A team that has more holes than draft picks, the St. Louis Rams have a lot of freedom with the number one pick. The consensus at this stage is the team will either draft Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh or Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. Projections vary based on what one thinks the Rams most pressing need is and who the team is more willing to invest $40 million or so in guaranteed paychecks.
First, let’s examine the Rams situation at quarterback. Marc Bulger has been the team’s unquestioned starter since 2003, but injuries have prevented him from playing more than one complete season in that span. He’s missed 13 starts the past three years, a period of time coincided by interceptions outnumbering touchdown passes, 34-27.
This offseason has also dented Bulger’s reputation as a leader. Per D’Marco Farr, Bulger has “all the talent in the world” but “no presence.” That scathing assessment has ignited rumors the team may be more ready than ever to draft a quarterback with the first overall pick. Considering Bulger’s struggles on the field in recent seasons, the team can no longer hide behind his production. The team has no quarterback for the future and the position as a whole is downright weak. At what should be the most important position in pro football, the Rams have no legitimate starters.
Enter Sam Bradford. Unlike Jimmy Clausen who might be a better player and a more prepared quarterback, Bradford has a likeable personality and is more of a leader. He can make all the NFL throws and is a terrific option at quarterback. Unfortunately, Bradford has an issue Rams fans are familiar with: he’s prone to injuries. At the end of the day, it’s difficult to hand someone $40 million when there are doubts as to whether he’ll be able to handle the rigors of a complete NFL season.
It also pushes speculation towards the team drafting another position with the top pick and waiting until the second or third round to draft a quarterback like Cincinnati’s Tony Pike or Florida’s Tim Tebow. Pike is nearly as talented as Bradford and Tebow oozes with leadership and charisma.
If the Rams do choose to draft a position other than quarterback with the number one pick, expect them to take Suh. Suh and Oklahoma’s Gerald McCoy are considered the top two players in the draft, but Suh beats McCoy on nearly every measurable available at the combine.
St. Louis has virtually no pass rush, and the defensive line as a whole is a weakness. The team generated just 25 sacks last season and allowed 4.4 yards per carry. Suh has terrific size and proved in college that he can be a game-changer – a rarity at the defensive tackle position. The Rams had the 31st ranked scoring defense. Clearly, improving the unit is a major priority.
The question is whether improving the defense comes before rebuilding the offense, which finished 32nd in scoring. Drafting someone like Suh is a major upgrade at a key position on defense. He’ll be able to step in next season and make an impact. On the other hand, drafting Bradford will mean adjusting for a few seasons until he hits his stride. The Rams will be able to use this draft and future drafts to build around Bradford by picking up a playmaker at wide receiver (running back Steven Jackson was the only player with at least 50 receptions last season) and shoring up the offensive line.
It isn’t a question of which position the Rams need more – defensive tackle or quarterback. It’s a question of how soon the Rams want to improve their franchise. Remember, there are a bevy of rumors suggesting the Eagles will trade Michael Vick; the Rams have draft picks to acquire him and draft Suh. Doing so would improve the Rams immediately. Drafting Bradford will mean several years of struggles on offense until he catches his stride and develops a rapport with his teammates.
It’s up to St. Louis: begin winning next season or risk losing front office positions waiting for Bradford to assimilate in a broken offense.
Loading ...
{ 1 trackback }