Against Lions patchwork secondary, it’s open season for Bradford, St. Louis Rams

Early practice reports Thursday morning from Allen Park, Mich. are quite telling for quarterback Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams. The Detroit Lions are going into the game with absolutely no depth at defensive back and probably two or three players who probably shouldn’t see any playing time at all, especially if they were on most other NFL rosters.

According to multiple reports, the Lions are expected to be without starting cornerback Chris Houston and safety Louis Delmas Sunday. In their place, Detroit will start rookie Bill Bentley, a very old veteran in Drayton Florence and Indianapolis Colts‘ castoff Jacob Lacey (nickle) at the cornerback positions. Starting at safety will be John Wendling and Erik Coleman. Not necessarily names you’d write home about.

If the Rams want to make this game close, or win the game, the team is going to have to get rid of the ball downfield to the wide receivers. Bradford is not going to have time to take five-step drops and find the perfect hole in the secondary to drop a pass in. He is still facing one of the best defensive lines in the league. He needs to get rid of the ball quick, which is okay, because he has a bunch of no-names defending his passes. I expect Bradford to put up at least 300-yards this weekend.