St. Louis Rams 2011 Offseason Thread

[TheoSqua]

Another poitn in the Suh vs Bradford scenario is the Rams likely would have taken another QB in last years draft.

For instance Colt McCoy fell to the third round.

[lukethedrifter]

Additionally, I didn't say I hated or regretted the Rams picking Bradford over Suh; I just said that I hadn't changed my mind that I would have gone with Suh. I also said that less than six wins would be a disappointment. I'm okay with the 7 but I really think Spags should have coaxed 9 out of this team with this schedule.

I think it's dumb to declare that the Rams would have without doubt won only 2 or 3 games having made Suh the #1.

[TheoSqua]

And I think your opinion has merit. The Rams likely would have won less games this past season with Suh over Bradford, but Suh is a once-in-a-generation HoF-potential game changing defensive back. Bradford has shown potential and has a higher ceiling than Suh due to his position, but I think his floor is a lot lower than Suh.

If Suh turns into one of the best DTs in the league and Bradford turns into a good-but-not-great (think Carson Palmer or Kerry Collins) QB then Suh would definitely have been the better long-term pick. Finding a Marc Bulger or Carson Palmer is difficult, but not nearly as hard as finding another Suh type guy will be.

If Bradford becomes an elite QB that can dominate defenses by himself it'll be a moot point, but right now I can still understand why Suh would be a more solid pick.

[Icy Monster]

I think it's dumb to declare that the Rams would have without doubt won only 2 or 3 games having made Suh the #1.

I think it is dumb to think AJ Feeley would've led the Rams to more than that. We shall agree to disagree.

[TGantz]

I think it's dumb to declare that the Rams would have without doubt won only 2 or 3 games having made Suh the #1.

I think it is dumb to think AJ Feeley would've led the Rams to more than that. We shall agree to disagree.

I think it's dumb to assume that AJ Feeley would've been the only option we had if the organization decided to pick a D-linemen instead of a franchise QB. They signed Feeley with the intention of drafting Bradford, starting Feeley for a game or two at most, and using Bradford as a rookie. They would have either kept Bulger or signed someone else (maybe even Vick) if they weren't going to get Bradford.

Suh is great. But the D-line is already good right now. It's more important to have a franchise QB than it is to have a fantastic D-line.

[lukethedrifter]

I think it's dumb to declare that the Rams would have without doubt won only 2 or 3 games having made Suh the #1.

I think it is dumb to think AJ Feeley would've led the Rams to more than that. We shall agree to disagree.

I'm not sure I think Feeley would have led them to 5 or 6 or 8 wins and I am quite sure that I didn't declare that. As pointed out, there were other options. Also, seems foolish to claim one knows what would have happened given the unknown.

[Socnorb11]

I like Sam Bradford, and think he'll be good going forward....... but he was one of the worst QB's in the NFL this year. It wouldn't have taken much to replace his production if the team had drafted Suh instead.

[Icy Monster]

K, I do suppose the Rams could have traded the 33rd pick for Michael Vick or 2nd + 4th rounder for McNabb. Would they have? I doubt it. Had they I think ridicule would have been justified because 1-15 teams do not trade premium draft picks for 30+ year-old QBs.

It is not true though that the Rams knew they would be drafting Bradford when they signed Feeley. Feeley was signed on March 5. Bradford did not make himself the consensus Number 1 until his pro day on March 29. At the time Suh was still a good possibility for the Rams.

So yes I believe there is a strong possibility given his familiarity with Pat Shurmur and the WCO that Feeley would have been the QB had the Rams not drafted Suh.

The reason I am adamant that the Rams would have won maybe 2 or 3 games with a Feeley, Bulger, Anderson, etc. is by looking at their advanced statistics. Here's what Rams QBs did by DYAR and DVOA in 2009 -

Bulger: -134 DYAR, -19.1 % DVOA
Boller: -306 -35.7 %

Bradford was 81 DYAR and -9.1 % DVOA. Not great but still a big difference given that FO ranked Gibson 70, Amendola 77 and Robinson 84th. A combination of an improved defense and a quarterback that was not below replacement level were the key.

[Icy Monster]

I like Sam Bradford, and think he'll be good going forward....... but he was one of the worst QB's in the NFL this year.

With the second-worst group of receivers in the NFL this year.

[TheoSqua]

I like Sam Bradford, and think he'll be good going forward....... but he was one of the worst QB's in the NFL this year.

With the second-worst group of receivers in the NFL this year.

Rookies are all terrible. Even the best rookie seasons ever, like Peyton Manning, are still below average seasons.