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Are Rams ready to stop teasing?
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_052a6635-a70b-539b-b546-6bb98da952f7.html
With victories against NFC heavyweights Seattle and San Francisco over the past three Sundays, the Rams have garnered some attention, however briefly, in the National Football League.
In last week’s 13-10 upset at San Francisco, the Rams held the 49ers to a season-low 263 yards. The 49ers’ point total was their lowest in 16 games, dating back to a 10-9 loss against Carolina almost a year ago to the day — Nov. 10, 2013.
The Rams’ defense, specifically their pass rush, showed up — finally — as a dominant force.
Seven games later than expected, it was the kind of defense Rams Nation hoped could carry the team ever since quarterback Sam Bradford suffered his season-ending knee injury in the third exhibition game, Aug. 23 in Cleveland.
As for the offense, it has been stuck in neutral lately. But having just completed a brutal four-game stretch against teams with top 5 defenses, maybe better days are ahead.
But at 3-5 for the third consecutive season, the Jeff Fisher Rams have teased us before.
Last season, back-to-back romps over Indianapolis and Chicago by a combined score of 80-29 raised the Rams’ record to 5-6, sparking hopes that the team could go on a late-season run.
Nope. Double digit losses the next two weeks at San Francisco and at Arizona, put the Rams at 5-8. See you next year. ...
In 2012, the Rams put together what remains their longest winning streak under Fisher — three games — with victories against Arizona, San Francisco and Buffalo. That put the team at 6-6-1 and on the fringe of wild-card contention.
Wrong. Adrian Peterson and a so-so Minnesota squad ran all over them in a 36-22 loss at the Edward Jones Dome. Until next time. ...
So here come the Arizona Cardinals, proud possessors of the best record in football at 7-1, in a 3:25 p.m. (St. Louis time) kickoff at University of Phoenix Stadium.
If the Rams could pull off another upset of an NFC West rival, it would help legitimize what they’re trying to achieve over the second half of the season — a playoff berth. Or at least an end to the Lost Decade of Rams football by posting their first winning record since 2003.
Beating the Big Red “would definitely put us in the right direction,” offensive guard Rodger Saffold said. “But I think really that it’s just the next game. If this was any other team, it would be just as important. We’ve gotta continue to climb out of the hole that we dug ourselves into in the beginning of the season.”
The 34-6 season-opening loss to Minnesota, in which the Rams looked flat and unprepared, was a big-time buzz kill. The Rams couldn’t hold 21-point and 14-point leads against Dallas in Game 3 and San Francisco in Game 5, respectively. In between, the Rams couldn’t finish off what would’ve been a dramatic comeback against Philadelphia in Game 4.
“I like the mindset of the guys,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said during the practice week. “It’s a realization that, ‘Hey, we’re still 3-5 here.’ That’s the reality of the situation.”
So far the Rams haven’t displayed anywhere near the consistency to put together a winning streak. Simply stated, the good teams find a way to win the close ones. The bad teams don’t.
And right off the top, that’s what potentially makes this a bad matchup for the Rams. Yes, the Rams did “win” the second half last week in San Francisco, outscoring the 49ers 3-0 over the third and fourth quarters. But they’ve still been outscored 134-59 in the second half this season and 65-13 after halftime over their past four games.
The Cardinals on the other hand are masters at closing. The Big Red have outscored the opposition by a whopping 70-34 in the fourth quarter this season. On three occasions, they have pulled out a victory despite trailing after three quarters. That’s the team the Rams want to be.
“We’ve got to finish games each and every week,” defensive end Robert Quinn said. “Can’t get too complacent because we beat a great ballclub last week in the ‘Niners. We’ve got another tough opponent with Arizona. But I think guys are ready for the challenge.”
They better be because the Cardinals don’t beat themselves; they make you beat them. To wit, they have thrown only two interceptions all season and committed just six turnovers overall. That’s tied for the fewest turnovers in the league.
Meanwhile, they are tied for fifth in most takeaways with 16. So this is not the day for quarterback Austin Davis to force passes and throw interceptions. Nor is this a game where the Rams have busted coverages that result in touchdowns. Or pile up post-whistle penalties.
After a surprising 10-6 finish under first-year head coach Bruce Arians in 2013, conventional wisdom said the Cardinals would fall back to earth after an offseason and early season characterized by free-agent losses, player suspensions and injuries to key players.
That hasn’t happened. Not yet at least.
“You go back to last year and see what they did, and how strong they finished,” Fisher said. “It doesn’t surprise us. Bruce, obviously, did a great job in Indy. He’s picked up this team and got them playing really well. They’re playing mistake-free football.
“This is going to be the next big challenge for us, but our guys are excited.”
There was a hint of confidence and momentum building in the locker room during the week. That was particularly true of the defense.
“We always hope for that, but you know what?” defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. “They’ve never played with a lack of confidence. They’ve always played each and every week extremely hard, extremely tough. ... None of them back off and it doesn’t make any difference who’s up, and who’s down.”
Quinn sees improvement. “Guys are finally feeling comfortable together in the system. And I think it’s finally starting to show what we’re capable of.”
If the Rams show what they’re capable of Sunday, they could be 4-5 by the end of the day, creating some excitement for the arrival of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos Nov. 16 at the Edward Jones Dome.
And if not? Just another tease.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_052a6635-a70b-539b-b546-6bb98da952f7.html
With victories against NFC heavyweights Seattle and San Francisco over the past three Sundays, the Rams have garnered some attention, however briefly, in the National Football League.
In last week’s 13-10 upset at San Francisco, the Rams held the 49ers to a season-low 263 yards. The 49ers’ point total was their lowest in 16 games, dating back to a 10-9 loss against Carolina almost a year ago to the day — Nov. 10, 2013.
The Rams’ defense, specifically their pass rush, showed up — finally — as a dominant force.
Seven games later than expected, it was the kind of defense Rams Nation hoped could carry the team ever since quarterback Sam Bradford suffered his season-ending knee injury in the third exhibition game, Aug. 23 in Cleveland.
As for the offense, it has been stuck in neutral lately. But having just completed a brutal four-game stretch against teams with top 5 defenses, maybe better days are ahead.
But at 3-5 for the third consecutive season, the Jeff Fisher Rams have teased us before.
Last season, back-to-back romps over Indianapolis and Chicago by a combined score of 80-29 raised the Rams’ record to 5-6, sparking hopes that the team could go on a late-season run.
Nope. Double digit losses the next two weeks at San Francisco and at Arizona, put the Rams at 5-8. See you next year. ...
In 2012, the Rams put together what remains their longest winning streak under Fisher — three games — with victories against Arizona, San Francisco and Buffalo. That put the team at 6-6-1 and on the fringe of wild-card contention.
Wrong. Adrian Peterson and a so-so Minnesota squad ran all over them in a 36-22 loss at the Edward Jones Dome. Until next time. ...
So here come the Arizona Cardinals, proud possessors of the best record in football at 7-1, in a 3:25 p.m. (St. Louis time) kickoff at University of Phoenix Stadium.
If the Rams could pull off another upset of an NFC West rival, it would help legitimize what they’re trying to achieve over the second half of the season — a playoff berth. Or at least an end to the Lost Decade of Rams football by posting their first winning record since 2003.
Beating the Big Red “would definitely put us in the right direction,” offensive guard Rodger Saffold said. “But I think really that it’s just the next game. If this was any other team, it would be just as important. We’ve gotta continue to climb out of the hole that we dug ourselves into in the beginning of the season.”
The 34-6 season-opening loss to Minnesota, in which the Rams looked flat and unprepared, was a big-time buzz kill. The Rams couldn’t hold 21-point and 14-point leads against Dallas in Game 3 and San Francisco in Game 5, respectively. In between, the Rams couldn’t finish off what would’ve been a dramatic comeback against Philadelphia in Game 4.
“I like the mindset of the guys,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said during the practice week. “It’s a realization that, ‘Hey, we’re still 3-5 here.’ That’s the reality of the situation.”
So far the Rams haven’t displayed anywhere near the consistency to put together a winning streak. Simply stated, the good teams find a way to win the close ones. The bad teams don’t.
And right off the top, that’s what potentially makes this a bad matchup for the Rams. Yes, the Rams did “win” the second half last week in San Francisco, outscoring the 49ers 3-0 over the third and fourth quarters. But they’ve still been outscored 134-59 in the second half this season and 65-13 after halftime over their past four games.
The Cardinals on the other hand are masters at closing. The Big Red have outscored the opposition by a whopping 70-34 in the fourth quarter this season. On three occasions, they have pulled out a victory despite trailing after three quarters. That’s the team the Rams want to be.
“We’ve got to finish games each and every week,” defensive end Robert Quinn said. “Can’t get too complacent because we beat a great ballclub last week in the ‘Niners. We’ve got another tough opponent with Arizona. But I think guys are ready for the challenge.”
They better be because the Cardinals don’t beat themselves; they make you beat them. To wit, they have thrown only two interceptions all season and committed just six turnovers overall. That’s tied for the fewest turnovers in the league.
Meanwhile, they are tied for fifth in most takeaways with 16. So this is not the day for quarterback Austin Davis to force passes and throw interceptions. Nor is this a game where the Rams have busted coverages that result in touchdowns. Or pile up post-whistle penalties.
After a surprising 10-6 finish under first-year head coach Bruce Arians in 2013, conventional wisdom said the Cardinals would fall back to earth after an offseason and early season characterized by free-agent losses, player suspensions and injuries to key players.
That hasn’t happened. Not yet at least.
“You go back to last year and see what they did, and how strong they finished,” Fisher said. “It doesn’t surprise us. Bruce, obviously, did a great job in Indy. He’s picked up this team and got them playing really well. They’re playing mistake-free football.
“This is going to be the next big challenge for us, but our guys are excited.”
There was a hint of confidence and momentum building in the locker room during the week. That was particularly true of the defense.
“We always hope for that, but you know what?” defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. “They’ve never played with a lack of confidence. They’ve always played each and every week extremely hard, extremely tough. ... None of them back off and it doesn’t make any difference who’s up, and who’s down.”
Quinn sees improvement. “Guys are finally feeling comfortable together in the system. And I think it’s finally starting to show what we’re capable of.”
If the Rams show what they’re capable of Sunday, they could be 4-5 by the end of the day, creating some excitement for the arrival of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos Nov. 16 at the Edward Jones Dome.
And if not? Just another tease.
