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August 16, 2016 at 2:26 am #50923
znModeratorRams’ run defense must improve vs. Chiefs
Steve Dilbeck
http://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/30094/rams-run-defense-must-improve-vs-chiefs
IRVINE, Calif. — NFL head coaches generally don’t like to get too critical about their own team, particularly after one preseason game.
Still, the truth has a way of coming out, emerging through blunt assessments and candid comments.
Even though the Los Angeles Rams rallied to defeat the Cowboys 28-24 Saturday in their first preseason game of the summer, not too much went right for the Rams in the first half when the starters were out there.
Some things went particularly wrong, like the Cowboys’ ability to run on the Rams. In the first half, Dallas rushed 21 times for 105 yards. The defensive line is supposed be the team strength.
“We’re not ready to play run defense yet,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “We have some work to do there. That’s a work in progress.”
Led by tackle Aaron Donald, the Rams have a vaunted defensive front. But Dallas created openings, and the linebackers sometimes appeared hesitant. In a key move, Alec Ogletree is going from outside linebacker to middle linebacker.
“It’s one of those things that happens in the preseason,” Fisher said. “Our defense is defending our run (in camp). They get used to the formations, get used to the run concepts.
“Then all of a sudden you play someone else who’s going to do it a little different. Now you have to dwell on the actual individual techniques, the gap responsibilities the run fits. That will be an emphasis for us.”
Defensive end Matt Longacre said he was confident the Rams will improve.
“There were moments when it was really good, and moments when it wasn’t,” Longacre said. “It wasn’t great, but it was the first game. We’re going to get better.”
The Rams are scheduled to host coach Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs this Saturday. Last year the Chiefs finished sixth in the NFL in rushing despite not having one individual who ended in the top 30 rushing leaders.
“(It’s) a great challenge this week to work towards getting that fixed for the regular season, because Andy loves to run it,” Fisher said.
August 16, 2016 at 3:07 pm #50962znModeratorLast year the Chiefs defense was 7th in yards, 3rd in points, 9th against the pass, and 8th against the run.
The offense was 27th in yards, 29th in passing attempts, 30th in passing yards, and 6th in rushing yards.
They are what the Rams will be except the Rams version will be better.
Last week they played Seattle tough in a close game and lost by 1.
August 16, 2016 at 9:59 pm #50996znModeratoroff the net from six2stack
I was visiting my son in KC this am, so we decided to drive up to St. Joseph Mo. to watch Chiefs Training Camp. Specifically, during 7 on 7 drills Foles threw with above average velocity and was pretty darned accurate. He looked much better than rookie Kevin Hogan and 3rd year player Andy Murray.I did not see QB Tyler Bray out there today.
Alex Smith looked phenomenal during 7 on 7. I’ve been to many Training Camps over the years and I’ve never seen such laser accuracy. Travis Kelce had a nice receiving TD in the corner of the end zone on a fade pass. I was 15 feet away from him and I yelled out “nice catch”. He immediately said, “You can’t throw a pass better than that”. I don’t know if Smith was just “on fire” for the day, but he was great nonetheless. Maclin looked really good and Conley showed some skills too.
Another thing that stuck out to me is the Chiefs DB’s are physical and are all over the WR’s.
August 17, 2016 at 3:49 pm #51028znModeratorfrom Chiefs training camp report, Aug. 16: Nick Foles, Chris Conley shine
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/red-zone/article95961667.html#storylink=cpy
The offense
The Chiefs held a padded practice for two hours and 40 minutes. All highlights occurred in 11-on-11 play, unless otherwise noted.
▪ Another player who impressed was No. 2 quarterback Nick Foles, who has generally gotten better every day since his arrival in Kansas City two weeks ago. Foles threw some real beauties during the 11-on-11 red-zone period on Tuesday, including: a touchdown throw to Demarcus Robinson in the corner of the end zone; a touchdown throw to Rod Streater in the corner of the end zone; and a sidearm throw to James O’Shaughnessy in the end zone for a touchdown. Foles also threw touchdown passes to Streater, Ross Travis, Brian Parker and Tyreek Hill and another touchdown to Hill in 7-on-7.
August 17, 2016 at 8:57 pm #51041znModeratorChiefs vs Rams: what to watch for.. NFL Network
August 19, 2016 at 6:55 am #51097znModeratorRams defense has better things to worry about Saturday against Kansas City than former teammate Nick Foles
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-726311-foles-play.html
IRVINE – Not long ago, the Rams hoped Nick Foles would be the quarterback to lead them into preseason games such as the one they’ll play Saturday at the Coliseum. Now, Foles is the opponent.
Foles never made it to Southern California. Once the Rams’ presumptive quarterback of the future, Foles was benched last November and released last month, after the Rams made it clear they were ready to turn over things to Case Keenum and Jared Goff. Foles signed with Kansas City two weeks ago.
Foles is expected to be the second quarterback in the game, and perhaps play one full quarter, when the Chiefs play the Rams at the Coliseum on Saturday night.
“I don’t think it will be weird,” Rams safety T.J. McDonald said after Thursday’s practice at UC Irvine. “It’s just part of this league, part of this game. Sometimes guys go, and you wish them the best of luck, but we’re competitors when we get out there on the field.’’
The Rams, long in search of a franchise quarterback, thought they’d found the answer in March 2015 when they traded quarterback Sam Bradford a couple draft picks to Philadelphia for Foles, who then was 26 years old and only two years removed from a Pro Bowl appearance.
But like Bradford, Shaun Hill, Austin Davis, Kellen Clemens and others, Foles didn’t work out for the Rams. He began last season as the starter, lost the job to Keenum in November and finished the season with seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 56.4 completion percentage in 11 games.
After the Rams drafted Goff with the No. 1 overall pick in April, Foles did not attend the Rams’ optional summer workouts and he was released shortly before the start of training camp last month.
Not surprisingly, Foles didn’t remain unemployed long, as the Chiefs signed him to back up Alex Smith.
For McDonald and the Rams’ secondary, this game is less about Foles and more about bouncing back.
Even though the Rams beat Dallas last Saturday, the first-string defense didn’t perform particularly well. The Cowboys didn’t play starting quarterback Tony Romo, and rookie backup Dak Prescott started and completed 10 of 12 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns.
Now the Rams’ defense gets another chance, albeit against the traditionally run-heavy Chiefs.
“It’s exciting to take another step,” McDonald said, “and get some more action and get the bad taste out of our mouths from last week. It’s always a great opportunity to go on the field and gel as a defense.”
GAME UPDATE
Coach Jeff Fisher said Keenum will start at quarterback Saturday but indicated that Goff will get a couple series with the first-team offense, then play into the second half with the second-team offense.
Running back Todd Gurley, who did not play in last Saturday’s victory over Dallas, is scheduled to play against the Chiefs, but likely only a series or two, Fisher said.
Defensive end Robert Quinn, who traveled to Rio de Janeiro this week to watch his sister, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, compete in the Olympics, returned to practice Thursday but likely will not play Saturday.
Camacho-Quinn competed for Puerto Rico and had one of the top times in qualifying heats in the 100-meter hurdles, but on Wednesday, she tripped over a hurdle and did not reach the final. Quinn, his wife and his parents traveled to Brazil.
“It was her moment,’’ Quinn said. “I couldn’t have been more proud of her. I really wanted to see her in the finals, because I think she had a shot, but it was unfortunate.”
August 19, 2016 at 9:37 am #51112znModeratorAlex Smith knows emotions of playing against a former team
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Alex Smith was once benched, replaced as starting quarterback and eventually discarded by his former team, the San Francisco 49ers. He vividly recalls two years later the emotions he felt playing against the 49ers after he had joined the Kansas City Chiefs.
So Smith knows what backup quarterback Nick Foles will be going through Saturday night when the Chiefs play the Rams in Los Angeles. Foles was benched by the Rams last season as their starting quarterback and was released this summer. He signed with the Chiefs early this month.
“I’m sure he’ll be pumped up,” Smith said. “You want to go out and show those guys, for sure, all those guys. There will be a lot of emotions. The nice thing is it’s just a preseason game.”
The circumstances between Smith’s time with the 49ers and Foles’ with the Rams are different. Smith was the No. 1 overall pick by the 49ers in 2005 and he played eight seasons with San Francisco before being traded to Kansas City. Foles spent just one season with the Rams.
Smith eventually had to face his former team in 2014, his second season with the Chiefs. He was 16-of-30 for 158 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Chiefs’ 22-17 loss. The interception was costly because it happened late in the game and ended Kansas City’s hope for a comeback victory.
“You’re just fired up,” Smith said. “You have a lot of emotions. You certainly don’t have a problem getting up for the game. You’re excited to get into the flow of it. Any QB likes that, to get into the flow, get into the rhythm of the game, especially when it’s a game like that, when you probably are jacked up a little bit pregame, and all week. It’s good to kind of get sweating and get hit.”
Smith is scheduled to play the first half in Los Angeles, so Foles might not get into the game until the third quarter. He’ll have to wait to play, which could give his emotions a chance to ramp up.
In the meantime, Smith and the Chiefs’ other quarterbacks have been playfully teasing Foles, telling him the Rams will be coming after him when he finally gets into the game.
Eventually, Smith said, the game against the 49ers became like any other. The focus shifted toward winning.
Getting to that point can be difficult.
“It’s just human nature,” he said. “As much as you try to block it out and focus on the details, there will be a little bit of that. I’m sure he’ll be looking forward to getting into the flow of the game, to kind of get those first few plays under your belt and kind of lose yourself in the game and let that stuff get out of your head.”
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