the way Foles is right now they have a better chance with Keenum

Jeff Fisher says QB Case Keenum will start next Sunday

Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14306548/st-louis-rams-qb-case-keenum-starter-detroit-lions

ST. LOUIS — Rams coach Jeff Fisher left no doubt about whom his starting quarterback will be next Sunday when the Rams play the Detroit Lions.

Immediately after Sunday’s 27-3 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Fisher declared that Case Keenum will return to the starting role he had before suffering a concussion late in the team’s loss to Baltimore on Nov. 22. Nick Foles started the past two weeks as Keenum worked through the NFL’s concussion protocol.

“We’ll go ahead this coming week, and Case will be our starter,” Fisher said. “I’m not blaming this on Nick, but I don’t have the philosophy where a player is going to lose his job because of injury. Case did not get reps on Wednesday and Thursday, so that’s the reason he did not start [Sunday]. So he’ll be our starter next week.”

Fisher had maintained that stance all along but wasn’t able to go back to Keenum this week or last against Cincinnati because Keenum had been unable to clear the final tests to play. Keenum was limited in practice each of the past two weeks and worked with the scout team last week. According to Fisher, Keenum felt good enough Saturday to clear the concussion protocol and serve as Foles’ backup against the Cardinals.

“He was good enough to be the 2; he just didn’t have the reps,” Fisher said. “So we had Case at the 2 because of the understanding and experience.

“So Case will go back, and he’ll be the starter.”

Foles struggled against Arizona on Sunday, going 15-of-35 for 146 yards with no touchdowns and an interception for a passer rating of 43.3. Asked after the game if he was OK with returning to the bench, Foles said he’d prefer to play but understands the decision.

“I respect Coach Fisher and I love Case Keenum,” Foles said. “I want to be out there. But at the same time, I respect Coach Fisher and I’m going to do everything I can to help Case along and help him succeed out there and help this team succeed.

“So whatever I can do to help Case with, I’m going to do, just like he’s always done for me because I think he’s a heck of a player and I know he’s a heck of a person and a great leader.”

Rookie Sean Mannion returned to his role at the Rams’ No. 3 quarterback on Sunday after working mop-up duty for Foles against the Bengals last week. Fisher indicated that Mannion might get a chance before the season is over but he preferred to have Keenum as Foles’ backup against Arizona.

“That’s doesn’t mean necessarily that Sean isn’t going to get an opportunity to play here down the stretch but I’d rather have Case as the two,” Fisher said.

Eternal Ramnation wrote:

He doesn’t even look like the same guy ,he looks like he has significant brain damage and I am serious. I fear for his health.

Interesting.

I think some people took the Baltimore game as indicating absolutely who Keenum was. In contrast in the Baltimore game I saw that he could be a more consistent qb, it’s just that they had a bunch of unusual circumstances in that game.

Not that he will be as good against Seattle as he was against Tampa.

But the Baltimore game, IMO, had a bunch of people down on him when I thought you could see he was better than that game. That game, they had the worst OL of the season, and Keenum had not had the reps. He will always throw a share of dirtballs and he is just not consistently accurate and like a lot of Rams #2s over the years he does not have the arm, BUT he has more field smarts than any of the recent #2s and he can make opportunities by improvising a bit.

Keenum IMO is the best #2 or back-up caliber qb they’ve started for several years (I don’t count Warner in 99 and Bulger in 2002 as back-up caliber).

Better certainly than Hill, Davis, Clemens, Feeley, Boller, Null, Green II in 08, and Frerotte.

Is that what you want ideally? Obviously not. But with good defense it;s enough to win a fair share of games.

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bnw wrote:

I’d put Jamie Martin before any of the ones you listed. I’d put Fitzpatrick ahead also.

Fitzpatrick was a rookie with the Rams and didn’t become as good for years.

Keenum has a lot of things Martin didn’t, and Martin had an offense Keenum doesn;t, including both top WRs and a good veteran OL.

I would take Keenum over Martin. Keenum is quicker in everything, Martin more methodical and less mobile.

That’s not a put-down on Martin. I thought he was a good #2. I just think Keenum is better.

Keenum is not the league’s next Warner and he is not the future. He will have streaks of dirtballs and mole-killer throws. That was true in Houston, it will still be true now.

But on a team with a top defenses, and one where opposing defenses have to think about Gurley, he can contribute to wins. He has some improv to him, and some very good game smarts. Give him a quick drop ball control passing game as a staple, and he should be fine. If they had gotten Keenum in there from the start, I think the Rams would have won 2-3 more games this year. Even with all the mayhem and youth on the OL.
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