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http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_7138d3d4-9667-5a29-9d4d-fd831c89d496.html
With his first two NFL seasons nearly in the books, Rams wide receiver Brian Quick is developing at a disappointing pace.
For an STL team that was lacking elite talent at wideout, I think it's fair to say that more was expected from Quick, the 33rd overall choice in the 2012 NFL draft.
The question: is Quick a bust?
No.
Not yet. I won't tag Quick with that.
It's way too soon.
For an example of why it's wise to be cautious before slapping premium draft picks with the “bust” label, take a look at Tampa Bay wide receiver Vincent Jackson. He'll be here Sunday, when the Buccaneers play the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome.
The similarities between Jackson and Quick are striking.
Here's what they have in common:
* Both were drafted out of small-college football programs. Jackson came out of Northern Colorado, and Quick played for Appalachian State.
* Both were chosen in the second round. San Diego chose Jackson 61st overall in 2005. The Rams tabbed Quick with the first pick of the second round in '12.
* Both are large-target receivers with undeniable speed and athleticism. Jackson is 6-5, 240 pounds. Quick is 6-3, 220 pounds.
* After his first two NFL seasons, Jackson had 30 catches for an average of 17.1 yards and pulled in six touchdowns.
* With his second season winding down, Quick has 27 catches for an average of 16.4 yards and four touchdowns.
Jackson began taking flight in his third season, starting all 16 games and making 41 catches. Jackson hit his stride in his fourth season (2008),with 59 receptions for 1,098 yards and seven touchdowns. In his fifth season, Jackson was voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time. (He's earned that honor three times.)
Jackson has rolled up 1,000-yard seasons in five of the last six years, and is well established as one of the NFL's most dangerous big-play threats at the position.
That's why Tampa Bay signed Jackson to a five-year free-agent deal for $55 million before the 2012 season. And he hasn't let them down. In 30 games with the Bucs Jackson has 141 receptions for 2,475 yards (17.6 per catch) and 15 touchdowns. Jackson was a Pro Bowl pick last season and is a contender again this year.
I'm not saying Quick will develop into a Jackson-caliber receiver. That would require a rather significant leap in confidence to make such a prediction.
But given the slow start to Jackson's career as he made the transition from small-college ball to the NFL, it would be absolutely foolish to write off Quick at this point.
If Quick has any chance to approximate Jackson's growth curve, he'll have to become a lot more productive in 2014. The third season is when Jackson began to figure it all out.
Ramblings...
I've been negligent this season in passing along some Rams-specific notes distributed to me by my friends at my favorite football site, Pro Football Focus. I guess it's better late than never this season.
Anyway, here are a few recent nuggets passed along by PFF assistant editor Trevor Jones _ plus some other notes culled from the PFF site:
-- Zac Stacy's 133 yards rushing against the Saints, 109 came after contact. Stacy ranks 9th among NFL running backs in average yards after contact on outside runs.
-- Rodger Saffold is thriving since his move to guard. PFF has given Saffold a plus grade as a run blocker in four of his five games at right guard.
-- The Rams' best run-blocking performances against the Saints came at tight end (Lance Kendricks), left tackle (Jake Long) and right guard (Saffold.)
-- More on Jake Long: PFF grades his season as the fifth-best overall among NFL offensive tackles. And Long is tied with San Diego's King Dunlap in the run-blocking ratings at offensive tackle.
-- The Rams had 28 QB pressures on the Saints' Drew Brees, including 10 by right DE Robert Quinn and seven from left DE Chris Long.
-- Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins did a terrfic job against Saints wide receiver Marques Colston. Brees targeted Colston four times when Jenkins covered him, and Jenkins allowed only one catch for 12 yards.
-- The Saints targeted their outstanding tight end Jimmy Graham six times; he caught two passes for 25 yards and both of Brees' interceptions came on targets to Graham.
-- The Rams' pass-rush pressure could cause migraines for Tampa Bay on Sunday; the Bucs rank 26th in the NFL in pass blocking efficiency.
-- The Rams' Johnny Hekker is having an excellent season; PFF rates him as the NFC's best punter and the league's second-best punter behind Houston's Shane Lechler. Based on performance grades, Hekker's performance is worthy of a Pro Bowl selection.
-- In all phases of placekicking, the Rams' Greg Zuerlein is rated 9th overall among NFL kickers.
Thanks for reading …
-Bernie
With his first two NFL seasons nearly in the books, Rams wide receiver Brian Quick is developing at a disappointing pace.
For an STL team that was lacking elite talent at wideout, I think it's fair to say that more was expected from Quick, the 33rd overall choice in the 2012 NFL draft.
The question: is Quick a bust?
No.
Not yet. I won't tag Quick with that.
It's way too soon.
For an example of why it's wise to be cautious before slapping premium draft picks with the “bust” label, take a look at Tampa Bay wide receiver Vincent Jackson. He'll be here Sunday, when the Buccaneers play the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome.
The similarities between Jackson and Quick are striking.
Here's what they have in common:
* Both were drafted out of small-college football programs. Jackson came out of Northern Colorado, and Quick played for Appalachian State.
* Both were chosen in the second round. San Diego chose Jackson 61st overall in 2005. The Rams tabbed Quick with the first pick of the second round in '12.
* Both are large-target receivers with undeniable speed and athleticism. Jackson is 6-5, 240 pounds. Quick is 6-3, 220 pounds.
* After his first two NFL seasons, Jackson had 30 catches for an average of 17.1 yards and pulled in six touchdowns.
* With his second season winding down, Quick has 27 catches for an average of 16.4 yards and four touchdowns.
Jackson began taking flight in his third season, starting all 16 games and making 41 catches. Jackson hit his stride in his fourth season (2008),with 59 receptions for 1,098 yards and seven touchdowns. In his fifth season, Jackson was voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time. (He's earned that honor three times.)
Jackson has rolled up 1,000-yard seasons in five of the last six years, and is well established as one of the NFL's most dangerous big-play threats at the position.
That's why Tampa Bay signed Jackson to a five-year free-agent deal for $55 million before the 2012 season. And he hasn't let them down. In 30 games with the Bucs Jackson has 141 receptions for 2,475 yards (17.6 per catch) and 15 touchdowns. Jackson was a Pro Bowl pick last season and is a contender again this year.
I'm not saying Quick will develop into a Jackson-caliber receiver. That would require a rather significant leap in confidence to make such a prediction.
But given the slow start to Jackson's career as he made the transition from small-college ball to the NFL, it would be absolutely foolish to write off Quick at this point.
If Quick has any chance to approximate Jackson's growth curve, he'll have to become a lot more productive in 2014. The third season is when Jackson began to figure it all out.
Ramblings...
I've been negligent this season in passing along some Rams-specific notes distributed to me by my friends at my favorite football site, Pro Football Focus. I guess it's better late than never this season.
Anyway, here are a few recent nuggets passed along by PFF assistant editor Trevor Jones _ plus some other notes culled from the PFF site:
-- Zac Stacy's 133 yards rushing against the Saints, 109 came after contact. Stacy ranks 9th among NFL running backs in average yards after contact on outside runs.
-- Rodger Saffold is thriving since his move to guard. PFF has given Saffold a plus grade as a run blocker in four of his five games at right guard.
-- The Rams' best run-blocking performances against the Saints came at tight end (Lance Kendricks), left tackle (Jake Long) and right guard (Saffold.)
-- More on Jake Long: PFF grades his season as the fifth-best overall among NFL offensive tackles. And Long is tied with San Diego's King Dunlap in the run-blocking ratings at offensive tackle.
-- The Rams had 28 QB pressures on the Saints' Drew Brees, including 10 by right DE Robert Quinn and seven from left DE Chris Long.
-- Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins did a terrfic job against Saints wide receiver Marques Colston. Brees targeted Colston four times when Jenkins covered him, and Jenkins allowed only one catch for 12 yards.
-- The Saints targeted their outstanding tight end Jimmy Graham six times; he caught two passes for 25 yards and both of Brees' interceptions came on targets to Graham.
-- The Rams' pass-rush pressure could cause migraines for Tampa Bay on Sunday; the Bucs rank 26th in the NFL in pass blocking efficiency.
-- The Rams' Johnny Hekker is having an excellent season; PFF rates him as the NFC's best punter and the league's second-best punter behind Houston's Shane Lechler. Based on performance grades, Hekker's performance is worthy of a Pro Bowl selection.
-- In all phases of placekicking, the Rams' Greg Zuerlein is rated 9th overall among NFL kickers.
Thanks for reading …
-Bernie