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September 13, 2015 at 10:06 pm in reply to: Wow, how thunk that? (Seattle game reaction thread) #30435
znModeratorfrom off the net
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South County Girl
Terrific showing by the crowd today!
Congrats to all of you who showed up, you made St. Louis look good on national T.V.
znModeratorI am a little late to this thread, but yes I think they can.
Hey, RM.
Nice new banner. Lookin good.
.
znModeratorRams show Seahawks NFC West will be slugfest this season
James Parziale
FOX Sports
New year, same problems for the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks needed a yard to keep ther game against the St. Louis Rams going in overtime on Sunday, and this time, even though they gave the ball to Marshawn Lynch, they got stuffed.
It’s a joke that writes itself.
The Rams, by outlasting the Seahawks 34-31 in overtime in Week 1, also just gave everyone the blueprint for how to stop the defending NFC champs: attack that decimated offensive line and hit Russell Wilson. Oh, and go after the guy who is replacing Kam Chancellor.
To make matters worse, it looks like the Rams are angry.
Not everyone has a front as ferocious as the Rams, but they harassed Wilson all day. The latter did have one big run for a first down inside the red zone that set up Jimmy Graham’s first touchdown catch in a Seattle uniform on third down.
However, this game never really should have come to that. It was all going so swimmingly for the Rams.The Rams were up 24-13 in the third quarter. The upset was in sight.
Then all kinds of shenanigans brook loose. Three second-half turnovers by the Rams let the Seahawks off the hook.In addition, the Seahawks missed their all-world holdout safety Chancellor. His replacement, Dion Bailey, got burned for a game-tying touchdown with under a minute left in regulation.
The quirkiness continued with the Seahawks attempting an onside kick to start overtime, and despite the refs flipping their calls around about a possible fair-catch, the Rams got amazing field position that led to the go-ahead field goal and the eventual victory.
Everyone has said the Rams have been a quarterback away from competing in the NFC West. And Nick Foles’ regular-season debut on Sunday proved just that.
September 13, 2015 at 8:58 pm in reply to: Wow, how thunk that? (Seattle game reaction thread) #30431znModeratorfrom off the net
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max
Last year, the Seahawks gave up a league-best 32 pass plays of 20+ yards all season. Today, they gave up eight.
znModeratorSeptember 13, 2015 at 7:56 pm in reply to: this is great…podcast of Savard & Farr calling the end of the game #30420znModeratorThis has to be one of the ALLTIME best Ram openers.
Maybe THE best.
Can anyone think of a better, more significant,
more exciting Opening win that this?I cant.
w
vI can think of a couple of other good ones.
Baltimore 99.
And, an exciting game though for some wrong reasons (including bad defense):
Denver, 2000.
.
September 13, 2015 at 7:54 pm in reply to: Fisher, Foles, Quinn, Austin 9/13 – transcripts – & Long vid #30417znModeratorChris Long Postgame Press Conference – 9/13
Watch defensive end Chris Long talk after the Rams Week 1 overtime victory against the Seahawks.
znModerator”. That ability to suffer a setback or two, leaving him staring into a potential loss late in the game. And, despite what the situation looked liked, having the ability to lead the team down the field for a score.
He showed the same stuff last year.
In the off-season, since the trade, I often wondered aloud if he were a gamer. Clutch guy. He has shown signs of it before.
Well, could be. Looks like it.
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September 13, 2015 at 7:12 pm in reply to: All preseason I was the lone voice singing the praises of this team…. #30395znModeratorPS — somebody post some damn HIGHLIGHTS.
Like, right now.It was a crazy game, WV.
Highlights:
September 13, 2015 at 6:35 pm in reply to: Wow, how thunk that? (Seattle game reaction thread) #30383znModeratorI meant Marcus Robinson.
Just fwiw, it’s RobERson.
znModeratorznModeratorNo way was that a missed kick. That was an intentional onsides kick. Carroll is losing it. He is obviously still chafing from the SB call, and is telling an obvious lie to avoid another criticism for play-calling.
Good. Finally something is inside Carroll’s head. May he call plays in fear all season long.
I think it was a real miss, because the intent was a squib kick. The kicker blew it. I can see that explanation.
September 13, 2015 at 6:02 pm in reply to: Wow, how thunk that? (Seattle game reaction thread) #30366znModeratoryeah. but you gotta remember this was the number one rushing offense last year at 172.6 yards a game at a 5.3 average. rams held them to a 3.9 average.
Yeah. 32 carries for 124 yards, 3.9.
And you know what else? In the 4 Fisher Rams home games against Seattle, Wilson has now been sacked 18 times.
Which might be part of the reason they run so much.
znModeratorRams thrill their diehards by edging Seahawks
• By Jeff GordonSeattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, right, is sacked for a 4-yard loss by St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
Everybody who avoided the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday afternoon missed an incredible spectacle.
If this season is the Rams’ farewell tour in St. Louis, it began memorably. The Rams rallied in the final minute to force the Seattle Seahawks into overtime, then edged them 34-31.
“Tremendous effort,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “We didn’t play particularly well, we did things that cost you games, but we overcame them.”
The game ended, appropriately, when the Rams defensive front poured through the Seattle offensive line one last time to make the OT-ending stop on Marshawn Lynch on fourth down.
Those Rams fans who did attend roared in approval, drowning out the Seahawk loyalists who gobbled up many of the tickets.
Defensive linemen Aaron Donald, Robert Quinn, Michael Brockers, Eugene Sims and Co. had a great day, despite the high score. The Seahawks scored on a touchdown punt return and a touchdown fumble return during this frantic game.
Quarterback Nick Foles countered with a stirring regular Rams debut, completing 18 of 27 passes for 297 yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing TD.
He was dealing with the absence of top running backs Todd Gurley (knee) and Tre Mason (hamstring) and key receiver Brian Quick (shoulder). He also worked around the inexperience of his offensive line, which led to some mishaps — such as a shotgun snap off of his chest while he was signaling play adjustments.
Foles marched the Rams for the last-minute touchdown that forced the game into overtime, locating unattended tight Lance Kendricks for the 37-yard score. Then his overtime strike to Stedman Bailey set up Greg Zuerlein’s decisive field goal.
That short scoring drive came after daring Seahawks coach Pete Carroll ordered an onside kick to open the overtime. The Rams recovered it and then convinced the officials not to order a re-kick. (Long story, no need to go into here.)
It was that kind of contest. A pair of massive Rams turnovers in the late going to complicate their challenge. First running back Isaiah Pead fumbled the ball with the Rams up 24-21 and in range for at least a field goal.
Then, with the game tied 24-24, blitzing Seahawks cornerback Cary Williams steamrolled Foles with a blind side sack as the quarterback cocked his arm to throw.
The ball flew loose, allowing Williams to scoop it up and Seattle to take a late 31-24 lead the Rams had to overcome.
Oh, and the game started on a bad note, too. Seahawks punt returner Tyler Lockett to race 57 yards for the game’s first touchdown. Johnny Hekker launched a missile from the back of his end zone and Lockett had room to rumble.
After that blunder, though, the Rams controlled most of the remaining half. Their 80-yard touchdown drive was most impressive, with tight end Jared Cook running free and running back Benny Cunningham gaining impressive post-catch yardage.
As a nod to former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, the Rams closed that drive with Tavon Austin’s 16-yard run from the running back position. He easily got around the sealed left tackle to race untouched into the end zone.
See, that play really can work!
Thus inspired, the Rams defense teed off on the Seahawks. A dubious personal foul penalty extended the ensuing Seattle drive, but cornerback Trumaine Johnson ended it with a spectacular lunging interception.
That set up a Zuerlein field goal that gave the Rams a 10-7 lead.
Alas, the Seahawks were able to scramble back and tie the game 10-10 before the half, with quarterback Russell Wilson doing what Russell Wilson does — hitting some quick throws and extending other plays with his nimble feet.
The Rams did well to toughen up in the red zone and hold Seattle to a field goal.
Disaster struck the Rams again early in the second half when a broken play resulted in center Tim Barnes hitting Foles in the chest with a shotgun snap while Nick was looking away and signaling adjustments.
Seattle recovered the loose ball and marched downfield for the go-ahead field goal. A great tackle by safety T.J. McDonald — taking down big Jimmy Graham in the open field — forced Seattle to settle for three points.
But the Rams responded with an impressive touchdown drive. Foles advanced the ball with this arm and his feet, eventually reaching the end zone himself on a bootleg run.
The Rams defense fed off that score with a quick stop, with safety Mark Barron forcing Wilson to throw away a pass and Donald forcing Wilson to the ground with another sack.
On the ensuing punt, Austin raced 74-yards to push the Rams toward a 24-13 lead. Remarkably, none of his teammates negated the big play with a mindless blocking-in-the-back penalty.
The Seahawks challenged the play, hoping the officials could locate video evidence that Austin stepped out bounds. Such a review the past several years would have resulted in the play being overturned, but this time it held.
Is this an omen? Have the Rams’ fortunes finally reversed? Maybe, just maybe, they have.
The Seahawks came right back at the Rams with Wilson doing damage with his feet and his arm. The Rams some success blitzing in this game and they did a good job containing tight end Jimmy Graham on a variety of plays.
Seattle cut the Rams lead to 24-21 when Wilson connected with Graham in the left corner of the end zone to defeat a Rams blitz, then Lynch plowed into the end zone for a two-point conversion.
Cunningham responded immediately with a 42-yard catch-and-run play. And Foles kept the Rams moving with his desperate shovel pass to Cunningham to narrowly escape a sack.
But Seattle turned Pead’s ensuing fumble into a game-tying field goal — and it could have been worse but for Marcus Roberson’s pass defense in the left corner of the end zone.
Williams’ strip sack/TD fumble recovery put Seattle up 31-24, but Foles led the Rams back. He kept the last-gasp drive alive with a nice scramble completion to Kenny Britt and he finished it off by locating Kendricks.
What a game. Those who boycotted the festivities due to owner Stan Kroenke’s actions missed quite a show.
znModeratorRams Post Thrilling 34-31 Win Over Seahawks
Myles Simmons
ST. LOUIS — It was a wild one to open the season, but at the end of it, the Rams came away with a 34-31 overtime victory over the Seahawks.
The Rams won the coin toss, but they deferred to the second half, giving the Seahawks the ball to commence the year. St. Louis’ defense kept Seattle in check, with 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald coming through with the unit’s first sack of the year.
Rushing up the middle, Donald used a power move to get into the backfield, then shed Seattle offensive guard J.R. Sweezy to get right in Wilson’s face for the sack.
But the home team was pinned back near its own goal line on the ensuing drive, and Johnny Hekker had to punt from his own end zone. While Hekker got off a decent kick, Seahawks rookie wide receiver Tyler Lockett returned the punt 58 yards to open the scoring. Lockett fielded the ball toward the middle of the field, and ran through an open hole and wasn’t touched on his way to the end zone, giving Seattle a 7-0 lead.
The Rams came right back from the touchdown in a big way, driving 80 yards down the field to tie the game with a Tavon Austin TD. Quarterback Nick Foles connected on all four of his passes on the drive, including a short one to Benny Cunningham on 3rd-and-15 the running back took 17 yards with some shifty moves for a key first down.
To cap off the possession, Austin ran it in from 16-yards out. Foles lined up in the pistol with Jared Cook beside him and Austin behind him. The offensive line flowed to the right, but Cook went left to seal the edge. Austin followed the tight end over to the left and went untouched into the end zone for a touchdown, tying the score at seven in the second quarter.
St. Louis got back on the board with points off a turnover. On 3rd-and-4 from Seattle’s 38, Johnson lined up over Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch, who was split out wide on the left side of the defense. At the snap, Lynch ran a comeback route, which Johnson read flawlessly and jumped. Fully extending himself to get the football, the cornerback came up with an interception to set up the offense at Seattle’s 26.
Greg Zuerlein would hit a 33-yard field goal to put the Rams on top, 10-7.
Seattle ended the first half with a field goal to tie the game at 10, and then used a turnover to put another three points on the board to open the second-half scoring.
But after that, St. Louis gained control with 14 quick points. The offense got going with an 18-yard pass from Foles to Kenny Britt, then moved further down the field with the help of a Seattle unnecessary roughness penalty. Foles kept the momentum rolling with a 9-yard scramble, and a play later hit Cook with a 30-yard pass to put St. Louis in the red zone.
On 1st-and-goal from Seattle’s 1-yard line, Foles showed his wheels again, faking a handoff to Cunningham and keeping it himself for an end-around touchdown. The score put the Rams back on top, 17-13.
It wouldn’t stay that way for long. Donald recorded his second sack on Seattle’s ensuing possession, making it 4th-and-12 from the visitor’s 18.
With Lockett already taking one to the house, Austin did him one better. The West Virginia product fielded a deep punt, and scampered 75 yards down the left sideline to pay dirt. Janoris Jenkins and Bradley Marquez gave him some good blocks to spring him.
Defensive end Robert Quinn had his first sack of the day in the first half, and put up another early in the fourth for St. Louis’ fifth QB takedown of the day. But Seattle would get the best of the drive, with Wilson connecting with tight end Jimmy Graham for a 7-yard touchdown. The Seahawks would make their two-point conversion attempt, cutting the Rams’ lead to 24-21.
While the Rams initially responded well to the score, an Isaiah Pead fumble in Seattle territory gave the visitors the ball back at their own 25.
Seattle made it to the red zone, but that’s where the Rams defense held stout. The unit forced an incompletion on 3rd-and-4 at the St. Louis 17 to induce a field goal.
With the game tied at 24, Seattle forced another turnover to get back on top. On the first play of the drive at the home team’s 20, the Seahawks blitzed cornerback Cary Williams who blindsided Foles. The quarterback lost the ball on the sack, which Williams picked up and ran to the end zone. The touchdown gave Seattle a 31-24 lead.
But this one wasn’t over quite yet. The offense responded as it had throughout the game, with Foles coming up with a couple strong to lead the Rams down the field to tie the game. On 3rd-and-15 from the St. Louis 37, the quarterback evaded the rush and fired a pass to Britt, which the wide receiver caught for 21 yards and a first down.
Two plays later on 3rd-and-5, tight end Lance Kendricks ran a streak down the left sideline. His defender fell to the ground, and Foles hit his open receiver for a 37-yard touchdown to tie the game.
Seattle got the ball back with 53 seconds, but the Rams defense prevented Wilson from getting anything going. Eugene Sims recorded St. Louis’ sixth sack of the game on 2nd-and-8 from the Seahawks’ 37. The defensive lineman was injured on the play, inducing the Rams to use a timeout with one second on the clock. But Wilson took a knee to send the game to overtime.
St. Louis won the OT coin toss, but Seattle tried a little trickery to start off the extra period. With the Rams in their base kick return formation, kicker Steven Hauschka kicked one short to the left side, trying to catch the home team napping. But wide receiver Bradley Marquez was ready, and caught the kick at midfield.
With another strong throw from Foles, the Rams got in position for their game-winning field goal. The quarterback dropped a stellar throw over the head of Richard Sherman and into the hands of Stedman Bailey to put the Rams on the Seahawks’ 25. Zuerlein nailed his 37-yard attempt to give the Rams a 34-31 lead.
On the ensuing drive, Seattle gave Lynch the ball on 4th-and-2 and he was stopped by Donald and Michael Brockers in the backfield to give the Rams the W.
znModeratorLed by Nick Foles, resilient Rams fight their way to victory
Nick Wagoner
ST. LOUIS — For the better part of the past decade, when the St. Louis Rams faced some adversity in a game, they folded up their tents and called it a day.
Whether or not Sunday’s 34-31 win against the Seattle Seahawks is a sign of a new era remains to be seen but for one day, at least, the Rams refused to go quietly into the St. Louis evening.
Nick Foles was pressured all day, but stood tall in the end.
And it was quarterback Nick Foles who set the example for the team’s newfound resilience. Under pressure for most of the day – Seattle had two sacks, six quarterback hits and many more pressures – Foles continued to stand tall in the pocket and deliver when the Rams needed him.Never was that more true than overtime as Foles and the Rams took over at midfield following Seattle’s failed onside kick attempt. Foles promptly delivered a 22-yard strike to receiver Stedman Bailey for a gain of 22 to Seattle’s 25.
That set up the game-winning 37-yard field goal from kicker Greg Zuerlein and was just one of many examples of Foles’ toughness.
All of that came after Foles was hit from behind and coughed up a fumble that gave Seattle a 31-24 lead with less than five minutes to play. Foles hobbled off the field holding his right arm. He then promptly led an 84-yard drive, capped by a 37-yard strike to tight end Lance Kendricks for the game-tying touchdown.
By that point, Foles had already led two 80-yard scoring drives after the ball bounced the other way, one after Tyler Lockett’s 57-yard punt return for a touchdown and another after a mishandled snap led to a turnover to open the second half.
Foles finished with 297 yards on 18 of 27 passing with a touchdown and a rushing touchdown. But beyond the numbers, Foles provided Rams fans with two more things they’ve been craving from the quarterback position: toughness and a season-opening win against a hated division rival.
September 13, 2015 at 4:43 pm in reply to: Wow, how thunk that? (Seattle game reaction thread) #30326znModeratorMan, I don’t want em ALL to be as up and down as that one.
But….a win with a new qb and young line against the NFC champs and the best defense in the league?
I ain’t gonna complain TOO much.
September 13, 2015 at 4:40 pm in reply to: All preseason I was the lone voice singing the praises of this team…. #30322znModeratorznModeratorLast time I was in SF, admittedly many years ago, when I travelled I just watched games in bars in the airport. Fwiw. Not even sure that makes sense nowadays.
znModeratorWichmann is 1 of 8 active OL. He was hurt during most of training camp. They really like him or they like him better than Rhaney at guard.
There’s some interesting stuff about them liking Wichman here —>
znModeratorAnyway, its fun to see young people stretching, growing,
changing, learning, aint it. I mean, when it actually happens.
Not sayin it will happen with this student.That’s not what I saw though, myself. What I saw was a young person struggling to explain her own ideological limitations but expressing them as these big revelations. It’s someone who wants to cling to the past.
So for example nothing threatens the private beliefs of her homeless man.
It’s just that we’re moving toward a society where limits on individual power includes less sanction for abridging the human rights and civil liberties of groups previously allowed less of either.
Oh and myself, I tend to look at rhetorical situations far more than “concepts.” Given that, the term “reverse racism” is just this excuse racists use so they can justify not changing.
Have I encountered situations where an individual or 2 expressed dislike for me solely on the basis of race? Yes. I didn’t bat an eye at it. Just moved on. I know I have multiple safe zones in my society when it comes to that. If I weren’t white, would that kind of thing happen far more frequently, and have a more far-reaching effect? Yes. Would I have fewer safe zones? Yes.
znModeratorAnyway, its fun to see young people stretching, growing,
changing, learning, aint it. I mean, when it actually happens.
Not sayin it will happen with this student.That’s not what I saw though, myself. What I saw was a young person struggling to explain her own ideological limitations but expressing them as these big revelations. It’s someone who wants to cling to the past.
So for example nothing threatens the private beliefs of her homeless man.
It’s just that we’re moving toward a society where limits on individual power includes less sanction for abridging the human rights and civil liberties of groups previously allowed less of either.
znModerator7 things to watch: Rams vs. Seahawks
Jim Thomas
BEAST MODE
When it comes to stopping the Seattle offense, the head of the snake remains RB Marshawn Lynch. No NFL player has rushed for more yards or scored more rushing TDs over the past four seasons. And he has been incredibly consistent, with 1,200-plus yards rushing and 10-plus TDs in each of those four seasons. The Rams’ highly regarded defense got off to a slow start a year ago vs. the run, and Lynch provides a formidable opening-day test. Because of his relentless running style, tackling him is not for the faint-hearted.
NEW AT TIGHT END
Seattle has added a dynamic weapon in former New Orleans Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham at tight end. Graham dominates his position like Lynch does at running back. Over the past four seasons, Graham has more catches (355), more receiving yards (4,396), and more TDs (46) than any TE in the league. He does most of his work away from the line of scrimmage, either in the slot or split out wide. He’s tall (6-7) and athletic, so athletic that the NFL banned “dunking” the football over the crossbar — a Graham specialty after scoring.
WILSON WINS
Granted, he gets plenty of help from his defense, but quarterback Russell Wilson has more regular-season (36), postseason (six), and overall (42) victories than any quarterback in NFL history has posted over his first three seasons. He can improvise as well as any QB in the league, scrambling outside the pocket, reversing field, and keeping plays alive. Maintaining integrity in rush lanes and sealing the perimeter are essential for opposing defensive lines. The Rams’ pass rush has had success getting to him, sacking him 26 times in six games.
LEGION OF BOOM
With three-time Pro Bowl safety Kam Chancellor still in the midst of a holdout, and unavailable Sunday, there’s not as much Boom in the Legion. At 6-3, 232, Chancellor is as big as a linebacker, so the Seahawks will miss his hard-hitting ways. Opposing ball carriers and receivers won’t. Meanwhile, the best free safety on the planet, Earl Thomas, isn’t 100 percent healthy following offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum, but will play Sunday.
LINE DANCING
The Rams’ inexperienced offensive line faces a huge challenge right off the bat against a formidable Seattle defensive front. Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett are accomplished, savvy veterans who can get to the quarterback. Bennett figures to line up most often over Rams rookie RT Rob Havenstein. Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane is a force in the middle. Unlike prior seasons, the Seahawks lack proven depth in their rotation.
CONVERSELY …
After losing C Max Unger and G James Carpenter in the offseason, the Seahawks have one of the NFL’s most inexperienced offensive lines. Not to the degree of the Rams’ O-line, but there are question marks surrounding the unit entering the season. Mizzou product Justin Britt has been switched to left guard from right tackle, and the Seahawks have untested players starting at center and right tackle. The Rams’ defensive front should be able to do some damage on the right side of the Seattle line.
TRICKY RAMS
Rest assured, Seattle’s special teams unit spent extra time this week working on defending every trick play known to man. That’s because the Rams always seem to have their number in this area. Last year, the Rams snookered the ’Hawks on “The Mountaineer,” a play in which Tavon Austin pretended he was fielding a punt on one side of the field only to have Stedman Bailey catch it on the other side of the field and race 90 yards for a score. There was also a completed pass by Johnny Hekker on a fake punt that sealed a 28-26 Rams victory.
znModeratorThis is a rare article that isn’t just a quilt of available quotations taken from press conferences. JT, looks like, got some time with guys with Hayes and Long.
znModeratorthe Rams execs were told to build for the splash that will be the 2016 season.
That’s an interesting thing to say for a writer who previously covered the Nuggets.
znModeratorRams-Seahawks: Five Things to Watch
BY NORM SANDERS
News-Democrathttp://www.bnd.com/sports/nfl/st-louis-rams/article35031273.html#storylink=cpy
Here are five critical areas to watch when the St. Louis Rams open their 2015 season at home Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks at the Edward Jones Dome (noon; TV-Fox Channel 2; Radio-WXOS-FM 101.1):
1. How will the Rams’ inexperienced offensive line deal with one of the top defenses in the NFL?
That’s a question that may help decide this game. Even without holdout star safety Kam Chancellor, the Seahawks have an aggressive front seven (especially defensive ends Michael Bennett and Frank Clark) that will likely blitz a lot and allow all-world cornerback Richard Sherman to try to shut down whichever receiver Seattle chooses. Look for the Rams to provide extra blocking help with tight ends and use quick drops and short pass patterns, but this is a formidable defense. Rookie right tackle Rob Havenstein will have his hands full.
2. The Rams want to control the ball on the ground with a solid running attack, so how does that happen?
With rookie Todd Gurley ruled out and Tre Mason (hamstring) a game-time decision, it looks like the job falls to Benny Cunningham and Isaiah Pead. And they will be trying to move the ball behind an offensive line with two rookies and a first-time starter at center against a Seattle defense that has been the NFL’s best in fewest points allowed (15.9 last season) and fewest yards allowed (267.1 yards per game last season) in 2013 and 2014. The Seahawks are the first team since the 1969-71 Minnesota Vikings to lead the NFL in scoring defense for three consecutive seasons.
3. How will Seattle be able to deal with Rams’ sack demons Robert Quinn and Aaron Donald and a stout front seven?
Don’t overlook the fact that Seattle has two new offensive line starters in left tackle Garry Giliam and center Drew Nowak going up against one of the NFL’s best pass rushes. The attention paid to Rams stars Quinn and Donald helps free each of them up a lot, also creating additional space for more pass rushers and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ exotic blitz packages for linebackers and defensive backs. The Rams have sacked Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson 25 times in six games against them.
4. Can the Rams find a way to corral elusive Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson?
Wilson is at his best when he stretches defenses who have to honor his ability (and that of Marshawn Lynch) to run the football. He has a 100-plus yard rushing day against the Rams, but also has two shiny new offensive weapons in all-pro tight end Jimmy Graham and rookie receiver/return man Tyler Lockett. The Rams must keep constant pressure on Wilson, a tough thing to do when the Seahawks backfield also contains one of the NFL’s best running backs in Marshawn Lynch.
5. How will QB Nick Foles look in his Rams debut?
If Foles wants to win over the fan base quickly, he could start by engineering a head-turning upset over the defending NFC champs. However, he’s also playing behind an extremely untested offensive line with three new starters and two rookies. The Rams have two backups at running back and will be working against a proven “Legion of Boom” defense that is still tough despite not having Chancellor. Just keeping a starting quarterback healthy would be a good start for the Rams.
znModeratorI’m not sure at Arizona is very winnable. Not if Palmer is healthy.
That 4 game stretch of at Baltimore, at Cincy, AZ, and Detroit is a killer. I would be elated if they could go 2-2 against that group.
Because you live in the frosty netherworld of Vermont, this makes you, of course, and quite naturally, a Buffalo fan. Naturally, as this is only to be expected, you therefore look upon the Rams with barely concealed dismissive rage. I get that. No one is criticizing, this is all to be expected.
BUT I think it may have SOMEWHAT colored your ability to accept the fact that the Rams are going 14-2 this year.
It happens. No big.
znModeratorRams seek fast start, might need defense to provide it
Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff Writer
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Of the many tactics St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams uses to get his players to respond, he’s leaned a little more on Pavlov than any others during this offseason.
At the start of every meeting, Williams has ingrained two words into his players’ heads: Start fast. Sometimes it includes a picture of a race car at the starting line or Usain Bolt in the blocks about to take off. Whatever the case, Williams has rarely let a day or meeting go by without a reminder of the defense — and, by extension, the team’s — top priority is this season.
“It’s every day,” Williams said. “Every meeting that we have. Every single, solitary meeting that we have, the very first thing that’s on the screen is, ‘Start fast.’ Some days we discuss it. Other days we just look at it.”
When Williams is feeling particularly Pavlovian, he takes it away, just to see the response he gets.
“What I’ve done is played with them a little bit,” Williams said. “When they come into the meeting room, it’s not on the screen. ‘Where is it?’ Then I click the button. ‘Oh, I just wanted to see if you saw it.’ So, it’s their idea, so it’s good.”
The “start fast” mantra doesn’t just apply to the defense. It’s a must for a franchise that historically has been unable to overcome slow starts. The last time the St. Louis Rams made the playoffs after a 2-3 or worse start was 1952. This season, they start the season with four of their first five games against opponents that won at least 11 games a year ago, tied for the second-most difficult opening five games in the league.
All of that for a team seeking to break the longest active streak of losing seasons in the NFL (eight) and the fourth longest streak of seasons (10) without a playoff berth.
But make no mistake, though the entire team would ideally get off to a fast start, the onus will fall largely on the defense.
“Defense will often times win games for you,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “I’m not anticipating struggles on offense, but in the event that there are, the defense is going to have to find a way to play well and keep people out of the end zone.”
Fisher might not be anticipating offensive struggles, but there are many who are, especially in Week 1 against Seattle’s vaunted defense. The Rams offense underwent a major overhaul in the offseason and feature a new quarterback, coordinator, running back and three new starters on the offensive line. Expecting that group to come up with big scoring outbursts is asking a lot, and even if it does come together, it seems unlikely it would happen right away.
Which is where the defense comes in. It has been burdened with top-five expectations in recent seasons, but only lived up to them in short spurts. Last season, the unit struggled so much against the run in the first five weeks — the defense was tied for 29th in allowing 152.5 yards per game on the ground — that it rarely earned the chance to rush the passer. The result was league record for futility with one sack in the first five games.
That shouldn’t and can’t happen again in 2015. Williams returns 10 starters from last season’s defense, and the lone change was one the team considers an upgrade with Akeem Ayers at strongside linebacker. The players know the system, the coach knows the players and everyone knows the urgency of the situation.
“It’s fun to see the familiarity of what we do, why we do,” Williams said. “There’s not very many questions anymore about, ‘How do you do this? Why do you do this?'”
If nothing else, Williams takes solace in the fact that there’s nothing he hasn’t covered with his group. The fast start has been emphasized as a big-picture point, but so have all of the little details.
“The thing I feel comfortable about is, it’s been covered,” Williams said. “It’s been discussed. Any person that’s a teacher, if it’s a coach that’s a mentor, when it becomes more important to the person, to the participant that’s actually out on the field, when it becomes their idea, it’s when you have a chance to make change. All I do is present the ideas. This has been a fun group to see how they grasp that, and they’ve used that in all of the things they’re doing, so we’ll see. This is a good start and we need to start fast, we really do.”
znModeratorNote: all this article does is re-cap the 2 press conferences above. I figured I would just put it here. So…here’s a recap of what you can read above.
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Practice Report 9/11: Rookie OLs Ready to Play
By Myles Simmons
As has been the expectation since the start of camp, the Rams will head into the season opener with two rookies on their starting offensive line. And as he has throughout the process, head coach Jeff Fisher expressed confidence in both right tackle Rob Havenstein and left guard Jamon Brown.
With both rookies likely harboring a good amount of excitement for Sunday’s contest, Fisher said a significant factor to open the game will be to just keep them calm.
“They’re going to be excited to play, but the great part about ‘JB’ and Rob is that they’ve played a lot of snaps in the preseason,” Fisher said. “They’ve played and matched-up against some good players in the preseason and they play good players out here every day in practice.”
Both Brown and Havenstein said this week they feel ready to go for Week 1.
“I think coach Fish and all the other coaches have prepared me and any of the other rookies who are going to play early for this day, for Game 1,” Brown said. “I’m really excited to do it for real rather than just a preseason game.”
“I’m very excited to get out there and get my first regular season NFL experience,” Havenstein said, “but I’m more excited to get out there and show what this team has.”
Brown recently moved from working at right guard to left guard, which has been a bit of an adjustment for him. But being left-hand dominant and his experience playing on that side of the line in college has aided the transition.
“Two years on the left side at left tackle,” Brown said of his experience at Louisville. “I think that’s helped also. But the majority of it from being left-hand dominant.”
The shift also put guard Rodger Saffold next to Havenstein on the right, which the Wisconsin product said has been quite helpful for his development.
“With him being an older guy, he obviously knows his stuff,” Havenstein said. “It’s helped me out tremendously, just knowing the confidence he brings, the calls, and everything. Knowing that he’s going to be the same physical guy that he always is, it just makes me play with more confidence.”
Both rookies have impressed the older players around them, with tight end Jared Cook saying they have come in with great maturity.
“It’s such an important position and they’ve got the offense down,” Cook said. “They communicate with me more than I communicate with them sometimes. They’ve just done a great job filling the role that we need them to fulfill. They’ve just got to go out there and put it together for 16 weeks, and we should be great.”
When it comes to nerves, Brown said he wasn’t feeling too many butterflies during the practice week. But that could change as kickoff draws near.
“I’m sure as we get closer to the game, and as the hype goes up for the game, I’ll have a couple,” Brown said. “But, like I said, I’m completely confident, and coach is confident in me, so when it’s time to line up and suit it up, all the butterflies will be gone.”
“They’re prepared, they’ve studied,” Fisher said, “and I think they’re only going to get better.”
DEFENSE STARTING FAST
Earlier in the summer, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said he’s been starting off every meeting emphasizing the need for the unit to start fast.
Apparently, that hasn’t changed as the team has moved to the regular season.
“Every single, solitary meeting that we have, the very first thing that’s on the screen is, ‘Start fast,’” Williams said on Friday. “Some days we discuss it. Other days we just look at it.”
“The thing I feel comfortable about is it’s been covered — it’s been discussed,” Williams added. “This has been a fun group to see how they grasp that and they’ve used that in all of the things they’re doing, so we’ll see.”
One of the major factors St. Louis will have to contend with on Sunday is Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson. Williams said one of the biggest challenges the signal-caller presents is his ability to improvise, adding it can be frustrating when he is able to make plays like that — especially in the second half of games.
“We have to make sure that, athletically, understanding mentally what the concept is of what he’s trying to do to extend the play,” Williams said. “I think he is one of the best in our league right now.”
The Seahawks had the No. 1 rushing offense in 2014 — both in total yardage and average per carry — and a significant reason why is running back Marshawn Lynch. Williams said his ability to change direction is part of what makes Lynch special.
“People underestimate how powerful he is in the upper body. We’ve got to do a good job of staying down on his lower body,” Williams said. “If you try to tackle him up around his face, up around his shoulder pads, he’s embarrassed a lot of people.”
One aspect of Seattle’s offense that has changed since the end of last season is the addition of Jimmy Graham. The Seahawks brought him in through a blockbuster trade in the offseason, and Fisher has said he expects to see plenty of him on Sunday because he was utilized so little in the preseason.
“He’ll be a big red zone target for them, we understand that,” Williams said. “We’re going to have to make sure that we understand where he’s at.”
For more on Graham, check out our Opponent Breakdown post here.
INJURY UPDATES
The Rams had three players appear on the injury report this week, and Fisher provided an update on all three at the end of Friday’s practice.
Though running back Todd Gurley (knee) was a limited participant in practice, his status has not changed and he’s been declared out for Sunday. Linebacker Daren Bates was limited in Friday’s practice and will be questionable. And running back Tre Mason (thigh) did not practice and will be listed as questionable.
Should Mason not play on Sunday, Fisher said the team will be in good shape with Benny Cunningham, Isaiah Pead, and Chase Reynolds handling the load at running back.
Pead had a strong showing against Kansas City in the final preseason game, and Fisher praised his perseverance in coming back from last year’s season-ending knee injury.
“He finished up really strong two years ago for us on special teams, and last year was a really big year for him, we thought, and then he had the injury,” Fisher said. “But he’s come back and he’s returned right back to where he was. The injury’s not an issue anymore and he’s a productive [special] team’s player for us. He knows our offense and he’s definitely going to play.”
znModeratorBernie: 10 Keys to Rams’ 2015 Season
Posted by: Bernie Miklasz
http://www.101sports.com/2015/09/11/bernie-10-keys-to-rams-2015-season/
Plenty of good tickets remain for the Rams’ season-opening game against Seattle on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome. Standing-room only? Yeah, but only if the game is moved to Jeff Fisher’s backyard.
At least Rams are assured of having one sell-out in 2015: that would be Enos Stanley Kroenke.
The most interesting tail-gaiting scene will take place after the season, with local-TV news trucks gassed up to begin a close pursuit of Kroenke’s moving fans as they head west on I-70. If you’ve been waiting for the Rams to connect on a long pass, it will definitely happen if the NFL sends Kroenke on a fly pattern to Los Angeles.
With Kroenke’s franchise suspended in mid-air, we’re in for a weird season of football in St. Louis. We may witness something unusual, incredible, or truly outlandish.
The Rams could make the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
They could have their first winning season since 2003.
They could become LA’s team for the first time since 1994.
Or, in the longest of longshots, Kroenke could speak publicly in St. Louis for the first time since Jan. 17, 2012.
That’s when the pinstripe-suited Kroenke _ displaying the personal magnetism of an especially morose undertaker _ briefly rocked the microphone to introduce Fisher as the Rams’ new head coach during a news conference at the team’s Earth City headquarters.
“I can tell you this,” Kroenke said. “As of five minutes ago, Jeff and I both put our names on a contract upstairs that will keep him here for a good while. And we’re really excited about it.”
You’ll notice that Kroenke said the signed deal would keep Fisher in St. Louis for a good while.
The problem is, Kroenke never said that HE would remain in St. Louis for a good while.
Kroenke’s future and the Rams’ home in 2016 will be determined after the season, after the NFL cuts the desired backroom deal. This much we know: the Rams are here now. And if the NFL turns its franchise-relocation guidelines into scrap paper, then it’s onto Inglewood.
As the two-time defending NFC champion Seahawks traveled to St. Louis, they were preparing to enter another dimension.
A dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind.
A land of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas.
“It’s like you’re in the Twilight Zone,” Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane told Seattle-area media on Thursday. “It’s kind of hard to describe.”
OK, Mebane. You got it.
I’ll take the meme and run with it.
In 2015, the Edward Jones Dome should be rebranded and renamed.
Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Rod Serling Dome!
“It’s real tough to play there,” Mebane said. “The lights are real dim. The crowd is real small. It’s just real quiet out there. It’s 10 o’clock in the morning (Seattle time), so we try not to be too sleepy. We’ve got to wake up and we’ve got to go.”
That also would apply to the Rams.
After beginning each of the past three seasons with a 3-5 record halfway through the 16-game schedule, the Rams have to rouse themselves, energize, and accelerate to a more advantageous position. Another pokey start will doom them. If they want to end the streak of non-winning, non-playoff seasons, the Rams must quickly find the fast lane and zoom past their usual 3-5 start.
Seattle is the first roadblock.
Here are the 10 keys to a successful Rams’ season:
1. The rapid maturation of the offensive line.
Three new starters. Two rookies. Only one player, guard Rodger Saffold, with more than 12 NFL starts. Saffold has started 60 NFL games; the other four first-string O-linemen have combined for 16.
The path to a productive, above-average Rams offense will be cleared by the big men up front.
Or not.
“All these things have changed in football,” said Dan Dierdorf, the Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle during an in-studio interview on my 101 ESPN radio show. “One of the things that has not changed in football is simply this: if you can’t control the offensive line of scrimmage, you can’t win. You may win an occasional game by running back an interception or a punt. If you can’t control the offensive line of scrimmage, you are never going to be a good football team.
“The Rams have struggled as you know on the line of scrimmage for years now. And with all that youth, how long will it take them to start functioning as a unit. It’s a very great question. … how long will it take? I’m telling you, a really good offensive line makes everybody better. It can make an average quarterback into a good quarterback. It can make an average running back into a thousand-yard back. How many times do you see it where if you can one first down will win you the football game? And you see teams that can’t do it. Teams that can do it _ they’re the ones that consistently win.”
2. Score more points, or forget the playoffs.
In Coach Fisher’s three seasons, the offense struggled to reach the end zone and never approached the playoff-team level of points scored. (I’m talking points scored only by the offense _ not on special teams or by the defense.)
In 2012, the Rams scored 261 points from scrimmage which ranked 28th. That season the 12 NFL playoff teams averaged 385 points from scrimmage.
In 2013, the Rams improved to 304 points on offense, which ranked 22nd; playoff teams averaged 401 points.
In 2014, the Rams slipped to 289 points from scrimmage, ranking 23rd. The playoff-team average was 385 points.
But there is a way into the postseason _ yeah, even if the Rams fail to meet the playoff-team standard on offense. A veteran Rams defense has the talent and potential to shut opponents down in 2015, and may not require a 400-point season from the offense to take care of business. That said, the Rams “O” would likely have to raise its points-scored total to at least the NFL-average level of the past three seasons. And that means around 340 points from scrimmage.
nick foles-2Rams QB Nick Foles
3. Quarterback Nick Foles: well, what is he exactly?
Foles was great in 2013, a Pro Bowl slinger that passed for 27 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
In 2014 an inconsistent and injured Foles fell out of favor with Eagles coach Chip Kelly, who bought the QB a bus ticket to St. Louis in a trade for the surgically repaired knees (and psyche) of quarterback Sam Bradford.
In July I wrote a column saying I had no idea what to expect from Foles. Based on glaringly contrasting and conflicting reports out of Philadelphia, Foles could be the Rams’ solution to a longstanding problem at quarterback. Or he could be just another disappointment.
Some readers ridiculed me for declining to offer the usual “hot take” stand.
Sorry brothers and sisters, but I refuse to score cheap big-mouth, macho-man, poseur points by pretending that I know what Foles will do for the Rans. In this instance, “I don’t know” is not only a reasonable answer; it’s an answer rooted in sanity and reality.
Because NO ONE knows, including you.
Ah, but we do know this: if the Rams can run the football with a consistent show of raw power, Foles will have a chance to be the best QB here since Marc Bulger circa 2006. If the Rams can’t run the rock effectively, Foles has a better chance of becoming Kyle Boller. Foles has skill as a play-action passer, but that won’t kick in unless he has a bloody-good rushing attack to open the passing-game possibilities.
4. Todd Gurley, the running back of Fisher’s dreams.
Fisher came to the STL with a rep for establishing a physical, punishing rushing attack. That perception _ and reputation _ wasn’t the reality. Over the past three seasons the Rams have ranked 19th in rushing yards per game (106.3) and 17th in average yards (4.1) rush. They were 29th in first downs via the rush, struggled to win the short-yardage battles, and only four teams pounded for fewer rushing TDs. There was the occasional breakaway run, but the big-play count was lacking.
Fisher and GM Les Snead coveted Gurley, the scintillating Georgia RB. Though Gurley was still rehabbing from knee surgery and would be highly unlikely to go to the post at the start of the 2015 season, the Rams made him the 10th overall pick in the 2015 draft. For the Fisher offense to have legs, Gurley must emerge as a Tennessee hybrid: a combination of Eddie George and Chris Johnson, who gave Fisher’s Titans an offensive identity.
Gurley was born to run. But when will he enter his race?
5. The Rams defense must match the hype, starting Sunday vs. Seattle.
Under the formidable first-year defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, the 2014 Rams defense opened the season by roaming around in a state of discomfort and confusion, playing so far below expectations that you’d find their statistics buried under the Ed Jones Dome carpet, right there with the careers of Joe Klopfenstein and Tye Hill.
gregg williamsRams DC Gregg Williams
In the first eight games the defense ranked 27th in the league by giving up an average of 27.5 points per game. They were in the bottom half of the league rankings in sacks, opponent passer rating (104.8), TD-INT ratio, opponent average yards per passing attempt, opponent completion percentage (70%) and stopping third downs. Only two NFL teams were plowed for more yards rushing per game over the first half of the schedule, and the frequency of opponent breakout runs was alarming.
Williams coached the fellows up, got everyone on the same page, and made critical adjustments. Over the final eight games the Rams defense ranked fourth in fewest points allowed per game (16.8), second in opponent TD-INT ratio, and were among the league top 10 in sack percentage, opponent passer rating (81.4), third-down stops, rushing-yards allowed (84 per game), yards allowed per rushing attempt (3.59). The improvement was dramatic, emphatic, and overdue.
And with most of the defensive membership back in place in 2015 the expectations are up again _ understandably so. With a young line, a new QB, a new offensive coordinator and Gurley idle on the sidelines, the Rams offense may need time to establish traction. The assignment for this defense: play at peak level, take over games, and dominate. Williams and the players are in synch now; really there are no excuses.
6. To repeat: a slow start will doom the Rams’ playoff hopes.
Earlier in the week we presented the hard numbers that show us what happens to a team’s playoff chances when it staggers out to a 3-5 record over the first eight games on the schedule. You can read that here. The short version: since 2002, only two of 65 NFC teams that completed the first half of the season with a 3-5 record went on to make the playoffs. The 2012 Redskins and the 2013 Eagles. Enough said.
7. One more time, with feeling: enough already with the blockhead penalties.
Historically, Fisher’s teams are chronic offenders that draw too many penalties. It happened again last season; the Rams flagged for the NFL’s highest totals in accepted penalties and penalty yardage. I offered the gory details in an earlier post, but it comes down to this: a Rams offense that until now lacks quick-strike capability and the ample firepower to overcome mistakes cannot destroy possessions with a lack of discipline that attracts the attention of alarmed, flag-tossing zebras. The defense can’t give opponents gratuitous penalties to keep drives going. The Rams’ margin of error is slim; penalties are especially damaging and must be reduced. This is on Fisher to control the mischief and hold players accountable for repeat mental errors.
8. Do something about the small crowds and potential dome-field disadvantage.
Realistically speaking, Rams players can’t fully restore the loyalty and support of a fan base that’s been beaten down by the devastating combination of a .309 winning percentage over the past 10 seasons plus a calculating owner that’s tried to alienate the customers to strengthen his case for moving the team to Los Angeles to expand his personal fortune. But if these guys can win games early, generate excitement and change the subject _ away from Kroenke _ then more fans will be motivated to return to the Dome for old times’ sake.
For all of the justifiable anger and grumbling over The Mustache, no fan ever went to a stadium to root for an owner. Fans cheer for players and attach their loyalty to a community identity _ one represented nationally by the pro-sports teams in our town . I’m not saying that a 4-2 start will fill the big warehouse of football. But a promising start to the season can shift the emphasis _ if ever so briefly _ back to football, and create a positive energy.
9. Frank Cignetti can’t be Brian Schottenheimer v. 2.0.
This is, and always will be, a Jeff Fisher offense. The head coach prefers leather-helmet football, and in a mythical NFL draft he would probably choose Bronko Nagurski or Marion Motley over Marshall Faulk or Terry Metcalf. Fisher and the crew at Rams Park have been dropping hints, suggesting that a Cignetti offense will be different than the usual Schotty offense. I’m skeptical. But Cignetti, the new offensive coordinator, appears to be a bright guy. And there is at least a reason to believe we’ll see more creativity _ even within the confines of the Fisher ground-control philosophy. And yes an offense can be physical without being predictable and boring. That’s the challenge for Cignetti. His first test case: Tavon Austin. We wish the OC well.
10. Ignore the noise — the imaginary sounds of rumbling moving vans.
That’s a prime challenge for the men that wear the classic Rams helmets in 2015.. They have to block out the moving speculation _ and concentrate on blocking the opponents’ front seven. They can’t be worried about Kroenke hauling them to Inglewood; they have to focus on hauling in touchdown passes. They can’t waste time knocking down rumors; they must knock down passes. They can’t stress over what might happen after the season; they have to devote themselves to winning games during the season. It won’t be easy to mute the noise. But it must be done. No distractions.
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