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If there's been one silver lining to the St. Louis Rams' 0-3 start to the 2011 season it's been this: Sam Bradford really has, under the Josh McDaniels administration, been allowed to air the ball out. After a season of dinking and dunking Bradford is averaging 12.5 yards per completion, a 2.6 yard increase from last season. That kind of number would have put him fifth in the league in 2010, and it's a sign of what's to come in a Josh McDaniels offense; it's exactly what Kyle Orton did for the Broncos last year. Unfortunately, that passing attack is a work in progress; Bradford's completion percentage is down 10 points, so that his yards per attempt is up only 0.3 yards from last season.
All things considered Rams fans will probably take the new, less "accurate" Sam Bradford—it promises a real passing attack, instead of the rushing auxiliary that Bradford-to-Danny Amendola became by the end of 2010. But it means Bradford—not to mention his drop-happy wide receivers—will need to adjust to the new style if the Rams are to make a playoff run in 2011.