reporters enshrine the ARIZONA game

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  • October 4, 2015 at 8:34 pm #31722
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    Rams’ stingy defense, opportunistic offense do enough to knock off Cardinals

    Nick Wagoner

    http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/22082/rams-defense-does-enough-to-knock-off-cardinals

    GLENDALE, Ariz. — After an interception slipped through cornerback Trumaine Johnson’s hands and a fumble lay on the turf only to have a Cardinal fall on it, the St. Louis Rams’ defense looked like it would come one play short of knocking off the Arizona Cardinals.

    But just when it looked like a game the Rams led the entire way was going to slip away, the defense again bowed its neck — like it did in holding the previously dominant Cardinals’ red zone attack to five field goals — and came up with a stop when it mattered most. The result was a 24-22 Rams win.

    While Arizona’s offense put up 447 yards, the Rams’ defense refused to break, coming up with three takeaways that led to 17 points and a stop on fourth-and-2 in their territory to help put the game away. Combined with an opportunistic offense, it was enough for the Rams to get the win.

    What it means: The Rams again look like the team that none of their NFC West brethren want to play. They are 2-0 against NFC West opponents and halted Arizona’s roll toward the division title as they improved to 2-2 on the season.

    Now, the Rams have at least a chance to avoid a 2-3 start next week against Green Bay.

    One reason to get excited: The running game showed some major signs of life. On the team’s second touchdown drive, rookie running back Todd Gurley got four carries in a row, picking up 39 yards on those attempts. He later added a 52-yard gain to set up the touchdown that effectively put the game away as he finished with 146 yards on 19 carries and two catches for 15 yards. The run game still needs to be more consistent, but it was a strong statement that Gurley can live up to his draft position in just his second game.

    Fantasy watch: Gurley wasn’t the only highly drafted Rams playmaker to come up big on Sunday. Tavon Austin was just as productive and found his way into the end zone twice. He had 96 yards on six catches and 20 yards on two rushes to go with his two scores.

    Ouch: Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree is off to the best start of his three-year career, but left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury and did not return. Ogletree’s injury was serious enough that he had to leave on a cart. If it is serious, losing Ogletree would be a big blow to the Rams’ defense.

    October 4, 2015 at 8:37 pm #31723
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    Tavon Austin, Todd Gurley spark Rams’ offense

    Nick Wagoner

    http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/22084/tavon-austin-todd-gurley-spark-rams-offense

    GLENDALE, Ariz. — A look at three St. Louis Rams players who were “up” and one who was “down” in Sunday’s 24-22 win against the Arizona Cardinals:

    UP

    CB Janoris Jenkins: After Arizona worked the short passing game for most of the first half, quarterback Carson Palmer finally took a deep shot midway through the second quarter. But Jenkins was ready. He ran step for step with wideout John Brown and made a leaping interception that he initially pinned against his helmet before hauling in. It’s the second week in a row with an interception for Jenkins, who also had five tackles and two pass breakups.

    WR Tavon Austin: To the surprise of no one, the Rams’ offense couldn’t generate much for most of the day, especially in the first half. But Austin again flashed some of the game-changing ability that the Rams desperately need. He had a 12-yard touchdown catch for the team’s first score and a 47-yard grab set up the team’s first field goal. He finished with 96 yards on six catches and 20 yards on two carries with two touchdowns.

    RB Todd Gurley: Hello, Gurley. The Rams’ rookie burst on the scene with 19 carries for 146 yards and had two catches for 15 more yards. In the process, he helped Austin rouse a slumbering offense and provided hope that he is exactly the spark the Rams need on offense moving forward.

    DOWN

    TE Jared Cook: Once again, Cook had a few costly drops and missed out on some opportunities to make key plays at important times. On one Rams drive late in the first half, quarterback Nick Foles floated a pass for him in the corner of the end zone. Covered by 5-foot-9 Arizona safety Tyrann Mathieu, the 6-5 Cook had it above Mathieu’s head but the safety knocked it away. It was a good play by Mathieu but also one that Cook should make given his size advantage. Cook’s maddening inconsistency continues and leaves one to wonder what he’ll have to do to have his snaps reduced.

    October 4, 2015 at 10:16 pm #31735
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    October 5, 2015 at 12:51 am #31752
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    Gordon: Offense comes through for Rams

    Jeff Gordon

    http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/jeff-gordon/gordon-offense-comes-through-for-rams/article_7d554ed9-fc9b-5050-a61f-dce782a5aa18.html

    GLENDALE, Ariz. • The Rams’ defense has been making its black-and-blue mark for a couple of years now. It has earned NFL-wide respect by unleashing big hitters on recoiling opponents.

    But the Rams’ offense lagged behind this season, often woefully so. The young linemen suffered predictable growing pains and rookie running back Todd Gurley had to clear his final rehab hurdles.

    The offense officially caught up by delivering a 24-22 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

    “The biggest thing for me is that we had to bail out the defense,” said guard Rodger Saffold, the elder statesman on an otherwise inexperienced line. “We never do that. They always have to come in and (secure) everything for us.”

    The line created seams in the second half after generating just 9 yards rushing on nine first-half carries. Gurley broke big run after big run while finally looking recovered from knee surgery.

    The offense sustained two touchdown drives and one final time-consuming possession at the end. Gurley could have tacked on a late TD, but he wisely pulled up so his team could kill the remaining clock instead.

    We’re guessing Isaiah Pead would have just kept running. Or he would have fumbled the ball away. But we’ll just let those bad memories go.

    Why pick at old sores after such an important victory?

    The Rams got a fresh start on their season. They are 2-2 overall and 2-0 in the NFC West. By earning victories over the two division powers, Arizona and Seattle, they reentered the playoff race.

    “We are not where we wanted to be, but we are certainly happy to get the win,” defensive end Chris Long said. “We’ve had some ups and downs these last two weeks. It has been a long couple of weeks.”

    The Rams set aside their implosion at Washington and their frustrating 12-6 home-field loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their offense morphed from liability into asset.

    This newfound Rams balance is critical because this victory came at great cost. Outside linebacker Alec Ogletree suffered an ugly ankle injury that will require surgical repairs.

    “It’s unfortunate because I don’t know if you can find a linebacker that’s playing better than he was during the first four weeks of the year,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said.

    Ogletree caused havoc all over the field again Sunday. He blew through the line to dump ball carriers for losses. He chased down receivers. He went from side to side. He went up and back. He was everywhere, keeping the explosive Cardinals in check.

    The defense can’t possibly be as good without him. But perhaps the Rams won’t lean on that unit quite so hard now they can actually run the football and set up their play-action passing game.

    “We got contribution from all three phases today,” Fisher said. “That’s what has been hindering us the last couple of weeks. We finally had a second half of offense and that was the difference in the ballgame.”

    That 2-2 record looks a whole lot better than 1-3 going into next week’s tough assignment at Green Bay. After that game, the Rams will take their bye week break before starting an easier stretch of schedule against the Cleveland Browns at home.

    Suddenly all things look possible again. With Gurley living up to the hype Sunday and Tavon Austin producing like an eighth overall draft pick, this team looks much more dangerous.

    Gurley was the whole package Sunday, reading his blocks, powering for tough yardage, bursting through seams and outrunning defenders in the open field. This was quite a sight.

    Imagine a bigger Zac Stacy wearing a jet pack and roller blades, only with the ability to change directions on a dime.

    Austin was also a revelation. Not only did he get open for downfield passes — a rare sight under former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer — but he ran tight little routes to catch two TD passes.

    Oh, and quarterback Nick Foles was outstanding too. He took care of the ball, avoiding self-destructive turnovers that have doomed so many Rams teams. He made accurate throws under intense pressure.

    When he did miss on his passes, he missed harmlessly. He also made some nice throws that weren’t caught, such as one he placed over the top of Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu … and right through the hands of tight end Jared Cook in the end zone.

    So there are some things to work on. Rookie offensive linemen Jamon Brown and Rob Havenstein are still early in their development, as is second-year left tackle Greg Robinson.

    Gurley has only hinted at his full potential. The same goes for Austin and his running mate Stedman Bailey. Fellow wide receiver Brian Quick finally got back on the field Sunday after recovering from the severe shoulder injury he suffered last season.

    “We still have a lot of room to improve,” Foles said afterward. “I know the guys are hungry to improve. We just have to stay hungry, keep working and pay attention to detail. We are a young team so we have to put that extra time in every single day to get better and take the next step forward.”

    We’ve heard such words before in the Rams ;locker room, but suddenly they ring true. At long last the Rams are relevant again.

    October 5, 2015 at 12:53 am #31753
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    Gurley, Rams hold it down in upset of Big Red
    • By Jim Thomas

    http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/gurley-rams-hold-it-down-in-upset-of-big-red/article_012d8d59-b430-5a19-a767-e231a0fcdbdc.html

    GLENDALE, ARIZ. • Not all that far removed from his college days at Georgia, there’s nothing Todd Gurley can do about the Bulldogs’ crushing 38-10 loss Saturday to Alabama.

    “That’s what I told my teammates,” the rookie running back said, smiling. “I’ve gotta do what Georgia didn’t do yesterday, so I had to hold it down.”

    Gurley held it down, all right, at the expense of the previously unbeaten Arizona Cardinals. In his coming-out party as an NFL player, Gurley finished with 146 yards on 17 carries as the Rams upset the Big Red 24-22 at University of Phoenix Stadium.

    Against an Arizona team that had never trailed — not for one second — in its previous three games this season, the Rams led wire-to-wire, but never enough to feel comfortable.

    It took two touchdown catches by Tavon Austin, three takeaways by the defense and special teams, and then the second-half running by Gurley to win at a place where the home team rarely loses. The Cardinals entered the day 15-3 at home under coach Bruce Arians.

    “To be able to be on the road against a great football team, and then come out and win the game the way we did — hold the lead the entire game — that’s huge for us,” right guard Rodger Saffold said.

    It helped that the Rams discovered a running game that had been missing all season, and an offense that had been AWOL since the season-opening victory over Seattle, in the second half.

    Limited to just 10 carries for 5 yards through 2½ quarters, the Rams got the run game going after a forced fumble by safety Rodney McLeod and a recovery by cornerback Trumaine Johnson gave the Rams a first down at their 41, nursing a 10-9 lead.

    Following that takeaway, Gurley ripped off runs of 23 and 13 yards to put the Rams in scoring position on a drive culminating in the second of three touchdown passes by quarterback Nick Foles.

    Gurley added a 52-yard run early in the fourth quarter — the longest run of the season for the Rams — to set up the second of a pair of 12-yard TD passes from Foles to Austin. That proved to be the game-winning points, giving the Rams a 24-15 lead with 8 minutes, 16 seconds to play.

    But not before an Arizona TD made things close, and not before Gurley closed things out with runs of 20 and 30 yards to kill out the clock on the Rams’ final possession.

    “Man, I knew he was gonna be special from the get-go,” defensive end William Hayes said. “But I wasn’t expecting that much. I saw today that his future’s gonna be very, very bright.”

    “He came out this week and he exploded,” Austin said.

    Some blocking helped. Saffold said the Rams made some adjustments in the running game at halftime, and they paid off for a squad that ranked last (32nd) in total offense and 29th in rushing offense before Sunday.

    “We worked our misdirection; it really came alive,” Saffold said. “And once we got a misdirection (play to work), it got ’em to stay balanced instead of rushing everything front side.”

    Gurley, the No. 10 overall pick in the draft last spring, did the rest. He said the Rams’ offense merely “got fed up” about all of its struggles this season. Another week of practice with the first-team offense helped the game slow down for Gurley in his first NFL start.

    “Yeah man, it’s football,” he said with a shrug. “I’ve been playing it my whole life. You read your keys, study the game, and everything will slow down for you.”

    Simple as that. Gurley had only six carries (for 9 yards) last week in his debut and didn’t know for sure that his workload would be nearly tripled against Arizona.

    “But you know how it is if you’re having a good game and it’s rolling,” Gurley said. “Then, you know, you keep the hot hand hot.”

    Let the guy with the hot hand hold it down.

    Perhaps Gurley’s best work came with 1:17 to play when he burst around left end for what looked like a sure touchdown. But realizing the circumstances, he decided to stop after a 30-yard gain to the Arizona 8, to run out the clock and prevent the Cardinals from pulling off any kind of last-minute miracle.

    “It was totally unselfish,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “Beyond that, it’s just that for a rookie to have the presence of mind to do that, it says a lot for his understanding of this game and putting games away.”

    A pretty heady play for a 21-year-old about to score his first NFL TD, playing in his second NFL game.

    “I just wanted to get out of here with a win; that’s all I was worried about,” Gurley said.

    So he can save that first NFL touchdown for another time?

    “I’m gonna think about it tonight,” he said, laughing. “But we got the win. I’m happy about that.”

    In an ideal world of Rams football, this is what it’s supposed to look like. A defense and special teams unit that create turnovers and give up points grudgingly.

    Austin making meaningful plays from start to finish. And now we see why the Rams thought enough of running back Gurley, wounded knee and all, to take him so high in the draft. And don’t forget Foles, who squeezed those three touchdown passes out of just 24 throws en route to a 126.9 passer rating.

    “Well, we got a contribution out of all three phases today,” Fisher said. “That’s what has been hindering us the last couple weeks. We finally had a second half of offense, and that was the difference in the ballgame.

    “As we said earlier in the week, (Arizona) is one of the top two teams in the NFC. We’re building to compete in our division and right now, we’re 2-0 in our division. So we’ve got to keep it going.”

    Fisher was in such good spirits after the game, he couldn’t even return volley on Arians, who after a 12-6 victory last December in St. Louis crowed about his defense being the best on the field that day — not a Rams unit coming off back-to-back shutouts entering that game.

    So who was the best defense Sunday?

    “I still think they’re really good,” Fisher said, speaking of Arizona. “And we’ve got some work to do.”

    When teased by reporters for not taking the bait on Arians, Fisher replied: “That’s called taking the high road.”

    October 5, 2015 at 9:57 am #31776
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    RamBill:

    —

    From Peter King

    http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2015/10/05/nfl-quarter-season-surprises-disappointments-mvp

    Now we know why Gurley went 10th

    Thirteen games Sunday, and the most compelling thing I saw was Todd Gurley’s fourth quarter. About 10 months past the reconstructive knee surgery that put the draft status of this Adrian Peterson run-a-like in doubt, here was the quarter-by-quarter performance of Gurley in his second game as a professional:

    First quarter: One carry, minus-3 yards.
    Second quarter: Three carries, 5 yards.
    Third quarter: Six carries, 38 yards.
    Fourth quarter: Nine carries, 106 yards, all in the final 12 minutes of the game.
    Total: 19 carries, 146 yards.
    Final score: Rams 24, previously unbeaten Cardinals 22. At Arizona.
    “I got one game ball!” St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher said in the Rams’ locker room. “Where’s 30? Thirty! Come up!”
    Fisher handed Gurley, No. 30, the football.
    “This is just the beginning,” Fisher said.

    Afterward, what everyone was marveling about was the eight yards Gurley didn’t gain. On his last carry, the Rams were nursing the 24-22 lead. Arizona was hoping to make a stop at the Cards 38 on third-and-12 with 1:17 left in the game. The Cards had no timeouts left, but if they could stop the Rams and force a punt, they’d get the ball back deep in their territory with maybe 30 seconds left, and maybe Carson Palmer could pull out one stunning drive to a winning field goal.

    Gurley took a handoff from Nick Foles and darted left, through some traffic around left end and down the field. He didn’t need an escort. He broke into the clear past some exhausted but pursuing Cardinals, and as he galloped down the left sideline—looking so much like the man he was compared to a hundred times pre-draft, Peterson—teammate Tavon Austin started waving him downfield toward his first NFL touchdown. A Cardinal safety, Tony Jefferson, was all that stood between him and the touchdown.

    Then Gurley slowed a bit. He didn’t appear hurt, but maybe he tweaked something as he slowed some more and lowered himself to the ground inside the 10, falling at the 8-yard line.

    He wasn’t hurt. He was smart.

    Before the play, Gurley knew Arizona had no timeouts left, and he knew if he could get the first down and kill some clock, the Rams would be able to run the clock out without Arizona touching the ball again. If he scored with 65 seconds to play, what would happen if the Rams missed the extra point? They’d have an eight-point lead, and would be kicking to one of the most explosive offenses in football. Lying down inside the 10? A no-brainer.

    “The way I’ve been coached here,” Gurley said over the phone after the game, “I know in a four-minute situation at the end of the half or the end of the game, if you have the lead, you don’t go out of bounds, and you don’t stop the clock. On that play, I didn’t care about the touchdown. I just cared about the win.”

    Gurley shouldn’t get a medal for that. He should get some appreciation for making the smart play in that situation. It capped an impressive quarter, with runs of 52, 20 and 30 yards (the final run) that only emphasized to the Rams that picking him, higher than virtually any other team would have, paid off, at least on a day when the Rams pulled the upset of Week 4. Gurley, from the University of Georgia, talked some SEC trash with LSU product Tyrann Mathieu after Mathieu hogtied him down to halt the longest run. But for the rest of the day, he let his legs do the talking.

    “Oh man, it feels great to have a day like this,” Gurley said. “It definitely means a lot to me, and to us. Some of these runs give me confidence that I can really do this here. I definitely knew what I was capable of, and I felt the support from the coaches and my teammates.”

    And the knee? “It’s fine, fine,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me. I keep up on my ice, my cold tubs, whether I think I need it or not. I feel fine now, no pain. I’ll probably feel it tomorrow.”

    After his debut—six carries, nine yards last week—Gurley was hearing from those around the team that he’ll be fine, don’t worry, better days are ahead. He knew it. The lack of impact wasn’t a big deal to him. “Listen,” he said to one team employee, “nobody’s gonna remember my first four games. What’d Adrian Peterson do his first four games?”

    Peterson, in his first four games in 2007: 76 carries, 383 yards.
    Gurley’s right: No one remembers. But for the record, Gurley’s got 228 yards to get in the next two games if he wants to catch up. I doubt he’s too concerned with chasing yards like that—he gave up eight, and a touchdown, that he could have had pretty easily in his coming-out party.

    ============
    OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

    Todd Gurley, running back, St. Louis.

    After his inauspicious debut last week, coach Jeff Fisher said that trained eyes could see Gurley was close to breaking some of his runs. Fisher, evidently, knew what he was talking about. Gurley owned the previously unbeaten Cardinals on the road Sunday. He ran 19 times for 146 yards, and did the smart thing on the final insurance drive, going to the ground instead of running into the end zone. Gurley knew the Cardinals wouldn’t get to touch the ball again if he played it that way. The Rams drafted Gurley 10th overall last spring, when he was only five months removed from reconstructive knee surgery. For one day at least, it looks like a brilliant pick.

    ===========

    Ten Things I Think I Think
    1. I think this is what I liked about Week 4:
    a. Devonta Freeman. What burst and power.
    b. The fight of the Rams.

    October 5, 2015 at 10:23 am #31777
    Avatar photoAgamemnon
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    Cards had no timeouts left, but if they could stop the Rams and force a punt, they’d get the ball back deep in their territory with maybe 30 seconds left, and maybe Carson Palmer could pull out one stunning drive to a winning field goal.

    Just a note. In those situations(about a minute left with no TOs), I have a short cut way of judging the situation. One yard per second. Meaning from where Arizona got the ball, they could gain ~30 yds. This isn’t math or gospel, but it seems to work most of the time.

    Agamemnon

    October 5, 2015 at 6:52 pm #31817
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    Rams vs Cardinals Notes and Recap
    http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2015/10/5/9453713/rams-vs-cardinals-notes-and-recap
    By misone

    @MightyOrMisone on Oct 5, 2015, 11:23a 139
    Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

    It was a helluva game played by the Rams, and not just defensively, but in all three phases…
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    The Rams played one of their better games in recent memory against the Cardinals. One can almost be certain Bruce Arians comments following last years home loss fueled some extra fire in this one.

    Whether Arians is the cause or not, there was definitely some extra umph being played with as the defense was it’s most physical I have seen in years. Every single player was looking to hurt a Cardinals player. The best tackle of the game however was Trumaine Johnson tossing John Brown like a rag doll.

    I usually begin with the offensive line here, but seeing as how everyone wants to discuss Todd Gurley, we will start there. What if I told you his best three runs were a run for -2 yards, 4 yards, and 30 yards and it’s not even close? Would you think I bumped my head? Well I didn’t. Those were in fact his best and most impressive runs. The negative two yard run was a run in the red zone on the 15 yard line. Gurley was hit in the backfield by two defenders. He bounced off of them and keep his legs going. The third defender got him down but barely. His knee never touched but he used his forearm (elbow) to stay up, by rule he was down. But this didn’t stop him as he got up and broke three more tackles and walked in the end zone. The power and refusal to be tackled by two very large defensive linemen was beyond impressive. It means defensive backs and linebackers will stand no chance in the open field. He said this week after practice his debut was cool, but he was really bothered he didn’t break any tackles, I guess he meant that. The four yard run he could have had 13 yards but he would have had to hit the sideline. Instead of doing so, he stopped and stood there to kill the clock. Not only does this show he doesn’t care about stats, but he’s smart. He showed off a very high football IQ. This IQ was even more evident as he routinely set up blocks and was perfect in blitz pick up. He had terrible technique but he got the right guy every time and he never touched the QB. The 30 yards could have been a touchdown but again he would have had to stay the course and hit the sideline. He again wisely said let’s just end them. My hat goes off to this young man. He truly is special.
    Gurley did have quite a few runs go for 10 yards or more, he displayed excellent vision when breaking these runs, but the credit has to go to the offensive line. This was their best performance as a whole by far. I have been saying a few things from the time I spent at camp. Frank Cignetti is going to have a good season, Tavon has turned the corner and will break out for a season not just two games, and Jamon Brown is a legit steal and possible pro bowl player. Well the latter was not just pro bowl yesterday, but he was All-Pro. He flattened Calais Campbell four times. 4 times. 4 X’s. Cuatro times!!!! This is Calais Campbell, and he happens to be one of the best and biggest guys in the NFL. Jamon whooped him on numerous occasions. The best one left a gaping hole which sprung Gurley for 50 yards. Rob Havenstein on the other side was kicking ass and taking names while run blocking. He had a wash down block that ultimately took out three defenders. Rodger Saffold was consistently getting to the second level and eliminating any threats. Greg Robinson blew one assignment on a pass pro and had a false start, outside of that he was excellent in the run game and really solid in the pass. Tim Barnes was abused however. He had a few decent blocks but the Cardinals found a weakness and exploited it. A sack was his fault and five stuffed runs came from him.
    Tavon Austin was all that and a bag of chips. I previously said he needs the ball more because it’s evident he has turned the corner and become the player we all wanted. I also said he would have a couple more big plays if not for bad execution by others not himself. Guess what? Those things we’re corrected this game. Austin has drastically improved his routes. And he understands concepts so much better now. He is playing so fast. He hasn’t just been elusive and fast, but since week one he has been physical. Whether he is blocking or with the ball on his hands. He has more first downs for this team then all of the running backs combined with the tightends. The first guy has yet to tackle him. Frank Cignetti is doing an excellent job of being creative and getting him the ball in a multitude of ways. He caught a screen that literally should have gone nowhere that he almost turned into a touchdown but couldn’t quite tight rope the sideline. His deep post that went for 47 yards was a reminder to teams that he is not just out there for end arounds and screens, and you’d better respect his speed. This sets up future success on those screens as teams have to play way off. Quick passes become a better asset as he can catch in the open field and show off his quicks and speed. And for anyone wondering, he now has four touchdowns through four weeks, he’s on pace for 16 total touchdowns and 900 yards of offense. That’s a good return on an investment, especially when he’s still not getting the ball 10 times a game….

    Jared Cook needs to go….
    Nick Foles had a solid game. He missed some throws both with accuracy and his eyes. Four times he missed Stedman Bailey running freely after losing Tyrann Mathieu with perfect routes. Foles never saw him on any of them. Two of those times was sure to gain at least 20 yards. Other than the missed throws Foles had a good day. The second touchdown throw to Tavon was a thing of beauty. The pump fake was genius and didn’t receive enough credit for the success of the play. And the arch throw to Bailey in the corner of the end zone was a display of flawless touch and accuracy.
    The defense now has 17 sacks. Which puts them on pace for 68 sacks, four shy of the record. Sack city is in full effect. The defensive line faced a quaterback that had not been sacked anymore than one time through three games. That all changed yesterday. They harassed and sacked Carson Palmer all game long. Chris Johnson broke a few runs but it had less to do with the line and more to do with gap containment. Aaron Donald was a terror as usual and so was Robert Quinn. Quinn was scary close on three sacks but some missed holding calls saved the day. I do however find it odd that when fans of this site really start to bash Chris Long after a game, the next time he comes out on top. After the Seahawks there was extreme trash talk. He got to the QB twice the following week. After the Steelers there’s been a lot of talk about cutting him, he got a sack and forces two errant throws. I get the feeling you’re out there reading. So with that being said, hi Christopher, tell Howie I said, ‘sup’..
    At linebacker the Rams had a bittersweet game. On one hand James Laurinaitis led the unit and had an exceptional day. On the other hand they lost what was shaping up to be the best 4-3 outside backer in the NFL this season. This is arguably the biggest blow the defense could have suffered. This loss is monumental and there’s no other way to describe it. I did however find it to be interesting that Daren Bates got the first crack at replacing him and not Akeem Ayers. I for one was the Bates band wagon leader when he was coming out and practically begged that he went undrafted on day 3 and the Rams pick him up. Dream came true. However, now three years later, in a time of need, I don’t want to see him replace Alec Ogletree as much as I do Bryce Hager. Hager may very we’ll get an opportunity but how this plays out in Ogletree’s absence will be something to keep an eye on.
    The secondary was awesome. For the thrid time this year Janoris Jenkins couldn’t be beat. He played aggressive with discipline which is everything the Rams want from him. Be you, but be smart. He was physical and made plays that don’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet. Like the run on the goal line he blew up by taking on the blocker – a 6’7″ 330 lb tackle – and allowing Ogletree a clean tackle for loss. Trumaine Johnson dropped a pick and should have three on the season. But this isn’t necessarily all that bad. In order to drop a pick you have to be in position to make the pick first. This just means he’s been showing off some savvy coverage chops consistently. It is however somewhat shocking that he has had these drops considering he is known for having some of the better hands in the DB market. He has become such a physical guy and I love it, but he needs to wrap up. Five times this season he has missed the tackle going for the kill shot. Against the Cardinals it resulted in a 20 yard gain. Even so, however, it’s going to be hard for the Rams to let him walk in the offseason if he continues to play at the level he is playing at. They love E.J. Gaines and rightfully so, but Johnson is making a strong case to be the top second tier corner available in free agency this year. Lamarcus Joyner has been the most improved player from last year to this year. He has displayed excellent coverage. And has been all over the field making tackles. And he tallied another sack yesterday. He is really coming into his own, and playing fast and physical.
    T.J. McDonald had the worst day of the DB’s. Mark Barron was perfect in covering rookie David Johnson all game, and so was Rodney McLeod. But the very second McDonald took over the responsibility, the rookie scored. The exact same scenario took place against the Seahawks with Jimmy Graham. McDonald is still struggling far too much in coverage. There has been very little improvement in this area of his game. However, his run defense has been some of the best in the NFL. Rodney McLeod has played the deep middle like a true savvy vet. Not one blown assignment and he has been as physical as always. The forced fumble on Larry Fitzgerald was a thing of beauty and perfectly timed.

    Gregg Williams and Frank Cignetti are having great seasons so far. Their play-calling has been great, even if execution hasn’t always been perfect. But this game showed how good they can be when the execution is where it should be. Jeff Fisher did a great job getting the team fired up, but this raises questions as well. Why is it that the team is not this fired up weekly, but instead only when the trash talk about the Rams and losing is at an all time high?

    Game ball has to go to the offensive line, though Tavon Austin was a close second. His very threat really opened some things up for Gurley as fake end arounds forced the defense to flow with him, leaving Gurley alone. This has the looks of a lethal combination as playaction to Gurley gave Tavon his big gainer, and it appears that Cignetti has already figured that out….

    GET WELL SOON 52!!!!!!!

    I thought I would just post the entire article from a link by Invader.

    Agamemnon

    October 5, 2015 at 9:46 pm #31821
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    10 Takeaways from the Rams’ 24-22 Win Over the Cardinals

    Posted by: Randy Karraker

    http://www.101sports.com/2015/10/05/10-takeaways-from-the-rams-24-22-win-over-the-cardinals/

    The Rams defied the oddsmakers, who had them as a seven point underdog, and their defense held the previously explosive Arizona offense to just five field goals and one late touchdown in a 24-22 thriller at University of Phoenix Stadium.

    This one featured Tavon Austin’s best game since his rookie year, and a coming out party for rooking running back Todd Gurley. With that, ten takeaways…
    gregg williams

    Rams DC Gregg Williams

    1) Gregg Williams’ defense is fun to watch. They’re aggressive, they go for the ball, and they hit! There were bigtime hits from T.J. McDonald, Janoris Jenkins, James Laurinaitis, Rodney McLeod and Alec Ogletree. The Rams defense has given up one offensive touchdown in three of their four games, and two in the other game; the loss to Washington. The Rams defense has given up 68 points…seventeen per game…and five touchdowns in four games.

    2) I have some frustration that the Rams can win the turnover battle against a good team on the road, but hasn’t been able to at home. The Rams beat the Seahawks despite losing the turnover battle, and fell to Pittsburgh while breaking even. It’s great that they’ve won the turnover ratio in both of their road games, but it would seem to be easier to do at home.

    By the way, as the Rams head to Green Bay, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hasn’t thrown an interception in 51 consecutive games there.

    3) The offensive line became aggressive and may have found itself in the second half. The kids weren’t exactly taking it to the opposition in the running game in the first three games, but opened some terrific holes in the second half, in which Gurley exploded for 144 yards on fifteen carries after Ram running backs got eight carries for one yard in the first half. Much of Gurley’s success came on the heels of massive holes opened up by a suddenly confident offensive line. His 146 yards on 19 carries were the most by a Rams rookie since Steven Jackson ran for 148 against the Eagles in 2004.

    4) Passing the ball to Tavon Austin works. Austin was targeted seven times, catching six passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Austin did not have a receiving touchdown last season, and this was his third two-touchdown game, with the last coming November 10 of 2013 at Indianapolis.
    todd gurley-2

    Gurley had 19 carries for 146 yards in Sunday’s Rams win.

    The 96 yards were his second most, after that same contest in Indy. Since his first four games in the NFL, Austin was only targeted as many as seven times once before Sunday…that being the second to last game of his rookie year. His most targets in the passing game last year was five. New offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti is trying to get the ball into Tavon’s hands, and it’s working.

    5) The Rams got explosive in the running game. Coming in, the Rams had seven running plays of ten-plus yards, and five of those had come from receivers. Austin had four and the departed Chris Givens had one. On Sunday, Gurley doubled the Rams season number explosive plays from running backs, breaking off runs of 20, 23, 30 and 52 yards.

    6) The Rams dressed Brian Quick but did not target him in the passing game. Kenny Britt was only thrown to once. That was in large part, I’m sure, because the Rams were ahead, and they didn’t need the passing game as much in the second half. I liked seeing them use Stedman Bailey for another touchdown.

    There are only so many plays in a game, but Bailey deserves to see the ball more than the tight ends at this point.

    7) Perhaps more impressive that Gurley piling up so much yardage was his having the awareness to simply go down and run the clock at the end of his thirty yard run on the second to last play of the game. Many running backs, especially young ones, would try for the end zone and risk a fumble. He didn’t, and allowed the Rams to run a victory formation at the end.

    8) Alec Ogletree was arguably the Rams best defensive player over the first month of the season, and he’ll miss extended time with an ankle injury. Ogletree suffered the injury when T.J. McDonald ran into him during a tackle in the third quarter. It’ll be difficult for the Rams to replace Ogletree, who had become a sideline-to-sideline tackling machine. Darren Bates and Cameron Lynch replaced him on Sunday. It’ll be interesting to see what Williams does. Mark Barron would be intriguing to try in that role.

    9) Nick Foles was exactly what the doctor ordered. The QB completed 16 of 24 for 171 yards, three touchdowns and, most importantly, no interceptions. With the philosophy of the offense the Rams employ, if Foles can turn in those types of numbers each week, he’ll give his team a chance to win. 21 points per game for this team should be plenty.

    10) With four more sacks, the Rams defense has seventeen on the season. They’re on pace for 68, which would be four shy of the NFL record of 72 set by the 1984 Bears. Fisher told his initial St. Louis defense that he wanted them to break that record. This group has a chance.

    Next week will provide the Rams their toughest test of the season, visiting unbeaten Green Bay and the incomparable Aaron Rodgers. This win was huge, because the Rams will hit their bye with, at worst, a 2-3 record, and they’ll have a chance to go on a run after their bye week.

    October 6, 2015 at 9:12 pm #31871
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    Foles Made Money Throws at Arizona

    Bernie Miklasz

    http://www.101sports.com/2015/10/06/daily-bits-foles-made-money-throws-at-arizona/

    In Sunday’s 24-22 upset win over the Cardinals on Sunday at Arizona, I thought Rams quarterback Nick Foles was superb when it mattered most. For all of the talk about Foles being steady and smart — words normally used to describe game-manager QB types — let’s not underestimate his ability to make big plays.

    On third-down plays against the Cardinals, Foles completed 6 of 11 for 58 yards, which doesn’t jump out at you. But his three TD passes came on third-down throws, and he had a third-down passer rating of 109.1 in the game. In the Rams’ two wins this season Foles has a 123.8 passer rating on third down. Through four games this season Foles ranks 7th among NFL quarterbacks with a third-down passer rating of 114.2. Moreover, Foles leads the NFL with four touchdown passes on third down.

    And then there was Foles’ play in the red zone at Arizona. He completed 5 of 6 passes for three touchdowns, averaging 9.76 yards per attempt, with a passer rating of 146.5.

    Foles was terrific in the opening wing over Seattle, not so good in the Rams’ dreary loss at Washington, and he threw a careless interception that sealed the Rams’ fate in their loss to Pittsburgh. But he’s also operating behind an inexperienced offensive line, and throwing to (mostly) young receivers, and the Rams’ rushing attack was running in place until rookie Todd Gurley took over Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter. Among other issues the Rams have dropped 11 passes already, and they’ll have to clean that up.

    According to Pro Football Focus Foles has been under pass-rush pressure on 40 percent of his dropbacks, the seventh-highest rate among NFL starters. It’s been only four games, but I’ve seen enough to be impressed with Foles’ accuracy under fire. Excluding dropped passes, intentional throwaways and throws batted at the line, Foles’ adjusted accuracy rate of 78 percent on attempts under pressure ranks No. 3 among starting quarterbacks.

    Foles doesn’t scare.

    “He got hit too many times,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Monday, discussing the win at Arizona. “We have to get better there. I don’t like to see our quarterback on the ground. But when he hung in there, he bought himself time. He trusted a clean pocket and got the ball down the field.”

    Another notable aspect of Foles’ game is his skill and effectiveness with play-action passes. He did well with play fakes in Philadelphia and has brought that touch to St. Louis. That’s why it’s essential for the Rams to have a strong rushing game. And that’s why Gurley’s 146-yard breakout at AZ was so important.

    The more the Rams offense can make defenses wary of Gurley’s threat to break away, that will help Foles. He can fake the handoff to Gurley, con the defense into thinking it’s a running play, and then wheel to throw downfield. It can be a beautiful way for the Rams to attack a defense.

    Foles completed 6 of 8 play-action throws at Arizona, averaging a big 11.6 yards per passing attempt.

    For the season (according to Pro Football Focus) Foles has completed 22 of 30 play-action passes (73.%), for an average of 12.2 yards per attempt, with one TD and no pickoffs. His play-action passer rating of 125 ranks third among quarterbacks, exceeded by Derek Carr and Cam Newton.

    “I will be the first one to say we have a long ways to go,” Foles said after Sunday’s game. “We still have a lot of room to improve. I know the guys are hungry to improve. This was a great team win … it starts with converting third downs. I believe we did a better job today. We were able to sustain some drives and really march it down the field. We just have to stay hungry, keep working and pay attention to detail. It is all those things and just putting in the extra time. We are a young team so we have to put in that extra time every single day to get better and take the next step forward.”

    =======

    Gurley had nine carries for 106 yards in the fourth quarter Sunday, becoming only the second NFL running back to churn for 100+ yards in the fourth quarter in a game since the start of the 2013 season. Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell (110 yards) did it last season in a Dec. 7 game at Cincinnati … Foles’ true accuracy rate (80%) ranks fifth among NFL starters this season.

    And Finally …

    The debacle at the end of the Detroit @ Seattle game was ludicrous on so many levels. How can an officiating crew miss such an obviously illegal “bat” of the ball out of the end zone by Seattle linebacker K.J. Wright on a Calvin Johnson fumble caused by Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor? This was much, much worse than the error made by the replacement officials in that famous Seattle-Green Bay end zone catch/INT in 2012. This was a full-time crew.

    And there’s no doubt this was a blown call. NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino confirmed that on the NFL Network late Monday night. Had the illegal batting been cited and called correctly, the ball would have gone back to Detroit via penalty, with a first and goal inside the 1-yard line. At that point, the Lions (trailing 13-10) would have had an 81 percent chance of winning the game according to the “Win Probability” odds.
    What I don’t understand is this: Blandino and his staff monitor every game, every play, live. They’re also connected to the officiating crew working the game and have the means to communicate directly with the head official. So why didn’t Blandino intervene? He’s done that before this season — clearing up the officials’ initial mistake on that tricky Seattle onsides kick attempt that began the overtime period in St. Louis.

    The back judge on the play told Blandino that the batting was “inadvertent.” Which is absurd, of course. Wright even admitted that he batted the ball intentionally.
    This was just a massive screwup by a league that should never, ever allow such a critical play to stand without a review — no matter what the inadequate rules state about replay-review protocol. Or whether a play is a “judgment” call and therefore not reviewable. (Makes no sense … isn’t it a judgment call when the officials decide whether a receiver caught a pass or not? Those plays can be reviewed. So what’s the difference?)

    Result: Ballgame, and a tainted victory for Seattle. And the Seahawks were able to escape with a win that leveled their record at 2-2. With a defeat, Seattle would be toting a 1-3 record into a tough road game at Cincinnati on Sunday. So this call not only dumped the Lions to 0-4, but it conceivably impacted the Rams, Cardinals and 49ers in the NFC West. If the race for first place is close, the officiating blunder and Blandino’s failure to be proactive and get the call right may end up costing one of the Seahawks’ division rivals.

    But let’s not forget about the Lions role in this … first of all, Johnson has to do a more reliable job of protecting the football. He made it easy for Chancellor to dislodge the ball and cause the fumble. Second, it’s obvious that Detroit coach Jim Caldwell was oblivious to a rule that’s been in the books for a long time. Gerry Austin, ESPN’s officiating advisor, confirmed as much after the game. “I spent 26 years in the league,” he said on ESPN. “The (intentional batting) rule has been there the entire time.”

    If Caldwell knew the rules, he could have called timeout to get the officials’ attention. Or he could have made a ruckus to get the officials’ attention. But he did nothing. “What can you do, know what I mean? We’re not going to cry about it, that’s for sure,” Caldwell told reporters after the game.
    What you can do, Coach, is know the rules.

    As former New England linebacker Rosevelt Colvin tweeted Monday night: “I PROMISE YOU BILL BELICHICK KNOWS THAT RULE…’CAUSE WE PRACTICED IT IN OUR SITUATIONAL PRACTICES

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