They say to never read too much into the preseason, but Sam Bradford drew my attention in just that capacity. A big performance against the New England Patriots in the third preseason game (the one that most simulates the regular season in that the starters play the majority of the game), he made the Rams offense look like it might have some pop in it. That is a far cry from Marc Bulger, Kyle Boller, and Keith Null going 1-15 for a punchless team in 2009.
On Sunday against the Redskins, Bradford proved that particular outing was no fluke, as he matched last season’s win total by throwing for 235 yards and a touchdown in the Rams’ 30-16 win. The offensive line is still bad. The receiving corps is a work in progress. And Steven Jackson left early with a groin injury. But no matter. Bradford made some big plays, and there is no question he has the maturity to be everything the team hoped.
Now, I was a big Marc Bulger fan during his days there. He thrived in Mike Martz’s offense and is still a serviceable backup in Baltimore these days, but it became abundantly clear last season that he had completely lost his confidence and simply was not the long-term solution at $11 per year.
I even questioned if quarterback was the way to go for St. Louis, seeing their wide-range of problems. But by the same token, I’m also a firm believer that with quarterback being the most critical position, the right guy can cure a lot of ills. Bradford may not end up in Canton. He may not end up with a Super Bowl ring on his finger. But what’s encouraging to head coach Steve Spagnuolo and Rams fans is the spark young Bradford has given the team in just three games, all of which the team has had at least a chance to win.
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