We need a QB.

Recent Forum Topics Forums The Rams Huddle We need a QB.

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  • #11051
    rfl
    Participant

    Well, it was nice to see the defense come to play. They still give up a lot of yards, but I guess that is a matter of youth and injuries.

    And of course a win over the hated Whiners is superb. This one is particularly delicious because it will have Whinerdom seething with frustration!

    In a complete reversal of the season norm, the offense sucked this week. To me, it is due to a single cause: a QB in way over his head.

    Davis has been found out and he simply lacks the ability to force opposing defenses back off the LOS. He cannot do it. He can’t see people who come open behind blitzes. And he lacks the arm strength to actually pressure the perimeter.

    As far as I can tell, he is going to be shut down the rest of the way this year. The only hope I see for an offense to start regaining its form is to start playing Hill.

    And it’s too bad. Tre M. looks tremendous, though he can’t do a lot against a steady diet of blitzes which both destroy Davis’ passing game and contain the run. We’ve lost QUick–damn!–but we have some decent weapons at TE and WR, and I lost count of all the open receivers Davis couldn’t even see.

    We need a QB. Hill has to be an upgrade, or, at least, he offers some hope. But next year, we need a legit starting-level QB. And since we cannot trust Sam, there has to be some significant player acquisition at the position.

    It does appear that Williams is–FINALLY!–figuring out how to use his defense. Play Hill and we might threaten the .500 mark late in the year.

    Unfortunately, Fisher is just good enough to win 6-7 games and knock us out of the 1st few draft spots.

    Never in 47 years have I felt so ambivalent about a Ram win. I am not sure it gains us much. And I am mortally sick of 7-9.

    By virtue of the absurd ...

    #11056
    HighPlainsDrifter
    Participant

    The defense gave up less than 270 yards of offense yesterday. That’ll land a defense in the top five every year. And, I agree, we need a quarterback. The offense was putrid. Less than 200 yards. That’ll land an offense last every year. The Rams benefited greatly from a turnover and awful punt, and seem to have little chance to recover from negative plays or penalties. This one belongs to the defense. The offense gets another week to figure it out. Good luck with that.

    #11060
    Dak
    Participant

    Yeah, I figured that by the time the Rams got to the NFC West games, the book would be out on on Austin Davis, and he’d have some tough sledding. I was begging for Hill in this game, but it would be best to get him prepared to start a game.

    #11062
    GreatRamNTheSky
    Participant

    I think your critique of Davis is pure bullshit.

    This is his first year as a starter and he made a couple bad plays today on the two interceptions but neither one of them cost us big.

    As many bad games as Bradford has had, I allow Davis a few as well. He’s still been far better than anything we’ve seen from Pussy Bradford since 2010.

    Grits

    #11065
    21Dog
    Participant

    It wasn’t just the INTs, it was the missed opportunities.

    Britt was wide open (possibly for a TD) on the second INT and on the 3rd and short play in the 4th quarter he missed a wide open Kendricks when he got flustered in the face of a pass rush.

    Two excellent chances for TDs blown right there.

    Rams won despite the QB play yesterday.

    #11067
    zn
    Moderator

    QB discussion generates a lot of heat.

    But anyway, yesterday I was calling for Hill.

    #11069
    wv
    Participant

    Damn — i had to go eat Indian food with a friend
    last night so I missed the second half.
    (i followed the nfl.com play-by-play game-tracker thingy
    in the first half)
    I just found out the Rams won a few seconds ago.
    How the fuck did they win?

    I am SOO looking forward to watching Replay. 🙂

    A ram win, on the road against SF. Damn.

    What a weird year. They beat Seattle
    and SF and get blown out by Minnesota.
    One of the strangest Ram teams i can
    ever remember.

    Now what? Who are they?

    I guess i was wrong about AustinD.
    Looks like he cant read defenses
    at all. Sigh. Then again,
    SF’s D has made a lot of QBs
    look bad. I dunno.

    w
    v

    #11071
    21Dog
    Participant

    QB discussion generates a lot of heat.

    But anyway, yesterday I was calling for Hill.

    I thought Davis should have been pulled after the second INT.

    The defense was playing too well to let inept QB play cost them the game.

    #11084
    joemad
    Participant

    Hill needs to start for the RAMS to give STL any chance of winning.

    The pick by Bethea attempted to Tavon, was a great play by Bethea, but resulted in 7 points to Santa Clara.

    Brit was WIDE open for an easy 6 that Austin Davis missed for his 2nd pick. Terrible play by Davis. Turned a sure TD to a pick with a shitty pass.

    The play that really pissed me off was on the RAMS final drive with a chance to kill the clock was 3rd 1 at midfield…. call a friggin counter there with Tre or Cunningham or Stacy… the roll out was stupid, especially with a QB with a 44 passer rating for the day… RAMS out smarted themselves there.

    I think Hill gives the RAMS a better shot to win than Austin Davis…. he’s not a starting QB.

    #11085
    Agamemnon
    Moderator

    I like Davis, but like I said before, his arm is too weak, for my tastes anyway. The second interception turns in 7 points with a stronger arm.

    Agamemnon

    #11086
    PA Ram
    Participant

    Here’s the important question regarding Davis:

    Has he hit his ceiling?

    If what you see is what you get then the Rams are far from set at the QB position and need to address it next year.

    If not—then how long does he get to learn, to grow, to get better and fix his flaws?

    In my mind, realistically, the Rams aren’t going anywhere this year, whether it’s Hill OR Davis or even Keenum. The Austin Davis experiment has begun. May as well finish it. We know that Hill is NOT the future. We know(realistically) he won’t get them to a Superbowl this year.

    They may as well be certain of where Davis’s ceiling is.

    If he continues to crack under pressure–if he shows no sign of keeping his head during a blitz, can’t pick up reads, continues to run and “jump-throw” the ball into interceptions and just doesn’t seem to be able to elevate above the bad habits, move along.

    But if he shows some progress here and there maybe just let it ride.

    One play where I did notice a difference was the check down to Cunningham when he was under pressure. I thought–“yes”–that’s what you need to do.

    The Rams would need to win at least 7 of the next 8 to have a CHANCE at the post season.

    For now, I’d prefer to let Davis play and KNOW what you have next year. If nothing else you’re evaluating him for a back-up role and if he surprises…maybe more.

    Yesterday was, for sure, his worst game. It’s no more fair to judge him on his worst game than it is his best one.

    He has to show he can handle pressure–keep a cool head.

    That’s his audition for now.

    Let’s see how he handles the role.

    • This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by PA Ram.

    "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick

    #11088
    Agamemnon
    Moderator

    Davis would have a better chance with Jones and Person playing. imo

    Agamemnon

    #11091
    zn
    Moderator

    The Austin Davis experiment has begun. May as well finish it. We know that Hill is NOT the future. We know(realistically) he won’t get them to a Superbowl this year.

    I get that argument but I don’t think it’s realistic. I am much more of a “win now” guy and I think off-season determinations are for the off-season. I think the best thing for Davis’s improvement is to sit and watch for a while and work on sharpening the aspects of his game that he CAN work on, in the off-season.

    I am going to tease you.s

    If they do it your way? I can see the pep speeches now: “Team, give it your best and give it your all. Scoff at injuries, play in pain, throw yourself into it heart body and soul. Give it all of your blood sweat and tears. And here’s why–the staff is in the process of determining whether or not the qb is a future back-up. So…go Rams!”

    The stuff dreams are made of.

    They didn’t throw a first-round pick at Davis and they aren’t in this awkward position where they have to stick by him or admit that the pick was wasted.

    I prefer win-now stuff.

    Then again, twice now Davis was making the same kinds of mistakes and not running the offense the way it should be–which btw a lot of the sacks are on HIM not the OL–and twice now they straightened him out for at least a game or 2.

    So I don’t know what the reality is.

    I just prefer win now. I think “win now” has a way of taking care of things.

    #11094
    PA Ram
    Participant

    PA Ram wrote:
    The Austin Davis experiment has begun. May as well finish it. We know that Hill is NOT the future. We know(realistically) he won’t get them to a Superbowl this year.

    I get that argument but I don’t think it’s realistic. I am much more of a “win now” guy and I think off-season determinations are for the off-season. I think the best thing for Davis’s improvement is to sit and watch for a while and work on sharpening the aspects of his game that he CAN work on, in the off-season.

    I am going to tease you.s

    If they do it your way? I can see the pep speeches now: “Team, give it your best and give it your all. Scoff at injuries, play in pain, throw yourself into it heart body and soul. Give it all of your blood sweat and tears. And here’s why–the staff is in the process of determining whether or not the qb is a future back-up. So…go Rams!”

    The stuff dreams are made of.

    They didn’t throw a first-round pick at Davis and they aren’t in this awkward position where they have to stick by him or admit that the pick was wasted.

    I prefer win-now stuff.

    Then again, twice now Davis was making the same kinds of mistakes and not running the offense the way it should be–which btw a lot of the sacks are on HIM not the OL–and twice now they straightened him out for at least a game or 2.

    So I don’t know what the reality is.

    I just prefer win now. I think “win now” has a way of taking care of things.

    But they DID win–even with his worst performance. And I don’t think you’d pin their 5 losses on Austin Davis.

    Winning is always the most important thing, but who has any idea that Hill gives the Rams the better shot of winning? And if Hill comes in and stinks? How is a QB carousel good for anything?

    Also–there is short and long term thinking, and while players may be invested in the here and now–coaches are long term thinkers as well as short term thinkers.

    Look–even if they win two more games this year because of Hill–how does that help them next year?

    This team shows no carryover from one year to the next. Next year is a whole new thing. There will be changes.

    I’m just suggesting that staying with Davis right now(short of him having a big regression or complete meltdown) offers more long term benefits than tossing in Hill to win a game or two and I’m only saying that because, as I asked in my last post: What is his ceiling?

    That’s where I sit in all of this.

    If the coaching staff believes he has hit his ceiling and this is it, fine–move on.

    If not–continue the experiment a while longer.

    I believe that the things Davis needs to learn are probably best learned in starting reps during practice and game experience.

    And if you pull the plug too soon and Hill does no better, that tells the team you’re lost.

    So–while I am critical of Davis–I would be patient for now.

    Believe me, the thought of pulling him crossed my mind yesterday. Looking back, I’m glad they didn’t.

    Going forward, we’ll see.

    None of this is carved in stone. Everything is subject to change.

    "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick

    #11095
    zn
    Moderator

    <div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>zn wrote:</div>

    PA Ram wrote:
    The Austin Davis experiment has begun. May as well finish it. We know that Hill is NOT the future. We know(realistically) he won’t get them to a Superbowl this year.

    I get that argument but I don’t think it’s realistic. I am much more of a “win now” guy and I think off-season determinations are for the off-season. I think the best thing for Davis’s improvement is to sit and watch for a while and work on sharpening the aspects of his game that he CAN work on, in the off-season.

    I am going to tease you.s

    If they do it your way? I can see the pep speeches now: “Team, give it your best and give it your all. Scoff at injuries, play in pain, throw yourself into it heart body and soul. Give it all of your blood sweat and tears. And here’s why–the staff is in the process of determining whether or not the qb is a future back-up. So…go Rams!”

    The stuff dreams are made of.

    They didn’t throw a first-round pick at Davis and they aren’t in this awkward position where they have to stick by him or admit that the pick was wasted.

    I prefer win-now stuff.

    Then again, twice now Davis was making the same kinds of mistakes and not running the offense the way it should be–which btw a lot of the sacks are on HIM not the OL–and twice now they straightened him out for at least a game or 2.

    So I don’t know what the reality is.

    I just prefer win now. I think “win now” has a way of taking care of things.

    But they DID win–even with his worst performance. And I don’t think you’d pin their 5 losses on Austin Davis.

    Winning is always the most important thing, but who has any idea that Hill gives the Rams the better shot of winning? And if Hill comes in and stinks? How is a QB carousel good for anything?

    Also–there is short and long term thinking, and while players may be invested in the here and now–coaches are long term thinkers as well as short term thinkers.

    Look–even if they win two more games this year because of Hill–how does that help them next year?

    This team shows no carryover from one year to the next. Next year is a whole new thing. There will be changes.

    I’m just suggesting that staying with Davis right now(short of him having a big regression or complete meltdown) offers more long term benefits than tossing in Hill to win a game or two and I’m only saying that because, as I asked in my last post: What is his ceiling?

    That’s where I sit in all of this.

    If the coaching staff believes he has hit his ceiling and this is it, fine–move on.

    If not–continue the experiment a while longer.

    I believe that the things Davis needs to learn are probably best learned in starting reps during practice and game experience.

    And if you pull the plug too soon and Hill does no better, that tells the team you’re lost.

    So–while I am critical of Davis–I would be patient for now.

    Believe me, the thought of pulling him crossed my mind yesterday. Looking back, I’m glad they didn’t.

    Going forward, we’ll see.

    None of this is carved in stone. Everything is subject to change.

    When just looking at qb play my assessment is that they can and absolutely need to do better. Rams can’t keep depending on ref’s calls on last minute fumbles to win. They should have been up by at least 7-10 in that game. Moderately decent, unpanicked qb could have done that.

    #11096
    PA Ram
    Participant

    ZN, I think you answered my question. I think you believe he has hit his ceiling.

    If that is true, I agree with you. May as well play Hill and we’ll see if it makes any difference.

    I just don’t know yet if he has hit his ceiling. That’s really my only argument. It isn’t: can they do better? It’s: Can HE do better?

    And if he can–how much better?

    I think it’s a worthwhile question and I am not ready to decide what the answer is just yet.

    Maybe I’ll ask GRITS. 🙂

    "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick

    #11098
    zn
    Moderator

    just don’t know yet if he has hit his ceiling. That’s really my only argument. It isn’t: can they do better? It’s: Can HE do better?

    I think he hit his ceiling a while back. The question was when opposing defenses will figure him out, and I would say that has already happened.

    Could I be wrong? Sure. But…I don’t see how another 8 games of Davis demonstrating he struggles against the blitz does anyone any good. I don’t see the point in it.

    Look–even if they win two more games this year because of Hill–how does that help them next year?

    Well I think Hill is so much better than Davis that it would be more than 2 games they would win. And my way of thinking is, you don’t use a regular season to hold auditions or see what’s up for next year. You just play to win.

    #11099
    PA Ram
    Participant

    PA Ram wrote:
    just don’t know yet if he has hit his ceiling. That’s really my only argument. It isn’t: can they do better? It’s: Can HE do better?

    I think he hit his ceiling a while back. The question was when opposing defenses will figure him out, and I would say that has already happened.

    Could I be wrong? Sure. But…I don’t see how another 8 games of Davis demonstrating he struggles against the blitz does anyone any good. I don’t see the point in it.

    PA Ram wrote:
    Look–even if they win two more games this year because of Hill–how does that help them next year?

    Well I think Hill is so much better than Davis that it would be more than 2 games they would win. And my way of thinking is, you don’t use a regular season to hold auditions or see what’s up for next year. You just play to win.

    You could be right.

    I’m not going to lie–in the chat room I was razor thin close to calling for Hill. And it does seem that he really struggles against pressure. He looks like a deer in the headlights.

    We know he’s starting this week. We’ll see how it plays out.

    Arizona will pressure him.

    "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick

    #11104
    rfl
    Participant

    In my mind, realistically, the Rams aren’t going anywhere this year, whether it’s Hill OR Davis or even Keenum. The Austin Davis experiment has begun. May as well finish it. We know that Hill is NOT the future. We know(realistically) he won’t get them to a Superbowl this year.

    No, the Rams aren’t going to win the Bowl this year.

    However, I don’t accept the assumption that they aren’t going anywhere this year. We haven’t had a winning season since … whenever it was, sometime around 2004? And if we could win, say, 9 games, that would be a major achievement to build on.

    ZN talks in this thread about the team needing to be inspired by goals. I agree with that. You have guys like JL and C Long who have been losing for many years. How much would it mean to them to be able to say they had a winning season for once?

    My junior year in college, we had a winning season for the 1st time in the college’s history. A winning season. We were 6-3, and we didn’t win anything, but in that locker room, it mattered. The next year we went 7-2 and shared the conference trophy. We felt we had built something.

    And, you know, winning and losing are both habits. A team that has been losing for a long time has to learn to win, as Fish said when he got here. There was a telltale remark in the MNF game against the Whiners. Gruden said as that an experienced team had taken the game over from a young team. Who, I would add, had no idea how to actually win that game by solidifying their early lead.

    Each year that Fish has been here, he has claimed some scalps in games we weren’t supposed to win. Even this year, he has scalped both SEA and SF. In individual games, we have shown something.

    What he has NOT been able to do is to get the team’s SEASON over the hump. By Dec., the games have become meaningless, and we have slid into ineptitude. If he could turn this season around and get us to, say, 9-7, that would be wonderful, even if we miss the playoffs. Ariens got AZ to 10 wins last year and, though they missed the playoffs, they A) were playing a meaningful last game and B) set the stage for this year’s excellence.

    I strongly feel that Fish owes this team the very best chance of winning games, AT LEAST until we are mathematically eliminated from the chance of a winning record. AT LEAST.

    And, to me, the best chance of winning is Hill. Or, at least, Hill offers realistic hope where Davis offers little to none. He had no business winning that game yesterday, and I deeply doubt he has enough game to beat the book that has formed around him. To me, he has little or no future anyway, and there’s nothing long range to gain from playing him.

    So what are the odds of a winning season? Obviously, not great. We have dug ourselves a deep hole. I’d say we have about a 25% chance of getting to 9-7.

    But the chance is not zero. There are things to build on right now. We still have a chance at “getting somewhere.” Fish better do everything he can to take it.

    By virtue of the absurd ...

    #11106
    rfl
    Participant

    I don’t see how another 8 games of Davis demonstrating he struggles against the blitz does anyone any good.

    This is a major, major point.

    With Davis, teams can blitz without risk. They can blitz all day long. He hasn’t got what it takes to throw the ball downfield and hurt the blitz.

    And that doesn’t just stifle our passing game. It kills the run as well. Most blitzes are just as effective against the run as against the pass.

    Our offense is dead until we have a QB who can get the ball out to the perimeter to drive a defense off the LOS. We have been saying that for years. Earlier this year, we flourished a bit, but defenses now know how to take Davis out of his game. And that stifles our whole offense.

    My lord, how much effort it takes to eke out 5 yards on a play. We have to have the most constipated offense in the game!

    By virtue of the absurd ...

    #11108
    cgsuddeath
    Participant

    I think your critique of Davis is pure bullshit.

    This is his first year as a starter and he made a couple bad plays today on the two interceptions but neither one of them cost us big.

    As many bad games as Bradford has had, I allow Davis a few as well. He’s still been far better than anything we’ve seen from Pussy Bradford since 2010.

    Grits

    Not a fair assessment of Bradford as this is the first year the Rams offense have been 85% stocked.Watch what happens next year.You will see that Bradford is clearly the superior quarterback.

    #11111
    rfl
    Participant

    Not a fair assessment of Bradford as this is the first year the Rams offense have been 85% stocked.Watch what happens next year.You will see that Bradford is clearly the superior quarterback.

    Bradford is indeed a far superior QB.

    Trouble is, he cannot be trusted to be healthy. No way the team can see him as the starter for next year. We MUST at least get another viable starter, more than a back up, a guy who can actually challenge defenses. And the price for that could be cutting Sam.

    I love Sam. But his stay in StL is more than likely over.

    By virtue of the absurd ...

    #11112
    cgsuddeath
    Participant

    Most everyone has a point as to the upside of Davis.To me at this point Hill should be starting as Fisher originally stated.

    #11113
    cgsuddeath
    Participant

    <div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>cgsuddeath wrote:</div>
    Not a fair assessment of Bradford as this is the first year the Rams offense have been 85% stocked.Watch what happens next year.You will see that Bradford is clearly the superior quarterback.

    Bradford is indeed a far superior QB.

    Trouble is, he cannot be trusted to be healthy. No way the team can see him as the starter for next year. We MUST at least get another viable starter, more than a back up, a guy who can actually challenge defenses. And the price for that could be cutting Sam.

    I love Sam. But his stay in StL is more than likely over.

    People forget that in 2010 and 2012 when he had reasonably good protection he was injury free.I can assure you fisher sees the same thing so I wouldn’t be to quick to say that he is gone.

    • This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by cgsuddeath.
    #11115
    rfl
    Participant

    I just want to isolate a specific point about Davis.

    His pass blocking has not been as bad as it might seem. He makes his OL look bad by being incapable of A) finding guys left open by blitzes and B) making tough throws on the perimeter to push a defense back.

    Now, a bit about B). People will remember him making tough throws earlier in the season. But here’s the problem.

    His tough completions are generally either back-shoulder throws or high balls to really tall receivers. He lacks the arm to make the array of throws that can consistently beat NFL defenses.

    That’s what defenses have figured out about Davis. He has a small bag of tricks, and you can take those away. Then he’s got nothing.

    Watch the plays, guys. He is making things really hard for his OL. Not the other way around.

    Which doesn’t mean that Wells doesn’t suck, which he does.

    By virtue of the absurd ...

    #11119
    SunTzu_vs_Camus
    Participant

    I think Bradford would do very well in this offense next year.
    I’d like an open competition between Bradford/Davis/rookie QB pick.

    I think Bradford would continue the push down-field passing game by all 3 QBs this pre-season.
    Bradford’s health is a concern…but not with Davis/Hill on the bench. Our offense doesn’t ask much from it’s QB other than make the throws and don’t throw INTs. Bradford is very safe with the ball, but was starting to push the ball downfield this PS
    – AND WAS GOOD AT IT!!!! Bradford doesn’t have the mobility that Davis has but man, Bradford has better arm & accuracy for mid-deeper throws and I think is a better passer than Davis. We’ll see. Either way, I’m for building a DEEP QB group – like what they did for the DL and RBs. I sure hope and would feel more relaxed having Bradford signed to a “prove it” contract next year w/incentives. I also will be interested how Bradford handles the challenge. Will he sign for less and want to stay and prove he’s the guy in StLouis? Or will he bolt for the money? Remember, he has 50mil already….
    I’m curious if pride and/or competitiveness will rise up in Bradford and he’ll take the challenge!

    "I should have been a pair of ragged claws...
    Scuttling across the floors of silent seas."
    #11121
    InvaderRam
    Moderator

    if i’m the rams, i make a serious effort at getting a blue chip quarterback in next year’s draft.

    i don’t think you count on bradford playing at all next year or in the future.

    and i’m not sure davis is the answer, but you play him the rest of the season to see if he can progress.

    #11123
    nittany ram
    Moderator

    if i’m the rams, i make a serious effort at getting a blue chip quarterback in next year’s draft.

    i don’t think you count on bradford playing at all next year or in the future.

    and i’m not sure davis is the answer, but you play him the rest of the season to see if he can progress.

    I disagree. I don’t think the rest of the season should be about evaluating Davis.
    Fisher should start the QB that gives the Rams the best shot to win. He would be doing his team and the fans a huge disservice if he used the rest of the season as an audition for anyone, including Davis.

    #11125
    InvaderRam
    Moderator

    I disagree. I don’t think the rest of the season should be about evaluating Davis.
    Fisher should start the QB that gives the Rams the best shot to win. He would be doing his team and the fans a huge disservice if he used the rest of the season as an audition for anyone, including Davis.

    i can understand why people would want that, but if i’m fisher, i want to be sure of what i have in davis before i go into the offseason.

    he’s the only viable option on the roster for a long-term solution at qb. it’s not going to be hill or bradford.

    #11126
    cgsuddeath
    Participant

    <div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>nittany ram wrote:</div>
    I disagree. I don’t think the rest of the season should be about evaluating Davis.
    Fisher should start the QB that gives the Rams the best shot to win. He would be doing his team and the fans a huge disservice if he used the rest of the season as an audition for anyone, including Davis.

    i can understand why people would want that, but if i’m fisher, i want to be sure of what i have in davis before i go into the offseason.

    he’s the only viable option on the roster for a long-term solution at qb. it’s not going to be hill or bradford.

    I respectfully disagree.

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