Brandon Lloyd: How the Trade Helps the St. Louis Rams in 2011

ESPN and the NFL Network have been updating us all day on the trade the St. Louis Rams made to acquire All Pro wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. 

The trade came just a day before the NFL trade deadline (Tuesday, Oct. 18) and came as a result of the Denver Broncos announcing over the weekend that their Pro Bowl receiver is on the trade block.

It was reported Sunday night that the San Francisco 49ers were showing the most interest in Lloyd, but now it's clear that the Rams always had the most interest. Perhaps Denver thought they could convince St. Louis that their division rivals were about to make a move.

The Rams got Lloyd for sixth-round pick, at least for now. If Lloyd pulls in 30 or more catches in a Rams uniform, then it will be upgraded to a fifth-round pick.

Fitting In With the Rams

As recently as Sunday, the Rams oldest receiver was the 26-year-old Mike Sims-Walker, who was just released in order to make room on the roster for Lloyd. 

Now all of the sudden the Rams have acquired the 30-year-old veteran Lloyd, as well the 29-year-old Mark Clayton who was just reunited with the team after spending six weeks on the PUP list. In the matter of one day, they went from having zero veteran leadership at the position to having two capable players who have been in the league for a while. 

That added experience is invaluable when so many of their receivers are so young, such as Danario Alexander (23), Brandon Gibson (24), Greg Salas (23) and Austin Pettis (23). The Rams receivers have been struggling with mental errors, such as multiple dropped passes, so it's good that they now have a pair of veterans to turn to for advice. 

What Lloyd also does is knock everyone down a peg. 

Lloyd will obviously face the opposing team's top cornerback, while Danario Alexander (who has been very good already this season) will now face No. 2 corners. Mark Clayton and Greg Salas will see a lot of nickel backs and outside linebackers, while Lance Kendricks will see middle linebackers. As a result, everyone should be able to produce slightly better by facing lesser talent. 

Another thing the Rams have been greatly struggling with is pass blocking. 

If Lloyd can make an impact and become the legitimate receiving threat he was in Denver, then there's a greater chance that either him or another receiver will be able to get open quickly, which Rams receivers have not done very effectively up to this point. 

A better receiving corps means better routes; the better the routes, the quicker the quarterback can throw the ball; the quicker he throws the ball, the less he gets hit; and a quarterback who gets hit less makes the offensive line look a lot better. 

Brandon Lloyd is a good pick-up for the Rams, but it's also important to maintain expectations.

Despite leading the NFL in receiving yards in 2010 (1,448), Lloyd is not a Calvin Johnson-caliber receiver. He's a very good receiver, but he's not capable of carrying an offense on his shoulders. It's going to take solid production from the other 10 members on offense for him to reach his potential. 

If the other offensive players can play at a higher level and give Lloyd some support, then he should be very productive for the team and will help them win football games.

Rams Trade For Pro Bowl Receiver Brandon Lloyd

The St. Louis Rams made a trade with the Denver Broncos today which made the Rams the new home for Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Lloyd.

Lloyd led the NFL in receiving yards in 2010 with 1,448 yards. He also had 11 touchdown catches.


Lloyd's career year in 2010 with Denver was the result of head coach Josh McDaniel's offense. McDaniels is now the offensive coordinator for the Rams, so Lloyd should fit nicely into the team's current scheme.


The Rams have been desperate for playmakers, especially after losing Danny Amendola for the season during Week 1.


The Rams figured their offense could get a significant boost with both Lloyd and Danario Alexander lined up on the outside. Lloyd's 18.8 yards per catch average in 2010 hints that that the Rams are getting a downfield threat, which they've needed for a long time.


It's unclear whether or not Lloyd can match his 2010 production, especially since he was pretty average during his first eight NFL seasons, but even if he doesn't bring that same production, he still offers something that the other Rams receivers clearly don't have— the ability to consistently catch a football.


Lloyd has only dropped one pass in five game for the Broncos in 2011. If he can be just as sure-handed in St. Louis, then he will immediately be an improvement.


Lloyd is not a Calvin or Andre Johnson caliber receiver, despite being the top receiver in 2010, but he's certainly worth the gamble. A sixth-round pick (which could turn into a fifth-round pick based on his production) is a small price to pay for a player that could potentially payoff huge dividends.

Rams vs. Redskins: 5 Things That Will Ensure A Rams Victory

The St. Louis Rams (0-3) will play host to the Washington Redskins (2-1) at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis this Sunday. 


The Rams will look to secure their first win of the 2011 season, while Washington will attempt to rebound from their "Monday Night Football" defeat in Dallas. 


The stakes are high for the Rams, who are growing increasingly desperate. They'll enter their bye week after facing the Redskins and then face a grueling three-game stretch against the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints.


If the Rams do not beat the Redskins, then an 0-7 start to the season is a real possibility.


Fortunately for the Rams, this upcoming game is very winnable. The Redskins are not as talented as any of the previous opponents that the Rams have faced so far in 2011 (Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens).


With a victory against Washington, along with a week of rest during the bye week, the Rams could find themselves getting back on track. But they have to win on Sunday for that to happen.
So here's what needs to happen... 




1) Feed The Beast



Luckily for the Rams, they have been running the football effectively, that is if you ignore their game against New York.


They have the 11th ranked rushing offense, averaging 108.3 yards per game, which is extremely impressive considering Steven Jackson only has six carries on the season. 

They ran for 154 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles, and despite being completely dominated by the Baltimore Ravens, backup running back Cadillac Williams was still able to gain 75 yards on the ground. 
Except this week the Rams will likely have Jackson back in the lineup as the full-time starter.


With Jackson taking the bulk of the carries and with Cadillac giving him some relief, the Rams should be able to run the ball effectively against the Redskins for all four quarters.


The Rams need to jump out ahead with an early lead and then feed the ball to Jackson and Cadillac all day long, which will eat up the clock and keep the Washington offense off the field. 




2) Keep Rex Grossman On His Back

The Rams have a defensive front capable of pressuring a quarterback, and Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman does not perform well under pressure.

Chris Long already has three sacks in three games and rookie Robert Quinn has a sack despite missing the team's 2011 opener. The team has eight sacks in three games, which is impressive considering that the group has been playing well below their potential. 

It's time for them to come alive against the Redskins—a consistent pass rush will help out the Rams weak secondary and it will force Grossman to make mistakes, which could result in multiple turnovers. 

Also, if Grossman becomes ineffective due the the pass rush, the Redskins will have to rely solely on the run and the Redskins are flat out not good enough to win games as a one-dimensional offense.

3) Avoid Turnovers, Create Takeaways

The Rams have given up three defensive touchdowns in three games. The opposing defenses have just as many touchdowns and the Rams offense. 

That is unacceptable. Teams cannot win in the NFL if they give up defensive touchdowns on a regular basis. 

It is vital that the Rams prevent the Redskins from picking off any passes or forcing on fumbles. 

The running backs need to take care of the ball, Sam Bradford needs to make the proper reads and the offensive line has to provide a suitable amount of protection. Those three things will ensure a turnover free game for St. Louis. 

On the contrary, the Rams defense has to come up with some takeaways. 

Given how poorly the Rams offense has played so far this year, there is no such thing as too many opportunities. The defense has to create more opportunities for the offense by coming up big with interceptions and forced fumbles.

If the Rams can avoid giving up a defensive touchdown and win the turnover battle, then it will likely result in a victory.  

4) Get Bradford And the Receivers Rollins

It has come in the form of dropped balls by the receivers, or even tipped passes by Sam Bradford. But so far in 2011, the Rams have not been able to find rhythm in their passing game. 

Bradford put up 331 yards against the New York Giants. During that game, Danario Alexander had 122 yards and Mike Sims-Walker had 92.

If the offensive line can play at a somewhat respectable level, then the Rams offense is perfectly capable of moving the ball through the air, regardless of the team's lack of an elite receiving threat.

However, they have not been able to produce a solid aerial attack on a consistent basis due to mental mistakes, such as dropped passes. 

The receivers need to remain focused throughout the game and the offensive line has to create a solid pocket for Bradford. 

The Rams will get some relief in the passing game with the return of Steven Jackson, who is highly underrated as a receiver, but in the end the wide receivers will have to step up and play consistent football. 

5) Find Some Swagger

The Rams have not been losing because they don't have the talent to win or because the opposing teams are far superior.

They have been losing because they are beating themselves.

They look flat and lifeless on the field, as if they are just going through the motions. This type of play has resulted in penalties, dropped passes, blown assignments and turnovers.

The opposing teams are not beating them because they are beating themselves.

They need to play Washington on Sunday with some intensity. They need to make hard hits and big plays, and they need to display the demeanor of a team that's hungry for a win.

To put it simply, they need to play with swagger.

Instead of playing not to lose, they need to come out and expect to win the game.  

St. Louis Rams: 5 Things That Will Save Their Season From Going Up In Flames

St. Louis fans are frantic at the moment trying to figure out what went wrong with their beloved Rams. 

But honestly, it's not rocket science. The answers are quite clear. 

Steven Jackson, an elite running back in this league and their best overall player, has been sidelined since Week 1 after only two carries. 

Their most reliable wide receiver, Danny Amendola, who happens to be Sam Bradford's favorite bailout option, dislocated his elbow during the Rams' 2011 opener against Philadelphia. This explains why the team is converting only 25.5 percent of their third downs. 

If those two injuries weren't crippling enough, they also lost Ron Bartell for the season from a neck injury. He was by far the team's best cornerback heading into 2011. 

But with both Jackson and Amendola possibly returning for the team's Week 4 matchup against theWashington Redskins, both the excuses and the patience are running thin. 

The Rams have to get their act together soon if they want to avoid a catastrophic outcome. That means Sunday is practically a must-win situation. 

Here's what they have to do to get back on track not only for the Washington game, but for the remainder of 2011...

1) Fix the Leak In the Secondary

The secondary is one of the most obvious faults with the team currently.

You won't hear Ron Bartell's injury being discussed on ESPN or the NFL Network, but truthfully his injury has had just as much negative impact as any other current injury in the NFL besides Peyton Manning.

He does not have multiple Pro Bowls on his resume, but he is a veteran presence with superb coverage and tackling skills. He truthfully lies between the top 10 to 15 cornerbacks in the NFL, but don't tell ESPN—they'll never admit that since he's not playing on a coast.

Bartell was injured with a fractured neck during Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ever since then, in his place, the Rams have relied on their 2008 fourth-round pick Justin King. The results have been disastrous to say the least. 

Last week against the Baltimore Ravens, King allowed rookie receiver Torrey Smith to score three touchdowns in the first quarter alone. The Rams lost in a 37-7 blowout. 

The Rams have to resolve the situation before every remaining team on their schedule destroys their secondary, simply by attacking the weak spot (King). 

The Rams just recently made their first effort toward clogging the leak by signing veteran corner Rod Hood. 

Here are the details regarding the Hood signing. Basically he's the best veteran available and should produce better results than any corner currently on the roster. 

For the sake of their 2011 season, the Rams better hope that Hood is a somewhat-dependable response to their cornerback situation. 

2) Quickly Synchronize Amendola and Clayton

The Rams need offensive production and they need it fast. 

They have converted only 25.5 percent of their third-down conversions and their offense has given up just as many defensive touchdowns as they have scored all season (three).

It's not overly shocking due to them losing their two most productive offensive weapons to injury (Danny Amendola, Steven Jackson).

However, they'll possibly be getting both of their top two weapons back from injury as soon as this Sunday against the Washington Redskins.

Along with the return of Jackson and Amendola, the Rams will be reacquainted with another familiar face—wide receiver Mark Clayton. 

Clayton was the Rams' top receiver the first four weeks in 2010. Clayton had 22 catches for 300 yards and two touchdowns in his first four games with the Rams last season before going down with a season-ending knee injury during the team's fifth game against Detroit.

After a year of rehabbing the knee, Clayton has returned to the Rams and has been placed on the team's PUP list (physically unable to perform), which automatically makes him inactive for the first six weeks, but allows him to return to the team for Week 7.

This means that Sam Bradford will be reunited with two of his favorite offensive targets within the next couple of weeks.

On the bright side, this could result is a major boost for the team's offensive production.

However, Bradford hasn't thrown a pass to Amendola in three weeks and he hasn't thrown to Clayton in a year, which could result in sloppy routes and poorly timed passes. 

The Rams need to avoid setbacks. They don't have time for an adjustment period. Bradford needs to be in sync with both Amendola and Clayton as soon as they return. If he can accomplish that, then the payoff could be huge. 

   

3) Remember Who’s Boss

It was exciting to watch Sam Bradford play last season since he was a No. 1 overall draft pick, so much so that people forgot who the team belongs to—Steven Jackson. 

It was like a child getting a new Game Boy for Christmas and temporarily forgetting about the Xbox hooked up to the flat screen (not that Bradford doesn't have the potential to be every bit the difference-maker Jackson is).

This team does not have the receiving arsenal required to excel through the air, although the return of Amendola and Clayton could help make that a reality. 

What the team does have, however, is an elite running back in Jackson. 

Call him old, say that he lost a step, but he is elite whether you like it or not. 

When Jackson is in the game, defenses have no choice but to respect the run. Cadillac Williams played decent at times filling in for Jackson while he's been out with his quad injury, but Williams does not strike fear in opponents.

When the defense is respecting the run, they are not respecting the pass. And Bradford has the physical tools to make them pay for that, no matter how mediocre his receivers are.

Jackson is a difference-maker in this league. If you need proof, then look no further than the past three games when he has been out of the lineup. Give Bradford responsibilities, but put the outcome of the game on Jackson's shoulders.   

4) Threaten Steve Loney’s Job and Make the Offensive Line Earn Their Money

The Rams have been struggling with a below-average offensive line for several years now. 

Players have come and gone. The Rams have drafted linemen, cut linemen, signed free agents and switched up their positions. 


They spent a No. 2 overall draft pick on Jason Smith, a second-round pick on Rodger Saffold and they've invested in three mid- to high-priced free agents (Jacob Bell, Jason Brown, Harvey Dahl). 


The effort toward finding offensive line talent is undeniable. The front office has spent a lot of resources in building a solid front five. 


But after the first three games of 2011, the Rams offensive line is still playing at a below-average level. 


With all the resources and all of the change, there is one constant that still remains—offensive line coach Steve Loney. 


Loney was hired during the Scott Linehan regime of 2006 to 2009. He is the only coach from that era still remaining, for some reason unknown to the St. Louis fanbase.


At the very least, given the continued futility, the front office should at least put some pressure on Loney. Threaten his job and demand results. He has no excuse. The front office has gone to hell and back finding him talent to work with and still he has yet to produce a respectable product on the field.


But it can't be 100 percent on Loney. The players need to have personal accountability. The coaching staff should have a private meeting with the starting five linemen and remind them what each of them are earning each game. Warn them that there will be changes sooner rather than later if they do not perform at an admirable level.


And finally, the surrounding players need to get involved. Sam Bradford needs to get in Jason Smith's face every time he gets bull-rushed to the ground. Steven Jackson needs to chew out Jacob Bell every time he runs into a brick wall.  


5) Smack Someone In the Mouth, Taste Some Blood

The team is flat and lifeless on the field, and the emotion is just not visible. Someone needs to light the fire under the rear end of this team and get them fired up to play on game day. 

Enough with the foolish penalties during critical situations. If they are going to get penalties, fine, but at least get something out of them. 

To quote the great Al Pacino from the movie "Any Given Sunday":

"If you're going to make mistakes make them big. I'm not going to eat your lunch for that."

If you feel the need to get a penalty, don't do it when the team is on a promising drive trying to get its first score of the game. 

Do it during a low-risk situation when the opposing team has the momentum. Chop-block someone, head-slap someone, draw some blood. Be nasty.

If the you're going to lose, fine. If the other team is going to end up winning, fine. But at least make the other team leave the game beat up. At least establish a scrappy reputation.

Don't let the other team leave the game hoping that they can play you again every single week for the remainder of the season.  

Establish that identity, show that swagger, then future opposition will enter the games with less confidence. 

Rams vs. Eagles Post-Game: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Well, the St. Louis Rams (0-1) failed to pull off an opening day upset against the Philadelphia Eagles (1-0), and their roster was bombarded with injuries to key positions, but on the positive side there were some positives.


The Rams came out in the first-quarter looking like a team capable of taking down the so called "Dream Team", but in the end the Eagles had pound-for-pound more talent. Combine that with the numerous mental mistakes that the Rams made and there was no way they were going to win the game.


So let's get started...


THE GOOD

The Rams defensive line was clearly not up to the task of stopping the run given LeSean McCoy's 122 rushing yards and Michael Vick's 97, but they were not terrible. The pass rush was present—if they were playing against any quarterback other than Vick then they would've had six or more sacks, as oppose to three.


The defensive backs also had a good game. Outside of DeSean Jackson's 41-yard catch, as well as his touchdown catch, the backs kept the receivers relatively in check for most of the game.


Also, the running backs clearly get an A+ for this game. Steven Jackson had 56 yards and a touchdown on only two carries before injuring his quad and leaving the game, and Cadillac Williams did a phenomenal job substituting with 91 yards on 19 carries.


THE BAD


Where to start?

Sam Bradford wasn't terrible. He was able to avoid any interceptions, which is a difficult thing for any young quarterback to do when their team is getting manhandled, but he certainly wasn't at the top of his game. He missed a wide-open Danny Amendola in the end-zone, and he also had a fumble during a sloppy hand off to the running back, which resulted is a defensive touchdown for the Eagles.


The linebackers were also noticeably bad. Besides James Laurinaitis, who had five tackles and a fumble recovery, the linebackers were slow and completely incapable of containing either Vick or McCoy. However, the defensive line deserves their share of the blame as well for the pitiful run defense.


The offensive line had some success with their run blocking, but they looked like five children pushing back grown men whenever they dropped back to pass block. It's no surprise that Bradford couldn't make a difference with Trent Cole, Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins in his face all game, those three combined for four of the Eagles six sacks on Sunday.


But the group most blatantly terrible were the receivers—Brandon Gibson and tight end Lance Kendricks had two drops each (one of Kendricks' drops was a possible touchdown), rookie Greg Salas had a drop and even the sure-handed Danny Amendola let one slip by. They were never going to make a huge difference with Philadelphia's deadly trio at cornerback (Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie), but there's no excuse for them blowing the few opportunities that were allowed by the Eagles secondary.


THE UGLY


The Rams had a fairly healthy training camp, but they made up for it quickly by getting six of their starters banged up in the first game of the season.


- Sam Bradford (QB) injured his finger, but the x-rays indicate that there was no fracture. There's some concern regarding possible nerve damage, but he's expected to play next Monday night against the New York Giants.


-Steven Jackson (RB) left the game after only two carries with a strained quad. Reports are generally indicating that he'll be out until Week 3, but Jackson indicated on 101 ESPN in St. Louis that he's working towards getting healthy for next week's game, so there's hope.


- Danny Amendola (WR) dislocated his elbow and was initially thought to out for 8-10 weeks, but the latest reports indicate he might not need surgery, which will get him back in action much sooner than expected.


-Ron Bartell (CB) had the most serious injury with a fractured neck that will likely keep him out for the rest of the season. The loss of his coverage skills and veteran leadership will hurt.


-Jason Smith (OT) injured his ankle in what was originally thought to be a high ankle sprain, but it turns out it was a less severe low ankle sprain and he could be ready to play against Giants. He is considered day-to-day.


-Bradley Fletcher (CB) has a sprained toe and is day-to-day. He will likely be ready for the Giants—he almost has to be ready with Bartell's injury making the Rams conerback situation desperate enough.


-C.J. Ah You (DE) has an issue with is wrist that will require a brace, but he will still be able to play. The Rams will likely bring 2011 first round pick Robert Quinn into the mix as a result of Ah You's injury.


As you can see, the Rams bad luck with injuries from just one game is rather... excessive.