Donnie Avery and his costly fumble

by Ryan Van Bibber on Sep 22, 2009 11:18 AM CDT in 2009 St. Louis Rams regular season

The St. Louis Rams came very, very close to beating the Washington Redskins this week, but their hopes were fumbled away when Donnie Avery fumbled a first-down pass.

We've piled on Avery plenty for his bad game - two bad games, actually - but he was the least valuable receiver or tight end according to Football Outsider's "Week 2 Quick Reads." He caught one pass in six attempts. Here's FO on Avery's play of the game:

Although our system doesn't punish him for what happened afterwards, Avery's fumble on the Redskins 5 cost his team the game. It was also Avery's only catch of the day. Had Avery just dropped the pass, the Rams would've been able to kick a 26-yard field goal that would have given them the lead. Instead, they lost the ball and never got that close to the end zone again.

The lesson, hang on to the ball. The Rams need points however they can get them, and win this week could have had huge implications going forward. We'll try again this week.

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It's more than just the fumble

YES it was a big play, a huge play that could have swung the game in our favor. Let’s be realistic though… with the D playing the way they did, did we REALLY have to be in that situation? We should have been up 14 or 21 points at that point.

Yes it was a big fumble but we really can’t blame the loss on Donnie.

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

by VTramsFan on Sep 22, 2009 2:35 PM CDT reply actions

Yes we can.

Everything else is speculation.

If he holds on to the ball there, the Rams have a first down on inside the 5 yard line. I like those odds of putting points (any points) on the board.

"F@*& Lidge and the horse he rode in on!"

-Cards Fan in Chitown, via text message shortly after the VEB Get Together Day.

by Tackle Box on Sep 22, 2009 7:59 PM CDT up reply actions