By The Numbers: Robert Quinn And Sam Bradford Still On Top

Last week, Ramblin’ Fan dropped our first installment of “By The Numbers,” our weekly recapping of the statistical leaders on the St. Louis Rams. With it being Week 1 of the regular season, nearly any above average performance had the potential to position a player within the Top 10 in an given category. Now, with multiple games out of the way, the cream has slowly begun to rise to the top. So, are there still any St. Louis Rams hiding in the Top 10?

Tavon Austin and Jared Cook: Receiving Touchdowns

Unless you are a member of the Denver Broncos or San Diego Chargers, it appears as though receiving touchdowns are pretty hard to come by in these opening two weeks. There are 19 players in the NFL with two touchdown receptions this season, including our very own Tavon Austin and Jared Cook. Among tight ends, Cook ranks 6th in receiving yards and tied for 4th in receiving touchdowns, despite being rendered ineffective last week against the Atlanta Falcons. Tavon Austin  is currently tied for 5th with a laundry list of wide receivers in receiving touchdowns. Hopefully both can continue their success into Week 3.

Jake Long: Pass Protection/Run Blocking

Jake Long is one of only 13 starting offensive tackles that has yet to allow a hit on the quarterback or a sack this season, although he has been credited with seven “hurries.” However, those pass blocking numbers pale in comparison to his run blocking this season, which, according to Pro Football Focus, ranks 4th in the NFL. Overall, Long is graded as the 7th best left tackle through the opening two games of the season.

Sam Bradford: Touchdowns, Pass Yards

Sam Bradford actually ranks in the Top 10 in a number of categories, including being the only quarterback not be sacked so far this season. However, the most surprising statistic for Bradford might be touchdowns, where he is tied for 5th in the league with 5 passing touchdowns on the year; only one shy of this total passing touchdown mark from the 2011 season. Bradford is also tied for 2nd in the NFL for “throw away” passes, which helps explain the relatively low amount of times he has been hit this season. …oh yea, and he is currently slotted 6th among quarterbacks with 651 passing yards.

Daryl Richardson: Receiving Yards

While people continue to irrationally bash the St. Louis Rams running game, Daryl Richardson continues to put up solid under-the-radar numbers. His 78 receiving yards are 5th among running backs in the league, which, oddly enough, are the net product of 85 yards after the catch, mixed with a couple of tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Richardson may not rush for 1000+ yards this season, but he could certainly compile 1,400+ yards from scrimmage, having already accumulated 178 yards through two games. At his current pace, which is likely to increase with more carries as the season progresses, Richardson would be on track for 1,408 total yards, including nearly 800 yards rushing and over 600 yards receiving.

Robert Quinn: Sacks, Hits on the Quarterback, and Hurries

Robert Quinn has been the most unstoppable force of the opening two weeks of the regular season, compiling 4 sacks (2nd in the NFL), 6 hits on the quarterback (1st in the NFL), and 6 hurries (T-10th among 4-3 DEs). Those 16 total pressures leads the league, and currently slots him 2nd in the race for the Deacon Jones Award. Next week, Quinn will face off against Tyron Smith, who is currently ranked as the 26th overall offensive tackle, allowing 2 hits on the quarterback and 4 hurries against the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs. Look for Robert Quinn to continue his campaign this coming Sunday!

Alec Ogletree: Solo Tackles

For the first time in recent memory, James Laurinaitis is not the only player in the second level making a significant contribution in the tackling game. Ogletree is currently 2nd among outside linebackers with 15 solo tackles, and trails only a handful of inside linebacker for the overall tackling crown.