2014 St. Louis Rams

[Don Wassall]

The Rams currently have 13 receivers on their roster, including T. J. Moe, who was the star of the 2013 Combine among receivers, having the best numbers in four of the seven categories (plus being very productive at Missouri), and yet he went undrafted while the Rams drafted Tavon Austin in the first round, thanks to the Caste System.

The black receivers at the top of the Rams' depth chart share one thing in common besides the obvious -- they're all busts or at best have greatly underperformed expectations thus far. There's Brian Quick, Chris Givens, Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Austin Pettis, and of course Austin.

Can T. J. Moe crack this less-than-dazzling-but-oozing-with-upside group of receivers? Not likely. Head coach Jeff Fisher had an unexpected couple of years of inexplicable lucidity during his long tenure with the Titans in the mid-'00s, when he developed former UCLA QB Drew Bennett into a star wideout and also used Eddie Berlin as a backup WR, and actually, incredibly had 12 White defensive players on the roster at one point.

Bennett's breakout season in 2004 when he effortlessly beat defensive backfields -- including during a nationally televised Monday Night game during which Bennett went for over 200 yards, part of a three game run when Bennett tied a league record with 8 TD receptions -- resulted in Fisher quickly returning to the Caste fold, whether voluntarily or via a push, and the former NFL defensive back has since gone back to once again being a reliable Caste clown. So Moe's chances are slim at best; maybe he can stick as a White Special Teams Demon and go through a prolonged racial apprenticeship and become a standout slot receiver in his late 20s. We can only hope. At any rate here's an interesting article that documents Moe's productivity, quickness and ultra-athleticism:

Rams Roster Preview: WR T.J. Moe

http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2014/7/16/5907831/rams-roster-preview-wr-t-j-moe

 

[celticdb15]

What a weak ass receiving corp. Hell uw whitewater a D3 school has better depth l! And people try to deny the impact Amendola had there! Ha! Comical!

 

[Don Wassall]

Sam Bradford reinjured the same knee that ended his 2013 season and is out for the entire '14 campaign. Reports have the Rams going forward with long-time journeyman Shaun Hill. Would be nice to see Jeff Fisher think outside the box a bit and try to get the team to trade for someone like Matt Barkley. As happy as I am to see Nick Foles succeed, I believe Barkley can be a very good starting NFL quarterback. Barkley has the brains and physical talent to succeed -- but only if he gets the opportunity.

 

[Extra Point]

Sam Bradford reinjured the same knee that ended his 2013 season and is out for the entire '14 campaign. Reports have the Rams going forward with long-time journeyman Shaun Hill. Would be nice to see Jeff Fisher think outside the box a bit and try to get the team to trade for someone like Matt Barkley. As happy as I am to see Nick Foles succeed, I believe Barkley can be a very good starting NFL quarterback. Barkley has the brains and physical talent to succeed -- but only if he gets the opportunity.

The Rams were remiss in not addressing the quarterback position. They had plenty of opportunities to do it in recent drafts and they should have.

It's clear that Bradford can't stay healthy and that the Rams need a new quarterback.

A trade for Barkley would be a very smart move.

 

[Leonardfan]

There are a ton of white qbs the rams could trade for. I think Shaun hill can have a decent year but he is a little long in the tooth. Barkley, mallet, cousins could all be viable options. I have heard rumblings about Sanchez to the rams which would be fine too as he is a hindrance to barkleys development.

 

[Leonardfan]

Keenum was picked up by the Rams. Not a bad move IMO. He was solid last year.

 

[Freethinker]

So Austin Davis has been benched do to being turnover prone over the last few games. While this is certainly true, he still has a good quarterback rating and has won big games over division foes Seattle and San Fran. That should have bought him some slack. What do the Rams gain by turning to journeyman Shaun Hill? They are not making the playoffs in the loaded NFC West, might as well see what Davis could do with more experience.

Also, for comparison sake, Davis' stats are better than Cam Newton's for the most part. Similar yards, similar TD to interception ratio, similar yards per game except Davis has a better QB rating. Yet Davis is benched and Cam's starting role is not even questioned? I understand the high draft status and money invested in Newton so this comparison would never be fair but it's fun anyway. And really it's Carolina who still could make the playoffs in a weak division so replacing a struggling quarterback, even for a few games, would make sense for a desperate coach. Too bad Cam is a "top young quarterback" who's position will never be in jeopardy.

 

[Wes Woodhead]

So Austin Davis has been benched do to being turnover prone over the last few games. While this is certainly true, he still has a good quarterback rating and has won big games over division foes Seattle and San Fran. That should have bought him some slack. What do the Rams gain by turning to journeyman Shaun Hill? They are not making the playoffs in the loaded NFC West, might as well see what Davis could do with more experience.

Also, for comparison sake, Davis' stats are better than Cam Newton's for the most part. Similar yards, similar TD to interception ratio, similar yards per game except Davis has a better QB rating. Yet Davis is benched and Cam's starting role is not even questioned? I understand the high draft status and money invested in Newton so this comparison would never be fair but it's fun anyway. And really it's Carolina who still could make the playoffs in a weak division so replacing a struggling quarterback, even for a few games, would make sense for a desperate coach. Too bad Cam is a "top young quarterback" who's position will never be in jeopardy.

The media is in lock step with the narrative on Cam. "ITS NOT HIS FAULT AT ALL! It the owners, GMs, coaches, defense, and offensive line. Cam is amazing, and its unfair for him to have to play with these amateurs he is stuck with."

 

[FootballDad]

It doesn't matter who starts for the Rams, they are going to struggle. I watched parts of the game last week vs the Cardinals. They had ONE white o-lineman in the game, the center Wells, and the rest sumos who couldn't block to save their lives. Hey, but they all have "quick feet and long arms" so it doesn't matter that they can't block and don't have brains. Anytime Arizona brought the most rudimentary stunt or other line misdirection, it was curtains for Davis or anyone else unfortunate enough to have the ball in the Rams backfield.

 

[Average American]

So Austin Davis has won big games over division foes Seattle and San Fran. That should have bought him some slack... might as well see what Davis could do with more experience.
..Too bad Cam is a "top young quarterback" who's position will never be in jeopardy.

Freethinker, good post..
Davis also had a big game in a close loss to Philly, (almost 400 yards with 3 TDs & no picks).

It is cold how short the leash has become for some young QBs. It's a difficult position that requires time & growing pains to hone, look @ the time it took greats like Bradshaw & Steve Young to develop.
This kid Austin Davis has only been given half a season to grow.. not enough, c'mon.
Rams are in a tough division, with a generally poor team, a lost season is a perfect scenario for young QB & back-up development. It seems like some ppl in the game, and DWF spectators have unfairly become obsessed w/ the idea of pick 6s as the ultimate evaluation of a quarterbacking career; even a career in it's infancy.

 

[Freethinker]

Freethinker, good post..
Davis also had a big game in a close loss to Philly, (almost 400 yards with 3 TDs & no picks).

It is cold how short the leash has become for some young QBs. It's a difficult position that requires time & growing pains to hone, look @ the time it took greats like Bradshaw & Steve Young to develop.
This kid Austin Davis has only been given half a season to grow.. not enough, c'mon.
Rams are in a tough division, with a generally poor team, a lost season is a perfect scenario for young QB & back-up development. It seems like some ppl in the game, and DWF spectators have unfairly become obsessed w/ the idea of pick 6s as the ultimate evaluation of a quarterbacking career; even a career in it's infancy.

You're right but the Rams obviously disagree. Dumb decisions like this are in part why they are a bad team year after year.

Roto had this to say:

Earlier this week, coach Jeff Fisher said Austin Davis would remain the starter vs. Denver. He's apparently changed his mind after watching tape of Davis' fourth-quarter meltdown against the Cardinals in Week 10 when he tossed an interception, pick-six, and lost a fumble-six on three consecutive possessions. Veteran Hill will be back under center after going 8-of-13 for 81 yards and one interception in the first half of Week 1 against the Vikings before heading the bench. Davis proved to be in over his head in recent weeks. Hill, like Davis, won't be a fantasy option. The Rams have the league's worst receiving corps.

So in one sentence he's in over his head and next, in a disconnected thought, the Rams have the worst receiving corps. Yet they don't tie Davis' generally good numbers on the year or his resent struggles to this. Nor do they mention the terrible O-line as Football Dad brings up. Yet we are constantly told how poor Cam's line and receivers are. Excuse me, but where is the St Louis version of Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin? Those guys are both better than anything Davis has had to work with.

I hope Hill stinks it up against the Broncos and Davis is reinserted as starter for the rest of the season.

 

[celticdb15]

Who s fault is it that Rams wr corp is ****?! Not Davis'. I thought Quick, Givens, and Austin were all explosive playmakers?! The amount of overrated, slow, fat, ogre sumos the NFL employs is appalling!

 

[Leonardfan]

Who s fault is it that Rams wr corp is ****?! Not Davis'. I thought Quick, Givens, and Austin were all explosive playmakers?! The amount of overrated, slow, fat, ogre sumos the NFL employs is appalling!

All of the supposed draft experts were praising the rams when they drafted Austin and Bailey from WVU - they have both been huge busts - especially Austin who was drafted 8th overall last year. Both of those players will continue to get praised and several more chances in the league.

Austin Davis played better than either Geno Smiff or EJ Manuel have and was not even coddled or given much of a chance like either of those players.