams offense (even though they will obviously blitz a rook more frequently) and more time studying the film and playbook. Also allows the coaching staff to be comfortable with the O line shuffling and its protection…..

Rams aren’t going to be competing for the playoffs this year anyway – no reason to rush for the sake of rushing. I would not like to see him sit for the entire year though.

Baseball season is back - Go Halos!

by gorams77 on Apr 30, 2010 11:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Start Bradford Right Away!

I agree with letting the O-line getting a few games under their belt before throwing Bradford out there, BUT the first half of our schedule just looks more winnable then after the bye. Arizona, @ Oakland, Washington(hardest team before week 6), Seattle, and @ Lions. In these first 5 weeks we could easily go 3-2 which would equal our last 2 years of football wins combined. With Feely in I don’t think we win any of these games.

by Force 314 on May 1, 2010 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions

One could argue that Feeley gives the better chance to win

because of his NFL experience. I won’t make the argument right now necessarily, but one could. The point isn’t neccessarily about wins this year though IMO (in the big scheme of the rebuilding) – that comes in 2011. Again, just my opinion, but this team isn’t ready to compete for playoffs this season so the most important aspect of this season is the development and handling of Bradford (as well as the on field improvement of the rest of the team as well). I think it is best to have him sit for a handful of games – even if those are more winnable games – for the reasons I stated above before throwing him out there.

Baseball season is back - Go Halos!

by gorams77 on May 1, 2010 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Why does everyone hate Feely so much?

He’s been a career backup, sure, but someone check his stats. I think he’s got a winning record (granted, for only a handful of games).

I just remember him winning when he started for McNabb a few years ago.

I can take a beating ... I'm a Rams fan.

by Midasknight on May 3, 2010 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions

It's a tough decision.

We probably don’t have much of a chance with Feeley starting, and we don’t won’t Bradford to get hurt or throw him in before he’s ready. I think he might be able to handle it from day 1. It all depends on how he performs in camp and in preseason but I’m not sure the coaches will want him to start from Day 1. My guess is by week 6 he’s a starter, and if he’s not Keith Null has really blossomed into something special over the offseason.

Onubon > Gates

by Carneros on Apr 30, 2010 9:38 PM CDT reply actions

its tough...

I think he should start, it seems like he can handle it, but of he can’t… we have a lot invested in him!

Does anyone else think he looks beautiful in those colors ?

by Moobreff on Apr 30, 2010 10:07 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Well he's still wearing a red jersey

So it doesn’t look very different.

Onubon > Gates

by Carneros on Apr 30, 2010 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions

My favor for sprint is falling.

The House of Spears reigns supreme

by Eric Nagel on Apr 30, 2010 10:28 PM CDT reply actions

My opinion of Sprint is inversely proportional to the size of their advertisements.

by CoachConnors on Apr 30, 2010 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't even get me started on that 4G stuff man.

Being a techno-nerd, it’s tough to swallow knowing it’s more smoke then Scott Linehan saying the Rams would take Jay Cutler.

The House of Spears reigns supreme

by Eric Nagel on Apr 30, 2010 11:36 PM CDT up reply actions

lol

technically they are the first to provide 4g.

by heinzketchup on May 1, 2010 4:03 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah in what, 3 cities?

The House of Spears reigns supreme

by Eric Nagel on May 1, 2010 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Ypsilanti, Michigan

Huphschnutter, Oregon, and Old Pants Valley, Arkansas

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 May 1, 2010 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

On top of that, they have what, one phone that can run 4g?

Saying that they have a 4G “network” and claiming they are the first “national” carrier to do so is flat out false advertising.

The House of Spears reigns supreme

by Eric Nagel on May 1, 2010 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions

umm.. probably around that.

i know they did a test run in baltimore. with different devices and stuff, ive seen video. But i’m pretty sure its not implemented. I’m not complimenting Sprint in anyway. They couldn’t do anything with the Palm Pre or any other flagship phone for that matter. SOmething must be wrong with them.

by heinzketchup on May 2, 2010 3:49 AM CDT up reply actions

4G and sprint rule

everyone else is just jealous. seriously. 4G is going to be amazing.

follow me on twitter @nickg105

my rams writing for nfl touchdown.com--check it out

by stlcardinalsfang on May 1, 2010 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Sure Bradford has changed the direction of the Rams.

But there is no way to tell in wich way the Rams are headed. I hope Bradford can be the franchise QB that we all want him to be, but he better toughen up. He took two big hits pretty much all of last year and got hurt on both. If he starts next year he is bound to take plenty of hits bigger then when he was behind the great o-line at Oaklahoma.

by truche on May 1, 2010 12:39 AM CDT reply actions