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Nick Foles Isn’t the Issue With the Rams Offense

By Nic Moody

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The St Louis Rams have been desperate for a good signal caller for a while now. After the Sam Bradford experiment, fans were hoping that newcomer Nick Foles could turn this offense around. Why that may not have happened yet only five weeks into the season, different criticisms have already emerged from different sources targeting Nick Foles directly.

Now let it be known, I fully understand the want to blame the quarterback. He gets the ball on every play, is responsible for leading the team, and ultimately makes the plays that make or break a drive. However, football is a team sport, and any Rams fan who frequently watches the games should be able to tell that Foles inhabits hardly much of the blame at all. Sure he makes his share of mistakes, such as bad decisions under pressure, occasionally not looking for a safety, but there are so many problems outside of Foles that do not make it any easier for him to avoid these mistakes.

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The first issue that the Rams need to work on is the offensive line. It’s no surprise that the Rams offensive line troubles have plagued them for weeks now, and with Roger Saffold now out for the season, it likely won’t make things any easier. There aren’t too many quarterbacks that can handle pressure well, and the ones that do usually have a talented cast around them. Nick Foles is under pressure almost every time he gets the ball. Foles was a human punching bag in the Green Bay game on Sunday, getting hit over and over by some of the biggest, baddest defenders in the league. It’s impossible to think that Nick Foles, a quarterback on a new team, in a new system, with new wide receivers, could succeed with the amount of pressure on him play after play. Foles has also shown what he can do when the protection is there, just to name a few throws, please see:

The overtime throw to Stedman Bailey in week one, the long pass to Kenny Britt in week two, the touchdown throws in week four, and the deep pass to Tavon Austin in week four also, and the Brian Quick throw on the sideline from week five.

Speaking of the wide receivers, they need to step up their game. The Green Bay game was a poor showing from the wide outs. Rams receivers already are dropping multiple passes every game, and week five was no exception. Jared Cook’s hands are likely made of stone, as I know I personally have seen him drop at least five first down catches this year so far. Which is inexcusable for a player making what he makes. Receivers also had a hard time getting open all day. Foles would go through multiple reads and have no one to throw to, which rarely was his fault (missing receivers open) and mostly fell on the receivers for not being open. The receivers are also having a hard time running the correct routes, which doesn’t help Foles out at all. The receivers need to step up their game all around. The effort is lacking, the passion is lacking, and Fisher will have to consider bringing in some outside help soon if it doesn’t improve.

Oct 11, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles (5) throws a pass during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t particularly enjoy making excuses for Nick Foles, but after reading the articles that are floating around about how Fisher needs to “bench him” and how “Nick Foles isn’t the Rams future quarterback after all”, It becomes quite apparent that some people don’t know the whole story. Is Andrew Luck a bad quarterback? No, not at all. But wait, then why is he having a horrible start to the year so far? Offensive line. If Andrew Luck can’t succeed without an offensive line, why would anyone think Nick Foles could? Nick Foles will get better, and isn’t off to a great start, but anyone who truly believes he is the problem hasn’t been watching the games very closely at all.

Next: St. Louis Rams OG Rodger Saffold Out for Season

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