Is there anything that can describe the Rams wide receivers this season? The best thing would be to say that they have been inconsistent this year. Honestly, it's easy to say that the lockout had a big role to play in the WR's not performing well.
Can you blame the lockout for all the dropped balls the wide receivers had this season? Or what appears to be their inability to get open consistently?
Many things, go into a good game for a WR. The two main things are the offensive line giving the QB time to throw the ball and the QB throwing the ball accurately. Neither of those two things have happened this season.
However, this isn't an excuse for the Rams WR's, or what's left of them. So let's take a look after the jump.
My grading is based on what's expected of the player, not position by position.
Brandon Lloyd
I wasn't a big fan of this move when it happened, but it only took one game to change my mind. He is easily the Rams' best wide receiver right now. He's been getting the most targets since he's been a Ram. He has had a couple of drops, but that's what makes him a Ram.
Lloyd might not put up great numbers like he did with the Broncos last year, but the way he's been playing, the Rams wouldn't be making a good decision if the Rams don't try to re-sign him.
| RECEIVING | KICKOFF RETURNS | PUNT RETURNS | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | TEAM | G | REC | YDS | Y/G | AVG | LNG | TD | KR | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | PR | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
| 2011 | 6 | 31 | 410 | 0 | 13.2 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Grade: B+
Brandon Gibson
Honestly, Gibson is a great effort player, but he isn't suited for a number one. He's had a couple of drops this season, and the Rams were hoping that he would break out this season. He's the second best wide receiver on the Rams right now.
He's a 4-5 catch-a-game guy, he just hasn't been as good as the Rams hoped he would be after the preseason. it will be interesting to see how well he plays with Mark Clayton and Brandon Lloyd on the team now.
| RECEIVING | KICKOFF RETURNS | PUNT RETURNS | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | TEAM | G | REC | YDS | Y/G | AVG | LNG | TD | KR | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | PR | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
| 2011 | Rams | 6 | 19 | 241 | 0 | 12.6 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Grade D-
Danario Alexander
DX, or as I like to call him the human bullet, let me down this season. Going into this season there was some hope that he could be more of an constant playmaker. It just hasn't worked out that way. He's dropped some catchable balls and just hasn't been consistent
Honestly, it just doesn't seem like he's able to hold up to a full season. DX, has made some plays this season, but it's also been a few weeks since he's played. It will be interesting to see how much playing time he will get the rest of the season.
| RECEIVING | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | TEAM | G | REC | YDS | Y/G | AVG | LNG | TD | ||||||||||
| 2011 | Rams | 5 | 16 | 296 | 0 | 18.5 | 68 | 1 | ||||||||||
Grade D
Austin Pettis
What a rookie season it's been for Pettis. First he was looking promising in preseason, hell he even cracked the starting lineup for a while. Then he hit the rookie wall hard, he hit it so hard he was a healthy inactive for a while. Pettis is also a punt returner for the Rams. He's came a long way, even with those big hits put on him because he didn't fair catch.
Pettis hasn't become a threat for the Rams in the wide receiver department, but he's developing. It's a pleasant sight to see him earning playing time by playing on special teams. He's doing what should be expected of him, plus more by punt returning.
| RECEIVING | KICKOFF RETURNS | PUNT RETURNS | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YEAR | TEAM | G | REC | YDS | Y/G | AVG | LNG | TD | KR | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD | PR | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
| 2011 | Rams | 5 | 7 | 47 | 0 | 6.7 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 10.8 | 0 | 0 |
Grade C+
Players I didn't grade
I know there are a few players I didn't grade, but that's because they either are injured or haven't caught a pass for the team this season. Also, if Greg Salas wasn't out for the year, he would have gotten an B.
Looking ahead
Expect to see Austin Pettis to slowly get more reps with the team's offense. The Rams want to see what they have in him. Also expect to see Mark Clayton and Brandon Gibson to get playing time as the Rams decide if these two will be back next season. Honestly, I don't know what to expect from DX, but he's future could be in jeopardy also.
The two big questions are: will the Rams pay Brandon Lloyd what he's looking for, and will the Rams resign Danny Amendola to a long term deal?