Wagoner & others: what comes next? Setting up the Bux game

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September 10, 2014 at 11:33 am #6838

RamBill
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Rams look to turn page against Bucs
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11516/rams-look-to-turn-page-against-bucs

EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher’s 24-hour rule has long since expired in the aftermath of his team’s 34-6 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Win or lose, Fisher is like many coaches around the league asking his team to limit stewing from a loss or celebrating a win to the 24 hours immediately after the game. When that window closes, Fisher wants all focus to turn to the next opponent. In this week’s case, those 24 hours probably couldn’t have gone by fast enough.

The time has passed now and the Rams must now turn their attention to Week 2 opponent Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s a shift in focus that actually began after the game. Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold offered a passionate response when asked about how the Rams turn it around.

“This is the exact opposite of our expectations, period, point blank,” Saffold said. “We’re disappointed in our play. We’re going to try to turn the page and we’re going to try to bring it out next week. I know that sounds political but I know when I say something like that, I’m not playing. These guys put in way too much work for this to end up like this. This team is way too good. I feel sorry for everybody in this room. I know next week, it’s going to be a bloodbath because I know nobody is going to want this s— to happen again. Period.”

In the Buccaneers, the Rams won’t catch any easy breaks, especially on the road. Both teams are coming off disappointing performances in their season openers and both are well aware of the implications of what an 0-2 start could mean for the rest of the season. Since the NFL went to the 12-team playoff format in 1990, only about 12 percent of teams starting the season with consecutive losses have gone on to make the playoffs.

Of course, thinking that far ahead should be the furthest thing from any Rams’ minds. After the loss to the Vikings, Fisher told his players that one loss, especially in the first week and no matter how bad it was, does not define who they are. But it certainly put the Rams on notice that repeats of that performance are unacceptable.

“It definitely won’t define us like coach said, but I think it’s a wake call to a lot of guys,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “If anything it should humble us and put us back to work. Go back and are you doing everything in practice, are you doing everything in the film room, are you preparing the best you can?”

The Bucs, meanwhile, are coming off a 20-14 home loss to a Carolina team starting a backup quarterback. One way or another, they’ll face a similar scenario this week with the Rams. St. Louis has beaten Tampa Bay in each of the past two seasons, including a win in Tampa Bay in 2012.

One game does not a season make but if the next verse is anything like the first, it could turn into something much worse.

September 10, 2014 at 11:33 am #6818
PA Ram
Participant
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11505/rams-d-should-expect-short-passing-game

Rams D will face short passing game
September, 10, 2014
SEP 10
11:00
AM ET
By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com
21COMMENTS1EMAILPRINT
EARTH CITY, Mo. — In search of ways to negate the St. Louis Rams’ talented pass rush in the season opener, the Minnesota Vikings offered a basic yet effective game plan.

The idea was simple: ends Robert Quinn and Chris Long and defensive tackles Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers can’t sack the quarterback if he doesn’t have the ball. So Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel rarely took anything more than a three-step drop as he got the ball out quickly and efficiently all day long.

Matt Cassel got rid of the ball on three-step drops, neutralizing the Rams’ powerful pass rush.
By the time the day was done, Cassel had dropped back to pass 26 times with 25 pass attempts. Of those 25 pass attempts, only three traveled 10 yards or further in the air, with the only completion going to receiver Greg Jennings for 18 yards. That means Cassel was 16-of-22 on throws of less than 10 yards for 152 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Of all 32 starting quarterbacks in week 1, Cassel averaged the fewest yards in the air per attempt, with each throw traveling just 4.36 yards in the air. It wasn’t overly exciting, but it sure was effective.

“When you have a great pass rusher like we have with Robert on the edge, you are going to get stuff like that, so we have to be prepared for stuff like that all season,” Brockers said.

Indeed, there’s little reason to think that any team would willingly put its quarterback in harm’s way. Along the way, the Rams certainly figure to play some teams with better lines, better quarterbacks and better receivers available to push the ball down the field. But in most cases, the Vikings offered a strong blueprint on how to run the ball and mix in the short passing game to have success against Gregg Williams’ defense.

With Cassel getting the ball out so quickly, ESPN Stats & Information had the Rams down for just three disruptions on Cassel’s 26 drop backs, with the lone sack coming from a missed snap exchange. Likewise, Cassel’s average pass was coming out in just 2.24 seconds, fourth fastest in the league in week 1.

“We knew going in that we were going to be challenged with their rush, so I think that we were trying to slow that rush down throughout the course of the first half,” Cassel said. “Obviously, we had our hiccups as an offensive unit, but all in all we made some big plays. We took advantage of some situations and like I said, any time the defense plays the way that they do, it usually goes pretty well for us altogether.”

For the Rams to rev the pass rush, they’ll have to be more aggressive in coverage near the line of scrimmage and more aware of screens and quick dumpoffs as the weeks roll on. Teams around the NFL love to play copycat when something works, so until the Rams prove they can stop the short passing game, it’s safe to assume other teams will continue to try it.
- This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by PA Ram.
- This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by zn.
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick
September 10, 2014 at 5:36 pm #6860

RamBill
Participant

Bernie: Loss of Chris Long latest blow for Rams
• Bernie Miklasz

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/bernie-loss-of-chris-long-latest-blow-for-rams/article_d4cf9d1c-8713-5783-bca0-f84a64cd13f2.html

The Rams’ awful start to the 2014 season just got worse with the news on defensive end Chris Long.

Long will be out indefinitely after undergoing surgery on his injured lower-left leg. Initial estimates have Long missing as much as two months. Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Long will have the surgery late Wednesday or on Thursday.

“I won’t go into the specifics on the surgery,” Fisher said. “It is unique however, and he will be back. When I can’t predict at this time, but we have a good feel that he will be back at some point late in the season.”

Fisher said Long would be placed on the injured reserve-designated to return list, which would keep him inactive for a minimum of six weeks.

Long suffered the injury in the season-opening 34-6 loss to the Vikings. The seventh-year veteran played only 31 snaps before going down. Team doctors and trainers attended to Long’s left ankle but he did not return.

This is obviously a major loss for the Rams.

Long, 29, had 50.5 sacks in his first six seasons with the team and averaged 11 sacks over the past three seasons. Lining up on the left side, Long teamed with right defensive end Robert Quinn to give the Rams one of the best pass-rush tandems in the NFL last year.

Until now, Long hadn’t missed a game in his NFL career after being drafted No. 2 overall by the Rams in 2008.

The Rams have a highly capable replacement in veteran William Hayes, who has provided consistently good play as the team’s third defensive end. But Hayes underwent hip surgery this past offseason and was held out of the team’s four preseason games.

Hayes, who will start in Long’s place at Tampa Bay on Sunday, may not be entirely up to speed. But at least the Rams have depth at the defensive end position, with veteran Eugene Sims and rookie Ethan Westbrooks. Fisher indicated Westbrooks could be active for the game at Tampa Bay.

“There’s a chance Westbrooks will be up now,” Fisher said. “Will (Hayes) steps up. Obviously, Gene (Sims) can play both sides. We’ll be fine there until (Long) he gets back.”

That said, Long’s absence figures to make it easier for opponents to focus on stopping Quinn.

This is the second significant injury to a core player for the Rams, who lost QB Sam Bradford to a season-ending knee injury in the third preseason game.

In addition to his quality play, Long provided energy and leadership as one of the Rams’ established veterans. This was a hit to the team’s morale.

“The players are aware of it,” Fisher said. “Obviously, they’re disappointed, I’m disappointed for Chris.”

Asked about Long’s mood, Fisher said, “Well, he’s not taking it very well. Obviously, you guys know him, his personality is such that he’s let the team down because he can’t be here. That’s what he’s most disappointed about.”

For the 2014 Rams, it’s difficult to imagine a more disturbing start to the season. The Rams already face an extreme challenge on offense because of injuries to Bradford and primary backup Shaun Hill (thigh), who didn’t practice Wednesday. And now they’ll have to trudge forward without one of their best defensive players.

If Hill can’t go Sunday, the Rams will turn to Austin Davis, as they did in the second half vs. Minnesota.

The Rams also have new QB Case Keenum in reserve, quickly learning the offense.

As for Hill’s availability for Tampa Bay, Fisher said: “He’ll be day-to-day. Austin took the majority of the reps. We got Case some reps, first time. He’s starting to feel a little more comfortable in the system. Keep in mind this is still just his fourth day on the practice field with us, so he’s working hard to get up.

Fisher will have to find a way to rally his team. It may be a little dramatic to say that the Rams already are in the crisis mode, but it sure seems that way. If nothing else the early-season turmoil is another detriment to overcome in what will be a challenging year.
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