<p><div class="image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image"><a title_source="Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images" title_caption="Chris Long rushes the passer" class="zoomin" href="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/520929bd69bedd9a6e000009-960/chris-long-rams-nfl-st-louis-2013.jpg"><span class="click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/520929bd69bedd9a6e000009-1200-900/chris-long-rams-nfl-st-louis-2013.jpg?maxX=480" border="0" alt="Chris Long Rams NFL St. Louis 2013" width="480" /></a><p class="source">Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images</p><p class="caption">Chris Long rushes the passer</p></div></div>The <keyword id="350221" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="St-Louis-Rams">St. Louis Rams</keyword> improved from 2-14 to 7-8-1 last year in <keyword id="146999" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jeff-Fisher">Jeff Fisher</keyword>'s first season as head coach. Third-year quarterback <keyword id="1812971" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sam-Bradford">Sam Bradford</keyword> posted career numbers, throwing for 3,700 yards with 21 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. </p>
<p>In their four games against divisional titans San Francisco and Seattle, the Rams were 2-1-1. They even beat RGIII. They also lost 45-7 to New England in London. Their lowest point came in a 27-13 beating by the New York Jets. </p>
<p>The 2012 season was a mixed bag for the Rams. After <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">finishing 25th in scoring offense and 14th in scoring defense they kept offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer but let defensive coordinator Gregg Williams walk after serving a suspension all last season for his ties to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_Saints_bounty_scandal">Bountygate</a>. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The 5.5 game improvement in Fisher's first season is a reason to believe in St. Louis. Despite their difficult division, here's why we expect big things in 2013.</span></p>
<h3>1. Sam Bradford finally has consistency</h3>
<p><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">This is the first season Sam Bradford has not entered camp learning a new playbook. The former Heisman Trophy winner at Oklahoma played the best football of his profession career last season. The numbers weren't gaudy, but Bradford was not working with a lot of weapons. The teams second and third leading receivers, Brandon Gibson and Danny Amendola, are both gone, but are replaced by rookie <keyword id="1812970" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tavon-Austin">Tavon Austin</keyword> and new tight end Jared Cook. Fellow tight end Lance Kendricks caught 42 passes last season, so look for the Rams to utilize plenty of two-tight end looks. </span></p>
<h3><div class="image-container float_right click-to-enlarge"><div class="image"><a title_source="Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images" title_caption="Cortland Finnegan defends a pass against Chicago's Alshon Jeffery" class="zoomin" href="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/52092a59ecad044a0500000f-960/cortland-finnegan-rams-nfl-st-louis-2013.jpg"><span class="click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/52092a59ecad044a0500000f-1200-900/cortland-finnegan-rams-nfl-st-louis-2013.jpg" border="0" alt="Cortland Finnegan Rams NFL St. Louis 2013" width="480" /></a><p class="source">Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images</p><p class="caption">Cortland Finnegan defends a pass against Chicago's Alshon Jeffery</p></div></div>2. The defense is young and aggressive</h3>
<p>Excluding unit veteran Cortland Finnegan, 29, the average age of the Rams starting defense this season will be 24.7. Led by 26-year-old middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, the defense allowed 21.8 points per game last season, down from 25.4 in 2011. Rookie Alec Ogletree is expected to start from Week 1 at weakside linebacker and could be a steal after falling to the 30th pick with <a href="http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/04/18/4786725/georgia-olb-alec-ogletree-would.html">character concerns</a>. The Rams will start six players they have drafted with top-40 picks. They combine that talent with three undrafted free agents. Starting safeties Darian Stewart and Rodney McLeod, as well as strong side linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar all took the road less traveled to starting <keyword id="103436" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL">NFL</keyword> jobs. The defense is a youthful blend of high-profile names and anonymous hard workers that tend to excel in professional sports.</p>
<h3>3. Tavon Austin is really, really good</h3>
<p>He seemed destined for national stardom before West Virginia saw a 5-0 start sour into a 7-6 season. Austin and now Jets quarterback Geno Smith caught some of the flack for their team's funk, but it was no fault of theirs; the WVU defense couldn't stop a nosebleed last season. Austin finished with incredible numbers: 72 carries for 643 yards rushing, 114 catches for 1289 yards receiving and 978 return yards for two touchdowns. The Big 12 often forgets how to play defense, but combine a 4.34 40 with moves like this, and he should be fine:</p>
<p><iframe width="620" height="335" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/T3_UNFZHSQU"></iframe></p>
<h3>4. Daryl Richardson is an emerging talent</h3>
<p>After nine seasons of Steven Jackson carrying the load, the Rams will turn to second year runner Daryl Richardson. The 252nd pick of the 2012 draft, Richardson averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season in spot duty. A capable receiver, <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/23043545/fisher-i-think-daryl-richardson-comes-back-as-rams-starting-rb">Richardson is ahead</a> of Isaiah Pead and rookie Zac Stacy. </p>
<h3>5. They finally know how to win</h3>
<p>The Rams dropped a four-point game to the Lions and three-point game to the Dolphins last season. With another year of experience for a young roster, look for those games to go St. Louis' way this season. When driven, the Rams are a tough team to beat—they played a pair of overtime games with the 49ers last year, winning one and tying the other. The 49ers and Seahawks are super teams on paper, but if either team takes a step back look for St. Louis to take advantage. </p>
<p>Jeff Fisher is a quality coach with a hungry team. Three times Fisher-led teams have earned double-digit wins following 8-8 or 7-9 records. If Bradford can take a step forward in his second season under Schottenheimer's offense with his new offensive weapons, look for the Rams to earn their first winning season since 2003.</p>

Why The St. Louis Rams Will Shock The NFL This Season

<p>Tavon Austin came into the <keyword id="103436" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL">NFL</keyword> with heavy expectations as the eighth pick of the 2013 draft by the <keyword id="350221" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="St-Louis-Rams">St. Louis Rams</keyword>. However, prior to Sunday's game against the Colts he had yet to do much on the field.</p>
<p>The former West Virginia wide receiver has three <keyword id="1845203" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Touchdown">touchdown</keyword>s against the Colts including two long receiving touchdowns, and an even longer punt return touchdown. Austin entered today's game with 207 receiving yards, 123 punt return yards, and two touchdowns. He has 310 all-purpose yards in this game alone.</p>
<p>Here is the first touchdown, a 97-yard punt return...</p>
<center><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7350/10783239226_8f27395a18_o.gif" border="0" style="width: 618px;" /></center>
<p>The second touchdown, just three minutes later, was a 57-yard bomb in which he used his speed to get behind the defense...</p>
<center><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3768/10784605163_21e83fc6f0_o.gif" border="0" style="width: 618px;" /></center>
<p>The third touchdown, which put the Rams up 35-0, was an 81-yard reception and once again he used his speed to outrun the defense...</p>
<center><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/10784458654_59d0a6dbff_o.gif" border="0" style="width: 618px;" /></center>
<p>Here is Austin's touchdown celebration after the third score...</p>
<center><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/10784574553_b5f256f9ae_o.gif" border="0" style="width: 618px;" /></center>

Highly-Touted Rams Rookie Is Finally Having A Huge Game

<p></p>
<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table full"><div>
<div class="image on-image">
<img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/544403a4ecad04a521673a0e-1200-667/rams-return.jpg" border="0" alt="RAMS RETURN"><p class="source"><span>Fox</span></p>
</img></div>
<p></p>
</div></div>The St. Louis Rams <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/rams-fake-punt-return-2014-10">perfectly executed a rare fake punt return</a> for a 90-yard touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
<p>The Rams pretended to catch the punt on the left side of the field, but the ball was actually caught on the right side of the field. The Seahawks fell for it, running to the wrong side of the field, and Rams returner Steadman Bailey was able to waltz into the end zone for a touchdown.</p>
<p>It was a brilliantly planned play, but there's one pivotal question: How did the Rams know where the Seahawks were going to punt it?</p>
<p>In order to pull this off, the Rams had to know that the Seahawks were going to punt it to the right. The Rams faked out the Seahawks because their players all ran to the left side of the field immediately after the ball was kicked. How did they know with certainty that the ball wasn't going to be there?</p>
<p>After the game Rams players and coaches explained how they came up with the play. It turns out they installed the trick play on Thursday because they noticed on tape that Seahawks punter Jon Ryan almost always kicked it to the right side of the field when he was trying to pin teams deep.</p>
<p>Bailey <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/mountaineer-special-to-bailey/article_f2159430-b43c-5e6e-b222-9d7c5bdc1407.html">told the St. Louis Dispatch</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Coach Bones (Fassel) saw the Bears try it a few years back - it worked for them, too, but it was called back on a penalty. He noticed that when (Seattle's) punter tried to sky it, to pin us deep, the punt always ended up in pretty much the same spot."</p>
<p>Rams coach Jeff Fisher said there was <a href="http://blogs.seattletimes.com/seahawks/2014/10/19/what-the-coaches-said-pete-carroll-and-jeff-fisher/">a 90% chance</a> that Ryan was going to kick it to the right on a punt from that distance, so he gave the play the green light.</p>
<p>The only way the Rams could have done this is if they knew where Seattle was going to punt it. And they did.</p>
<p>Fisher <a href="http://blogs.seattletimes.com/seahawks/2014/10/19/what-the-coaches-said-pete-carroll-and-jeff-fisher/">talked about the play at his press conference</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">"We executed it in practice. Johnny (Hekker) gave him a really good look. And the key is that (WR) Tavon (Austin) and (S) Cody (Davis) really oversell that the ball is going…the team is expecting the ball to come down to their left, our right. And so when they saw Tavon running over, they probably thought it was miss-hit. The downside was he doesn't catch it, the ball goes in the end zone, it's a touch back or it's downed. The upside was we felt like if he was able to field it, then we had a chance to probably put points on the board. This is something, it's a copycat league okay. The Bears did this with (Devin) Hester against the Packers six or seven years ago and scored, but it was called back for holding. But we just felt, based on the information that we had and everything, we felt like…I had enough…it was an automatic based on field position as well. I told Coach Fassel to go ahead and run it if we had the right field position and we did. So it worked. Special teams obviously played a big factor in this one."</p>
<p>Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said the Rams did "<span>some unbelievable cool things" on special teams in the game, which is pretty accurate.</span></p>
<p><span>Here's the play again:</span></p>
<div><div>
 <iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/ObnJZwjdn9r/embed/simple?audio=0" width="600" height="600" frameborder="0">
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<p class="embed-spacer"></p>
<p><span>&#xa0;</span></p>

Here's How The Rams Knew Their Brilliant Fake Punt Return Trick Play Was Going To Work

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55f6d007bd86ef10008ba076-1176-882/pete carroll.jpg" alt="pete carroll" data-mce-source="Tom Gannam/AP" /><p class="source"><span>Tom Gannam/AP</span></p><p class="caption">Pete Carroll says the Seahawks didn't intentionally try for an onside kick.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The Seattle Seahawks were dealt a surprising Week 1 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, thanks in part to a horrible decision the Seahawks made in overtime.</p><p>With the game tied 31-31 after four quarters, the Seahawks kicked off to the Rams in overtime.</p><p>Instead of a normal kickoff, however, the Seahawks tried what appeared to be an onside kick - a baffling choice in that situation.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55f6ca2ebd86ef21008ba043-525-322/seahawks onside kick.gif" alt="seahawks onside kick" data-mce-source="Via NFL.com" data-link="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015091301/2015/REG1/seahawks@rams#menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000529386&amp;tab=recap" /><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015091301/2015/REG1/seahawks@rams#menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000529386&amp;tab=recap">Via NFL.com</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Perhaps the only argument for this kind of kick was to avoid the Rams' Tavon Austin, who splintered the Seahawks' defense earlier with a lightning-quick punt return:</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/55f6cad19dd7cc19008ba15a-525-322/tavon austin td return.gif" alt="tavon austin td return" data-mce-source="Via NFL.com" data-link="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015091301/2015/REG1/seahawks@rams#menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000529386&amp;tab=recap" /><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2015091301/2015/REG1/seahawks@rams#menu=gameinfo%7CcontentId%3A0ap3000000529386&amp;tab=recap">Via NFL.com</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The Seahawks nearly got a do-over - immediately after the kick, the refs called for a redo, saying a team could not rule for a fair catch after the ball had hit the ground. Replay, however, showed that the ball never hit the ground, so the Rams got to keep the ball at the Seahawks' 49.</p><p>Though the Rams didn't score a touchdown, they did get into easy field-goal range, where they nailed the kick to go up 34-31. The Seahawks got their chance to score but couldn't get their offense going.</p><p>After the game, things only got more confusing for Seattle. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13650047/seattle-seahawks-steven-hauschka-miss-hit-kick-st-louis-rams">Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said</a> the kick was a "mishit":</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">We just didn't execute that. That's not what was supposed to happen. We just didn't execute properly on the kick. We were kicking the ball in a certain area of the field. We didn't hit it right, and so we just mishit it ... We were kicking the ball way down the field.</p><p>Kicker Steven Hauschka also said it was a mistake:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">The result wasn't planned there. I mishit that kick. We were supposed to kick it downfield further than that, but yeah I mishit it. I take the responsibility on that, putting our team in a bad situation there starting overtime.</p><p>Unfortunately for the Seahawks, the two lasting memories of their past two games will be <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/darrell-bevel-explains-seahawks-decision-2015-2">calling for a pass over a run</a> at the 1-yard line and kicking an onside kick to start overtime.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-secrets-history-national-football-league-2015-9">Surprising NFL secrets that even the biggest fans don't know</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="QzMDdodzoeMezISt_IhrCIpG5TFSePKp" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'QzMDdodzoeMezISt_IhrCIpG5TFSePKp',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

The Seattle Seahawks made a baffling decision to start overtime, and it led to their Week 1 loss

<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/513e0fa56bb3f77945000011-800-600/percy-harvin-minnesota-vikings-player.jpg?maxX=400" border="0" alt="percy harvin minnesota vikings player" width="400" /></div><p class="source">Stephen Brashear/Getty Images</p></div>The <keyword id="865621" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Seattle-Seahawks">Seattle Seahawks</keyword> <a href="https://twitter.com/JayGlazer/status/311160128743280640">have traded for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin</a>, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports.</p>
<p>It's a huge deal, and it may shift the balance of power in the NFC.</p>
<p>Harvin had been plagued by injuries and misuse in Minnesota. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">But he has all the talent in the world, and his speed makes him the perfect compliment to the playmakers Seattle already has.</span></p>
<p>The Seahawks <a href="https://twitter.com/JayGlazer/status/311168912941277185">gave up a 1st-round pick and a 7th-round pick this year</a>, and a mid-round pick in 2014, Glazer reports.</p>
<p>That's steep.</p>
<p>For comparison, the 49ers got a 2nd rounder (34th overall) and another pick in 2014 for want-away QB Alex Smith, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/49ers-trade-alex-smith-chiefs-draft-picks-2013-2">everyone thought <em>that</em> was pricey</a>.</p>
<p><strong>What's it mean?</strong></p>
<p>The Seahawks have the slight edge over the 49ers as favorites in the NFC, unless S<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/rumor-49ers-interested-in-revis-trade-2013-3">an Francisco really fixes their secondary</a>.</p>
<p>Seattle had one of the best defenses in the <keyword id="103436" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="NFL">NFL</keyword> last year. Their offense came on at the end of the year, but it was still the weaker of the two units. A playmaker like Harvin gives them a dimension then didn't have in 2012, assuming he's healthy (a massive assumption, mind you).</p>
<p>If that report of the 1st-round pick (25th overall) is true, it sends a signal to the league that the Seahawks are going all in. They were the most feared team in the league going into the playoffs last year, and if they play like they did in November and December, they'll be favorites to make the Super Bowl in 2013.</p>
<p>It's certainly a risk. Harvin has a history of injuries, he had a below-average year for him in 2012, and he wants a new contract. In addition, Seattle may have been able to draft Tavon Austin (who has a similar skillset to Harvin) with that 1st-round pick they gave away.</p>
<p>But it's a power-shifting move if he's able to stay on the field.</p>

The Seattle Seahawks Go All In, Land Vikings Wide Receiver Percy Harvin In Blockbuster Trade

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/52852127eab8ea356e75e905-1200-900/dion-jordan-2.jpg" border="0" alt="dion jordan"><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div>When you have a pick in the top 10 of the NFL Draft, you hope that you're going to get a franchise-altering player. If not, you'll settle for a consistent, above-average starter.</p><p>A lot of teams didn't get either of those things at the top of the 2013 NFL Draft.</p><p>No. 3 pick Dion Jordan, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/dion-jordan-suspension-miami-dolphins-trade-disaster-2015-4">who was suspended for the entire 2015 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy on Tuesday</a>, is the most glaring example of a bust. But when you look at it, the 2013 Draft was pretty rough across the board.</p><p>No one picked in the top 10 has made a Pro Bowl and three of the 10 weren't starters in 2014. Here was the top 10:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>1. Eric Fisher, OL (Kansas City Chiefs)</strong> - Fisher has started consistently for the Chiefs but hasn't distinguished himself. ESPN's Mel Kiper <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/kansas-city-chiefs/post/_/id/5014/fisher-would-be-no-prize-in-this-years-draft">said last year</a> that Fisher wouldn't have gone in the top-eight of the 2014 Draft.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>2. Luke Joeckel, OL (Jacksonville Jaguars) -</strong> After missing almost all of his rookie year with an injury, Joeckel started all 16 games on a Jacksonville line that <a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ol">finished dead last in pass protection in 2014</a>.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>3. Dion Jordan, DE (Miami Dolphins) -</strong> Jordan barely got onto the field in his rookie year. He was suspended six games in 2014 and played only 20% of his team's snaps. Now he's out for all of 2015.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>4. Lane Johnson, OL (Philadelphia Eagles)</strong> - While he hasn't made a Pro Bowl, he has been a solid starter on an Eagles line that improved dramatically when Chip Kelly got there.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>5. Ziggy Ansah, DE (Detroit Lions)</strong> - He's probably the player on this list with the most potential. He has 15.5 sacks in his first two years and saw his playing time increase in 2014.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>6. Barkevious Mingo, LB (Cleveland Browns)</strong> - He's not the dominant edge rusher they thought he'd be, picking up just 2.0 sacks in 2014 in 11 starts. </p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>7. Jonathan Cooper, OL (Arizona Cardinals)</strong> - Only played 17.4% of his team's snaps in 2014 after missing his rookie year with a broken leg.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>8. Tavon Austin, WR (St. Louis Rams)</strong> - He hasn't been the electrifying playmaker many though he would be. He has started 11 games in two years, making just 31 catches in 2014.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>9. Dee Milliner, CB (New York Jets)</strong> - After a tumultuous rookie year Milliner was benched in 2014 and only played 11.4% of his team's snaps.</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>10. Chance Warmack, OL (Tennessee Titans) -</strong> He has started all 16 games both years.</p><p>So basically, best-case scenario you got an average NFL offensive lineman.</p><p>Going into the draft everyone knew that it'd be a bit of a crapshoot. There were no franchise-altering quarterbacks, dominant defensive linemen, or game-breaking skill players. A year before one of the best wide receiver drafts ever in 2014, only one WR was picked in the top 25 in 2013.</p><p>Teams that bet on a quarterback in 2013 all came up empty. Here were the first five quarterbacks selected:</p><ul><li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">E.J. Manuel (16th overall, 1st round, Bills)</span></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Geno Smith (39th overall, 2nd round, Jets)</span></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Mike Glennon (73rd overall, 3rd round, Bucs)</span></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Matt Barkley (98th overall, 4th round, Eagles)</span></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Ryan Nassib (110th overall, 4th round, Giants)</span></li></ul><p>Smith is the only nominal starter, and that might not be the case by August. For comparison, four quarterbacks were taken in the top-25 in 2012, and three of them are still starters (if you count RGIII as a starter).</p><p>2013 was the worst possible year to find a quarterback through the draft.</p><p>Grantland's Bill Barnwell and Robert Mays <a href="http://grantland.com/features/the-2013-nfl-redraft/">did a hypothetical re-draft of the 2013 Draft last October</a>. Sheldon Richardson was the clear No. 1 choice, but after that it got murky. Interestingly, the top three picks in real life - Fisher, Joeckel, and Jordan - didn't make the top-20 of the re-draft.</p><p>There simply wasn't a lot of high-end talent in that draft.</p><p>Based on Pro-Football-Reference's <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2013/draft.htm">"approximate value" stat</a> - an advanced stat that quantified a player's total contribution to his team - here are the 10 best players from the 2013 Draft through two seasons:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">1. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers (61th pick)</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">2. Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers (48th pick)</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">3. Kyle Long, Chicago Bears (20th pick)</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">4. Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys (31st pick)</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">5. David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers (109th pick)</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">6. D.J. Fluker, San Diego Chargers (11th pick)</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">7. Alec Ogletree, St. Louis Rams (30th pick)</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">8. Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals (37th pick)</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">9. Kennan Allen, San Diego Chargers (76th pick)</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">10. Eric Fisher, Kansas City Chiefs (1st pick)</p><p>It just goes to show how much luck is involved in the draft. One year, Andrew Luck might be there at No. 1. The next year, you might be looking at Eric Fisher and Dion Jordan.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-floyd-mayweather-spends-his-money-boxing-2015-4">Here's how Floyd Mayweather spends his millions</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="NiaGVpdDqdBR4NCmtjL5odLe14N1R4Hp" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'NiaGVpdDqdBR4NCmtjL5odLe14N1R4Hp',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

You Searched For "Tavon Austin" and got 6 results

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