Rams lose a close one
by Ryan Van Bibber on Oct 26, 2008 8:52 PM CDT
Email
PrintFirst of all, think what a different experience watching this game was than the last time the Rams lost a game. Night and day. They fought hard, driving their way back, coming up with a sack or a tackle or a big play when they needed it, mostly. There was no folding, there was no second half deflation. Rooney rule or not, I've seen enough to be on board with Haslett as the head coach next season.
Some quick thoughts...
Offense
This team needs Steven Jackson. Not to make excuses (Haslett's Rams don't do that), but I think they could have converted more than 5 of their 16 third downs. Still, I'm impressed with what we saw from Antonio Pittman. Running against New England is never an easy thing and he broke off some nice runs and 83 yards on 18 carries is nothing to be ashamed of.
Bulger is starting to look like the Bulger we remember. He made better, quicker throws, and had his best game of the season so far. He's still has some rust to shake off, and one sack, for sure, was the result of him hanging on to the ball too long. That went along with a few plays, mostly late in the game, where he seemed to be waiting for a/the target that wasn't there. Donnie Avery is a stud. What else can you say? Other than he looks like the best WR from the draft this spring.
The blocking could be better, and not a game goes by that doesn't leave me convinced we need to make the o-line a priority in the upcoming draft. The right side again did a nice job opening lanes, but they still had some trouble picking up blitzes. The penalties though...oh the penalties. Barron had two false starts, and Jacob Bell's that put them at 1st and 20 helped contribute to a sack and a loss of 13 on the next play. Incognito's false start on the last drive might not have been a difference maker, but it was easily the most frustrating. As Colbert would say, "Incognito, you're on notice." Glad to see the fire in the belly, but too many bad penalties, especially in a close game.
Defense
The defense was again solid. Chris Long is looking more and more like the player we thought he could be. Can you imagine what a beast he'll be next season? Without Carriker and after losing Little so early, the front seven never put enough consistent pressure on Cassel, and as well as they did controlling the run, that could have been huge. The 3-4-ish formation that worked well last year, didn't do much today...hasn't all season. The linebackers played well, but Pisa Tinoisamoa was held in check some compared to last week...wonder if that has anything to do with the injury from last week? Another game, another INT for OJ Atogwe. Brown added one for good measure. Randy Moss is hard to contain, and losing Bartell as well as pressure up front likely forced the defensive backs to carry more water. I thought Jason Craft looked solid. Man, I hope Bartell's can make a quick comeback. Tye Hill should be back next week, and if he can play as well as he did down the stretch last year - and not like he did to open the season - the backfield will be solid and ready to rack up some turnovers against the Jets next week.
Still, it was a damn good game, exciting to the end. And it's been a long time since you could say that about the Rams.
14 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
From MaPatsFan...
* The Rams had 9 penalties for 63 yards. The Patriots? 0 for 0
The last stat, in my mind was huge. This caused St. Louis to make some desperate decisions when they were 3rd and long. Sure, there was a little bias towards the Pats (Green-Ellis in an out-of-bounds hammering and Seymour with a potential roughing the passer), but this is the kind of stuff coaches hate – killing a game with stupid penalties.
It would probably sound like whining if I said it, so glad the home fans took notice.
That, and Dante hall dancing in the endzone at the end of the game killing time that might have come in handy were the things that pissed me off. The score, not so much, though obviously wish it was reversed.
0 for 0
That’s unbelievable, and I take Bernie’s side from his post on Bernie’s Press Box, it’s ridiculous. There must be something up with that as the late hit on Brown was egregious and obvious.
Any hit that takes a player off their feet when they get hit on the white sideline get a flag every time. Brown was WAY on the white. Not saying that that is the reason we lost, but it certainly didn’t help.
The only holding penalty that was called was on a sack by Chris Long and was the least obvious hold all game.
I mean 0 for 0!! The Pats are good, but they can’t walk on water!
Rams Gab!
www.ramsgab.com
Bulger
Bulger was good in the first half, but bad in the second half. The Patriots were able to consistently get into Bulger’s face and knock him around (legally and illegally) and he was not stepping into his throws in the second half.
Pittman played well considering, but I think he too often went down with an arm tackle or at first contact when there looked to be a hole to run through.
Rams Gab!
www.ramsgab.com
there's no question
Steven Jackson would have been the difference maker
by Ryan Van Bibber on Oct 26, 2008 9:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Hmmm. Maybe I was watching a different Jason Craft
Sure, he had a great play, but but he was chasing guys all day.
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
low expectations
but i thought he was okay considering it was him, Brown and Wade alone at CB after Bartell left. Not egood enough to start regularly
speaking of Wade, he was quiet today
by Ryan Van Bibber on Oct 27, 2008 7:06 AM CDT up reply actions
Speaking of Wade
I don’t remember seeing him once yesterday.
Nothin'. A handful of nothin'. You stupid mullet head. He beat you with nothin'. Just like today when he kept comin' back at me......with nothin'.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
like i said
my expectatations for this game were halved when i heard s-jack was not going to be able to play. i can swallow this loss knowing that the rams were without their best player playing on the road, espcially because they fought to the end.
looking forward to having s-jack back next week at the ed for a showdown with the cardinals.
by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 27, 2008 12:15 AM CDT reply actions
Ok one thing at a time
First of all, lets talk about Bulger, i dont agree with you , i think over all he sucked, he is so shell shocked, every time he see some one brake the line he just dumps the ball, very scared ,very shaken, this is not even close to the old Bulger , as far as im conserned he is done, we need a quarterback and lets not waste time doing it , SECOND, the offence was not bad considering that Saunders still wasting downs on the shit dink plays he keeps calling wasting downs , and that is the reason we did not convert more 3rd downs in this game, THIRD, Tory holt is done, i was wondering why they dont throw deep to him, well its obvios now that i see him running, after his injury he never came back to 100% , now i understand why D Hall has been playing so much, again they never should have got rid of Isack Brouce, Donny Avery is realy good, he can be a super star, but for god sake use him on long and mediam range plays not reverses and side line throws that can get him injured , his the only one we have right now and soon hell be the guy getting the double coverage , get BURTON MORE INVOLVED and what happend to Klopenstien, not one throw to a Tight end all day
the Defence was ok and made some big plays but at times looked too slak, not playing with the right engergy level, but over all they were good enuph to win the game, the offence and Bulger were the problem, BULGERS POOR PLAY AND SAUNDERS BAD PLAY CALLING, Haslet has to talk to him and make sure his not trying to sabotage the offence get the coach fired so he can have a crack at the job, i dont like his calls in any of the games, with exxeption to a few plays , that can be just dust in the eyes for every one, i dont trust his play calling any more, im watching him under a microscope , why he keeps calling plays that dont work wasting downs, and not just keeping the drives going with plays down field, all this stupid side line shit , IT DONT WORK
by james535 on Oct 27, 2008 10:12 AM CDT reply actions
BULGER SUCKS
i cant beleve im saing this but Linehan was right to bench his ass, his scared , all shaken up, and his got way too much money in the Bank to worry about the Rams, He is OFICIALY DONE, BULGER is the reason we lost this game, how many times the Defence came thru for him and gave him the ball back , he realy sucks, Remind me of Jim Everet at the END of his carier, same scard look dumping the ball just to bail out not even caring to see if the reciever can see the ball coming , not willing to hold on till he makes his cut and be willing to take a hit to make the pass completion, this is what every quarterback dose every sunday its part of your job, BULGER, HE LOOKS LIKE A GIRL OUT THERE ITS A SHAME
by james535 on Oct 27, 2008 10:21 AM CDT reply actions
RAMS PLAYERS HOPE YOU READ THIS
THIS TEAM IS NOT A REHIBILITATING CENTER FOR OLD BROKEN DOWN PLAYERS
OR FOR LAME ASSES THAT DO NOT WANT TO PLAY THE GAME, IF THIS IS YOU ex. M. BULGER,,,, DO US ALL A FAVOR AND TAKE YOUR LAME ASS OUT OF HERE THIS GOES FOR EVERY ONE, STARTING FROM , BULGER , HOLT , LITTLE, GLOVER, ANY ONE AND EVERY ONE, AND THE DEFENCEVE LINE THATS NOT GOOD ENUPH, THIS IS THE RAMS ,THE FEARSOME FOURSOME PLAY LIKE YOUR NAME SAKE
THE VACATION IS OVER BOYS
DEFENESIVE COURDINATOR DID YOU NOT SEE ONE TIME TO DOUBLE COVER WILLKER ON 3RD DOWNS,?? A CHILD COULD SEE THAT, THE HOLE GAME YOU KEEP MAKING THE SAME MISTAKE , TA F…..K, IS RONG WITH YOU ARE YOU A COACH OR NOT
by james535 on Oct 27, 2008 10:31 AM CDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Turf Show Times
Related FanShots on Turf Show Times
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
