St. Louis Rams Weekly Roundtable: Rams Crushed in Opener

3. One of the lone bright spots for the Rams was wide receiver Brian Quick, who caught seven passes for 99 yards on nine targets–do you think that he’s finally taken the next step to being a #1 wide receiver or do you think he just happened to have one good game?

Aug 23, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Brian Quick (83) makes a reception against Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo (51) during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports

Blaine G.: I definitely think Brian Quick has taken that leap and turned the corner. It is only one game, but we saw flashes of it in the preseason which makes me think that it will continue. What’s truly disappointing, however, is that now that Quick finally has the system down, Brian Schottenheimer is on the hot seat and could be gone at the end of the season if the play-calling doesn’t improve. Hopefully that wont have any effect on Quick, but it’s certainly something to think about.

Anthony K.: I believe he has, yes. Any receiver can get a little lucky and have a good day–but Quick has actually shown marked improvement in his receiving skills–he’s improved his route running, his hands, his quickness–overall, he just looks like a legitimate top-flight NFL receiver. That wasn’t the case the past two seasons when the Rams essentially had to spoon-feed him the playbook and couldn’t count on him for more than a catch here and a catch there. In terms of just the ‘eye test’–I was blown away by how good Quick looked in the preseason and again in the season opener. If he stays healthy, don’t be surprised if he surpasses 1,250 receiving yards and 6-8 touchdowns–I’m that optimistic about his long-term prospects.

Nathan K.: My argument would be that, unlike in years past, Brian Quick hasn’t just had just one game, but rather, a string of solid performances dating back to the mid-point of the preseason. St. Louis Rams receivers, in the past, have made a habit of showing glimpses of dominance and then fading into the background. I think it is still a bit too early to jump to any conclusions on Brian Quick. However, another solid performance against the Bucs would certainly point the needle in a positive direction.