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  • December 22, 2014 at 5:39 pm in reply to: RamView, 12/21/2014: Giants 37, Rams 27 (Long) #14517
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    All reminds me of a young person I work with who apologized in email for losing his composer.

    I replied, you mean composure, right?

    So I would say, in this game, the Rams lost their composer.

    December 22, 2014 at 5:27 pm in reply to: RamView, 12/21/2014: Giants 37, Rams 27 (Long) #14511
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    wv wrote:

    Yeah, except i blame Fisher for the mule kick
    and you want to make injured-mule excuses.

    w
    v

    Wait, what? Hunh? I’ve always said you’re SUPPOSED TO injure mules.

    You don’t listen.

    December 22, 2014 at 5:20 pm in reply to: RamView, 12/21/2014: Giants 37, Rams 27 (Long) #14508
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    wv wrote:

    If i was ta boil the entire game
    down to one play, i think it might be
    the Josh Brown mule-kick
    of Cody Davis.

    w
    v

    Yeah the game was full of unusual special teams plays.

    December 22, 2014 at 5:18 pm in reply to: CBS Sports 920AM – Aeneas Williams 12-22 – Podcast – Jim Thomas 12.22.14 #14507
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    wv wrote:

    I think we just disagree about the OLine
    and Fisher’s personnel decisions.

    w
    v

    You know I was joking, right? s

    I don’t think we disagree about the OL…on that we may be parsing small differences. I just have this automatic thing over the years about people not counting OL injuries as related to performance. It’s my Niagra Falls. Or…one of them.

    December 22, 2014 at 4:56 pm in reply to: CBS Sports 920AM – Aeneas Williams 12-22 – Podcast – Jim Thomas 12.22.14 #14501
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    I dont think we can say the “rams would have won 27-20″ if
    we subtract the mistakes. We have no idea
    what the road-team-with-a-losing-record
    would have done if the situations
    had been altered.

    w
    v

    Are we in a board war? I need to know if we are. Cause if we are, I drink more coffee. If not, I settle for diet ginger ale.

    December 22, 2014 at 4:40 pm in reply to: CBS Sports 920AM – Aeneas Williams 12-22 – Podcast – Jim Thomas 12.22.14 #14499
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    wv wrote:

    Aeneas said anytime a team comes in and
    sticks to the RUN, they are able to
    handle the Rams D.

    w
    v

    Either way, last game, if Rams don’t make mistakes on special teams and in coverage–which led directly to 17 points–they beat the Giants 27-20. That’s with all the aforementioned problems in the post-loss multiplication of problems people see: run D, chippiness and discipline, below par OL play, etc.

    December 22, 2014 at 4:20 pm in reply to: This is a poorly coached team. #14494
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    OahuRam wrote:

    zn wrote:
    To me Bradford has amply proven himself already. In the last 2 years, when this team has had both a relatively healthy OL (ie not up to 3 injury replacements a la the first half of 2012) AND a running threat (ie. not Richardson) Bradford has played well. Played well enough to reach “proven himself” status. That is, in 2012/13, in the games meeting that description (relatively healthy OL + running threat), Bradford has averaged a qb rating of 92.2, along with 1.8 TDs per game & 0.67 INTs per game, and a near 50% TDs on attempts inside the 10. And that was without the improved 2014 receivers and Mason. The issue with Bradford is health.

    What are Dalton’s numbers like in Cincinnati? I think he has good stats too but I do not think that anyone would say that he has proven himself yet. I hope that Sam comes back next year and lights it up. I think he has the ability to do it. It was so much fun watching the Rams with Warner and then Bulger at the helm. I just miss it man. I miss it. We gotta get it back. If only Cleveland had made that FG attempt the season before the Luck draft.

    I didn’t BASE THAT on numbers, but numbers validate it. Bradford’s way better than Dalton according to any test you want to offer, but what he doesn’t have is AJ Green. He had Amendola and Gibson. I would say Bradford has proven himself to the point where just watching the games and looking at the numbers back it. That’s what I saw. Provided, as I said, he has both a relatively healthy qb and a running threat. That’s mostly because every qb does better with a relatively healthy OL and most do better with a running threat.

    Bulger and Warner had years of Bruce and Holt and a stable OL, until the stable OLs ran out in 2007. Bradford never had the weapons they had. Warner is the best of the 3 but Bradford would have done as well as Bulger if not better IMO if he had even just the Rams 2014 WRs.

    Heck in the span of games I am talking about…where he had the things I say he needed (OL, running threat) he has 4 comeback games and was the qb of an offense that beat (from memory, I think the number is) 8 top 12 defenses.

    Luck is a rare type, like once a decade, but Bradford could be at least as good as Eli and Flacco at their best — if not better — if he is healthy.

    December 22, 2014 at 3:38 pm in reply to: This is a poorly coached team. #14487
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    OahuRam wrote:

    I hear you ZN but there were concerns about those signings when they happened, so it was Fisher and Snead’s choices to go with who they got. It was often said that the Rams got ‘inexpensively,’ and the Dolphis let go of, Long because of injury concerns. My buddy that is a Packers fan chuckled when I told him we signed Wells. Barksdale has not had a good year this season. Why draft Jones if he has to “bulk” up, and then the bulking up led to him getting hurt and needing back surgery? The Raiders apparently knew what they were doing in not signing Saffold because of his shoulder. So I understand that the Rams have been unfortunate with all the injuries, but they chose all of these guys despite them all having question marks. So the Rams have to shoulder some of the blame.

    Regarding yesterday’s game. In the moment I was very unhappy but know that the turnovers prevented the Rams from having a chance to win. Now I could argue that the turnovers, although unusual, were commited by questionable personnel that the Rams chose to have on their team. T. Austin has been a major disappointment to me and his missed catch was just another example to me that he cannot play in this league. Cunningham has been a good KR so I cannot really fault him too much for his fumble. He has been pretty good with ball security since that phantom fumble he had last year.

    For QBs, yes they had their QB but it could be argued that despite Bradfor having good numbers last season he still was not winning enough games. He was not a difference maker. He still needs to prove that he can be a reason they consistently win. I like Bradford and want him to be a 16-game starter for the Rams next season. But up to this point he has not proven himself. I think they should have had a better back up plan for the future. For comparison it will be interesting to see what the Cardinals do with QB this offseason because Palmer now has had 2 ACLs.

    I disagree. Long was not gotten cheaply, for one. He got the ordinary avg. hit you get for a guy in his position. Wells was fine to start off and is playing hurt. Long was never a nifty left side pass protector but he was a great run blocking LOT, and arm injuries are not predictors of leg injuries.

    I have no problem with Austin. But now we’re getting into loss trauma syndrome. Him missing that one catch in a loss everyone is upset about exaggerates his issues.

    Yeah the rare special teams turnover didn’t help but they lost because a young secondary (with Joyner forced into the action when Gaines got hurt) blew a coverage, and there were other blown coverages as well.

    To me Bradford has amply proven himself already. In the last 2 years, when this team has had both a relatively healthy OL (ie not up to 3 injury replacements a la the first half of 2012) AND a running threat (ie. not Richardson) Bradford has played well. Played well enough to reach “proven himself” status. That is, in 2012/13, in the games meeting that description (relatively healthy OL + running threat), Bradford has averaged a qb rating of 92.2, along with 1.8 TDs per game & 0.67 INTs per game, and a near 50% TDs on attempts inside the 10. And that was without the improved 2014 receivers and Mason. The issue with Bradford is health.

    December 22, 2014 at 3:13 pm in reply to: The Winston QB issue #14485
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    JackPMiller wrote:

    The difference is, Phillips was abusive toward women. I have not seen that with Winston. Winston’s issues, I believe is more wrong place at wrong time, those things he’ll learn from.

    He is accused of sexual assault and stood on a table in public yelling obscenities about women.

    He may not be a physical abuser the way Phillips was but there are many different kinds of fukkked up misogynists out there.

    There is no excusing Winston.

    December 22, 2014 at 2:53 pm in reply to: This is a poorly coached team. #14483
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    OahuRam wrote:

    other teams found their QBs (Seattle) and rebuilt their OLs (Dallas) so Fisher has to be held accountable for not having done that to this point. He also has to be held accountable for the faux-toughness. The trash talking and cheap shots have to go. McDonald almost decapitated Gaines yesterday because he was trying to layout Beckham when the pass had already been made incomplete.

    I agree about the trash-talking. I feel exactly the same way.

    On the OL? They signed Long, they signed Wells, they found Barksdale, they drafted Jones, they drafted Robinson. Both Long and Wells played fine when first signed. What they encountered was a series of injuries. Demoff has even said that OL injuries are the Rams achilles heel. Because of injuries, Long is done, Robinson is at LOT instead LOG as a rookie, and Saffold Wells AND Joseph are playing banged up. And Jones is no use to them because he had back surgery and lost muscle because he could not lift after the surgery.

    And they didn’t have to find a qb, they had one. He then became the 1st qb we have ever heard of in all NFL history who injured the same ACL in under 12 months.

    I thought they would have won yesterday even with the banged up OL because Hill, though he started shakey, settled in. So I don’t think qb was the issue yesterday. They lost because of a rare special teams turnover and then a regression into the “blown coverages” scenarios from earlier in the season.

    December 22, 2014 at 11:28 am in reply to: This is a poorly coached team. #14472
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    canadaram wrote:

    zn wrote:

    canadaram wrote:
    don’t know who screwed up on the second Beckham TD, Joyner or Johnson, but it looked like Joyner to me.

    That was Joyner, according to Joyner.

    Oh well. His first real playing time in over a month, coming right after the injury to Gaines. Rookie CBs and rookie QBs make the most costly types of errors.

    Plus a couple of the guys in the secondary are playing over their heads in the first place. Like, arguably, McCleod.

    That also means that amidst the youth, there is no clear top-gun leader. Seattle has a young secondary too, but here’s the difference. First, Earl Thomas is a rare grade-A level team leader type, along with being immensely talented. He is their Ray Lewis or London Fletcher (Fletcher isn’t at Lewis’s level as a player but he was, says Martz, the heart of the Rams defense). Second, the Seahawks play it the opposite of the Rams–whereas the Rams have a lot of “system” to learn, Seattle keeps their defense basic.

    I think the Rams could have a good secondary if they mature and maybe if they added another player or 2, but they did not end up with a Thomas, plus a Sherman and a Chancellor. It can be good but it won’t be that caliber.

    And in the meanwhile, we can all name the games where huge coverage errors in the secondary arguably cost them games. Sometimes Jenkins is the culprit, sometimes McCleod, sometimes Joyner. Even Gaines let a TD get past him early this season where he just got beat badly. We can even evoke the memories by naming all the receivers who did it–Bryant, Lloyd, Floyd, Beckham.

    December 22, 2014 at 11:05 am in reply to: This is a poorly coached team. #14470
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    canadaram wrote:

    don’t know who screwed up on the second Beckham TD, Joyner or Johnson, but it looked like Joyner to me.

    That was Joyner, according to Joyner.

    December 22, 2014 at 10:23 am in reply to: This is a poorly coached team. #14468
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    I really am getting tired of excuses like injuries—if Wells can’t play where is his back-up? Who is the next man up?

    Well first there was Turner but he left. He played better with the Rams than with the Titans and got benched. Then there was Jones but he had to bulk up. He did, then injured his back, had surgery, and as a result could not lift, and therefore regressed physically. Barnes? Well I suppose if they were happy with Barnes as starter material, they would not have gotten Jones.

    But even with 3 interior linemen playing hurt, and a rookie at LOT, and the line clearly struggling, they put up 27 points and Hill hit 75% of his throws.

    So I think what happens is, with a loss, people highlight every problem.

    Even with the OL struggling they still could have won. They put up 27. But they lost and now in a lot of peoples’s minds, everything is wrong. Including, why can’t this team be the only one in the NFL to overcome having 2 centers affected by injuries. s Seriously. How many teams are 3 deep at center with a quality 3rd ready to play?

    In my entire history following this team, fans are angriest when the team raises expectations and then collapses in a bad loss or losses. So for example, in 2010, expectations were high, and then they lost on the road in Seattle. The feeling was so bad after that that many, if not most, did not pause to notice that in 2011, the Rams were losing because of a massive injury epidemic the likes of which we have never seen (according to Football Outsiders, that was the most injured offense in the league since 2002, and that’s not even counting the defense). At the end of 2006 they came on strong, then in 2007 the OL lost 10 starters to injuries, including 4 for the season, and most did not count the injuries…they just began beating on Linehan and Bulger.

    Of these 3 cases, I thought Linehan deserved it, in spite of the injuries. I thought Spags was a victim of circumstances but was fine with Kroenke getting his own guy. I think Fisher will push through this and have winning seasons.

    December 22, 2014 at 3:12 am in reply to: Marshall Faulk: Grade the Rams' Front Office #14462
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    rfl wrote:

    zn wrote:
    Are those the same thing? Record, competitiveness?

    I am disappointed by the loss too, but I don’t see it as darkly as you do.

    Well, I’ll tell you what. I’d like to see an argument to try to disprove the claim that our record this year reflects our competitiveness.

    Generally, you are what your record says you are. Rare exceptions, yes. But we are what we saw today. That’s who we are. The good days are far more anomalous than today was.

    Well I don’t want this to be semantics. So I will abandon the whole “record/competitiveness” thing, which though I initiated it, now sounds too dangerously abstract for me.

    As for coming up with an argument, I have rarely if ever been in a discussion about a team’s whole season where there’s a single, simple, nailed-down answer and all the rest doesn’t measure up. I think what we have HERE is zn’s take v. RFL’s take, with neither one in a position to bet the farm on it. In fact I think the glory of these discussions is how different people see things different ways, and then you can see the range of insights. The range is more important to me than the author. Because, like quantum physics, there’s only so much you can really know…but it’s interesting to see what the RANGE is. (And as a fan of internet discussion, I honestly appreciate the process.)

    But, today for example. The same thing reared its ugly head–a blown coverage in the secondary by a young player who gives up an easy TD.

    That’s just when they pull within 7 and Hill and Mason are finally in gear. And–by his own admission–Joyner blows a coverage on the 80 yard Beckham TD.

    First, injuries (Gaines goes out Joyner comes in). Then, the big game-killing mistake. That kind of thing has dogged this team all season–inopportune blown coverages by a young secondary.

    It also doesn’t help that the OL is ragged and playing like it.

    But take all the things people are complaining about–the chippiness, the undisciplined actions, and if their coverage were sound, they would still be in the game. In fact, the Giants committed more penalties than the Rams, and Coughlin was complaining about his own team’s chippiness, and they won. Heck the Rams offense scored 27 points and could have won even with the OL a mess right now (they are starting 3 injured players and a rookie LOT). You subtract the points by Beckham on the 80 yarder and the points they got after the Randle 49 yarder, and the game is tied.

    Okay so why does the secondary make so many game-killing mistakes. To me that’s obvious. They’re young, a couple of them like McCleod are playing over their heads (and that’s not always sustainable), and they do not have this system mastered.

    So some, perhaps you (if I read you right) see the mistakes and chalk it up to coaching. That makes it inherent, or so it appears. A team with Fisher and Wms, from that view, can never become stable and consistent. I see it differently. I don’t think it’s the coaching, I think it’s execution. To me, that means that once the players become synced in, their prospects improve. We get more games like the Denver game, and fewer games like the Giants and Dallas games.

    Now SHOULD THEY be synced in by now? To me that’s just opinion. Should Wms have dialed it back? Should Snead have already given them an all-pro secondary? TO ME, just in my place on the range of opinions, THAT all sounds like impossible standards.

    There’s more to say about this but this discussion, I suspect, will take months and include many voices, so…that’s enough from me for tonight, I think.

    December 22, 2014 at 2:40 am in reply to: Marshall Faulk: Grade the Rams' Front Office #14458
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    rfl wrote:

    I see no evidence of any genuine improvement in the team as a competitive unit. None. In fact, this year we will actually REGRESS in our record, and it will be richly deserved.

    Are those the same thing? Record, competitiveness?

    I am disappointed by the loss too, but I don’t see it as darkly as you do.

    December 22, 2014 at 1:57 am in reply to: reporters etc. autopsy the GIANTS game #14452
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    Little consolation for the Rams

    By Joe Lyons

    http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/little-consolation-for-the-rams/article_415635d1-deb3-5abd-b929-fd337b798c31.html

    Before they took an offensive snap Sunday afternoon, the Rams found themselves in a 10-0 hole.

    And they never completely recovered, losing 37-27 to the New York Giants in their home finale at the Edward Jones Dome.

    “It wasn’t us in any phase of the game — offense, defense or special teams,’’ tackle Joe Barksdale said. “I know it sounds cliche, but we have to be better. There’s no excuse….’’

    Quarterback Shaun Hill felt the same way.

    “To be honest with you, if I didn’t know any better and I saw what I’d just watched, I’d say this was a bad team,’’ he said. “But we’re not a bad team. We’ve beat some of the best teams in the NFL and we’ve been in almost every game we’ve played this season. Generally, we’re not a team that beats ourselves, but today, that’s exactly what we did.

    “I know the makeup of this team, and that’s what makes a game like today so frustrating.’’

    On offense, the Rams had their moments. They finished with 387 yards and had 23 first downs to just 19 for the Giants. Hill turned in a solid game, completing 24 of 32 passes for 290 yards with touchdown passes to tight end Lance Kendricks (23 yards) and wide receiver Chris Givens (47 yards). His passer rating was 110.2.

    Rookie running back Tre Mason ran 13 times for 76 yards, averaging 5.8 a carry, and scored on a 10-yard run. Wide receiver Kenny Britt was targeted 11 times and finished with nine catches and 103 yards.

    “The only number that matters is the final score and obviously we didn’t come up with the number we needed there,’’ guard Davin Joseph said. “It’s a team effort and we just didn’t get it done. We just made too many mistakes, and we always seemed to make them at the wrong time.’’

    Mason added: “If you don’t get the ‘W,’ any other numbers are meaningless. We were mediocre and hurt ourselves with a lot of self-inflicted wounds.’’

    After the Giants took a 3-0 lead, the Rams’ Benny Cunningham fumbled the ensuing kickoff. It was his first fumble of the season. Five plays later, New York was up 10-0.

    “Being down, especially that early, I don’t think it changes the mindset,’’ Hill said. “Every possession, you’re looking to put points on the board.’’

    The Rams did just that, getting a 51-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein to make it 10-3. But on the Rams’ next possession, a Hill pass went off the hands of Tavon Austin. It was picked off by the Giants’ Kerry Wynn and led to a field goal and a 13-3 Giants lead.

    The Giants were up 20-3 when Mason scored after taking a pitch around the left end for a 10-yard TD with just over two minutes to play in the first half. The Rams got the ball back and drove to the New York 2 before a high snap on third down threw off the play’s timing and forced Hill to throw the ball away. Zuerlein’s field goal as time expired made it 20-13 Giants at the half.

    “Offensively, we didn’t have the ball much in the first half,’’ Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “But we felt good (at halftime). We had the ball (to start the second half); just needed to make some plays, get some points, create a turnover, maybe get to the quarterback.

    “But those things didn’t happen.’’

    With the Rams down 27-13, Hill threw a well-placed ball to Kendricks for a 23-yard touchdown. Less than a minute later, however, the Giants scored on an 80-yard bomb to re-establish control at 34-20.

    “You’re not going to beat an NFL team when you’re making crucial mistakes at key times and that’s exactly what happened to us today,’’ Hill said. “I’m sure when we look at the film we’ll see guys who played well, who made plays, but right now, it’s hard to come up with a lot of positives.’’

    The Rams trailed 37-20 when Hill found Givens for a 47-yard touchdown with 3:56 to play. The Rams’ Daren Bates blocked a field goal to give his team a final chance, but another errant snap went over the head of Hill. The Giants recovered and ran out the clock.

    “I’ll have to get a look at the film and see what happened,’’ Hill said. Fisher noted that center Scott Wells “has been fighting through’’ an elbow injury.

    Several Rams admitted to hearing the late-game boos in the home finale.

    “This is a fan-driven league,’’ Hill said. “We like to give them what they pay good money to come see. At the same time, there’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears on our end. I can promise you that.

    “We share their frustration.’’

    The Rams close the season Sunday in Seattle against the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks.

    “We’re gonna come back strong, no question about that,’’ Joseph said

    December 22, 2014 at 1:43 am in reply to: reporters etc. autopsy the GIANTS game #14451
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    Late hit by Ogletree triggers brawl

    By Jim Thomas

    http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/late-hit-by-ogletree-triggers-brawl/article_6a6e62c7-4849-5ad6-b261-a5f461902c56.html

    Safety T.J. McDonald said the Rams’ defense plays with an edge. In Sunday’s 37-27 loss to the New York Giants, the defense went over the edge.

    Penalties for late hits by McDonald and linebacker Alec Ogletree in the first half both came for roughing up Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. out of bounds. The second one, by Ogletree, precipitated a bench-clearing fracas on the New York sideline.

    “I hit him in-bounds,” Ogletree said. “Whatever happened after that, it is what it is. I don’t know.”

    The problem was, Ogletree kept hitting Beckham until he was several yards out of bounds, drawing the flag. Beckham responded by throwing the football at Ogletree’s face. Ogletree tried to strike back, and the next thing you know there were a couple of dozen players from both teams going at it.

    Ogletree didn’t offer up much of an explanation on his miscue.

    “Like I said, it’s over with now,” he said. “I hated that it happened, but I can’t do nothing about it now.”

    By the time referee Pete Morelli and his crew cleaned things up, three players were ejected: defensive end Williams Hayes of the Rams, and wide receiver Preston Parker and defensive end Damontre’ Moore of the Giants.

    Hayes said he was ejected for throwing a punch in the scuffle, which occurred with 2 minutes, 10 seconds to go in the half.

    “I was running to the ball,” Hayes said. “When I saw the flag go up, I started walking back to the huddle. And then I saw somebody just come in and blast ‘Tree’ in the back. So I was going over there to try to take care of the situation, to get ‘Tree’ up out of there.

    “Next thing I know, somebody grabbed me. I turned around, my helmet came off, a guy threw a punch at me, then I just retaliated.”

    Hayes spent the rest of the game in the Rams’ locker room.

    “I just sat in here with my head down,” Hayes said. “It’s tough. I wanted to go out there and fight with my brothers, and I wasn’t able to. It’s just a bad situation.”

    BECKHAM’S DAY

    The Rams may have been riled up because, according to coach Jeff Fisher, “Someone said (Beckham) came out and said he was going to set an NFL record today against the defense early this morning. I was told that. I don’t know.”

    Actually, Beckham did set a couple of Giants franchise records Sunday after catching eight passes for 148 yards and two TDs. He now has 11 TD catches for the season, which is a Giants rookie record. And his 79 catches also set a Giants single-season rookie mark.

    It also was the eighth consecutive game for the rookie from LSU with at least 90 receiving yards.

    JOYNER PLAYS

    Cornerback and safety Lamarcus Joyner, who had missed the past five games — the first few because of a groin injury — was active Sunday for the Rams. Things could’ve gone better. Joyner was part of a busted coverage that led to Beckham’s second TD, an 80-yard score in the final minute of the third quarter.

    With Beckham and Rueben Randle split out to the right, both Joyner and Trumaine Johnson took the underneath route (Randle). That left Beckham free to run downfield with only safety Mark Barron to beat, which he did for the TD.

    SITTING IT OUT

    With a largely healthy roster, there were few surprises on the team’s inactive list, which consisted of CB Marcus Roberson, TE Justice Cunningham, C/G Barrett Jones, OG Brandon Washington, TE Alex Bayer, DT Alex Carrington and DE Ethan Westbrooks.

    INJURY UPDATE

    Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines left in the second half with concussion symptoms and a lacerated lip.

    December 22, 2014 at 1:15 am in reply to: We will be drafting a QB nextyear. #14450
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    JackPMiller wrote:

    zn wrote:
    Jack. You’re not the GM. For all you know … that is, REALLY know… every thing you list would be the worst possible way to approach it.

    We’ll see. s

    …

    Barksdale is not a problem. Jerry is a pretty good LG that would be good for us. Grabbing some depth at Guard in the 2nd round, is not a good thing. Plus, we desperately need a QB. Watching Hill and Austin was frightening. I don’t believe Sam is capable of playing a full season, no matter what. If Winston slides to us, we should nab him. This kid can play. We have to believe he is alot better than what we have backing up. If Sam can play for a year or two, without hitting the IR, which I doubt, but if he does, it is better for us, because we have two QBs. One we can hold off and groom if need to.

    Okay…yeah it’s fun to play GM. Well I agree that watching Davis was frightening, after he came down to earth. Today though the problem was defense (after a shakey start Hill was 24 of 32 for 2 TDs and a qb rating of 110.2). I don’t believe for a second that any rookie qb will be better than what they have in year one. I agree that they will draft one. As for the OL, IMO they will do what they always do–draft some, sign some, pick up some cuts and waivers. These coaches have fielded good OLs before that were built overnight, they will do it again. In my abjectly humble opinion.

    We’ll see.

    December 21, 2014 at 11:36 pm in reply to: reporters etc. autopsy the GIANTS game #14447
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    RAMS VS. GIANTS REPORT CARD – WEEK 16

    http://www.stltoday.com/gallery/sports/football/professional/rams-d-earns-an-f/collection_27938da7-d033-56f6-944e-160b049edbab.html#0

    Just when you thought the Rams had assembled an elite defensive unit, Gregg Williams and his charges are outclassed by the Giants. Jeff Gordon hands out the grades after a dismal day at the Dome.

    Quarterback: B
    Well, Shaun Hill tried. He kept heaving the ball down the field with the Rams in catch-up mode. He completed 24 of 32 passes for 290 yards and two TDs. His one early interception went right through the hands of Tavon Austin, although that throw did sail on him. Hill wasn’t great on third down but what more can you expect from this guy?

    Running Backs: A
    Tre Mason broke off big gains outside and punched out some solid gains between the tackles. He averaged 5.8 yards on his 13 carries. He scored on a 10-yard run despite nearly having his head ripped off with a facemask foul. Too bad he didn’t get more touches against the NFL’s worst rushing defense.

    Wide Receivers: B
    Kenny Britt tore up the Giants with nine catches for 103 yards. He could have had a bigger day, but he misjudged one underthrown deep ball that was there for the taking. Chris Givens appeared from the mist to catch a 47-yard touchdown pass. Tavon Austin had a 19-yard run and a 15-yard catch. He needed more touches in this game—even though he let that one pass go through his hands for a deflection interception.

    Tight Ends: B-
    Jared Cook finally asserted himself with the Rams in desperate catch-up mode. He caught five passes for 41 yards and broke free for what could have been a big passing play down the field . . . only to see Hill sail the throw. Lance Kendricks stopped by long enough to catch a 23-yard TD pass along with a 12-yard throw.

    Offensive Line: F
    It was only fair that the final Rams offensive play was another terrible shotgun snap by C Scott Wells. He has been playing hurt, true, but his untimely mishaps have undermined this offense game after game. Missed blocks (G Davin Joseph!) and costly penalties (OT Greg Robinson!) damaged possession after possession and offset some nice stretches of run blocking and pass protection.

    Defensive Line: F
    The Rams seldom applied pressure on Giants QB Eli Manning: their only sack came on a safety blitz. They suffered some untimely breakdowns in their rush defense as well. The Giants are no offensive juggernaut and they trampled the Rams for 514 yards. New York converted eight third-down plays and kept the ball for nearly 35 minutes. It’s hard to believe this was the same defensive front that helped hold three consecutive opponents to no touchdowns.
    Linebackers: F

    OLB Alec Ogletree made eight unassisted tackles, one for a loss, and started one sideline riot on a busy day. MLB James Laurinaitis was active as well, but at the end of the day the unit couldn’t make the big plays or timely stops to turn the game. The Rams blitzed here and there, but never really disrupted the Giants.

    Secondary: F-
    It’s hard to imagine defensive backs ever doing a worse job than the Rams did in this game. WR Odell Beckham Jr. clowned them for eight catches, 148 yards and two TDs. Play after play after play Manning had wide-open targets to hit. There were too many disasters to recount in this space. The Rams got lost and stayed lost as Manning threw for 391 yards, three TDs and a 148.8 passer rating.

    Special Teams: D
    Benny Cunningham spit up a kickoff fumble on his first return attempt, handing the Giants a TD and a quick 10-0 lead. Improbably the Rams earned an offside penalty on a punt to extend a key Giants possession. A blocking-in-the-back penalty took yardage off one of Austin’s outstanding punt returns. The Rams stood idly by while a great Johnny Hekker punt rolled into the end zone. Such blunders offset big plays like Austin’s 41-yard punt return, Greg Zuerlein’s 51-yard field goal and Daren Bates’ blocked field goal bid.

    Coaching: F
    The Rams had to win this game to prove progress is really occurring in Year 3 of the Jeff Fisher Regime. Instead, the Rams played sloppy, undisciplined football from start to finish against the Giants. The Brian Schottenheimer offense failed to make the key third-down plays to keep the Rams offense on the field. The Gregg Williams defense had exactly zero answers Sunday. The special teams made one mistake after another. When will our suffering end?

    December 21, 2014 at 11:33 pm in reply to: reporters etc. autopsy the GIANTS game #14446
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    Rams’ E.J. Gaines OK after scary collision

    By Nick Wagoner

    http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/14829/rams-e-j-gaines-ok-after-scary-collision

    ST. LOUIS — Observed and heard in the locker room after the St. Louis Rams’ 37-27 loss to the New York Giants:

    Gaines OK: There was a scary moment late in the third quarter, when Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines collided with safety T.J. McDonald while diving for an interception. McDonald’s knee caught Gaines in the head, and Gaines crumpled to the ground, where he was instantly surrounded by teammates and medical staff.

    Coach Jeff Fisher said after the game that Gaines would be OK. Gaines has a concussion and a lacerated lip and will go through concussion protocol.

    Penalties and miscues: It’s been a common combination for the Rams under Fisher, and it reared its ugly head again Sunday. Whether it was a coverage bust, a protection issue or a penalty flag, the Rams seemed to run the gamut on Sunday. They finished with nine penalties for 76 yards, but those included silly mistakes such as jumping offside on fourth-and-short when New York was punting and being offside on a kickoff.

    “Mental errors in this league will get you beat faster than physical errors,” tackle Joe Barksdale said.

    Unacceptable: That was a word used by many around the Rams’ locker room after their latest clunker. For a team that had showed signs of turning it around, it offered a not-so-subtle reminder that games such as this are always around the next corner.

    “It’s just unacceptable,” defensive end Chris Long said. “We didn’t play well, and it’s just unacceptable.”

    December 21, 2014 at 11:33 pm in reply to: reporters etc. autopsy the GIANTS game #14445
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    Rams are no-shows in loss to Giants

    By Jim Thomas

    http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-are-no-shows-in-loss-to-giants/article_f970a96f-583f-52b5-9eb4-583d540c61a2.html

    The big question entering the day was whether the Rams could keep their focus and motivation after losing any chance at a playoff berth or a winning record the week before against Arizona.

    The answer was a resounding “No” as the Rams’ secondary was scorched by quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in a 37-27 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

    Fan Appreciation Day proved to be just another slap in the face to fans now assured of their 11th consecutive non-winning season by the 6-9 Rams. On this day, the best hits by the Rams defense seemed to come on late hits well out of bounds.

    Meanwhile, after snapping out of a seven-game losing streak, the Giants (6-9) have now won three in a row.

    Manning threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns, and Beckham (148) and Rueben Randle (132) both had over 100 yards receiving. It was a brutal day for cornerback Trumaine Johnson in coverage. As for the Rams’ pass rush, it was a step slow all day.

    The offense showed an ability to move the football, but holding penalties and missed blocks by the line were an issue all day. As a topper, it was not quarterback Shaun Hill’s most accurate day. He missed wide-open receivers Kenny Britt and Jared Cook on deep balls that probably would’ve been touchdowns.

    This was a day when the Rams’ defense was a no-show. With the help of two Rams turnovers, Manning and the New York offense raced to a 20-3 first-half lead.

    The St. Louis secondary, particularly Johnson, struggled in coverage as Manning threw for 200 yards on 16 of 18 passing in the half.

    Beckham Jr. ended the Rams’ streak of 12 quarters without allowing a touchdown pass with 9-yard grab with 8:24 left in the first quarter. It was as strange choice of coverage by the Rams. Johnson lined up across from Beckham Jr., but then dropped into zone coverage as Beckham ran by.

    That left Beckham Jr. isolated with safety T.J. McDonald — and 95 times out of 100 a wide receiver is going to win a matchup with a safety, particularly a wideout as talented as the Giants’ rookie phenom.

    That made it 10-0 Giants, who had kicked a field goal earlier. The Rams got on the board with a 51-yard field by Greg Zuerlein on their next possession. One play before Zuerlein’s kick the Rams had a manageable third-and-4 from the New York 28, but right guard Davin Joseph was beaten by Jason Pierre-Paul for a sack, forcing the field goal attempt.

    The Giants scored that touchdown after Benny Cunningham — on a kickoff return — fumbled for the first time in 126 touches this year, a total that includes catches, carries, and returns. New York recovered on the St. Louis 21.

    The lead grew to 13-3 Giants early in the second quarter on a field goal by former Rams place-kicker Josh Brown on a series that followed another St. Louis turnover. Hill threw a quick screen to Tavon Austin, but the ball caromed off Austin’s hands and was picked off by Giants defensive lineman Kerry Wynn and returned seven yards to the New York 44.

    After a Johnny Hekker punt the Giants drove 80 yards with unheralded running back Orleans Darkwa scoring on a 12-yard cutback run. So it was 20-3 Giants with 4:49 left in the first half.

    But a bench-clearing scuffle that began with a late hit on Beckham Jr. by linebacker Alec Ogletree seemed to snap the Rams out of their slumber. Ogletree hit Beckham well out of bounds after a short reception near the New York bench.

    Beckham Jr. responded by throwing the football at Ogletree. Ogletree shoved back, the Giants’ bench came to Beckham’s aid, and then the Rams came to help Ogletree. After referee Pete Morelli and his crew restored order, defensive end Damontre Moore and wide receiver Preston Parker of the Giants had been ejected. Defensive end William Hayes of the Rams also was ejected.

    The Rams forced a punt after the fracas, then scored on a 10-yard run by Tre Mason on the ensuing possession to narrow the Giants’ lead to 20-10. A 20-yard field goal by Zuerlein to close the half made it a one-score game — 20-13 — and the Rams got the ball to start the second half.

    But the Rams ended up punting to start the third quarter, and the Giants and Manning continued to pick apart the St. Louis secondary, with TD passes to Rueben Randle and Beckham Jr. to help stretch the Giants’ lead to 37-20 midway through the fourth quarter.

    December 21, 2014 at 10:23 pm in reply to: Giants game reaction thread #14443
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    Yeah we really respected Mora for that.

    In fact that vid became famous as the very model of honest coaching self-appraisal in front of the press.

    Not, as some assume, the butt of endless jokes. s

    December 21, 2014 at 10:12 pm in reply to: We will be drafting a QB nextyear. #14441
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    JackPMiller wrote:

    cgsuddeath wrote:
    And then my question to you is,what will this rookie look like running for his life with no pass protection?

    Resign Barksdale, move Saffold from LG to RG, and then sign a Guard in free agency, maybe a John Jerry. We should be fine. Wells will be cut, and Barrett Jones should be ready to take over at Center. On top, draft an OG in the 2nd round, with a Free Safety in round 3.

    Jack. You’re not the GM. For all you know … that is, REALLY know… every thing you list would be the worst possible way to approach it.

    We’ll see. s

    …

    December 21, 2014 at 10:08 pm in reply to: Giants game reaction thread #14440
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    Eternal Ramnation wrote:

    He needs to take responsibility for his mistakes namely for this undisciplined mess being unprepared to win after 10 days off against a team with less talent. Off the top of my head Mora,Parcells even Martz would own up to his mistakes but not Fisher. No we get stuff like “Well I sure didn’t expect that out of them” Coaches are part of the team but Fisher continually separates himself from any accountability .He’s had 3 years and made millions at this point it is unacceptable to “think” his team is prepared he has to know it.

    Assuming your explanation of why they lost is the actual explanation…that is, what a veteran coach would see when he goes over film…how do you know what he does behind closed doors? When it counts?

    I cannot think of a single coach who has ever spoken in a way you are suggesting he should (assuming, again, that your analysis of what happened is the correct one). You forget–press conferences are not confessionals with angry fans as the inquisitors. They are staged events the coach uses the way he feels he needs to in order to keep the real issues behind closed doors.

    And they sure as heck don’t say much until they have reviewed the film.

    As angry as we are personally, coaches never act like we are the final judges. I don’t think you can actually BE a coach and think that way.

    Unless you can think of examples of coaches who did act that way…that is, that they owe humble self-confession to angry fans after a bad loss before they have even seen the film.

    But. No point in arguing. We’re both pizzed off, we just express it differently. So feel free to have your say…we all have that right. s

    December 21, 2014 at 8:56 pm in reply to: after game tweets #14429
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    wv wrote:

    Well, i disagree. I think he’s played
    hurt a LOT

    But…where do you get that from? Because first of all he has played well for them before, and secondly, I can’t think of any stretches where he PLAYED hurt until this one. It’s not quibbling. I just flat don’t think you’re right about that.

    December 21, 2014 at 8:49 pm in reply to: after game tweets #14427
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    wv wrote:

    Well sure, he’s been playing with injuries for about
    three fourths of the games he’s actually played
    for the Rams.

    That’s not entirely true. He hasn’t played withinjuries before, but he has been injuredbefore…previously he was out when injured.

    I have been saying all week, btw, that Saffold, Wells, and Joseph are all playing hurt. They give Wells and Joseph days off of practice because of it.

    And Jones is in no shape to play because he injured his back over the summer and couldn’t lift weights because of it.

    December 21, 2014 at 8:47 pm in reply to: Giants game reaction thread #14426
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    PA Ram wrote:

    r

    S.

    …

    December 21, 2014 at 8:46 pm in reply to: Giants game reaction thread #14425
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    wv wrote:

    I saw it,
    but I dunno what the DB’s were doing. They
    just sorta went “Olay” and let him run
    right down the middle by himself.

    Barron got faked out on a double move. It was really just that simple.

    But then Barron was playing in that position because the Rams were short on CBs.

    December 21, 2014 at 8:13 pm in reply to: Giants game reaction thread #14419
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    Eternal Ramnation wrote:

    Just listening Fisher’s post game the man is in denial . He’s lost. The D was upset because Beckham said he was going to set a record against the Rams today (which is exactly what he did) Fisher kept saying you can’t do this or that and win.He has to be told he cannot bring that clusterfuck we saw out there today to another game. Coach do your fucking job or go the fuck away.

    I know we all get into post-loss funks. But name one single coach who ever said what angry fans demanded they say after a loss. The real talk is behind closed doors. You not liking the public version of what he says does not mean he is in denial, it just means you personally are frustrated.

    December 21, 2014 at 8:08 pm in reply to: Giants game reaction thread #14418
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    wv wrote:

    The O obviously needs better players at QB
    G and Center.

    Hill was 24 of 32 with a qb rating of 110+ and 2 TDs. You’re supposed to win when you get 27 points.

    IMO…this was all on the defense.

    And to be honest, the pass defense was their weakness all year. A few teams managed to exploit it.

    The OL has gotten steadily worse so we agree on that. Saffold and Long being hurt means that Saffold plays hurt, Joseph has to start, and Robinson becomes a rookie LOT. And Wells has become a liability. I think they could get away with one or 2 of those things, but not all of them.

    As for this–>

    against a 5 win team,
    with a chance to finish .500

    A lot of people failed to see how good the Giants became during the year. They were under-estimated. That’s the old Eli, the OL is finally repaired and playing well, and teams have no answer for Beckham. It’s not the least bit unusual for the Giants to surge at the end of the year. Heck that’s how they became a 9-7 superbowl winner.

    Here’s what I said in the “thotz about the game the week before the game” thread:

    The more I look into the Giants, the more I think this is an interesting test for the defense. They can throw and they can pass block.

    It’s also a test for the OL. The Giants can rush the passer, too. So was looking THAT BAD against ARz just one particularly bad game (short week with banged up starters + a rookie) or is the OL really as consistently bad as it was in that one game.

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