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.

First Quarter

Rams offense’s stop and go is giving me motion sickness. Third down conversions compounded by a false start penalty (Robert Turner) is not helping the Rams’ cause. Dramamine anyone?

Continued chants of “Craig Dahl sucks” overflow my Twitter timeline as he whiffs on two open field tackles. What are Rams fans going to do when Dahl isn’t around next year as their punching bag?

Seattle’s Russell Wilson continues to show flashes of why Pete Carroll sat Matt Flynn in favor of the rookie quarterback. Wilson evades Rams defensive end Kendall Langford and gets a key first down.

Seahawks have a TD called back on a pushing penalty.

But the other Rams have been getting to Wilson. Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Chris Long, and William Hayes have all said hello to the rook in the Seahawks backfield.

Rookie punter Johnny Hekker is not having a good day. He’s not helping the field position game at all. You need to get it together kid. The team needs you.

First quarter ends scoreless. Rams have been so the last six first quarters.

Second Quarter

Sack number four on Wilson. This time Robert Quinn gets to him for a loss of two yards.

Steven Hauschka‘s 43-yard field goal gives the Seahawks the first points of the day.

» Continue reading “St. Louis Rams At Seattle Seahawks Quarter Quick Hits”

Arizona Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb sacked by Rams DT Jermelle Cudjo. 10/04/12 (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

Isn’t that just a thing of beauty – from a Rams perspective, of course. If you’re Kevin Kolb this was the reoccurring nightmare that haunted him all night as he was sacked nine times at the Edward Jones Dome. In all, seven Rams defensive players took turns bringing Kolb to the turf. Only defensive end Robert Quinn recorded a hat trick for three sacks.

The Rams defense was more or less the story of the Thursday Night Football. They had their way with the Arizona Cardinals offensively scary offensive line. Poor Cardinal tackles D’Anthony Batiste and Bobby Massie had a long night. The only player who had a worse night - Kolb. Bloody lip, multiple hits, and as you can see from the photo above he had a 311 pound defensive tackle just flatten him. Say what you will about Kolb’s play but you can’t deny that he’s one tough son of a gun.

1) A Rams running man needs to show up.

 The Cardinals are giving up on average 101 yards on the ground which ranks them midrange (15th) in the league.  The collective efforts of Jackson, Richardson, and I’m hoping, Terrance Ganaway, will surpass the century mark.

Okay, so Ganaway didn’t see any action on the field but the Rams did manage to run more than 100 yards this game. Jackson managed to get some long runs during this game which helped set up the passing game. I sort of wondered how he’d play considering news of his contract changes had just come out. If this is indeed his last year playing as a Ram then he’s putting on a good show for future teams.

» Continue reading “Rams Beat Cardinals 3-17 To Stay Perfect At Dome Sweet Dome”

Rams Teammates Gather A Prayer Circle For Rodger Saffold (Personal Photo)

This is not the same old Rams. Yes, they lost the game with two minutes left in the game. Yes, Sam Bradford went down and took a sack to end the game. Yes, we had the false start, stupid personal foul, and offensive holding. But this is not the same old Rams.

The guys at Turf Show Times asked how I’d describe the new 2012-2013 Rams in one word. My answer:

Fisher.

This was just after a third Rams defensive player intercepted Lions QB Matthew Stafford. CB Janoris Jenkins, LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar, and CB Cortland Finnegan (Pick 6) all new Fisher additions to the team.

These Rams are competitive and actually got my heart pumping and my stomach churning – in a good way.  The old Rams just made me take down some pillars.

» Continue reading “Rams Lose 27-23 In A Close One Against The Lions”

Mooooose! (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

So I’ve been saying the Rams practices up until now have been just… meh. Not much they can really do other than tag/flag football in just shirts and shorts. But not Thursday night. Rams finished their first padded practice with some pre- and post-whistle activities. Quite frankly, it’s a good sign.

Both St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Jim Thomas and St. Louis Rams.com writer Nick Wagoner are both reporting increased intensity at practice.

Linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, in his own way, welcomed new teammate second year tight end Lance Kendricks to the Gregg Williams defense. Bam. Down goes Kendricks as he caught a pass over the middle.

Then he had bigger beast to fry. Dunbar apparently dropped running back Steven Jackson. Bam. Bam. Yep, twice. The physicality didn’t seem to bother Jackson much as he seemed indifferent after each tackle. But his right guard, Harvey “That’s not f-ing holding” Dahldidn’t take kindly to Dunbar’s thrown down moves.

Not wanting to feel left out, tackle Barry Richardson and defensive ends Eugene Sims and William Hayes that had to be separated.

Okay, so this is just my conspiracy theory without any evidence to back it up but if I’m head coach Jeff Fisher, assistant head coach Dave McGinnis, secondary coach Chuck Cecil and/or linebackers coach Blake Williams I’m having the defense intentionally poke at the offense to see what they’re made of. Especially Dunbar and Cortland Finnegan who are already very well versed in the Jeff Fisher/Gregg Williams defense.

» Continue reading “Rams Spirited First Padded Practice: As Iron Sharpens Iron”

Rams Rookie WR Brian Quick (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

From my 101ESPN column this week.  A look at Rams OTA’s.

Wednesday marked the second week of organized team activities (OTAs) at Rams Park. They had just wrapped up their fifth OTA under coach Jeff Fisher.

The media got its first glimpse of the much-anticipated facelift in the wide receiving corps. The two rookie wide receivers, second-round pick Brian Quick from Appalachian State and fourth-round pick Chris Givens from Wake Forest, were finally able to join the rest of the team after attending the mandatory NFLPA Rookie Premiere.

There were two things that immediately stood out: Givens’ “mid-4.3” 40-yard speed and Quick’s 6-foot-3 height and 220-pound frame. Both were easy to single out from the pack, which was kind of refreshing.

And I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“Givens first of all is extremely fast,” Rams third-year quarterback Sam Bradford said. “I think he’s a guy that defenses are going to have to be extremely aware of. If they fall asleep on him for a half second at all, he’s going to be by them. I think that’s nice to have, just that added speed.”

» Continue reading “Rams OTAs Continue with New Faces Quick and Givens”

Big Game Torry Holt (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

It’s kind of a bittersweet day for Rams Nation as one of the most iconic wide receiver from the Greatest Show on Turf era is officially hanging up.

Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. “Big Game” Torry Holt will sign a one-day contract at Rams Park so he can (rightfully so) retire from the NFL as a St. Louis Ram.

You can watch the press conference streaming live at www.stlouisrams.com.

Now onto today’s headlines.

» Continue reading “Pigskin Cover 3: Holt, Amendola, Simpson & Dunbar”