Turf Show Times

Rams 13, Cardinals 21: The story in pictures

2009-11-23T15:26:21Z

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

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The picture above says it all, the St. Louis Rams missed a golden opportunity to build on the recent progress.

We have some great photos of the game this week, so click on the photo above to see the full gallery.

Rams 13, Cardinals 21: Trouble on the home front

2009-11-23T15:22:17Z

More photos » by Jeff Curry - AP

Marc Bulger ended the game injured.

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Just in case you thought the 2009 St. Louis Rams had disappeared somewhere between the win at Detroit and the oh-so-close game against New Orleans, fear not; the 2009 Rams are back. That's right, the struggling offense, the leaky defensive line...it was all there.

Ok, ok, that's a little harsh. The Rams tightened up after a sloppy first half, one in which they gained just 97 yards of offense. Give the Cardinals defense credit too. They bottled up Steven Jackson and kept the passing game in check.

Injuries

Jason Smith took a blow to the head. We'll know more later.
Marc Bulger has a hamstring and/or groin issue and will have testing done.

The Frustrating

Brandon Gibson's splash debut wasn't followed up well. He struggled with routes and dropped a BIG pass late in the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, the rookie did flash some hints of what got us so excited about him last week. I'd still caution you before anointing him the second coming of Isaac Bruce.
Bulger was not the forceful presence for four quarters like he was last week. He had his moments, but did he really show you anything that gives you confidence in him moving forward? He's not good enough to win games anymore.
Why do the coaches insist on trotting out Samkon Gado in short yardage situations? The play calling is still fishy. Why did Jackson not get the ball when the Rams were driving in the last five minutes of the game? It's baffling. How can anyone put this much faith in Marc Bulger and role player WRs? Maybe they wanted to try another 4th down fade to Avery. And why so few passes to Jackson? Why are they not lining up SJ39 at receiver more often?
Terrible officiating. Did they not remember that they could call pass interference? And how do you get unsportsmanlike for a hit after the pass when the lineman's back is to the QB?
Talent on the defensive line is so desperately needed. Are they so bad that they need to drop Leonard Little into coverage?
Oh, offensive line...after all the nice things we've said about you.
Justin King covering Larry Fitzgerald. Tough break kid. Still, the secondary could have done much worse.
With the exception of Steven Jackson, the Rams offense is terrible. What was the number? Averaging 9+ yards on third downs? Blame whoever you want, but it's a multi-faceted effort at failure. The WRs have some promise, but it's clear why they were not first round draft picks. The QB is too dependent on a guy to get in his route precisely, and he just doesn't have much left in the tank. That takes away from the most effective weapon, Jackson, because teams can focus on him, like AZ did today.

The Better

Steven Jackson is amazing. It looked like rough going for the big man, but he still managed to get 116 yards and 4.8 per carry. The offensive line didn't help much in the first half, and he had trouble getting it going. Once he hit his stride, there was no looking back...until the coaches stopped feeding him the ball. Jackson now has five 1,000 yard seasons and four consecutive games of 100 yards or more rushing.
James Laurinaitis, though the Cardinals tried and succeeded at isolating him a few a times, he still had a nice game, as the defense stepped up against the Cardinals run in the second half.
Chris Long got another sack, and generall played better lately. I think that if the Rams add some talent on the defensive line, we won't be talking about whether or not he's a bust.
The comeback. Rams Gab said it best that the score should not have been this close with the Rams playing as bad as they were. But it was that close. The defense got Warner out of the game and pulled together to stop the bleeding they were taking from the Cardinals' running game. They also forced the turnovers that would have given a team with a semi-competent offense the chance to put it away. Credit the coaches. Whatever they're selling has sunk in on that side of the ball. If this team had a halfway decent d-line, they'd be stealing games.

Random Ramsdom: Nov. 23rd, 2009

2009-11-23T08:36:25Z

Bernie Miklasz thinks the Rams offense is in the stone age. It's one thing to talk about the Rams needing a passing attack, but it doesn't quite work when you compare Kurt Warner and his wide receivers to Marc Bulger and the STL receivers.
Bill Coats has his grades for the AZ game. He had no problems with Shurmur's playcalling. While I think it has gotten better, the ridiculous shovel pass was a perfect example of his...wackiness.
Remember those questionable penalties? Well, the ~~perfect, infallible~~ NFL referees have their side of the story.
Will at Ramsherd asks, "To go? Or not to go?" That is the question.
Wondering why Bulger was looking loopy during the last possession? It's probably due to a concussion. Thanks to Jeff at Ramsgab for forwarding the profootballtalk.com link.

Enjoy your overreaction Monday.

Grading the Rams: Week 11 vs. Arizona

2009-11-23T01:33:59Z

More photos » by Jeff Curry - AP

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I'm going to leave these on the front to make sure any dissidents see them. Let's jump right in...

QB: C-

- You can fault the Oline for not giving him the space to work. You could fault the quality of the receivers for not getting open. And you can fault the inexperience of Gibson and Avery for a lack of timing or "clutch" in the red zone series near the end of the game. Still, Bulger threw inaccurate passes when they were most unacceptable, and he certainly didn't put the team on his back for a last gasp drive.

HB: A-?

-This was the most unpronounced 116 yd, 1 TD game by Steven Jackson I've ever seen. Maybe that makes it the most impressive. Outside of bouncing a run up the sidelines for 48 yards, Jackson pounded the ball for 3 yards into the heart of the Cards' D all day. You can fault the playcalling and the Oline, but you can't fault Jackson. He's incredible.

WR/TE: B-

- The combination of Avery and Gibson produced just behind what Fitzgerald and Boldin did. That deserved a hand given the protection Warner and Leinart were given. Still, they each had a shot at a TD reception that would have opened the door for a game-tying 2-point conversion, and they both failed. On one hand, it's great to see them producing something at the WR position; on the other, it's tough to see them drop the ball, literally and metaphorically. I for one am anxious to see Laurent Robinson on the field with these two. The tight ends were nonexistent - decent blocking that made no effect on the running game, and two catches for 19 yards by McMichael.

O-line: D+

- It would be too easy to credit them for stepping up the game late; this unit suffered for three quarters, and, more blatantly, were absolutely dominated in the first half. This was a serious setback for a line that had been improving for weeks.

D-line: D-

- Ignore Chris Long's sack and the shared sack between James Hall and Leonard Little; this group was embarrassed by Arizona's Oline for much of the game. Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells combined for 184 yards on 28 carries at a 6.57 yard per carry clip. IMO, more than a QB, this team needs DT and DE help to be a contender. Without it, you're asking the secondary to do too much.

LB: B-

- They made tackles. Laurinaitis finished with a team-high 16 (ridiculous), Vobora chipped in 6 and Grant added 3. They covered relatively well given the quality of the passing offense they were facing. The problem was on the D-line - you can't expect LBs to hold coverage for as long as the Dline was giving Warner and Leinart.

DB: A-

- Be surprised, but you can't argue how well the Rams limited the Fitzgerald-Boldin combo given how much time Arizona's QBs had. The secondary stepped up big time in the second half, especially in the 4th quarter. I'm starting to worry if I can keep my optimism in check if we add a slew of defenders to this team in the offseason.

ST: A

- Amendola has earned return duties in 2010, hands down. He's got the vision to do so. Josh Brown is aging, but since the opening game against Seattle, he hasn't been a problem. Donnie Jones is a Pro Bowler.

Holler at me.

Rams vs Cardinals, week 11 game thread

2009-11-22T20:30:13Z

Kurt Warner is 25-4 at the Ed Jones Dome. The Rams are 0-5 at the Dome this season. We need a home win, and wouldn't this be the perfect way to get it?

St. Louis Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week 11, Nov. 22, 2009

Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO

Go Rams!!!

Rams vs Cardinals: Gameday notes & injury report

2009-11-22T15:23:26Z

by Dave Weaver - AP

Can this man single-handedly stop Texas...and just how would he look with Golden Horns on his helmet?

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Don't count on injuries to give the St. Louis Rams a break today. The visiting Arizona Cardinals won't likely be sitting many player when they take drop into the Ed Jones Dome today.

RIght now, it looks like the only player out for Arizona is LB Chike Okeafor. The questionable list includes: CB Michael Adams (hamstring), LB Karlos Dansby (shoulder), T Mike Gandy (pelvis), LB Gerald Hayes (back), CB Bryant McFadden (ankle), WR Sean Morey (head), TE Ben Patrick (knee).

The Rams will be without DE Victor Adeyanju and OG Richie Incognito. As we've mentioned, the Adeyanju injury leaves them thin at defensive line. DE Chris Long is the only player listed as questionable, and Spagnuolo made it sound as though that would be a game time decision.

Continuing on the o-line theme form 3k's post yesterday, the PD has a look at the unit. No surprises there. This is a really strong group for the Rams now, with the potential to get better. One thing that's really helped the Rams this year is the depth. Adam Goldberg has started all but one game this season.

The Cardinals are kind of sneaky good again this season, winning five of their last six with the league's fifth best passing offense. It'll be a big day for our secondary.

Stray thoughts on college football

I watched the Mississippi State at Arkansas game yesterday, and three players really stood out. The obvious is Ryan Mallett. He's an accurate and strong QB, smart too, but needs to develop his ability to find other receivers when his guys are covered up too tightly. Surely, he stays in another season. Arkansas WR Cobi Hamilton, a freshman, is one helluva receiver. I was really impressed with Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon. He reminded me of Steven Jackson, similar moves and style. There's probably a reason for that: Sylvester Croom, the former Bulldogs head coach who was hired as the Rams running backs coach this season. Croom isn't getting enough credit for Jackson's big season, but he should be.

Les Miles, seriously?

Ndamukong Suh will get a national stage when Nebraska is sacrificed to Texas in the Big 12 championship game. I still think it could be a pretty interesting game, and I look forward to watching what he can do against one of college football's elite teams.

Michigan got beat by guys in sweatpants...Rodriguez has to go now.

The PBP: offensive line basics, and the education of Jason Smith (pt. 1)

2009-11-21T18:50:30Z

Alright, boys. Here's how it works. I wear the hat. That makes me the coach. You all have perfectly styled hair according to the standards of the day. That makes you football players. Oh, don't look so sad, Jimmy! If you listen and work hard, one day you might get a hat of your own.

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It's back to the projector, TSTers. Today, we're going to look at the offensive line, some run blocking basics, Jason Smith and what makes Pro Bowlers different than albino bowlers. Not that I have anything against albino bowlers, but I don't see why they should have their own action figure and the great OTs in the history of the NFL don't. Just saying. Oh, and Sandra Bullock.

I smell... I smell a projector. A playbook projector! KA-BOOM!

So today all begins with Sandra. Dear, Sandra...

Sandra Bullock (you're welcome)

In case you don't watch television, or read, well, anything, she's playing the lead in the new movie The Blind Side, which I have no intention of seeing probably ever. On the other hand, the book, by Michael Lewis, is a great read. Not as good IMO as Moneyball and certainly less influential, but a good read nonetheless.

The Blind Side (the important version)

The book is essentially a human story (which you of course know is the compelling and sympathy-yanking tale of Michael Oher's rise to the upper echelons of college football prospect-ery) laid on top of his analysis of the evolution of the left tackle position and its' importance at the NFL level. Here's the quick rundown:

With the advent of the forward pass, the value of the quarterback skyrocketed, especially once Bill Walsh introduced his genius to his opponents. The real risk, as evidenced by Lawrence Taylor, was that right-handed quarterbacks were very susceptible to injuries, especially career-truncating ones, if a talented pass rusher could escape the left tackle and attack a quarterback from behind, i.e. "the blind side." The amount of money being poured into quarterbacks motivated franchises to protect their investments by getting the best pass-blocking left tackles money could buy. Consider this. From 1967-1985 (the last draft before Lawrence Taylor ended Joe Theismann's career), an average of 2.68 offensive tackles were taken in the first round. AT (that's after Theismann), 3.6. On to modern times.

In the first two rounds of the 2009 draft, eight tackles were selected, with the first being Jason Smith. Of course, in drafting him, we knew were getting a bit of a project; however, that term didn't necessarily apply to his pass protection. His athleticism lent itself very naturally to pass protection in being able to slide as well as anyone at the college level. It's something he's shown a proficiency for at the NFL level. What was a concern was his run blocking. Compared to Andre Smith, considered the best run blocker in the draft, Jason Smith was about 25 lbs. lighter. With Alex Barron still holding down the LT spot, Smith's run blocking skills (or lack thereof at times) have been on full display. As Van noted recently, he (and by extension the Rams) have gotten much better as of late. Let's look at what run blocking involves and how well Jason Smith has done.

Run Blocking 101 ("I'm kind of a big deal")

Bear in mind the terms of these blocks aren't universally set, so what one person calls a double or triple-team block, others call a "wedge" block.

The Drive Block

When you think of the most basic block, you're probably thinking of the drive block. The technique is relatively simple - get under your opponent, and "drive" him back. This block is the source of the verb "to decleat" which is when you lift someone off the ground, thus removing their cleats from the turf.

The Shoulder Block

Essentially, you have three areas you can block a rusher: through the shoulder pads, through the waist, and through the thigh. Going from head to toe, or in this case chest to thigh, this is the second progression. This term is the most oft repeated one I heard in high school levels in Texas, though it's confusing. A lineman can drive block with his shoulder and he can "shoulder" block with his hands. Still, the idea is to attacks the torso of the defender to gain leverage, driving him upwards and backwards as opposed to the drive block where you attack him at the shoulder level.

The Cut Block

The most controversial of the three, the cut block is designed for the offensive lineman to put his helmet or shoulder pad through the defender's thigh. I say again - the thigh. Not the knee. When you see quarterbacks delivering "dirty" hits (say Brett Favre in the preseason, Mark Sanchez in week _ or Brady Quinn against the Ravens), announcers often times categorize it as a cut block. Even offensive linemen are afforded that leeway when it's not warranted, giving the cut block a stigma it doesn't deserve. Cut blocks are often the blocks of choice in zone blocking, but we're comparing blocking styles to schemes, so lets look at that latter category.

BLOCKING SCHEMES

The Cross Block

In a cross block, a pair of linemen essentially swap positions. The more outside lineman will cross in front first while the inside lineman slides behind:

The Fold Block

A fold block is similar to a cross block, except that it is specifically designed to release a blocker against a LB. In a fold block, the lineman blocking the defensive lineman, or "down" defensive man, will engage first while the lineman assigned to "fold" will step behind his teammate and then press forward to engage the LB:

The Scoop Block

A scoop block creates a seal on a LB by allowing the lineman closest to the down lineman to initiate contact until the second O-lineman can engage. Then, the initial lineman peels off to drive block the LB:

The Trap Block

The trap involves a couple more players. In short, the scheme pulls a lineman away from the playside (the side where the ball carrier is expected to go) to "trap" an incoming pass rusher:

Obviously, in altering any of these slightly or combing them, you get some pretty complex blocking schemes. That's what offensive coordinators and offensive line coaches get paid for. In the end, though, it's up to the players to execute...and get paid even more. In the second part of this series, we'll look at how well Jason Smith has done in applying some of these in his rookie NFL season. Here's a preview:

The Application (turning potential into protection)

Week 2 @ Washington

1st & 10 at STL 40 - 12:57, 1st Q

After Bulger hits Laurent Robinson for quick first down (sigh), the Rams set up in the shotgun for a running play to the right side. Here's how it looks presnap:

The golden arrow is pointed at Jason Smith; the maroon arrow highlights veteran DE Philip Daniels who Smith has to block. Incognito is going to double with Jason Brown to move DT Cornelius Griffin out of the way. If Smith can deal with Daniels, Steven Jackson is going to have some room. Notice I said if, because this doesn't go well:

Smith's initial move is backwards, and I don't know why. He's isolated on Daniels, so he should have engaged him. Once he makes his initial step, it gives Daniels all the room he needs. At this point, the play is pretty much a done deal:

You'll only see one arrow - that's Jason Smith trying to push Daniels somewhere, anywhere but where he is. He's already disrupted the play, and Jackson has had the ball for a step and a half:

Everyone gets piled up in the middle as the play results in a Smith-Daniels-Jackson sandwich. A loss of 1.5, and a horrible way for Smith to get his day started in the run blocking game.

Don't worry - it gets better. Much better. See you guys next time, and don't be late to class!

Random Ramsdom 11/21: Catching up on Saturday's Rams news

2009-11-21T13:04:50Z

Happy Saturday everyone. It's the second to last week of the college football regular season, so that means you've got work to do scouting the the future of the St. Louis Rams. Don't forget to download 3k's college watch list.

In the meantime, we've got some newsy links to get to, for your Saturday edition of Random Ramsdom.

Little facing old friend this week - Leonard Little is not going to let his friendship with Kurt Warner get in the way of a good sack.

Reconsidering Marc Bulger - Sando wonders if Bulger wouldn't be useful for the Rams to keep around in 2010 if the QB can play well down the stretch, allowing the Rams to use their first round pick on someone besides a QB. I suspect this is an argument we'll be hearing until next April.

Victor Adeyanju back in the fold - An important role player in recent seasons, Adeyanju will get plenty of reps this week with a banged up D-line.

Gibson a starter? - Without actually confirming it, Spagnuolo made it look as though WR Brandon Gibson will start this week. Who else do the Rams have at this point?

Rams C Jason Brown chatted with fans yesterday - See what the big man had to say.

Jackson's on a blistering pace; Chris Long is questionable - No surprise on Jackson. If Chris Long is out or limited this week, the Rams could really have some trouble on the D-line. If any of the others get injured, it'll be a tough afternoon.

Rams buy remaining tickets, avoid blackout - Not a bad move. Remember, the Rams TB ratings have improved steadily this season, with the Detroit and New Orleans games getting some good numbers. If they can play well this week, it'll go along way toward goosing their ratings for the season and building the fan base. Having Kurt Warner in town never hurts either.

St. Louis Rams fantasy report, week 11, Rams vs. Arizona

2009-11-20T16:20:49Z

by Michael Conroy - AP

Can Donnie Avery give fantasy owners something to dance about?

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One win and a near upset of the undefeated New Orleans Saints and all of the sudden the St. Louis Rams aren't so easy for fantasy players to ignore. The team still lacks reliable, every week fantasy players outside of RB Steven Jackson. At this point, guys like Donnie Avery, Brandon Gibson and Daniel Fells offer respectable, sneaky bye week options. This week's game against the Arizona Cardinals will go a long way toward answering whether or not those players could move beyond bye week fill-ins to guys worthy of keeping on your roster. The first question we need to ask is whether or not we are seeing real progress from the Rams offense? Three things indicate that the answer is yes.

The offensive line is playing well. Signing C Jason Brown and drafting Jason Smith represented a major investment for the team and provided the basis for the rebuilding project as Spagnuolo builds from the foundation up. Smith is anchoring the right side of the line, overcoming any preseason questions about his adjustment to the three-point stance. The Rams favor the middle and right side for their running game, and Jackson continues to rack up more and more yards thanks to the entire offensive line functioning well as a unit.
Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is finally opening the play book. Besides a stellar job in run blocking, the OL is giving Marc Bulger time in the pocket, and the passing game is now throwing the ball downfield to Donnie Avery, forcing defenses to respect his speed and ability to get behind safeties.
The WR situation may be resolved. Maybe. Last week, Bradon Gibson, acquired from Philly in the Will Witherspoon trade, made a real impression, pressed into service for the injured Keenan Burton. One week wonder or not? It's hard to say, but against the Saints Gibson showed great hands and the athleticism to get yards after the catch, exactly what the Rams have been missing from the wide receivers this season. If he's the real deal, the Rams might have an effective enough passing game to score some points.

Obviously, Steven Jackson is a must start this week or any week. The Cardinals gave up 123 yards to Justin Forsett against the Seahawks last week. In week 8, DeAngelo Williams picked up 158 yards.

Donnie Avery looks like a good player to start this week too. The Cardinals allow 253.4 yards passing on average, and have allowed the fourth most, 32, passing plays of 20 yards or more.

Brandon Gibson is a risky start because he's still relatively unknown. If he has another good week, definitely grab him off the waiver wire.

Ah You serious? Rams lose another for the season

2009-11-20T12:33:52Z

More photos » by Ted S. Warren - AP

C.J. Ah You becomes the latest Ram to hit the IR list

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The St. Louis Rams will send their ninth player this season to the injured reserve list. This time it's defensive end C. J. Ah You.

Ah You surprised everyone this year, earning a roster spot and fitting into a nice job as a role player. Spags used him inside on those 4 DE packages. He had some surprise moments you'll recall. He was a Spagnuolo favorite...or so it seemed.

It's a tough break for the Rams.

Fun with numbers: Rams offensive line

2009-11-19T21:50:39Z

by Jeff Roberson - AP

St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Jason Smith is making his presence known.

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Offensive line stats are a strange animal, but leave it to the guys at Football Outsiders to measure the grunts up front who make it happen. As anyone following the St. Louis Rams knows, head coach Steve Spagnuolo and GM Billy Devaney have made the rebuilding the offensive line a top priority, investing lots of money to get younger and tougher up front. How's the investment paying off so far?

Well, early in the season there were times when the line looked like the same old unit that caused so much consternation in seasons prior. It was a little rough at first, as players learned the system and how to function as a unit. The pass protection has been mostly solid all year long, with a few exceptions here and there. But over the last few games, the offensive line has looked like a much better, more cohesive unit, getting the best of both the Lions and the Saints defensive fronts. Let's look at some numbers.

(a quick note, FO uses the Adjusted Line Yards (ALY) measurement, which account for the OL's role in terms of yards gained on rushing plays, i.e. they take the running back out of the equation. Here's the full definition for ALY.)

First of all the total ALY for the Rams this year, through nine games is 4.08 ALY, good enough for 17th best in the league. Last season, that number was 3.73 ALY, and in 2007 it was 3.72 ALY. Both numbers from the past two seasons ranked 28th in the league.

The directional numbers are the most interesting, showing big jumps over the last two games.

Check it out, through week 10:

Left End, 4.61 ALY, 11th
Left Tackle, 6.28 ALY, 1st
Mid/Guard, 3.91 ALY, 23rd
Right Tackle, 4.71 ALY, 5th
Right End, 2.05 ALY, 30th

In two games, their ALY at Right Tackle have gone from 3.97 ALY to 4.71 ALY. Wow. That's a huge jump, and Jason Smith gets lots of credit for that. They've improved at Mid/Guard too, up from 3.74 ALY. I don't worry about the middle as much, since that's where the Rams 51% of the rushes, and teams are cramming the box to hold back Steven Jackson.

Progress.

Rams guard Richie Incognito and Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett rank first and fifth,...

2009-11-19T20:54:53Z

Rams guard Richie Incognito and Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett rank first and fifth, respectively, among the dirtiest players in a Sporting News poll of 99 peers.

Bad boys. Incognito will be out this week when the Rams take on the Cardinals at the Ed Jones Dome.

Jackson running into the record books

2009-11-19T12:00:14Z

by Jeff Roberson - AP

Steven Jackson is running his way into the Rams' record books.

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St. Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson was his usual dominant self in the team's near upset of the undefeated New Orleans Saints last week, rushing for 131 yards on 26 carries and scoring his second touchdown in two weeks. It was Jackson's third 100+ yard performance in a row and fifth of the season, giving him 915 yards rushing on the season, third best in the NFL.

He also ran his way into the history books, passing Lawrence McCutcheon for third on the Rams all-time leaders in rushing yards. To date, SJ39 has a 6,206 rushing yards for his career, spent entirely with the Rams. He trails legends Marshall Faulk who 6,959 yards rushing and Eric Dickerson with 7,245 yards rushing.

Jackson needs just 753 more yards to pass Faulk and 1,039 to pass Dickerson. Can he pass those Rams icons this season and engrave his name into the team's history?

Right now, Jackson is averaging 101.7 yards rushing per game. At that pace, he'll pick up another 711 through the Rams' last seven games. Of course, the schedule will have something to say about that. Below is a chart with the Rams next seven opponents and their average yards rushing allowed per game (note: The Rams have two more games against Arizona, so I've only included them once in this list).

Team	Avg Rush YPG
ARI	101
SEA	105
CHI	118.4
TEN	109.3
HOU	108.7
SF	87.7

That's not the best predictor for Jackson's chances in the weeks ahead, but give you some idea of the kind of rushing defenses he'll face. At his current pace, Jackson will finish the season with 1,626 rushing yards, his best total ever. That will leave him just 42 yards short of Faulk's total with the Rams. However, if the line continues its strong play and the team stays inspired from their recent run an extra 42 yards might be well within reach.

Sometime early next season, Jackson should be the Rams all-time leader in rushing yards.

Random Ramsdom: Nov 19th, 2009

2009-11-19T07:20:39Z

I don't know about any of you, but I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for this Sunday to come up. I can't wait to see if the Rams can continue the success we've seen through the last month (it's almost been that long since Detroit!?) and hopefully come out with a win against a good team. Going right into the buffet today, we have:

Jim Thomas takes a look at the chimera approaching that is Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston. The Rams might not be able to sit back in the blitzing department this week, as dropping into coverage against these guys isn't going to be easy. Arizona has a tall, fast and physical passing game and it is going to take some creativity (gulp) to try and stop these guys.
Mike over at Ramsgab has his Ram View series about the Saints game. The link is to part five, where he breaks down some of the defensive line play. This week, the view isn't from the couch, as he was at the game. How will the Rams defensive line play against Arizona? Hopefully we can contain Beanie Wells.
The one and only Mike Sando takes a look at our emerging powerhouse offense. Ok, maybe that's going to far, but one can't hope to be optimistic. A number to remember? 796. That is the total amount of yards the offense has gained. In the last two games.
Andrew from Revenge of the Birds is here to answer any questions you may have about the Cardinals game this Sunday. I'd say he thinks the Cardinals need to have a better gameplan then not party too much the night before (rub it in, rub it in).
In case you missed it, here is the link to an excellent edition of Turf Show Radio. VanRam and his PIC 3k take a look at college football, the draft, plato, forehead tattoo's and more. I'd have to agree, we are definitely a good bad team. I wouldn't mind a flip of the two by the end of the season but that may be too wishful of thinking.

Enjoy your Thursday and GO RAMS

Turf Show Radio, tonight, 7 p.m. Central

2009-11-18T21:59:55Z

Trolling for some Wednesday evening fun? Nobody to talk pigskin with after a long day at work? Man, have we got a deal for you. Get your St. Louis Rams and football fix tonight on Turf Show Radio, happening live at 7 p.m. Central. Listen and call in at this link.

Can't make it? Use this thread to post comments and questions for 3k and I to answer on the show.

(Note from 3k: In case you don't take notes while you're listening, and you know you damn well should, here's my watch list for Saturday's college football action. Also, if you're listening live, you can catch Dan LeFevour (QB, Cent. Michigan) right now over on ESPN2.)

Random Ramsdom 11/18

2009-11-18T18:05:30Z

Some quick hits for the rest of the afternoon:

Jim Thomas gives us a little background on Brandon Gibson.
A little more on the newest Ram WR, Jordan Kent.
Mike Sando counts Adam Goldberg and Brandon Gibson among his Super Subs for the NFC West.
The Rams are +7 at home against the Cardinals this week. Even though the wins aren't there yet, it seems Vegas is respecting the Rams more and more each week. Earlier in the season this line would have been much higher.
Jim Thomas on the tough schedule for the Rams in the past few weeks. And, of course, Kurt Warner is coming back to town.

GO RAMS

The Bills have signed ex-Ram TE Joe Klopfenstein

2009-11-18T16:35:24Z

The Bills have signed ex-Ram TE Joe Klopfenstein

Yikes. Just a quick note for thought: DE Aaron Maybin, the Bills top draft pick in the '09 draft has 6 tackles through 9 games. Detroit TE Brandon Pettigrew, who I consisently mocked to Buffalo, has 23 receptions for 262 yards so far. Yikes.

Fun with numbers: Marc Bulger, week 10

2009-11-18T15:44:46Z

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

Geez, what do you guys want from me!?!?

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Poor Marc Bulger. The embattled St. Louis Rams starting quarterback muscled through his best game of the year last week, nearly upsetting the undefeated New Orleans Saints. For some, that just wasn't enough.

Football Outsiders runs down the week's individual performances in their "Quick Reads" column, and for once Bulger's numbers stood out as above average. His total DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement) was 124 yards, meaning he waas worth 124 more yards than a scrub off the bench. That was good enough for 7th best for week 10. His Pass DYAR was 120 yards, and his rush DYAR was 5 yards. That wasn't good enough for FO, who said:

If this was the best Marc Bulger had left, well, it's good, but not good enough. His conversion on fourth down to Brandon Gibson to extend the game with 1:21 left nearly ended it; he saw an open receiver and promptly hit him in the shoelaces. Converting four of the 12 third downs he faced wasn't particularly impressive, especially considering the good situations he was being placed in by the effective running of Steven Jackson -- on those third downs, he had an average of 7.2 yards to go. That leaves a fair amount of makable ones that weren't, especially considering that one of the plays he converted was his 29-yard touchdown pass to Donnie Avery on third-and-15.

Ouch. I can't pin the loss on Bulger, but I can't excuse him totall either. A game that close could have been decided by any one play, and ugly dropped balls from McMichael and Amendola get make great targets to point you inger at too. However, it is clear that Bulger's skill set is fading, reflected in diminished accuracy and some questionable decision making, i.e. the mid-field check downs on the two minute drill. Yes, I wonder what he might have been able to do with just another better-than-competent WR to throw to. More and more it looks like his best course for the future is a backup on a well-stocked team.

Meet Jordan Kent, the Rams newest wide receiver

2009-11-18T13:02:55Z

The St. Louis Rams made Jordan Kent the latest receiver to cycle through the roster yesterday. He's a big guy at 6'4" and hasn't played football since last season.

The Seahawks released him before the start of this season because of an ankle injury. Tampa Bay and Cleveland were also interested in Kent, but the Rams made the call yesterday. He'll join the team for practice today as part of the 53-man roster, nabbing that coveted 5th receiver spot...which should come with some sort of voodoo insurance policy since being a Rams receiver is now considered a high risk job.

Interesting tidbit about Kent: he's a former high school classmate of Rams LB David Vobora. Kent didn't play football in HS though.

Here's ESPN's Mike Sando:

The Seahawks spent two seasons working with Kent, a former record-setting track athlete at Oregon who needed considerable polish as a receiver.

Here's the scouting report from SBNation:

A supreme athlete with long frame. Former track star and basketball player who brings elite speed and leaping ability to the field.

A late bloomer. Still very raw in terms of technique. Doesn't have a lot of experience producing big numbers at any level.

That kind of makes him sounds like a real diamond in the rough. We'll see about that. The great thing about a team like the Rams this season is that it's a great place for guys to buff out the rough and let the diamond show through. And, yes, a 5th wide receiver merits more than one post for the Rams. Will he see any playing time? Eventually, but remember Spagnuolo seems strangely committed to keeping just 4 receivers active on Sundays.

Don't forget to tune into Turf Show Radio tonight at 7 p.m. Central, it'll be titillating.

Disheartened or Dangerous?

2009-11-18T00:02:12Z

More photos » by Tom Gannam - AP

Will Atogwe go another 8 games without a turnover?

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It's been a long time coming, but two days ago this Rams teams finally started to play with a ferocity, finally started to lay it all on the line. The team that has all to often given up by the fourth quarter, by the half, finally found some swagger. Marc Bulger wasn't sliding a yard short for first downs, Donnie Avery had more touchdowns then fumbles, ~~Alex Barron didn't almost cost us the game~~. All was good. But how long will this nothing-to-lose strategy apply for?

Sure, the team is 1-8. They really don't have that much too lose in the way of...well, anything this year. But mentally, having come so close to defeating the Saints, it must have been quite deflating to see the scoreboard after the game. To know it was in your grasp, yet have it slip through. It was definitely a tough loss for the team to go through.

These next few weeks are going to be crucial for the development of this team, for them to trust in Coach Spagnuolo. It's one thing to point at glaring deficiencies and huge mistakes that cost the team a chance at competing. It's one thing to see all the problems that went on during a game and see the score be a blowout. "Same old Rams," you could say. But this team gave it their all against the Saints and narrowly came up short. The Rams next few opponents aren't nearly as complete of a team as the Saints, which means that the Rams easily have a chance to win (if they can almost beat the Saints, they can almost beat anybody, in my opinion). Granted, there were areas to improve upon, but that game has to have been the high point so far in the season.

Spagnuolo has this team competing, their is no doubt about that. But after the win against the Lions, everyone said the team needed the win. Going 0-8 into the bye, people thought the team would've crumbled. That same chance of crumbling away has reared it's ugly head again. Can the team pick itself back up after the disheartening loss? Can they keep up the swagger? Or will they crumble apart? Was this merely a flash in the pan or will Bulger return to 2006 form? (Do you even want him to, or are you done with him at this point?)

Everyone is about to see what this coaching staff and team is made of. The team believes in Spagnuolo, sure, but their morale at 1-8 surely isn't, "sitting on the top of the world." If Spagnuolo can guide this team out of the darkness right now, then the future looks extremely bright.

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