Is Les Snead On The Hot Seat?

Feb 21, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; St. Louis Rams general manager Les Snead speaks to the media in a press conference during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Two years ago the Les Snead and the Rams made a bold move trading the number two pick away to the Washington Redskins. The Rams basically gave up the chance at drafting a franchise quarterback in Robert Griffin III.

The outcome of that trade however has been a win for the Rams. They took a, what was terrible roster that would have problems in the college ranks, to a team that can compete in the best division in football.

Still, the Rams have not had a winning record, and for the fifth time in seven years finished fourth place in the NFC West, granted it is a tougher division now and 7-9 wouldn’t get you last place in any other division.

Still, experts are saying that Les Snead could be on the hot seat, saying,

"The Rams were the biggest losers possible when Snead arrived. They won 15 games in five seasons before Snead and coach Jeff Fisher came to town, and have won 14 games in two seasons since. Snead deserves credit for turning the Rams from awful to respectable, but they are hunting bigger game.The road from respectable to championship level is much tougher. Snead doubled down on Sam Bradford when the Rams traded out of the No. 2 pick two years ago, and he will double (quadruple?) down again on Bradford if he passes on Johnny Manziel this time around. The Rams have a strange roster. It doesn’t have a lot of holes, nor does it have a lot to get excited about outside of the defensive line. In the league’s toughest division, the Rams still look closer to a five-win season than a playoff berth. Snead will never have a better chance to make a big impact than this year with the No. 2 and No. 13 overall picks."

Snead has built this team the right way, through the draft, and taking the best player on their board. Yes, they’ve had some mishaps, e.g. Brian Quick and Isaiah Pead, but for the most part, Snead has hit the nail on the head with the players he’s drafted.

This is not only a big year for Sam Bradford, but it seems like it’s a big year for everyone in the organization, and the first one up to the plate just so happens to be Snead. With two picks in the first round for the second straight year, the Rams will be expected to take steps forward, not take a step back, even if their schedule is one of the toughest in the league.

Snead won’t be on the hot seat this year, but the seat is certainly starting to get warm, and if the Rams do take a step back, next year will be Snead’s do or die year. The chances of him getting fired after this season is unlikely.

If anything Rams ownership will be cautious about firing Snead and/or Fisher as the Rams went through three coaches in five years from 2008-2012, and for the first time in a decade it finally looks like the Rams have something good going. To break that off and destroy that consistency that the franchise just hasn’t had, would be detrimental.

As mentioned earlier the seat is certainly getting warm for Snead, but with two picks in the top 15 and 4 picks in the top 75, the Rams sit at a pretty good spot in this draft. Snead will definitely have a chance to turn the tides on Thursday.