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znModeratorRight now I would guess that only Seahawks fans worry about playing the Rams much.
So far.
znModeratorColin Cowherd was talking about how NFL executives were saying, Bradford had bad coaching his whole NFL career. It sounded they were taking a stab at Spags and Fisher.
It’s bs.
Bradford played well for quite a few patches there.
But he hasn’t had a team like the Vikes.
Meanwhile remember some of us pointed out all along that he was good, and had played well when the situation was there for him to do it. This is going back years.
Sounds to me like all Cowherd is doing is trying to cover up for the fact he got it wrong all along.
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znModeratorWelcome back, Chuck Knox!
And…told ya!
I boldly predict the Rams go into Tampa and eke out a win with a safety after the punter tries a fake drop kick field goal from his own endzone.
? Chuck Knox would have run the ball.
The Rams set up their points by passing the ball. The run was not gaining ground though they smartly stuck to it. But if they didn’t and couldn;t pass they would have no offense, and therefore no field goals to show for it. And they did that against a top secondary.
I was mainly referring to the score.
Okay.
znModeratorWelcome back, Chuck Knox!
And…told ya!
I boldly predict the Rams go into Tampa and eke out a win with a safety after the punter tries a fake drop kick field goal from his own endzone.
? Chuck Knox would have run the ball.
The Rams set up their points by passing the ball. The run was not gaining ground though they smartly stuck to it. But if they didn’t and couldn;t pass they would have no offense, and therefore no field goals to show for it. And they did that against a top secondary.
znModeratorHomecoming King Pete Carroll fumes, falls with Seahawks
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20160918/homecoming-king-pete-carroll-fumes-falls-with-seahawks
LOS ANGELES >> There were flames and smoke and daylight fireworks, the big homecoming dressed up entirely too well Sunday for something that would implode into rubble.
Oh, the Rams won, 9-3, beating Seattle in a football game decided by actual feet, the kicker-infested victory coming in their first regular-season game in Southern California since 1994.
But the homecoming king? He lost, Pete Carroll watching helplessly from the sideline as his Seahawks did what his USC teams rarely did in the Coliseum – lose and in a way more offensive than OFFensive.
• Box score
• Photo gallery
Just one lousy field goal? Carroll’s Trojans regularly produced more highlights during pre-practice calisthenics.
“I never would have thought we’d go two weeks scoring only one touchdown,” Carroll said, Seattle winning its opener last weekend over Miami, 12-10. “We’re better than that.”
Not on Sunday they weren’t, the Seahawks were unable to solve a Rams defense that made the normally elusive Russell Wilson look like a quarterback with a tender ankle.
Of course, that’s exactly what Wilson was in this game, though Carroll refused to use that ailment as an excuse for why his entire offense limped around.
He also chose to pass on blaming the officials, even after spending a decent amount of the fourth quarter doing something that appeared akin to berating them.
Seattle was called for offensive pass interference three times Sunday, the last penalty resulting in Carroll pretty much fumbling away his 65-year-old mind, the NFL’s oldest coach suddenly more crotchety than ever.
Arguing in a way as animated as “The Simpsons,” Carroll tore into a field judge named Eugene Hall, and when you have to look up the name of the field judge, something interesting certainly has happened.
“I just thought the official was in a difficult position to call what he called,” Carroll explained later, his blood pressure no longer red-lining. “But that didn’t … I’m going to gripe about calls all the time. That’s just one of them.”
At one point while pleading for clarity, Carroll plowed into one of his own players, wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, the roughness unnecessary but hardly unentertaining.
Carroll was still rambling in the direction of an official five players later, as Seattle was lining up to punt.
“We have to not have offensive pass interference penalties,” he said. “Those were crushers today.”
As much history as the Rams have in this town and in this stadium, it’s two of Carroll’s teams that are remembered in big numerals painted inside the Coliseum.
The Trojans are honored for the national titles they won in 2003 and 2004, an era during which USC routinely broke school records for number of people in the stands and number of celebrities on the field.
From where he stood during the game Sunday, Carroll could have looked up and admired those numerals.
But the guess here is he was too busy trying to figure out how a team that used to shove Marshawn Lynch down the throat of the opposition no longer can run the ball.
To understand how magical Carroll’s time at USC was, recall that he helped revive the popularity of Henry Winkler, a regular back then at Trojans games and the reason I once was able to report “Fonzie’s on the field again.”
So, even with the Rams wearing their old-school uniforms against the Seahawks and recognizing some of their all-time greats at halftime, this game, in terms of commemorating championships, was more about Carroll.
As for feeling nostalgic afterward, he either misheard the question or had no interest in revisiting a golden era later tarnished by NCAA sanctions.
“That had no factor in any of this,” he said. “It was no issue. Not for me or anyone else around here.”
Despite all of Carroll’s success at USC, this defeat technically means he has a two-game Coliseum losing streak.
His Trojans dropped their regular-season finale here in 2009 to Nick Foles and Arizona, 21-17.
Foles once was quarterback of the Rams, his departure in the offseason preventing Carroll from having to relive too much of that final USC loss Sunday.
Instead, he was able to experience losing to Case Keenum, who again failed to direct the Rams into the end zone but was good enough to produce a victory and – for now, at least – slow the “Got Goff” crowd.
“I thought this was going to be a hard one, and it was,” Carroll said. “Those guys did a nice job. We got in our own way a bit, too. We have to be better, have to play better.”
The Seahawks aren’t a traditional opponent to schedule for a celebration, Seattle having been to two recent Super Bowls.
But this is the NFL, which always seems to maximize drama, the league figuring out a way for both victory and defeat to be felt on a single homecoming.
znModeratorAlden Gonzalez
The Rams wore their popular throwback uniforms, sporting the royal blue and yellow they wore when they last called this city home. Quarterback Case Keenum made sure to take it all in as he made his way out of the tunnel and onto the field.
“Just to savor that moment and remember,” Keenum said. “I’m going to write that stuff down because I want to remember that forever. It was cool. It was really cool. It may not have been the prettiest game, but it was a lot of fun.”
Keenum went from 17-of-35 for 130 yards, with two interceptions, in a 28-0 loss in Week 1, to 18-of-30 for 239 yards, with zero turnovers in Week 2. The Rams’ passing attack was a lot more vertical against a standout Seahawks secondary, with Keenum completing five passes of more than 15 yards. But the Rams have yet to get in the end zone, largely because star running back Todd Gurley has rushed for a combined 98 yards on 36 carries in two games.
The defense had to carry them.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson got hit nine times and called the Rams’ unit “one of the hardest defenses we will face all year.” Quinn recorded a fumble-producing sack to end the first half. Fellow defensive end Will Hayes, who said he was “ashamed just to even be around the city” after the season-opening loss, picked up a sack, too. Star defensive end Aaron Donald hit Wilson a team-leading four times and recorded two tackles for loss.
And then, at the end, there was Ogletree, launching himself toward running back Christine Michael to pry the ball loose and give the Rams the win they so desperately needed.
“Proud of the guys in the locker room, excited for our fans,” Ogletree said. “It’s an amazing feeling to be out there today. It’s a historical moment, and I was glad to be a part of it.
znModeratorAfter calling team meeting, Rams’ Alec Ogletree helps deliver big win
Alden Gonzalez
LOS ANGELES — As soon as Alec Ogletree realized that the possession was his, and that a win over the Seattle Seahawks was complete, and that this city could finally celebrate, the Los Angeles Rams linebacker dashed to the other end of the field, found his parents, Allison and Al, and handed them the football.
“I wouldn’t be here without them,” Ogletree said. “I’m definitely thankful to have them both in my life.”
Ogletree’s game-ending strip and recovery — with less than a minute to go and the Seahawks only 35 yards away from a potential game-winning touchdown — culminated the dominant defensive effort that made an emotional, enthralling 9-3 victory possible.
Fitting, too, that it was Ogletree.
It was Ogletree — more vocal, more boisterous now that he is the middle linebacker and signal-caller for this defense — who called a player’s only meeting the night before this game. He told his teammates that they needed to stick together and put the misery of a season-opening loss on Monday Night Football behind them. Most of all, he told them to savor moments like these.
“You play the game long enough, you realize how fast the time flies,” Rams defensive end Robert Quinn said. “Every game is important. You have to realize it. You want to capture the moment because you don’t want to say, ‘We should’ve done this better, that better.’ He was basically just challenging each other to live up to their potential and not play like we did earlier this week.”
The Rams were playing their first home game at the Coliseum since 1979 and more than 91,000 fans showed up for it. The Red Hot Chili Peppers performed a pregame concert, CeeLo Green sang the national anthem, Magic Johnson and LeBron James joined a slew of celebrities in the stands and a collection of Rams Hall of Famers — Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Tom Mack, Orlando Pace, Jackie Slater and Jack Youngblood — helped light the Olympic torch.
The fans, Rams coach Jeff Fisher noted, “were incredible.”
Cornerback Coty Sensabaugh said: “I felt the ground shaking a couple times.”
znModeratorhttp://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-729423-hill-first.html
STAR-STUDDED
True to form, the stars came out to welcome the Rams back to Los Angeles.
Before the Coliseum hosted its first NFL regular-season game since Dec. 24, 1994, the Red Hot Chili Peppers wore Rams jerseys and performed two songs: “Can’t Stop” and “Dark Necessities” – curiously eschewing the more California-focused parts of their discography.
After the short set, lead singer Anthony Kiedis – who shed his No. 16 Jared Goff jersey halfway through this performance – remained on stage afterward to announce the Rams’ starting defense as it ran onto the field.
During the first quarter, “The Late Late Show” host James Corden danced in the end zone with the Rams’ cheerleaders, wearing a similar outfit.
Other big names in the audience included LeBron James, Magic Johnson, L.A. mayor Eric Garcetti and actress Elizabeth Banks. Shortly after the game, the Emmys began less than four miles away at L.A. Live.
EXTRA POINTS
For the second week in a row, defensive end Robert Quinn raised his right fist during the pregame national anthem – part of the movement that 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has sparked to protest the oppression of black Americans and other people of color. However, he was not joined this time by receiver Kenny Britt, who had also raised his fist during the season opener. … The Rams donned their throwback jerseys Sunday, pleasing many fans who have yearned for the old L.A. colors. “Everybody in the locker room loves the throwbacks,” quarterback Case Keenum said. “Something about that blue and yellow that go together.”znModerator…how good Norv Turner is at getting newly acquired qbs up to speed to play well soon. He’s done it before.
That was not meant to take anything away from Bradford btw.
He ended the game 22 of 31 (71%) for 286 yards (9.2 YPR), with 2 TDs, 0 Ints, and a qb rating of 121.2
Not that he’s Case Keenum or anything but that’s pretty good.
znModerator…how good Norv Turner is at getting newly acquired qbs up to speed to play well soon. He’s done it before.
That was not meant to take anything away from Bradford btw.
He ended the game 22 of 31 (71%) for 286 yards (9.2 YPR), with 2 TDs, 0 Ints, and a qb rating of 121.2
Not that he’s Case Keenum or anything but that’s pretty good.
znModeratorThoughtful response ER. We may have to agree to disagree on Givens though…I probably just don’t like him as much as you do (not that you said he was Randy Moss).
On Britt? I think he will be okay this year. I know he is not the same kind of player Givens is–they have different measurables and skill sets—but I do like KB in the deep ball role this year. You probably don’t like him as much as I do (and I don’t like him as much as I would an actual consistent #1 WR).
.
September 19, 2016 at 12:11 am in reply to: Fisher, Gurley & almost every other Ram…9/18… vids & transcripts #53298znModeratorRams Head Coach Jeff Fisher
(Opening remarks)
“That was a great win for us for all of those obvious reasons. Our first game back here the fans were incredible. It made this a tough place to play starting day one, which was really impressive. We had many opportunities and there’s going to be a lot of things we have to correct, and we had some mistakes. But when it’s said and done, we take the win. That’s an outstanding football team. They’re always in it until the end. You never know. You can’t relax with (Seattle QB) Russell (Wilson). We gave away the big play there at the end, which we shouldn’t have, but we got the play back with (LB Alec Ogletree) Tree’s strip. It’s nice coming away with a win after a short week on the road, and now we got to get back on the road again. I was proud of (QB) Case (Keenum). He bounced back after last week. You know, there are some realities to where we are right now. We’re 1-1 in the Division and we haven’t scored a touchdown yet. We need to score some touchdowns, so we’ll keep working on that.”(On how much the lack of touchdowns is concerning him)
“Anybody that knows this game would be concerned about not scoring touchdowns, now come on. I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but we need to score some touchdowns. But I’ll take this win, winning and then some. So if we take anything away from this week, that’s what we got to do. We got to keep working on it someway somehow, whether it’s special teams or defense, but I’ll take a touchdown next week. That would be cool.”(On how important the fans were to that last Seahawks drive)
“They were great, it was great the whole game! They were just outstanding. It has an impact, it really does. Most teams benefit from it, and Seattle especially, but it’s nice to have that on our side now so that we can take advantage of our pass rush and all those things associated with the noise.”(On the “slugfest” between the two teams on the field that know each other so well)
“That’s what it was. It became evident early that this was going to be a field position game, so we managed as best we could. Holding them at the three points down there was huge for us, and they’re saying the same thing about us, but goal-to-goal on the three you couldn’t get in, but that’s a trait to both the defenses. I would suggest, instead of being critical of the offenses, you’ve got to be very, very congratulatory as far as the defenses are concerned because both of them are playing well.”(On the Rams 3-1 “dominance” over the Seahawks throughout past four seasons)
“I wouldn’t call it ‘domination.’ I would just call it what it is. You know, we match-up well against them and strange things happen in these games, too. I mean we beat them a couple of years ago without scoring a touchdown. Well we had a special teams touchdown, but we beat them with field goals. Just figure out a way to beat them.”(On LB Alec Ogletree’s performance)
“I mean he’s had two back-to-back outstanding weeks on defense right now. To make that play, that’s what he does and he’s shown it before. Someone needed to make a play and he got near the ball and he made the play.”(On how proud he is of his defense today)
“Yeah, I mean it’s a week-to-week thing. Last week we were disappointed in the first half and the points allowed, and this week you’ve got to give them credit. They played hard the whole game. Got off the field, it was tough, they were harassing (Seattle QB) Russell (Wilson), and I thought we did a good job, with exception of the first drive where we had field position changed. We gave up about 20 yards rushing in two or three plays, but I thought we handled their run game pretty well, too.”(On QB Case Keenum’s performance)
“Well he bounced back. He had a good week, came back and made plays. That’s a tough defense to attack and throw against. You know, we had some drops nonetheless, but he put the ball where it needed to be put. The last play to (WR) Kenny (Britt) was a great throw – great anticipation, great throw.”(On the history of today’s game experience)
“Oh yeah, it was incredible! I got bits and pieces of it all week – I mean since we’ve come here – but all week. I thought the production and everything associated with the game was incredible. The anthem, I didn’t get to enjoy the concert like you guys did, but there was some good stuff going on today.”(On the decision to keep the door open for Seattle by punting it to the 10-yard line instead of attempting a 55-yard field goal)
“Well, no. It became a field position game. I’d rather them start their drive at the 10-12-yard line, than not make the kick. It has nothing to do with the confidence in the kicker, it just makes sense as far as managing the game.”(On how he can get RB Todd Gurley going more)
“We just have to get him some more touches. He ran well when he had the ball. Again, it’s the same thing we’ve been talking about if we convert more third downs we get more opportunities. He’ll be fine. He’ll just be fresh at the end of the season.”(On WR Kenny Britt’s success on big plays)
“I remember the big plays, but I also remember the third-down drop, so being more consistent. That’s what we need to do as a group, as a receiving group. But he made the big plays and the throws were there. And the throws were timing throws, and he’s showing some run-after-catch, which we expect out of him.”Rams QB Case Keenum
(On bouncing back from last week’s loss against San Francisco)
“It feels good, It feels really good to bounce back. I think anytime you encounter some adversity, we knew what we needed to fix something— just like I told you guys last week. We looked at the film and fixed it and I think we were better today. Obviously, I like touchdowns, but I love winning. So either way, I think the defense played incredible today. You know they’re (the Seahawks) got a great quarterback (Russell Wilson) and great offense and they are a really good team. I think that our defense did an incredible job with putting us in a position to win. We’ve managed to put enough points on the board to do it. It wasn’t pretty, but it doesn’t matter how, it matters how many, the end.”(On the situation to get more touchdowns)
“I want touchdowns and we got down there. I think we had a penalty, maybe a negative run, just negative plays in the red zone. It is not good. When we get down there, yards are precious in the red zone, just executing. We had a chance on that third down to (WR) Kenny (Britt). I underthrew him. I think we had a good play on and just missed. Some of those other ones and just converting third downs and staying positive in the red zone. We got down close to field-goal range a couple of times, obviously helped with the field position battle, but if you’re going to be successful in this league, there are a lot of really good offenses, you have to score points.”(On building on this win and using this momentum to go forward)
“I think we keep doing what we are doing. I think we’ve got to forget about this one. We’ve got a 24-hour rule. Enjoy it tonight, and for me, I always use that long shower you are talking about. I wash everything off. The showers here are extremely hot and I took a nice long shower and I’m going to get ready for this coming week. That’s my motto. Same thing as last week, forget about it and move on because it’s a long season and every week there is another opponent that is really, really good. Every week, there is an opponent that is really, really good. There’s no time, honestly, to breathe or let your guard down— you have to keep pushing on in this league.”(On how he over thought last week and the difference he saw today)
“I think it was better. There’s obviously, plays I want back, but my guys made a lot of good plays for me down the field. Offensive line did a great job— I don’t think I was touched in the first half. You‘ve got to give those guys some credit for being ready to play. I think just trusting it, just trusting the offense and the play, trusting my guys, trusting my protection. I think we did a good job of that this weekend. I think we can continue to get better on that as we move forward.”(On his chemistry with WR Kenny Britt)
“I knew all week Kenny was going to play real well. He was hungry this week. I mean, Kenny Britt came to work and I knew that he was going to have a special game. He had some really big catches there. Even battling through the drop on the third down, which I immediately told him that, ‘I’m coming to you again.’ I love throwing him the ball. I think all of those guys have done a great a good job and we are going to continue to grow and create chemistry.”(On the drive at the 50-yard line and the fan atmosphere)
“It was good. I thought the crowd was good, it was loud. There were still one or two times where we were on offensive where this [gestures a keep it down motion] does not mean chug your beer and yell louder or start the wave, it means maybe watch and hopefully cheer after a touchdown. No, but I loved it. The fans— it was awesome. That was really, really cool. I made sure right before I went out in the tunnel, and as I’m running out, just to look around and just to savor that moment and remember. I am going to write that stuff down because I want to remember that forever, It was cool. It was really cool. It may not have been the prettiest game but it was a lot of fun.”(On the throwback uniforms and the crowd atmosphere)
“I love the throwbacks, I really do. Everybody in the locker rooms loves the throwbacks. Something about that blue and yellow that go together and it was cool. It was cool to see— you kept looking up at the scoreboard and there would be somebody else at the game, that you knew and were there and a part of it. I think a lot of people will remember this day. I’ll look back one day to think about how cool it is, but I think it was good to get a win.”(On how key it is to get RB Todd Gurley the ball more and generate more points)
“Todd is going to get going, it’s Todd. I think just continue to operate how we are. I think the passing game and running game are going to compliment each other. I think we are doing a good job of marrying some of those plays. I’m excited to see him continue to go because I know he’s hungry. I thought he played well today. We’re going to rely on him a lot moving forward.”(On WR Tavon Austin finding space and getting the ball more to make plays)
“I think there was… the one down the field I overthrew, but one little slant that I’m pretty sure he might still be running if I don’t overthrow that one, too. He’s a guy that’s explosive and you want the ball in his hands at any point. Anytime we can find him a little bit of space, he doesn’t need much, he can get going. (Head) Coach (Jeff Fischer) is doing a good job of preparing us and I think they’ll do a good job of getting the ball in his hands.”(On if WR Tavon Austin’s ability to create space is dependent on the success of other offensive players such as WR Kenny Britt and RB Todd Gurley)
“I think he does a good job of making space for himself. He is extremely talented and fast and I love throwing to fast guys. I think all parts of offenses need each other to help… if one area is faltering, another area needs to help pick it up.”(On if getting WR Todd Gurley going and made him more confident in the play-action)
“You can say whatever about the run game with Todd (Gurley), but he’s respected. People respect him running the football. So anytime you stick the ball out there and have him fake, and he does a great job of that stuff and with protections, you can say he’s the reason that a lot of those passes down field are working.”Rams RB Todd Gurley
(On what it was like playing in that environment)
“It was good, it felt great.”(On what it’s like to bounce back after last week’s performance)
“It felt good just to be able to put up some points. Obviously, we can do a lot better. But, we’ll look at the film tomorrow, and get back to work.”(On if the crowd fueled his performance)
“Yeah, that helped us out. But, we can’t depend on the crowd. We have got to go get our own energy. The crowd was definitely in it, and did a good job.”(On what way he felt the team improved this week)
“We put some points on the board, just here to scare.”(On what the offense needs to do to score)
“I don’t know. We’ll find out tomorrow.”(On if he was frustrated by his personal performance)
“It’s whatever. It’s football, you’re not going to have a great game every game.”(On his thoughts regarding rushing the ball to set up the Rams’ play-action passing scheme)
“I don’t know. I’m not an (Offensive Coordinator) OC. I can’t really tell you. Just go out there and run the plays coach gives us.”(On if there were any changes in preparation leading up to this game)
“I don’t think anything last week had anything to do with it. Like I said, we’re going to run our offense. We just need to go out there and execute, and put some points on the board. It’s a simple game. We’ve been doing this our whole lives. Play football, win the one-on-ones, and make plays.”(On if he felt any extra motivation leading into the game)
“No. I’m ready to play every week. I treat every game like the same.”(On his thoughts regarding QB Case Keenum’s performance)
“He did a great job. Obviously, we didn’t have any turnovers, so that was definitely a plus. We don’t turn the ball over, your chances are you’re probably going to win.”(On if he feels defenses are focusing more on stopping him)
“It’s the same as last year. Got to go out there and, like I said, execute and win.”(On his thought getting the first win under his belt)
“It felt good. First home game in this city. About to go on the road for a couple weeks.”(On the reception of the fans in the Coliseum)
“It was great. They had high energy all game. They did a great job.”(On the amount of field goals in comparison to the lack of touchdowns)
“We got the win. We got to go out there and score some touchdowns. But hey, it’s better than what we did last week; better improvement.”Rams TE Lance Kendricks
(On if it bothered him that the didn’t score a touchdown)
“It does, but we know we left some things out there on the field that we can learn from. Going forward, I think we just have to learn from it, and just continue to practice hard and just focus on the details. That’s what got us this win.”(On what effect the crowd had on the team’s performance)
“It was really important. Having that energy behind us, it helped immensely. When we go three-and-out, hearing them yell when our defense makes a sack, or something, that gives us energy, and that helps us out.”(On if the crowd noise was more than what he expected it to be)
“It was. We got a sneak peak in the preseason, but today I think it was a little louder. It was hot; everyone was just kind of ready to go. It’s always a fourth-quarter game when we play them. I think today, we just grinded it out like we normally do against them.”(On the difference between last week, and this week in terms of offense)
“It’s a little bit of everything. It’s game plan, but we know Seattle. We’ve been good, lately, against them, so we know them. They’re really good at what they do, but they’re very simple in what they do. We just got to be able to execute against what they do, and they do it well. It comes down to us making plays.”(On what this win does for the team)
“It helps our confidence. We know we’re going in the right direction. After last week, outside of this locker room, everybody was kind of panicking. But, we know what we have in this locker room, and we know we have the talent. It’s just a matter of putting it all together, and I think we did that this week, and I think we continue to do that moving forward.”Rams LB Alec Ogletree
(Opening remarks)
“Really proud of the guys in the locker room, proud of our fans. It was an amazing feeling to be out there today – it was a historical moment, glad to be a part of it.”(On how he felt about the home opener)
“I think we did a really nice job of coming home and winning. Like I said, it was an amazing, historical moment. To be here, I’m definitely glad that we were able to come out with a win.”(On what happened on his fumble recovery)
“It kind of happened all so fast. We were playing like some type of man-coverage – I was kind of just roaming the field. I dropped like 30 yards deep, which I don’t even think I was supposed to do. I just saw him (Seahawks QB Russell Wilson) check it down, I just ran it down. (LB/S) Mark (Barron) did a good job of containing and making him come back to me and we were able to get the ball out and give our offense back the ball to get in victory formation.”(On what goes through his mind when he sees the ball lying on the field)
“Get on the ball. Get on the ball as fast as possible and hold on tight because everybody is going to come diving on the pile and try to get the ball away from me. That was my mindset.”Rams DE Robert Quinn
(On if this win meant more because it was the first game back in Los Angeles)
“Every game is important, of course we’d love – the first home opener in L.A., of course that makes it a little more special. But every game, we look at it as important. Because we want to have a great season, we’ll put it that way and give ourselves a chance. To beat a tough opponent like this, no matter where it’s at, no matter how they’re feeling, no matter how we’re feeling, we have to figure out a way to win. Guys definitely did that today and that’s all we can ask for.”(On what was going through his mind when the Seahawks got the ball back with less than 2:00 minutes)
“We have to bow-up as a defense. Because, if they score a touchdown, we can basically lose the game. We definitely just had to bow-up as a defense, keep them out of the end zone and, of course, they made that huge play on first-or-second down. So we really had to rise up. Like I said, guys did a great job. I don’t know who forced that fumble, but I’m happy we got it out and got the ball back for the offense. The guys just rose up, never panicked, stayed level-headed and were able to come out with the victory that ended on a turnover.”(On how the defensed regained its energy after losing in Week 1)
“Last week, we were definitely disappointed with our play. But at the end of the day, we had to put it behind us because the game was over. We had a tough division opponent with the Seahawks and we just focused on that. Like I said, we knew we had to play better and we used how bad we played the first game for a little motivation. We realized we need more from everybody and I think everyone stood up today and made a play when needed.”September 19, 2016 at 12:05 am in reply to: Fisher, Gurley & almost every other Ram…9/18… vids & transcripts #53297znModeratorwork done by RamBill
Postgame Interview with Kenny Britt
http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Postgame_Interview_with_Kenny_Britt/acf1559e-dc89-4cb2-8d43-5b8813f1357aPostgame Interview with Alec Ogletree
http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Postgame_Interview_with_Alec_Ogletree/6ab03905-47f2-4501-a0e1-256781451e98Alec Ogletree Postgame Press Conference – 9/18
http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Alec_Ogletree_Postgame_Press_Conference_918/29230cb4-22ed-44ae-88d2-24293f6f6a96Case Keenum Postgame Press Conference – 9/18
http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Case_Keenum_Postgame_Press_Conference_918/5015b1d5-a75b-4211-846d-63a82582142dWilliam Hayes Postgame Press Conference – 9/18
http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/William_Hayes_Postgame_Press_Conference_918/e2e96123-82f8-4a84-8a53-9118ce40ec82Lance Kendricks Postgame Press Conference 9/18
http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Lance_Kendricks_Postgame_Press_Conference_918/523a10f6-3659-4eb2-8649-005635cbd1c3Robert Quinn Postgame Press Conference – 9/18
http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Robert_Quinn_Postgame_Press_Conference_918/16051e12-4931-4894-8ae5-c380a8e66f07znModeratorRams Win L.A. Homecoming
Myles Simmons
On a day full of emotion for the NFL’s first game in Los Angeles in over 20 years, the Rams turned in a strong defensive performance to beat the Seahawks, 9-3.
With an announced crowd of 91,046, Los Angeles did not allow Seattle to get into a rhythm throughout the contest, holding the visitors to 31 percent (4-of-13) in third-down efficiency. The Seahawks ran only 61 plays, rushing for just 67 yards on 24 carries as the Rams picked up seven tackles for loss. Quarterback Russell Wilson finished 22-of-35 for 254 yards passing, and there were few rushing lanes open for him as he registered five carries for 14 yards. L.A. got to Wilson for 2.0 sacks and eight quarterback hits.
“That was a great win for us for all of those obvious reasons,” head coach Jeff Fisher said after the game. “Our first game back here, the fans were incredible. It made this a tough to play starting day one, which was really impressive.”
The crowd was of particular importance once the game had fewer than two minutes in the second half. With the Rams up by six, the Seahawks got the ball back on their own 12-yard line with 1:53 left and only one timeout remaining. Wilson started the possession with a 53-yard pass to wide receiver Tyler Lockett, placing Seattle on Los Angeles’ 35-yard line. But from there the L.A. defense dug in. After a Wilson incompletion, the cheering of 90,000-plus helped induce a false start penalty on tight end Jimmy Graham to make 2nd-and-10, 2nd-and-15.
“We need that,” middle linebacker Alec Ogletree said. “We got them to do a couple false starts and I know it was loud in there and it was hard for them to hear, so we definitely appreciate that.”
On third down, Ogletree would help seal the victory. Wilson completed a pass over the middle to running back Christine Michael, but the middle linebacker and linebacker Mark Barron combined to force the ball out before Michael could reach the first-down marker. Ogletree picked up the fumble, and with a few kneel downs, the Rams had their first victory of the year.
“It kind of happened so fast,” Ogletree said of the takeaway. “I just saw him check it down and I just ran down. Mark did a good job of containing it and it came back to me, and we were able to get the ball and get our offense the ball to get in victory formation.”
With four field goals the only scoring, Sunday’s contest was clearly a matchup of two teams that know one another well and play each other evenly. Plenty of the final statistics bear that out, as the Rams and Seahawks finished with similar numbers in first downs (17 each), offensive plays run (61 for Seattle, 58 for Los Angeles), yards rushing (67 for Seattle, 64 for Los Angeles), and time of possession (30:03 for Seattle, 29:57 for Los Angeles) — to name a few categories.
“We match-up well against them, and strange things happen in these games, too,” Fisher said. “I mean, we beat them a couple of years ago without scoring [an offensive] touchdown. … [We] just figure out a way to beat them.”
“They did a nice job, again,” Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said. “I have to give them credit.”
While the offense was able to improve production enough to win the game, the Rams have not scored a touchdown through the first two games of the season.
“There are some realities to where we are right now,” Fisher said. “We’re 1-1 in the division and we haven’t scored a touchdown yet. We need to score some touchdowns, so we’ll keep working on that.”
“Obviously, I like touchdowns,” quarterback Case Keenum said, “but I love winning.”
Keenum raised his numbers to 18-of-30 for 239 yards — good for an 85.3 rating. He mentioned the offense had opportunities that it did not capitalize on, including a 3rd-and-goal play in the second quarter where the quarterback’s pass fell short and incomplete to wide receiver Kenny Britt.
“We had a chance on that third down to Kenny,” Keenum said. “I underthrew him. I think we had a good play on and just missed.”
Still, Keenum and Britt were able to hook up six times for 94 yards, making Britt the Rams’ leading receiver for Week 2. While Britt had an early drop on a third-down play that would’ve moved the sticks, Keenum continued to go back to his 6-foot-3 target.
“I knew all week Kenny was going to play real well. He was hungry this week,” Keenum said. “He had some really big catches there. Even battling through the drop on the third down, which I immediately told him that, ‘I’m coming to you again.’”
“I remember the big plays, but I also remember the third-down drop, so being more consistent — that’s what we need to do as a group, as a receiving group,” Fisher said. “But he made some big plays and the throws were there.”
It was tough sledding for Todd Gurley once again, as the second-year running back was held to just 51 yards on 19 carries. Gurley did take a screen pass 19 yards, showing his versatility. And Los Angeles’ willingness to continue handing off to the 2015 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year appeared to open up play-action passes.
One such play went to tight end Lance Kendricks for a 44-yard gain in the second quarter that, at first glance at least, looked a lot like a play Kendricks turned into a 37-yard touchdown in last year’s home opener.
“I know the play — we ran it last year a few times,” Kendricks said. “But it’s a play that just kind of gets me out the back door, kind of sneak out and find me open. So it worked. It always doesn’t go our way, but it worked today.”
Enough worked throughout the game for the Rams to come away with a win. It started well for both the offense and defense as L.A. scored a field goal on the contest’s opening possession then forced a Seattle three-and-out.
Keenum was 5-of-7 on the first drive for 40 yards, as kicker Greg Zuerlein capped it off with a 39-yard strike between the uprights.Defensive end William Hayes and defensive tackle Aaron Donald started the game with tackles for loss, creating a 3rd-and-21. Seattle’s screen play was well short for the three-and-out.
After that, both offenses mainly traded punts throughout the first half, but Seattle did score a field goal of its own early in the second quarter to the tie game at three.
Los Angeles got back on the board with a field goal late in the second quarter to take the lead. Gurley got the possession going with his 19-yard screen, then a pair of run plays netted the Rams another first down past midfield. Zuerlein would hit a 28-yard field to put the home team ahead, 6-3.
The Rams closed the scoring in the fourth quarter with Zuerlein’s third field goal. Keenum started the drive with a 27-yard pass to wide receiver Tavon Austin that moved L.A. from its own 13 to its 40-yard line. The quarterback also hit Britt with an 18-yard pass to move the offense deeper into Seattle territory. Zuerlein connected 47-yards out to give the Rams a 9-3 lead.
From there, Los Angeles was able to use its four-minute offense to maintain possession for much of the fourth quarter. Keenum turned in two first-down throws to Britt, one for 18 yards, and another for 11 yards. At one point it looked like Keenum would be sacked on 3rd-and-long, but a Seattle facemask penalty instead gave Los Angeles 15 yards and a first down.
While Los Angeles couldn’t finish the game out on offense, Ogletree’s fumble recovery provided a fitting end to a defensive slugfest.
“We pride ourselves in winning games,” Ogletree said. “When the defense goes out there at the las possession to win the game, we take pride in being that defense out there that’s going to win the game.”
Having evened their record at 1-1, the Rams will head east next weekend for the first time this season to face the 1-1 Buccaneers.
“It was a great win, but we’ve got another challenge next week,” Ogletree said. “So we’re going to enjoy this for the day and get ready for next week.”[
znModeratorsam is more than just learning a new offense. he seems like he’s known it for years.
There was an article, probably posted in an earlier “Bradford to Vikes” thread, that talked about how good Norv Turner is at getting newly acquired qbs up to speed to play well soon. He’s done it before.
September 18, 2016 at 11:11 pm in reply to: Fisher, Gurley & almost every other Ram…9/18… vids & transcripts #53291znModeratorI watched the Gurley interview. He just does NOT look like a happy camper right now. I get it–he’s not hitting it out of the park–but that kid looks really frustrated. I hope he has a good game next week.
that’s good. my guess is a pissed off gurley is better than a happy go lucky gurle
The vid:
Todd Gurley Postgame Press Conference – 9/18
Running back Todd Gurley talks about his performance in the team’s win over Seattle.
znModeratorBritt fits the Fisher mold better, his blocking ability . Givens needed a strong arm imo. I remember seeing out run Bradford’s arm a few times and once Bradford went down the Rams didn’t have anyone with enough arm to really use him properly. If you look at when Britt goes deep he usually has to adjust to an under thrown ball.Bradford as I write this is looking like the Vikes prayers answered.He’s carving up Green Bay pretty good for only being there 2 weeks.
No Britt does not usually have to adjust to an underthrown ball. He has, but to be fair I wouldn’t say “usually.”
As it happens we have virtually every long throw from Keenu to Britt in the on highlight vids. I wouldn’t know where to find a vid with Foles to Britt.
And Givens fell apart long before Bradford left. He was also cut by the Ravens and Eagles, who have qbs with arms (including Bradford, partly). Givens’s problem was he had nothing more to his game.
Though the last long pass to Givens thrown by a Ram was Keenum, in a preseason game. He caught it in stride.
It’s the 2nd pass here at about 0.24 in.
znModeratordude is throwing some lasers out there.
Well he’s certainly a veteran at learning new offenses.
znModeratorSeahawks at Rams: 5 takeaways from Seattle’s ugly loss
link: http://12thmanrising.com/2016/09/18/seahawks-rams-5-takeaways-seattle-ugly/
Seahawks at Rams: What an ugly and terrible loss for the Seattle Seahawks. There is very little to be happy about, especially on offense.
It is easy to be frustrated with the Seattle Seahawks right now. There 9-3 loss to the LA Rams was difficult to watch in a lot of ways.
In fact, Dan already went on an amazing rant about the game. I’m sure he’s enjoying an adult beverage right now trying to calm himself down. I’m trying to be more reserved and logical about the loss, but it is easy to be unhappy about the team’s performance.
Here are my 5 takeaways from today’s game:
1. Wilson’s ankle hurting him more than team says
Wilson had decent stats overall today. He threw the ball well, and connected on a few long passes when the team needed a spark.
The problems for Wilson today were more than just the pass rush. His ankle was causing him genuine problems, and not just when he wanted to scramble.
Wilson’s throwing mechanics were off because he didn’t have his normally solid base. He couldn’t drive off his back foot. Wilson’s his in-pocket footwork has become solid, but it simply wasn’t there today.
Instead, Wilson was arm-throwing a lot of his throws, and his accuracy suffered for it. There were a couple of passes that sailed on him, and a couple of others that were thrown too low.
This simply wasn’t the magical Wilson we’re used to. (He was still pretty good though)
2. Bradley Sowell is terrible
I’m afraid that this is going to become a weekly entry in this space. Calling him a turnstile is an insult to turnstiles. (Did I use that joke last week too? I think I did.)
Sowell has no business being on the field. He’s worse that Paul McQuistan was a few years ago. The problem is that there’s no Russell Okung coming back from injury to replace him. The Seahawks don’t have much in the way of options right now.
Until Russell Wilson’s ankle heals and he gets his mobility back, Sowell’s performance alone is enough to make the entire offense struggle.
3. Christine Michael was Seattle’s best offensive player
The Rams defensive front dominated Seattle’s offensive line all day. The result was a pathetic performance overall for by Seattle’s offense. The one bright spot out there was Christine Michael, who showed that he’s ready to be the lead back.
With no blocking for the most part, Michael averaged six yards per carry. Let that sink in a bit. Rawls averaged -1 yards per carry today.
Fans are understandably going to kill him for his fumble at the end of the game. He was fighting for extra yards and didn’t brace for the 2nd hit. That can’t happen, and hopefully he learns from that mistake.
It would be wrong not to recognize how well he played before that final play. Michael was the only thing working for Seattle’s offense for long stretches of the game.
4. Penalties are killing this team
The Seahawks continue to shoot themselves in the foot on both sides of the ball. They ended up with 10 penalties for 104 yards, and that is only the penalties that were accepted.
Most of these weren’t even the “overly aggressive” types that aren’t a big deal. False starts, holding, facemasks and needless offensive pass interference calls ruled the day. All of those are entirely avoidable.
The worst one of the day came late in the fourth quarter. Cassius Marsh sacked Case Keenum on third down just outside of their end zone.
For reasons I’ll never understand, Marsh decided to grab Keenum’s helmet as he made the tackle giving them a free first down. Instead of Seattle getting the ball back near midfield, the Rams were able to run out most of the clock and pin Seattle deep.
There are penalties, and then there are dumb bone-headed penalties. The Seahawks are committing far too many of the latter type.
5. Injuries are becoming a major concern
On top of Wilson and everyone else who was hurt coming into this game, the Seahawks suffered three more significant injuries today:
Doug Baldwin hurt his knee in the 2nd quarter. He returned, but only had one catch after that. He said after the game he’ll have an MRI on Monday.
Thomas Rawls injured his leg, and the trainers were looking at his surgically repaired ankle. He didn’t return.I never thought i’d say this, but that Week 5 bye looks like it’ll turn out to be a good thing for Seattle. They need to get healthy if they are going to make another playoff run this year.
znModeratorRams 9, Seahawks 3: Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett nearly save the day, offense struggles and more
Here’s our two-minute drill after the Seahawks fell to the Rams in Los Angeles 9-3.
Ed Guzman
Here’s our two-minute drill after the Seahawks fell to the Rams in Los Angeles 9-3:
Player of the game: Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who was playing on a gimpy ankle and was unable to guide the Seahawks to a touchdown for the first time since the 2012 season, went 22 of 35 for 254 yards and an 84.7 quarterback rating.
Play of the game: Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who had left the game with a knee injury late in the first half, returned in the fourth quarter and caught a 53-yard pass from Wilson with less than two minutes to go. At that point, the Seahawks had gained 60 yards total during three previous possessions.
Turning point: Three plays after Lockett’s catch set up the Seahawks at the Rams 35, Christine Michael caught a short pass that he carried for eight yards before fumbling. The ball was recovered by Ogletree at the Rams 29 with less than a minute to go, sealing Seattle’s fate.
By the numbers
2012 The last time the Seahawks went without a touchdown. They lost to the 49ers, 13-6, on Oct. 18 of that season.
1 Possession that has resulted in a touchdown for the Seahawks this season. Seattle has had 22 possessions in two games, and the Seahawks have punted 13 times, gotten three field goals, turned the ball over on a fumble or interception four times and turned the ball over on downs once.
-7 Rushing yards for running back Thomas Rawls on seven carries before leaving with a leg injury.
91,046 Attendance for the first Rams home game in Southern California since the 1994 season. The Rams drew 25,705 for its final home game in 1994, against Washington at Anaheim Stadium.
znModeratorThe Rams looked glorious wearing their awesome throwbacks in L.A. debut
Unis were sublime in the warm California sun.The Los Angeles Rams are back in Los Angeles and they look spectacular. No, not in a football sense (though they’re holding their own in their yearly slop-fest with the Seattle Seahawks) but in a fashion one, as the team celebrated its first game in L.A. in 22 years by wearing the throwbacks that came to define the franchise’s time out west.
From the 1980s until the year 2000 — a span that encompassed the Eric Dickerson rec spec/jheri curl days, Flipper Anderson setting records with Henry Ellard, Jim (not Chris) Everett, Jerome Bettis (easy to forget he was on the Rams), moving to St. Louis, luring Dick Vermeil out of retirement and some grocery-store clerk named Kurt Warner — the Rams had one of the greatest uniforms in the NFL, a home blue jersey with a rams horn around the sleeves, jersey numerals and pants that were a bright yellow-gold. They were spectacular. (The road jersey was basically the same, with the colors flipped.)
Then, for the same reason anyone makes any decision in sports ($$$), the Rams switched uniforms in 2000, going with gold and millennium blue because, according to the team’s astrological aficionado owner, Georgia Frontiere, it “made cosmic sense.”
It was bad enough for the team to change colors from a distinctive, ROYGBIV situation, but to do it after a Super Bowl was practically daring the football gods to smite thee.* And smite they did, as the Rams haven’t made the playoffs since 2004, were 3-4 in the postseason during the uniform’s early years and were handed the biggest Super Bowl upset in history, all while wearing those ghastly, unmemorable duds. It’s hard to accurately describe what the uniforms look like but “7-9” hits it pretty well.
*In fairness, the process to change the uniforms started long before anyone had heard of Kurt Warner. It just so happened that the switch came after the most unexpected Super Bowl victory ever.
Anyway, the blue and yellow unis were back on the field Sunday and, under a brilliant Los Angeles sun in the historic L.A. Coliseum, the Rams pretty much looked perfect. While the uniforms were great even for those few years they were worn under the dome in St. Louis, you don’t realize how sublime they are until you see them in high-def on a perfect September afternoon.
The Rams aren’t back home until October 9, when they’ll be back in their regular uniforms. And if you have any hope of L.A. going back to the days of Dickerson, you’ll have to wait. The team has said it’ll keep its current uniforms until 2019, and even then there’s no telling what, if any, change will be in the works. That’s just the Rams being the Rams. So, enjoy these while you can, if you can stomach the Rams playing the Seahawks, that is.
znModeratorWelcome back: Los Angeles Rams pull off stunning win in home opener
Frank Schwab
Los Angeles saw its NFL team win a game before it saw it score a touchdown.
The Los Angeles Rams’ first win in their return to Southern California wasn’t pretty, but try finding anyone who expected them to beat the Seattle Seahawks after looking so awful on Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Thanks to three Greg Zuerlein field goals and some great defense, the Rams won their first regular-season game in Los Angeles in 22 years, beating Seattle 9-3. It was the first win for the Los Angeles Rams since Nov. 6, 1994, when they beat the Denver Broncos 27-21. The Rams moved to St. Louis after that season.
The Rams clinched the win when linebacker Alec Ogletree caused and recovered a fumble by Seahawks running back Christine Michael with 46 seconds left. Ogletree went immediately to go celebrate with the fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
William Hayes of the Rams hits Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson (AP)View photos
William Hayes of the Rams hits Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson. (AP)
More
The Rams really couldn’t get much going on offense, but it was a defensive masterpiece. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, playing through a high ankle sprain, wasn’t his usual self. The Rams never gave up any back-breaking big plays. Credit a Rams defense that has a lot of good pieces, though looked poor against the 49ers at times in the opener.[Related: Red Hot Chili Peppers, LeBron James welcome Rams back to L.A.]
It’s probably a good introduction to the Rams for all the new fans in L.A. The Rams can look terrible one week, then come to play against an elite team like the Seahawks. They swept the Seahawks last year and still finished 7-9. That’s the Jeff Fisher Rams, folks.
The Rams couldn’t have looked worse in their 28-0 loss last week to the 49ers. The offense was inept and the defense wasn’t great either. The offense still needs a ton of work, though it was a little more competent in Week 2, but the defense was much better on Sunday.
The Rams will try to move toward “entertaining football” at some point down the road. For now it was just nice for Los Angeles fans to have the NFL back, and to grind out a really unexpected win in the process.
znModeratorRams outlast Seahawks in return to Los Angeles
Marc Sessler
Sunday was a special day in Los Angeles as the Rams (1-1) played their first game at L.A. Memorial Coliseum since 1994. And what a day it was, as the returning heroes short-circuited a Russell Wilson two-minute march to upset the Seahawks (1-1) in a bruising 9-3 grudge match. Our takeaways:
1. This was a Jeff Fisher fever dream from outer space. The Seahawks always have their issues against the Rams. It’s one of the NFL’s stranger trends, and Sunday was no exception. Russell Wilson dropped to 4-5 in his career against the Rams on a day that saw him battered for two sacks and countless hits behind Seattle’s overpowered O-line. The ankle sprain he suffered last week clearly impacted Wilson, whose final numbers — 22-of-35 passing for 254 yards — look better on paper. Fans came close to seeing Wilson do the remarkable on that busted final drive, but the comeback fell short when running back Christine Michael fumbled the ball following an eight-yard catch inside the Rams’ 30-yard line with less than a minute to play. If only Fisher could face Seattle every week.
2. Coming off a mega-disastrous opener, Case Keenum opened the game with a nine-play, 54-yard drive for a field goal — the first points for the Rams since last season. While Keenum gets credit for testing the ball downfield with completions of 44, 36, 27 and 18 yards, he also failed to dial up a touchdown with Los Angeles sitting first-and-goal at the Seattle four-yard line. Keenum threw for a respectable 8.1 yards per pass, making good use of wideout Kenny Britt and tight end Lance Kendricks. Nobody should mistake Keenum for a bona fide NFL starter, but as long as Fisher dreams of kicking three field goals per game, he’s got his man.
3. Seattle’s ground game was a non-starter as the ‘Hawks finished the first half with 14 rushes for 14 yards. Thomas Rawls has the faith of this coaching staff, but was held to minus-seven yards on seven totes before leaving the game with a leg injury. Michael looked like the better runner — not hard to do today — heating up when allowed to roll as the unquestioned lead dog in the second half and plowing for nearly all of his 60 yards at 6.0 yards per rush over the final 30 minutes.
4. Bottom line: the Rams are in a tough place on offense. Opponents expect them to feed Todd Gurley from wire-to-wire and, therefore, stack the box appropriately. The Rams runner amassed just 15 yards in the first half before finishing with 51 yards on the day. After shredding the league for 141.5 yards per game at 6.4 yards per rush over his first four NFL starts, Gurley averaged just 66.4 yards at 3.9 yards per tote over the rest of 2015. So far this year, he’s sitting at 49 yards per outing at just 2.7 yards per attempt. CUT TO: Fantasy heads freaking out from east to west.
znModeratorBritt and Givens are two very different wrs. Givens was a straight up burner and Britt’s game is power/redzone contested catches. Givens was a 4th round record setting rookie . Britt’s is a underwhelming 1st round pick. Givens went down hill quick and Britt has teased of a rebirth since coming to the Rams. Britt is 6’3″ Givens was 5’11” in boots. Britt 223lbs Givens 195lbs. With all due respect Zn what in the hell are you talking about ?
Well that’s all true.
Britt’s big addition to the offense, though, is being a deep threat, though he can also do a little more.
Givens was just a deep threat.
I really was thinking about the role Britt plays. He is their long ball receiver. The point of saying that is to appreciate him for what he is, instead of comparing him to a role (all around #1 WR) he is not able to play.
..
znModeratorThe offense is still terrible. 2 games, haven’t scored a TD.
An ugly win, but a win monetheless. And I’ll take any win over Seattle.9 penalties for 78 yards. No running game.
Still looks like some 7-9 bullshit to me.————
There is some room for improvement on offense
w
vStrictly speaking you guys are right. And I would not argue with the general premise.
But, still. Keenum was 60% for 219 yards and a 7.3 YPR with no INTs against last year’s 2nd ranked defense (1st ranked in points allowed). He had some clutch throws mixed in there. Britt had 94 yards on 6 catches.
I wouldn;t tell the GSOT Rams to climb down off the throne just yet, but, they showed some moxy and some promise for better.
Now for a zn edit:
All these
gamesWINS against Seattle look the sameSeptember 18, 2016 at 2:23 pm in reply to: reporters preview SEATTLE game (w/ Seattle views, which you should read) #53233znModeratorPrediction: Hard to make argument this will be Rams’ week
Alden Gonzalez
http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/30755/prediction-seahawks-17-rams-7
LOS ANGELES — Maybe this is the game the Rams are meant to have.
It’s their celebrated debut at Los Angeles Coliseum, a lavish homecoming party to commemorate their return to the West Coast. It’s against the Seattle Seahawks, the class of the Rams’ division, but also a team they found a way to beat twice last year. And it would be the perfect way to wash away the sting of a demoralizing 28-0 loss in the Monday Night Football opener against the hapless San Francisco 49ers.
It’s so easy to let emotions sway you here.
But strip that away, analyze this game in a vacuum, and it’s hard to find tangible reasons to think the Rams will actually win.
Let’s start offensively, because, well, if you witnessed their opening performance at Levi’s Stadium, it’s hard to focus anywhere else. The Rams had the worst passing attack in the NFL last season, and the players they added in hopes of upgrading that unit are currently unavailable (No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff is merely the backup, and rookie receivers Pharoh Cooper and Nelson Spruce are hurt).
Incumbent starter Case Keenum struggled mightily against a 49ers defense that isn’t supposed to be anything special, completing 17-of-35 passes, averaging 3.7 yards per attempt and throwing two interceptions. The game plan went mostly went sideline to sideline, with very little threat of Keenum stretching the field vertically. That allowed the 49ers to stack the box and limit star running back Todd Gurley, who averaged an NFL-worst 0.24 yards before first contact.
The Rams won’t win if this area doesn’t greatly improve, but how can it possibly improve against a secondary that has allowed the fewest yards per dropback since 2012?
Now let’s go to the defense. The Rams tightened up in this department after giving up 123 first-half rushing yards in Week 1. But they inexplicably allowed opposing quarterback Blaine Gabbert to rush for 43 yards, most of them after he went through all of his progressions and found the middle of the field wide open. Russell Wilson — with the second-most rushing yards by a quarterback since his rookie season in 2012 — is far more a threat to run despite a sprained ankle that wasn’t serious enough to keep him out of practice this week.
Just as concerning, though, is that Wilson has steadily improved as a pocket passer throughout his career. And that the Rams’ biggest deficiencies on defense come in their secondary, with Rodney McLeod and Janoris Jenkins leaving over the offseason and E.J. Gaines out for Week 2 with a thigh injury.
Prediction: Seahawks 17, Rams 7
znModeratorEx-Rams QB Jim Everett: Jared Goff ‘will be pressed into duty’
Alden Gonzalez
LOS ANGELES — In reacting to the Los Angeles Rams’ handling of Jared Goff, the pessimists point to recent history, noting that each of the past five quarterbacks taken first overall started his first NFL game, and that four of them (Matthew Stafford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck and Jameis Winston) have already made the Pro Bowl. The optimists frequently point to Aaron Rodgers, like Goff a Cal product, who spent his first three seasons on the bench and then blossomed into arguably the game’s best quarterback.
Jim Everett, the Rams’ quarterback in Los Angeles from 1986-93, has a counterpoint.
“Jared Goff is not playing behind Brett Favre,” Everett said in a phone conversation. “Aaron Rodgers really had three years to get his body physically ready, his mind mentally ready, and be able to compete against a guy and see one of the greatest competitors on the planet. As much as I like Case Keenum, he is not Brett Favre. So Jared Goff, at some point, will be pressed into duty.”
Everett — taken third overall in 1986 by the then-Houston Oilers, who flipped him to the Rams — settled in Southern California after his NFL career ended in 1997 and serves as an analyst on the Rams’ pregame show for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles. Everett remains an ardent Rams fan and watched closely as Goff struggled through the preseason, going 22-of-49 with four turnovers. Regardless, Everett said he saw a guy who “can visualize the deep ball as best as any quarterback on that team.”
“I’m not saying that he’s ready timing-wise, I’m not saying he’s ready huddle-wise,” Everett added. “I’m not there every day to know him leadership-wise, team-belief-wise. I don’t know about all those things. But I can tell watching him throw that he can visualize the 20-plus-yard throw as good as anybody. And when he gets confident, he’ll be just fine.”
Giving back: A record number of Rams players and executives purchased season tickets for local charities and school groups to attend home games this season, according to the team. They include Tavon Austin, Mark Barron, Kenny Britt, Michael Brockers, Jamon Brown, Aaron Donald, E.J. Gaines, Cory Harkey, Will Hayes, Johnny Hekker, Lamarcus Joyner, Lance Kendricks, Jake McQuaide, Alec Ogletree, Brian Quick, Robert Quinn, Greg Robinson, Eugene Sims, Greg Zuerlein, Keenum and Goff, in addition to chief operating off Kevin Demoff, general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher. Defensive line coach Mike Waufle and each of his defensive linemen will make a $100 donation to help fight homeless in Los Angeles for every sack the Rams record this season. The program, “Sack Homelessness,” generated more than $200,000 in four prior years in St. Louis.
All Geeked out: The average resale price for Sunday’s game was $233 as of Saturday afternoon, according to the secondary ticket marketplace SeatGeek. That is $94 higher than the most expensive ticket to any game played in St. Louis since the company began tracking data in 2010. The Rams’ average resale price for all their home games this season was $189, which ranks 11th in the NFL. In St. Louis over the past six seasons, it was $72. Last season, it was $76, giving the Rams by far the NFL’s largest ticket-price jump from one year to the next, according to SeatGeek. The Rams opened up 5,000 additional seats for their return to Los Angeles Coliseum and are expecting an attendance of around 90,000.
Preserving history: Rams Hall of Famers will be on hand for the anticipated home opener. Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Tom Mack, Orlando Pace, Jackie Slater and Jack Youngblood will help light the Olympic torch following the coin toss, starting a tradition for every Rams game at the Coliseum from 2016-18. Family members of George Allen, Deacon Jones and Merlin Jones will also be in attendance. During halftime, Pace, Dickerson, Faulk, Mack, Slater and Youngblood will be presented with the Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence.
znModeratorSeptember 18, 2016 at 9:01 am in reply to: reporters preview SEATTLE game (w/ Seattle views, which you should read) #53212znModeratorScouting report for the Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks game
RAMS (0-1) vs. SEAHAWKS (1-0)
When: Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
Where: the Coliseum
Line: Seahawks by 6.5
TV/radio: Ch. 11; 710-AM, 100.3 FM and 1330 AM (Spanish)
RAMS OFFENSE vs. SEAHAWKS DEFENSE
Running back Todd Gurley said of last week’s loss to San Francisco, “Obviously, it can’t get much worse than zero points.” That’s one way to look at it, but it might not get much better, either. Seattle has been notoriously tough on defense during Coach Pete Carroll’s seven seasons. Last week, Seattle beat Miami 12-10, and last season, the Seahawks allowed fewer than 14 points in nine of their 16 games. This certainly isn’t the optimal opponent for a Rams offense that couldn’t pass or run the ball last week against the 49ers. The Rams can’t win if they don’t get more from quarterback Case Keenum, who passed for 130 yards last week. San Francisco loaded the line of scrimmage to take away Gurley (47 yards) and dared the Rams to throw the ball. Seattle can, and probably will, do the same, with safety Kam Chancellor sneaking down to the line of scrimmage. The Seahawks aren’t complex on defense, but they execute well, and if the Rams can’t get Gurley going, it will be another long day. EDGE: SEAHAWKS.
SEAHAWKS OFFENSE vs. RAMS DEFENSE
The wild-card here is Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson, who sprained his right ankle in the third quarter last week against Miami. Wilson stayed in the game and even threw a fourth-quarter touchdown, and Wilson claimed to be at full strength this week in practice, but that remains to be seen. Here’s the hope for the Rams: last December, they went up to Seattle, forced three turnovers — and scored a touchdown on a fumble return — held the Seahawks to 59 rushing yards and won 23-17. That’s the same game plan the Rams will need this time. They’ll need to shut down running back Thomas Rawls, who didn’t start last week but now is fully recovered from the major ankle injury he suffered last season. Then they’ll need to keep Wilson in the pocket and prevent him from breaking long runs against the Rams’ nickel defense. If Wilson’s ankle remains a concern, that’s good news for the Rams, who had trouble keeping track of Blaine Gabbert last week. If Wilson is off and running like normal, then watch out. EDGE: EVEN
SPECIAL TEAMS
After one week, the highest-profile Ram is Johnny Hekker, who punted 10 times — not a misprint — against the 49ers. He looked quite good, but the Rams would like to see less of him. The Rams, for all their problems against the 49ers, looked fairly decent on special teams. Tavon Austin had a 28-yard punt return and Benny Cunningham averaged nearly 30 yards per kickoff return. A special-teams touchdown would go a long way toward helping the Rams upset the Seahawks. Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka made both of his field-goal attempts last week (from 39 and 38 yards) but had an extra point blocked in the final minute. Hauschka traditionally is one of the NFL’s most consistent kickers and he went 6 for 6 on field goal attempts from 50 yards or beyond last season. The Seahawks didn’t get to return a kickoff last week and didn’t get anything particularly special out of punt returner Tyler Lockett. EDGE: RAMS
COACHING
Seattle’s Pete Carroll turned 65 on Thursday and he’s the oldest coach in the NFL, but one wouldn’t know it from his energy level. Carroll, most likely, will be strutting up and down the sideline and chomping on his gum, just as he did at the Coliseum from 2001-09 when he led USC on an extraordinary run of success that included two national championships, six BCS bowl victories and a 34-game winning streak. Including two pre-USC runs in the NFL, Carroll-coached teams have made the playoffs in seven of his 10 seasons. By contrast, the Rams’ Jeff Fisher has made the playoffs six times in 21 seasons. Fisher already is feeling the heat in Southern California. The Rams, presumably, are going to give Fisher a contract extension at some point, but the optics are terrible at the moment. A victory over the Seahawks (and the beloved Carroll) in the Rams’ “welcome home” game would improve matters a lot. EDGE: SEAHAWKS
INTANGIBLES
If the Rams aren’t ready for this one, there’s little hope. They will be playing in front of an expected crowd of close to 90,000, including some fans who have been waiting 22 years to watch a regular-season NFL game in the L.A. area. Plus, the Rams should be eager to prove themselves after last week’s debacle against the 49ers. Still, there are plenty of on-field matters to clean up, not the least of which are the 10 penalties the Rams had against the 49ers, which included an ejection (Aaron Donald) and a taunting penalty (Gurley). The veteran Seahawks, meanwhile, shouldn’t be rattled by a big game, but it’s worth noting that they lost their first three road games last season (two in overtime). EDGE: RAMS
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Rams LB Alec Ogletree vs. Seahawks RB Thomas Rawls: This isn’t all on Ogletree, but as the middle linebacker (and on-field captain) of a defense that has gone exclusively to nickel coverage, Ogletree needs to take charge of the Rams’ run defense, which allowed the 49ers to run for 150 yards last week. The Seahawks started Christine Michael last week, and he gained 66 yards on 15 carries, but now the Seahawks will turn to Rawls, who had a stellar rookie season in 2015 (830 yards) before he suffered a major late-season ankle injury. If the Seahawks are able to get Rawls going, life won’t be easy for the Rams’ defense, but the Dolphins held the Seahawks — who don’t have a particularly strong offensive line — to 112 rushing yards last week.
PREDICTION: SEAHAWKS 17, RAMS 10
There’s no tangible reason to believe the Rams should win this game … except that they beat the Seahawks twice last year, and who saw that coming? Another Rams upset is predicated on two things: the defense’s ability to contain Wilson, and the offense’s ability to, well, do something. In the teams’ second meeting last year, Gurley rushed for 83 yards and the Rams won even though Keenum passed for only 103 yards. A similar formula would have to be followed here, with a low-scoring game and a dominant effort by the Rams’ defense. But if Wilson is his normal self, it’s difficult to see things going that way. Given how things have looked for the Rams, if the Seahawks can score two touchdowns, that probably will be enough.
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