More Pressure To Succeed: Givens Or Quick

It is well-known that 2014 is a big year for the St. Louis Rams, another 7-9 or 8-8 year just may not be enough to please the fans. The Rams haven’t had a winning record since 2003, and haven’t made the playoffs since 2004.

The Rams finally look to be getting back on track with their corps of young players. However, last season, there were still a group of players that didn’t produce as well as expected, and have high expectations to get back on track and succeed in 2014.

This piece will be part one of a three-part series called more pressure to succeed. Today, the question is, who has more pressure to succeed, Chris Givens or Brian Quick?

These receivers have a lot of pressure on them in 2014, even if the Rams are a run-first team. If these receivers come out and get the job done, then the criticism can be put to rest. However, if these guys come out and don’t produce, serious questions will be raised.

Chris Givens

A fourth round pick out of Wake Forest, Rams receiver Chris Givens burst onto the scene his rookie season when he accumulated 698 yards receiving which included a stretch of five consecutive games in which he had at least one reception of 50-yards or more.

Since then, Givens has been called by many, the Rams’ number one receiver as he was the most successful Rams wide-out since Torry Holt. However, in 2014 the receiver from Wake Forest took a step back, partly because of the injury to Sam Bradford, but even with Bradford Givens just wasn’t making the plays that Rams fans had become accustomed to seeing him make.

Many are expecting Givens to at the very least get back to his rookie numbers if not take that next step. This guy is the team’s number one wide receiver and he needs to go out and prove it. Another season like 2013, and he very well could be on his way out of St. Louis, especially if guys like Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, or the guy that I’m about to talk about, Brian Quick, all have big years.

2014 may be big season or bust for Givens. It’s time to find out whether or not he was the real deal that the Rams stole in the 4th-round, or a one hit wonder that failed to adapt when defenses adapted to him. Jeff Fisher is expecting big things from Givens, and if the third year receiver fails to put up numbers, it may be time for the Rams to finally draft a number one receiver next season.

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Brian Quick

Drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams thought they got their future big target on the outside in Brian Quick. To say the least, that has not at all been the case. Through his first two seasons Quick has minimum snaps, and has not produced. Whenever his number is called upon, he is either in the wrong place,  simply can’t make the play, or both.

Coming out of Appalachian State, we knew he was going to be raw, but could we really expect it to take three seasons if not more for him to finally find his groove. When are we going to see the Vincent Jackson side of Brian Quick?

Pro Bowl receiver, Alshon Jeffrey, was taken 12 picks after Quick, and was taken with a selection that the St. Louis Rams originally had but traded back five spots to take…wait for it….wait for it….Isaiah Pead. Just let that sink in before you read the next paragraph.

Quick has always had the potential and physical stature to be a dominant player in the NFL, he just simply hasn’t been able to put it together. 2014 is seriously a boom or bust year for the third year player. Another disappointing season of 250-300 yards receiving and two touchdowns just simply isn’t going to be enough.

This is the year that Quick needs to put it together or at least show us some reason he should be left on the team next season. Word is, he has produced in camp, but until I see it in the game, Quick has a lot of pressure to succeed in 2014.

Conclusion:

It is obvious that both of these receivers have a lot to prove in 2014 and have a lot of pressure to do so. However, the receiver with the most pressure to succeed between the two is Chris Givens. Yes, Quick is a second round pick that has disappointed to say the least, but that is exactly why if he at least shows signs of improvement, he will get another chance.

On the other hand, if Givens struggles and doesn’t put up numbers, the Rams have guys to replace him. Just for the fact that Kenny Britt and Stedman Bailey could push to be the team’s one and two receivers on the outside, Givens has the most pressure to succeed. If he doesn’t, we might as well add him to the list of  receivers that haven’t made it as a Ram since the end of Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt.