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znModeratorAgree with a lot from that one! Your are very critical of G.Wms….and here’s what Fisher said about that very issue:
http://theramshuddle.com/topic/fisher-921-transcript/
Defensively, just too many explosive plays. We’ve got to fix our defense against the run. It’s a combination of things. It was a combination of gap integrity by the players. It was a combination of the staff putting them in some bad positions. Overall, we’re all going to take responsibility for that –the defensive staff, the defensive players
znModeratorBig plays, run defense missing for Rams in loss
Nick Wagoner
LANDOVER, Md. — A look back at how the St. Louis Rams fared in three areas to watch in Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Washington Redskins.
Nick Foles
Rams quarterback Nick Foles lacked the protection needed to make big plays in Sunday’s loss to the Redskins.
1. Chunk play priority: The Rams probably would have settled for even half of their big play output of a week ago when they posted eight plays of 20-plus yards against the Seattle Seahawks.But finding any positive yardage, let alone in big chunks, was too tall of an order for the Rams this week. The Rams had just one play over 20 yards against the Redskins, a 40-yard touchdown pass to receiver Kenny Britt. Quarterback Nick Foles didn’t have enough protection to take many shots deep as he often found himself running to buy time. On a day when yards were hard to come by anyway, a few more home run balls likely would have made a big difference.
2. Containing Morris: In a very literal sense, Washington running back Alfred Morris didn’t do a ton of damage Sunday to the Rams. He finished with just 59 yards on 18 carries with 35 of those yards coming on one attempt. But the larger point of this category was about the Rams prioritizing stopping the run. And they didn’t. At all.
Redskins running back Matt Jones chipped in 123 yards on 19 carries and scored twice as the Rams repeatedly found themselves struggling to stop the run. For the game, Washington finished with 182 yards on 37 carries, an average of 4.9 yards per attempt. With the Redskins in favorable third downs, the Rams only managed two sacks and Washington converted half of its 16 third downs.
3. Eliminating mistakes: On the bright side, the Rams didn’t have any turnovers though Foles and running back Tre Mason each fumbled once, losing neither. Foles also didn’t throw any interceptions and the Rams recovered a fumble on their way to finishing with a plus-1 turnover margin.
On the other side of the coin, the Rams had too many mistakes in other areas to overcome, namely the return of an old issue in the form of penalties. The Rams had nine infractions for 80 yards on the day, none more important than an offsides on defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks in the fourth quarter.
With 8:56 to go, the Rams had Washington facing third-and-13 at its 20 and trailed by just a touchdown. But Westbrooks jumped the gun to make it third-and-8. On the next play, the Redskins converted with a 10-yard completion and went on to score a touchdown to put the game away. It was just one of many miscues on the day but it effectively put an end to the Rams’ hopes of a comeback.
znModeratorOgletree has career-high 18 tackles vs. Washington
By Jim Thomas
One of the few bright spots in the Rams’ 24-10 loss to Washington was the play of outside linebacker Alec Ogletree. The third-year linebacker registered a career-high 18 tackles Sunday, including one tackle for loss.
The 18 tackles marked the highest total for a Rams defender since London Fletcher recorded 21 tackles on Sept. 23, 2001 in a 30-26 victory at San Francisco. That contest was the first game following the 9-11 terrorists attacks, with games the previous weekend postponed.
But in a game in which the Rams gave up six plays of 21 yards or more, Ogletree wasn’t perfect. He was beaten in coverage by Washington tight end Jordan Reed on a third-and-5 conversion that covered 29 yards in the fourth quarter.
Later in the drive, which culminated in a victory-clinching touchdown run by Matt Jones with 2 minutes 38 seconds to play, Ogletree was penalized 15 yards for grabbing the facemask of Washington running back Alfred Morris.
Ogletree was the Rams’ only defender to register double-digits in tackles against Washington according to coaches’ review of game film. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers continued his strong early-season play with nine tackles, including one tackle for loss. He also had a quarterback hit on the pass rush.
The leading tackler in the secondary, with seven stops, was strong safety T.J. McDonald. McDonald also had a fumble recovery.
With Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins getting the ball out quickly, the Rams’ pressure numbers were way down. They had only three hurries, one QB hit, and two sacks. The two sacks were split four ways: Chris Long and Nick Fairley split one sack; Long and Aaron Donald split the other. Last week against Seattle, the Rams had 13 hurries, six QB hits, and six sacks.
Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis had six tackles Sunday, giving him 914 for his career and leaving him one tackle shy of the franchise record set by Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen from 1962-76.
znModeratorJeff Gordon’s Rams-Seahawks Report Card
Report Card: F’s and D’s all over the field
Quarterback C-
Nick Foles had one shining moment Sunday. He sold the fake end-around hand-off to the Washington defense, then lofted the ball to WR Kenny Britt for a 40-yard TD. Otherwise he had a tough day. His teammates kept dropping passes and Washington’s steady pressure forced him out of the pocket and away from his comfort zone. He finished 17 for 32 for just 150 yards and the one score.Running Backs D
A poor offensive tone was set early when Benny Cunningham dropped a simple swing pass from Foles, running before he caught it. He delivered another blatant drop in the fourth quarter with the Rams in desperation mode. This unit got nothing on the ground until the second half, when Tre Mason finally broke free for a couple of first downs. But Mason narrowly avoided disaster early in the fourth quarter, fumbling deep in his own zone. Fortunately teammate Stedman Bailey recovered the ball.Receivers C
Kenny Britt made the only big play for the Rams, getting wide, wide open on a fake end-around play for the 40-yard TD. Tavon Austin ran the ball effectively, gaining 40 yards on four carries. But the group caught just four passes during the game, despite Foles’ best effort to extend some plays with his feet. There weren’t a whole lot of Rams finding openings in the Washington secondary.Tight Ends D
The group looked good early, with Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks catching first-down conversion passes. Cook finished with a team-high five catches for 47 yards. But Kendricks (false start) and Cook (personal foul, facemask) were flagged for untimely penalties in the third quarter and this duo offered minimal help in the run game.Offensive Line F
Rookie OT Rob Havenstein had predictable trouble containing sackmaster Ryan Kerrigan, who beat him with a variety of moves. The line allowed Washington to sustain pressure on Foles for much of the game, forcing Foles to flee the pocket repeatedly. This line also failed to create much of a push in the run game, limiting Rams running backs to just 26 yards on eight carries.Defensive Line D
DE Robert Quinn stripped Washington RB Matt Jones of the ball on a third-quarter play to (briefly) reverse the game’s momentum. DT Aaron Donald was in the backfield a lot, blowing up running backs and hassling Redskins QB Kirk Cousins. DT Nick Fairley and DE Chris Long teamed for a late sack. But the defensive front was called for a couple of offside penalties (Donald and Ethan Westbrooks) and it allowed Washington to roll for 182 yards on the ground.Linebackers F
OLB Alec Ogletree had another busy game, making eight tackles according to press box statistics. But he also had a costly facemask penalty in the fourth quarter to facilitate Washington’s scoring drive. MLB James Laurinaitis got credit for four tackles and five assists. But he also had rough moments, such as overrunning an Alfred Morris cutback that resulted in a 34-yard gain for Washington. When the game was on the line, this unit couldn’t make stops. Its play helped Redskins RB Matt Jones bulldoze up and down the field like Jim Brown.Secondary D
CB Janoris Jenkins wanted an offensive pass interference call on Pierre Garcon’s TD reception. He didn’t get it. Nor did he cover Ryan Grant on an earlier 35-yard reception. He had a rough day that was capped by injury. S Rodney McLeod failed to support on Matt Jones’ 39-yard TD run, getting caught inside and giving up the sideline. On the plus side, safety T.J. McDonald recovered the Jones fumble forced by Quinn. CB Trumaine Johnson made a great read on another pass toward Grant and nearly earned the interception.Special Teams A
K Greg Zuerlein crushed a 52-yard FG to finally put the Rams on the board in the third quarter. He also did his usual great job on kickoffs, hammering one touchback after another. S Maurice Alexander was noticeable on the punt teams, making a great tackle in coverage and nearly blocking a kick on the other. P Johnny Hekker got some extra practice thanks to penalty related re-kicks.Coaching F
The Rams appeared to be tactically and emotionally unprepared in the first half as Washington raced to a 17-0 lead. A few adjustments triggered a brief comeback, but Washington went back to imposing its will on the Rams. Jeff Fisher’s team didn’t come close to building upon its exciting opening victory over Seattle. Such are the losses that keep teams out of the playoffs season after season.znModeratorRams dominated by Redskins
LANDOVER, MD. • The Rams have had a few trademark wins under coach Jeff Fisher, only to come back the next week or later in the same season and lose to a very beatable opponent.
Last season, they squashed Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, only to get routed by a 6-10 New York Giants squad.
In 2013, there were marquee victories over Indianapolis and New Orleans but also losses to Atlanta and Tennessee, teams that went a combined 11-21 that season.
In 2012, Fisher’s inaugural year with the Rams, there was as an overtime victory and a tie against Super Bowl-bound San Francisco. But also losses to perpetually mediocre Miami and a 6-10 New York Jets squad.
It happened again Sunday at FedEx Field. Fresh off an attention-grabbing overtime victory against Seattle on opening day, the Rams came out flat against Washington — about as flat as can be in falling behind 17-0 at the half.
The team’s hopes of starting 2-0 for the first time since 2001 never got off the launching pad in a 24-10 loss to Washington.
“We wanted to go 2-0 bad,” Rams safety T.J. McDonald said. “I’d be lying if I said we didn’t. We didn’t play good enough to get it.”
Not even close to good enough in the opening two quarters. The Rams have played a lot of bad football over the past decade, and Sunday’s first half was right up there with the worst in terms of ugly play.
Besides trailing by 17 points, the Rams were outgained 239 yards to 72 in the half. In the parity-driven NFL, it’s not supposed to happen that way. It marked the first time since Oct. 2, 2011 that Washington (1-1) has held an opponent scoreless in the first half.
“We came out a little sluggish,” Rams tight end Lance Kendricks said in understatement. “Especially on the road, you’ve got to really come out with some urgency.”
The Rams were anything but urgent Sunday. They got gashed for one big play after another in the opening half by a Washington offense that managed only 10 points in a season-opening loss to Miami.
Running backs Alfred Morris and Matt Jones had runs of 35 and 39 yards, respectively, through gaping holes in the Rams’ defense on Washington’s first touchdown drive. Jones’ 39-yard run accounted for the TD.
A 35-yard reception by wide receiver Ryan Grant on a play in which he got behind cornerback Janoris Jenkins set up a field goal on Washington’s next possession for a 10-0 lead with 53 seconds still to play in the opening quarter.
Washington’s next TD drive included a 25-yard run by Jones, the rookie from Florida. On a third-and-goal play from the Rams’ 4, Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a TD pass to Pierre Garcon, who beat Jenkins on the play. Jenkins complained of a push-off, but it really wasn’t flagrant enough to merit a call by referee Ed Hochuli’s crew.
And that was pretty much the ballgame. A Washington team that was beaten 24-0 by St. Louis here last season and managed only 206 yards in the process had 17 points and the aforementioned 239 yards by intermission this time.
The Rams finally showed a pulse in the third quarter, putting up 10 points to make it a one-score contest. But overall, this was all too easy for Washington — way too easy, actually — against the highly touted Rams defense.
It was pretty basic football. Washington controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and controlled the clock, blocking and tackling better than the Rams. Sometimes it’s not all that complicated.
“We knew that in order for us to win the game we were going to have to run it, stop the run, and get off the field on third down,” Fisher said. “And we didn’t do any one of those with any consistency. That was the difference in the ballgame.”
Jones finished with 123 yards rushing and two touchdowns, on 19 carries, averaging 6.5 yards per attempt. He outshone Morris, a three-time 1,000-yard rusher who finished with 59 yards on 18 carries (for a modest 3.3 average).
“He surprised a few guys who didn’t realize how big and fast he was all at once,” Rams defensive end Robert Quinn said of Jones, who stands 6 feet 2 and weighs 231 pounds. “But at the same time, I don’t think an NFL player can catch another guy off guard. They’re here for a reason. He found some holes in our defense and he ran through ’em.”
All told, Washington rushed for 182 yards, getting all but 50 of that total by halftime. Washington was eight for 16 on third-down conversions, compared to the Rams’ feeble two for 12. The home team dominated time of possession, with 37 minutes 44 seconds of ball control compared to the Rams’ 22:16.
“They out-executed us on third down, and that’s a big play during the game, just keeping those drives alive,” Rams quarterback Nick Foles said. “We didn’t do a good job of that today.”
A week earlier, after the big win over Seattle, the Rams were talking about the need for week-to-week consistency in execution and performance. They were doing so almost immediately after that triumph.
“As you know, our biggest problem has always been being consistent,” guard Rodger Saffold said after that 34-31 win. “We win one, lose one. Lose two, come back win two. Lose the third. You know what I mean?”
We know exactly what you mean. But recognizing the problem and solving it remain two distinct things for the Rams. They have managed back-to-back victories only five times during Fisher’s tenure. And they have won as many as three in a row only once — defeating Arizona, San Francisco and Buffalo in succession in 2012.
A 52-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein, followed by a 40-yard TD pass from Foles to Britt, cut Washington’s lead to 17-10 midway through the third quarter. Quinn forced a Jones fumble that was recovered by McDonald, setting up the Foles-to-Britt score.
But just as quickly, the Rams’ offense shifted back into neutral and stayed there. Washington finally put the game away with an excruciating 12-play, 77-yard TD drive that chewed up nearly 7 minutes of the fourth quarter.
Washington faced third-and-13, third-and-5, and third-and-8 situations on the drive, converting each time. Jones’ 3-yard sweep around left end gave Washington a victory-clinching 24-10 lead with 2:38 to play in the fourth.
And left the Rams groping for answers— again.
znModeratorRams are, well, the Rams again
Benjamin Hochman
LANDOVER, MD. • They call him Pot Roast, and he was hungry.
Terrance Knighton, he who scares scales, was ravenous for Rams, this after St. Louis beat his Broncos last year … and shut out Washington last season, Knighton’s new team in ’15.
“We saw some things on film that we could take advantage of — we knew if we stop the run, it would be tough,” the nose tackle told me Sunday, after he and the D-line devoured the Rams, winning 24-10. “… We know what type of team they think they are; they’re going to come in, be physical, be frontrunners, and it’s a famous quote: ‘Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.’ That’s the attitude we took. …
“Coach (Jay) Gruden got up in front of the team Wednesday and showed St. Louis tape, showed how physical they are, showing how they beat Seattle and laid it on our guys last year, running reverses when they’re up 21 points. So we took it personal.”On Sunday, Washington’s defense played with an appetite; the Rams’ offense played full. Satisfied.
Last week, I watched Nick Foles and the offense shower the Seattle secondary. It looked to me like the Rams’ offense was on to something. Nope. Here at FedEx Field, the Rams were the Rams again.
The offense took more steps back than Foles under pressure.
They weren’t who they thought they were.
“Sometimes with the way things are going, you kind of get ahead of yourself,” offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said, when asked about the Rams being too high after beating Seattle. “But the preparation was there and the work was there — we didn’t play the way we practiced.”
So who are these guys? I suppose they’re somewhere between the team that defeated the defending conference champs, and the team here in DC that looked defeated.
The Rams were so deflated, the league might have to call Ted Wells to investigate.
Now look, I don’t think the Rams are this bad. They still can win eight total games. But Sunday, the offense fed into the belly of the beast(s): Pot Roast Knighton, Stephen Paea, Ryan Kerrigan gobbling up the Rams’ rushers, who finished with 67 yards. In the whole game!
The Rams’ best running back performance might have been the pregame drills by Todd Gurley, who didn’t play but is “week to week, and we thought he had a great week (in practice),” coach Jeff Fisher said.
At least Tre Mason returned, so he could take some of the heat otherwise thrown toward the inept Isaiah Pead.
Here’s what frustrated me most about Foles: He looked as if he was playing not to lose, even when the Rams were losing. A few times, he settled on throwing shorter passes, and even some of those were dropped. I know: If you don’t have a run game going, the offense isn’t itself. Then throw in the fact that the Rams couldn’t throw effective screen passes. But man, they converted just two of 12 third downs.
“We knew in order for us to win the game, we would have to run it,” Fisher said. “We missed a lot of opportunities. But I can’t say it’s Nick or it was the receivers, or a breakdown in protection. We’ll have to look at it. But I think everybody in that locker room when you talk to ’em wishes they would have played better, and that would include Nick.”
The easy narrative that we’ll all hear Monday is that the Rams were just too confident after the win against Seattle. They thought they’d matured, they thought they’d taken a step, but then — déjà vu (or, I suppose, déjà boooooo).
But I’ve got to bring up at least one wacky stat, per Bill Barnwell of Grantland.com. In 2014, the final 10 teams that played Seattle in the regular season and had a game the following week, lost the following week. They call it the “Seattle Hangover”: A team becomes so battered by the bruising boom of Seattle’s legion, that the next week they’re not recovered. The Rams had it last season — remember the loss at Kansas City? — and supposedly they had it again Sunday.
Asked about this, a passionate Fisher said: “It’s fair to assume that, but we guarded against that and had a great week of practice.”
Last weekend, perhaps prematurely, Foles praised his offensive line following its showing against the Seahawks. It was cool to hear: the Rams quarterback speaking as a leader, showing his young linemen that he’s behind them, and not just when he’s under center.
Well, now Foles has a new test as a leader: restoring confidence in his precocious offensive line while also restoring confidence in himself. Let’s not forget, the Rams’ offense only had one play for more than 20 yards Sunday.
Pot Roast and the defense didn’t just feast on the Rams.
They poured gravy on them.
znModeratorRams show up flat, get run over by Redskins
AP
http://www.bnd.com/sports/nfl/st-louis-rams/article35918955.html#storylink=cpy
So here’s a nearly certain way to beat the Rams: Get the NFL to schedule a game against St. Louis right after it faces NFC West rival Seattle.
Dating to 2005, the Rams are 2-15 in regular-season games immediately following a matchup with the Seahawks.
The latest such loss came Sunday, when the Rams fell into a big hole, failed repeatedly on third down, gave up 123 yards and two touchdowns to Washington rookie running back Matt Jones, and were beaten by the Redskins 24-10.
No matter what the numbers say, St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher insisted his club did not have any sort of letdown after its 34-31 overtime victory over the two-time reigning NFC champion Seahawks in Week 1.
“Not at all,” Fisher said. “We had a really good week. I mean, it’s fair to assume that, but we guarded against it and we had a great week of practice.”
Perhaps. But the Rams (1-1) came out flat-as-can-be against Washington (1-1), trailing 17-0 at halftime. It’s the first time the Redskins shut out an opponent over the first two quarters since an Oct. 2, 2011, game against St. Louis.
Nick Foles was out of synch, overthrowing receivers, underthrowing receivers and simply flat-out throwing the ball nowhere near receivers. He finished 17 for 32 for 150 yards and said he was OK after a defender rolled up on his lower left leg on the Rams’ final drive.
“He missed a lot of opportunities,” Fisher said, “but I can’t say (if) it’s Nick, or his receiver or if it was a breakdown in protection.”
Foles’ take?
“I know it’s simple,” he said, “but we just did not execute.”
The Rams’ first six possessions each ended with a punt, and the seventh — which marked their first trip across midfield — petered out when the first-half clock expired.
In all, St. Louis was 2 for 12 on third-down conversions.
“We knew that in order for us to win the game we were going to have to run it, and stop the run, and get off the field on third down,” Fisher said, “and we didn’t do any one of those with any consistency.”
Jones, a third-round draft pick out of Florida, scored from 39 yards in the first quarter, and from 3 with about 2 1/2 minutes left in the fourth.
“He ran like his hair was on fire today,” Redskins left tackle Trent Williams said.
The Redskins finished with a 182-67 edge in rushing yards.
“If you don’t stop the run against that team, it’s going to be a long day, because that’s what they do well,” Rams defensive lineman Chris Long said. “Our strength — rushing the passer — we never got to do it.”
The Rams only had two sacks, after getting six against Seattle.
Tavon Austin had a team-high 40 yards on four carries for the Rams, but the Redskins kicked the ball away from him on punts, never allowing the speedy returner to try to take one back.
Tre Mason’s season debut was a quiet one, with seven carries for 26 yards, while first-round draft pick Todd Gurley was inactive again as he returns from knee surgery.
And yet, with all their problems, the Rams pulled within 17-10 in the third quarter when Foles connected with Kenny Britt on a 40-yard touchdown pass two plays after Jones fumbled.
Kirk Cousins — 23 of 27 for 203 yards, one TD and zero interceptions — led a 12-play, 77-yard drive that ate up more than 6 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter and was capped by Jones’ second score, basically sealing the victory.
“We feel,” Mason said, “like we are a better team than that.”
Notes
When St. Louis beat Washington 24-0 last season, Fisher tweaked the Redskins during the pregame coin toss, sending out six players acquired via the trade that allowed Washington to pick Robert Griffin III second overall in the 2012 draft. This time, Fisher went with captains such as Foles; Griffin, meanwhile, was not even in uniform, inactive as the No. 3 QB behind Cousins and Colt McCoy.
znModeratoryeah. that’s just not going to get it done.
All true. But then, imagine this…they DO have 35-30 carries, the backs ARE productive, AND they have 40 yards from Austin on 4 carries. Pretty good.
znModeratorJeff Fisher Says Rams Have Themselves to Blame for Loss to Redskins
September 20, 2015 at 7:24 pm in reply to: Rams not a road team yet? (official Wash game response thread) #30967znModeratorOkay, to look at the brighter side, sort of, here are things the Fisher Rams do not do tremendously well:
1. Road games (8-1-15 on the road last 3 years)
2. Following up a big win against a tough division opponent with a consistent effort. Like the Jets after SF in 2012.
3. Blocking 3/4 defenses.
znModeratorRams Suffer 24-10 Setback at Washington
Myles Simmons
LANDOVER, Md. — The Rams had a disappointing outing offensively and defensively, dropping their second contest of the season to Washington, 24-10.
The home team used a strong rushing attack to control the ball and the clock, amassing 368 total yards, including 182 yards rushing. And it was rookie Matt Jones leading the way for Washington, racking up 123 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns.
On the other hand, the visitors mustered only 67 yards rushing and 213 yards of total offense, gaining only 11 first downs. The time of possession battle was lopsided as well, with St. Louis holding the ball for only 22:16.
Washington got on the board first with a touchdown on its second possession. Poor run defense from the Rams allowed the home team to get into the end zone in just three plays. Running back Alfred Morris took a handoff 35 yards to the left for a big gain. A play later Jones ran it over the left side for a 39-yard touchdown, putting Washington up 7-0.
Washington kicker Dustin Hopkins hit a 46-yard field goal to make it 10-0, but the home team wasn’t done in the first half. After an offensive holding penalty, the Redskins had a 1st-and-15 at the St. Louis 48. But Jones wiped that out with a 25-yard run to the right, putting Washington in scoring position at the visitors’ 23. A few plays later, Kirk Cousins hit Pierre Garçon with a short pass to the left for a touchdown, giving Washington a 17-0 lead.
The Rams had a tough time moving the ball throughout the first half, finishing the first two quarters with only 72 total yards. Their best chance to score came after a Washington 18-yard punt gave St. Louis the ball at their opponents’ 45. Nick Foles completed a pass to Jared Cook for 14 yards on 3rd-and-10, but time expired before the Rams could get up to the line to kill the clock.
The defense got back on track to begin the second half, forcing a three-and-out. Aaron Donald and Lamarcus Joyner had key tackles for loss on the drive.
Washington’s punt put the Rams at their own 32, but the offense got a couple quick first downs. Tavon Austin got the possession started with a 16-yard end around to the left, and Tre Mason followed that up with a 13-yard run up the middle.
Though the drive stalled with a false start penalty, a 9-yard pass from Foles to Benny Cunningham on third down put St. Louis in field-goal range. Greg Zuerlein nailed his 52-yard attempt to get the Rams on the board, making the score 17-3.
The defense then came up with a big turnover, as Robert Quinn punched the ball out on a Jones run, giving St. Louis the ball at its own 49. Mason got the possession going with an 11-yard run. And then Foles dropped back with a play-action fake, and hit Kenny Britt in the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown. The scoring strike cut into the lead once again, with St. Louis down 17-10.
But Washington got back on the board in the fourth quarter, aided by a few Rams penalties. A 3rd-and-13 situation turned into a 3rd-and-8 due to a neutral-zone infraction penalty. Cousins converted that with a 10-yard pass to Chris Thompson. Later in the drive, St. Louis committed a facemask penalty to put Washington in the red zone on the 15. A few plays later, Jones ran around the left side for a 3-yard touchdown, putting the game out of reach.
With the loss, the Rams fall to 1-1 on the young season. They’ll be back in action next week at home against the Steelers
September 20, 2015 at 5:25 pm in reply to: Rams not a road team yet? (official Wash game response thread) #30945znModeratorSo, what happened?
Both Washington lines came to play.
The Rams DL showed up in spurts.
The Rams OL got manhandled.
Really, my opinion? That’s the game right there.
September 20, 2015 at 4:18 pm in reply to: Rams not a road team yet? (official Wash game response thread) #30937znModeratorNow we’re waiting to hear if Foles was hurt.
znModeratorWell we know they CAN.
I vote that they WILL.
I am betting on this being they year a young team gets over its week-to-week inconsistency disease.
One thing I saw that fuels that belief—remember the chippy Rams who would get distracted by their own edginess? There was barely a sign of that last Sunday. It was just focused football.
..
So much for that prediction.
I want the chippy Rams back.
znModeratorI read that his being inactive last week was not due to injury. I know that he didn’t exactly light things up in camp and or pre-season, but his being inactive is really surprising.
He had a severe injury last year and a long recovery. The recovery held him back in camp and the pre-season—so he’s not game ready yet. I suspect he has the same time frame Gurley does, give or take. With Quick it’s a matter of being up to speed, and physically ready to play. I doubt Foles has even thrown to him much yet at this point. In the meanwhile, as Zooey says, Marquez is offering a lot for special teams. So I think we will see Quick, but a little down the line.
znModeratorfrom off the net
—
jrry32
http://www.footballzebras.com/2015/09/15/13089/
Rams@Redskins: Ref Assignments – Ed “Guns” Hochuli
I’m good with this actually. I was thinking today that this would be an ideal game for Hochuli. We’ll see flags flying but he’s a real stickler for holding. That’s might just help us because Callahan’s guys have a tendency to hold a lot.
note from me: Callahan is Washington’s OL coach
znModeratorAdam Schefter @AdamSchefter
Despite being listed as questionable, Rams RB Tre Mason is expected to play today. Todd Gurley still in question.
znModeratorFoles set to face old friend Cousins
Jim Thomas
The record shows that quarterback Nick Foles was selected in the third round of the 2012 draft by Philadelphia out of the University of Arizona.
But there was a time, in 2007, when Foles sat in a quarterback meeting room at Michigan State. A room that included Brian Hoyer and Kirk Cousins.
OK, we’re not talking Marino, Montana and Elway there, although Cousins and Foles are still young in their NFL careers and Foles already has made a Pro Bowl.
But consider the fact that there were only 32 people on the planet who had the title last week of “opening-day NFL starting quarterback.” And three of them were sitting together in that meeting room eight years ago at Michigan State.
Who could’ve known?
“You don’t really know,” Foles said. “I knew Kirk was extremely talented, Brian was extremely talented, and me — I was just trying to rehab my shoulder. I had shoulder surgery, but at that time, you don’t realize that it’s three guys that’ll start in the NFL in the future.
“Right there, you’re just trying to be a college quarterback that can help a team. That’s all you’re really thinking about.”
Hoyer has been benched after just one start for the Houston Texans, giving way to Ryan Mallett. As for Foles and Cousins, they’re squaring off Sunday at FedEx Field when the Rams (1-0) visit Washington (0-1). It’s a noon kickoff (St. Louis time).
“Kirk’s a tremendous competitor,” Foles said. “He’s a really intelligent guy. I really enjoyed my time there with him (at Michigan State) and I’m not surprised at all with the success he’s had.
“Just going through the adversity he experienced at Michigan State. Just the man he’s become, the player’s he’s become, it doesn’t surprise me everything he’s gone through now to be the starting quarterback in Washington.”
Foles went through some adversity of his own in East Lansing, Mich. Coming off shoulder surgery following his senior season of high school, Foles appeared in only one game for the Spartans in 2007, completing five of eight passes for 57 yards against Alabama-Birmingham.
With Hoyer and Cousins both coming back in ’08, that quarterback room got even more crowded when Keith Nichol transferred in from Oklahoma. Couple that with homesickness, and Foles faced an early-life crisis: Should he stay at Michigan State or transfer?
“It’s always tough when you’re deciding to transfer, but it was one of those things where I had to decide,” Foles said. “It had nothing to do with the competition or anything, it just had to do with, did I as a young man — 18, 19 years old — see myself going to college there and being a student-athlete for four years.
“I was a Texas boy, and just wanted to go somewhere where it was a little bit similar to home.”
So he talked it over with his family. He prayed over it. And he eventually sat down with Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio and talked it over.
“I think the world of Coach Dantonio and that staff,” Foles said. “But I had to follow my heart, and it worked out. I went to Arizona, enjoyed being a student-athlete there, found my wife and married.”
But at the time, there were no guarantees in transferring to Arizona.
“My dad told me, ‘If you do this, there’s a chance you’ll never play football again. You just have to know that,’” Foles recalled. “He’s not gonna sugarcoat it; he never has.”
While Cousins was flourishing at Michigan State, Foles did the same at Arizona. Who knows? Had Foles stayed at Michigan State, where he got to know Cousins well, he might never have made it to the NFL. Or vice versa.
“Nick and I were kind of competing, both being freshmen at the time and sharing time on the scout team,” Cousins said on a conference call with St. Louis reporters. “We got to know each other well that year, went to math class together, and spent a lot of time together.
“It’s been really neat to see our football careers and our lives kind of go on paths that have led us to this point. It’s pretty unique.”
How’d the math class go?
“We both did pretty well,” Cousins said, laughing. “We were well prepared for it. Yeah, we did awesome.”
Foles and Cousins have stayed in touch over the years, texting back and forth. Occasionally they’ll run into each other at an event in the offseason.
“We may meet each other, see each other, catch up,” Cousins said. “Our wives met this past offseason, so that’s kind of the way the NFL works, is you’re all in it together and you’re going through similar experiences just in different places. Certainly as quarterbacks you have that shared experience and you both kind of understand what it takes and what you’ve gone through.”
Last Sept. 21, they ran into each other for the first time on a football field.
Foles completed 27 of 41 passes for 325 yards, three touchdowns, and a season-high passer rating of 114.4. Cousins completed 30 of 48 passes for a career-high 427 yards, with three TDs, one interception, and a 103.4 passer rating.
In a shootout, Foles’ Philadelphia Eagles defeated Cousins’ visiting Washington Redskins, 37-34.
Now, almost a year to the day later, they meet again, only this time Foles is wearing a different jersey. After an emotional 34-31 overtime victory against Seattle, Foles’ Rams are trying to start a season 2-0 for the first time since the 2001 Super Bowl campaign of the Greatest Show on Turf group.
But Foles isn’t basking in the afterglow of the Seattle victory. Nor is he thinking about the magnitude of the Rams starting a season with two victories. He’s certainly not thinking about Cousins and Michigan State, circa 2007.
“All we’re thinking about is the Redskins, and going out and executing,” he said. “It’s one game at a time, one play at a time. That’s the mentality you have to have as a competitor. I know that we as athletes say it all of the time, but it’s the way you’re successful.
“If you overlook anything or you get too excited about something, usually it doesn’t go well.”
Things may not have gone well in East Lansing; Foles very much wants them to go well Sunday at FedEx Field.
znModerator7 things to watch: Rams at Redskins
Jim Thomas
RAMS FACE ANOTHER HEAVY BACK IN MORRIS
After doing a good job containing Marshawn Lynch last week against Seattle, the Rams have another big challenge at running back in Alfred Morris. Morris topped 1,000 yards in his first three NFL seasons and got a good start on season No. 4 with 121 yards on 25 carries against Miami. Morris (5-10, 224) is what coaches and players call a “heavy back” — a big, strong, power runner who’s tough to bring down. “Gotta get a lot of people to the ball,” DT Michael Brockers said. “We kinda compared him to Marshawn Lynch when he runs. You know, he runs hard, runs tough. He always falls forward.”
CHASING COUSINS
If the Rams can contain Morris, and get Washington in predictable passing situations, well, QB Kirk Cousins has been known to throw the ball up for grabs. Cousins has the highest turnover rate per 100 snaps in the NFL since 2008 — 3.45 — according to CBS. Cousins threw two interceptions against the Dolphins, although one came on a highlight-reel play by Miami CB Brice McCain. Cousins, a former college teammate of the Rams’ Nick Foles, is 2-8 as an NFL starter.
ON THE RECEIVING END
Washington lost one of the game’s top deep threats when DeSean Jackson went down with a hamstring injury against Miami. He’ll miss several weeks. Without him, Cousins’ top options are WR Pierre Garcon and TE Jordan Reed. Garcon’s production dipped noticeably a year ago from his breakout 2013 campaign (113 catches for 1,348 yards), but he remains a dependable short and intermediate threat. Reed, who has been slowed by injuries as an NFL player, has some after-the-catch skill.
UP FRONT
A young but talented Washington offensive line was able to move the line of scrimmage against Miami in the running game, particularly in the first half. Trent Williams is a three-time Pro Bowler and one of the game’s top young LTs. Washington added another skilled blocker when Iowa’s Brandon Scherff became the first O-lineman taken and the No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 draft. Scherff did a good job last week vs. Miami’s Ndamukong Suh, including some successful cut-blocking.
UP FRONT II
According to the depth chart Washington uses a 3-4 alignment, but it played a lot of four-man fronts against Miami, especially in passing situations. There’s some talent here. Nose tackle Terrance Knighton, who has one of the best nicknames in football — Pot Roast — is a 6-3, 354-pound space eater. DE Jason Hatcher had a sack and batted down a pass against Miami; he’s had some disruptive moments against the Rams as a Dallas Cowboy. OLB Ryan Kerrigan has four sacks in three games against the Rams.
ON THE BACK END
There are some issues in the secondary for Washington. Starting free safety Duke Ihenacho has been lost for the season after suffering a fractured wrist against Miami. CB Beshaud Breeland returns from a one-game league suspension; but starting CB Chris Culliver sits out the Rams contest as he serves a one-game league suspension. At the other corner, three-time Pro Bowler DeAngelo Hall missed some time against Miami with a rib injury.
HAPPY RETURNS?
Suffice it to say, Washington’s punt return unit got a lot of work in practice this week. After giving up a 69-yard punt return to Miami’s Jarvis Landry for the game-winning TD, the Redskins face one of the league’s most dangerous punt returners in Tavon Austin. Austin had a 75-yard punt return for a TD in the Rams’ opener against Seattle, and had a 78-yard punt return for a TD against Washington in a 24-0 Rams victory last Dec. 7 at FedEx Field.
znModeratorthis is where it really gets fun, guys. to be able to watch these guys grow game by game. no idea where it’s going to go, but the potential there is enormous.
That was a good post.
A good optimist’s manifesto.
znModeratorWell we know they CAN.
I vote that they WILL.
I am betting on this being they year a young team gets over its week-to-week inconsistency disease.
One thing I saw that fuels that belief—remember the chippy Rams who would get distracted by their own edginess? There was barely a sign of that last Sunday. It was just focused football.
..
znModeratorWV, tell us your response to that.
September 19, 2015 at 10:59 pm in reply to: Wow, how thunk that? (Seattle game reaction thread) #30897znModeratorfrom off the net
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alyoshamucci
WOW. Was NOT expecting that. I don’t know that I’ve ever been so surprised by a total performance. We beat a really good team, with calls going against us … and we beat them straight up. I usually see when we beat a big dog that we lucked out or got a cheap victory. Not this time.
The GREAT.
1) Aaron Donald is mind blowing.
2) Nick Foles threw a multitude of complex throw perfectly, and led the team over about a dozen roadblocks.
3) CL and Brockers were a totally different Force on the line.
4) Benny Cunningham made about 5 major league plays that extended drives, and he’s OUR THIRD BACK.
5) Cignetti has a better feel for the game than any playcaller we’ve had in a decade. Neither Foles, nor anyone on the offense, looked confused or surprised, UNLIKE THE SEAHAWKS DEFENSE, who were caught totally out of position NUMEROUS times. He called a GO route for a TE on 3rd and 5. Crazy.
The Good
5) Quinn got his two. I expect us to push for the all time sack record this year, and have a couple games with double digit sacks.
6) Tavon made noise.
7) The unbelievable set of blocks thrown by Janoris and Marquez during the run back.
8) Our rookie O linemen hung in just fine. They weren’t great, but they made it work.
9) Joyner was a missile, finally playing at the speed I knew of him at FSU.
10) Roberson came in fine for Tru, and really walled off well in coverage numerous times. The possible PI at the end of the game … they COULD have called it because they always call junk on us, but both men were hand fighting, both got their heads around, and he didn’t push off until it was clear the ball was sailing out of bounds.
11) Our safety play is superb.
12) Hayes was visible on multiple rushes.
13) Cook. Clutch. He keeps that level of focus up consistently, his athleticism is going to start freaking people out.
14) The fans. Way to make noise.
15) Marquez, thank you for catching the ball.
16) Greg, dude, nice job.
17) Big boys getting downfield on screens … nice.
The Bad
18) Pead, hold the ball. Or better yet, just play special teams please.
19) Greg Robinson … settle down. Concentrate. You’re bigger and faster than everyone, you don’t need to spaz every play. Trust your technique.
20) Hekker, that’s your one terrible kick gimme this year, c’mon man.
The Ugly
21) How is that reffing not drawing attention? I’m just confused. Again. And again.
Really great game, a pleasure to watch, and maybe more enjoyable than any other game in the last decade. I got to watch it on a phone in my brother in law’s house with my oldest stepson … awesome bonding experience and memory.
znModeratorFisher: NFL told me Seahawks got away with a penalty on onside kick
by Michael David Smith
The officials corrected one mistake on the Seahawks’ onside kick at the start of overtime against the Rams on Sunday, giving the Rams the ball after first wrongly ruling that the Rams had committed an invalid fair catch signal. But the officials made another mistake that they failed to correct.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher says the NFL has admitted that the Seahawks should have been flagged for hitting Rams receiver Bradley Marquez after he signaled for a fair catch on the onside kick. In the confusion that began with the officials wrongly flagging Marquez for an invalid fair catch signal, they failed to realize that the Seahawks had committed the penalty.
Fisher says he told the officials after they corrected their first mistake that they also needed to enforce the penalty on the Seahawks, which would have moved the ball from the 50-yard line to the 35. But the officials didn’t listen to Fisher, a longtime member of the Competition Committee who’s well-versed in the rulebook.
“They just said, ‘We’re going to give you the ball right here. We’re not going to re-kick, so let’s go,’’’ Fisher said, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I just couldn’t convince them to enforce the penalty because they just wouldn’t put the ball on the 35-yard-line.’’
Fisher said that it was such an unusual play that he’s not surprised it wasn’t officiated perfectly, and he appreciates the league acknowledging the error.
“The thing is, when have we seen that before? It just doesn’t come up,’’ Fisher said. “I talked to [NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino] last night and he explained it and we were right. He said, ‘No, they made a mistake.’”
The Rams ended up kicking a field goal on the first possession of overtime and winning the game by stopping the Seahawks’ subsequent possession, so things ended well for St. Louis. But referee Jeff Triplette and his crew were far from perfect.
znModeratorfrom off the net
===
Ramsey
Since 2007 only 73 teams have started the season 2-0. 42 made the playoffs. So if we defeat Washington Sunday , our Ram’s historical chances of making the playoffs would be a beefy 57.5%Out the 31 teams who didn’t make the playoffs, some were pretty good, such as the Cheatriots 11-5, 2013 Cardinals 10-6 and 2014 Eagles 10-6.
3-0? Chances of playoff birth= 75.4%
znModeratorTavon beats Sherman.
I like the vid…I don’t like the comment posted with it.
znModeratorCosell starts at ~3:00.
Segment 2 – Greg Cosell 9/18/15
Friday, September 18, 2015 12:20 PM==============
http://www.insidestl.com/insideSTLc…sive-Front-Arguably-the-Best-in-Football.aspx
note: edited by me a couple of times because the site’s official transcript makes some mistakes
James Laurinaitis is criticized by fans or whatever reason. What do you think about him?
“I think he’s a solid NFL middle linebacker. He’s not more or he’s not less. He’s not below average. He’s a good player. He’s a solid player. I think if you had to replace him…then you have to replace him with someone who’s better.”
On Nick Foles:
“I thought the Rams had a really good feel for what they were going to see from the Seahawks defense. I thought the Rams were really effective attacking it and breaking it down. I thought the Rams had a really good feel. And the defense is not as good talent-wise.”How would you compare Foles to Sam Bradford?
“He’s not as good a thrower as Bradford. That’s a hard question to answer. Because Bradford ability wise is…better than Foles. But he hasn’t played very much.”
On Foles and his intangibles and receivers really talking him up:
“I can’t answer that. I can only tell you that in Philly you heard the opposite. In fact, that was one reason the coaching staff didn’t love him in Philly. I think that very often coaches and players are not going to rip their present players. So that’s a hard question to answer.”
How will Todd Gurley give this team a different wrinkle when he debuts?
“It’s not a matter of giving them a different wrinkle. He has a great skill set. They want to be built on the run game. Todd Gurley ability wise is a high-level back. That’s why they drafted him.”
Can you see this offense being good with a healthy Gurley and Tre Mason?
“Yeah, could be. I think they clearly tried to get Tavon Austin involved in a variety of ways. That becomes the wrinkle. If Gurley is healthy, he becomes the staple.”
On the young offensive line vs. Seahawks:
“I thought for the most part they were OK. They were a little uneven. I thought (Rob) Havenstein had his welcome to the NFL moments. For the most part the line held up against a good defensive line. The line did not prevent the Rams from doing what they wanted to do offensively. Granted they want to get more production from their running game.”
On second-year left tackle Greg Robinson:
“I don’t think he’s played well to this point. I thought he really had a tough preseason. For a guy who has measurables, he does not play to those measurables. The measurables suggest he should be more athletic than he plays. He really has a hard time in pass protection still. When you’re going to play really quality pass rushers, I think he’s a concern.”
How do you think the defensive line played against Seattle?
“They physically man-handled the Seahawks. We know Aaron Donald is terrific. I think Michael Brockers was sensational on Sunday. Their defensive front is arguably the best in football.”
On the secondary:
“It’s tough (to grade the secondary based on how they played) against Seattle. The Seahawks might have the most remedial passing game in the NFL. (The secondary) played well but you don’t want to use how they played against Seattle (as a measuring stick). The focus will be on how the secondary plays all season long.”
On game plan vs. Redskins:
“(Kirk) Cousins is a limited passer, they don’t have a vertical threat. They’ll take a few shot plays…and you can’t give up big plays when they do that. And you have to defend the run game. And they were effective running last week in both base personnel and in three wide-receiver sets.”
On how the Cardinals look so far:
“I really like their offense. (Head coach Bruce) Arians really does a good job. They have nice route concepts, nice combinations. Palmer never seems to get his due or credit. He’s a very good passer. He can make every throw. They are arguably the most complete team in the division.”
znModeratorFoles became the first quarterback to complete 65 percent of his passes and average 11 yards per completion since Pete Carroll became coach in Seattle in 2010.
znModeratorRams look to keep big plays coming against Redskins
Nick Wagoner
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The St. Louis Rams and Washington Redskins kick off at 1 p.m. ET Sunday from FedEx Field. Here are three things to watch in that game:
1. Chunk play priority: The Rams caught most people by surprise with a better-than-expected offensive performance against the Seattle Seahawks’ defense in Week 1. The key to that success? Big plays. Since coach Jeff Fisher arrived in 2012, the Rams have been a methodical team with only the occasional explosive play. But they were finding chunks of yards on a regular basis against the Seahawks.
The Rams beat the Seahawks for eight plays of 20-plus yards last week, which would have been good for 25 percent of the amount of those plays Seattle yielded a year ago. Rams quarterback Nick Foles was the primary reason for that, going 7-of-8 for 175 yards and a touchdown on throws at least 15 yards down the field. In the process, Foles became the first quarterback to complete 65 percent of his passes and average 11 yards per completion since Pete Carroll became coach in Seattle in 2010.
The Redskins yielded four passes of 20-plus yards to the Miami Dolphins last week and another three runs of at least 12 yards. The Rams will look to keep that going this week in Washington.
2. Containing Morris: Running back Alfred Morris is the key to everything the Redskins do offensively, a fact that isn’t lost on the Rams. All week, players and coaches discussed the need to keep Morris in check. Like Marshawn Lynch last week, Morris packs a punch and isn’t easy to bring down.
With Bill Callahan taking over as offensive line coach, the Redskins have begun morphing their run game to include more power and gap schemes than previous seasons. When they met last year, the Rams limited Morris to career lows in carries (eight), yards (6) and yards per carry (0.75). The Rams would love to duplicate that success this time out but even if that’s unlikely, the Rams know they must limit his damage to find themselves in position to get another win.
3. Eliminating mistakes: The Rams had just four penalties for 30 yards last week against Seattle, which represents certain progress under Fisher. In fact, it was just the fourth time since Fisher took over that those numbers have been so low. They’ve won all of them. But just because the Rams improved in one of their major problem areas doesn’t mean they are without issues. They were minus-2 in turnover differential for the game and minus-3 in the second half alone. They also allowed both a special teams and defensive touchdown.
More often than not, one of those statistics leads to a loss but when you add them all together, it’s exceedingly rare for the team on the wrong side of it to get a victory.
Somehow, the Rams still managed to beat the Seahawks, in large part because of the aforementioned big plays from the offense and a relentless performance from the defense. Those things still exist but if the Rams can cut down on the turnovers and the non-offensive touchdowns allowed, they’ll find themselves in a much better place when it comes to getting their first 2-0 start to a season since 2001.
znModeratorunderstand you’re busy, RM, and don’t expect a solution soon, but is there a quick way to up the contrast in the interim?
You only had to ask.
Better?
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