The St. Louis' Rams offensive plans are a bit of a question mark at the moment. The team has lost Sam Bradford for the entire season after re-injuring his ACL. They have been coy on just how they plan on replacing the quarterback. Now, the first depth chart reveals first-round pick Greg Robinson will not be starting as originally assumed. Right now, the Rams priorities center around the quarterback position and with a trade for Ryan Mallett off the table, just what will St. Louis do?
The Rams claim to be committed to Shaun Hill as their starter, but just how long will that last? They released sixth-round draft pick Garrett Gilbert, making their depth at the position even weaker. To counter the move they signed Case Keenum who was on the market after getting released by the Houston Texans prior to their trading of Mallett. So for those keeping score at home, the Rams quarterback rotation is now Hill, Keenum and Austin Davis. Will that be enough?
ESPN.com was the first to report that Keenum was claimed off waivers by the Rams. This is a quarterback that in five seasons in Houston threw for over 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in three of those five years. With the Texans, he put up solid numbers, but never got a win. Criticism for Keenum included trouble reacting to defenses and making quick decisions when the pocket starts collapsing. He has a strong and accurate arm when given the time to throw and has quick feet that work in his favor if he can overcome his mind issues.
ESPN's Nick Wagoner writes that the Rams mean it when they say they are committed to Hill as their current starter. However, if he and Keenum begin to struggle, the team has nothing behind them to bail out the season. There is still an option of a trade with several quarterbacks available that would not cost too much.
The obvious move the Rams could make is acquiring Mark Sanchez from the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Chip Kelly continues to praise the veteran as a much improved player than when he was with the Jets and expressed a willingness to deal him. Sanchez is more than familiar with the Rams offense considering his history with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer who worked with the quarterback with the New York Jets.
The Rams could target Christian Ponder, but he is likely not an upgrade of Keenum. He simply would just be another body on the roster. The last option may be Matt McGloin who is wasting away at third string with the Oakland Raiders. McGloin showed real promise as a starter for the Rams last season and could be a quality option for the year ahead.