HighPlainsDrifter wrote:

I think that having to draft a quarterback will set the team’s building efforts back at least a couple of years. I don’t relish the thought of a rookie quarterback. But I know that depending on Bradford’s twice injured knee is an enormous gamble. I’d say that the Rams are between a rock and a hard place with their quarterback position.

Howdy. I respond to this here, if you’re interested–>

http://theramshuddle.com/topic/how-many-more-wins/#post-11655

He didn’t get hit at all on the first tear. That said, it doesn’t mean he can take a hit either,he had a concussion shoulder twice finger ankle and now the knee twice. That kind of history doesn’t exactly scream durability. He’s played in 49 games out of what is a possible 80 at the end of this season. Is not being able to run out of bounds on your own really better? If he can’t get on the field what difference does it make

Well, I know a lot of people feel that way. And I raised a lot of the durability stuff myself before the draft in 2010.

But, to me, in this thread, that’s just a separate topic.

To me, the issue was knees. Bradford just made the issue common among Rams fans.

The first knee, too, btw, was exactly the kind of hyperextension I was talking about. He just planted wrong and his weight was awkward. The first hit? Yes it is true you simply don’t need to get hit to tear up a knee. Bending it the wrong with the wrong torsion with weight on it? That will do it. I personally hyperextended a knee once while just stepping wrong on a staircase. (That was a bad one too, though again I never tore anything fortunately.) It’s just a freak thing that happens to humans.

That can happen to anyone. Anyway. It’s just not true that you need to be hit or get your foot caught to real mess up a knee. It often comes from exactly what I describe.

Now as for Bradford’s durability, and his future, and so on? Yes there’s a lot to discuss there.

Just right here for me personally, the only thing I was talking about was–knee injuries. In general.

Karraker asks Sando, do you think around the league Fisher is held in the same general high regard he was when was hired? Sando: I think people feel that way around the league. He finished respectably but not top 10 in a poll around the league ranking coaches. There’s probably some degree of jealousy since he’s so visible (on the competition committee, kind of a league spokesman, etc) and that rubs people the wrong way sometimes. People did look at the Rams and say of course Bradford was going to get hurt, that’s no excuse, what did you have behind him. What’s going on with Tavon? Those are fair criticisms when you don’t win and get the results. But if qb had gone as intended (ie. no injuries) we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

The Film Don’t Lie: Rams
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/p … lie-rams-6

A weekly look at what the St. Louis Rams must fix:

Nine games into the season, the power-rushing attack the Rams hoped to forge before the season has yet to materialize. It’s going to be difficult for that to change against this week’s opponent, the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos will roll into St. Louis with the NFL’s best rushing defense, allowing 67 yards per game and tied for first in the league in yards allowed per carry at 3.19.

Meanwhile, the Rams are still desperately seeking the running attack that was promised before the season. The Rams are averaging 97.44 yards per game on the ground, 22nd in the NFL. Their 3.93 yards per carry is 23rd.

The Rams’ run-game difficulties are partly the result of a confusing committee approach at running back. But the Rams have settled on rookie Tre Mason over the past couple of weeks. Mason needs to recognize openings better but it would also greatly benefit him to have more holes to hit and more opportunities to carry the ball.

Against Arizona on Sunday, the Rams averaged just 3.2 yards on 22 rushing attempts. And the film and the numbers show that teams have little fear of the Rams’ run game. The Cardinals had an extra defender in the box for just two of the Rams’ offensive plays, only one of which was a running play. When seven defenders were near the line of scrimmage, the Rams rushed 13 times for 56 yards, a solid average of 4.3 yards.

After running six times for 40 yards on their first scoring drive against the Cardinals, the Rams attempted three consecutive passes on their ensuing possession which went three-and-out. There’s no easy solution for the Rams to get the ground game going, but one way would be to commit to it on a more consistent basis.

Winnbrad wrote:

zn wrote:
Hill is better than Davis.

And better than Brock and Banks.

Agreed. But that’s a low bar, bro.

Winning seems far-fetched at this point.

Yeah I know.

I didn’t say Hill was better than Everett, Bulger, or Bradford (let alone Warner).

But better than Davis, Null, Boller, Clemens, Martin, Feeley, and Frerotte. (There’s that “bar” issue again…bear with me).

I am not going to address next year, yet. Personally, I am going to save that for the off-season.

But this year? WHEN THE DEFENSE FINALLY SETTLED DOWN (mostly)…an experienced, veteran, savvy, cagey veteran qb would have made a difference in games. That’s Hill.

I watched Hill close the bit he played from pre-season through the Vikes game, and IMO he would have been a big difference in those games. In my humble opinion, he would have been fine in close-contests like the ARz game. (Close for 53 minutes anyway.)

And he wouldn’t have done things like bail on the pass to Kendricks in the 3rd and 1 play against SF.

Mike Martz said he always regretted the fact that in SF, he underestimated Hill.

This is just an analogy, but to me, Hill is the Rams DeBerg. Only he ain’t behind Montana.

Yes I think they can win with Hill with the proviso that he needs the defense to be playing better (like it is now). Let’s put it this way. IMO they win more from now on with Hill than with Davis.

Anywho, onward and upward, I hope. The team is better, overall, than it has been in years. Now they just need a QB that can at least manage a game and not give it away. I think RFL called it “QB Hell”. That’s apt. It’s a QB only league these days.

Yes it’s a better over-all team than last year for sure.

But to me Hill isn’t qb hell, he’s more like qb purgatory but with a light sentence.

PA Ram wrote:

Hill doesn’t excite me either.

But I sort of have a “whatever” attitude at this point. Hey–it can’t hurt. Let’s compare what Hill does to what Davis did. If nothing else it’s a back-up competition for next year(although I doubt Hill will be back anyway). I’m more concerned about what happens AFTER this year. There are no good options unless they find a hidden gem in the draft.

This feels like the Dieter Brock era, or the Toney Banks era. They just don’t have good options at the most important position on the field. And for the record, I’m not comparing a healthy Bradford to those two guys–but he’s not healthy.

Hill is better than Davis.

And better than Brock and Banks.

Rams notebook: Upon further review, Fisher agrees with officials’ call

By Joe Lyons

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot…cle_8e30d4f4-39e8-5d7e-8aac-956a7f1f1b2d.html

After watching the game tape, Rams coach Jeff Fisher says the officials got it right.

Fisher, who’s disagreed with a number of calls against the Rams this season, did not agree when tight end Lance Kendricks was flagged for a illegal blindside block in the third quarter of Sunday’s 31-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

But upon further review, Fisher supported the call during his Monday news conference at Rams Park.

“It’s’ within the rules. It was just unfortunate timing for us,’’ the coach said.

One play after Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree intercepted a pass and returned it to the Arizona 45 Sunday, Austin Davis hooked up with tight end Jared Cook on a 41-yard pass play that took the ball to the Arizona 4. On the play, Kendricks came from a position along the sideline to put a big hit on Arizona’s Tony Jefferson to spring Cook.

The illegal blindside block brought the ball back to the Cardinals’ 35-yard line.

“It was a great hit, great block,’’ Fisher said. “The blocker has the responsibility, it’s all in his hands, to avoid hitting (Jefferson) in the head and neck area. The defender was ducking, Lance was ducking. It just happened.’’

Fisher continued: “The defensive player gets defenseless player protection with respect to the blindside block if the blocker is coming from his own end line and/or parallel. The parallel part went in a couple years ago, so I’d say it’s the correct call, (even if) you don’t like it.

“His other option in that case was to go low … and you surely don’t want to see guys going low in those instances because of the potential for injury.’’

The Rams, who led 14-10 at the time of the penalty, followed up by failing to take advantage of the turnover and positive field position. After an unproductive run, an incomplete pass and a sack, they punted.

The Big Red rallied with 21 fourth-quarter points and improved to 8-1.

DEFENSIVE NUMBERS

Ogletree played one of his better games of the season against the Cardinals, sharing the team lead in tackles with 12. including six solos, to go along the interception and 44-yard return. He also had two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a quarterback hit.

“We’ve made a concerted effort to get him behind the ball,’’ Fisher said. “That’s where he’s best, just running and slipping blocks and taking on blocks. He’s been much more productive. Good pressure. … When he caught the (interception), he anticipated, read the formation, recognized the route that was coming and put himself in a position to make another play.

“He’s playing much better in the last two weeks.’’

Safety T.J. McDonald, another second-year pro, also had 12 tackles, including seven solos. He finished with a sack and two tackles for loss.

Other tackling leaders for the Rams Sunday were linebacker James Laurinaitis and safety Rodney McLeod with eight each and rookie cornerback E.J. Gaines with seven. Gaines also had a team-best three pass defenses.

Robert Quinn paced the defensive linemen with five tackles and a sack.

As a unit, the defense had three sacks, 17 quarterback pressures and 12 hits on Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer, who left in the fourth quarter after suffering a season-ending knee injury. On that play, safety Mark Barron, seeing his first action from scrimmage, had the Rams’ third sack.

“He (made an impact with) the sack, the pressure, the contact,’’ Fisher said. Barron was acquired in a trade-deadline deal with Tampa Bay. “I think you get a sense of his physical stature out there. There was a screen pass and the guard was out in space, and he took the guard on. Most DBs would be tumbling or go low. He took the guard on high, bounced off and got an assist.

“I thought he was very productive.’’

Chase Reynolds once again led the special teams with two tackles. Also making special-teams stops were McDonald, Benny Cunningham, Cody Davis, Marshall McFadden and Korey Toomer.

INJURY UPDATE

On a blitz early in the second quarter, rookie Lamarcus Joyner bounced off Palmer and ended up with a groin injury.

“Lamarcus will clearly be questionable this week,’’ Fisher said,

The Rams are already down a man in the defensive backfield with rookie Marcus Roberson nursing an ankle injury.

With Joyner out, Gaines shifted from cornerback to the nickel as the projected starters at cornerback, Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, played together for the first time since the preseason.

“Tells you a lot” about Gaines, Fisher said. “He was fine. Got his hands on the ball. Didn’t have any problems; we didn’t have to scale down the third-down package (because) he prepares mentally for it and (I) thought he plugged in nicely.’’

Fisher said that defensive end Chris Long, who’s been on the injured reserve/designated to return list following ankle surgery, could return to practice this week.

“There’s a chance he’ll get on the field. We’re going to discuss it tomorrow with him,’’ the coach said. “He has a 21-day window to practice once he steps on the field (before he counts against the 53-man roster).’’

Fisher said both tackle Jake Long (knee) and wide receiver Brian Quick (shoulder) have undergone surgery. Both players were hurt in the Rams’ Oct. 26 loss to the Chiefs in Kansas City.

“Jake is rehabbing, doing well,’’ the coach said. “I encouraged Brian to come out to practice (but) it’s going to be probably another week or two before he comes out. There was significant damage to his shoulder. He will recover 100 percent, but it’s going to be a slow process. It’s going to be a training camp thing.’’

The fluke injury to the Rams’ top deep threat resulted in more damage than anticipated.

“He did just about everything you possibly can to the shoulder,’’ Fisher said. “You talk about rotator cuff, labrum, bicep tendon, just everything. It was a successful surgery, a successful procedure, but he’s going to be immobilized for quite some time.’’

Fisher sticking with Davis at quarterback

By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/fisher-sticking-with-davis-at-quarterback/article_96a08b19-ed02-5902-ab2a-607600aa83b5.html

It was another rough day at the office Sunday for Austin Davis — and he’s had a few of those lately. But coach Jeff Fisher said Monday he is not contemplating a quarterback change.

“No,” Fisher said, giving about as direct an answer as possible.

“He didn’t have his best half,” Fisher continued. “He missed some opportunities, he made a couple bad decisions. Said he had difficulty seeing at times. The last couple weeks, he’s thrown four interceptions, but we’re gonna hang in there (with him). He’s working real hard, so we’ll see where it goes.”

The problems for Davis in the Rams’ 31-14 loss to Arizona were more confined to the fourth quarter, when he completed only six of 16 throws for 70 yards and two interceptions. His passer rating for the quarter was 12.0.

The first of those interceptions was a badly underthrown deep ball to a wide-open Chris Givens that would’ve been a touchdown.

“I don’t really have an answer” for the interception, Davis said. “Don’t understand it; don’t know why it happened. We got the look we were looking for. I thought Chris ran a good route and won. … Ball didn’t go where I wanted it.”

The second interception was thrown high to Kenny Britt but was catchable. It went off Britt’s hands and was returned for a score. Davis later lost a fumble while getting sacked and that ball was returned for a touchdown by Arizona.

So this season, six turnovers by Davis — four interceptions and two fumbles on sacks — have been returned for touchdowns. It’s bad enough to have a turnover. But a turnover for an opposing touchdown, well, that’s a recipe for defeat.

Even while giving Davis a vote of confidence, Fisher didn’t have many good things to say about his performance at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Was pass protection an issue Sunday, or was it a case of the quarterback holding on to the ball too long?

Fisher indicated it was mostly the latter.

“Now at times, give the defense credit,” he said. “There’s gonna be an unblocked rusher, and you have to get rid of the football. The quarterback’s gotta get rid of the football. He’s gotta see that.”

As an example, Fisher pointed to the 11-yard sack taken by Davis on third-and-11 from the Arizona 36 late in the third quarter.

“Austin, he can’t take a sack in field-goal range,” Fisher said. “You’ve gotta throw the ball away.”

But Fisher did concede that the pass protection wasn’t always there for Davis.

“We had a couple pass-rush ‘games’ where we got soft (in protection),” Fisher said. “But the ball has to come out.”

Were Sunday’s woes partly a case of Rams receivers not getting sufficient separation from defenders?

“We had opportunities,” Fisher said. “We had a number of opportunities for some significant catch and run opportunities.”

So after lighting it up in his first three starts with six TD passes, only two interceptions and a passer rating of 100.6, Davis has six TD passes, six interceptions and a rating of just 73.4 over his next five starts.

Three of those five starts have been on the road. And four of those five games have come against defenses ranked in the top 5. But those are not the kind of numbers you want at quarterback, particularly the turnover numbers.

The book on facing Austin may simply be to pressure him as much as possible, especially up the middle, making it harder for him to find throwing lanes.

“I mean the position’s hard to play,” Fisher said. “This (Arizona) defense has done this to a lot of quarterbacks. Good quarterbacks. But that’s part of playing the position.

“Sometimes you’re gonna have a hard Sunday as a quarterback. He’s disappointed in what’s happened but he’ll bounce back.”

When asked if Davis was getting frustrated, Fisher shot back: “Well, choose a better word. Frustrated? Yeah. Disappointed. Whatever. He’s not pleased with what happened yesterday, but he’ll bounce back.”

The fourth quarter of games has been particularly tough on Davis lately. Among NFL passers with enough playing time to qualify for the rankings, Davis is 35th in the league in fourth-quarter passing with a passer rating of just 68.1. His fourth-quarter numbers include a completion percentage of 57.7, with four TD passes and six interceptions.

Davis is far from an excuse-maker. He’s very honest in assessing his play, and knows he must play better.

“The thing I’m learning really quick is you can play well for 3½ quarters, but you have to play four,” he said. “You can’t have a single letdown. Right now I’m having those, and it’s costing our football team.”

And a bad habit that hampered his development and advancement with the Rams before this season — keeping his eyes on the pass rush instead of the receivers — has cropped up again.

If you play quarterback long enough in the league, you’re going to get blitzed and hit and buzzed in the pocket. The key is staying calm amid the chaos that’s often all around you in the pocket.

For example, the Rams had 17 quarterback pressures, 12 QB hits and three sacks against Arizona quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton — with most of that coming, of course, against Palmer before he was injured. Facing that kind of heat often is part of the job description at quarterback.

The Arizona blitz package had defenders coming from everywhere and different times, making it a tough chore for an inexperienced quarterback such as Davis.

“So just the ability to learn from this, and get your eyes downfield and not on the rush is something that I’ve got to do,” Davis said.