St. Louis Rams: Frank Cignetti The Best Hire For Sam Bradford

By Blaine Grisak | Feb 12, 2015

The St. Louis Rams just officially hired new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti. While he may not have been the most popular choice, it is yet to be seen what he will bring to the table.

The new offensive coordinator was most successful serving as the offensive coordinator at Fresno State for four years from 2002 until 2006. His most successful season being in 2004 when Fresno State’s offense ranked fifth nationally and became the sixth team in NCAA history to score over 50 points in four consecutive games. The 2004 team also led the WAC in average yards per carry and amassed 65 touchdowns.

Many, including myself, believe that the Rams settled for Cignetti after striking out on big name candidates in Kyle Shanahan and Adam Gase.

However, given that the Rams are still committed to Sam Bradford even though they have said they are going to bring in competition, Cignetti may in fact be the right hire. This will now be Bradford’s fourth offensive coordinator in six years and even with that said Cignetti isn’t going to change that much.

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Unlike the other offensive coordinator changes that Bradford has had to go through this one isn’t going to be as significant and it’s going to be with someone he has been close with and been his quarterback coach for the last three seasons.

The relationship between a quarterback and his coordinator is one that takes time to form, and is an underrated aspect that Bradford already shares with Cignetti.

Since his first season in St. Louis, Cignetti has coached Sam Bradford and to career highs in passing yards with 3,702-yards, 21 touchdown passes , and an 82.5 passer rating.

Thats not even to mention Bradford was on pace to establish new career highs in passing yards, completion percentage and completions in 2013 before a knee injury ended his season against Carolina seven games into the year.

Cignetti will have a lot more to worry about now than just Bradford, but the fact that the two know each other and have had success with each other isn’t something to just throw away.

To recap, Bradford has had his two best NFL seasons under Cignetti’s watch with an 85.2 passer rating and 35 to 17 touchdown-interception ratio in only 23 starts from 2012-13. While those aren’t eye-popping numbers, they aren’t terrible either.

Bradford doesn’t have to be elite, he only has to be passable and better than what the Rams have had the last two seasons without him. With more offensive weapons than he has ever had, and a defensive that has found its stride, Bradford doesn’t have to carry the team.

While there will still be skeptics about this hire, and for good reason. Cygnet after all hasn’t ever been a coordinator at the professional level. The point that Im bringing to the table is that this hire isn’t as bad as some, including myself, are making it out to be.

He may have not been the best hire, but if the Rams plan to stick with Bradford, he might have been the right hire.

Next: Mel Kiper Jr. Gives Rams Offensive Line Help In His Latest Mock

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