Rookie Sam Bradford feels ready to be the Rams starting QB
Sam Bradford, the Rams rookie quarterback and the number one overall draft pick, has been on an emotional rollercoaster ride over the past four weeks. When Bradford took the field four weeks ago for the St. Louis Rams pre-season opener, he had rookie written all over him. His numbers were mediocre at best. Completing just 12 of 27 passes for 81 yards in his two pre-season games, he was dropped four times in the opener against the Minnesota Vikings’ ferocious defence and made poor decisions with the ball. A lot has changed since then.
Projected starter and veteran A.J. Feeley hasn’t been available to play due to a sprained thumb he suffered in week two of the pre-season in a 19-17 win over the Cleveland Browns. That was the opening that Bradford was searching for and he has made the most of his opportunity. Feeley’s injury propelled Bradford as the team’s starting quarterback and he has been a completely different player ever since.
“To start in the NFL is, it’s a tremendous honour. I’m extremely excited for this opportunity. I want to have a strong showing. I want to show the guys on this team that I can play.”
Bradford made his first start last Thursday night against the New England Patriots and completed 15 of 22 passes for 189 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. "He was excellent," coach Steve Spagnuolo said after that game. "He said it best I think after the game when he said he felt in rhythm. Any time your quarterback can get in rhythm, that's a good thing."
Bradford impressed in his second pre-season start, going 6-for-6 for 68 yards and a touchdown as the Rams defeated the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night in both teams' pre-season finale.
"He was putting the ball on the money," Rams running-back Steven Jackson said. "You can tell he really knows the offence. I'm really impressed with how far he's come in a short time."
Indeed, Bradford did come a long way and has grown immensely as a player since he first entered training camp a few weeks ago. He feels that he is a much improved quarterback and worthy of starting under centre on September 12, when the Rams open the regular season against the Arizona Cardinals at Edward Jones Dome.
"It's not up to me, it's up to our coaches," said Bradford, the former Oklahoma star and Heisman Trophy winner. "I trust what they believe. If they think I'm the guy, I am. If not, that means I've got to work that much harder and get that much better before I am."
While this is the question on everybody’s mind inside the Rams’ locker-room, Spagnuolo refused to comment or hint in which direction he was leaning towards saying he and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur would meet to discuss the starting lineup for the upcoming 2010 regular season.
While we all sit and patiently wait for Spagnuolo’s decision, it’s hard to believe Bradford has not done enough in training camps and in the pre-season to have taken over the starting gig at quarterback job from veteran Feeley. The rookie’s strong outing in his last two pre-season exhibitions may force the head coach and offensive coordinator to put him in sooner than expected.
Bradford will have to wait a few days before learning if he'll get the nod in the opener. Whatever the decision is, the rookie certainly appears ready for the job and the challenges that will come with it.
No word yet on when Feeley is expected to return to action.
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