Well, I just read a fun piece in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Bernie was downright belligerent. I just couldn't figure out what was bothering him. Come on Bernie, don't beat around the bush. Explain what's bothering you!
In all seriousness, I am smiling right now. It appears Bernie has been reading my stuff. It would appear that my mantra is catching on. More and more Ram fans are expressing grave doubts about taking a QB in the first round. They are doing so for all the right reasons:
- Only 33% of QBs drafted in the 1st round make it in the NFL
- This is a weak QB year
- The top guy has a surgically repaired right shoulder
- We have an offensive line with 2 out 5 spots well filled.
- Ergo our OL is 40% functional.
- Ergo we cannot protect a rookie plugin-play QB in 2010
- Ergo our top pick in 2010 will either die, or be a choice deferred until 2011.
- Ergo it is wiser to look to the 2nd and 3rd rounds where some fine prospects are sure to find their dwelling places.
- This is a pass-first league, thanks to Don Coryell, Ernie Zampezie, Mike Martz, and a dude named Bill Walsh.
- Throw it or go home is the law of the playoffs. I concur.
- It is unlikely that we will get another Kurt Warner from the Arena Football League.
- Bradford is smart, accurate, accomplished and high character kid.
But I am going to have to take issue with the following statement:
"But the Rams wouldn't be drafting Bradford with 2010 in mind; we're talking about a long-term franchise piece here. This is about the big picture. And it's another reason you keep Steven Jackson; a strong running game will help protect a kid quarterback. "
My eyes are rankling up at the mere thought of this. Earlier in the piece, Bernie denies that he wants to throw Bradford in the Shark Tank. Later, he writes a line which strongly implies that Bradford will be handing the ball to Steve Jackson. If Bradford is in the lineup, he is in the Shark Tank. Sooner or later he is going to have to throw. He can't hand off on every down. With a 40% functional line, there is plenty of opportunity space for tragedy to strike.
Bernie is just not being realistic about nature of recurring injuries, especially to the throwing arms of QBs in the NFL. Brees is huge news story because his case is so exceptional. He is the exception, not the rule. You can't form a statistical law based one exception.
Bradford's shoulder has already been injured twice, and surgically repaired once. Put him behind a 40% functional line in the Shark Tank, and your stupid. I am sorry to put it that bluntly, but that is the way it is. Cowardice has nothing to do with it. It is stupid to run headlong into a foreseeable tragedy that can be avoided.
Especially when there is another option.
I am all in favor of doing something about our QB problems, as I have said on numerous occasions. Let's get Vick as a short term solution. Let's get Tebow as the long term solution. Both can survive the Shark Tank we're going to throw them in better than Bradford.
Consider this: If we select Bradford, we will pass on Suh. If we want to keep Bradford alive, we will need to sit him for 2010. You will get no hope out of that, and we will get no leverage out of our #1 pick. We'll basically spent $12m for nothing, and draft a year before we (not Bradford) are ready to play him. Of course, this will result in another dreadful season, in which case we can come back and draft #1 again next season and pass on Jake Locker. Does this sound like a smart long term strategy?
I think it is better to take Suh now, get immediate impact, trade for Vick, and prepare Tebow. Vick will win us some games and prepare the offense. Tebow is a hell of a kid. Just trust me on this one, the kid is going to be great. I like the 36 Wonderlic also, but 22 isn't bad. Tebow is a champion, and that is the only thing that matters.
We probably won't be drafting close to #1 under my plan, but if we should happen to bomb again, we can always draft Jake Locker next year, and we will have Ndamukong Suh to show for it! Flawlessly logical.
