NFL Free Agents 2011: Have St. Louis Rams Done Enough to Back Sam Bradford?

The St.Louis Rams made fantastic strides in 2010, going from 1-15 to 7-9.

When the Rams owned the leagues worst record  (1-15), which earned them the first pick of the 2009 draft, they fearlessly selected quarterback Sam Bradford and never looked back.

Bradford paid instant dividends his rookie year, throwing 18 touchdowns to 15 interceptions, both of which bested Peyton Manning's rookie season. The Rams were not a much different team as the year before, yet jumped six wins with Bradford under center. 

Now that the Rams have a quarterback that can lead them to the promised land, have the Rams given Bradford the tools he needs to get them there? 

The best teams in the league surround their young quarterbacks with as many weapons as possible. Let's see what the Rams have given Bradford.

A Mean Streak

The addition of Harvey Dahl is possibly the best move the Rams made during free agency.

Dahl played guard and right tackle for the Atlanta Falcons, paving the way for Michael Turner and keeping opponents out of the backfield.

He brings attitude to the Rams, which is something the offensive line has lacked for years. The trenches are nasty, and Dahl will make his presence known.

He is good in all aspects of his game, and will be able to keep Bradford upright while opening gaping holes for Steven Jackson. The Rams offensive line has the potential to be one of the best in the league next year.

Is it enough? It's a homerun. 

Backing Up the Running Backs

A rookie quarterbacks best friend is a strong running game.

Even though Steven Jackson may be entering his decline, he is still a capable running back, and one of the premier backs in the league. He has taken a beating the last few years and has suffered many minor injuries that would have had some other running backs sitting the week out.

Jackson's immense amount of carries (654 in the last two years) caused him to wear down. He was unable to maintain and keep his burst like he should have been able to, and the high total of carries might've been too big of a load for Jackson alone; since he had the lowest yards per carry of his career (3.8 yards).

With the addition of Cadillac Williams and Jerious Norwood, Jackson can now take a breather, as they are both legitimate backups and extra weapons for Bradford. Norwood in particular is interesting as a third down back, and will surely see his fair share of passes from Bradford.

Quality backups for Jackson was a much needed addition for the Rams and he will surely be more efficient because of it this year. Bradford will also directly benefit from this.

Is it enough? Absolutely.

89720243 Receivers

This offseason the Rams went quantity quantity and...more quantity.

Most teams in the NFL go and find a true number one threat for their quarterback to throw to. The Rams decided against drafting a high upside receiver like Jon Baldwin in the draft this year, but did take Lance Kendricks, Austin Pettis, and Greg Salas in the second, third, and fourth rounds, respectively.

In the first preseason game, Lance Kendricks looked like he might be a slam dunk. The ultra athletic but unpolished tight end could become a dominant pass catcher. Salas and Pettis, however, will most likely take a back seat to the many other wide receivers on the roster for their rookie year.

The Rams have Donnie Avery and Mark Clayton returning from season ending injuries last year, along with Denario Alexander and Danny Amendola.

They've brought in Mike-Sims Walker from the Jacksonville Jaquars, to compete against the current incumbents. It was a wise move, considering new Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels ability to take average receivers and make them dominant (see Bradon Lloyd). Sims-Walker looked like he had the ability to turn into a number one receiver his sophomore year, but was maddeningly inconsistent last year. 

Sims-Walker could be the answer for the Rams. It is disappointing,however, to see that the Rams did not attempt to make a major acquisition for a truly proven wide out.

Is it enough? It's definitely a start.   

The Best Offense Is a Good Defense

The Rams made one of the best and quietest moves in free agency when they went out and signed Quintin Mikell. 

Mikell is not very well known—but he ought to be. He was the most consistent safety in the league over the last few years. He may not make the highlight reel like Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu, but he's played healthy football for the Eagles for years now. 

The Rams let go of O.J. Atogwe this offseason, a move many questioned given Atogwe's abilities. Still, Mikell was a direct upgrade from Atogwe and will make the Rams defense better. 

With Mikell's range at safety, Bradford will surely enjoy a few extra possessions this year. He'll also enjoy the comfortable leads his defense will be able to provide for him. 

Is it enough? 100 percent.