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znModeratorI figure Fisher will be back but maybe they have to sacrifice a coach. If they take a ritual sacrifice, it won’t be Wms.
Rams have too much else going on to add a head coach search to it. Loads of free agents, a crucial draft, possibly moving or being lame duck another year, and so on.
Plus if you look at his other teams, SK has a tendency to stand behind a veteran coach for a while.
Will that all be worth it for fans? If he turns it around, sure. But then different folks have different opinions about whether he can do that.
I happen to think he can but then unless/until they start winning, it’s difficult to make that case.
.
November 28, 2015 at 10:33 am in reply to: do you give the Rams a chance against the Bengals? #34794znModeratorbump, cause
znModeratorPractice Report 11/27: Austin Thinking of Bailey, Plan at QB
By Myles Simmons
As one Rams player put it Wednesday, wide receivers Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin are like two peas in a pod — clearly two of the closest players on the team. Both wideouts starred at West Virginia before the Rams brought them to St. Louis in the 2013 draft.
With that in mind, it’s been a tough week for Austin.
“It’s very difficult,” Austin said. “We’ve got to keep him in our prayers. I’m the one who is probably his closest brother on the team, just because we played together [in college.] But everybody feels the same.”
“He’ll be alright. He’s going to be good,” Austin added. “But it was rough, just seeing it, believing it. That’s the hardest part — just knowing the type of brother that you have. I’ve spent seven years of my life with him.”
While Austin has not been able to get in direct contact with Bailey, his teammate has not been far from his thoughts. And in a way to honor him, Austin said he’s going to speak with head coach Jeff Fisher about wearing a No. 12 jersey for the rest of the season.
“That’s our brother. Hopefully coach Fish will let me wear it in the game — I’m going to ask him — for the rest of the season,” Austin said. “But he always is going to be [with] us regardless — even if I can’t wear the jersey.”
Austin and Kenny Britt both sported No. 12 blue practice jerseys during Friday’s session.
“That’s nothing but support for our brother that we love. And we’re going to be there for him,” Britt said.
Fisher said it’s a gesture that makes sense, considering the closeness of the receiving unit as a whole.
“That’s cool. They love Sted,” Fisher said. “If we had enough jerseys to go around, everybody would’ve had a ‘12’ jersey on, including me. We just don’t have enough to go around.”
“The guys love Sted,” Fisher continued. “Sted’s a very popular player, a great teammate, very, very talented player. It’s unfortunate. We were a week away from him coming back in the building and getting ready to help us win.”
Fisher did provide a small update on Bailey’s condition, saying head trainer Reggie Scott had gone down to visit with him.
“Our doctors have talked to the attending physicians and the surgeons and he’s in stable condition right now,” Fisher said. “We’re just trying to gather more information right now. But, he’s in stable condition.”
And so while Austin’s focus has remained on trying to win a football game against Cincinnati this week, he plans on supporting Bailey as much as he can whenever he can once the season ends.
“I definitely know his strength,” Austin said. “He’s definitely going to pull through. The offseason, I might be right down there beside him. Pushing with him, getting him right back here beside me, and Kenny, and all of us. Whatever it takes, just to get him back.”
SUNDAY’S PLAN FOR QUARTERBACK
Fisher said Friday quarterback Case Keenum is still not through the concussion protocol, keeping him limited for the day’s practice and listed as questionable for Sunday. The current plan is for the club to continue to monitor Keenum over the next day, and then make a decision on who will start — Keenum or Nick Foles.
“Unless we get good news tomorrow, then Nick will be our starter,” Fisher said. “If [Keenum’s] completely cleared and he feels good, then he’ll start. But, as it is right now, it’s looking like we’re going to potentially have to go with Nick, which is great.”
If Keenum is not healthy to go, Fisher said he’s excited about Foles getting a chance to play.
“He seized the opportunity and he had a great week this week,” Fisher said. “So, loves the game plan and he’s ready to play. I think our offense understands where the challenges are and we need to score points. Nick’s excited about the opportunity if he plays.”
For his part, Foles said he’s stayed ready throughout the process.
“I’ve been preparing the same as I’ve always been,” Foles said. “If you’re going to play quarterback, you always have to prepare like you’re starting. Preparation hasn’t changed when I stepped back. You’re always ready to go if your number is called.”
Foles has split reps with Keenum throughout the practice week, and so he’s plenty familiar with what the Rams need to do offensively to combat the Cincinnati defense.
“I think the key to us is, it’s always staying inside the chains,” Foles said. “If we do get to third down, make sure it’s third-and-manageable. We’ve been in a lot of third and longs this year. So, staying inside the chains and doing a good job on first and second down. On the road, in the red zone you have to come away with touchdowns.”
And even though Foles is, in effect, acting as the backup, the Rams receivers are still familiar with the way he throws the ball.
“Whoever is in there can go and do the job,” Britt said. “We’ve got guys who are going to go out there and make plays for him. And whoever starts on Sunday, we’re going to be there for him.”
INJURY REPORT
Defensive end Robert Quinn (hip/back), Trumaine Johnson (thigh), and right tackle Rob Havenstein (calf) did not practice and are all listed as questionable.
Keenum and kicker Greg Zuerlein (right groin) practiced on a limited basis and are also listed as questionable.
Offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (knee) did not participate all week and has been declared out.
znModeratorWe just use different numbers ZN. Mine aren’t stats I simplify down to this, the higher the quantity of Fisher acquired Boudreau trained lineman the worse the quality has been.
I look at performance when they’re not suffering multiple injuries. For example the 2nd half of 2012. In that spate of 8 games, they allowed a 4% sack percentage (the lowest for any Rams qb since the mid 80s). They got Jackson 4.3 a carry. They took on SF at its strongest and went 1-0-1. In fact in those 8 games they played 5 games against top 12 defense, and ended up going 4-3-1, and that’s with nothing at receiver but Amendola.
You just don’t do that if your OL is bad.
And it is true that you can go through the past 20 years and see top lines put together by Boudreau, and also Fisher.
What’s interesting about the 2012 group is that it included players who never did anything before the Rams, and haven’t done anything since the Rams, like Turner and Richardson.
So yes I trust them and yes the numbers back that.
That of course just means we see it differently and may be looking at different things.
znModeratorAn improved OL would certainly help but so far the OL has deteriorated each season for 4 seasons so I see no reason to believe Fisher will be successful in a 5th or 6th attemp.
See I disagree with that. There are long spates where the Fisher Rams OL was fine and played well—demonstrably so, numbers back this. But then those spates of playing well are surrounded by periods where they have multiple OL injuries.
Anyway it wasn’t majorly injured and so played well in the 2nd half of 2012 and most of 2013.
2015 is different. That’s just a young OL.
I trust these guys—Fisher and Boudreau–to build good lines because they have with the Rams and they both did before the Rams, many times each.
It’s just that a young inexperienced OL is going to struggle at first.
znModeratorAre Bengals facing Todd Gurley at the perfect time?
Marc Sessler
After falling short in a shootout to the Cardinals, the Bengals — coming off two straight losses — face a far less dynamic attack on Sunday in the form of the Rams.
St. Louis has slumped hard under the direction of new play-caller Frank Cignetti, Jr., sitting 31st league-wide in points and yardage per game and dead last both in passing yards and third-down percentage.
Still, the Rams can’t be counted out with running back Todd Gurley on the loose. The tackle-breaking, home-run hitter is a strong candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year — and Cincinnati’s primary focus heading into Week 12.
“He’s good — explosive, strong young guy, runs through tackles, runs hard, keeps his legs working,” said Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, per The Cincinnati Enquirer. “He’s going to be a good one. He’s a good player.”
Said coach Marvin Lewis: “You have to stay disciplined to what they are doing. We’re going to be challenged that way, and we’re going to have to tackle this guy (Gurley). He’s explosive, he has speed, has the ability to cut, and he’s strong. When you look at him, he’s a handful. We have to do a great job.”
Teams have overtly stacked the box against Gurley and challenged the Rams to move the ball through the air with Case Keenum, the ineffectual passer who replaced the equally floundering Nick Foles. The extra attention on the ground game is a primary reason Gurley has been kept under 100 yards in three straight, but Guenther promised to mix it up.
“Some teams are putting eight guys up in there. In my opinion you have to mix it up some,” Guenther said. “They do things to test the linebackers with all the fake reverses and all that stuff. It’s a little bit different of an offensive setup so we have to do things with a lot more run volume than we’ve seen.”
The Bengals are facing Gurley at the perfect time. The Rams have never been more vanilla, while Guenther’s defense — after giving up 100 yards rushing in four straight — has held opponents to 77.7 yards per game over the past three weeks. That type of result against St. Louis would all but guarantee another Bengals win.
znModeratorPractice Report 11/27: Austin Thinking of Bailey, Plan at QB
Myles Simmons
As one Rams player put it Wednesday, wide receivers Stedman Bailey and Tavon Austin are like two peas in a pod — clearly two of the closest players on the team. Both wideouts starred at West Virginia before the Rams brought them to St. Louis in the 2013 draft.
With that in mind, it’s been a tough week for Austin.
“It’s very difficult,” Austin said. “We’ve got to keep him in our prayers. I’m the one who is probably his closest brother on the team, just because we played together [in college.] But everybody feels the same.”
“He’ll be alright. He’s going to be good,” Austin added. “But it was rough, just seeing it, believing it. That’s the hardest part — just knowing the type of brother that you have. I’ve spent seven years of my life with him.”
While Austin has not been able to get in direct contact with Bailey, his teammate has not been far from his thoughts. And in a way to honor him, Austin said he’s going to speak with head coach Jeff Fisher about wearing a No. 12 jersey for the rest of the season.
“That’s our brother. Hopefully coach Fish will let me wear it in the game — I’m going to ask him — for the rest of the season,” Austin said. “But he always is going to be [with] us regardless — even if I can’t wear the jersey.”
Austin and Kenny Britt both sported No. 12 blue practice jerseys during Friday’s session.
“That’s nothing but support for our brother that we love. And we’re going to be there for him,” Britt said.
Fisher said it’s a gesture that makes sense, considering the closeness of the receiving unit as a whole.
“That’s cool. They love Sted,” Fisher said. “If we had enough jerseys to go around, everybody would’ve had a ‘12’ jersey on, including me. We just don’t have enough to go around.”
“The guys love Sted,” Fisher continued. “Sted’s a very popular player, a great teammate, very, very talented player. It’s unfortunate. We were a week away from him coming back in the building and getting ready to help us win.”
Fisher did provide a small update on Bailey’s condition, saying head trainer Reggie Scott had gone down to visit with him.
“Our doctors have talked to the attending physicians and the surgeons and he’s in stable condition right now,” Fisher said. “We’re just trying to gather more information right now. But, he’s in stable condition.”
And so while Austin’s focus has remained on trying to win a football game against Cincinnati this week, he plans on supporting Bailey as much as he can whenever he can once the season ends.
“I definitely know his strength,” Austin said. “He’s definitely going to pull through. The offseason, I might be right down there beside him. Pushing with him, getting him right back here beside me, and Kenny, and all of us. Whatever it takes, just to get him back.”
SUNDAY’S PLAN FOR QUARTERBACK
Fisher said Friday quarterback Case Keenum is still not through the concussion protocol, keeping him limited for the day’s practice and listed as questionable for Sunday. The current plan is for the club to continue to monitor Keenum over the next day, and then make a decision on who will start — Keenum or Nick Foles.
“Unless we get good news tomorrow, then Nick will be our starter,” Fisher said. “If [Keenum’s] completely cleared and he feels good, then he’ll start. But, as it is right now, it’s looking like we’re going to potentially have to go with Nick, which is great.”
If Keenum is not healthy to go, Fisher said he’s excited about Foles getting a chance to play.
“He seized the opportunity and he had a great week this week,” Fisher said. “So, loves the game plan and he’s ready to play. I think our offense understands where the challenges are and we need to score points. Nick’s excited about the opportunity if he plays.”
For his part, Foles said he’s stayed ready throughout the process.
“I’ve been preparing the same as I’ve always been,” Foles said. “If you’re going to play quarterback, you always have to prepare like you’re starting. Preparation hasn’t changed when I stepped back. You’re always ready to go if your number is called.”
Foles has split reps with Keenum throughout the practice week, and so he’s plenty familiar with what the Rams need to do offensively to combat the Cincinnati defense.
“I think the key to us is, it’s always staying inside the chains,” Foles said. “If we do get to third down, make sure it’s third-and-manageable. We’ve been in a lot of third and longs this year. So, staying inside the chains and doing a good job on first and second down. On the road, in the red zone you have to come away with touchdowns.”
And even though Foles is, in effect, acting as the backup, the Rams receivers are still familiar with the way he throws the ball.
“Whoever is in there can go and do the job,” Britt said. “We’ve got guys who are going to go out there and make plays for him. And whoever starts on Sunday, we’re going to be there for him.”
INJURY REPORT
Defensive end Robert Quinn (hip/back), Trumaine Johnson (thigh), and right tackle Rob Havenstein (calf) did not practice and are all listed as questionable.
Keenum and kicker Greg Zuerlein (right groin) practiced on a limited basis and are also listed as questionable.
Offensive lineman Andrew Donnal (knee) did not participate all week and has been declared out.
znModeratorNFL still examining concussion protocols
Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff Writer
EARTH CITY, Mo. — In the wake of the concussion St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum suffered last week against the Baltimore Ravens and the circumstances under which he stayed in the game, the NFL held a conference call on Tuesday evening to discuss its concussion protocol.
According to a news release from the league, the call included the head athletic trainers for all 32 NFL teams as well as NFLPA Medical Director Dr. Thom Mayer, NFL Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Betsy Nabel, Head, Neck & Spine Committee Co-Chairman Dr. Hunt Batjer, NFL Physicians Society President Dr. Robert Heyer of the Carolina Panthers, and PFATS President Rick Burkholder of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Case Keenum practiced on Wednesday and Jeff Fisher is hopeful that he’ll be able to do enough this week to start against the Bengals this weekend. AP Photo/Nick Wass
But while the league statement revealed those participating in the call, it didn’t offer much information on progress toward a solution.“During the call, the team medical staffs discussed the events that led to the failure to remove St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum from Sunday’s game, and reviewed the proper implementation of the league’s concussion protocols to ensure that players are removed from the field for a medical evaluation as required by the protocols,” the statement said. “Medical experts from the league and the Players Association will continue to review the protocols and make improvements as necessary to protect the health and safety of NFL players, including consideration of discipline for future violations of the protocols.”
Keenum returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis and, according to coach Jeff Fisher, there’s hope that he’ll be able to do even more on Friday and start Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Fisher has declined to offer any ideas or solutions to help the process but has repeatedly stressed that he believes it’s important to get it right so that a situation like Keenum’s, where he played two more snaps after suffering the concussion, doesn’t happen again.
“Well again, the league and all the entities involved are working to ensure that this doesn’t happen again,” Fisher said. “The NFL, the Head, Neck and Spine Committee, the Players’ Association, the trainers and everybody’s discussed it. We had a very candid, open discussion and we’re working to ensure that we’ve got our bases covered right now. Obviously, things slipped through the cracks in our game with Case. As I said on Monday, don’t want to allow a player to stay in the game when those situations appear to be obvious. So, the league is going to continue to talk about it and we’re going to get it resolved one way or another. That would also include the officiating department.”
znModeratorfrom off the net
==
-X-
I’d just like to point out something here. Call it a refresher course in what can happen to a better than average QB who finds himself introducing himself to new faces on the O-line throughout the season.
Marc Bulger was among the fastest QBs to reach 10,000 yards passing early in his career when he had some decent weapons and a good O-line. I think it was the third fastest in NFL history. Then by the time 2007 rolled around, he was forced to play behind Orlando Pace, Alex Barron, Mark Setterstrom, Andy McCollum, Brett Romberg, Dustin Fry, Millford Brown, Claude Terrel, Todd Steussie, Nick Lecky, Adam Goldberg, Brandon Gorin and Rob Petitti. 13 different offensive linemen who rotated around the line never really manning one position for an entire season.
WHILE throwing to Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce for most of the season and having Steven Jackson in the backfield (for 12 games), that team won 3 games. Partly because the defense was for crap. 31st in the league in points allowed.
So when we see a new QB (two, actually) executing plays from a new OC, and trying to man-up behind a line where we lost our starting RG, LG, and RT, while rotating guys in all three spots and putting centers out at RT, and throwing to names who aren’t really popular around the league, what is it exactly that we expect? Honestly, we should *expect* to get our asses handed to us every week. And yet, this team has a 2 point score differential and a top 10 defense ANYWAY. So when we lose, what exactly is it that you think we should have done with that kind of wrecked O-line led by a new QB taking direction from a new OC? Win anyway? Convincingly? Why? I just showed you what could happen with two HOF receivers, a great RB, and a better than average (good) QB playing behind an injury plagued O-line. We should do more with worse personnel? Well, actually we are. And it’s a testament to the kind of defense we have that can weather an offense crap-storm like that and keep this team in the game for 4 quarters.
Blame Fisher if you want, but he didn’t put on a Kathy Bates mask and go out and hobble his own O-linemen with a 5-pound sledge.
crap. Happens.
znModeratorMarvin Lewis on Gurley: ‘He’s a handful’
Few rookie running backs have set NFL defenses on fire as quickly as St. Louis’ Todd Gurley did given his first chance to shine – an Oct. 4 game in Arizona.
The rookie had made his debut the week prior against Pittsburgh, though he was given just six carries in his first action since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament on Nov. 16, 2014 while at the University of Georgia.
But on that date in Arizona the 6-foot, 1-inch, 226-pound runner broke out for 146 yards on just 19 carries, good for a 7.7 yards per carry average. It was the start of four consecutive games in which he averaged 6.4 yards per carry and rushed for 566 yards and three touchdowns.
“He’s good – explosive, strong young guy, runs through tackles, runs hard, keeps his legs working,” Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. “He’s going to be a good one. He’s a good player.”
Not coincidentally, the Rams won three of those four games to improve to 4-3 and climb back into the NFC playoff race.
But during the Rams’ recent three-game losing streak, Gurley has found the sledding a little tougher. He’s rushed for just 200 yards on his last 61 attempts (3.3 yards per carry).
That has coincided with the benching of quarterback Nick Foles and a passing game that has seen its production fall from 388 yards in the Rams last win on Nov. 1 to 213 last week in Baltimore.
“It’s a combination: It’s the revolving door that we’ve had by no choice of our own because of injuries up front and yeah, teams I think look at us as a one-dimensional offense,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said. “And then it’s about getting about getting the ball to Todd. We have to do more things down the field and get better on third down. That’s been a problem for us all year.
Guenther noticed that teams are more willing to bring eight defenders down around the line of scrimmage as the Rams passing game has struggled, but the Rams have countered it – meaning his defense has had some studying to do.
“Some teams are putting eight guys up in there. In my opinion you have to mix it up some,” Guenther said. “They do things to test the linebackers with all the fake reverses and all that stuff. It’s a little bit different of an offensive setup so we have to do things with a lot more run volume than we’ve seen.”
Part of that volume been created out of necessity – Fisher said his team has had to deal with a multitude of injuries on the offensive line. But that said, Gurley has proven he can be a difference maker.
“Well, they’ve had some injuries,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. “I can tell what they do, and schematically they are doing a good job. Again, they give you some different looks. You have to stay disciplined to what they are doing. We’re going to be challenged that way, and we’re going to have to tackle this guy (Todd Gurley). He’s explosive, he has speed, has the ability to cut, and he’s strong. When you look at him, he’s a handful. We have to do a great job.”
znModeratorOn guard: Rams turn to Demetrius Rhaney, Cody Wichmann to handle interior OL spots
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — In what has become a seemingly never-ending game of musical offensive linemen, the St. Louis Rams will likely have two inexperienced starters at both guard spots against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
After starting rookie Cody Wichmann at right guard and veteran Garrett Reynolds at left guard last week, the Rams lost right tackle Andrew Donnal to a knee injury, forcing Reynolds to right tackle and bringing backup center Demetrius Rhaney in at right guard, with Wichmann moving to the left side.
Without Donnal and given right tackle Rob Havenstein’s continued struggles with a calf injury, the Rams now will probably find themselves starting the five linemen who finished their last game. That means another chance for Wichmann and Rhaney on the interior.
After a small bite of the apple in Week 11, Rhaney and Wichmann are hoping to be better this time around.
“I felt pretty good,” Rhaney said. “Mentally I was locked in, no mental mistakes. My technique could have been better, but this week it looks like I’m going to be starting at left guard so technique should be a lot better this week. That’s the main thing I’m focusing on improving.”
If Rhaney is correct and he starts on the left side, that would at least allow for Wichmann to start at the same spot for the second week in a row. Rhaney played both guard spots in the preseason but was mainly on the left side until just before the team’s preseason game against Indianapolis. Just before that contest, Rhaney flipped over to the left side.
But most of Rhaney’s preseason was spent battling for the role as starting center, a job he lost to Tim Barnes. Since, he’s worked as a backup at all three interior spots.
The Week 11 loss to Baltimore was Rhaney’s first extended action aside from special teams. In his own evaluation of his play, Rhaney said he felt comfortable but didn’t deny having his own “welcome to the NFL” moment as Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams beat him and got to running back Todd Gurley quickly in the backfield.
“I talked to coach Bou [offensive-line coach Paul Boudreau] and said we got to cut him, that’s a grown man out there,” Rhaney said. “It was a rude awakening. Him beating me across my face was a technique issue. I took a bad first step.”
In an effort to get up to speed, Rhaney said injured guard Rodger Saffold has been helping him with technique this week.
“He stayed back and worked with me on a few technique things, my steps and my hands and hand placement,” Rhaney said.
Wichmann had his own rude welcome, though he wasn’t as forthcoming with the exact play or players that gave him trouble.
“I might have got put on my butt once or so,” Wichmann said. “That’s always a welcome to the NFL. But I’m just glad to be here. I’ll take that once in a while as long as it doesn’t happen often.”
As a primary backup playing exclusively at guard, Wichmann has worked at both sides and feels plenty comfortable either place.
“At this point, switching between left and right is not too big of a deal anymore,” Wichmann said. “But I played there all throughout college so it will be a little bit easier.”
A sixth-round pick in this year’s NFL draft, Wichmann came with less acclaim than many of his draftmates, but the Rams rave about his and Donnal’s toughness and functional strength. The Rams almost certainly would have preferred not to have to dig so deep into the depth chart, but they’ll at least get a better idea of what they have with a closer look at the likes of Rhaney and Wichmann in the starting lineup.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher expects more from both young linemen in their second opportunity.
“That’s usually the case, especially when you’re talking about Cody, who got to play,” Fisher said. “It was the first time that he got to play. So yeah, I think he’ll learn from the speed of the game, learn from his mistakes and he should get better. It’s a tough week to get better against this defense, but I expect Cody to improve and same thing with ‘D.’”
znModerator. They
‘could’ get a lot of cap space, i would think,
by jettisoning Chris Long, Saffold and Cook.I really doubt they jettison Long. (And probably not Saffold either).
And…they do have a lot of cap space, actually.
Cook, I will jettison myself. So look for that. I will step in immediately the exact second the season ends.
.
znModeratorMatchup of the week: Bengals offensive line vs. Aaron Donald
The cliché week in and week out in the National Football League is that there are no “bad” players – that they’re in the league “for a reason.” This is true. But there are differences within that talent, and it seems that the interior of the Cincinnati Bengals offensive line has run across some of the more top-tier talent than most in 2015.
This week is no different with St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
The second-year player out of Pittsburgh is already an All-Pro and is one of the more complete interior defensive linemen in the league – and cut from the similar cloth as the Bengals’ own Geno Atkins.
“He’s freaking good,” said Bengals guard Kevin Zeitler. “He is freaking good.”
He shook his head, searching for anything else to say.
Donald enters the week with seven sacks and 27 tackles, putting him on pace to surpass his totals from his rookie campaign. Which is saying something, considering he turned in a Pro Bowl and Rookie of the Year campaign with nine sacks and 37 tackles and two forced fumbles.
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and Rams head coach Jeff Fisher both like to avoid comparing players, but even Donald couldn’t help but notice the similarities between himself and Atkins.
“I’ve watched him a lot,” Donald said of Atkins. “I wouldn’t say we’re the same type of player but I guess similar body types. We try to be, as a three-tech(nique), the same position he is, just try to be disruptive, that’s what our job is.”
So, what does that mean for the Bengals offensive line on Sunday?
“He’s has an ability to win in one-on-one matchups,” Lewis said. “When you get a defensive tackle like that, just like the kid down in Tampa (Gerald McCoy), it does give the rest of your group more opportunity.”
While having to practice against Atkins on a daily basis has helped Zeitler, fellow guard Clint Boling and center Russell Bodine prepare for Sundays, it doesn’t make the job against Donald any easier – especially because his impact, and how they handle him – creates a ripple effect out to tackles Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith.
Whitworth said the usual game plan would be to help out the tackles with an edge rusher the quality of St. Louis’ Robert Quinn, but Donald (like Atkins) won’t allow that because the double-team has to come inside.
“Aaron Donald is so good, it makes teams have to triple the inside and leave all three guys in there, and then you have a guy like Robert Quinn, who arguably, for what he does, is just as good as Aaron Donald,” Whitworth said. “So the truth is, if you look at the stats, they are the same player, so it’s just that Aaron Donald does it up the middle. It’s one of those things that those guys aren’t used to facing guys that good, so you have to help those guys out.”
Yes, the week-to-week assignments for the Bengals’ offensive line have been difficult, and are important. But considering the recent pressure from opponents and how good Donald is, Sunday could prove to be their toughest yet.
“He’s very, very strong,” Zeitler said. “He’s very quick. He’s very similar to Geno in build and what he is – he’s obviously – he’s good. He’s really good. He knows how to play the game and he wants to be great. It’s going to be one heck of a challenge, even more so than any other team this year. We knew that going into the season.”
znModeratorJohnny Manziel demoted after lying to team about timeline of video
Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel lost his starting job because he lied to the team’s coaching staff about when a video of him partying in Austin, Texas, was recorded, a league source confirmed Thursday.
Manziel’s account to the Browns was earlier reported by Fox Sports.
One week after being named the team’s starter, Manziel was demoted to third string for Monday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens after social media posts surfaced showing Manziel allegedly partying during the team’s bye week.
According to a league source, Manziel lied directly to coach Mike Pettine about when the video was filmed. He also encouraged his friends to lie about when the video was recorded, according to the Fox Sports report.
Manziel might have kept the job had he told the truth, the source said.
Pettine was asked Wednesday if Manziel admitted the video was from last weekend.
“I won’t get into the details of what we talked about,” Pettine said.
The video showed Manziel singing in a nightclub and holding what appeared to be champagne bottle. One day after the video surfaced and after meeting with Manziel, Pettine announced Tuesday that backup Josh McCown would replace Manziel as the team’s starter.
“When you have a great opportunity in front of you, it is important that you demonstrate that you can handle the responsibility that comes with it,” Pettine said Wednesday. “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of the trust and the accountability piece. This is where we had an obvious shortcoming.”
Manziel had been named the Browns’ starter after he threw for 372 yards in a 30-9 loss to the Steelers on Nov. 15. When he was named the starter, Pettine talked to Manziel about appropriately representing the organization. Manziel told reporters before the bye week that he was “not going to do anything that’s going to be a distraction to this team or be an embarrassment to the organization.”
Last month, Manziel made headlines after witnesses reported him driving dangerously on an interstate highway, and his girlfriend said he had gotten physical with her in the car. Manziel was questioned by police, who smelled alcohol on Manziel’s breath but did not give him a field sobriety test because he showed no signs of inebriation. Just last week, the NFL announced Manziel would not face discipline for the incident.
Manziel spent 10 weeks in a treatment facility during the offseason for undisclosed reasons.
znModeratorMatt Longacre – DE/OLB Northwest Missouri State University
http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2015/3/30/8317117/scouting-with-bearcat-annual-d2-prospect-breakdown
6’3″ 261 lbs
Stats: 37 tackles 10.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks
Matt Longacre is the career sack leader at NWMSU and played the large majority of last year hobbled by a ankle injury. For comparison, he had 60 tackles. 20.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in 2013. Matt was long considered to be a classic high effort guy. He came into this year to try to answer some of those questions on his size and speed. He played 2013 at 245 pounds and jumped that for this year. He answered the speed question at his pro day running a 4.75 40-yard dash. According to a source I had at the pro day (yes I actually do have a source), he received a lot of work as an OLB and a lot of attention from scouts, including our very own John Dorsey.
Strengths: Matt has a motor that goes non stop, which led to the thought that he was nothing but a high energy guy. He is explosive off the ball and maintains leverage well. He has good speed and has a nasty attitude.
Weakness: Matt is a tweener that has not had to play standing up. I question if he will have that natural bend that allows him to get the edge as an OLB. Also there is a question if the extra weight hampered his ability to heal from the injury that hurt him most of the season. Also there is very little tape out there on him, so you will have to trust the word of myself and others that have seen him play.
znModeratorJohnny Football.
Maybe they try to add
Johnny Football to the mix.Keenum is Manziel minus the Lost Weekend behaviors.
.
znModeratorMy wife is working until 4 EST so I’m doing the cooking this year.
For the first time ever.
Sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and the green bean casserole are made and standing by.
The turkey is stuffed and in the oven.
Still have to make gravy, crescent rolls, corn and open up a can of the semi-solid gelled cranberry sauce (which is the best kind of cranberry sauce).
If you don’t hear from me again it means I’m probably dead from Salmonella poisoning.
It’s been an honor.
I have to run out for more corn. My wife never buys enough corn. 11.5 years of marriage and you’d think she’d know how much corn I like to eat.
You, sir, are a prince.
My wife works until 5 o’clock today and I have been lying on the sofa watching football and munching some cold pizza and doughnuts.
We’re going to a diner when I pick her up.
I will not tell my wife of your efforts. She shall never know. She thinks the diner is a good deal.
I am the cook too but we have thanksgiving tomorrow. Wife works a shift tonight so has to sleep all day. So I am cooking thanksgiving part today, part tomorrow, and we eat tomorrow.
2 pies btw. Mixed berry and peach. The house favorites.
I like roast veggies with the turkey and stuffing. Brussel sprouts and asparagus.
I don’t roast turkey. I baste/roast it in a broth. I get a real turkey and have them cut it into parts (breasts, leg/thighs, wings) (ie. you don’t buy packaged pre-cut turkey parts for this, they are not the same thing as roast turkey, much tougher). So then I roast/baste that in a wine and chicken broth sauce, and the sauce makes a great gravy.
The kids live nearby and they are bringing the mashed potatoes.
.
znModeratorRams vs. Bengals Preview
Joe Lyons
COMING THIS WEEK
Entering November above .500 for the first time since 2006, the reeling Rams (4-6) have dropped three in a row and have not looked good doing so. Next up is a Sunday game in Cincinnati against the Bengals, who started 8-0 and are coming off tough-to-swallow losses to visiting Houston (10-6) and Sunday night in Arizona (34-31).
PLAYER TO WATCH
QB Andy Dalton. A second-round draft pick out of Texas Christian in 2011, the two-time Pro Bowl selection is one of just five QBs to throw for better than 3,000 yards in his first three pro seasons, joining Peyton Manning, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson.
As a starter, he’s 48-25-1 in regular-season action. He’s completed 62.1 percent of his passes for nearly 17,500 yards with 119 touchdowns, 71 interceptions and a passer rating of 87.8.
But he’s 0-4 in four playoff starts. In those games, he’s completed 55.7 percent of his passes for 873 yards with one touchdown and six interceptions and a 57.8 passer rating.
HE SAID IT
“Honestly, I don’t remember how they scored 21 points in the third quarter. It’s all a blur to me right now,’’ Bengals safety George Iloka said. “Obviously, we didn’t come out. … I don’t know. I can’t tell you. I really don’t know.’’
After limiting ex-Bengal Carson Palmer and the Arizona Cardinals to seven points and 102 yards of total offense in the first half Sunday, the Cincinnati defense was torched as Palmer threw three TD passes and amassed 205 yards of total offense in just 17 third-quarter plays. After the Bengals rallied, Arizona won on a Chandler Catanzaro field goal with one second to play.
INJURIES
Rams coach Jeff Fisher reported some relatively good news Monday, noting that the knee injury suffered by tackle Andrew Donnal was not an ACL tear, but “a somewhat significant MCL sprain’’ that will not require surgery. The coach said that QB Case Keenum (concussion) was “feeling better’’ and that CB Trumaine Johnson (thigh) should return to practice this week. DE Robert Quinn (back, hip) and T Rob Havenstein (calf) did not play Sunday.
Cincinnati CB Adam Jones (foot) did not play Sunday. During the game, the Bengals lost CB Darqueze Dennard (shoulder) and safety Shawn Williams (ankle). DTs Marcus Hardison and Pat Sims are slowed by knee injuries.
SERIES HISTORY
The Rams and Bengals have only met 12 times, with Cincinnati coming away with seven wins. Since the move to St. Louis in 1995, the Rams have taken three of five, with Cincinnati winning the last two. In the teams’ last meeting, in 2011, the visiting Bengals rallied from a 6-3 halftime deficit, getting TD runs late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, to win 20-13.
znModeratorEnjoy thanksgiving everyone.
Have pie.
znModeratorCase Keenum will start against Bengals if he clears concussion protocol
By Nick WagonerEARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum did not participate in the team’s light practice Tuesday afternoon because of the concussion he suffered last week against the Baltimore Ravens.
But coach Jeff Fisher offered hope that Keenum could be ready to participate in some capacity as soon as Wednesday.
“Yeah, he was in the building … looked at a lot of tape,” Fisher said. “[He] has not been cleared for any activity for [Tuesday], but we’re hopeful that [Wednesday] he’ll be ready to do some things outside. So, he’s feeling pretty good actually.”
Keenum, of course, made his first start for the Rams on Sunday and finished the game despite getting a concussion when he hit his head on the ground on the team’s final possession. The play left more questions than answers about how the Rams and the league handled it after Keenum stayed in the game following the injury.
The NFL, which is investigating the series of events that led to Keenum staying in the game, held a conference call with doctors and trainers from all 32 teams Tuesday night to discuss possible ways to improve the system of in-game concussion evaluations.
“It’s an important issue,” Fisher said. “I mean, it’s really a serious issue and the league’s taking it very serious and you can understand why. So, the league’s gathering information and we’re looking at the system under which we operate right now to see if there’s anything we can do to where we avoid that kind of situation that happened to Case. So, there will be a conference call and the league’s going to gather the information and they’ll adjust the features ever so slightly, I guess, on game day.”
Asked if he had any suggestions for changes he’d like to see made to the system, Fisher declined.
“As far as recommendations and suggestions as to how something like this doesn’t happen again, I can’t go there because there’s too many entities right now,” Fisher said. “They’re discussing their opinions of exactly what happened.”
In the meantime, Keenum continues to go through the normal concussion protocol. Fisher reiterated that Keenum would start against Cincinnati this week so long as he passes the proper tests, something Keenum is apparently on track to do.
“No setbacks,” Fisher said. “No, he was fine. He just hasn’t been cleared for any physical activity. He’s in the protocol and that’s typically the way things work on Tuesdays. So, he’ll go through some more testing and then we’re hopeful that he’ll be released for activity tomorrow.”
znModeratorDon’t watch,
or you’ll be sorry.I watch em all.
Though, I must frankly confess, in all honesty, I do enjoy it more when they win.
znModeratorSlight chance of a win, but only if Quinn
is a hundred percent. They would have
to win it on Defense, and without Quinn
the D aint scary enough.I’m assuming Quinn is not going to be
a hundred percent the rest of the year,
so, thus, consequently:Rams 5
Bengals 20w
vDid you watch the last game? Just curious.
Oh and btw, you’re right, cranberry/walnut bread toast is great.
.
znModerator@RapSheet: #Rams WR Stedman Bailey is out of surgery after several hours of extensive work. He’ll be in the ICU for 3-5 days and doctors are hopeful.
——————.
FISHER
http://theramshuddle.com/topic/fisher-cignetti-1125-transcripts/
“I informed the team. I told his teammates as much as I knew, and things have changed ever so slightly since our meeting. I can report now that Sted is in Intensive Care Unit. He had extensive surgery. Surgery probably took four to six hours, from what my understanding is. He’s in stable condition right now. We’re just waiting to get some more information on the specifics of the injury. There’s a lot out there. There’s a lot of rumors that there were two or three shots and an injury to the hip. I don’t have specifics right now, but what I can tell you is that he’s in stable condition. He’ll be in ICU for a number of days. It’s really unlikely, highly unlikely, that he returns to play this year.”
Rams huddled in prayer for WR Stedman Bailey before today's practice… pic.twitter.com/hoom0aOiYl
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) November 25, 2015
November 25, 2015 at 9:05 pm in reply to: 1999 St. Louis Rams Training Camp vid with John Clayton #34711znModerator…as I recall there were zero OLine injuries
in 99.Nutten was out a couple of games. Which is of course negligible.
BTW how many people know that everyone routinely misspells “Nutten”?
He kept it germanized, with the umlaut. It’s actually “Nütten.”
Also, btw, in 99 Nutten was a 5 year vet who had played in Canada and Amsterdam before the Rams signed him.
.
znModerator@RapSheet: #Rams WR Stedman Bailey is out of surgery after several hours of extensive work. He’ll be in the ICU for 3-5 days and doctors are hopeful.
——————.
FISHER
http://theramshuddle.com/topic/fisher-cignetti-1125-transcripts/
“I informed the team. I told his teammates as much as I knew, and things have changed ever so slightly since our meeting. I can report now that Sted is in Intensive Care Unit. He had extensive surgery. Surgery probably took four to six hours, from what my understanding is. He’s in stable condition right now. We’re just waiting to get some more information on the specifics of the injury. There’s a lot out there. There’s a lot of rumors that there were two or three shots and an injury to the hip. I don’t have specifics right now, but what I can tell you is that he’s in stable condition. He’ll be in ICU for a number of days. It’s really unlikely, highly unlikely, that he returns to play this year.”
November 25, 2015 at 6:04 pm in reply to: Wagoner: Blame for Rams' abysmal offense starts with Fisher #34703znModeratorRams trying ‘different things’ to get Todd Gurley back on track
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — After the most prolific four-start beginning to a career by a running back in NFL history, the St. Louis Rams’ Todd Gurley was bound to have at least a minor drop-off in production.
Logic dictated that Gurley would see more defenses keyed on stopping him and daring the Rams’ anemic passing attack to beat them. And sure enough, Gurley’s output over the past three games has paled in comparison to his first four starts.
Which has put the onus on Rams coach Jeff Fisher and his staff to find a way to get Gurley and, by extension, the Rams offense, going.
“We have to run the football better,” Fisher said. “We’re working on that right now, as we speak. We have to do some different things in the run game. Todd’s longest carry [Sunday] was 7 yards and the longest last week was 9, so we have to do a better job up front.”
In Gurley’s first four starts, he had three touchdowns on 88 carries for 566 yards, an average of 6.43 yards per attempt. In the past three weeks, he has the same number of touchdowns on 61 carries for 200 yards, an average of just 3.28 yards per attempt.
When Fisher referred to doing a better job up front, he also mentioned the outbreak of injuries that have made Gurley’s job more difficult. The offensive line has been plagued with injuries, losing starting guards Rodger Saffold and Jamon Brown for the season. Right tackle Rob Havenstein is dealing with a calf issue and has missed two of the past three games. And rookie tackles Andrew Donnal and Darrell Williams have missed chunks of time.
Todd Gurley
In Todd Gurley’s first four starts he averaged 6.43 yards per carry. In the past three weeks he has averaged 3.28 yards per carry.
Even before all of those issues, the line wasn’t consistently creating big holes for Gurley to run through. In Gurley’s first four starts he had 15 runs of 10 yards or more and seven carries of 20-plus yards. In the past three games, Gurley has three runs of 10 yards or more and none of 20 or more.When it comes to yards before contact, a good measure of how much space a line is creating in the run game, Gurley was getting 3.98 yards per carry in his first four starts. Since, he’s averaging 1.8 yards before contact.
By Gurley’s own admission, the line dancing in front of him has made things more difficult, a difference he sees when he watches the film.
“ still running hard, but like I said, it’s kind of a tough adjustment,” Gurley said. “You’ve got four guys down. So, that’s always going to be a tough adjustment, new guys coming in. At the end of the day, we’ve still got to play hard and execute and make the calls and do everything else up front.”
Like a quarterback adjusting to new receivers, Gurley says there’s a period of adjustment where a running back has to get used to the players blocking for him.
“Yeah, definitely, one lineman might react a lot different or his reaction time might not be as quick or as fast as the one before,” Gurley said. “But like I said, everybody’s been doing a great job preparing and putting in the work throughout the week. We’ve just got to come to the game with that.”
Against Baltimore last week, Gurley had his worst outing since becoming a starter, rushing for 66 yards on 25 carries, an average of 2.64 yards per attempt. He also coughed up a fumble, though that came on a run like many others where he was hit almost as soon as he received the ball. With defenders on him so fast, Gurley’s yards after contact has also dropped from 2.45 per rush in his first four starts to 1.48 over the past three.
For what it’s worth, Gurley said Tuesday that his surgically repaired knee hasn’t given him any problems, and that while he generally feels the aches and pains on Sunday, he begins feeling better by Monday. Eight games into his career, Gurley’s dip in production doesn’t seem to be a function of a rookie wall so much as a lack of help.
“Todd is a good runner,” Fisher said. “This is not Todd’s issue right now. This is an offensive issue.”
There’s little doubt the Rams have an offensive issue — it’s one that’s existed for most of the year — but there also doesn’t seem to be any magic pill to fix that problem.
“Coaches have been doing a great job all year, but they implemented some new runs and we’ll try them out this week and see how they go,” Gurley said.
It remains to be seen what fixes to the run game the Rams are making (they’re not offering details at the moment), but there’s little doubt they have to do something, anything to get their best offensive player back on track.
znModeratorNFL Network @nflnetwork
UPDATE Per @RapSheet: Stedman Bailey still in extensive surgery as doctors try to help him recover. It was slated to be done about 3 hrs ago
znModeratorBump, trying to get more.
znModeratorPerhaps it would make sense if the Rams were trending upward, but that’s not the case since it looks like they need a QB and still have other personnel issues on offense.
They also treated this season as “build for the future.” The personnel issues you are talking about including having a predominantly young and inexperienced line. I wouldn’t call that “personnel issues” though, that falls more under “development.”
That in fact is the case with the entire offense. They had an offense, but in 2014 the qb and the OL got taken out. So they started over with that new young OL, a new qb, a new first time coordinator, and an injured RB taken high in the first round. In that situation, it makes perfect sense to me that any judgements of the season by ownership would see this as starting over and building for the future.
The unpredictable part of this was Foles melting down from the GB game on.
And given that it is a start-over, I can see how management would put the record in context. Under those conditions continuity would be a strong consideration.
I don’t know what will happen, but if there IS an extension it does have a logic behind it.
…
znModeratorReynolds: “Case said, I need a minute, and then he was all right.”
Jim Thomas
Rams offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds makes it a point to help teammates during times of need. Sometimes it’s helping up a running back who went down in a pile.
Or aiding a wide receiver who got roughed up on a route downfield (as was the case with Bradley Marquez against Baltimore).
Or a quarterback who just got concussed. Reynolds, a seventh-year pro in his first season with the Rams, was first on the scene when quarterback Case Keenum went down late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 16-13 loss to the Ravens.
“He put his hand out,” Reynolds said. “And just like any other time, any time your buddy puts his hand out, you try to (help). I thought he was just gonna hop up.”
But as Reynolds started to pull up Keenum from the turf at M&T Bank Stadium, the quarterback stayed down.
“I knew something was a little off,” Reynolds said. “He said, ‘I need a minute,’ and then he was all right.
“Once he got back in the huddle, he called the play crisp as ever, just like always. He just seemed to be regular old Case.”
Reynolds said it’s commonplace over the course of the game and a season for players to take a shot in some fashion and need a second to regroup, be it taking a shot to the leg, or the shoulder, getting the wind knocked out, or as in the case of Keenum having your head hit the turf.
“We’re so used to saying: ‘You good? Oh yeah. Let’s go,’” Reynolds said.
If Keenum had been struggling making the plays calls, or otherwise showed signs of distress in the huddle, Reynolds said, “We would’ve sent him out. If you’re that messed up, somebody knows. But there’s been times in football, like with Case where you might need a second (to regroup).
“Sometimes you get hit and it hurts. That’s on any part of your body. You say, ‘hey give me a second’ and you’re all right.”
Earlier in the game, Reynolds came to the rescue when Marquez took a late hit from Baltimore linebacker C.J. Mosley, but was penalized for unnecessary roughness for shoving Mosley off of Marquez.
“It’s football,” Reynolds said. “Stuff like that’s gonna happen. But I’ve gotta be smarter than that for the team. You see a buddy and you want to take care of him.”
Mosley also was flagged for roughness, and earlier on the same play, wide receiver Kenny Britt was flagged for an illegal block above the waist. So because of offsetting penalties, a 31-yard gain by Marquez to the Baltimore 18 was nullified, effectively killing a potential Rams scoring drive.
But back to Keenum. Reynolds’ thoughts aside, the slow-motion television replays of Keenum’s head hitting the turf, Keenum holding his head from behind his helmet, and then being slow to initially get up, set off a firestorm of sorts in NFL circles.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Monday he was unaware of the concussion until after Sunday’s game and even after Fisher met with the media postgame. Some observers found that hard to believe.
On Tuesday, Keenum was held out of practice as he works his way through the league-mandated concussion protocol of tests and examinations. Nick Foles got the work with the starting offense.
“Case was in the building,” Fisher said. “He met, looked at a lot of tape. Has not been cleared for any activity (Tuesday), but we’re hopeful (Wednesday) that he’ll be ready to do some things outside. He’s feeling pretty good actually.”
Fisher said Keenum has not experienced any setbacks.
“He’s fine,” Fisher said. “He just hasn’t been cleared for physical activity. He’s in the protocol, and that’s typically the way things work on Tuesday.”
In other words, no practice.
“So he’ll go through some more testing (Wednesday) and we’re hopeful that he’ll be released for activity tomorrow,” Fisher said.
Since Keenum did not practice Tuesday, per Rams policy he was not made available to the media. Fisher re-iterated that if Keenum does not pass the concussion protocol, Foles would start Sunday in Cincinnati. And if that’s the case, as expected, Fisher said rookie Sean Mannion would be elevated to the No. 2 spot.
Because of the Keenum situation, a league-organized conference call took place early Tuesday evening to review concussion protocol with team doctors and head athletic trainers of all 32 teams.
The call was led by Dr. Hunt Batjer, co-chair of the NFL head, neck and spine committee, as well as NFL chief medical advisor Dr. Betsy Nabel, and Dr. Thom Mayer of the NFL Players Association. Also taking part was Dr. Robert Heyer, president of the NFL Physicians Society.
“It’s an important issue,” said Fisher, now knee-deep in preparation for the Bengals. “It’s really a serious issue and the league’s taking it very seriously, and you can understand why.
“The league’s gathering information, we’re looking at the system under which we’re operating right now to see if there’s anything we can do to where we avoid that kind of situation that happened to Case.”
The solution seems simple: give the independent press box spotter more authority to stop the game for a medical timeout. And instruct the spotter to always err on the side of caution.
When asked if there were any suggestions he had to adjust game day concussion protocol, Fisher said, “I can’t go there. There’s too many entities right now that are discussing their opinions and exactly what happened.”
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