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No QB controversy here: Austin Davis should start for Rams
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11962/no-controversy-here-davis-should-start
ST. LOUIS -- Since veteran quarterback Shaun Hill suffered a calf injury late in the opener against Minnesota, St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher has never budged from his stance on who his starting quarterback is.
According to Fisher, if Hill is healthy, he's the starter, regardless of what Austin Davis does in his stead.
Even after Davis went 30-of-42 for 327 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the Rams' 34-31 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Fisher wouldn't waver.
"No, I’ve stood behind that decision,” Fisher said.
Well, it's time for Fisher to reconsider. The Rams enter their bye week at 1-2 and will need every bit of that time to correct the many problems plaguing them. But Fisher should also use that time to sit down with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti and have an honest conversation.
Last week, Davis did enough to earn the trust of the coaching staff to garner another start against Dallas. This week, he did enough to show that he should get a chance to be the starter moving forward. In two starts, Davis is 52-of-71 for 562 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. That's a passer rating of 98.4.
Since the Rams drafted Sam Bradford with the first pick in 2010, Davis' passer ratings in each of the past two weeks would rank as the 14th and 15th best performances in a game by a Rams quarterback, a span covering 67 games. Davis' 327 passing yards is the fifth-highest output by a Rams signal caller in that time.
Anytime a decision has to be made between two quarterbacks or, really, any two players, it comes down to which player gives the team the best chance to win. It's understandable that Fisher would want to stick by the veteran Hill had Davis been pedestrian or worse the past two weeks against subpar defenses. Davis has been better than that. He's been good enough to earn his chance or at least a deeper look than "I've stood by that decision."
When asked why he's been so steadfast in standing by Hill, Fisher has pointed to Hill's strong start against Minnesota in the time before his late first-half interception. Hill is a team captain and a veteran respected by his peers.
But even if Hill is able to return and approximate Davis' performance, it still makes more sense to go with Davis at this point. At 34 and on a one-year contract, Hill's tenure in St. Louis doesn't figure to be a long one.
Davis is 25 and in his third season in the league. Playing Davis allows the Rams to see what they have in him beyond this year while still offering them the chance to stay competitive and win games now.
"I’m not really thinking about it, honestly," Davis said. "I just wanted to come in, play hard for this team and give us a chance to win. This one hurts, we’d like to have gotten the win. Coach Fisher has been pretty clear when Shaun is healthy he’ll be the starter. Until I hear different, that’s my approach."
Given some time to reflect on the upcoming bye week, perhaps Fisher will give it more thought. The conclusion he should reach is that Davis is the best option for this team now while also providing hope for the future.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11962/no-controversy-here-davis-should-start
ST. LOUIS -- Since veteran quarterback Shaun Hill suffered a calf injury late in the opener against Minnesota, St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher has never budged from his stance on who his starting quarterback is.
According to Fisher, if Hill is healthy, he's the starter, regardless of what Austin Davis does in his stead.
Even after Davis went 30-of-42 for 327 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the Rams' 34-31 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Fisher wouldn't waver.
"No, I’ve stood behind that decision,” Fisher said.
Well, it's time for Fisher to reconsider. The Rams enter their bye week at 1-2 and will need every bit of that time to correct the many problems plaguing them. But Fisher should also use that time to sit down with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti and have an honest conversation.
Last week, Davis did enough to earn the trust of the coaching staff to garner another start against Dallas. This week, he did enough to show that he should get a chance to be the starter moving forward. In two starts, Davis is 52-of-71 for 562 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. That's a passer rating of 98.4.
Since the Rams drafted Sam Bradford with the first pick in 2010, Davis' passer ratings in each of the past two weeks would rank as the 14th and 15th best performances in a game by a Rams quarterback, a span covering 67 games. Davis' 327 passing yards is the fifth-highest output by a Rams signal caller in that time.
Anytime a decision has to be made between two quarterbacks or, really, any two players, it comes down to which player gives the team the best chance to win. It's understandable that Fisher would want to stick by the veteran Hill had Davis been pedestrian or worse the past two weeks against subpar defenses. Davis has been better than that. He's been good enough to earn his chance or at least a deeper look than "I've stood by that decision."
When asked why he's been so steadfast in standing by Hill, Fisher has pointed to Hill's strong start against Minnesota in the time before his late first-half interception. Hill is a team captain and a veteran respected by his peers.
But even if Hill is able to return and approximate Davis' performance, it still makes more sense to go with Davis at this point. At 34 and on a one-year contract, Hill's tenure in St. Louis doesn't figure to be a long one.
Davis is 25 and in his third season in the league. Playing Davis allows the Rams to see what they have in him beyond this year while still offering them the chance to stay competitive and win games now.
"I’m not really thinking about it, honestly," Davis said. "I just wanted to come in, play hard for this team and give us a chance to win. This one hurts, we’d like to have gotten the win. Coach Fisher has been pretty clear when Shaun is healthy he’ll be the starter. Until I hear different, that’s my approach."
Given some time to reflect on the upcoming bye week, perhaps Fisher will give it more thought. The conclusion he should reach is that Davis is the best option for this team now while also providing hope for the future.