National Football League

Rams QB Bradford coming off first rough NFL outing

Published Oct. 14, 2010 5:33 a.m. ET

foxsports

Adversity for Sam Bradford at Oklahoma was an arduous recovery following a season-ending shoulder injury. In the NFL, with one of the league's scuffling franchises, it's something else entirely.

The No. 1 pick endured his first rough outing as a pro in a 44-6 rout by Detroit on Sunday, capped by the embarrassment of getting intercepted by No. 2 overall pick Ndamukong Suh.

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo's statement in a downbeat locker room helped Bradford move on to this week and a new challenge against the San Diego Chargers.

''It's never as bad as you think it is and it's never as good as you think it is,'' Bradford said, quoting Spagnuolo. ''And I think that's true. There was nothing major we did wrong, just little mistakes that killed drives, that stopped us from getting seven points instead of three.

''We've just got to find a way to get those little things fixed and I think we'll be fine.''

Bradford was intercepted twice and couldn't produce a touchdown against the Lions. That kind of thing rarely happened at Oklahoma, where he won the 2008 Heisman Trophy and led the Sooners to two Big 12 championships until he was sidelined by a shoulder injury last October.

Spagnuolo reminded himself as well as the media not to expect too much from Bradford. Rookies are supposed to struggle, no matter how much time they spend practicing.

''I think we've all fallen into this now that we're evaluating Sam at a very, very high level because he jumped out here and he's playing really, really well,'' Spagnuolo said. ''He's still only a rookie going into his sixth game.''

The energy Bradford brought to the practice field Wednesday reinforced the decision to draft him. Bradford arrived with plenty of motivation after reviewing the Detroit debacle, which was more reminiscent of last season's no-chance Rams that went 1-15.

''I love the way he played out here in practice,'' Spagnuolo said, ''And I would expect him to play good on Sunday.''

St. Louis absorbed plenty of ugly losses during a 6-42 run over three years before this season. Can't change the culture overnight, right?

Bradford rejects that line of thinking. He never expected such a spanking at the hands of the Lions, and refuses to believe it's OK and just part of the learning curve.

He expects to win.

''I feel like everyone in this locker room should have that same mentality, and I feel like they do,'' Bradford said. ''Any time you get beat 44-6, you kind of question where it came from and how it happened.''

Bradford will have to bounce back without his top pass catcher. Wide receiver Mark Clayton, placed on injured reserve this week with a torn patella tendon in his right knee, quickly clicked with the rookie after coming over in a trade from Baltimore just before the season opener, and made a number of clutch, acrobatic sideline grabs.

The Rams (2-3) are trying to fill the void from within. Former Missouri star Danario Alexander was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster and joins an unsung group led by gritty possession wide receiver Danny Amendola, who leads the team with 33 catches with a 9.2-yard average.

Others expected to step up are Brandon Gibson, rookie Mardy Gilyard and Laurent Robinson, who have combined for 18 catches and two touchdowns. Robinson has been slowed by a foot injury, Gibson was inactive the first two games and Gilyard, a fourth-round pick, is trying to develop consistency.

Help may be on the way at tight end, with rookie Mike Hoomanowanui (foot) and Billy Bajema (knee) both returning to practice this week.