May 10, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; As seen from right to left St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Auston (11), wide receiver CJ Akins (19), wide receiver Stedman Baily (12) and wide receiver Emory Blake (16) take a short break during rookie minicamp at Rams Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

Am I going out on a limb here by saying the Rams’ young, inexperienced but talented group of pass-catches will be under a microscope during training camp?

Maybe just a little, right?

With hopes to add a spark to the offense, St. Louis drafted one of the most gifted playmakers in years. That spark is none other than the lightning in a bottle himself, Tavon Austin. The Rams will deploy him in a multitude of ways: inside, outside, in the backfield, and probably on special teams as well. The plan is to get him the ball “as much as possible.”

Although the Rams are smitten with their new target, who is a smooth blend of DeSean Jackson and Percy Harvin, the mixture of talent of the Rams’ receiving core will be jockeying for position for the duration of the offseason.

Besides Austin, St. Louis also drafted the other WR from West Virginia who is a star in his own right. Stedman Bailey finished his season with the Mountaineers totaling 114 receptions, 1,622 yards (3rd in the nation), with a monstrous 25 touchdown receptions. Bailey was the other receiver wearing blue and old gold. 

It’s never easy trying to get a read on someone’s thoughts, but you can read between the lines on certain comments. Jeff Fisher and Les Snead both have said how rewarding it is to watch a player progress from year one to year two. As I absorb that comment, I can’t help but to think they are referring to Brian Quick. Blessed with raw athleticism, strong hands to pluck the ball out the air, and the size and leaping ability to out jump defenders, the development of Quick will play a pivotal part in Bradford’s ascent.

Without a doubt, speedster and last year’s standout rookie Chris Givens is penciled in as the starter and conventional wisdom points to Quick to starting alongside Givens.  Throughout training camp last season as well as during the season, Snead and Fisher both said they have “envisioned Quick and Givens staring opposite of each other.” As much as Austin Pettis improved late in the season, he is a byproduct of the old regime. The arrival of Bailey, Austin and, a developing Quick will reduce Pettis’ production and time on the field, and not to mention the addition of TE Jared Cook who also will be split out wide a times.

As it stands, here is my prediction for the Rams final WR dept chart:

1. Brian Quick
2. Chris Givens
3. Tavon Austin 
4. Stedman Bailey
5. Austin Pettis
6. Emory Blake

September 22, 2012; Athens, GA, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores running back Zac Stacy (2) runs the ball in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Three’s company, is four a crowd?

The departure of all-pro running back Steven Jackson left a crater-sized whole filled with inexperience, uncertainty and a cluster of tailbacks looking to draw their own path in the sand. While it’s almost laughable calling Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead the seniors of the bunch, as well as Terrance Ganaway, the arrival of the workhorse and fifth-round selection Zac Stacy has left the Rams with a good problem to have.

The collection of talent in the Rams’ backfield has given the impression of a running back by committee approach. However, besides the opening scripted plays to establish the rhythm of a quarterback, a valid argument can be made that a running back needs that same type of rhythm. Take the New Orleans Saints for example, a backfield log jammed with Marc Ingram, who I feel is vastly underutilized, Pierre Thomas and all purpose back Darren Sproles were ranked 25th in rushing last season averaging 98 yards a game.  Both Ingram and Thomas has the ability of a feature back, but can never establish a rhythm because of the pass-happy Saints and their lack of carries.

It’s not entirely out the questions that St. Louis won’t follow the trend of the Saints as the offense plans to lean more on quarterback Sam Bradford and newly acquired weapons, but I doubt with Jeff Fisher’s and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s background that they will venture towards that route.

Each running back on the Rams roster has a unique set of skills and qualities that separate themselves from the group. Pead is the fastest of the backs with exceptional hands out the backfield and shifty lateral movement, Richardson is a one-cut go, downhill runner, Ganaway is a 6’0″ 240 pound mauler with underrated speed and newcomer Stacy has the potential of an every down back.

Let’s be honest, the Rams won’t keep four backs on the roster. Pead was a second round selection in 2012, so he’s safe. Richardson rushed for 475 yards on 98 carries, he’s not going anywhere. St. Louis traded both of their sixth round picks to select Stacy in the fifth round with Snead saying, “We had some other guys we liked, but nobody we were as jacked-up about, so we decided to go ahead and make the move to get the guy we really wanted.”  If a GM is jacked-up about player, I doubt he’s going anywhere, anytime soon. That leaves Ganaway as the odd man out because of circumstances.

Before St. Louis drafted Stacy, who I see as another Doug Martin, I was driving the Pead bandwagon, and I still am. Even with Richardson’s production, I believe he will see his carries decline due to Fisher and Snead’s faith in Pead. While I believe Pead will open the regular season as the starter, Stacy could very well overtake him by the end of the season.

Stacy is a patient and instinctive runner who can locate the smallest ray of sunshine in small holes at the line of scrimmage. At 5’8″ and 216 lbs, a wide range of analyst have compared him to Ray Rice because of his short area quickness and his ability to break through arm tackles. And not to mention the first Commodore to rush for a 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons in the SEC.

While it is undoubtedly true the wide receivers will garner all the attention throughout training camp, the competition a running back is a battle in its own right.

November 11, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) looks for a receiver against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not as if the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner and the 2010 number one overall draft pick didn’t have enough pressure on him as it is, right?

Throughout the entire pre-draft process, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead repeatedly said they have spent absolutely zero time on scouting quarterbacks. Well, in the words of Fisher, “Yeah, we looked at quarterbacks because they threw to receivers.”

Countless experts, analyst and pundits have all observed and spoken out about the woeful talent that plagued the Rams’ previous roster. How can your franchise quarterback operate in the pocket if he has no time to deliver a pass? How can your quarterback throw completions if his receivers have hands made of asphalt or lack explosiveness to create separation? What about the revolving door of underachieving, inexperienced and “deer in the headlight” coaches? Injuries too?

Not one time in Bradford’s career has he ever made an excuse for his play or the organization’s failure, and he better not start now.

St. Louis arguably had the best draft class, as far as immediate impact and starters. Already thriving off last year’s draft success, Bradford hasn’t had this much talent around him since his 2010 Sooners, who produced four first round picks. Armed with the most dynamic player on the team in Tavon Austin, a formidable duo at tight end with the newly acquired Jared Cook and incumbent Lance Kendricks, as well as an array of lineups and formations at their disposal with Brian Quick, Chris Givens and draftee Stedman Bailey, this group of speed and athleticism has fans reminiscing of the Greatest Show on Turf days.

The recycled, but somewhat true phrase, “a true quarterback makes players around him,” Bradford has already proven that.

Didn’t he elevate a horrid 1-15 franchise to a team that was one game away from making the playoffs? A team whose top leading receivers were Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Daniel Fells, and running back Steven Jackson who finished fourth? With an increased boost in talent this past year, Bradford enjoyed a career year in yards and touchdown passes. He’s given no indication as to why his production won’t escalate as he enters his fourth year in the NFL.

However, the new look of the Rams roster will truly allow the organization to evaluate their franchise signal caller. A lot of fans and outsiders see this as Bradford’s make-or-break year, and this could very much be so.  This new regime has proven they are not scared to wheel and deal draft picks if they are smitten with a player.

Still reaping benefits from the Robert Griffin III trade, St. Louis has another draft with two first round picks. The Rams could easily trade up for a quarterback if needed. Teddy Bridgewater? Johnny Manziel? AJ McCarron? They’re all possibilities in the 2014 draft.

Bradford undoubtedly has the talent, and this regime has made choices that showcase their confidence in him. Equipped with youthful firepower in their arsenal, Bradford has all the tools to have another successful season. But what is the expected success?  Video game like numbers mirroring Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, or a playoff appearance? Perhaps both, it’s almost implausible to think the NFC West will feature three playoff teams.

Whatever the case may be, this franchise rest surely on the shoulders of Bradford.