stuff from the net on Browns game including a must-read sideline report

from off the net

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RamzFanz

Was very exciting to watch this one live.

We show at the Dome about half way through the first Q. Look at screen, 7-0 Rams, all is well!

Crowd was maybe 4/5ths? Not blatantly empty, but plenty of open seats if you were looking. Still, VERY loud for the defense!

The buzz for Gurley was electric by both fan bases. Many chants for Gurley during the offensive snaps.

Intermingled with chants of Kronke Sucks. The natives are getting restless.

I didn’t see anything you didn’t on TV, so I can’t add to the game. A kid of maybe 10 was screaming Cook Sucks, so that warmed my heart. Did you see TA lay out that defender in the Gurley run? Go watch the highlights on NFL.com. Gurley run with Cook leading, wiff wiff wiff. Another Gurley run with TA out there, bam! Take a nap bitch!

We had a blast, made it to the Oyster Bar, and it was really good. Crawfish Etouffee, crab cakes, and BBQ shrimp that might have been the best shrimp in a sauce I’ve ever had and there was nothing even remotely BBQ about it.

What a great day. Niners are up!

from off the net

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NewMexicoRam

But no pics–my wife even complains that I’m not a photo guy.

First off, I want to THANK SignMan124 for allowing me to join his tailgate at Gate A before the game. Great time, met several Rams fans. I was a bit sad to hear that very few HERD members join the party there anymore. Not going there any further. Again, thanks SignMan124! Appreciate it!

The game was a Father’s Day gift from my family and my son-in-law’s family, so they flew both me and my son-in-law’s father, who is a Brown’s fan, but had never been at an NFL game before. He’s from Utah. Yes, the end disappointed him, but he had a great time. My first 2 Rams’ games were losses, 24-23 to the Bears in Chicago on a Monday night in Joe Namath’s last game, and in the Dome to the Seahawks 17-9 in 1997 when Tony Banks tired to stop the clock by throwing it into the turf with 0:00 on the clock. Since then, it’s Rams 6 wins and 1 loss!

Sat in section 145, 19 rows up, right on the north end zone line. Helped to listen to ESPN 101.1 FM during the game. The radio guys predicted Rams 24-14, saying “The Rams win comfortably” and that “Cleveland is due for a stinker offensively.” Someone on the radio also said the Rams needed to “keep pounding the rock.” Wow, how did fans at the game keep up before the big screens and ref mics?

I was worried there wouldn’t be much turnout because 12 minutes before kickoff, the stadium only looked 1/3 full. Within minutes, it appeared to fill about 80-85% full. Lots of Browns fans, but I’m not sure there were anymore opponents’ fans than in previous years.

Defense introduced. There were flames but no fireworks today. Live and learn.

The national anthem was by an opera singer. That last high note was shrill and uncomfortable. My reading glasses did stay intact.

My first surprise was the handoff on the opening KO, right in front of us. Must admit my fear factor gauge got turned on, thinking we would start at the 5 or something. A lot of dog barking followed, but by half-time, that noise was gone.

First series, 3 and out. Sigh. A lot of grumbling by the fans around me at that early point.

Soon after, the party got started. Jenkins caused the fumble and Macleod returns for the TD! Rumble!

Then Hayes gets his first sack and Rams fumble recovery! Party harder! Must say I was very surprised I could see the other end of the field so well from our level.

Another surprise—Gurley gets 5 yards on his first carry, and nary a peep out of the Rams faithful. Could it be that the fans are already expecting a lot more? Then another 3 and out for the Rams. Another sigh. But it’s 10-0, a nice head start.

Seemed that the Browns were making good on a lot of 3rd and longs. Feast or famine with this defense.

Gurley had another surprise—he can jump over people!

The Rams downed the punt at the 1 just in front of us. Looked good to me, but when the refs huddled after that, again, the fear factor gauge turned on, but it stayed good for the blue team by moving the ball up to the 4.

The next punt return by Tavon looked like he had a huge hole, but he was tripped up at the ankle. But it meant great field position—do something with it! False start, crowd goes quiet. Tavon drops a pass, some groans. The receivers sure weren’t helping; they just seemed to be jogging out there.

9:00 left before halftime, and the Rams have 9 yards rushing—yep, that’s pounding the rock. But many fans were ready to pound the floor in frustration.

Then the Browns started the false starts that continued on, and it started when the fans started to make noise on 3rd downs. I’ve heard louder in the Dome, but believe me, it did get loud. Someone showed up!

Before halftime, Gurley gave us a taste of what was to come. His 15 yard run showed some great feetwork. Now the O is moving right in front of us. Red zone cake. TD soon. Someone named Cook quickly blew the candles out by fumbling the ball. Up to that point, it was the only decent Rams drive.

What about all the Rams defensive offsides? The radio announcer said the Browns center was moving the ball slightly before the snap. Guess it wasn’t just the Rams who got some breaks from the refs, which my friend said was from the refs eating the Rams’ “home cooking.” LOL!

Then Aaron Donald gets into the backfield really quick for a one arm tackle on the back for a 5 yard loss. He almost took the handoff before the back did.

Gurley then gets a great run where he is just dragging people. And he just doesn’t look that big to me.

Halftime, Cleveland 139 yards, Rams 108 yards. NFL defense 1960’s style. 2nd half HAS to be Gurley time! I mean, Miami has already scored 45 points before halftime, and that’s with a new coach. Hmmmm……

Then Cleveland comes out hot from halftime, moving quickly down the field, but ends in a field goal. Good thing we have the 2nd ranked red zone defense. 10-6, too close for comfort.

Then Gurley runs on off for 47 yards to the 22—crowd goes wild! Now it’s time! All of a sudden, Gurley has a 9.3 yard/carry average.

Foles sacked, and the dog pound sounds are the loudest of the day. Well, maybe they were louder on the resulting missed FG. Got to be kidding me.

The no-huddle starts and the O gets hotter. A long pass to Britt—was he in? No, I was sitting on the goal line and even across the field I could see he was short. But all that did was lead to Gurley’s first NFL TD—and right in front of me! First of many to come! A lot of looseness in the defensive huddle right after that. Hopefully, they don’t get too loose. But at that point the Rams started to leave the middle wide open and the Browns took advantage.

On O, the Rams finally start pounding the rock, by both Tavon and Gurley. The handwriting is on the wall and the fans can sense it. Gurley TD on the other end of the field. #2 for his career.

There’s more action, even Johnny TD gets in, but it’s over. Rams kneel, and the Gurley, Tavon, defense show is over. Rams 24, Browns

from off the net

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Marshall’s Faulk28HOF

SIDELINE REPORT (zn note: MF28HOF has done these before. He works with the guys who supply oxygen on the sideline)

yes I consider myself lucky. As a fan its pretty freakin awsome. I get 2-3 games a year. This is game #2… I worked the Colts preseason game. I’m hoping to get at-least one more. Its interesting because its not all the TV shine, the NFL network stuff etc. its the real gritty part of the sport of football. Whenever you go to the games. Look for the people on the sidelines right behind the bench in bright bright red shirts. Thats my crew. Can’t miss us…the shirts are really bright red so the players and trainers can see us…I will say we assist the medical staff and leave it at that…its nothing top secret but I just don’t want to get into it on the internet. …if you look for us, we are easy to spot and you would see how close we are to everything…we really are lucky. If I never get a chance to do it again, I have got some life long memories….I’m lucky for sure. NFL films wont tell or show alot of this part. Like I said earlier even reporters and photographers, former players etc. are banned from that part of the sidelines.

Its a world in a world. You would be shocked how short half time is…on TV it feels like a half hour, in real time its like 10-15 min tops.
Here’s another funny tid bit…at half time our equipment room is next to the locker room. We’re all in there eating hot dogs together, players, staff, doctors etc. lol. Its so surreal!

I want to start with two things.One, I actually spoke to Demoff back by the locker rooms. I walked up to him and point blank asked him… good afternoon Kevin, will the Rams be here next year and he said with a smile “I sure hope so,” he smiled and then he winked…I have absolutely no idea what that meant”. The guy that was working with me goes “what does that mean”? It was the weirdest thing…but I think most of them have no idea. In talking to guys in the organization some say, yeah we are out of here, the next guy says no one really knows…so take that for what its worth…but they are all on guard when the question is brought up.

Secondly, most of this will be about Gurley and the offense because that’s what I chose to focus on…. I was not concerned about watching the game because I had it recorded at home. And its always hard to see between everything in front of you…These guys are taught not to really watch the game when they come off the field because you have be coached up, so they want you focused on your position coach. So that’s why its actually interesting on the bench because most of us armchair coaches really have no idea what we are talking about most days lol.

Todd Gurley: He is huge. You don’t get a sense of the size of some of these guys until you actually stand next to them in uniform. Tv does it no justice. He is big. Not as big as SJ39 but you quickly see why you have too bring your hardhat for 4 quarters when you play the Rams now.

We all saw what he did on the field so I’m not going to get into that..but I will tell you this kid gets it. He is the least cocky rookie superstar in the making I can think of in recent memory. He is cool with the fans, he’s cool with media and he cool with vets.

In the first half when things weren’t going well, in the 2nd quarter they had come off the field, I think it was a 3 and out. He (the rookie) pulled the entire offense in a huddle, O-linemen, WRs and TEs and Foles and said, ” We are fine. We just gotta keep pushing. We are close to pushing through, I got ya’lls back. And I know you got mine. We gonna keep pushing”.

Its amazing to see guys responding to this kid. I was really shocked because he seems sort of quiet and reserved. He is not on the field. He accepts coaching well, asks alot of questions and was constantly asking Tre Mason what he was seeing out there…Benny Cunningham is a pros pro…He is constantly in Todd’s ear on what he’s seeing as well..

Todd got tackled for a loss on a play when they came off the field and back to the bench he went straight to offensive line. Went to each lineman, looked each one in the face and told them we’re almost there…He said that was my fault I saw the crease too late. He is constantly telling guys you are doing great. Kept pumping them up, constantly being encouraging to them…I mean you talk about leadership. I am telling you as the season goes on you will start to hear more and more about his leadership. Its really remarkable and then he is going on the field and backing it all up.

Who was the first person to calm Cook down after the fumble? You guessed it…Gurley. He sat down next to him and said, Bro, its all good. Don’t worry we will get it back. We need you with us bro. He calmed Cook down who was clearly pissed at himself.

I’m telling you this kid is fast becoming a team leader. I was on the defensive side of the bench when Gurley did the hurdle play. Robert Quinn was simply speechless. He looked at Hayes and just shook his head in amazement.

I think we all are seeing what the hype is about…you have to remember we all, including his teammates are seeing him for the first time. Remember no training camp no preseason. We are all witnessing it together. You really don’t know who’s who until they get in the games.

They were giving him a little chit,(in a friendly way) when everyone was chanting his name. It was really cool.

The kid gets it and he seems humble. Really humble. He knows hes a rookie and does well to try to stay in his place as his star continue to grows. It really was impressive to watch. Its interesting to say the least.

I like Foles’ presence as well…He may be game manager on this offense but he is also a leader. After Gurley stopped talking to Cook after the fumble Foles went over to him got down on one knee, got in his face and said, look I need you… I’m going to continue to come to you…stay with me bro..it was impressive.

The offensive line: Boudreau was going nuts after the penalty on G-Rob. He laid into G-Rob like nobodies business. He said very loudly that is some real “female body part” chit out there..! G-Rob just looked dumbfounded…Garrett seems to be the calming force. Boudreau was constantly talking to Barnes. Obviously there was a couple of communication issues in the run game. They got it corrected in the second half. Fun game to be at..finally came home last night and got a chance to watch the full game. I always find it funny that these players are using the bathroom on the sidelines and no one ever knows it.

If Gurley can stay healthy and they put a few more pieces around him like human beings that can get open catch the ball he could be even more dangerous. AP is just now getting some real offensive talent around him on the backend of his career. Rams have to do that now not 10 years from now

…the running backs typically sit next to the TEs. Mason was totally into it. He didn’t look upset or not like he wasn’t paying attention. But if you are injured you’re sort of an after thought…after the fumble you can clearly tell Cook’s confidence is at an all time low. I think that’s why Foles went and got in his face and told him he was going to keep throwing to him…he was really quiet and to himself after the fumble. Good thing they won, because that’s all anyone would’ve been talking about..Cook is suffering from a confidence issue at this point. This offense was supposed to feature him in the passing game and now he can’t be counted on…we all see it.

This team really seems to like each other. multiple team leaders. I don’t think there are any real knuckleheads on this team. Part of the reason Givens was a bit easier to get rid of…Jenks is the closest you have to that and he really has been a model citizen off the field.

Tru is becoming another intimidation factor on this defense.Teams are throwing his way and he is making WRs pay when the catch the ball. Greg Williams came over to Tru after a tackle and told him ‘Thats what I’m talking about, make them feel you when they want to throw your way”!