My final take on Bradford vs. Suh.

[HUbison]

2009 Rams Season in Review:

Total Offense Ranking: 29th.
Passing Offense Ranking: 28th.

10.9 Points per game.

2,686 passing yds, 12 TDs, 21 INTs from a carousel of has-been's and will-never-be's.

So explain to me how a DT is supposed to fix this problem.

2009 Rams Season in Review:

Total Defense Ranking: 29th
Scoring Defense Ranking: 31st

27.3 Points per game

3,764 passing yards allowed, 22 TDs allowed, 8 Ints.
2,201 rushing yards allowed, 24 TDs allowed

So explain to me how a QB is supposed to fix this problem.



Here's the thing, smizfx.........no matter who is drafted there will be holes to fix. Draft offense in the 1st, the defense has to wait. Draft defense in the 1st, the offense has to wait. The #1 overall pick is not going to make this team a winner. That will take much more than a single selection. So why pass on the once-a-decade prospect for the once-a-year prospect?

[HUbison]

That would mean that the Rams would have a record of, say, 3-13 or possibly 4-12.

Well, then we might as well start a new thread titled "Who do you want as the new GM and HC of the Rams" as I see no way either Spags or Billy survives. Granted this is getting off topic but I do believe that Bradford would help produce a better record than that.

Bottomline: When there is a potential franchise QB on the board and you don't have one, you take him.


WHAT SAY YE?

I disagree on two points:

1. DeSpags survives a 4-12 season. For that matter, DeSpags probably survives anything outside of 0-16. A decade of "DUH" can't be undone overnight; I will give Khan enough credit to know that.

2. The old "never pass a franchise QB" mantra is synonymous with "go ahead and reach for a lesser prospect based on position". I can't agree with that concept.

[harrydog]

These thoughts will not change over the next month.......assuming neither of them molests a goat or some such thing. Here's a few things that I think will happen over the next decade (barring injury or end-of-the-world type stuff):

Bradford will be a very good QB.

Suh will be an elite DT.

With Suh, the Rams defense will show serious improvement, including better ypa in the rush D, and more pressure on the QB. The offense won't change all that much.

With Bradford, the Rams offense will show some improvement, but will require improvements to the receiving corp to make any large steps forward. The defense won't change much at all.




I understand the QB choice. I do, I get it. And Bradford will be a really solid QB. He'll show it on his pro day; he'll make crisp accurate passes, he'll dazzle in interviews, he will demonstrate to franchises that he is an intelligent, articulate young man with all the intangibles you'd ever want.

But he won't be the player that Suh will be.

Bradford will walk into Rams Park, and on the practice field, he will make everyone believe that scientists cloned Phillip Rivers and Kurt Warner, combined the DNA, and out popped Sammy.

But he won't raise the offense the way that Suh will raise the defense.

With Bradford, his success will rely on other pieces. Will the receivers be able to separate so that his amazing accuracy can be demonstrated? Will the line protect him the way that his Oklahoma line (manned by 5 NFL lineman in 2008) protected him?

With Suh, his success will not be as dependent on those around him. Rather the opposite. The DEs will see more lanes as Suh occupies the interior. Same for blitzers. The DBs will look better as pockets collapse and QBs have to rush passes.

Bradford will be good.......but every draft has a "Bradford".
Suh will be great........and there may be one "Suh" a decade. (Not my words, by the way.)

So do we draft a Bradford, then wait a decade for the next Suh?
Or do we draft Suh, and pick up next year's Bradford?



Look, I'm not saying Bradford isn't worth the #1 pick......if Suh weren't in it. Take Suh out of the draft, and Bradford is the #1 pick (though McCoy fans would have their valid points as well). So, no, I'm not going to complain about drafting Bradford at #1. In any ordinary year, he is a #1 pick.

I'm just saying that with Suh available, this isn't an "ordinary" year.

I'm sure Bradford will do fine. But I would be lying if I said his long-term health isn't a concern. The Rams have protected their QB with a sack % of 7.5% to 8.0% over the past few years. But he's coming from an offense that protected him with a sack % of 2.7%. And even then (as Nick has pointed out), he didn't finish a season in one piece.

I can't say that I disagree with anything you said. I hope Devany and Spagnuolo see it the same way.