Game Notes: Saints vs. Rams
by Eric Nagel on Nov 15, 2009 9:43 PM CST
in 2009 St. Louis Rams regular season
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PrintWhat a close game that was. It came right down to the wire, and win or lose, you have to be excited for this team. Granted, they still made mistakes (dropped balls hurt quite a bit) but this team came in and was ready to play. Looking at the schedule after this game, there doesn't appear to be a game that is out of reach. They played their hearts out against the Saints and they should be proud of the performance they put up against such a dominant team.
Some notes:
- I'd have to disagree with VanRam, I think Marc Bulger deserved the game ball. We clearly expect more from the coaches then we do of him, and he clearly went above his expectations. He had nearly 300 yards, completed 65% of his passes and threw two touchdowns to Donnie Avery. He came out sluggish, but after that, began to throw like we expect a 9 million dollar quarterback to throw. If it wasn't for drops by Danny Amendola and Randy McMichael (Daniel Fells could have had that 2 point conversion too) the game would probably have a much different outcome. He wasn't perfect, but he's always been the quarterback that no matter how good he is playing, you always have that "don't throw an INT," in the back of your head. This is definitely one of his better games and it will be interesting to see if this was a blip on the radar or a turning point for him.Tip of the hat for you, Marc.
- Where the hell did Brandon Gibson come from? He put on such a great performance today that makes you wonder why he wasn't involved earlier. It was clear he didn't have everything play-wise down, but it didn't seem to matter. He has a bright future ahead of him. Overall, the WR's probably had their best game (I expect drops by this point in the season). It is a shame Laurent Robinson was lost for the season, because they are starting to show some real promise.
- McMichael and Barron have to go. Anything less then a swift kick out the door is unacceptable at this point. McMichael's glory days are long past him, and Fells has made his point to at least be given the opportunity to start. Barron's case is a little more interesting, but enough is enough. He had another false start penalty to add to his resume and as Bill Coats points out, even if Bulger would have completed that 4th down, last play pass, it wouldn't have mattered, because our favorite whipping boy was flagged for holding anyway. Let's face it, Jammal Brown is clearly the better tackle of that draft class and it's unfortunate that the Rams had two opportunities to get him and failed to do so.
- The Saints made excellent adjustments against the Rams after the half and the Rams did not. The questionable play calling continues. By this point, it's clear Samkon Gado (or any other RB not named Steven Jackson) just isn't able to carry the load.
- Chris Long now has two sacks. Two games in a row...I'm just saying. Just like the Laurent Robinson injury, it's a shame Bradley Fletcher got hurt as bad as he did. It's too bad that rising players like those two are out, it would be nice to see what they could do when the team finally starts to mesh (which seems to be right about now). Gary Gibson's injury hurts not only because it was because of a dirty play, but because we have glaring holes on the defensive line. The case for Suh grows stronger, but at this point, I'm not sure if we will be high enough in the draft to snag him without trading up.
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Its' unfortunate--
But it is what it is. Next week we go out and play the men we got. We’re going to finish out the season on a really positive note. Just watch these posts next June!
This was Chris Long's first real sack
the only one shouldn’t even count it was so bad.
The 53 as one have become the 53 that won.
Tenacity and playing through the whistle
Those are the things Long was showing when he got the sack. His motor was always said to be his strong point, so this is what it produces at times and I can’t take it away from him. It was definitely not a dominating play by him, he was cleaning up someone else’s garbage (Clifton Ryan?) but I wouldn’t call it completely unearned. We had a couple of other D linemen out there that didn’t get it.
Hell I’m happy he at least has that going for him.
by CoachConnors on Nov 15, 2009 10:56 PM CST up reply actions
half a sack?
still, many teams often close the pocket and then can’t seal the deal.
He got to the QB, and no one else could close. Two sacks are two sacks.
I believe in 2010
Barron
I dont know that he HAS to go. The line played great. All great O-Lines are built through continuity.
Also, Bulger played great today, especially because the Rams threw the ball upfield. He’s always been great throwing deep with great accuracy. Donnie came alive today because it is clear he’s not a possession-type receiver. Let him run the 7 and the 9 routes, the reason we drafted him.
So he's not allowed to ever make another penalty?
Or it gets classified as a “nail in the coffin”?
Look, the holding penalty at the end of the game, I don’t know about. I didn’t see it when the play was live and I’d have to see it to be 100% sure it was a bad play. But, sure, the timing of it stinks.
Now for the false start that so many seem to want to say cost the Rams so dearly. Well, I think that’s blowing things out of proportion. 1st and 15 is makeable. Especially for a team who moved the ball as well as the Rams did yesterday. If he’d have done that on 3rd and 10, well that’s a much bigger deal. But they still had 3 downs to go 15 yards and couldn’t do it. I have a hard time branding Barron the blame on that one. Did it help? No. Was it a bad penalty? Yes (are any penalties good?). But it didn’t kill the drive either.
I’m trying hard not to come off as an apologist for the guy since I hardly think he’s the answer at LT (or RT). He definitely needs to get better and he has. Is it enough? No, not yet, but he is getting better. I just don’t think it’s fair to obsess over every single mistake he makes when he’s obvioulsy not making as many mistakes as he used to.
Ultimately though, if he’s gone next year I won’t lose any sleep.
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
This is it, this is as good as Barron can play right now
I feel exactly the same way — he is getting better, but I’d be fine with replacing him.
I think he got lucky that one of his penalties didn’t matter much. A lot of other situations, we’d be calling for his head. It just didn’t cost us, so he got a pass on that one.
One thing everyone should understand when assessing Barron’s play is that he’s playing at his very best because it’s a contract year. So this is it folks, this is as good as he can play right now. Looking at the last couple of years, I would not think he’s going to improve a hell of a lot over the next couple of years, if at all. Just my opinion.
by CoachConnors on Nov 16, 2009 5:03 PM CST up reply actions
Barron is the one guy...
…that I believe can bring down the intensity and fervor that this 1-8 team now seems to be playing with. He’s the rotten egg in the basket. The drafting of Barron has been synonamous with “losing.” Let him move on to another team, hopefully Sheattle, SF, or NE and help them out.
I have no idea why we won't throw it upfield more...
…maybe because Avery’s been out. Gibson looked like a great possession receiver today, and I can already tell Marc trusts him. He threw some of those “you’re not there yet, nor have you turned around, but I’m letting go of it anyway and it’ll be there when you do turn around” passes at him. Also, the two throws to Avery we’re absolutely gorgeous.
It stings to think of how much yardage Danny may have gotten on the dropped pass. :(
It also stings to think of how the outcome might have been if Fells had hung on to the bullet Marc threw on the 2-pt conversion right on his chest. We got to the 30 on the last drive, which is basically an extra point for Josh.
All in all though, I’m proud of the Rams, and Marc today. Let’s hope they can keep this up. Hopefully Spags can confuse Warner next week and we have the opportunities to win like we did today. Something tells me it might be different. :D
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
-Kobe Bryant
A mantra for all athletes.
The rams seem to be aquiring talent in bulk recently.
Really have to credit Devaney for this teams turnaround (turnaround might be too optimistic).
I’m just happy to watch decent football again. I now eagerly await next Sunday, and who knows maybe we’ll be darkhorses to win the NFC West next year if we can keep improving this season.
I agree it’s a shame some of the really impressive young guys got hurt in a season that should be all about rebuilding.
Bulger not up to speed.
I don’t think you can give Bulger the game ball. Sure he put up pretty good numbers in comparison to what he has been doing, but he played like a rookie qb on that last drive. Twice or so he dumped passes off to Steven Jackson in teh middle of the field for 5 yards or so. Granted that he has not been in a two minute offense in a long time, he is still a veteran. You cannot make those passes when you have no TOs left and there is no way to stop the clock. Throw it at his feet or something.
Redzonophobia - characterized by w/e the Rams do in the red zone
+1
You are 100% right. Bulger really blew it on that last drive. Bulger completed 5 passed on that last drive and all of them were in the middle of the field and kept the clock running. The play to Gibson which was reviewed was the only throw which I would consider an ok decision. That throw was made on 4 and 4 and the objection, no matter what, is to get the first. The other plays, however, were inexcusable:
2-10: 6 yard pass in the middle to S-Jack
1-10: 11 yard pass short to McMichael
1-10: 4 yard pass in the middle to S-Jack
3-6: 5 yard pass in the middle to S-Jack
This might have been a problem with the play calling, but even if it was Bulger has to know that throwing an incomplete pass at the feet of Jackson is likely a better use of the down than a 4-11 yard pass that is going to keep the clock running. We took the ball with 2:21 left and ran 12 plays and gained only 48 yards for a pathetic 4 yards per play. We need more than than from our QB when the game is on the line in the final 2 minutes.
The last two were bad plays
I can’t quite remember, but were the Saints stopping any play that could occur on the sidelines? The first two I can understand- setting up a quick third and short and obviously, another set of downs, is crucial. Time management has never been a strong suite for this team, but I think he played well enough to merit a game ball. He was accurate and poised and clearly escaped plenty of times when the pocket collapsed, giving this team more chances to move the ball.
You’re right, but I think he still deserves it.
I believe in 2010
Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, Peyton Manning, Roger Staubach, Tom Brady...
…could’ve directed 2 TD drives in 2:21 with NO timeouts. We don’t have a QB of this calibre.
I completely agree
But this is Marc Bulger we are talking about. I think he did a pretty good job for how he’s been playing, and how much talent he has to work with.
I believe in 2010
My real question
is why did Bulger keep throwing to McMichael when it was clear he wasn’t going to make any catches? Not sure if it was QB decision or OC decision, but either way, it was ridiculous. There were at least 3 that he couldn’t (didn’t?) pull in. Meanwhile, Fells and Bajema prove enough that they should pass him on the depth chart.
Great game to watch, still kinda hurts for being possible to beat the Saints, but for poor play-calling/clock management at the end.
THIS year's the year. I hope....
Oh yeah
And Brandon Gibson is now my third favorite Ram (only beaten out by SJ and Animal, Jr.). His route-running and the moves he put on the corners to get himself open were remarkable. I really don’t miss Witherspoon at all now.
THIS year's the year. I hope....
Saints
knew the Rams had no timeouts, so they obviously had no reason to guard down the middle of the field. The safeties would have had no problem straying to the sidelines, and the corners were no doubt playing outside coverage forcing the receivers away from the sidelines. If Bulger threw a 30yard pass down the middle of the field, thats about 20 seconds gone off the clock. Avery is the only non-possession receiver on our team, and the Saints know that. The fact is that the Ram’s playbook isn’t designed to go down the field quickly. Before you bash Bulger for dumping off short 5-10 yard passes in the middle of the field, you should be asking yourself why receievers were even running those routes in the first place? It’s all we have. It sucks I know, but that is the problem with being a run first team.
Yes! I agree absolutely.
Quote: “McMichael and Barron have to go. Anything less then a swift kick out the door is unacceptable at this point.” Even if Bulger had completed that last second desperation pass for a TD, it would’ve been for naught because a holding penalty on Barron ended the game. And, McMichael is the only guy I know that makes Joe Klop look good.
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