QB Bradford: Rams on cusp of making playoffs

In two of the past three seasons, Sam Bradford hasn't made it through the year. (USATSI)

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The Rams haven't made the playoffs since 2004 and they've never had a winning record with Sam Bradford as their starting quarterback, but that doesn't mean Bradford's not confident going into 2014.

In an interview with NFL Network this week, Bradford said he thinks the Rams are on the cusp of making the postseason for the first time in 10 years.

"Obviously this is a big year for this organization, we really feel like we're right on the cusp of taking that next step and becoming a playoff team," Bradford said. "And I think everyone in our building and our locker room believes that we can do that and that's why we're out here giving it everything we have right now, just trying to lay that foundation so we can take that next step this year and become a playoff team."

A key for the Rams will be whether Bradford can stay healthy, something he's had trouble doing in his four-year career. After winning offensive rookie of the year in 2010, Bradford went on to miss six games in 2011 thanks to a nagging ankle injury.

The former No. 1 overall pick also missed nine games last season after tearing his ACL in Week 7. Bradford says the injuries have been frustrating.

"Obviously it's really frustrating, especially coming in my first year and taking every snap, playing all 16 games," Bradford said. "Obviously, that's the goal and that's what I would like to get it back to. Unfortunately, you can only control what you can control. Some of those injuries, there's not really much you can do about them and you've got to deal with them the best that you can."

Despite the fact that the Rams have never made the playoffs with Bradford, coach Jeff Fisher said there's no pressure on his quarterback.

"I don't think he's feeling any pressure at all," Fisher said on Thursday. "He just wants to win. All of this stuff is being generated that this is his year, things like that; if you do the projections off of last year, if he'd have stayed healthy he would have had some very impressive numbers. So no pressure on Sam."

Even if Bradford stays healthy, the Rams still have to contend in a division that has produced the NFC's last two Super Bowl participants in San Francisco and Seattle. The Rams are 4-11-1 against those two teams since drafting Bradford in 2010.

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Yep, Texans RB Arian Foster will touch the ball a lot this season



I can't prove it, but it's worth arguing that Texans running back Arian Foster broke down last season due in part to how often he was asked by former head coach Gary Kubiak to carry the offense during the previous three seasons. After averaging more than 370 touches per season from 2010-12, a balky back limited Foster to just eight games last year. He says he is "raring to go for 2014, and he better be because a lot will be put on his plate.Texans head coach Bill O'Brien recently compared Foster to Kevin Faulk and Danny Woodhead in his ability to catch passes. O'Brien coached those two players while he was with the Patriots. O'Brien said "it looks like definitely Arian will be able to do that and more."What the most important thing to do is to make sure that you look at the player's skill set and figure out how they fit your system, or our system," O'Brien said, "and so what we do is when we have a back that is a three-down back as Arian is, a guy that can play on first, second and third down, then you're finding ways to incorporate him into the passing game and the running game and it really works out well for your offense."



That Foster will be used often in the passing game isn't a revelation by any means; he averaged 53 catches per year during those three "healthy" seasons. And I certainly don't blame O'Brien for thinking this way; the Texans aren't flush with outstanding, proven receivers, and their No. 1 stud, Andre Johnson, is an unhappy 32-year-old. It's just another hint that Foster might flirt with 400 touches again. You need to feel comfortable with assuming the significant injury risk that he brings if you are going to draft Foster in the first round or two, but it's difficult to put into words how productive he could be if he plays a full schedule.