Turf Show Times - Cardinals vs. Rams: St. Louis wins home openerhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51333/tst-fav.png2013-09-10T10:18:10-05:00http://www.turfshowtimes.com/rss/stream/44709592013-09-10T10:18:10-05:002013-09-10T10:18:10-05:00Rams OL 'off to the right start'
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<figcaption>Michael Thomas</figcaption>
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<p>The first outing of the season for the St. Louis Rams offensive line earned the coach's approval. </p> <p>For the third consecutive regular season game, dating back to the last two games of the 2012 season, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> quarterback <span>Sam Bradford</span> did not get sacked.</p>
<p>"It's been three consecutive games now where we haven't given up a sack," Jeff Fisher said Monday. "I don't think that's happened in this franchise since somewhere in the mid-70's. Not that there's much carryover from last year, but at least we're off to the right start, and you credit the offensive line, the quarterback and everybody involved."</p>
<p>The press box stats said the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a> hit Bradford five times. He was hurried 17 times. Arizona's defense under Todd Bowles is known for its blitzing, and they did plenty of that on Sunday. The Cardinals defense line also happens to be one of the tougher, more disruptive units in the league with players like <span>Calais Campbell</span> and Darnell Dockett. Keeping Bradford off his back against that group is no small accomplishment.</p>
<p>"They brought quite a bit of pressure," Bradford said after the game. "It'll be interesting to see what the percentage was when we turn the tape on, but that's something we were expecting.</p>
<p>"I thought the communication between myself and the line," Bradford added. "I thought Scott (Wells) did a great job of getting things solved. They threw some looks at us, especially on third down, that we hadn't seen in the preseason and those guys didn't flinch at all. "</p>
<p>When it came to running the ball, Fisher noted that his offensive line still had some work to do.</p>
<p>The Rams ran the ball 22 times, not including a pair of quarterback scrambles by Bradford. They averaged three yards per carry with Bradford's "rushes" removed. <span>Daryl Richardson</span> carried the ball 20 times for a total of 63 yards and 3.2 yards per carry. <span>Zac Stacy</span> had one carry for four yards, and <span>Tavon Austin</span> lost a yard on an end-around.</p>
<p>"One of those other things you talk about improving," Fisher said. "We've got to work on the run game. It's a stout defense, but we're going to have to run the ball a bit better as well."</p>
<p>If there's one hallmark of the Jeff Fisher Rams, it's that there's always work to be done, ways to improve regardless of the results. Nevertheless, this game was a good first step toward the Rams offensive line finally establishing itself.</p>
<p>"I can't say enough about those guys up front," Bradford said after the game. "They played outstanding today, and I think it shows that we've taken leaps and bounds from where we were last year."</p>
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/10/4713278/st-louis-rams-2013-schedule-results-sam-bradford-offensive-lineRyan Van Bibber2013-09-09T14:31:37-05:002013-09-09T14:31:37-05:00Rams Recap
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<figcaption>Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The box score lays out the stats. Yesterday's 3-point win was more than that.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">Rams</a> were offered the tiniest sliver of the American broadcast audience for their game yesterday, as the marquee matchup between the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> took up about 98% of Fox sets across the country:</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://506sports.com/nfl13/01-FOX-L-V2.png" height="300"></p>
<p>That's the Rams-Cards game in blue. Most of Arizona, the whole St. Louis area and a splinter in West Virginia -- that's who had this game broadcast to them. Sad that they missed an entertaining game, but we've got to win our way back into the national football consciousness.</p>
<p>Onto my notes from the game:</p>
<p>- I'm not sure I've been this impressed with the individual talents on both sides of the ball since the GSOT. Jared Cook, <span>Tavon Austin</span> (and yes, I'm still completely on that train), <span>Robert Quinn</span>, <span>Janoris Jenkins</span>, <span>Greg Zuerlein</span>...there are some seriously skilled players on this team. <span>Alec Ogletree</span> might be in that group one day. And between <span>Sam Bradford</span>, <span>Chris Long</span> and <span>Jake Long</span>, you've got some really, really good components to mach the flash of those guys.</p>
<p>- Jared Cook. For real. It wasn't just the plays themselves, it was the composure to deflect the self-doubt he had to be facing after Mathieu got to the ball just before it crossed the goalline. It was the ability to shake off two plays where he and Sam Bradford clearly weren't on the same page. It was the effort to stretch the ball over the pylon and finish a play while having the savvy to keep his feet in bounds before diving. He's set the bar really damn high...</p>
<p>- Sam Bradford had a really good game that was marred almost entirely by one very damaging mistake. And put bluntly, he has to avoid that from happening. Pump fake, arm angle, waiting just another half second -- however he makes sure that doesn't happen again, he has to. That one play aside, Sam was damn good. If Mathieu doesn't save that touchdown, Bradford finishes with more than 300 yards passing and 3 TDs. Of course it helps when...</p>
<p>- ...you're not sacked once. Arizona's passing defense was 3rd in completion percentage, 13th in yards per attempt, the second-most interceptions, tied for the 11th most sacks and fifth in yards per game allowed. This was a very successful passing defense a year ago, and they added Tyrann Mathieu. The Rams were facing a defense that can get at QBs and make them pay, and to a large degree, they won that battle.</p>
<p>- One area they didn't have notable success in was the running game. Was it marginally productive? Yes. Is that what I expect with <span>Daryl Richardson</span> taking 20 of 21 carries? Yes. Zac Stacy had perhaps the biggest hole in the game (likely because Arizona was sitting on the pass with Stacy in there for pass pro...) and took it straight into a linebacker. Daryl Richardson did Daryl Richardson, eking out 2 and 3 and 5 yard gains where available. This running game is designed to provide a series of small positive gains that sets up shorter crucial downs, and that's what we got yesterday. It's not flashy, but it can help the passing offense out.</p>
<p>- Back to something else that worked -- the run defense. The Rams RBs averaged 3.19 yards in their 21 carries. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a>? 3.31 in 26. Neither team was moving the ball well on the ground yesterday, but credit the Rams' D-line with really impressing yesterday. That's going to affect gameplanning for opposing offenses these next couple of weeks, especially if the Rams can hold down their former centerpiece running back in Steven Jackson...</p>
<p>- What does Greg Zuerlein have to do to get more love? He's easily one of the best as his position in the entire league. He's a gamechanger.</p>
<p>- I am a bit concerned that the Rams didn't have a lot in place for Tavon to open up. The reverse and one dig are all I remember. It's a long season though and perhaps this is something to build on. Besides, I'm less worried about talent than I am a lack thereof. In order to underuse a Tavon Austin, you have to have a Tavon Austin to underuse...</p>
<p>On to the big two items...</p>
<p>- Penalties. Both teams racked them up with ease, but as Birkhead noted, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/9/4709374/St-Louis-Rams-Penalties-disclipline">this may be part of the territory</a>. I don't know that I'm comfortable with that. The negatives are going to outweigh the positives when your tenacity and physicality is earning 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct flags and back-to-backing your holding and false start calls, and the Rams definitely do not yet have an offense that can erase those setbacks.</p>
<p>And of course...</p>
<p>- Playcalling. It was trying at times. Others, it was [insert German word here for violence combined with a hatred for all of mankind, something like <span class="short_text"><i><span class="hps">zerschlagen</span><span class="hps">Gewalt</span><span class="hps">Menschen</span></i><span class="hps"><i>sterben</i>...]. The ending to the Rams' drive after the interception returned for a touchdown was the kind of overly conservative call that we've seen from previous regimes that helped ensure they were on their way to becoming previous regimes. After converting a 3rd and 3, Daryl Richardson gained 9 yards on 1st down; that the Rams didn't pick up a 1st down with two opportunities to gain one yard tells you something about the situation. The Rams knew what they were going to do. The Cardinals knew what we were going to do. They won.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="short_text"><span class="hps">We, perhaps, shouldn't do that again.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="short_text"><span class="hps">Earlier in the 3rd quarter, the Rams opened with a <span>Trumaine Johnson</span> interception to end the Cardinals' first second-half drive. 1st and goal from the 4 turned into 2nd and goal from the 4 turned into 3rd and goal from the 7 turned into 4th and goal from the 7.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="short_text"><span class="hps">We, perhaps, shouldn't do that again.<br></span></span></p>
<p>The Rams opted for a conservative defensive shell that cut out deep and sideline work to start the game. This forced <span>Carson Palmer</span> to appropriately read zone defenses and avoid the temptation to take more than what the defense was giving him. Carson Palmer, sadly, wasn't a rookie with a penchant for showing off his arm (we might have gotten the scouting report mixed up with someone else...). Given that look, he understandably went to work carefully picking apart the middle of the field and exploiting the incapability of the linebackers to commit to two roles at once. Give the staff credit for trying a couple of different things after halftime. There were more blitzes, tighter work on the outside and even something that looked like it was supposed to be a bump and run against <span>Larry Fitzgerald</span> in the middle of the 3rd quarter. Somehow, <span>Cortland Finnegan</span> (and perhaps that needs an "& Co." on it, but it was so messy, I'm not sure what the hell it was supposed to be...) let Fitzgerald get off the line unperturbed and make an easy TD play to extend the Cardinals' lead to 10, and the subsequent 11, points.</p>
<p>We, perhaps, shouldn't do that again.</p>
<p>Was it a one-game scheme? Maybe parts of it, but we've seen plenty that nightmare inducing "pushin' cushion" before. We're going to see it again. And for the most part, I'm ok with it. As I mentioned above, it takes away the edges of the field. Between the pass rush (hello, Robert Quinn national breakout season game one), the talent among the cornerbacks and not having <span>Craig Dahl</span> at the back, it's a strategy that can lull a lot of quarterbacks into complacency or uncomfortability. After Palmer threw that interception and the Rams scored a field goal to open the second half, the Cardinals' next drive was finished out as a 3rd and 3 saw just a paltry 2-yard gain from Larry Fitz. That sequence could shake a lot of offenses, so credit Palmer for not panicking and engineering that TD pass on the broken coverage shell to Fitz. It was a drive on which the Cardinals converted three 3rd downs and picked up another on 2nd down after a holding penalty set up a 1st and 20 that looked to be a great setup for the Rams to close out the drive. It didn't happen.</p>
<p>We, perhaps, shouldn't do that again.</p>
<p>For all the things we shouldn't do again, you'd think we were in serious trouble, yet it was the Cardinals who rode the fortunes of luck early. Without the Mathieu strip on Cook's would-be TD and Michael Floyd's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000240566/Floyd-44-yard-one-handed-catch">ridiculous "What is that in my arm? Is that the football?!" catch</a>, the scoreline likely looks very, very different at halftime. Who knows what that would've done to change things around for the second half.</p>
<p>With plenty of football left, the Rams won't be able to get out of a hole like they carved for themselves yesterday often. They did, however, summon enough when it was needed to get a crucial opening week win.</p>
<p>We, perhaps, should do that again.</p>
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/9/4711824/rams-cardinals-recap3k2013-09-09T12:36:31-05:002013-09-09T12:36:31-05:00Nickels, dimes & 21s: Week 1 snap counts
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<figcaption>Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Who got the most action in this week's game against the Cardinals? Let's take a look. </p> <p>Looking at this week's snap counts for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> won't reveal anything that will shock or surprise you. The offense spent the majority of its time in the 11 personnel grouping (3 receivers, 1 tight end and 1 running back). But they mixed in some 21 and other groupings.</p>
<p>Let's dive into the numbers.</p>
<h4>Jared Cook is the most important player on offense.</h4>
<p>That may not be the case every week, especially when the Rams start running into teams with better safeties and coverage linebackers. On Sunday, Cook played 61 out of 67 total offensive snaps, more than any other tight end, running back or receiver.</p>
<p><span>Lance Kendricks</span> played 33 snaps.</p>
<h4>Pettis still No. 1, "secret" plans and the receivers</h4>
<p>I'm surprised but not surprised that <span>Austin Pettis</span> and Chris Givens are the Rams' top two receivers. Both played 55 total snaps, the most among the receivers. Givens' place in the offense is understandable, though he was targeted just three times and caught two balls. Pettis is starting by default, and I'm not sure what the coaches are seeing in <span>Brian Quick</span> (19 snaps) that's keeping his playing time limited. Pettis was targeted six times, caught three passes for 16 yards. Quick caught one of two passes for 16 yards.</p>
<p><span>Tavon Austin</span> played 41 snaps, lining up at all three receiver spots. Brian Schottenheimer must have left his secret plans for Austin in his desk at Rams Park. Of course, Austin made the most of the six catches on seven targets he had, totaling 41 yards. We'll have more on Schottenheimer and Austin to come.</p>
<h4>Workhorse back</h4>
<p>Remember when Jeff Fisher said that <span>Daryl Richardson</span> would still be splitting carries, despite being the No. 1 back? Maybe next week. Richardson played 59 snaps and carried the ball 20 times. <span>Zac Stacy</span> was the only other back to work with the offense, playing seven snaps and carrying the ball once for four yards.</p>
<h4>Defensive regulars</h4>
<p>Last year, there was a core group of defensive players that saw almost every snap in every game. It's the same this year, and it's really not a surprise when you consider who it is.</p>
<p><span>T.J. McDonald</span>, <span>Rodney McLeod</span>, <span>James Laurinaitis</span>, and <span>Cortland Finnegan</span> played all 71 defensive snaps. <span>Janoris Jenkins</span> played 70. That's the way it will be most, if not all, of the season. Jenkins had three passes defensed and one forced fumble. Once the Rams abandoned the idea of giving <span>Larry Fitzgerald</span> what seemed like an 80-yard cushion, Jenkins had a great game in coverage.</p>
<h4>Nickel D & Linebacker switches</h4>
<p><span>Alec Ogletree</span> came close to his billing as a three-down linebacker. He played 66 snaps. He led the team with seven tackles, <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/581/week-1-rams-rookie-review">but as Nick Wagoner at ESPN said</a>, it was really a quiet day for the rookie. Witherspoon played 19 snaps.</p>
<p><span>Trumaine Johnson</span> finished the game with 53 snaps, an indicator of just how much the Rams were in the nickel. Understandably so, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a> didn't pack much threat in the run game, and the defensive line was more than capable of bottling that up.</p>
<p><span>Matt Giordano</span> played four snaps when the Rams used their dime package.</p>
<h4>D-line rotations</h4>
<p>Another theme carried over from last year was a heavy rotation of players on the defensive line. <span>Chris Long</span> had 64 snaps, <span>Robert Quinn</span> 52, <span>Kendall Langford</span> 46, <span>Michael Brockers</span> 43, <span>Eugene Sims</span> 34, Will Hayes 22, <span>Jermelle Cudjo</span> 14 and <span>Matt Conrath</span> had 10.</p>
<p>That group was a force against what little run the Cardinals had. They combined for six tackles for a loss, three from Hayes. Arizona managed just 3.3 yards per carry on 26 rushing attempts</p>
<h4>More from Turf Show Times:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/9/4711040/rams-electrifying-fans?utm_source=turfshowtimes&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Rams electrifying fans</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/9/4708996/Rams-vs-Cardinals-NFC-West-Seahawks-49ers?utm_source=turfshowtimes&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Yoink! Rams Come Back To Win Season Opener</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/8/4708888/instant-reaction-st-louis-rams-27-arizona-cardinals-24?utm_source=turfshowtimes&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Instant Reaction: St. Louis Rams 27 Arizona Cardinals 24</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/8/4708908/st-louis-rams-1-0-after-tough-contest-against-arizona?utm_source=turfshowtimes&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">St. Louis Rams: 1 - 0 After Tough Contest Against Arizona</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/9/4709296/jared-cook-shakes-off-fumble-career-night-powers-rams-win?utm_source=turfshowtimes&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Jared Cook shakes off fumble, career night powers Rams win</a></li>
</ul>
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/9/4711208/cardinals-vs-rams-tavon-austin-jared-cook-snap-countsRyan Van Bibber2013-09-09T12:00:58-05:002013-09-09T12:00:58-05:00Discipline
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<figcaption>Michael Thomas</figcaption>
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<p>The Rams must cut down on their penalties, but can they?</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cincinnati Bengals</a> lost a chance to get the ball back. They were down by three points, when Ray Maualuga committed a personal foul penalty against the <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Bears</a>.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Jets</a> were able to get into field goal range - and hit a game winning field goal - thanks to a late hit out of bounds by <span>Lavonte David</span> of the <a href="https://www.bucsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a>.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">Rams</a> weren't the Buccaneers or the Bengals on Sunday, but they easily could've been.</p>
<p>The Rams had four personal foul penalties against the <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Cardinals</a>, in their 27-24 come from being win. If one of those came in the fourth quarter, at an inopportune time, the Rams' the locker room after the game might have been in a different mood.</p>
<p>These weren't penalties one might expect from a young team like the Rams. In fact, three of these fouls were on two of the Rams veteran players (<span>Cortland Finnegan</span> and <span>Eugene Sims</span>).</p>
<p>What the Rams have is a lack of discipline. Many of these personal foul flags (late hits, hits to the head, roughing, etc.) come from playing hard and tough. This comes from the culture Jeff Fisher has put in place in St. Louis; the very same one we saw with the <a href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Titans</a> in Tennessee.</p>
<p>But there is a line between tough and stupid. The Rams crossed over it against the Cardinals. That discipline line is very delicate, and crossing over the line didn't cost the Rams the game, but it very well could in the future.</p>
<p>The Rams need to cut down on the penalties, but it may be set in the culture of the football team.</p>
<p>Last season, the Rams led the league in penalties. In Jeff Fisher's last three season with the Titans, they ranked 3rd, 10th and 2nd in the league.</p>
<p>Penalties have been a trademark of Jeff Fisher's coaching career. His team's have always played tough, and have always flirted with the line between tough and stupid.</p>
<p>Penalties were a problem Sunday for the Rams, and because of the culture Jeff Fisher instills in his football team, and the discipline they lack, it could continue to be a problem for the Rams the entire season.</p>
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/9/4709374/St-Louis-Rams-Penalties-discliplineBrandon Birkhead2013-09-09T10:21:21-05:002013-09-09T10:21:21-05:00Sleepy Rams fan is sleepy
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<figcaption>Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The excitement of a 4th quarter comeback was just too much for one Rams fan. </p> <p>I wouldn't have been the least bit surprised to see fans falling asleep at the Dome two years ago, but this <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams" class="sbn-auto-link">Rams</a> team is a more exciting affair than those old squads that used to pack the house with out-of-towners. However, this week's game was still not enough for one fan to keep awake.</p>
<p>Either that, or maybe he passed out after drinking a few not-the-most expensive beers in the NFL.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Just a guy passed out at the Rams game <a href="http://t.co/fzHLqZQry3">pic.twitter.com/fzHLqZQry3</a></p>
— Cole Macchi (@Cole_Macchi) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cole_Macchi/statuses/376857333248167936">September 8, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>And he's wearing jorts, because St. Louis.</p>
<p>(<a target="_blank" href="http://bustedcoverage.com/2013/09/08/nfl-screencaps-week-one-updating/#photo=4">h/t Busted Coverage</a>)</p>
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/9/4711040/rams-electrifying-fansRyan Van Bibber2013-09-09T09:00:14-05:002013-09-09T09:00:14-05:00The Quick Five: Rams Start the Year Off With a Win
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<figcaption>Michael Thomas</figcaption>
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<p>It was a game filled with mistakes, but the Rams overcame their issues en route to a huge 27-24 comeback win to start off the season.</p> <p>I'll be honest- I felt like the stage was set early on. The Rams offense made it look like it was going to be a long year. Jared Cook was stripped at the goal line, resulting in zero points and a turnover. The Cardinals scored. Then the team sputtered it's way through the first half while chocking up penalty after penalty.</p>
<p>But then, things stared to turn around.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3183027/samB.png" style="background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline;"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3183027/samB_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Samb_medium"></a></p>
<p>Bradford was stellar in his debut against the Cardinals. Sure, there are still plenty of things to work on (that late fumble was nerve-wracking). The offensive line had Bradford running around all night, but to his credit, he wasn't sacked once. Of course, besides his fluke tipped pass interception, Bradford's stat line was near perfect: 71% completion percentage, nearly 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Any time your QB rating is triple digits or above, you've had a good game.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3183059/cookie.png" style="background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline;"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3183059/cookie_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Cookie_medium"></a></p>
<p>What a turnaround. At first, it looked like every Tennessee Titans fan was right about Jared Cook...until they weren't.</p>
<p>Cook blew up. If you want to talk about breakout games, this was it. He's easily Bradford's favorite weapon and he's a definite mismatch whenever he takes the field. If he wouldn't have had his head in his ass the on that first catch, he could have had three touchdowns. Big, big game.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3183051/rQUINn.png" style="background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline;"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3183051/rQUINn_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Rquinn_medium"></a></p>
<p>On the other side of the ball, the Rams had a so-so day. Palmer tore it up in the first half, with Larry Fitzgerald and co. annihilating the Rams soft zone coverage. But then things started to stiffen up and as a result, Robert Quinn had a field day against the Cardinals. Sacks? 3. Forced Fumbles? 2. Quarterbacks in pain? 1.</p>
<p>There simply was nothing they could do to stop Quinn, and the Rams suddenly have one of the best defensive lines in football. They were also stout against the run, something you haven't been able to say in <i>years.</i></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3183035/cortlandF.png" style="background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline;"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3183035/cortlandF_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Cortlandf_medium"></a></p>
<p>Now, for the not so good. I can understand unsportsmanlike calls against the Rams. They are the youngest team in the NFL; growing pains are going to be commonplace. The league has cracked down on those calls, especially for defensive players, and savvy veterans are on the lookout to draw that type of penalty.</p>
<p>Except Cortland Finnegan isn't a rookie. Far from it, in fact. He was burned multiple times by multiple receivers, and the Cardinals game plan to pick on him worked for almost the entire game. The simple fact is the Rams pay him too much money for him to play like that. You've got to step up your game, Finn.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3183019/gregZ.png"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3183019/gregZ_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Gregz_medium"></a></p>
<p>Legatron! After last year, I was a little uneasy about him every time he took the field. He had a decent preseason, but you've always got that idea in the back of your head that the kicker will miss. He didn't. He drilled every shot, including the game winner.</p>
<p>No complaints here.</p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Closing Thoughts</h4>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span>TJ McDonald and Rodney McLeod made a good- but far from perfect- safety tandem. TJ can hit!</span></li>
<li><span>Chris Givens was completely neutralized by Patrick Peterson.</span></li>
<li><span>Brian Schottenheimer had a so-so day calling plays. The Rams simply didn't have time for any gadget plays against the swarming Cardinals defense. Jeff Fisher made a questionable challenge call as well.</span></li>
<li><span>I still don't get the soft coverage. It just doesn't work, so why stick with it? </span></li>
<li><span>Trumaine Johnson had a nice interception. Hopefully he's out of the doghouse?</span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
<p> </p>
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https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/9/4708996/Rams-vs-Cardinals-NFC-West-Seahawks-49ersEric Nagel2013-09-09T06:47:38-05:002013-09-09T06:47:38-05:00Random: Rams escape poor performance with a win
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<figcaption>Michael Thomas</figcaption>
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<p>Owner Stan Kroenke has to like the results of the Rams home opener, but coach Jeff Fisher should be much less optimistic. He has a lot of work to do this week to improve his team.</p> <p>It's over now. And you can finally breathe.</p>
<p>The St. Louis Rams are officially 1-0. The season is underway and the youngest team in football is not entirely incapable of success in a veteran's game. However, all is not well as Rams head back to practice with looming concerns overhead.</p>
<p>These aren't Steve Spagnuolo's Rams anymore - expectations and talent levels are much higher - but you wouldn't know it by much of yesterday's product on the field. Lackluster play calling, infuriating penalties and daunting mistakes on defense are still a motif in Earth City.</p>
<p>These are problems which should have been ironed out over the summer, at least to some degree. The Rams have too much firepower on both sides of the ball to field such a vanilla gameplan. August is over.</p>
<p>As far as the penalties?</p>
<p>"The Rams are the youngest team in the NFL," said any and every apologist. "Those things will happen early." Unfortunately, it was some of the team's most established and highly-regarded veterans making the mistakes. Cortland Finnegan was the main contributor to the yellow flags, continuing his trend of personal fouls, while defensive ends Williams Hayes and Eugene Sims both made egregious infractions. Tackles Jake Long and Rodger Saffold were also the cause of some hiccups, all but destroying the Rams' opening drive.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, this is victory Monday. Revel in it, Rams Nation, for you have not in more than nine months. Today belongs to you, so hold your head up high and let the world know your team began the 2013 season the right way.</p>
<p>On to the links for all the information one could need.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/rams-report/rams-rally-to-boot-arizona/article_7c0d4d83-97ec-5223-af4d-0fc4146cc640.html">Rams rally to win game one</a> - For the first time since 2006 St. Louis has begun the season with a win. That in itself is reason for celebration. Jeff Fisher's Rams are now 3-0 against the Arizona Cardinals and 5-1-1 in the NFC West.</p>
<p>This may have been Fisher's most difficult outing with the "Red Birds," but it's no less significant. Sam Bradford has shown once again that he is capable of formulating a game-winning drive and the defense - though exploited through the air frequently - featured a don't-break mentality when it mattered most.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/gallery/sports/football/professional/rams-report-card-game/collection_e1f0f7d5-c8f5-5067-8cd5-7fb70771a7b2.html#0">Post-game report card </a>- Jeff Gordon was more sympathetic than some in assessing the Rams overall performance. All things considered - particularly a couple improbable turnovers - the offense actually played fairly well. For once, it was the defense which underachieved as the secondary was torched early and often. We expect better from the coaching staff to adapt during halftime.</p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/108276/rapid-reaction-rams-27-cardinals-24-2">Nick Wagoner's reaction</a> - Former StLouisRams.com guru Nick Wagoner offers his take from his new gig at ESPN. He too has a few concerns. Like most who have spent any time watching the Rams, Wagoner is growing tired of the off-coverage play in the secondary. Now he's allowed to say so.</p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/108274/rapid-reaction-rams-27-cardinals-24">Another perspective from ESPN</a> - John Weinfuss, Arizona's head of the NFC West blog, shares his thoughts from the other side of the room.</p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/108300/rams-quinn-makes-a-strong-statement">Quinn has a breakout game</a> - I'm not sure what it is about the Cardinals, but defensive end Robert Quinn always seems to be at his best when they come to town. The third-year pass rusher had a career day, posting three sacks and two forced fumbles. If he keeps posting those numbers he'll be the first to put <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/22503722/nfl-to-award-annual-deacon-jones-award-to-league-sack-leader">this</a> up on his mantle.</p>
<p><a href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/08/jared-cook-propels-rams-to-27-24-comeback-win/">Cook redeems himself in big way</a> - If Jared Cook's early fumble on a would-be touchdown landed the tight end in your doghouse, he surely dug himself out by the end of the contest. The former Tennessee Titan answered and threw out all question marks surrounding him when the Rams signed him this off-season. Cook is quickly on pace to finish as one of the best receiving tight ends in football and has obviously become Bradford's new go-to target.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/gallery/sports/football/professional/predicting-the-rams-game-by-game/collection_ad2c8e35-6dcb-58aa-930c-93e7f95170ac.html#0">Jim Thomas' season prediction</a> - The Post-Dispatch's lead beat writer rolled out his game-by-game predictions for the Rams' season this weekend. He was right about the first game. What do you think about the rest? Overall, Thomas foresees an 8-8 finishing record.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2013090810/2013/REG1/cardinals@rams#tab=recap&menu=highlights">NFL.com Game Center </a>- Relive all the emotions and anguish from yesterday's game with highlights, stats and analysis.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2013/9/8/4707502/arizona-cardinals-get-clipped-by-st-louis-rams-lose-27-24">Post-game thread from Revenge of the Birds</a> - It was a tough-fought contest that undoubtedly left fans of both teams on the edge of their seats, with the teeth clenched and beer cans crushed. You may be better off not knowing, but this is how you may have felt had Greg Zuerlein missed his 48-yard winning field goal.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fieldgulls.com/2013/9/8/4708154/cigar-thoughts-week-1-seahawks-swing-final-pillow-knock-panthers-off">Seahawks v. Panthers roundup</a> - The Carolina Panthers came close - very close - to a major upset of the Seattle Seahawks. As expected Cam Newton was essentially held in check, but Ron Rivera's stout and growing defense did the same to Russell Wilson. Here's more from Field Gulls.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ninersnation.com/2013/9/8/4708782/49ers-vs-packers-final-score-anquan-boldin-colin-kaepernick">49ers edge off Packers</a> - Because you were busy watching the good guys of the NFC West, you missed the only other afternoon game of week one. San Francisco opened the season by playing host to the Green Bay Packers in another dramatic thriller.</p>
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/9/4708932/cardinals-vs-rams-week-1-results-jared-cook-larry-fitzgeraldJoe Mazzi2013-09-09T06:00:09-05:002013-09-09T06:00:09-05:00Cook shakes it off
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<figcaption>Michael Thomas</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The St. Louis Rams tight end didn't let a first-quarter fumble get to him in Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals. </p> <p>Jared Cook's big day for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> almost wasn't.</p>
<p>Quarterback Sam Bradford found Cook sprinting down the seam on the Rams' second drive of the game. It was the second time Bradford went to Cook, and his first complete pass to the tight end. The play was exactly what the Rams had done in the preseason, something the team hadn't been able to do in years, taking advantage of soft spots in coverage over the middle.</p>
<p>Cook raced to the end zone. Five yards from the goal line, it slipped away; it was punched away actually.</p>
<p>"He's got a running 40 to the end zone," head coach Jeff Fisher said after the game. "You've got to remind him every so often that you always have to carry that ball high and tight because you never know when something's going to happen.</p>
<p>"I think he assumed he was going to score."</p>
<p>Arizona rookie cornerback <span>Tyrann Mathieu</span> pulled off <span>Tavon Austin</span> and chased Cook down. He didn't quite catch up to make the tackle, but he didn't need to. Cook had the ball leisurely dangling to his left side. Mathieu punched it out of his hands before Cook could put the Rams up 7-0.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1795615/lolrams.gif"><img src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1795615/lolrams.gif" class="photo" alt="Lolrams_medium"></a></p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Cardinals</a> got the ball on their 20-yard line. From there, <span>Carson Palmer</span> and his receivers ate up the mile-wide cushions given to them by the Rams defensive backs. Eight plays, 80 yards and just over three minutes later, the Cardinals had a 14-point swing on the scoreboard, scoring first to take a 7-0 lead.</p>
<p>"That's never something you want to happen," Cook said. "I wish I could have that one back and I still wish I could have it back after that type of game. It's just a battle of mistakes that you come back from. It's part of the game. He made a good play."</p>
<p>The Rams tight end did bounce back from the fumble. Bradford wasn't about to let his top target replay the mistake over and over in his head.</p>
<p>"We came to the sideline and I said, 'Hey bro, be ready because it's coming right back to you,'" Bradford said. "Yeah, I thought he did a great job because it would have been really easy for him to get down right there, but he showed a ton of maturity and confidence coming back and playing the way he did after that."</p>
<p>Bradford found Cook six more times after the fumble, including a pair of touchdowns that helped the Rams overcome a second-half deficit.</p>
<p>"We've seen him do it all training camp," Bradford said. "so I don't think it surprised anyone, and I expect him to keep playing like that. He's going to help us tremendously this year."</p>
<p>Cook finished the game with seven catches on 10 targets, 141 receiving yards and two touchdowns. It was the first time in his career that he scored more than once in a game. It was the second-highest yardage total of his career, and tied for the third-most receptions in a single game.</p>
<p>"That's why he's here," Fisher said. "We've got an accurate passer that can find him and he can make plays with the ball. He's outstanding."</p>
https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2013/9/9/4709296/jared-cook-shakes-off-fumble-career-night-powers-rams-winRyan Van Bibber