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”

The bad news: The Rams didn’t make the playoffs this year. The good news: In all honesty I didn’t see them winning more than 6 games. So for them to be sitting at 7-7-1 is a pleasant surprise.

Can you believe how the past 16 weeks have just flown by? Fifteen games so far leaving Rams fans with some head scratching losses (Detroit, Miami, and New York Jets) and heart attack inducing close games (San Francisco). Say what you will but it’s been an exciting year of Rams football.

Obviously the Rams have areas that need to be addressed this off season (offensive line being the biggest in my book.) But overall the future of the franchise is bright as Jeff Fisher finishes up a full season as the head stache around Rams Park.

The Rams still have one final game on the docket though – a very challenging game against the Seahawks.

St. Louis played the Seattle back in week 4, beating them 13-19 in the Edward Jones Dome. But the two teams facing off at Century Link Field on Sunday are not the same teams. Both young teams have come a long way since that September 30 game. Both quarterbacks have matured and the Rams receiving group have made big strides since their first meeting.

1) Contain the athletic gear brand name QB.

The biggest change coming from perhaps the lesser talked about rookie quarterback in the NFL, Seattle’s Russell Wilson. Yeah, so he’s short for a NFL quarterback (He’s listed at 5′ 11″) but what he lacks in height he makes up with his football smarts and his feet.

What Rams assistant head coach Dave McGinnis thinks of Wilson:

Greg “The Leg” Zuerlein (Or “Geezy” as I like to call him.) (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

The Rams defense started the game with… well, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty. The Seahawks, lead by running back Marshawn Lynch, marched down the field 80 yards to put up an easy 7 points.

But then the good Rams showed up for a majority of the game.

Here are a few quick hits from today:

1) In a surprising move by Coach Fisher, wide receiver Steve Smith (and running back Isaiah Pead) ends up on the inactive list making room for rookie Brian Quick. Along with fellow rookie wide receiver Chris Givens, Quick finally made an impact on the game. Givens hauled in a beautiful 52 yard pass from Bradford for a huge gain. Quick logged in his first NFL pass reception a well timed 19 yard catch. Good to see the youngin’s get some playing time and contributing.

2) I can’t talk about this game without mentioning the current front runner for Rams MVP, rookie kicker Greg Zuerlein. All he did was break Jeff Wilkins‘ 1998 57-yard record by punching through the uprights a 58-yarder. Then as if that wasn’t enough in the third quarter he one ups himself by launching a 60-yard field goal to extend the Rams lead 7-13. Zuerlein went 4 for 4 connecting on 58, 48, 60, and 24 yard field goals. All in all he scored 13 (1 point from a PAT) of the 19 Rams points.

3) For all the talk about Steven Jackson‘s groin he lasted the entire game: 18 carries for 55 yards. Not the most exciting stat line but Jackson came up with some bursts and critical drive extensions. If anything the threat of him breaking a long one kept the Seahawks defense honest.

» Continue reading “Rams Rookie Kicker Zuerlein Shines As Rams Best The Seahawks 13-19″