Sam Bradford is in a slump, throwing no touchdown passes and five interceptions in the last three games.
The St. Louis Rams' rookie quarterback insisted Wednesday he hasn't hit the wall mentally or physically. He's fired up about leading a team that could secure its first playoff berth since 2004 with victories over the 49ers at home and at Seattle to finish the season.
Even after last week's loss to the Chiefs, who sacked him three times, intercepted two passes and hit him with regularity, Bradford said he feels better than he did at this point of the year in any of his college seasons at Oklahoma. He credits extra weight added during offseason conditioning.
Bradford insists his eyes never, ever glaze over during late-night video sessions.
"I'm up to the challenge every week,"
Bradford said. "I haven't hit the point where I'm watching film at night and I'm like, 'OK, what defense, who are we playing again?' "
"Everything very clear, so I think that's a good sign."
His teammates see no letup.
"Nah, no way,"
wide receiver Danny Amendola said. "I don't believe it. He's a great player and he's going to continue to play great."
The No. 1 pick is having one of the top statistical seasons for a rookie quarterback in NFL history, last week becoming the third to pass for 3,000 yards. He's also third on the list in attempts and completions, and beyond the rookie numbers he's one of only six quarterbacks in the NFL to take every snap this season.
That last fact is a point of pride for Bradford.
His statistics the last three games, however, have dropped off. Bradford enjoyed his first career 300-yard game with three touchdowns at Denver in Week 11, but since then he's 57 for 104 for 599 yards.
Before the slump, the last two games representing a step up in competition, Bradford threw at least one touchdown pass in 10 of the first 11 games.
"Obviously, the past couple of weeks I haven't played as well as I would have liked to,"
Bradford said. "It's frustrating at times, but you can't get caught up in the past."
Of course, it's not all on Bradford that the Rams (6-8) have scored one touchdown per game the last three weeks. The line has had protection issues, giving up eight sacks in that span and leaving Bradford on the run much of the time. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said the team's no-name crew of pass catchers has had trouble getting open fast enough.
"It all kind of ties together,"
Spagnuolo said. "We all love it when it's protected perfectly and the ball gets out perfectly on time."
Read more at the www.tulsaworld.com
