No Doubt About It: Sam's the Rams' Man
Dennis Dillon - SportingNews.com
Apr 23, 2010
EARTH CITY, Mo. - Rams general manager Billy Devaney knew who he wanted to select with the No. 1 pick more than two days before the NFL draft, but he wanted to take the temperature of the rest of the organization.
So when he came to work Wednesday, he popped the question. Who would you take?
It was unanimous: The Rams believe Sam Bradford is the one to lead the franchise's turnaround.To a man-from the college scouts, to coach Steve Spagnuolo, to his assistants-everyone answered with the same name: Sam Bradford. Armed with that consensus, Devaney confidently made the former Oklahoma quarterback the top pick Thursday night in the first primetime draft.
It was a quick decision. But it wasn't an easy decision.
"What really on the surface should have been an obvious pick … those two other kids we were thinking about (defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy) made this process really difficult being the players and the type of people that they are" Devaney said. "Bradford should have been the obvious guy all along, and we wrestled with it just because we think those two kids are really going to be special football players.
"Obviously, we're thrilled to have Bradford on board. The whole building is (excited)."
After passing up potential franchise quarterbacks in each of the previous two drafts (Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco in '08, Mark Sanchez in '09), the Rams were looking to infuse spark in an offense that averaged a league-low 10.9 points per game last season. Of course, when you have won only six of your last 48 games, including an ugly 1-15 record last year, the entire team can use a transfusion of new blood.
Bradford, the first quarterback selected by the Rams in Round 1 in almost half a century-remember Bill Munson in 1964?-missed most of his final season at Oklahoma because of a right shoulder injury. He suffered a third-degree sprain of his AC joint in the opener against BYU, then was lost for the rest of the season with a grade-three separation after being slammed to the ground against Texas.
His surgically repaired shoulder was a big question mark for NFL teams. But Bradford calmed the Rams' fears during a sensational throwing performance at his pro day at Oklahoma and then, later, at a private workout for the team.
"From a health standpoint, I know that was important to me, and I know that was important to Billy," Spagnuolo said.
Once Bradford started throwing after his surgery-he worked out with former NFL assistant coach and quarterbacks guru Terry Shea in Florida-he was able to recapture his strength and his accuracy. He also put on close to 15 pounds of muscle. The 6-4 quarterback now weighs about 233, which should help him absorb the pounding he'll take in the NFL.
"I'm looking for a guy that'll hang in the pocket and deliver the football, and Sam Bradford will do that," ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski said. "He has a little bit of a tendency to maybe overthrow at times, but for the most part when I look at Sam Bradford I see a guy like Troy Aikman-a big, statuesque quarterback in the pocket that can throw the football."
There will be no pressure on Bradford to get on the field immediately. More likely, the Rams will open the season with 10-year veteran A.J. Feeley as their starting quarterback.
"There's no preconceived notion or game plan with Sam or with the quarterback situation," Spagnuolo said. "This will be a step-by-step process. ... We'll find out what's best for Sam and what's best for this team, and we'll try and steer it in that direction."
Rams Nation may be asked to be patient. Fans may not see their new quarterback play right away. But for a team that has fallen to the bottom of the NFL, the selection of Bradford is an exciting development.
"I hope it is," Devaney said. "Oh, boy, do I hope it is."
Dennis Dillon is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.
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