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znModeratorfrom off the net
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alyoshamucci
I have Rhaney ahead.
Jones’ issue is strength … he gets pushed around. Maybe he’s going tentative or thinking too much, but Rhaney gets all up into his man and moves him. He’s also athletic enough to adjust when he’s beat.
I watched every play in slo mo to get a feel for him. One thing I learned? Washington is terrible. Blew about 5 blocks … Rhaney had one mistake. But so did Grob.
You know who was solid? Both Brown and Hav. The rookies are the bright spot on the line. lol
If there’s a mental aspect he’s not getting that’s one thing, but he is physically the best player at the position in my view.
Also, the fullbacks blew block after block .. blew my mind, no one could seal the back side.
August 24, 2015 at 7:26 pm in reply to: Fisher, 8/23 & 8/24 … vid from 1, transcript from the other #29238znModeratorRams Head Coach Jeff Fisher- 8/24/5
(Opening Statement)
“We just finished a staff meeting and we spent about a part of the day going through the tape. As you would expect, there were some good things and they’re some things that need to improve. That’s usually the case in preseason games. Bottom line is this – we need to have a great week of practice and we need to play well. We’re all looking forward to finally playing here at home. I know the players are and we’ll have some normalcy to our week. You know, we have some guys that are healing up. (OL) Cody Wichmann has been taken off of PUP and he’ll be allowed to practice tomorrow. (RB) Todd Gurley has been cleared for practice, so that’s good news. Now we’re going to progress him slowly, but he’ll be able to participate in the 7-on-7 and the team drills. Up to this point, he’s just been participating in the 1-on-1’s. So we’ll take it slow, but it’s going to be fun to get him on the practice field. So we have a couple of guys that we held out. A couple of guys…you know, (G) Rodger (Saffold) and (DT) Michael (Brockers). They have a chance this week, we’ll just see. As I mentioned after the ball game last night, we did not have a player in the training room, which is a good thing in a preseason game.”(On the last time he didn’t have a player in the training room after a preseason or any game)
“You usually have something. There’s usually an MRI or there’s an X-Ray or, ‘we’ll check him out tomorrow,’ but Week 2 of the preseason I think is significantly different than last year’s Week 2. It’s good news.”(On if he plans to play RB Todd Gurley in the preseason)
“No. No, we don’t have the intention of doing that. We’re just going to slowly increase his reps and see how he progresses. He may need a day off here and there, but it’s good news. Dr. (James) Andrews was really pleased with his progress, so he’s cutting him loose. He’ll be with a brace. He’ll have to continue to wear the brace.”(On if Gurley went back to Dr. Andrews for a check-up)
“No, he didn’t see Dr. Andrews. We have a testing protocol that we do here that we forwarded to him. He was pleased with the results.”(On if he anticipates Gurley playing on opening day)
“Don’t know. Don’t know. We’re going to bring him along slow.”(On how Gurley feels about participating in team drills)
“He’s excited. He’s really excited. He had a blast in the warm-ups last night. Then his fun stopped when the game started because he wanted to play, but he understands the situation that he’s in.”(On if he feels WR Brian Quick is ready to play)
“I think he’s got a chance to play this week, yeah. We’re taking his yellow hat off of him. I’m going to take the yellow hat off of Brian and put it on Todd. The yellow hat says don’t hit me on the practice field.”(On what the yellow hat symbolizes)
“The yellow hat tells the defense, ‘Don’t hit me.’ I may have a ceremony tomorrow and let Brian graduate and pass it over to Todd. The yellow hat is like a red jersey.”(On what he saw the starters do well the first half of Sunday’s game)
“Oh, we played physical on defense. Now we had some gap misfits and things like that and we had a coverage breakdown. We saw some formations that we hadn’t seen yet. (CB) Tru (Johnson) got caught up in a play action, gave (QB) Marcus (Mariota) a chance to connect with the tight end down the field and things like that. We had some really good tackles. We had some good pressure on the passer. On special teams I thought we protected well. We covered well. Some young guys are showing up. (WR) Bradley Marquez was showing he’s got some skills to play in this league on teams. Then the second half, we exploded. We had 226 yards or something like that. We had some big plays. Great throw. Great throw and catch, with (QB) Case (Keenum) to (WR) Chris (Givens) and some other big plays. (RB) Malcolm’s (Brown) run was…caught him a little off guard. I think they thought he was out of bounds, but certainly replay showed otherwise. It’s nice to have some explosive plays. Then with (RB) Trey (Watt) averaged about eight yards a carry.”(On if it’s bittersweet to have RB Trey Watts out for the first four games with how well he’s producing)
“He’s going to continue to run the ball in the next two games. To answer your question, we’re all disappointed. We addressed that. We’re disappointed, so we’ll see where that goes.”(On what he’s seen from DL Ethan Westbrooks)
“He’s played every position thus far in the preseason and that would also include against the Cowboys. So he’s playing left and right end and both tackles. He’s playing all positions well. I’d like for him to go when the brown thing moves rather than beforehand, because he’s been offsides three times I think already this preseason. He needs to slow down. Other than that, he’s explosive, he’s playing the run very well, and he’s shown he can rush the passer.”(On how DT Nick Fairley is progressing)
“Good, good. He’s getting his weight back and he made some plays yesterday.”(On what type of camp WR Chris Givens is having)
“Really good camp. Had a good offseason, had good OTAs, very patient. He’s actually playing an expanded role on special teams for us right now, which is good. You saw what he can do. He can do it. Against Dallas he had a number of catches and then he had a number of intermediate, kind of short route, good possession-like catches against the Raiders.”(On Givens’ resilience)
“Well, he’s one of a number of guys, particularly, not just in his class, but some other guys that stayed here this offseason. They stayed here, they lived here, they worked here and it pays off. Those rookies, you can tell them, ‘Hey you need to be here,’ but it was a long hard road their rookie season and they take off. He stayed here and he took advantage of it. He took advantage of the weight room. He took advantage of his training and then really focused in on the offensive change.”(On if anyone has grabbed ahold of the center spot)
“It’s going to be a really good race. (C) ‘Timmy’ (Tim Barnes) didn’t play because he had a sore lower leg, so he’ll get a chance to play this week. I think (C) Barrett (Jones) is coming on, just with the play time, because Barrett hasn’t played much in games. And then (C) Demetrius (Rhaney) I thought played pretty well last night, so we’ll continue to evaluate the position.”(On if he’s going to need all four preseason games to decide who the starting center is)
“Yeah, we probably won’t make a decision until the opener or until kickoff.”(On if C Tim Barnes will start this week)
“He’ll play this week. I don’t know if he’s going to start or not.”(On further thoughts on the first team offense)
“If you go back a year from now, or two years from now, or three years from now, you guys all asked me the same questions, ‘What’s up with your offense?’ We keep it basic. Our philosophy is to just play and work on fundamentals during the preseason. (QB) Nick (Foles) wants that ball back. He’d love to have that ball back. That wasn’t a good decision by Nick and that’s not the first interception he’s thrown and not the last one he’s going to throw. He’s had a great camp and no concerns whatsoever. Our offense is coming. It’s coming. We saw a lot of good things out of our offense against the Cowboys.”(On how Foles reacted to the interception)
“Same way he acted when he got hit in the mouth: he would come up and throw a rope for a first down, either the next series or the very next play. That’s how he is. He’s unique in that he has a very short memory and that’s good.”(On if there is a bit of road weariness after being on the road for 10 days)
“I think it’s a contributing factor. That’s why I said it’s great to be back home to get some normalcy to our week.”August 24, 2015 at 6:34 pm in reply to: Jim Thomas – Tweets 8/24 – Gurley cleared for full practice on Tuesday #29236znModeratorNick Wagoner @nwagoner
Jeff Fisher announces that RB Todd Gurley has been cleared to practice. He’ll wear yellow hat signifying no… http://espn.go.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0427588625144746964-4 …
#Rams RB Todd Gurley still won’t play in preseason but this is next step in his recovery. No target date on when he’ll play in a game.
znModeratorI also remember thinking Cignetti is not even
trying to call medium passing plays. He’s not
threatening the middle, he’s not calling for 20 yard zingers.
He’s just dinking and dunking and it looked like the defenseI have one word for you. “Link.”
Well it would be nice to see Mr Foles do some of that
in the third game. Then again, I dont suppose they
want to risk having him stand in the pocket too long.w
vI really don’t know how the offense will play out. But just in terms of his 12 passes so far, there’s
* a 26 yarder to Kendricks (some of that is YAC)
* a behind the LOS throw to Tavon (TA of course ran for yards)
* incomplete to Cook
* an 8 yarder to Britt
* incomplete to TA* an 8 yarder to Britt
* short left to Britt intercepted
* 7 yarder to Britt
* incomplete short to Austin (actually thrown away)
* incomplete short to Bailey
* incomplete short to Austin
* a 3 yarder to CookAnd I think you’re right that so far they are not using the middle.
A couple of those were great passes. The INT was a stinker.
znModeratorI also remember thinking Cignetti is not even
trying to call medium passing plays. He’s not
threatening the middle, he’s not calling for 20 yard zingers.
He’s just dinking and dunking and it looked like the defenseI have one word for you. “Link.”
znModeratorI remember reading how the Cowboys were surprised how the Rams practiced. How slow it was–no flow–how the Cowboy coaches practiced DURING drills while the Rams seemed to stop and THEN coach. That struck me as a bit weird. Maybe it isn’t but it does seem like a less efficient way of coaching.
You say a lot of things, and some I agree with and some I don’t, but this one right here IMO is based on a misconception.
No Dallas players said that. That was said by a Dallas fan writing essentially a camp report, and a highly homeristic one at that. And the unit he used as an example was special teams. That’s coach Fassel. One thing we know about Rams special teams is that they are exceptional.
What we heard the Dallas coaches and players say, although it was indirectly, was that in the Monday practice the Rams were far more intense and competitive in drills and scrimmages than Dallas was, and that the team wanted to see that corrected.
znModeratorNick Foles, offensive line stuck in neutral, Trey Watts rising
Nick Wagoner
Here are some highs and lows in terms of individual performances from the St. Louis Rams’ 27-14 loss against the Tennessee Titans:
Highs
WR Chris Givens: The Rams finally got their first touchdown of the preseason with a little more than five minutes left in the third quarter of the second game. It came courtesy of Givens, who burned the Titans for an 80-yard score with a perfect throw from quarterback Case Keenum. The deep ball is Givens’ best trick but it’s one the Rams can use and probably why he’ll stick on the roster for a fourth season.
RB Trey Watts: Watts is suspended the first four games of the season for violation of the league’s policy on substance abuse, which means he needs strong preseason performances to earn a roster spot. Nights like Sunday should help. He finished with 53 yards on six carries and added two catches for 42 yards.
QB Case Keenum: Competing for the No. 2 quarterback job, Keenum offered at least one reason to lock down the job with the aforementioned touchdown pass to Givens. It was the best throw by any Rams signal caller this preseason and finally got the Rams in the end zone. The final numbers weren’t overwhelming as he finished seven-of-16 for 164 yards with the score for a rating of 102.1 but anyone on the offense providing big plays should get thumbs up.
Lows
QB Nick Foles: Foles was responsible for the Titans’ first touchdown, throwing an aimless pass out into the flat that Perrish Cox intercepted and returned 24 yards for a touchdown. He finished three-of-seven for 18 yards with that pick and no touchdowns for a rating of 10.7.
The starting offensive line: Of course, Foles’ struggles were due in part to the struggles of this group. Without left guard Rodger Saffold, that unit didn’t allow a sack but there was plenty of pressure. What’s worse, they only managed to pave the way for 2.4 yards per carry on nine attempts. That’s not nearly enough for a team that wants to be run-centric.
CB Marcus Roberson: Roberson has had a strong camp but had a costly miss on a tackle that led to Hakeem Nicks’ 40-yard catch-and-run and allowed a couple of other completions for sizable gains. He’s all but certain to be the team’s No. 4 cornerback but will need to be more consistent to elevate beyond that in 2015.
znModeratorLamarcus Joyner bounces back with solid performance against Titans
Nick Wagoner
Lamarcus Joyner struggled against the Oakland Raiders in the preseason opener, allowing an easy completion for a touchdown and missing a couple of tackles. He showed some resilience Sunday night in the St. Louis Rams’ 27-14 loss to the Tennessee Titans on his way to earning my game ball.
Joyner made a perfect play on a third-down pass on Tennessee’s opening possession to get the breakup and kill the drive. He also proved to be one of the few Rams capable of making a sure tackle, posting five stops, including one for loss. While others further down the roster might have posted more impressive nights, we’ll go with Joyner since he did it with the starters and will be a key piece for the defense this season.
With starting cornerback EJ Gaines lost for the season because of a foot injury, Joyner must elevate his game. Joyner, a second-round pick in 2014, is set as the team’s nickel corner. To remain there, he’ll need more efforts like Sunday night’s.
znModeratorI would say you are officially panicking.
Oh, gee, thanks. I am so happy to receive another patronizing bit of instruction
I would have responded to this earlier but electricity went out. My remark was just playful banter and there was nothing disrespectful about it. As is my way, it’s not literal—I don’t believe there’s real “panic” and if I did I wouldn’t say so. And I would only do be pkayful that way if I thought we were communicating and everything was fine. I am sorry you took it that way and clearly I have to take precautions in how I respond to you, and not assume things are fine. Either way it can’t be “another patronizing bit of instruction” since there has never BEEN “a patronizing bit of instruction” from me to you—I promise you it’s neither patronizing nor instruction in this case, and I have never posted either one in response to you, since I’ve known you. On occasion, I have been completely baffled as to why you say things like that. I even ASKED what you meant by that on previous occasions. This is obviously a communication issue, and that obviously means it goes both ways. To me, you are clearly just reading things into my tone that are simply not there….but then who knows what I am not seeing (that’s the problem with communication issues). But in any event, this kind of thing belongs on email or pm. We can’t make ourselves exceptions to our very light community rules, which includes the fact that we just don’t air personal grievances in public. (With this obvious exception aside, I abide by that too.)
Fair enough?
Honestly, I have no idea why you have now and then referred to me as being “patronizing” to you, since I have no such feelings and do not see why you think so. But again, since communication issues are invariably mutual, there must be something I am not seeing too.
So what do you say, let’s fix this.
Rick
znModeratorHowever, I am concerned about an apparent ambivalence to losing that goes back years (regular season as well as preseason).
But, see, I don’t see that in Long’s remarks.
znModeratorin their interviews, Long and Ogletree take a pretty nonchalant attitude to being embarrassed. They should be livid.
I dunno. First Ogletree isn’t a leader. To me, he’s more like an orphan ward of the team. Either way, Long did not strike me personally as being nonchalant. He wasn’t livid either but then I personally wouldn’t find that consoling.
znModeratorIn their interviews, Long and Ogletree take a pretty nonchalant attitude to being embarrassed.
I would say you are officially panicking.
znModeratorSour homecoming for Fisher
Jim Thomas
NASHVILLE, TENN. • The Jeff Fisher video tribute came early in the first quarter. The applause was loud and heartfelt, with some in the crowd at Nissan Stadium standing in appreciation of the 16 years Fisher led the Tennessee franchise as head coach.
Fisher said Thursday he wouldn’t look at the scoreboard — he’d be too busy coaching. But when it happened Sunday, Fisher heard the applause, peeked at the scoreboard and waved to the fans.
“I have to extend my appreciation to the entire Titan organization for honoring me like they did,” Fisher said afterward. “It was moving.”
It was a true warm and fuzzy moment. Then the Tennessee Titans went about the business of beating in the brains of the Rams in a nationally televised preseason game that ended in a 27-14 defeat for St. Louis.
“Football-wise, we played like we hadn’t played in 10 days,” Fisher said. “I felt like we were a little sloppy. Got some unnecessary penalties. We kept it basic, and that’s not an excuse. You’ve still got to play better. … We’ve got some work to do this week.”
The Rams couldn’t block, couldn’t tackle and couldn’t score in the first half against the Titans. They even had trouble punting and kicking, with Pro Bowler Johnny Hekker shanking a punt for 23 yards and Greg Zuerlein sending a 53-yard field goal wide right.
“In the preseason, you really just continue to grow together, working together, seeing different things, different looks,” quarterback Nick Foles said. “It’s one of those things where all of these are learning opportunities. You can’t take it too hard.”
Maybe so, but while the Rams were stumbling, the Titans were blocking, tackling and scoring. Not to mention intercepting. On Foles’ second pass of the evening, he threw a “pick 6” to cornerback Perrish Cox, the former 49er.
Foles stared down his target on the play, and there appeared to be some confusion on the route by wide receiver Kenny Britt. The result was a 24-yard return by Cox for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead for the Titans with 8 minutes, 3 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Britt needed to flatten out the route. But Foles blamed himself, saying he needed to throw the ball away in that situation.
The Titans proceeded to score on three of their next four possessions to take a 20-0 halftime lead. First came a Ryan Succop field goal on a drive sparked by a 35-yard reception to tight end Craig Stevens — whom no one on the Rams’ defense bothered to pick up.
Then came a 3-yard TD reception by former Missouri star tight end Chase Coffman, on a fastball squeezed between two Rams defenders by strong-armed backup QB Zach Mettenberger.
A missed tackle by cornerback Marcus Roberson, who has moved up to the fourth corner role following E.J. Gaines’ season-ending foot injury, turned what should’ve been a 7-yard gain by Hakeem Nicks into a 40-yard advance on the drive.
To close out the half, Mettenbeger led the Titans on a 43-yard field goal march, a drive that included three catches for 32 yards by former Mizzou star wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham.
Foles and the Rams’ starting offense were on the field for four series but managed only 37 yards. All told, Foles completed three of seven passes for 18 yards and a meager passer rating of 10.7.
“Tonight, we needed to get the ball in the end zone,” Foles said. “We didn’t do our job. We need to get some points on the board but it’s one of those things where there’s a lot we can learn from. Everything out here is fixable, and we can fix it.”
Fisher wanted to run the ball better Sunday, but Tre Mason, Benny Cunningham and Isaiah Pead combined for only 33 yards on 12 carries in the first half. Once again, first-round draft pick Todd Gurley warmed up before the game but did not play. Fisher said last week that Gurley would not play in the preseason while he finishes up his rehab from knee surgery at the University of Georgia.
In the first quarter, the Rams were outgained 100 yards to 28. And by halftime it was almost as lopsided, with the Titans amassing 226 yards and 13 first downs to the Rams’ 84 yards and four first downs.
When asked about the play of the starting defensive unit, end Chris Long replied: “Not good enough. Not sharp enough. A couple of people were out of gaps. A couple of things we need to fix. They’re not big deal issues, but we need to fix them ad that’s what preseason is for.”
You can talk all you want about the meaning of preseason games, and that it’s foolish not to read too much into what transpires. But two games into the preseason, the Rams haven’t been close to competitive against Oakland and Tennessee franchises that were near the bottom of the league in 2014.
That was particularly the case in the first half against Tennessee, when almost all of the players on the field were either starters or backups who will make the 53-man roster.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick by Tennessee in the draft last spring, didn’t look overly stressed by the Rams’ highly touted defense during his three series. He completed five of eight passes for 59 yards and an 84.9 passer rating before giving way to Mettenberger.
The Titans managed only a field goal in those three possessions, but Mariota had a touchdown pass dropped by Dexter McCluster in the end zone before that initial field goal.
With Case Keenum taking over for Foles, the Rams finally got on the scoreboard with 5:38 to play in the third quarter. Reminiscent of his big-play prowess as a rookie in 2012, wide receiver Chris Givens got behind the Tennessee secondary and hauled in a well-thrown deep ball by Keenum. No one could catch Givens, one of the fastest Rams, and the result was an 80-yard touchdown that narrowed Tennessee’s lead to 20-7.
It took nearly seven quarters to get there, but the Rams finally had their first touchdown of the preseason.
The Rams got their second touchdown in the final minute of the game on a pass play from Sean Mannion to Malcolm Brown that went 54 yards.
znModeratorcollected by RamBill
Myles Simmons @MylesASimmons
Fisher will have a Monday press conference at 5 o’clock tomorrow.
Foles on INT: “That’s one of those ones where you learn from it. The next time you see that, you throw it over his head.”
More Foles: “That’s what the preseason is great for—situations like that you can learn from & move forward & stay positive through it all.”
Jim Thomas @jthom1
Just back from locker room. Jeff Fisher said the Rams had no one in the training room after the game, so no injuries.
On the pick six, Foles said he should’ve thrown the ball away. But Britt probably should’ve flattened out his route (my words, not Foles’.)
While realizing it wasn’t pretty when the starters and regulars were on the field, Fisher isn’t panicking. Says team has to keep working.
Fisher said the Rams looked like a team that hadn’t played in 10 days, which is the time since the preseason opener in Oakland.
Fisher was highly appreciative of the video tribute and the ovation of the Tennessee fans.
Said Brockers was held out because of some shoulder soreness, but it’s nothing major.
znModeratorNick Foles, offensive line stuck in neutral, Trey Watts rising
Nick Wagoner
Here are some highs and lows in terms of individual performances from the St. Louis Rams’ 27-14 loss against the Tennessee Titans:
Highs
WR Chris Givens: The Rams finally got their first touchdown of the preseason with a little more than five minutes left in the third quarter of the second game. It came courtesy of Givens, who burned the Titans for an 80-yard score with a perfect throw from quarterback Case Keenum. The deep ball is Givens’ best trick but it’s one the Rams can use and probably why he’ll stick on the roster for a fourth season.
RB Trey Watts: Watts is suspended the first four games of the season for violation of the league’s policy on substance abuse, which means he needs strong preseason performances to earn a roster spot. Nights like Sunday should help. He finished with 53 yards on six carries and added two catches for 42 yards.
QB Case Keenum: Competing for the No. 2 quarterback job, Keenum offered at least one reason to lock down the job with the aforementioned touchdown pass to Givens. It was the best throw by any Rams signal caller this preseason and finally got the Rams in the end zone. The final numbers weren’t overwhelming as he finished seven-of-16 for 164 yards with the score for a rating of 102.1 but anyone on the offense providing big plays should get thumbs up.
Lows
QB Nick Foles: Foles was responsible for the Titans’ first touchdown, throwing an aimless pass out into the flat that Perrish Cox intercepted and returned 24 yards for a touchdown. He finished three-of-seven for 18 yards with that pick and no touchdowns for a rating of 10.7.
The starting offensive line: Of course, Foles’ struggles were due in part to the struggles of this group. Without left guard Rodger Saffold, that unit didn’t allow a sack but there was plenty of pressure. What’s worse, they only managed to pave the way for 2.4 yards per carry on nine attempts. That’s not nearly enough for a team that wants to be run-centric.
CB Marcus Roberson: Roberson has had a strong camp but had a costly miss on a tackle that led to Hakeem Nicks’ 40-yard catch-and-run and allowed a couple of other completions for sizable gains. He’s all but certain to be the team’s No. 4 cornerback but will need to be more consistent to elevate beyond that in 2015.
znModeratorRams starters struggle with basics in preseason loss to Titans
Nick Wagoner
A few thoughts on the St. Louis Rams’ 27-14 loss to the Tennessee Titans:
What it means: We already knew that the Rams had a lot of work to do on offense but if it’s possible, a group that didn’t score a touchdown on two drives last week took a step back on twice as many opportunities against the Titans. Making matters worse, the defense had some issues, with the first-team unit allowing 6.4 yards per play on three series, though it managed to limit the damage to three points. The result doesn’t matter, but the Rams’ struggles to do the basics such as blocking and tackling should be of more concern. Those fundamentals have been issues in recent preseasons and carried over to the regular season. The Rams can’t afford for that to happen again.
Play of the game: Nearly seven quarters into the preseason, the Rams finally got their first touchdown when quarterback Case Keenum lofted a perfect deep ball to receiver Chris Givens, who caught it in stride for an 80-yard touchdown.
Stat of note: 2.4, as in 2.4 yards per carry. That’s what the Rams’ first-team offense mustered on nine attempts before calling it a night. If the Rams are to be a run-first team, that number must improve. This is where the blocking comes in.
Stat of note, part II: 5.7, as in 5.7 yards per carry allowed by the Rams’ first-team defense. The Rams boast a dynamic pass rush but it won’t mean much if they don’t stop the run first. This is where the tackling comes in.
Injuries of note: The Rams made it through without losing any potential starters to obvious or serious injuries.
What’s next: The Rams head home for the final two weeks of the preseason, starting with Saturday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts at the Edward Jones Dome.
znModeratorRams mailbag: What to make of Brian Quick’s progress
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans kick off Sunday night as they reach the halfway point of the preseason.
Before we get there, let’s take a few more of your questions in Part 2 of this week’s mailbag.
As always, you can find me on Twitter @nwagoner. Please use hashtag #RamsMail so I can find your question.
RamsFan4Life @scothoffman
How is Brian Quick looking in practice?@nwagoner: Brian Quick hasn’t really been limited except for the yellow beanie he wears, which reminds his teammates to avoid contact with him. Other than that, to my eye, he’s clearly been the team’s best and most consistent receiver. He looks healthy, he sounds determined and he has a greater appreciation of the game after having it taken from him last year because of a devastating shoulder injury. Does that mean Quick will become the No. 1 type of dominant wideout many hope he can? I don’t know if I’d go that far. But barring a setback, I expect him to be the team’s most productive pass catcher in 2015.
Christopher Dowell @pikebishop
Is Rhaney a serious contender for the backup guard position if Jones gets the nod at center?[/b]@nwagoner: The Rams seem open to at least tinkering with that idea but I’m not sure it’s something that’s really serious. Demetrius Rhaney is just too small to hold up at guard, in my opinion, and I’d tend to think if it came down to it, they’d simply flop Barrett Jones to guard and have Rhaney at center before they’d play Rhaney at guard. I will say this, though: One thing the Rams (and most teams) value in backup offensive linemen is versatility. So it wouldn’t hurt Rhaney’s status to prove he can handle the work at guard. Even if he’s a backup, it would behoove him to learn guard because he could then at least be more likely to be active on game days.
Mayor Sengheiser (@Nicholas_John91)
Are Evan Mathis and Jake Long or any free agent lineman just completely out of the picture at this point?@nwagoner: Pretty clear at this point that the Rams aren’t in the market for another offensive lineman. They’ve invested heavily in the line via draft picks and if they want to keep all of those guys, they don’t really have room for another. If there’s a big injury along the way, perhaps that changes but for now they seem content with what they have.
Larry @Larry49er
Seems assuming two rookies on the OL is a winning strategy is soooo HIGH RISK. Are these rookies worthy?@nwagoner: Of course it’s a risk but the Rams look at it with these two things in mind: 1) Having young, healthy linemen is an automatic upgrade over having old, injured ones. 2) They want to run the ball and run it a lot. That allows for a lesser learning curve if they can have success doing that. Now, there’s no question that the offensive line is the biggest question facing this team this year from a personnel standpoint. Whether the rookie linemen are “worthy” or not is besides the point. The question is how soon and to what extent they’ll be ready to get the job done when the season starts.
Nick Ritson @skippyrit
Of course Fisher says the time in Oxnard was worth it but what’s your assessment Nick?@nwagoner: From a football standpoint, sure. The extra repetitions against another team over two days is a good thing and should help speed things up for the team to potentially start a bit faster. From a PR standpoint, probably not. And I’m not talking about the fighting. They may or may not care about the public perception in St. Louis right now and it wasn’t all that good to begin with, but having what amounted to a pep rally in the city where the owner intends to relocate his team isn’t a good look. That’s not to say the fans in Los Angeles should be blamed. They turned out to support their team and should be commended for their dedication just like the fans in St. Louis who have stuck by the team. It’s unfortunate that this whole situation has turned Rams fans in both cities against each other rather than focusing on their shared passion for the team. Such is the situation the Rams and owner Stan Kroenke have created.
August 23, 2015 at 4:01 pm in reply to: setting up the Titans game (which is nationally broadcast) #29174znModeratorTitans expect Marcus Mariota to get blitzed
Titans Insider
John GlennonAn NFL coaching veteran of nearly two decades, the Titans’ Ken Whisenhunt can recall times — not necessarily all that long ago — when head coaches might reach out to one another before preseason games, informally discussing things like the amount of blitzing that might go on.
All that, however, apparently has changed.
“As far as when it changed, I don’t know,” Whisenhunt said. “We used to communicate, maybe, sometimes. But we don’t (now). I’ve had no communication with any of the other coaches.”
Preseason blitzing might become a topic of interest Sunday, when the Titans play host to ever-aggressive defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and the St. Louis Rams. It was Williams who created a stir back in the 2011 preseason when his Saints defense relentlessly pressured San Francisco’s then-rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick, blitzing on 32 of the game’s 46 pass plays, according to one reporter.
Should the Titans expect their prized rookie quarterback, Marcus Mariota, to face plenty of blitzing?
“There is no unwritten code of anything I know of (regarding blitzes in the preseason),” Whisenhunt said. “If there is, I’ve missed the boat on it. They’re going to do what they do. We’re going to do what we do. So we’ll see.
“I anticipate they’ll bring pressure. That’s what they do. I know that’s what their philosophy defensively is.”
Titans quarterbacks coach John McNulty said Mariota can benefit from working against preseason blitzes.
“I’d like to see how we operate against it in person before we get into the opening game (of the regular season),” McNulty said. “I feel pretty good about where we are in it (during practice), but you like to see it live.
“I know some people think that teams shouldn’t (blitz during the preseason). I don’t know why. I don’t think there’s any code like, ‘You shouldn’t blitz.’
“I think it will be good for us to see how we operate into a blitz. We’re obviously going to get blitzed the first week in Tampa.”
znModeratorWell, we have all seen ‘some’ games where ‘that’ happened.
Ie, the opposing offense just dinked and dunked all the way
down the field, repeatedly, or at critical times.And we have seen games in 2014 where they directly addressed that, and effectively too.
I approach it this way. Think of the reasons why you wouldn’t want to play press coverage with this defense. Because in press coverage, the corners turn their backs on the LOS.
Then think of why they WOULD want to play the corners off. Because they are willing to concede yards for points.
And of course that means keeping the receivers in front of them.
In terms of the short passing game, I am surprised people remember when that hurt, and don’t remember when the Rams played it very effectively. To play it effectively, you limit yards after the catch. I remember a few games last year where the safeties would be all over those plays, in a very effective way, and in fact IMO it was the best sustained, series after series safety play we have seen from the Rams for years. Better than the GSOT defense and going back decades.
znModeratorHe probly coulda fed a lot more poor people if
he’d made that extra 35 million.His heart was not in football. He wanted to farm, and to do good service. He was actually known among the Rams as a religious guy.
I’m never going to criticize a guy whose idea of service does not meet some kind of overarching scrutiny. For me, he’s in the “I have to be me, and I have to do what I can” category.
znModeratorThe story of course is that both Brown and Bell lost interest in football in 2011. Since a lot of other things went wrong in 2011 too, the accumulative effect was bad.
Bell had offers after 2011 but declined—he had injury concerns.
Brown was always shaken up by his brother’s death in Iraq. He found peace with that by quitting football and taking up farming…plus the donations. He had offers, but he walked away.
========================
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/03/jason-brown-quits-nfl_n_6263288.html
In 2012 — after seven years in the NFL –- Jason Brown was let go from the Rams. Though other teams were interested in signing him, he left his career because he felt he had found a higher calling. Brown went on to become a farmer and to help the hungry with the fruits of his labor, CBS reported.
“My agent told me, ‘You’re making the biggest mistake of your life,'” Brown told CBS. “And I looked right back at him and I said, ‘No I’m not. No I’m not.'”
…
He connected with a number of relief groups, including the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina, and got hands-on help from local farming experts and 600 volunteers, according to his site.
This year he donated more than 10,000 pounds of cucumbers and 100,000 pounds of sweet potatoes to local pantries.
“When I think about a life of greatness,” Brown told CBS, “I think about a life of service.”
August 23, 2015 at 10:30 am in reply to: watching pre-season games+ replay times (read whole thread for all options) #29163znModerator8:00ET/5:00PT
FOX NFL: PRE-SEASON ’15 GAME #1 – 08/23/15 8pm LIVE
FOX NFL: PRE-SEASON ’15 GAME #1 – LIVEFOX NFL begins its pre-season telecasts when the Tennessee Titans host the St. Louis Rams.
August 23, 2015 at 10:12 am in reply to: setting up the Titans game (which is nationally broadcast) #29161znModeratorI read that Tenn. uses a 3-4 defense. That puts a NT on the C and the pass rush can be harder to pick up. Also, it is harder to run wide.
It’s the same defensive coordinator they had in ARZ until last year (Ray Horton). That guy always gave the Rams fits. They also hired coach Dick LeBeau.
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Titans’ defensive struggles continue vs. FalconsNASHVILLE — Marcus Mariota has a great excuse for a rough start to the first NFL preseason game of his career, and the rookie quarterback shook off three bad plays pretty nicely.
Now if only the Tennessee defense could say as much.
Mariota rebounded from being sacked, intercepted and fumbling a ball returned for a touchdown in the span of five plays by driving the Titans to a touchdown Friday night in a 31-24 loss to Atlanta.
The defense that added veteran coach Dick LeBeau this offseason gave up an opening TD drive, something the Titans struggled with last preseason.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Saturday he was more disappointed by how his Titans played, not keeping their eyes in the right spots and losing players on some of the Falcons’ bootlegs.
“That disappoints me more than anything because we worked so hard on that,” Whisenhunt said. “On the other side of that, you got to also say that they didn’t run the ball on us very well, which is one of the things we needed to do. We needed to be better against the run, and we were effective last night until the fourth quarter.”
Well, the Falcons didn’t have a run for more than 2 yards on the opening drive. They didn’t have to run with Matt Ryan, who played only one series against Tennessee, completing all six of his passes with only one for less than 12 yards. Ryan drove them 91 yards in 10 plays for an efficient drive.
“Those are things we’ve got to clean up,” Whisenhunt said. “We’ve done a good job trying to get those done in practice, and when you get into a game for the first time and you don’t know what the opponent’s going to do it’s difficult. We didn’t handle it very well. So we’ll hopefully learn from that and do a little better this week.”
That will be Aug. 23 when the Titans and Mariota play their preseason home opener against the St. Louis Rams.
The Titans ranked 27th in total defense last season, giving up 373 yards per game. They were next to last giving up 137.2 yards rushing. That’s why they signed linebacker Brian Orakpo, cornerback Perrish Cox and safety Da’Norris Searcy this offseason
But the Titans didn’t game plan for the Falcons, and the preseason isn’t the place to show off all the zone blitzes LeBeau and coordinator Ray Horton can call. They also played without starting cornerback Jason McCourty, who has missed the past week with a sore groin muscle, and cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson, who has been competing with Cox to start opposite McCourty.
Luckily, the Titans have the Heisman Trophy winner as they try to rebuild the offense. Whisenhunt said Mariota had the ball knocked from his hand on the fumble when the rookie already was looking at tight end Anthony Fasano, his third read in the progression on that play.
The sack came when center Brian Schwenke was tripped by right guard Chance Warmack, and Whisenhunt blamed miscommunication between running back Bishop Sankey and Mariota for the interception.
Mariota played 20 snaps, and the rookie from Oregon hit on 7 of 8 passes for 94 yards, essentially staying in the pocket this game. On the touchdown drive, he dropped back and found Harry Douglas for a 17-yarder on third-and-12. Mariota also converted another third down with a pass to Antonio Andrews.
“The questions, if we all remember, is can he do it in the pocket?” Whisenhunt said. “And I think he’s shown that he’s made a lot of strides that way.”
August 23, 2015 at 9:37 am in reply to: setting up the Titans game (which is nationally broadcast) #29158znModerator5 things to watch: Rams at Titans
Jim Thomas
NEXT IN LINE
It’s Round 2 in the competition for backup QB behind Nick Foles. Case Keenum, who played three series against Oakland, remains in the lead over Austin Davis. Keenum completed 12 of 17 passes, reaching Raiders territory twice but without scoring. Davis was in for only one series, and didn’t have time to do much behind the third-string line.
ON GUARD
With starting LG Rodger Saffold (shoulder) sitting this one out, Brandon Washington gets the start in Nashville. Washington had a rough beginning after Saffold went down early against Oakland, yielding sacks on back-to-back plays. Washington, who is not assured of a roster spot at this point, needs to do better Sunday night in Nissan Stadium.
THE RUN GAME
First-round draft pick Todd Gurley won’t play in the preseason, but that doesn’t mean the Rams aren’t grooming their ground game. The team gained 86 yards and 4.1 yards a carry against the Raiders, with seven players carrying at least once. Those are OK numbers, but coach Jeff Fisher says the team needs to be more productive running the ball against the Titans.
OFFENSE, OFFENSE
The Rams had only three points, 15 first downs, and 285 yards in the opener against Oakland. Sure, it’s the preseason, but no matter who’s in the game that can’t be acceptable. The Rams had only nine plays all evening go for more than nine yards. A sustained drive or two — and a touchdown or two — shouldn’t be asking for too much.
FLAG FOOTBALL
Reducing penalties has been a point of emphasis in camp. So 10 penalties against Oakland, with four more either declined or negated by offsetting flags, wasn’t what Fisher was looking for in the preseason opener. Granted, many of those penalties were committed by players who won’t make the final roster, but Fisher wants a cleaner game.
August 23, 2015 at 9:24 am in reply to: Eagles QB Sam Bradford … how is he doing (from training camp thru pre-season) #29156znModeratorI thought it was a cheap shot.
Mentally, it may prove good for Sam–knowing that he got up and was okay.
But it was dirty.
I thought Sam wasn’t quite comfortable in that offense yet. He also may have been nervous. We’ll find out this year whether Bradford can really be the QB we hoped he would be because if you can’t do it in that Eagles offense….you ain’t got it.
I think he was adrenalated. We’ve seen that before…amped up early with the passes sailing high.
That was a cheap shot, IMO…Rams have, starting in 2012, played at least 12 1/2 games against read-option qbs (Wilson, Kap, RG3), and not once have we seen a Rams defender launch at a knee.
August 23, 2015 at 12:05 am in reply to: 101, 8/21 … Wagoner, Greg Bishop of S.I., & Frank Wycheck #29145znModeratorDo you think that, in general, a football team can play lethargic, sloppy football in the P/S …
And then just flip the switch and play well to start the season?
.
No I don’t believe in general that a team can do that. Where we disagree (or so far anyway) is that the first 2 series of the Oakland game represented lazy, lethargic football. Remember D’Marco on the 99 Bux game? Quote: “You can’t ease into a street fight. We did, they didn’t.” Oakland just had the advantage in that situation. They came armed and with detailed terrain maps. I wouldn’t call the Rams unprepared, or lazy, etc, or any of that. I would just call it a clash of 2 different kinds of preparation.
But then contrast that with the Dallas scrimmage. There, both teams had the same level of preparation. Neither had an advantage the way Oakland did. And…the Rams were so intense about it that the Cowboys were taken to task after Monday for not matching that intensity. If I recall even the Dallas coach said something to the team about it.
Or maybe you’re right and Fisher used Oakland as a wake-up call. Who knows.
.
August 22, 2015 at 11:17 pm in reply to: setting up the Titans game (which is nationally broadcast) #29143znModeratorRemember the Titans for Fisher
Jim Thomas
NASHVILLE • First and foremost for coach Jeff Fisher, it’s the middle of the preseason. He’ll be thinking about fewer penalties, more productive offense, and avoiding injuries for his Rams when they kick off at 7 p.m. Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
But surely there will be a time or two when he looks around what is now known as Nissan Stadium and remembers his long tenure with the Tennessee franchise.
He started in 1994 as a defensive coordinator for the Houston Oilers. Before the season was out he replaced Jack Pardee as head coach and retained that title for the next 16 seasons, through the franchise’s move to Tennessee in 1997 — first Memphis and then Nashville.
Sunday’s nationally-televised game (KTVI, Channel 2) marks his first game in the stadium since 2010. So preseason or not, it will be meaningful for Fisher.
“I have great memories,” Fisher said. “The thing reflecting back, it’s the relationships with the players. All of the players that came through there. Getting through the move process, the relocation process.
“And then the ’99 season and the 2000 season where I think we had a better team than we did in ’99. It didn’t work out for us. But it’s a great organization. I owe a tremendous amount to the (Bud) Adams family for the opportunity. We won a lot of games down there.”
A total of 147 victories to be exact. Fisher guided the Titans to six playoff berths, three division titles, and an AFC title in that ’99 season, losing to Dick Vermeil’s Rams 23-16 in Super Bowl XXXIV.
The Titans haven’t been to the playoffs since Fisher left and are 24-40 over that span.
“Fisher was Nashville,” said Rams defensive end Williams Hayes, one of five current Rams players who once played for the Titans. “He was one of the most loved guys there. So I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be heartfelt when he goes out there. I don’t think he’ll be bitter or angry. I’m pretty sure he likes his situation just as much as I do here (with the Rams).”
At some point during the contest, the Titans plan a video tribute to Fisher. Nothing elaborate, but a tribute nonetheless.
“That’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Fisher said after Thursday’s practice at Rams Park. “I’ll probably miss it. Coaches on the sideline don’t watch stuff on the board.”
Fisher still has a place on the outskirts of Nashville, and makes it back occasionally, including the annual Drive 4 Dinger charity golf tournament and auction. The event honors the memory of Mike Heimerdinger, Fisher’s former offensive coordinator with the Titans who died of cancer in 2011.
At least in terms of playing his former team, Fisher got that out of his system to a degree in 2013 when his Rams suffered a wrenching 28-21 midseason loss to the Titans. Hayes was so upset with the defeat that he shattered a mirror in the locker room that bloodied his arm and required stitches to close. That game was at the Edward Jones Dome, however. This one’s in Music City.
“You know, it’s a preseason game and it’s an opportunity for us to get better,” Fisher said. “I had great memories down there, but obviously it’s been a while. I guess I’d rather go down there for a preseason game than a regular game, but we’re looking forward to it. There’s some other guys in addition to myself that have some special memories there.”
Besides Fisher, six members of his Rams coaching staff once coached or played for Tennessee: assistant head coach Dave McGinnis, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, senior defensive assistant Chuck Cecil, wide receivers coach Ray Sherman, linebackers coach Frank Bush and assistant linebackers coach Frank Bush.
Besides Hayes, four other Rams players once played for the Titans: tight end Jared Cook, wide receiver Kenny Britt, linebacker Akeem Ayers and wide receiver Damian Williams.
“It’s the first time I’ve been back there since I left,” Hayes said. “I haven’t been back to Nashville, not even to visit.”
Hayes spent his first four seasons with the Titans after they drafted him in the fourth round in 2008 out of Winston-Salem State. He signed with the Rams after the 2011 season as an unrestricted free agent.
“The atmosphere on Sundays was awesome there,” Hayes said. “I had great teammates out there. I had a good time when I was there. But my time in St. Louis, I think has been even better. That’s not a knock towards Tennessee, but it’s just the organization all-around is just amazing in St. Louis, and I love coming to work every day. It’s been good.”
As is usually the case in second preseason games, Fisher plans to play his starters on both sides of the ball into the second quarter.
“But the one thing that we did get, which is really important for us, where we are now, is we got great reps against Dallas,” Fisher said. “So as I said, we almost got an extra preseason game. So we’ll increase reps (against Tennessee) but some guys may play less. We’ll give Nick (Foles) a chance to play a little bit.”
Offensive guard Rodger Saffold will be held out of Sunday’s game after tweaking his shoulder in the preseason opener against Oakland. But defensive end Chris Long, who sat out the Raiders game because of a back issue, is expected to make his preseason debut.
“We want to keep the penalties down,” Fisher said. “I’d like to see the run game continue to improve. It’s the same thing with the defense — defense against the run. When you tackle and just do those things, it’s a progression. It’s about improvement, so that’s what we’re looking for.”
znModeratorThe lone ram was Laurinaitis was it not?
w
vYeah and predictably, he could do nothing to stop the Dallas offense.
August 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm in reply to: setting up the Titans game (which is nationally broadcast) #29137znModeratorFive Players to Watch at Titans
Myles Simmons
As we get closer to Sunday’s 7 p.m. CT kickoff, here are five players to watch in the Rams’ preseason matchup against the Titans.
1) Trumaine Johnson – No. 22
The cornerback had a standout performance in St. Louis’ contest against Oakland last week with a key pass breakup and an interception in the end zone. He continued his strong work during practice with the Cowboys in Oxnard, especially during a one-on-one drill with Dallas’ wide receivers. Head coach Jeff Fisher said this week Johnson’s strong play has to do with a solid offseason.
“He was there every day. He’s worked. He’s taken care of his body and he’s determined,” Fisher said. “If you get in that third and fourth year and play like he has, you should start making those plays when you have that kind of ability.”
Johnson likely will not play too much, as it’s still the second preseason game. But last week illustrated that the cornerback can make a significant impact in only a few possessions.
2) Chris Givens – No. 19
Last week, Givens led the Rams with four catches for 36 yards, and also had a 16-yard run. The wideout was sporting a new number (19, switched over from 13) to honor a friend who passed away. On Sunday, Givens will have a chance to continue to make an impact, as he’ll likely continue to see some good playing time. His reliable hands and quickness should aid any quarterback with whom he plays.
3) Ethan Westbrooks – No. 93
An undrafted free agent from West Texas A&M last year, Westbrooks has been working inside at defensive tackle a bit more than he did as a rookie. One of the reasons the D-lineman made the 53-man roster in 2014 was his versatility, and that seems to be paying dividends as the 2015 season approaches. Westbrooks has done a good job of disrupting the backfield in practice. He especially did so when the team worked with the Cowboys this week, even picking off a Tony Romo pass. Look for Westbrooks to continue breaking through the offensive line on Sunday.
4) Center position
The three-way battle for the center spot is ongoing, and this game may be an opportunity for one of Tim Barnes, Barrett Jones, and Demetrius Rhaney to emerge as a front runner. Barnes got the start between guards Rodger Saffold and Jamon Brown last week, but it remains to be seen if that will be the case against Tennessee. What’s more, Rhaney saw time at left guard in practice with the Cowboys this week while Saffold recovers from tweaking his right shoulder in the Oakland matchup. Either way, keep an eye on Nos. 61, 67, and 65 for that center position battle.
5) Matt Longacre – No. 63 (DEF)
Longacre is an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Missouri State, and made significant contributions against the Raiders last Friday. The defensive end led the Rams with three quarterback pressures and also tallied a QB hit, according to the coaches’ tape review. As a player in the crowded and talented defensive line room, Longacre may have only an outside shot at making St. Louis’ 53-man roster. But with a few more performances like last week, Longacre could play himself into the conversation.
August 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm in reply to: setting up the Titans game (which is nationally broadcast) #29136znModeratorRams-Titans: Five Things to Watch
NORM SANDERS
News-Democrathttp://www.bnd.com/sports/nfl/st-louis-rams/article31892430.html#storylink=cpy
Here are five things to watch when the St. Louis Rams travel to Tennessee to take on the Titans in their second NFL preseason contest (7 p.m. TV: Fox Channel 2 (national broadcast); Radio: WXOS-FM 101.1):
1. Will the Rams’ potentially dominant front seven terrorize Titans rookie and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota?
They may not be in there for long, and don’t expect to see some of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ more exotic schemes, but the Rams’ fearsome front seven should give Mariota and the Titans’ offensive line all it can handle early. With backups seeing plenty of time in the loss to the Raiders last week, linebacker Bryce Hager led the way with eight tackles and backup defensive tackle Louis had seven. Cornerback Lamarcus Joyner, whose role increases because of the season-ending foot injury to former starter E.J. Gaines, has a lot to gain with more good performances.
2. With left guard Rodger Saffold (shoulder) out, how will a vastly inexperienced Rams offensive line hold up against the Titans?
Brandon Washington got the bulk of the work at left guard last week when Saffold was injured early in the Raiders game. A 27-year-old former sixth-round pick out of the University of Miami, Washington was beaten for one sack last week but played well otherwise and hopes to take advantage of this opportunity. Look for rookie right tackle Rob Havenstein and rookie right guard Jamon Brown to see a lot of action, too, while the situation at center remains unsettled though Barrett Jones remains listed as the starter.
3. Will the Rams stay with a lot of short drops and quick-out passes or begin taking shots down the field?
In his time in St. Louis, Fisher rarely shows his hand much when it comes to fully unveiling the offensive package. Former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles continues to develop chemistry with his new group of receivers and seems to have formed a close bond with tight end Jared Cook. With short pass plays, maybe the Rams can find a way to make better use of former eighth overall pick Tavon Austin this season.
4. With first-round pick and former Georgia star running back Todd Gurley out of the lineup indefinitely, will Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham develop as a solid force in the backfield?
Gurley will eventually return and the Rams’ didn’t use a first-round pick on him to see him as anything less than a featured back. But before then it’s an opportunity for Mason and Cunningham to continue to cement themselves as durable and effective NFL running backs. Mason ranked second among all rookie running backs last season with 765 yards despite not playing in the first four games. The versatile Cunningham had 246 yards rushing and three touchdowns in 2014 along with 45 pass receptions and also was one of the top kickoff return men in the league.
5. Will former Titans head coach Jeff Fisher receive a warm welcome in his first trip back to Nashville since joining the Rams?
Of course he will. Were it not for a dramatic tackle near the goal line by Rams linebacker Mike Jones that stopped Titans receiver Kevin Dyson just short of scoring, Fisher’s Tennessee Titans would have beaten the Rams in the 2000 Super Bowl.
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