Injuries Piling Up For Sam Bradford

by Ryan Van Bibber on Oct 3, 2011 5:07 PM CDT in 2011 NFL regular season

Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams fumbles the ball as he is sacked against the Washington Redskins at the Edward Jones Dome on October 2, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford was on the injury report today, for the third time this season, with a bruised hip. Fortunately for the Rams, it does not look like a serious injury. That bullet dodged, Bradford's bruised hip raises a major red flag for a Rams team that seems powerless to keep its quarterback upright.

Bradford has been sacked 18 times this season. At this rate, he will be sacked 72 times, a number that would be the second most in NFL history, behind only the 76 sacks heaped upon David Carr in 2002. With more than $70 million invested in Bradford, the current sack rate borders on criminal negligence. (Sticking with the crime theme, the amount of money being paid to the offensive line borders on grand larceny).

Spagnuolo seemed mostly nonchalant in today's press conference, not at all upset with the direction of the team. He went so far as to borrow a little Beltway speak to say that the team "was not regressing, just not improving."

Last year, the Rams allowed just 34 sacks. Somehow, the current pace for 72 sacks does not represent a regression. Go figure.

Something needs to happen, fast. Last week, Bradford was dealing with a minor toe injury. This week, he's dealing with a hip contusion. If he keeps getting sacked at this rate, it's only a matter of time before it's a more serious injury, like the one we thought he suffered in the Eagles game or even something worse. Then there's always the shell shocked quarterback syndrome. Bradford looks to be tougher than David Carr or Marc Bulger, but 72 sacks can change a player.

It's sad to think that things could actually get worse, much worse, for a team still looking for its first win.

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Comments

Another reason to not like the white pants...

It’s costing us a fortune in tide to get all those blood stains out.

Man that’s sad : (

by Sggladden on Oct 3, 2011 5:19 PM CDT reply actions

thank you devaney! (clapping)...

you really know how to build a contender!

by Mark Jaramillo on Oct 3, 2011 5:20 PM CDT reply actions

It's sad that this Rams team is dismatling a good player in Bradford

And what we are probably seeing is what happened to Jackson under this piss poor (my new phrase when talking about this embarressment of a team) team. Well all I can say is they better get it straight soon or their destroying Bradford’s career right before our eyes..
So sad….

Sam Bradford + Alshon Jeffery = All other teams are screwed!!

by RG31 on Oct 3, 2011 5:23 PM CDT reply actions

At the current sack rate, I wouldn't be surprised if Sam doesn't make it through the season

I’m really concerned for his throwing shoulder. A repaired shoulder is NEVER as strong as the originally healthy shoulder.

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by Douglas M on Oct 3, 2011 5:23 PM CDT reply actions

Sorry dude, but every doctor in america would tell you that Dr. Andrews made that shoulder stronger, based on how successful the surgery was

by King Sam Rules! on Oct 3, 2011 5:49 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

yep his shoulder is better than ever

it just like tommy john surgery. People come back better than before

Follow @brandonbirkhead

by Brick Top on Oct 3, 2011 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Drew Brees had the same surgury

and look at what he’s doing.

Sam Bradford + Alshon Jeffery = All other teams are screwed!!

by RG31 on Oct 3, 2011 6:13 PM CDT up reply actions

At this rate......

it would be better served to sit Bradford to not let the Bulger bug hit him if the o-line doesn’t improve soon.

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by Taosman on Oct 4, 2011 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions

the team "was not regressing, just not improving."

Sounds like Purgatory.

by ValdezY on Oct 3, 2011 5:49 PM CDT reply actions

yea that's horse shit

This team looks awful. They should be ashamed.

Piss off Tony, get shipped to Canada.

by beer me on Oct 3, 2011 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions

The FO should be truly embarrassed.

by ValdezY on Oct 3, 2011 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Bradford

I think the kid has the right stuff to survive this mess. Troy Aikman took a beating for his first two years. Terry Bradshaw was beat down both physically and psychologically early on. Bradford has a toughness about him that is hard to measure.

by ValdezY on Oct 3, 2011 5:55 PM CDT reply actions

+1

But the protection needs to improve soon.

by Fullerton Rams Fan on Oct 3, 2011 6:03 PM CDT up reply actions

And soon

He has never played on a team that wasn’t getting better.

by ThomasZ on Oct 3, 2011 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah As In Last Month

IMO The Rams should scrap this 7 step drop BS. They just do not have the personnel for it. The WR’s take way too long to get separation and the line struggles with speed rushers. If you are a QB, this is a recipe for disaster.

by ValdezY on Oct 3, 2011 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions

It’s just another indictment of Spagnuolo. Is he playing dumb or does he really believe that this team is not regressing? I really think they can’t get rid of this guy soon enough. I used to think he just needed to work on his game management skills (ie, when to call a timeout or throw a challenge flag), but now I’m starting to think that he doesn’t know what he’s doing at all because he’s not recognizing the problem or finding a way to fix it.

by Jim Everett on Oct 3, 2011 7:41 PM CDT reply actions

No Jim he is really that stupid ,i just want to know what is Kronke waiting for Devaney and Spags have to go now

by Rammon105 on Oct 3, 2011 7:43 PM CDT reply actions

Call Gruden lets end this misery this week ,I would have fired him right after the game

by Rammon105 on Oct 3, 2011 7:45 PM CDT reply actions

McD needs to be brought to task for not scheming appropriately for the talent at his disposal

I’m sorry, but if your O Line is on course to allow 72 SACKS on the season and 4 times more hits, then you have to make an adjustment.

Get that screen game working.
Get the toss plays, counters, draws, rollouts, play action bootlegs, motion blocks from WRs/TEs etc. perfect during the bye.

There are a lot of ways to preserve your QB. It’s not pretty, but if you could choose between AJ Feeley or maybe some street FA after he gets broken, finishing the season, or Sam Bradford with unimpressive numbers… and you’re calling plays like you want Feeley or street FA… you need a brain check.

Sam Bradford goes down and we go 0-16. He’s the only thing besides our run game (SOMETIMES) working on offense. We cannot put him out there to get destroyed every week.

Shurmer protected Sam last year. It’s time McD did likewise.

Sam is smart, Sam is confident, Sam is ABLE. But if he gets broken, those things will not matter.

PRIORITISE AND FIX THE INCOMPETENCE IN RAMS PARK.

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by Infemous on Oct 3, 2011 7:53 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Amen

by look closer on Oct 3, 2011 8:13 PM CDT reply actions

Change is needed

Spags, McDaniels and Loney have 2 weeks to figure out changes needed for better blocking schemes. That might mean going back to a little more conservative plays like last year. I just don’t think McDaniels schemes are built for this team

by ChrisL951 on Oct 3, 2011 8:59 PM CDT reply actions

Like I said before this group of players are terrible to watch & sam bradford is no ones savior! This season is so over & I for one am tired of seeing this group play especially with who they have starting at key positions! I love this blog because its for ram guys & the team ! But uhm we dont have a team & we play like trash week in & week out! A lot of those "realistic" fans are no longer around to voice there issues mainly because their tired and sick to their stomach’s! 1Ex: Ramchop! Its been real but I refuse to chat up weekly about the same shit! Lost after lost & some of u lames who for sum reason see no wrong in bradford! Get off his jock long enough to evaluate his performance! I’m tapping out for this miserable season because this "group" FAR FROM A TEAM hurts my already sensitive eyes! Catch u realistic ram fans in the off season! Deuces!

by Boy Yottic on Oct 3, 2011 9:17 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Good riddance!

While the Rams should be playing 100x better than they have been, they were the underdog in each of the first 4 games. Which game (or games) did you expect them to win? Since you seem to think Bradford is the problem, you probably should find another team to follow, since he’s going to be here a while.

Because of the lockout and changing the offense, and having mentally prepared myself for the worst, I had them only winning 1 out of the first 7 games. And as poorly as they played, they actually had a shot against Washington.

by CFB_fan on Oct 4, 2011 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Alex Barron Flashback

It seemed like Barron was in the house with all of the false starts yesterday. The Rams went 4-0 in the preseason and acted like they were headed for the Superbowl. Detroit was 4-0 in the preseason year that they finished 0-16 in. The Rams are regressing. The offensive line looks like they haven’t been in the weight room in a year. I’ve never seen a front line get blown off the line of scrimmage like this. Bring in Cowher, Fisher or Chucky.

by Mister T on Oct 3, 2011 9:30 PM CDT reply actions

Pretty pathetic

Next year, you are looking at 15 million for just Jason Smith and Jason Brown.

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by Eric Nagel on Oct 4, 2011 12:28 AM CDT reply actions

I'm terrified!

It’s so hard for me to listen to the games now because I’m afraid something really bad is going to happen to Sam and I don’t know if I can stand it! It may sound strange but in a way I’m glad I’m blind and unable to see all the hits he has been taking…bad enough to hear Steve and DeMarco talk about them! I care about all the guys and know they have to be frustrated beyond belief at what’s going on and why. It’s easy for us to think they should be embarrassed…and I’m sure they are! I don’t know what it would be like to be in their shoes, and I don’t want to know! As someone previously posted, Sam has never been on a team that isn’t getting better and this is entirely new territory for him. I can only imagine what he must be going through! I was a bit apprehensive last year but it went quite well, all things considered, and the preseason this year left me very excited and expectant…not for absolute perfection (of course) but for much improvement and progress from last year. And to think I wanted the lockout to end so bad! This is a nightmare I hope we can all wake up from soon…please God!

Go Rams...go Sammy B!!!

by sb8ramsfan on Oct 4, 2011 1:26 AM CDT reply actions

+1

by ThomasZ on Oct 4, 2011 7:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Motivation needed to preserve Bradford.

That offensive line is big and talented. But no one has been able to get them to perform like 3/4 of a ton of muscle. The QB should not be getting killed. The coaching staff has not been able get the offensive line to put forth the effort and teamwork needed to be effective in pass protection or run blocking. Get the right leaders and these same guys will be competitive against any defensive unit.

by DeltaRam on Oct 4, 2011 10:35 AM CDT reply actions