Rams need to step up running game
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-need-to-step-up-running-game/article_ed089177-a0e0-5860-90f7-d03f2f44a47f.html

There was improvement in the Rams’ running game from Week 1 to Week 2. The Rams gained nearly 50 more yards on the ground against Tampa Bay than in the opener against Minnesota, and averaged nearly a yard more per carry.

But there is still plenty of room for improvement as the Rams prepare to host Dallas in a noon kickoff Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

“Yeah, absolutely,” offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said Thursday. “We know we’ll get heavy boxes, and people trying to stop the run.”

More often than not the Buccaneers and Vikings stationed extra defenders near the line of scrimmage to stuff the run, basically daring the Rams to throw the football without quarterback Sam Bradford in the lineup.

More of the same is expected from the Cowboys. Whether it’s Austin Davis or Shaun Hill — and it will most likely be Davis again because of Hill’s thigh injury — the message will be the same: Let’s see if your quarterback can beat us.

“It’s a process,” Schottenheimer said. “I hope we’ll be better this week. Need to be better this week. It certainly takes the pressure off of us by getting into second down-and-manageable, and third down-and-manageable.

“But we get well when we’re balanced, when we can run the football. When teams take that away from us, we tend to struggle a little bit. Like always, we’ll try to get the running game going and generate a few more explosive plays.”

The Rams’ define “explosive plays” on the ground as gains of 10 yards or more. They had zero such runs in the opener against Minnesota; their longest gain that day was seven yards.

Things went better against Tampa Bay with four explosive runs. Even so, their longest run of the season is a modest 18 yards on an end-around by Tavon Austin. Wide receiver Kenny Britt had a 12-yard gain on an end-around.

So Rams running backs have produced only two explosive runs this season: a 12-yard run by Zac Stacy and an 11-yard gain by Benny Cunningham.

“We need to get (running backs) in the secondary, create seams,” Schottenheimer said. “We’ve got to be able to take advantage of that.”

That task will be that much tougher against the Cowboys, who enter the game ranked 14th in run defense, if Rams fullback/tight end Cory Harkey can’t play. Harkey, an underrated lead blocker, did not practice Wednesday and Thursday after suffering a strained knee against Tampa Bay.

The Rams don’t have a true fullback on the roster. But if Harkey can’t play, tight end Lance Kendricks has shown in the past that he can be an effective blocker out of the backfield. But Harkey is one of the toughest Rams, and it will be hard for the team’s medical staff and coaches to keep him off the field against Dallas.

Stacy and Cunningham are the only running backs to carry the ball so far this season. Both are more power runners than breakaway threats. Even factoring that in, they need to be better than their current yard-per-carry averages of 3.8 (Stacy) and 3.3 (Cunningham).

At that rate, the Rams have to huff and puff their way down the field with a minimum of mistakes and efficient passing. That’s a tough way to reach the end zone, as evidenced by the fact that the Rams have scored only one touchdown in two games.

The Rams currently rank 23rd in the NFL in rushing offense (95.5 yards per game), and 24th in yards per carry (3.7 yards). Not nearly good enough for a team whose offensive philosophy is predicated on a strong running game.

Given the success that Dallas has had running the football, it’s even more important to establish a strong running game this week. The Cowboys rank second in the league in rushing offense, and have the league’s leading ground gainer in Rams killer DeMarco Murray (285 yards, 5.6 yards per carry).

Murray’s two-game rushing total is nearly 100 yards better than the Rams’ entire team total, and it’s the main reason why the Cowboys lead the NFL in time of possession at 36 minutes 18 seconds.

Obviously, the best way to keep Murray from doing his thing is for the Rams to control the clock themselves.

INJURY REPORT

Hill was a little more involved in practice Thursday including some work in 7-on-7 drills, but was listed as limited for the second day in a row. Davis continues to get the vast majority of work with the first-team offense.

Besides Harkey, others not practicing Thursday were: Austin (knee), CB Brandon McGee (foot), and LG Rodger Saffold (illness). Saffold is expected to be back at practice today.

CB Trumaine Johnson (knee) and C/G Barrett Jones (back) continue to be sidelined with their injuries, and aren’t expected back for a few weeks. After sitting out practice Wednesday with what amounted to a veteran’s day off, C Scott Wells was full-go Thursday.

For Dallas, QB Tony Romo (back) was full participation after sitting out Wednesday; WR Dez Bryant (shoulder) was limited after sitting out Wednesday; and leading tackler LB Rolando McClain (groin) missed his second straight day.

Rams notebook: McDonald’s big game falls short of NFC recognition
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-notebook-mcdonald-s-big-game-falls-short-of-nfc/article_b46cdd31-d95e-5142-babb-9096b7126f77.html

Rams coach Jeff Fisher is not sure what more T.J. McDonald can do.

Despite blocking a punt and a field goal in the Rams’ 19-17 win over the Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday, McDonald was beaten out by Arizona’s Ted Ginn Jr. for NFC special teams player of the week.

“They were huge plays,’’ the coach said. “In a two-point game, to block a field goal and a punt and be the same person who did it. I would think you would get a little bit of consideration for (the award). Apparently, those people that voted must have thought we had a bye week last week or something. I don’t know what’s going on.

“Again, Ted Ginn’s a really good player and I have nothing against Ted, but I thought maybe (T.J.) would’ve got some consideration.’’

McDonald, a second-year safety from USC, did a little of everything Sunday. In addition to finishing as team co-leader in tackles (nine) and adding a quarterback pressure, he blocked a punt that led to a field goal that helped the Rams take a 10-7 lead to the half and later blocked a field goal on the opening play of the fourth quarter.

Then, on the game’s final play, he delivered a big hit on Bucs rookie Mike Evans that forced a 10-second runoff to secure the Rams’ first win of 2014.

Ginn returned a punt 71 yards early in the final quarter to help the Cardinals overtake the Giants and win 25-14 Sunday. Ginn has won the award three times — with three different teams.

“It’s not frustrating to me at all because we got the win and that’s all the matters,’’ McDonald said after helping the Rams block a punt and field goal in the same game for the first time since 1979. “I went out there and made plays and helped our team win.’’

McDonald’s blocks came on similar-looking plays. From the left side, he cut inside the last Tampa Bay blocker to make the plays — with a little help from defensive end William Hayes.

“It’s something we work on in practice. It’s just a matter of getting an opportunity and taking advantage,’’ McDonald said. “On the first one, I got there easier than I expected, so I told Will that if you can grab that guy’s arm, I’d be able to get in there again.

“He grabbed it and I was able to get through the gap.’’

McDonald, 23, sees special teams as a continuation of his defensive responsibilities.

“I’m a defensive player and I treat (special teams) as defensive snaps,’’ he said. “I work my butt off on defense to get to fourth down, so I might as well finish it.’’

On the game’s final play, Evans made a leaping catch on a 29-yard pass from Josh McCown that put Tampa Bay into field goal range at the Rams’ 32.

But McDonald’s hit left Evans unable to continue and, because the Bucs had already used their three timeouts, the officials applied the mandatory 10-second runoff to end the game.

“It was a big hit. It kind of boggled me a little bit,’’ Evans told the Tampa Bay Times.

“I heard him on the ground. He was making some noises, so I knew it wasn’t good (for him),’’ McDonald said. “He was exchanging words with a lot of guys on the defense, so it was a good feeling to end the game like that. Not to hurt him, but to end the game with a big play.’’

TOUGH CALL ON DUNBAR

A very questionable roughing-the-passer call on Rams linebacker Jo-Lon Dunbar in the fourth quarter turned a fourth-and-5 from the Tampa 23 into a first down and led to the Bucs taking a 17-16 lead with just over 5 minutes to play.

“It’s frustrating … and my pockets might feel the brunt of it,’’ the seventh-year pro said. “I thought I pretty much did it the way you’re supposed to. I hit him in the shoulder.’’Fisher said he understood the call but didn’t necessarily agree with it.

“The referee’s responsibility, as soon as anybody gets near the quarterback, is to come off the tackle … and go to the quarterback,’’ Fisher said. “The issue is that the quarterback is between him and the contact, so he can’t see it. So the assumption is that the contact was high — in the helmet, head (or) neck area — so he threw the flag.’’

Last year, when McCown was with the Bears, the Rams’ Michael Brockers was flagged for a similarly questionable roughing-the-passer call. Brockers was not fined.

INJURY REPORT

Sitting out practice Wednesday were receiver Tavon Austin (knee), tight end Cory Harkey (knee) and center Scott Wells (not injury related). Center Barrett Jones (back) and cornerback Trumaine Johnson (knee) are not expected to practice for at least a couple of more weeks.

Quarterback Shaun Hill (thigh) and defensive back Brandon McGee (foot) were limited during Wednesday’s practice.

For Dallas, six players sat out Wednesday’s workout. They were quarterback Tony Romo (back), receiver Dez Bryant (shoulder), linebacker Rolando McClain (groin), linebacker Justin Durant (groin), running back Joseph Randle (concussion) and defensive tackle Davon Coleman (knee).

Defensive end Antonio Spencer (knee), defensive tackle Ken Bishop (illness) and tight end Gavin Escobar were limited while defensive end Lavar Edwards (knee) and guard Zack Martin (foot) were full participants in Wednesday’s workout.

RAM-BLING

As expected, the Rams signed defensive tackle Matt Conrath to the practice squad. A third-year pro from Virginia, Conrath was waived on Monday to create a spot on the roster for receiver Stedman Bailey.

ST. LOUIS RAMS INJURIES

Player Position Injury Practice Status Game Status

Chris Long DE — Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Trumaine Johnson CB Knee Did Not Participate in Practice Out
Barrett Jones C Back Did Not Participate in Practice Out
Lamarcus Joyner S Back Did Not Participate in Practice Questionable
Shaun Hill QB Thigh Limited Practice Participation Questionable

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS INJURIES

Player Position Injury Practice Status Game Status

Michael Johnson DE Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Rashaan Melvin CB Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Austin Seferian-Jenkins TE Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Adrian Clayborn DE Elbow Did Not Practice/Out Out
Demar Dotson T Hamstring Full Practice Participation Probable
Dennis Bowers DE Abdomen Full Practice Participation Questionable
William Gholston DE Shoulder Full Practice Participation Questionable
Logan Mankins G Knee Full Practice Participation Questionable
Bradley Dougald S Knee Full Practice Participation Questionable
Doug Martin RB Knee Limited Practice Participation

Gaines ‘a bright spot’ in NFL debut
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/gaines-a-bright-spot-in-nfl-debut/article_99dc4ef1-21bb-586c-84fb-81c6c3aa77b0.html

All things considered, it was a successful debut for Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines.

The former University of Missouri standout got the start in place of injured Trumaine Johnson and responded with a solid effort in the Rams’ 34-6 loss to visiting Minnesota.

“I thought it went well,’’ Gaines said after the team practiced Wednesday at Rams Park. “It’s something you can’t prepare yourself for, playing at this level, but it was definitely everything I hoped it would be. I feel like I made a few plays, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. But that comes, I think, with being a rookie. You watch the film, figure out what you did wrong and then try to fix it in practice.’’

Gaines was on the field for 97 percent of the team’s defensive snaps and added six plays on special teams. He finished with five tackles and a pair of pass defenses.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher called Gaines “a bright spot.’’

“I thought E.J. did a nice job starting his first game in the National Football League as a rookie,’’ the coach said. “I thought he hung in there and did a nice job.’’

Gaines did get beat on the Vikings’ first touchdown, an 8-yard pass from Matt Cassel to Greg Jennings with 21 seconds left in the first half.

“It was a perfect throw and catch,’’ Fisher pointed out.

An All- Southeastern Conference selection as a senior, Gaines was second in the league in interceptions (five) and placed third at Mizzou with 75 tackles last fall. Still, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Gaines slipped in the draft and was selected by the Rams in the sixth round (188th overall).

“To be honest, I think that helped me,’’ he said. “That helped put a little chip on my shoulder to go out and show people what I could do. I’m where I’m supposed to be right now.’’

Gaines, 22, said being on the field with standout Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was “kind of crazy’’ at first.

“But once I got past that, it’s just playing football,’’ he said. “I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m watching (fellow corner Janoris Jenkins) and I’m trying to learn from that. Every day, I have to work and learn and get better.’’

INJURY REPORT

Defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, the Rams’ second-round pick in May, was limited in practice Wednesday because of a back injury. The other four players on the team’s initial injury report of the week — defensive end Chris Long (ankle), quarterback Shaun Hill (thigh), Johnson and center Barrett Jones (back) — didn’t practice.

Long has been placed on the injured reserve designated to return list. He will be eligible to return in eight weeks.

Fisher said Hill, who was hurt late in the second quarter Sunday, is day to day.

The Buccaneers had 10 players, including five starters, on their Wednesday injury list. Starting left guard Logan Mankins (knee) running back Doug Martin (knee) and right defensive end Michael Johnson (ankle) did not practice. Right tackle Demar Dotson (hamstring) and left defensive end Adrian Clayborn (elbow) were limited. Mankins, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, was acquired in a trade with New England just before the Bucs’ fourth preseason game. Clayborn is a Webster Groves High product.

Cornerback Rashaan Melvin (ankle) and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins (ankle) did not practice, while defensive end William Gholston (shoulder) was limited. Another defensive end, Da’Quan Bowers, was listed with an abdomen injury but went through Wednesday’s practice.

Mike Jenkins, who was part of a three-man rotation at cornerback for the Buccaneers, is on injured reserve becaue of a pectoral injury.

MASON SITS

For the first time in his football career, rookie running back Tre Mason was a healthy scratch Sunday.

“I found out right before the game,’’ the third-round draft pick from Auburn said Wednesday. “I just live life as God has a plan written already. I can only control what I can control. I’m just going to continue to work hard every day and, God willing, I get a chance to get out on the field.’’

First thing Monday, Mason made a point to stop by the office of special teams coordinator John Fassel.

“I was very concerned about what happened,’’ he said. “I wanted to know if I was doing anything wrong and if I am, I would love to know so that I could fix the problem. All I can do is continue to work hard every day, that’s not going to change, I just want to have a chance to make the team better and make sure I do my part.’’

RAM-BLINGS

A pair of players with local ties cleared waivers Wednesday. Tight end Reggie Jordan (Hazelwood Central, Missouri Western) was cut Tuesday by Jacksonville. New Orleans did the same with guard Ty Nsekhe, who was in training camp with the Rams in 2013.

On Tuesday, Tampa Bay picked up defensive end Jacquies Smith (Missouri) off waivers from Buffalo while former Mizzou tight end Michael Egnew signed with the practice squad in Jacksonville and wideout Marvin McNutt (Hazelwood Central, Iowa) was signed to the Redskins’ practice squad.

http://www.rams-news.com/here-comes-ap-vikings-rb-poses-huge-threat-to-rams-pd/%5D Here Comes AP: Vikings RB Poses Huge Threat to Rams –PD
The last time Adrian Peterson visited the Gateway to the West, he was totally shut down in the first quarter at the Edward Jones Dome.

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-notebook-fisher-confirms-that-saffold-will-start-over-robinson-pd/%5D Rams Notebook: Fisher Confirms that Saffold Will Start Over Robinson –PD
Following practice Wednesday at Rams Park, coach Jeff Fisher confirmed what many had suspected: that Rodger Saffold will start ahead of Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in May’s draft, when the Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings to open the season at noon Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

http://www.rams-news.com/can-the-vikings-o-line-handle-the-rams-pass-rush-video/%5D Can the Vikings O-line Handle the Rams Pass Rush? –Video

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-coach-jeff-fisher-weve-got-a-different-approach-video/%5D Rams Coach Jeff Fisher: “We’ve got a different approach” –Video

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-robinson-wont-start-season-opener-latsch/%5D Rams’ Robinson Won’t Start Season Opener –Latsch
Rams rookie offensive lineman Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2014 draft, will not start the season opener, coach Jeff Fisher said on Wednesday.

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-report-saffold-will-start-ahead-of-robinson-at-lg-pd/%5D Rams Report: Saffold Will Start Ahead of Robinson at LG –PD
Following practice Wednesday at Rams Park, coach Jeff Fisher confirmed what many suspected: that Rodger Saffold will start ahead of Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in May’s draft, when the Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings to open the season noon Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

http://www.rams-news.com/keenum-excited-for-fresh-start-with-the-rams-latsch/%5DKeenum Excited for Fresh Start with the Rams –Latsch
It’s been a busy few days for Case Keenum, the quarterback who was waived by the Houston Texans and then received a fresh start when he was claimed by the Rams.

http://www.rams-news.com/peterson-returns-to-site-of-big-day-vs-rams-espn/%5D Peterson Returns to Site of Big Day vs. Rams –ESPN
The first carry of Adrian Peterson’s 2013 season saw him break free for a 78-yard touchdown. The first of the 2014 season will come in the building where he recorded the longest run of his career the last time he visited.

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-mostly-healthy-on-first-injury-report-wagoner/%5D Rams Mostly Healthy on First Injury Report –Wagoner
We’ve finally reached the point of the season where we no longer have to play shadow games when it comes to injuries. The start of the regular season means the start of official injury reports.

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-tied-for-20th-in-ap-pro32-poll-latsch/%5D Rams Tied For 20th in AP Pro32 Poll –Latsch
The Associated Press released its AP Pro32 poll this week in advance of the start of the regular season and the Rams are tied with the Atlanta Falcons for the 20th spot.

http://www.rams-news.com/one-on-one-with-rams-new-qb-case-keenum-video/%5D One-on-One with Rams New QB Case Keenum –Video

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-rookie-de-ethan-westbrooks-on-making-the-rams-roster-radio-interview/%5D Rams Rookie DE Ethan Westbrooks on Making the Rams Roster –Radio Interview

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-head-coach-jeff-fisher-qb-shaun-hill-post-practice-comments-sept-3/%5D Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher & QB Shaun Hill Post Practice Comments: Sept. 3

http://www.rams-news.com/qb-austin-davis-ready-if-called-upon-wagoner/%5D QB Austin Davis Ready if Called Upon –Wagoner
In the immediate aftermath of St. Louis Rams starting quarterback Sam Bradford’s second season-ending ACL tear in as many seasons, the reaction for most was sympathy.

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-depth-chart-musings-wagoner/%5D Rams Depth Chart Musings –Wagoner
Now that we are finally into Week 1 of the regular season, the St. Louis Rams released their unofficial depth chart Tuesday evening.

http://www.rams-news.com/nfl-nation-reporters-rams-go-5-11-wagoner/%5D NFL Nation Reporters: Rams go 5-11 –Wagoner
On Tuesday morning, all 32 of our NFL Nation reporters revealed their game-by-game predictions for the teams they cover.

http://www.rams-news.com/bernies-ram-bytes-wait-the-no-2-overall-draft-pick-isnt-starting/%5D Bernie’s Ram Bytes: Wait, the No. 2 Overall Draft Pick isn’t Starting?
I must bark about something today, OK? 1. If I had to wager on it, and I don’t … I’d say I believe Greg Robinson will turn out to be a good NFL offensive lineman. Who knows, the Auburn football alum could become a great one. But let’s talk about those two words there … “Who Knows.”

http://www.rams-news.com/morning-ram-blings-sam-lands-in-dallas-wagoner/%5D Morning Ram-blings: Sam Lands in Dallas –Wagoner
As teams finalized their practice squads Tuesday afternoon, former St. Louis Rams defensive end Michael Sam looks to have finally found a landing spot.

http://www.rams-news.com/herm-edwards-i-think-the-rams-are-built-to-where-shaun-hill-can-orchestrate-the-offense/%5D Herm Edwards: “I Think the Rams Are Built to Where Shaun Hill Can Orchestrate the offense”

http://www.rams-news.com/jim-thomas-rams-chat-highlights-sept-2/%5D Jim Thomas Rams Chat Highlights: Sept. 2

http://www.rams-news.com/relive-it-rams-at-dolphins-video/%5D Relive It: Rams at Dolphins –Video

Rams report: Saffold will start ahead of Robinson at left guard
• By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-report/rams-report-saffold-will-start-ahead-of-robinson-at-left/article_3c490c87-5dc0-5c1a-9d19-6a864c99dded.html

Following practice Wednesday at Rams Park, coach Jeff Fisher confirmed what many suspected: that Rodger Saffold will start ahead of Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in May’s draft, when the Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings to open the season noon Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

“We made the decision for the opener that we’re better off going with experience,” Fisher said. “Doesn’t necessarily mean (Robinson) won’t play in the game, but we’re going to go with guys who have a lot of snaps under their belts.”

That means a veteran line of Jake Long at left tackle, Saffold at left guard, Scott Wells at center, Davin Joseph at right guard and Joe Barksdale at right tackle.

“I feel good about the guys we’re going to play with,” Fisher said. “They’ve been practicing together now for a couple of weeks and so I have no concern there. And I feel good about our depth as well.”

And Robinson?

“He’s doing a good job,” the coach said. “He’s playing guard, he’s playing tackle. He’s doing both in practice, he’s done it all through preseason and he’s gotten better each week.”

When asked if learning two positions has hurt the 21-year-old Robinson, Fisher answered emphatically.

“Nothing hurts him at all. It does not hurt him at all,” Fisher said. “I was told that Orlando Pace, the first player taken in the draft, didn’t play until Week 5. There’s no issue here, (Robinson) is going to be an outstanding player.

“Our focus right now is to put the guys on the field we think can give us the best chance to win right now.”

Pace, by the way, didn’t sign with the Rams until after a three-week contract holdout.

Robinson, who starred at Auburn, started three of the Rams’ four preseason contests.

RAM-BLINGS

The first injury report of the season included four players who were limited T Jake Long (knee), DE William Hayes (chest), Jo-Lonn Dunbar (shoulder) and DE Eugene Sims (knee). Two other players, CB Trumaine Johnson (knee) and center Barrett Jones (back), did not participate and are still weeks away from playing.

For the Vikings, LB Brandon Watts (knee), LB Michael Mauti (foot) and fullback Zach Line (ankle) did not participate and T Mike Harris (shoulder) was limited. CB Jabari Price (shoulder) and WR Rodney Smith (neck) were full participants at practice.

• Austin Pettis switched from No. 18 to No. 12 during Wednesday’s practice as a show of support for fellow receiver Stedman Bailey, who is serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

• The Rams have made a change on the practice squad, waiving safety Matt Daniels and adding tight end Brad Smelley. Daniels, a third-year pro from Duke, had both his 2012 and 2013 seasons ended by injuries and was slowed in camp with a concussion. Smelley, an Alabama product, was with the Rams for just a few days last year and was added to the camp roster on Aug. 11. He had four catches for 46 yards during the preseason.

• Defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks, the undrafted free agent from West Texas A&M who won a spot on the 53-man roster by finishing among the team leaders with 12 tackles and two sacks in the preseason, has switched from No. 62 to No. 93.

Rams mostly healthy on first injury report
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/11283/rams-mostly-healthy-on-first-injury-report

EARTH CITY, Mo. — We’ve finally reached the point of the season where we no longer have to play shadow games when it comes to injuries. The start of the regular season means the start of official injury reports.

The St. Louis Rams released their first one Wednesday afternoon with no surprises on the list. In fact, the only two players not to participate were the two you would have expected if you’ve been paying attention: cornerback Trumaine Johnson and offensive lineman Barrett Jones. Johnson has a sprained MCL that is expected to cost him four to six weeks and Jones is coming off back surgery with no definitive timetable for return.

Aside from that pair, the Rams had left tackle Jake Long (knee), end William Hayes (chest), linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (shoulder) and end Eugene Sims (knee) on a limited basis.

Here’s the injury report in easier to read list format:

Did not participate: CB Trumaine Johnson (knee), OL Barrett Jones (back)

Limited participation: LT Jake Long (knee), DE William Hayes (chest), LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (shoulder), DE Eugene Sims (knee)

Tipsheet: Dalton contract raises bar for Bradford
• By Jeff Gordon

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff-gordon/tipsheet-dalton-contract-raises-bar-for-bradford/article_8e91526e-c000-5ca5-bc70-2f092ae056f2.html

Sam Bradford appears to be in no rush to sign a contract extension with the Rams.

And why should he be? Other quarterbacks are signing crazy deals left and right. All of them have accomplished more than Bradford has, true, but the market will favor him if the Rams finally step forward.

The latest mind-boggling deal will pay Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton up to $115 million through 2020. The base value of the contract is a more realistic $96 million over six years and the Bengals have some escape hatches along the way.

Still, that is a heck of a deal for Dalton. He will collect $22 million during the first six months of the deal.

“We’re betting big on him because we believe in him,” Bengals owner Mike Brown said at a Monday news conference. “We’re looking forward to the future with Andy.”

Dalton has stayed healthy and delivered three productive regular seasons in Cincinnati. He piled up lots of TD passes and kept the Bengals in the playoff hunt.

But no credible expert ranks him among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. Dalton has come up small in his biggest games.

So every quarterback coming due for a new deal in the next few years — including the star-crossed Bradford — is eying this deal with great interest.

NFL owners are willing to overpay quarterbacks rather than face the Great Unknown of starting over with an unproven new guy.

ASSESSING DALTON’S DEAL

Here is what some folks were writing about this contract:

Bill Barnwell, ESPN.com: “For what it’s worth, you can make a statistical case that Dalton is a worthwhile passer. Many of his rate statistics — yards per attempt, touchdown percentage, passer rating, and QBR — have improved during each of his three professional seasons, even as he’s thrown more frequently. He hasn’t missed a start and hasn’t even shown up on the injury report since Week 1 of the 2012 season . . . Dalton is a winner; during his first three seasons, Dalton has won 30 games and made the playoffs three times. The only other quarterbacks in league history to do that are Dan Marino (yay!) and Joe Flacco ( … OK?). And all of that doesn’t seem to matter, because Dalton has been awful in the playoffs. It’s a problem that destroyed Cincinnati in last year’s loss to the Chargers and, left unsolved, will almost certainly prevent him from leading the Bengals — or any other NFL team — to a Super Bowl. Andy Dalton is not without merit, but he has one major problem that needs to be corrected: He can’t reliably handle pass pressure. Dalton comes from the Kevin Kolb and Blaine Gabbert school, which is a school that should probably be shut down, demolished, and declared a Superfund site. Quarterbacks in this class often struggle to diagnose pressure before the snap and do a subpar job of capturing who exactly is coming at them when defenses disguise their blitzers. Even worse, when they do feel even the tiniest bit of pressure heading in their direction, passers like Kolb and Gabbert bail out of the pocket and frantically sprint toward the sideline like ants trying to escape feet. The coup de grâce is a dangerous pass, one often thrown to the first hint of a friendly uniform without resetting and reexamining the field to see where defenders have settled.”

Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com: “You saw the contract numbers for Andy Dalton’s extension Monday and you laughed. It was probably a loud one, too. What the hell are the Cincinnati Bengals doing giving Dalton a six-year extension for $115 million, right? What they are doing is being smart, especially if the contract is structured the right way. Dalton has flaws and has come up small in the playoffs, but he has taken the Bengals to the playoffs each of his first three seasons, which is special. He’s also thrown 80 touchdown passes in those three seasons, 33 last season, which is why extending him for six seasons makes sense. Yet ripping Dalton is a blood sport. He’s like Carson Palmer. He’s like Tony Romo. They’ve all had regular-season success, but have not got it done in the playoffs. So they stink. They’re chokers. Yet players like Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick are considered rising stars because, playing on good teams, they’ve won in the postseason. Wilson and Kaepernick have talent, but I’ve had a handful of NFL people tell me the Seahawks would have won the Super Bowl last season with Dalton playing quarterback.”

Doug Farrar, SI.com: “Those opposed to this kind of extension might note that the cap charge could prevent the team from handing out new deals to other valuable players, including receiver A.J. Green, who was selected in the first round of the 2011 draft, and who tends to make Dalton look a bit better than he actually is with his acrobatic catches of Dalton’s occasionally errant deep balls. And there’s the matter of Dalton’s performances in the playoffs — in three playoff games (all losses), Dalton has completed 70-of-123 passes for 718 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions.”

Jarrett Bell, USA Today.com: “Dalton commands a huge price tag because he plays quarterback, with its inflationary pay scale. Remember, Tony Romo – who hasn’t exactly made his mark in the playoffs, either — is guaranteed $55 million from the Cowboys. Maybe that’s why they passed on Johnny Manziel. But just because Dalton is a quarterback doesn’t mean it is money well spent. The jury is out on that. Two years ago, Joe Flacco’s contract talks with the Baltimore Ravens broke down and he wound up betting on himself in the final year of his contract. Then he got red-hot in the postseason and won the Super Bowl. Flacco cashed in for several million dollars more per year than had been previously discussed. Dalton didn’t have to bet on himself like Flacco. But the Bengals, hardly getting a bargain, are betting on him in a huge way.”

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: “Jay Cutler’s contract with the Bears, for $126.7 million over seven years after making all of one Pro Bowl in his career, really was the sign that the quarterback market was ruined. Dalton’s deal has reinforced that the market is out of control. Teams get crippled by fear of the unknown at quarterback. There’s no way Dalton, whom I defend regularly because people have ignored the good things he has done (and he has done some good things), could be worth more than $19 million per year. But teams like the Bengals would rather pay Dalton two or three times what he’s worth than deal with the criticism that would come if they let him go and couldn’t replace him immediately. It sounds like a dumb business model, but NFL teams routinely do it. The quarterback market for the non-stars at the position is the most inefficient in sports. And it affects other teams. Wilson, (Andrew) Luck, (Cam) Newton and other young quarterbacks like Washington’s Robert Griffin III probably have to start the bidding at $25 million per year if Dalton got what he did, right? Dalton has put up 11,360 yards and 80 touchdowns while taking the Bengals to the playoffs in all three of his seasons. He has seen his interceptions rise each season since his rookie year. He threw 20 of them last year and is routinely criticized for his arm strength limitations and his failures in the playoffs. Not even his strongest backers would confuse Dalton for a top-tier quarterback. And he just signed an extension that could be worth $115 million, which is $5 million more than Aaron Rodgers got (Rodgers got that over five years; Dalton got six).”

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while the NFC West braces for the rowdy Rams defense:

Just how quickly can the Bengals get out from under that Dalton contract?

Say, has Michael Sam became a bit of a glory hound?

Can Yasiel Puig learn a lot by playing in the same city as Albert Pujols?

Say, how bad do you want that ice cream bar and those peanut butter cups?

FROM . ESPN

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10683857/2014-nfl-offseason-teams-best-worst-injury-luck

Football Outsiders has created an Adjusted Games Lost (AGL) metric to calculate how much teams were impacted by injuries [excerpted & linked by me below]. AGL is based on two principles: (1) injuries to starters, injury replacements and important situational reserves matter more than injuries to bench warmers; and (2) injured players who do take the field are usually playing with reduced ability, which is why Adjusted Games Lost is based not strictly on whether the player is active for the game or not, but instead is based on the player’s listed status that week (IR/PUP, out, doubtful, questionable or probable).

The Unlucky

New York Giants (7-9)
AGL: 144.6 (32nd)
Recent AGL rankings: 2008 (eighth), 2009 (19th), 2010 (22nd), 2011 (26th), 2012 (25th)
Key injury: RB David Wilson (neck)

The Giants’ 144.6 AGL is the highest in our database, which goes back to 2000. That’s more than twice the 2013 league average of 70.2, which for the third straight year represented a new high. So perhaps injuries keep increasing or teams are more honest in reporting them.

New York was hit hardest at running back, interior offensive line and the secondary. Between an injured offensive line and M.A.S.H. unit at running back, it’s no wonder the running game was so poor. David Wilson’s herniated disk in his neck was the most severe injury and it could keep him out of action in 2014, if not longer. He had surgery this offseason, but neck injuries are always delicate situations. The Giants added some insurance with Rashad Jennings (Raiders) after his career year. That should work better than having to sign Brandon Jacobs, Peyton Hillis or see if Andre Brown will break his leg for the third year in a row.

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FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS

FROM . 2013 Adjusted Games Lost

by Scott Kacsmar

[to read the entire article go to:] http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2014/2013-adjusted-games-lost

Wide receiver Michael Crabtree tore his Achilles tendon last May, but returned in time to help San Francisco peak. Denver left tackle Ryan Clady suffered a Lisfranc injury in Week 2 and missed the remainder of the season, including the run to the Super Bowl. New England tight end Rob Gronkowski started the season on the mend, played seven games, and ended 2013 on injured reserve after tearing his ACL. Percy Harvin played just 19 snaps on offense in the regular season for Seattle, but he was healthy enough to make his biggest contribution in the Super Bowl victory.

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, but those teams overcame some big ones to make it to the final four in 2013. There were of course many more injuries suffered along the way, and the severity and duration can vary greatly. Sometimes the player makes it back in time, while some teams have to prep a third starter after the backup gets injured as well.

With Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Games Lost (AGL) metric, we are able to quantify how much teams were affected by injuries based on two principles: (1) Injuries to starters, injury replacements and important situational reserves matter more than injuries to bench warmers; and (2) Injured players who do take the field are usually playing with reduced ability, which is why Adjusted Games Lost is based not strictly on whether the player is active for the game or not, but instead is based on the player’s listed status that week (IR/PUP, out, doubtful, questionable or probable).

As long as NFL teams are solely responsible for producing weekly injury reports, we cannot say that every single injury has been accounted for, but secrecy is an unavoidable aspect of this side of the game.
2013 Results

Obviously every team would prefer a low AGL, but some teams will inevitably have a tough year of injuries. The following table lists the AGL totals and rankings along with the results from 2012 for comparison. This data is only for the regular season.

…

Perhaps this is the one argument for teams doing a better job of reporting injuries, because once again the average AGL increased. After a league average of 64.5 last season, the 2013 average is 70.2, making it three years in a row that we had a new high in our AGL database (complete for 2002-13).

The correlation for AGL between 2012 and 2013 was 0.10, which is more in line with results from 2002 to 2008 than the higher correlations found in the previous four seasons (2009-12). The correlation between 2013 AGL and 2013 team DVOA was -0.03, which is the smallest since 2002 based on the table Danny Tuccitto prepared in last season’s analysis.

Similarly, the correlation between 2013 wins and 2013 AGL was 0.10, which is the second-weakest correlation since 2002 and the first time the relationship was actually positive. Yes, as AGL went up, so did wins, in a bizarre 2013 where seemingly every AFC contender had several crippling injuries to some of its best players. Recall some of the names who finished the season on injured reserve from the AFC playoff teams alone: Reggie Wayne, Dwayne Allen, Geno Atkins, Leon Hall, Vince Wilfork, Rob Gronkowski, Jerod Mayo, Sebastian Vollmer, Dwight Freeney, Von Miller and Ryan Clady.

One AFC contender avoiding the big injuries was Kansas City, which had a league-low 27.6 AGL in 2013 after ranking 22nd a season ago. The Chiefs had big changes at coach and quarterback, but better health is another plus. The irony is that many will just remember the injuries the Chiefs experienced in the AFC Wild Card Game in Indianapolis, such as losing star running back Jamaal Charles on the opening drive. The Colts erased a 38-10 deficit for the win to join the 2012 Packers as the only teams to win a playoff game despite having an AGL above 100.

The Colts ranked 31st (110.3) in AGL for the third time in five years and have ranked 24th or worse in eight straight seasons. Jon Torine was the strength and conditioning coach from 1998-11, but he was replaced in 2012 by Roger Marandino. Despite three head coaches since 2002, GM Ryan Grigson’s annual roster purge and new philosophies on both sides of the ball, the Colts continue to be one of the NFL’s most injured teams each season.

Seven of the bottom 10 teams in 2013 AGL made the postseason compared to only three of the 10 healthiest teams. In fact, none of the teams ranked 4-10 even had a winning record. It was just an unusual season in how the injuries impacted teams. While a team like the Falcons fell apart, veteran teams used to overcoming injuries like the Packers and Patriots were able to do so again. By some stroke of luck, Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb returned just in time for Week 17 to down the Bears and win the NFC North.

After five straight seasons of ranking in the top 10 in AGL, the 49ers suffered 2013’s biggest gain of injuries, going from a league-leading 16.2 AGL in 2012 to a 23rd-ranked 84.2. The 68.0 AGL increase is the third highest on record. Crabtree’s injury was the big one, but Mario Manningham’s struggle to return from his own serious injury was another problem for the wide receivers. The defensive line was also banged up, with nose tackle Ian Williams going down early and standout Justin Smith playing despite a questionable label several times. Despite the increase in injuries and a drop of 12.1 percentage points in DVOA, the 49ers did win 12 games and reached their third-straight NFC Championship. Had the Crabtree injury occurred in July instead of May, he likely would have missed all of 2013.

One team I focused on after Week 1 was Philadelphia, as I asked if the Eagles’ fast pace would have any impact on offensive injuries. The Eagles did lead the league by averaging a play every 23.38 seconds. However, despite losing Jeremy Maclin in the summer and another Michael Vick injury early in the year, the Eagles actually ranked eighth in offensive AGL (21.4) after being dead last in 2012. Chip Kelly’s team ranked second overall in AGL (33.6), so perhaps his hiring of a sports science coordinator is having a desired impact.

This ESPN Insider piece [quoted by me above in this post] has more on the top and bottom teams in AGL and what their ratings may mean for 2014.

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