*Note: The graphic above should read Week 16.

I’ve been illin’ (and not the good kind) most of the week so this will be a very abbreviated version of my usual game previews. Apologies… 

A random thought came into my head as I was coughing up a lobe from my right lung Friday night.

“I wonder which Rams team will show up in Tampa Bay on Sunday.”

Even while I’m under the weather I’m thinking about the Rams. Or maybe it’s due to the fact that I get sick to my stomach thinking about the three games the Rams should have won: Week 1 at Detroit (23-27), Week 6 at Miami (14-17), and Week 10 at San Francisco (24-24 tie). The Rams should be 9-5 right now fighting for a wild card.

Then you have the Rams that tied and beat the almighty (?) 10-3 49ers. Yes, St. Louis seems to have San Francisco’s number. Not to mention the Rams (with one last game remaining in Seattle) are one of five teams (Green Bay, New England, Houston, and Denver) that are undefeated in their division. The irony though is that those four teams are their respective division leaders and in the playoffs. Dagger!

Reality hits though as the Rams are set to face a slumping (four straight losses coming into this week) but still dangerous team in the Buccaneers. Quarterback Josh Freeman has had his ups and downs this season which doesn’t bode well for his big time, big size receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams. I should know, V. Jackson is on my fantasy team. The other big Bucs threat, the player formerly known as The Muscle Hamster, running back Doug Martin. He’s on both my fantasy teams and he’s also had a seat on the roller coaster that’s the Tampa Bay offense.

Rams running back Steven Jackson needs 91 yards to reach the 1,000 yards rushing for the eighth consecutive season. The longest active streak in the NFL. I say he gets it done today despite the Bucs ranking number one against the run (83.3 yards per game) coming into Sunday. Jackson has seen tough rush defenses this season and has risen to the occasion, especially against the 49ers (101 and 48 yards).

The Bottom line (Nothing really new here, folks.)

The Rams need to tune out all the noise and concentrate on their game. The rest will fall into place.

Run the ball via Steven Jackson.

Protect quarterback Sam Bradford giving him time to find one of his young receivers. This might prove to be harder than expected with their staple offensive lineman Harvey Dahl being placed on IR after a biceps tear. Chris Williams is slated to take Dahl’s place and will be challenged by the Bucs defense.

Don’t commit idiotic self-inflicted penalties. Seriously, this has to stop.

Win the field position battle. i.e. the Rams rookie punter Johnny Hekker needs to be more consistent. Kicker Greg Zuerlein will be the difference in the game.

Rams squeak out a close one winning by a field goal, 23-20 and get back to .500 with one last game to go.

7-7-1.

St. Louis Rams defense huddle. (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

The home season finale at the Edward Jones Dome didn’t go quite as planned. The score at half time ballooned to 30-7 and the Rams got lost searching for their missing offense. They’ve had a habit of starting games slowly and this time the deficit was too big to overcome.

All Day Made The Rams Pay

I fully expected the Rams to win Sunday. I knew Vikings powerhouse running back Adrian Peterson would run on the Rams. With that being said, I didn’t think I’d witness a 212-yard spanking. He did almost half of the damage on two runs in the second half: 82 yards that resulted in a TD and 52 yards that ended with a 51-yard field goal by kicker Blair Walsh. In all fairness to the Rams defense they did hold Peterson in check for a good portion of the game. It’s just that when he did break a couple of runs he really gored them.

The Usual Penalties 

The Rams offense drudged through the first quarter on their way to eight penalties. So last week’s two flags were the anomaly. Four false starts by the offensive line (seriously who gets called for false starts at home?!),  holding calls on left tackle Rodger Saffold, and my personal favorite the unsportsmanlike conduct taunting flag on wide receiver Brandon Gibson.

Just when the Rams have you believing they are headed in the right direction they take a detour the next game. This latest loss may have directed them out of the playoffs.

» Continue reading “36-22 Loss To Vikings Detours Rams Playoff Chances”

Rams RB Steven Jackson: Probably the only player that got a passing grade in Sunday’s game. (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

NFL analysts and Vegas had the Rams 3.5 point favorites coming off the almost win against the very stout San Francisco 49ers team. I should have known something was up when NFL LIVE’s Mark Schlereth and Tedy Bruschi sang the Rams’ praises. Even the NFL Network Gameday Morning crew picked the Rams to beat the lowly struggling New York Jets. Red flag alert!

For what it’s worth I had the game score at 14-30. The final score of the game was 28-13. I just had the teams wrong.

And then from my game preview.

If the Rams don’t beat themselves they’ll beat the Jets. The Rams have to eliminate the stupid penalties and they can’t allow this become the trap game that people are speculating it could be. They have to win against the teams they are expected to beat.

Key words here include:

1) Stupid penalties – How about that phantom-ish holding call safety Rodney McLeod that wiped out the 98-yard kick return TD by wide receiver Chris Givens?

Here’s what Coach Fisher said when asked what his thoughts were on the penalty.

To me, no? Did it like like that to you? No. We’re not good enough to overcome those kinds of things and the fact that it wasn’t a hold, but it’s just kind of the way it happens. You don’t know what happens with the momentum change in that game if that works.

Or the illegal motion penalty on wide receiver Danny Amendola that negated a key 17-yard reception by tight end Lance Kendricks? All in all the Rams committed less fouls this game – ONLY five penalties for 30 yards. It’s a vast improvement from last week’s 13 but those two specific flags came at very inopportune times.

» Continue reading “Rams Lose 28-13 To Jets In Flat Fashion”

I cannot tell a lie. This is one game I had circled back in April when the 2012-2013 Rams schedule was released. This and the London game against the New England Patriots. Hopefully this game will have much better results.

I even predicted that by week 11 the famed Jets back up QB/Punt Protector Tim Tebow would be the starting instead of Mark Sanchez.

Tebow may not get the starting nod but I’d bet my money on Jets head coach Rex Ryan using some sort of Tebow package. If the Jets watched any game tape from the Rams-49ers game they’ll know Tebow can run outside a la San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

I’m going to try something new (Thanks to our Broncos  writer, Brenda.) by jotting down observations, big plays, and anything else that stands out during each quarter.

Let’s see how this goes…

First quarter

The big news of the afternoon: Rookies Janoris Jenkins (CB) and Chris Givens (WR) – INACTIVE for today’s game. On top of that third string DT Kellen Heard was released. All stemming from what the Rams are calling a violation of team rules.

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DT Michael Brockers and DE Robert Quinn share a sack on 49ers QB Alex Smith.

The Rams must have read my game preview. They marched down the field 66 yards with the ground and pound via Steven Jackson in the opening drive. This set up a 36-yard TD from Sam Bradford to rookie wide receiver Brian Quick. Welcome to the game, Mr. Quick. We’ve been waiting for this type of play from you.

Rams defense doing their best to stop RB Frank Gore and the Niners run game. DT Jermelle Cudjo with a big third down tackle for loss. So far so good.

More ground work as Steven Jackson rumbles in 7 yards to score the Rams second TD. They are up 14-0 with 1:47 left in the first quarter. Yep, you heard right. First quarter.

The Rams are pumped and taking it to the 49ers right now. I think they are a little stunned. I know I am.

» Continue reading “Rams At 49ers: Quarter Quick Hits”

Week 8 is finally here and honestly I’m not sure how I feel about it. Kind of a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, like many other local St. Louis fans, I’m upset that we’ve lost a home game and the advantages that come along with playing in the Edward Jones Dome. It also would have been nice to watch certain New England Patriots play in person. Of course I’m talking about Danny Woodhead. Who else?

On the other hand, what a great opportunity for the Rams fans in the UK and abroad. I have many tweeps in the UK that are just thrilled to be able to see their cherished team in the flesh. Some have been counting down the days and hours since the announcements were made January 2012.

Here is a long time Rams UK tweep @PFF_RossMiles. See the joy on his face. Almost makes it worth losing that home game. Almost…

St. Louis Rams great Torry Holt and Ross Miles (Ross’ personal photo.)

Ultimately, this weekend is about the match up between your beloved Rams and the New England Patriots. If my research is correct, quarterback Tom Brady is the only remaining Patriot from that Super Bowl XXXVI squad. But I digress.

Five Things I’ll be watching for in Week 8

1) Can Rams quarterback Sam Bradford live up to the pre-grame hype?

With everyone and their third cousin’s uncle poo-pooing the Patriots secondary the pressure is on Bradford to put up some big time numbers on Sunday.

New England is giving up an average of 23.3 points per game (19th in the league) and their passing defense is giving up on average 290 yards per game (29th) to opposing teams.

» Continue reading “New England Patriots At St. Louis Rams Week 8 Preview”

Have you heard of this Bob Griffin kid from the Redskins?  Local sports talk radio stations can’t seem to get enough of him and his super hero sock collection.  It’s all I’ve heard most of the week.

All the foot coverings aside Bob did was become the first rookie ever to pass for over 300 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception.  This performance earned him offensive player of the week honors – and notably the first rookie to ever do so in week 1.  And if you haven’t seen it yet there’s such as thing as “Griffining.”  As if Tebowing wasn’t bad enough, right?

One thing I will do is thank Bob.  Because of his appeal the Redskins were willing to deal away their sixth overall pick, a second round pick, and two future first round picks in the hopes of getting a super star quarterback.  And from the looks of it they have their guy – at least in week 1.

But Washington is not just about Bob and this game isn’t just about the Redskins.

It’s about your beloved St. Louis Rams this Sunday.

Without further adieu the five things I’ll be watching for the season home opener.

1) Which random pieces will make up what we like to call the Rams offensive line?

» Continue reading “Washington Redskins At St. Louis Rams Week 2 Preview”

Pinch me.

We finally made it to the first week of the 2012-2013 NFL regular season.  September 9 seemed like an eternity but now it’s less than 48 hours away.  Who’s ready for some real Rams football?!

But as excited as I am about the start of the season I’m equally realistic about the expectations for this very young team.  23 of the 53-man roster consists of players that have been in the league less than 3 years including 17 rookies, 7 of them undrafted.  But don’t call it a rebuild.  It’s closer to a remodel or restoration of a once proud and high flying franchise.

It doesn’t help that they are opening the year against a very tough Detroit Lions defensive line boasting the likes of DT Ndamukong Suh, DE Cliff Avril, and a red-eyed DE Kyle Vanden Bosch.  Oh and they have some guy nicknamed Megatron on the offense.  I hear he’s a good player.

Injuries in key positions on both teams will decide how the game will play out.  The Lions will be going without two major pieces in their secondary and the Rams have a glaring hole in the D-line.

Five Things I’ll Be Watching For in Week 1 against the Detroit Lions:

» Continue reading “Week 1: Detroit Lions At St. Louis Rams Preview”

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Rams RB Daryl Richardson (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

Well that was interesting… I had five questions/things to watch and I think they were pretty much answered. Let’s just get into it, shall we?

What I learned from the Rams loss at Dallas:

1) They need to go back to fundamentals. For a team that is lead by a defensive minded head coach their tackling was atrocious. And that’s being nice. Even veterans like Cortland Finnegan were grabbing high (weird for a shorter-ish corner). I’d expect growing pains from the rookies Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson but Finnegan, Quintin Mikell, and Craig Dahl. C’mon guys. In all fairness, those guys did make some plays but the ones they missed were just maddening.

2) The 2011-2012 Sam Bradford reared his skittish head. No movement in the pocket just killed him in the first half. I know he’s still trying to shake the bad memories of being sacked 36 times in 10 games last season but he has to get more mobile. Which leads me to wonder if his doesn’t want to test out that ankle just yet. Wish Bradford had more “escapability.” He finished the night going 6 of 17 for 67 yards.

3) Daryl Richardson is the rookie RB we are excited about. At one point I had to ask myself who was the second round pick and who was the seventh round selection. Pead is still struggling to find open holes (or create them for himself) while Richardson is making headway. Both shared time with the ones and Richardson shined just a bit brighter. Pead finished the night 9 carries for 22 yards while Richardson went for 51 yards on 10 touches. At this point do we crown Richardson RB2? Pead hasn’t shown enough to say no.

» Continue reading “Rams Take A Step Back In 19-20 Loss To Dallas”

Rams WR Brian Quick (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

The Rams rammed it to the Chiefs Saturday at the Dome giving The Stache his first victory as Rams’ head coach.  A stunning 17-31 win.  Yes, it’s just preseason and yes it technically doesn’t count.  But as with most things, it still matters.

It matters because the team made progress since week 1.  It matters because it shows there is life in this reincarnation of their beloved team.  It matters because this gives fans hope.

(I love modern technology – until it decides to fail on me.  I have family visiting for a week so I couldn’t watch the Rams game live.  Next best thing was to record it and view later.  Ah, even the best laid plans sometimes…)

I don’t want to write something I didn’t see myself but since you guys shouldn’t have togo without because my DVR pooped out on me, here are a few game recaps from last night.  My favorite one being first up right here.

Too bad it didn’t count: Rams dominate Chiefs in preseason home opener

To quote Sam Bradford, “Wow.” That was his response to Danny Amendola’s highlight-reel-worthy one-handed, no-look touchdown catch that put the Rams up 14-0. But it may as well extend to the whole game, a 180-degree turnaround from last week and one of those rare football days when every single thing seems to go right.

Last week’s Rams fan mantra, “It’s only the preseason, it’s only the preseason,” might fall on a few deaf ears tonight in the wake of a manful 31-17 tuneup of the Kansas City Chiefs. Everything clicked for Jeff Fisher’s team tonight, from start to finish, from first string to third, from Sam Bradford’s first pass (an absolute beauty) to the rarely-seen victory formation.

But.

It’s only the preseason. … Read more at Ramsherd.com >>>>

» Continue reading “Pigskin Cover 3: Sunday Edition”