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Overreaction Monday: Week 2 @ Washington

  Another game of disappointment, another tough-to-stomach Monday for Rams fans.  I didn't get to watch the game live, but my wife, being as great as she is, sent me some timely text message updates.  To understate it, I was shocked at the score every time she sent it.

  To limit the Redskins to just 9 points is a phenomenal success.  I would hope we all agree that the defense is the strength of this team.  With injuries on the O-line, and what has to be a dejected Donnie Avery, Coach Spagnuolo (whose delay to the media underscores his own dejection) has a lot to deal with this week before the Rams open at home against the Packers.  I'll get grades up either tomorrow or Wednesday before the next episode of Turf Show Radio.

  For now, let's all vent together.  It's cathartic, or so they tell me.

Star-divide

  A couple notes (all my opinion, so shoot me if necessary):

 - The offense is not Bulger's fault.  How much more would he be getting thrown under the bus if he had tossed a couple INTs by now?  He's trying to make platinum out of poop.  If Donnie Avery and Randy McMichael were making the plays Bulger expects them to make when he releases the ball, drives would be longer and he would have more opportunities to throw and rack up stats (which are a poor barometer to gauge performance, but nevertheless).  And BTW, the damn rollouts need to quit.  It's obvious Bulger cannot make the plays on the run that the staff is hoping; just quit calling them.  A more productive running game would help him as well, but I'm not going to be that greedy.

 - Someone besides Laurent Robinson needs to step up.  I'll let the community continue to rail on Avery and McMichael (fairly), but the truth is the passing game cannot rely on High-Scorin' Laurent alone.  Where is the deep ball to Avery?  Where is Keenan Burton?  It's obvious we don't have enough talent at WR, but will can succeed where talent is absent.  Shurmur and Spags have to find ways to make the passing game useful.  Otherwise, this is going to get uglier and uglier as teams bear down on Action Jackson.

 - Why no love for Incognito?  I consider myself a man of fairness, so to see everyone rail on him last week when he deserved it and then ignore the game he played yesterday seems unfair.  I'm not suggesting he's turned over a new leaf, but if the goal is to turn him into a player known for his pancakes and not his mistakes, yesterday is the standard to achieve, no?  So why no props for Crazy Richie?

 - The D-line sucks.  I'm already eyeing Carlos Dunlap or a DT in the 1st round.  72 passing attempts faced and just 1 sack?  Only the Cowboys have been worse: 80 attempts faced, 0 sacks.  I think it speaks to the quality of the secondary that they have played so well with so little pressure to help them out.  Still, they won't be able to keep teams out of the end zone every game (as in the Seattle game).  And if you're going to suggest the D-line has improved their run game, it's more an effect of the linebacking corps, IMO.  Laurinaitis, Vobora and Spoon are one hell of an underrated trio.  It's too bad they can't get a pass rush so they can close in on the TE with any certainty.

 - I'm sick of moral victories.  Win a game, damnit.

Go Rams, or something.

Poll
It's early, but worth feeling out the community on this one. Who is the better WR - Donnie Avery or Laurent Robinson?
Donnie Avery - He's being misused in this offense. Once teams start taking Robinson seriously, Avery will make some plays downfield.
47 votes
Laurent Robinson - He does things Avery can't: run crisp routes, catch the ball, elevate and provide a target in the end zone.
199 votes

246 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 20 comments  |  3 recs  | 

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good post

rec’d.

nfltouchdown.com

find me under the fan voices section for the st. louis rams

by stlcardinalsfang on Sep 21, 2009 7:01 PM CDT reply actions  

3k what did you mean by this

“Coach Spagnuolo (whose delay to the media underscores his own dejection)”

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." - Vince Lombardi

by VTramsFan on Sep 21, 2009 7:20 PM CDT reply actions  

check it out

link, and now quote:

Spagnuolo apparently was so disappointed that it took him nearly 25 minutes from the end of the game to address reporters. The NFL’s so-called 10-minute cooling off period wasn’t nearly enough for Spagnuolo to collect his thoughts after this setback.

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Sep 21, 2009 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions  

ty 3k

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." - Vince Lombardi

by VTramsFan on Sep 21, 2009 8:30 PM CDT up reply actions  

I'm sure it took Spags a few minutes to get over the post-game waves of nausea.

I know it did me. Cut the man some slack. Sure, he hasn’t shown much coaching brilliance yet, but he’s got virtually NOTHING to work with except Jax, Atogwe and Lauranitis. How’d you like to face this scenario? Avery and McMichael screwing up about every play they’re involved in, Jason Smith hurt now, after showing very little when healthy, Incognito – the ticking time bomb just waiting to go off at the most inopportune time, the absolute worst D-Line in football (including college and high school), lackluster play by Bell and Barron, and a starting QB that’s ready for a backup role somewhere else. PLUS next week we’ve got our “home” opener against the Packers and the odds are the Edward Jones Dome will be filled with Cheeseheads.

by edpjr on Sep 21, 2009 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions  

Spag take some blame

He needs to take some blame on this one too. He could have been more aggressive before the half. He could have held onto timeouts in the 2nd half, but did not. Instead, he forced his team to throw instead of sending Jackson downhill against a tired front 7.

We didn’t expect this, but Spags needs time to learn and grow as a head coach too.

by 81 Witness on Sep 21, 2009 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions  

We had this one

I was glad to see that SJax was more involved in the passing game. I just wish he had more touches rushing the ball. Our Offensive line did VERY well against a very tough defensive line. Bulger still hasn’t thrown an INT and made some really good passes when getting pressured. Our Wide reciever Corp is still weak and needs to get rolling. Avery needs to hold on to the ball!!! Our defensive line needs to get in the QBs face and at least force the opposing QB to make bad decisions. 3rd down conversions really killed us on defense! We played tougher than last week but I’m just sick of us losing games!!! Bring on GreenBay! Go Rams

by revrue914 on Sep 21, 2009 7:36 PM CDT via mobile reply actions  

At the risk of continuing to offend his apologists, let me point out that...

…while Bulger hasn’t thrown an INT, his QB rating is a lowly 69.5, the Rams offense is ranked 31st in the NFL, and we’ve averaged scoring 3.5 points per game so far against two very mediocre teams. Bulger’s numbers against the Skins were 15-28 for 119 yards. A few weeks ago, how many of you would’ve believed our numbers could be that bad after 2 games?

by edpjr on Sep 21, 2009 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions  

A big portion of his QB rating is his very low yards per attempt

The QB rating penalizes you for anything less than 10 yards per attempt. Bulger’s sitting at 4-point-something. Part of that is because of the conservative nature of the offense, part of it is drops, part of it is on the QB for poor throws, and part of it is lack of time in the pocket to let plays develop downfield.

However, he’s affecting his QB rating with a bunch of incompletions that are actually smart plays, where he’s getting rid of the ball to avoid sacks — something he didn’t do last year, and we all railed on him for it. He also isn’t turning the ball over.

The passing game in general is still a problem, but that’s not solely on the quarterback. It’s systemic.

RamsHerd.com - Graphic Rams Discussion

by taiko on Sep 21, 2009 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions  

How many QBs have ever averaged 10 Yds per attempt?

Warner’s best was 9.9 in 2000 and I am pretty sure his career stat of 8.03 is the best ever. You’re right though the Ram average this season so far is pretty poor.

by WestCoastBuc on Sep 22, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions  

Anyone know

where I can watch the Rams post game press conferences? ESPN sucks (unless i’m just not seeing it)

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." - Vince Lombardi

by VTramsFan on Sep 21, 2009 8:40 PM CDT reply actions  

Actually

That’s not the post-game, just a media event from today. My bad.

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Sep 21, 2009 9:20 PM CDT up reply actions  

np and ty again

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." - Vince Lombardi

by VTramsFan on Sep 21, 2009 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions  

avery

Avery has had 2 bad games. But lets try not to be reactionary. He will come around

by gomer7 on Sep 22, 2009 8:35 AM CDT reply actions  

All fumbles aside

I think his production renders the question, is he fit for a west coast style offense? I think we should be using him similar to the way New England uses Wes Welker on short screen passes etc.

The problem is he simply doesn’t have the size, nor is he physical enough for YAC yardage especially in the middle. I wish the best for him, but at this point, I just don’t know how he fits in
our current offensive system.

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." - Vince Lombardi

by VTramsFan on Sep 22, 2009 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions  

sloppy

That game was sloppy from both teams. I was there, and we had some shots down field. 0-2 is not the way we needed to start. Beating the skins would have been HUGE! C’MON offense

by tripledouble_1 on Sep 22, 2009 12:23 PM CDT reply actions  

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