Rams 10, Vikings 38: Lack of ball control dooms the Rams...again

by VanRam on Oct 11, 2009 3:54 PM CDT in 2009 regular season Comment 28 comments

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

Thanks for everything Kyle.

Just in case you thought there was no avenue left for the St. Louis Rams to frustrate you, they took a struggling offense, moved the ball well, only to turn it over four times, three times inside the 10-yard line.

Add to those turnovers seven penalties for 82 yards, and you've got yourself the recipe for some Rams football. The defense even got in on the bad penalties this week, a role usually reserved for the offense.

Let's talk about the offense first. The Rams put up 400 yards of offense, 122 on the ground. They moved the ball, even topping the Vikings in the time of possession. More earth-shattering that that, critics of the passing game had some of their frustrated prayers answered. The average Rams passing play gained 7 yards. The average running play gained 5.7. The playcalling worked much better as the Rams made use of what they had, going with a lot of two tight end sets and finally getting some deep balls to their receivers; three passes went for 20 or more yards today. But it was all for naught, as the offense reminded us they just don't have the talent to overcome costly turnovers...and no team has the talent to overcome three turnovers inside the opponents' 10-yard line.

The defense held Adrian Peterson to less than 70 yards. Of course, they struggled to contain Brett Favre and Minnesota's cast of pass catchers, who made things happen in big and small chunks. Of course, the defensive line didn't help the pass defense situation much. Coverage in the middle part of the field was particularly atrocious.

Observations and musings:

Kyle Boller won't start again. Fine. Marc Bulger looked like a man on a mission when he came into the game.
Donnie Avery looks to have redeemed himself some.
The offensive line has glaring weaknesses. I'd start thinking about replacing Jacob Bell with Greco or Setterstrom, let the future begin now. Bell will surely get cut this spring. He's fine, but not worth his paycheck.
James Laurinaitis, while not at all flawless, looks to be a real star going forward. Chris Long looks like a solid defensive end...if only he'd been picked sometime in the second or third round.
Craig Dahl is a solid player.

Ok, ok, ok. None of this means squat because the Rams couldn't hold onto the ball or keep themselves from getting flags tossed in their direction. There was some discussion about this in the game thread, and I'm going to open it up in the post game thread. Is that on the coaches, players or both? Coach Conners made a great point that the coaches drill these guys over and over again for ball control. Obviously both parties are culpable, but where does the buck stop?

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3 red zone turnovers

If those are touchdowns we score 31 and its a different game.

SHURMUR NEEDS TO GO

by Carneros on Oct 11, 2009 4:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

another flippin’ week where the score looks way worse than the game actually was.

by stlcardinalsfang on Oct 11, 2009 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Van, I have a question

What determined your observation on Jacob Bell to the extent that you expect him to be cut?

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Oct 11, 2009 4:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I was shocked that Greco didn't dress for this one

With our O-Line — Greco can’t even dress for the game? Really?
Am I that biased against Jacob Bell? Is Greco really such a marginal player who is completely incapable of replacing Bell, and I just can’t see it?

I don’t know that they would outright cut Bell at this point, but I think he’s been an obvious liability, in at least the power run game. The other teams have film+stats on where the point of attack is, our success rate behind what part of the line, etc….even high schools teams even have that level of scouting.

Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.

by CoachConnors on Oct 11, 2009 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bell

I think it’s more of a personal taste thing, but I don’t think the guy is our best guard even though he’s paid like it. The rage of another loss has subsided enough now to see things a little clearer. The Rams could save $5 million or so with that move. Is he a better tackle than OG?

Turf Show Times

by VanRam on Oct 12, 2009 6:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’d need to bulk up to play OT. I heard this was talked about in the preseason but the coaches decided to keep him where he was and trust in Barron and Smith. Personally I don’t think he’s a bad player , but I agree he is overpaid

by IrishRamsFan on Oct 12, 2009 6:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I missed you said cut in SPRING - at that time of year, I agree

I would bet you’re right on that, his combination of skill and pay isn’t what our leadership wants at the G position. He is way too soft to be the type of guard a run heavy system requires and the type of line these guys are trying to build, when compared to the guy they guy they chose at #2 in this year’s draft.

Isolate him on the DVR for a game and you’ll see what I mean, it’s plainly obvious the guy is not nearly the beast you need at guard when you need to feature SJax

Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.

by CoachConnors on Oct 12, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Won't releasing him

help us money-wise next year also?

by dbcouver on Oct 12, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn’t catch this game…

shame. They seemed like the actually had a good chance this time.

I believe in 2010

by ram_rod on Oct 11, 2009 4:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Coaching needs help

We need a coach who knows how to coach a coach with disapline a coach who wants to win not a wanna be some body help i am tired of loseing arent u 15 in a row

by ANTHONY46 on Oct 11, 2009 4:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I almost agree

but I would change coaching needs “help” to coaching needs “experience”, We have a lot of inexperience, both on the field and on the sideline.
For all the umbrage we haven taken at Shurmur’s playcallling, today we featured what we’ve all been asking for for the most part. Shots downfield, better use of the passing game, more effective rollouts, switching up the pass/run differential on specific downs – for once, the playcalling wasn’t the scapegoat (outside of the Gado issue).

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Oct 11, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Turnovers

It’s a bit of a catch 22, isn’t it?
Even if Spags had the kahonies to sit the players
at fault……who is going to replace them?
I do believe ball control is something that should
be grilled into each and every player, by each
and ever coach that they have the pleasure to be
coached by.

by ZamRam on Oct 11, 2009 4:33 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Therein lies the problem

He can’t bench the entire team, because at one point or another, every member of that team has done something to shoot the team in the foot in crucial situations.

Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

by Tackle Box on Oct 12, 2009 12:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

First year leadership isn't always easy

Compounded by factor 3 in the Rams case.

Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.

by CoachConnors on Oct 11, 2009 4:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Correct me if I'm wrong,

but nfl.com has the Rams gaining only 4.1 avg gain yds. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2009101107/2009/REG5/vikings@rams#tab:analyze

I saw lots of bright spots and enough low spots to see CConneors is correct. We need more time spent on the basics; ball recovery and mental state aka penalties.. I had high hopes for this [T/O differential] based on our pre season numbers, but have yet to see it in the regular season.
IMO, it appears we are a game or two away from completing a fine game for our first win. I think we may have a better last part of our season [I know no brainer]. Losing 31-38 would be MUCH more respectful.

by RamsFan1979 on Oct 11, 2009 5:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I might be wrong but arent the Rams players professionals?

I cannot believe some of these players are in the League and do not know how to hold on to the ball. The game could have been different but it should not have gone the way it has. This week’s practice should go something like this: Each player gets a ball and they have to carry it everywhere, even while sleeping. Fine them $1000 each time they drop the ball.

On the bright side 400 yards is pretty good.

Football players, like prostitutes, are in the business of ruining their bodies for the pleasure of strangers. ~Merle Kessler

by mlkgandhiv2k on Oct 11, 2009 6:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I can't speak right now

by dbcouver on Oct 11, 2009 7:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Love the picture!

by ericj69 on Oct 11, 2009 7:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Good to see Dahl playing well.

As a fellow North Dakota State University alumnus, it’s great to see him excelling for the Rams. He was all over the place today.

by ericj69 on Oct 11, 2009 7:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The offense...

is just offensive.

by victorian on Oct 11, 2009 7:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

2 and 5

At the bye

by johnniewarthawg on Oct 11, 2009 9:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

oops

forgot the Colts

by johnniewarthawg on Oct 11, 2009 10:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So only 1 of 2

against Jacksonville and Detroit?

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Oct 11, 2009 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

Beat Jacksonville and Detroit, probably lose to the Colts (hope I’m wrong)
2 and 6 right? or is it too early for math? Haven’t had my second cup of coffee.

by johnniewarthawg on Oct 12, 2009 7:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs